Booktok Horror Recommendations Novels & Stories

“Louis?” Her soft voice pulled me from my melancholy thoughts. I tilted my head, looking over at her as she chewed on her straw. “Yes?” “What kind of movies do you like?” She asked, her shoulders were stiff as she tried to make conversation. “I like horror movies, right now I’ve been binge watching this vampire show.” “Oh, the one based on those books?” “Yeah, Maberry’s one of my favorite authors.” I said with a smile, “I’ve got all of his books.”

“Anything really. I like thrillers, horror, fantasy… and my favorite book… well, that depends, I guess.” “On what?” “What genre we’re talking about? In fantasy, I have to go with the classic Lord of the Rings. Neil Gaiman is another favorite, and of course, in horror, you can’t go wrong with Stephen King.” “Wow, impressive,” I replied, and Shaun looked almost bashful. “Yeah, my mom got me into a lot of that. She’s a big reader too.” We talked a little more about books before leaving the small restaurant. “Now, let’s see if we can fix our broken book,” Shaun said as he held my hand to the car.

Like I was shopping for bedtime stories instead of trying to decide whether my life had cracked open into impossibility. “Thank you,” I murmured. The folklore section was tucked into a quiet corner near a window that looked out toward the forest. Of course it did. The books there were a strange little army: weathered hardcovers, thin local history pamphlets, glossy paperbacks with titles involving moons and curses and women who looked poorly dressed for weather. I started with the serious looking ones. Northern Appalachian Folk Beliefs, Predator Myths of the American East, Silver, Salt, and Blood: Ritual Materials in Regional Lore. I pulled them down one by one, making a stack against my che

But would they help me protect Orion and seek revenge? I roamed around the library, picking out books from several different sections. A hefty stack was piled in one arm by the time I’d finished—for now—and I narrowed my selection down to three. No pleasure reading this time, I was on a mission. One was a text on abnormal supernatural biology. Another covered the mythology of chimeras, strange creatures featuring numerous animal and human parts. The last was a history of dark witches. After stashing the remaining books on a side table, I climbed back up to the third floor and eased into the hall. The corridor was empty and quiet except for… Was that music?

Maybe she could ask Zoran if she could spend a couple of hours here every day. Walking down the isles, she noticed all kinds of books. Some on witchcraft, others on vampires, elves, unicorns, dragons.. everything she’s ever read a fantasy book about, there was plenty of information on it. Just as she was going back to the first floor to wait on Zoran, she saw it. The werewolf section. She couldn’t control herself. She had already glanced at all the other books but those. Slowly, she made her way over, looking at all the titles and covers. Finally, she found what she was looking for. Reaching up, her fingertips grazed the spine as a hand grabbed her wrist.

I picked at a golden slice of fish, savoring the rich, tangy taste before looking over at the book still sitting beside Kira’s seat. "What are you reading?" "Something on mystical creatures forged with witchcraft," she said between bites. "I’m hoping it might help us identify the giant serpent, but so far, there’s no mention of it." I chewed slowly, my gaze falling to the intricate cover of the book. "Nothing about a snake that kills everything in its path?" "Not yet. Just banshees, shadow beasts, some hybrid ghouls, and this weird chapter about moon-cursed wolves." I raised an eyebrow. "Sounds delightful."

The word burned in his mind like a brand. He stalked past the familiar sections—Werewolf Histories, Lunar Cycles, Pack Law—until he reached the dimly lit alcove marked "Supernatural Relations." His claws pricked his palms as he yanked out the first relevant tome: The Bewitched & The Beastly: Supernatural Attractions. The wooden chair protested as he threw himself into it, the lamplight casting jagged shadows across the pages. Dust motes swirled around him as he flipped to the chapter on witches.

Whatever it was, I didn't care but of course, I knew there was something more. I opened the book flipped through the old pages and dread settled thick within my heart. This wasn't just some quack book you could buy on A****n or any local book store. This was the real deal and I could feel the presence of evil as I bent over to examine the pages. There was a section on human sacrifices and spells. There were so many different sections about occult practices that were unspeakable and gruesome.

Surprisingly, I don't find the idea disturbing. Feeling boredom as it sets in quickly, I make my way over to the bookshelf. I start to peruse the titles and am shocked at what I find. I see the House of Night Series, The Twilight Series, Forbidden Knowledge, Harry Potter Trilogy, and various books on Military Protocols all with black covers. The books are all in good condition too. Not interested in any of the military books I reach for the first book in the House of Night Series. As I take the book over to the couch to settle in, the door swings open.

But he wasn’t. After moments of thick silence, Caitlin couldn’t take it anymore. She had to know. “Is it real?” she asked, cutting right to the chase. After a long silence, Aiden finally turned. And slowly, he nodded. Caitlin couldn’t comprehend what was happening. He was confirming her reality. This book. It was real. Everything was real. “But how is that possible?” Caitlin asked, her voice rising. “It talks about the most fantastical things. Vampires. Mythical swords. Shields. Antidotes. It’s thousands of years old—and it’s all in my handwriting. None of it makes any sense.”