Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week there is a new topic for bloggers to choose and list their top ten. This week’s theme is a Halloween freebie, so I picked Top Ten Books that are Perfect Reads for Halloween.
Halloween have never been a big deal in England. I was eighteen the first time I went trick-or-treating, and it was babysitting my friends little cousins, in fact the only part of Halloween I get excited for are The Simpson Treehouse of horror episodes and the Brooklyn Nine-Nine Halloween Heist episodes. However I love reading and with Halloween coming up, and with this week’s TTT topic being a Halloween themed free-for-all, I decided to showcase some of the best creepy and dark books I’ve read so far as well as a few still on my to-read list.
Top Five Books I’ve Read
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Maybe this isn’t a book many people would call dark or creepy but there are definitely hints of both throughout. A Monster Calls is a beautiful story; emotional and moving but dark at times as well. Plus Halloween is all about monsters and that makes this the perfect Halloween read.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
While the first book was a little slow to start off with the series definitely improves from there. Ransom Riggs’ writing, the world he has created, and the vintage photos he uses to help tell the story all come together to create a world alongside our own with its own powers and dangers. Definitely dark and creepy at times, and well worth picking up.
Slasher Girls & Monster Boys by April Genevieve Tucholke
This is probably the only anthology I’ve read which hasn’t been a selection of short stories from one series (think Stars Above by Marissa Meyer), and to date Slasher Girls & Monster Boys is the scariest book I’ve read so far. I can’t think of one novella that didn’t really creep me out, and it has some amazing names as well; Leigh Bardugo, Jay Kristoff, Marie Lu, A.G. Howard, to name a few. If you like horror stories I cannot recommend this book enough.
Alice by Christina Henry
In terms of Alice in Wonderland retellings Alice, by Christina Henry, is the darkest one out there. It’s an amazing book, one I really loved, but it is not for the faint hearted. Instead of Wonderland we find ourselves in Old Town, where the streets are ruled by magicians and mobsters with familiar names – the Caterpillar, Cheshire, the Rabbit, the Walrus and Mr. Carpenter – and where it is a very dangerous place to be a woman.
Trigger warning; there are quite a few mentions and references to rape in this book.
Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter
I just finished this book today and really enjoyed it—I’m hoping to post my review on Thursday. I wouldn’t say this was a scary book, not in the way Slasher Girls & Monster Boys was, instead it’s more creepy and there were plenty of scenes throughout that chilled me. I’d describe Vassa in the Night as a magical realism book and I think the best books from that genre have a certain creepiness to them.
Top Five Books Still on my TBR List
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
The only series I’ve read by Kendare Blake, the Goddess War trilogy, I loved so I added Anna Dressed in Blood to my to-read list as soon as I finished the first book. However I still haven’t gotten around to it. The blurb reminds me a little of Supernatural, the cover is definitely haunting, and when it comes down to it aren’t ghosts part of all the best Halloween stories?
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
I’m going to be honest even after reading the blurb I still have no clue what this book is about. However reading reviews and talking to other bloggers on WordPress have convinced me that not only do I need to start this series ASAP, but that the first book would be the perfect pick for my Halloween read this year.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Coraline is one of the rare Neil Gaiman books I haven’t read yet, I haven’t even seen the film. There’s something about the blurb – describing the story as ‘a nightmarish game’ taking part in ‘an alternate world’ to create a ‘chilling novel’ – that makes me want to pick it up right away. Plus if it’s anything like the books I have read by Neil Gaiman I’m sure to love it.
Beware the Wild by Natalie C. Parker
The blurb has me hooked even before I saw the gorgeous cover. Sterling loses her brother when he runs towards the swamp and away from her, later a girl emerges whom everyone tells Sterling is her sister, a sister she never had before. This book sounds creepy, and with the backdrop of Louisiana, full of magic and danger as well.
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
This is a book that I only recently discovered, and recently added to my to-read list as well. Changelings have always seemed like a bit of an unexplored topic but this book sounds brilliant, and if the cover alone doesn’t freak you out a little then you’re less easily scared than I am.
So what do you think? Did you take part in this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, if so let me know what you picked for this week’s themed free-for-all, or what creepy books you plan to pick up this Halloween are.
I really didn’t like A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. Am I the first to think this?
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I’ll admit I haven’t seen many negative reviews for A Monster Calls but I don’t think you’re the first. We can’t like every book we pick up can we? 🙂
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Anna Dressed in Blood and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer are both excellent. I just read the 2nd book in the Mara Dyer series yesterday and was left ready to scream because of where she ended it.
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Plenty of people have said similar things about the Mara Dyer books so now I can’t wait to get around to them! And I’m probably going to need to buy the other two so I can binge was the whole series, it sounds kind of cliffhanger-y. 🙂
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A Monster Calls Broke my heart 💔 I really enjoyed Miss Peregrine’s! Anna and Mara Dyer are two of my absolute favourites so I hope you love them too 😀 I really want to read the rest of the books you have on here! I read Coraline forever ago, but I don’t think I read it at the right time so I really want to give it a reread because I think I might appreciate it more now. Great list, Beth!
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I was the same with A Monster Calls, it was such a moving book! And yeah I wasn’t as massive fan of Miss Peregrine’s during the first book but the second and third were just amazing! I hope so too, I’ve heard nothing but great things about them so I can’t wait to get started. 🙂
Coraline sounds amazing, and really creepy as well. I’ve heard good things about it and I’ve loved the other Neil Gaiman books I’ve read so that’s always a plus. 🙂
Thanks Lauren! ❤
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Great list! I didn’t really enjoy Miss Peregrine’s – but it sounds like I need to give the second book a chance!
My TTT: http://girlaboutlibrary.blogspot.com/2016/10/five-haunting-books-you-should-read-top.html
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Thanks so much. Yeah I wasn’t a massive fan of the first book but the series gets a lot better with the second and third so I’d recommend giving it a second chance if you’re willing to.
Thanks for the link, I’ll definitely check out your TTT! 😀
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Mara Dyer was absolutely creepy! I loved A Monster Calls too, it actually made me cry. Right now I’m reading Coraline and it’s so good so far!
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I’ve been hearing a load of amazing things about Mara Dyer so I’m really excited now to get started on it! A Monster Calls was an emotional read for me too, and I hope you enjoy the rest of Coraline. That’s a book I’ve heard great things about as well! 😀
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Love your list! I can’t wait for you to read Mara Dyer and Coraline, both are so great, especially Mara Dyer, but you know I can’t shup up about that series hahaha. 🙂
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Thanks so much Marie. ❤ Mara Dyer (the first book at least) is on my to-read list for next month so you'll be able to see what I think of it very soon! I hope I enjoy it as much as you have! 😀
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I can’t wait for You to read It, hope You will love It!
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Same here! 😀
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No Halloween in France, at all. Shops do try and decorate a bit sometimes but that’s all. Having a real Halloween is on my bucket list! Miss Peregrine was on my TBR because of the Hype or Like group but I never got around to reading it. I did not know Vassa in the Night, I prefer creepy to scary so it sounds like I could enjoy it!
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I’m kind of feeling the Halloween vibe a little this year (I’m much more excited for Christmas already though!) but it’s just not a big deal over here. Honestly I haven’t even seen any decorations in stores or anything.
Maybe you’ll be able to get around to Miss Peregrine’s soon then. 🙂 If you enjoy creepy over scary you should enjoy that series. And I hope you enjoy Vassa as well, it’s a good book but I think there are a few mixed reviews for it.
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Although Halloween is a bigish deal here I actually had never gone trick or treating until I was around 17, I think. So I’m with you on that. My family never really celebrated it so my Halloweens consisted of scary movie marathons more than anything 😂. I think the only one’s I’ve read on your list are Miss Peregrine’s and Mara Dyer both of which have the best dark/Halloween type feel. I adore them both so much. A lot of the others are on my TBR. I especially want to read The Replacement because I’ve heard great things about it. And Beware the Wild sounds interesting so I’ll have to add that one. Great picks, Beth! 😊
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Yeah my parents were never a fan of trick-or-treating so they never took me or my sister and now I’m older I just don’t get what the big deal about it is. Ohh, a scary movie marathon sounds cool, I may do that this year. I may not read many horror books but I have a fair few light horror films I enjoy. 😀
Miss Peregrine’s definitely has a dark Halloween feel, and while I haven’t read Mara Dyer yet I’m excited to get started on it, especially hearing how much you’ve enjoyed it too! 🙂
I’m looking forwards to starting The Replacement, hopefully soon, I’ve heard some good things about it, and same with Beware the Wild as well. I hope you enjoy them both as well Melissa, and thanks! ❤
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Scary movie marathons are the best! Although I always end up really freaked out 😂. I hope you have fun with your marathon if you end up doing it. I’m thinking of binge watching some Stephen King movie adaptations since I haven’t gotten around to picking up The Shining again.
I really hope you enjoy Mara Dyer. 😊
Hopefully we both enjoy them. You’re welcome, Beth! 💕
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Maybe some Halloween themed movies which aren’t that scary. I can’t think of many but I’m sure there are some out there. And thanks, I hope yours is fun as well. 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Stephen King movie, maybe I should get some of those.
Thanks Melissa! ❤
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I can’t think of very many either. Whenever I think of not scary Halloween movies it’s always Hocus Pocus, Halloween Town, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. All of which I still haven’t watched this year but need to. 😂
I’ve only seen The Shining and Dreamcatcher both of which freaked me out.
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Ahh see The Nightmare Before Christmas is a favourite movie of mine, and Corpse Bride as well. I could watch them because they’re not really scary Halloween films. 😀
I haven’t seen either of those but I can imagine they’d really freak me out as well!
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Coraline is really good and super creepy! I really recommend it (both the book and the film, they are a bit different, but equally good). And I’m so happy that you mentioned Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Halloween specials! They are hilarious.
My TTT if you want to check it out 🙂
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I do plan to read/watch both, but obviously I will read the book before I see the film! It sounds like a really creepy story so I can’t wait to get started! 🙂
Oh they are, this years one was amazing and now I can’t wait to see how they top it! 😀
Thanks for the link. I’ll definitely check out your TTT. 🙂
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I just finished The Replacement and was heavily disappointed. Everything the synopsis talks about doesn’t happen until the very end of the story 😦 hope you like it better than me!
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Oh that’s a shame. I’ve seen a few good reviews for it but I haven’t looked at too many so I have no clue if it’s a book with mixed reviews or not.
I hope so too, it sounds like a good book. 🙂
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The cover for Miss Peregrine is suuuper creepy! Have you seen the movie yet? Black-and-white photographs of children always look kind of scary to me. 🙈
I also like Coraline, though I’ve never read the book and only have watched the movie. Definitely worth watching though.
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I haven’t seen the movie no, I’m thinking by now I probably have to wait for the release of the DVD but I do plan to watch it as soon as possible! Have you seen the film yet? Yeah I think that’s a reason one of my friends hasn’t picked up this series yet. I don’t mind the vintage photos, I really liked what they added to the story.
I’ve seen so many trailers for that movie I feel like I’ve practically already seen it! Yeah I do plan to watch the film, I just need to read the book first. It’s what I do with all book to film adaptations. 🙂
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I’ve seen it, yes. It was my first time experiencing the story at all though – I haven’t read the books at all, and it was… okay? Like it’s not amazing, but I enjoyed it. 😛
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Well I’m glad you enjoyed it. I haven’t seen the film so I can’t say if the books are better or not but I did really enjoy the series, do you think you’ll pick it up now you’ve seen the film? 🙂
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Probably not. I don’t tend to want to pick up books after watching the movie, and tbh I’m just not super interested in the story. 😂
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I feel the same sometimes, it’s why I normally read the book before I see the movie as a rule! 😀
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Alice is on my list, too! I love that book. I need to read A Monster Calls. I just picked up a copy (finally), so I might read it this Halloween. Great post 🙂
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Thanks Stephanie! Alice is such an amazing book, I only discovered it because of WordPress and I am so glad I did. A Monster Calls is amazing as well, I hope you enjoy it, it would be a perfect read for Halloween as well! 😀
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Nice selection here Beth! I keep seeing Alice whenever I blog hop & tbh the description you gave sealed the deal. I’ll be looking for the kindle version tonight when I settle in. That may just be a read for the lights on lol, but I’m intrigued & THAT cover! 😂😂😂 gruuuuuuesome! lol I have the first 2 books in the Mara Dyer trilogy & also would like to start it soon. A Monster Calls def has a dark & eerie tone to it, I’m buying the collectors edition just for the illustrations 😆
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Thanks so much Lilly. ❤ Alice is such an amazing book, but of all the ones on my list for this week it's definitely the darkest and most gruesome pick. I hope you enjoy it, and yeah it will definitely have to be a lights on read! 😀
I hope you enjoy the first two books, I've only got the first one at the moment but I'll probably buy the other two sometime soon. And A Monster Calls is amazing, I hope you enjoy it. I have the illustrated edition as well, and it's worth it just for the illustrations they add so much to the story! 😀
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You liked Vassa in the Night. It must’ve been me being a grump then. I had no idea what was happening when I decided to DNF. I’m so glad you added The Replacement to your TBR it’s an awesome book. And I just reviewed Alice and loved it so I completely agree with you on spooky reads. 🙂
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I did really enjoy Vassa but I can see what you DNF it, it was a little confusing at times and as much as I loved this book I was lost in places as well.
Oh yes, I can’t wait to get started and The Replacement, and I saw your review for Alice. I was so thrilled to see you enjoyed it as well, it’s an amazing story isn’t it? 😀
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I was beyond confused with Vassa. I also thought the writing and that prologue was a bit dense. I couldn’t connect with the story at all. I’ve read some reviews on Goodreads where the people liked the story but also felt confused in parts like you. I think you’ll read The Replacement really fast. I read it within a day. I loved it. Alice was also a good book. I had a string of Raves. I guess a few Rants were bound to happen. 🙂
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Yeah parts of it confused me but I think I was so engrossed with the story that I was able to kind of look past that, if that makes sense. It reminded me in a way of some of the other magical realism books I’ve read and loved; confusing but overall a great story.
That’s the sign of a good book then isn’t it, reading it really quickly. I’ve had books like that (pretty much every Kasie West book I’ve read I’ve flown through). Yeah, they can’t all be Raves can they?
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I love this time of the year and all the books that come with it. My favorite one is It by Stephen King – still gives me nightmares. Also, I always reread The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson or Dracula by Bram Stoker – classics!
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Yeah, it’s not celebrated much in England but I am certainly feeling the Halloween atmosphere at the moment! I’ve never read any Stephen King books, or any horror book really. The ones I included on my list this week are the furthest into the horror genre I’ve gotten, but I do have Dracula on my to-read list. 😀
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I’m currently reading Vassa, and I can’t wait to see your review! I didn’t do this TTT this time around, but I’m definitely thinking of adding some of these to my TBR list. 🙂
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In that case I really hope you enjoy Vassa as well, I’ve rated it five stars because I really loved it. What do you think so far?
Oh I have such fun with TTT posts but I’ve missed a couple of them every now and again. It’s great you’re thinking of adding some of these to your TBR list though! 😀
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I can definitely see why Vassa’s on your spooky top 10, haha. I haven’t had time to read more than 30 pages yesterday, but hopefully I’ll have some free hours tomorrow afternoon for a lazy day with a good book 🙂
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It gets creepier the further you get into it. Ahh I get days when I can’t read much, but hopefully tomorrow will be better for you and you’ll be able to fly through this book! 😀
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Oh, I forgot Vassa! And I finished it recently, too. It’s a great choice.
My TTT
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Thanks, yeah I thought it was a good fit for this week’s theme because it was quite a creepy book!
Thanks for the link, I’ll definitely check out your TTT! 😀
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