October is (unsurprisingly) when I read the most scary stories. Even in years when I choose not to read horror novels specifically, it's still the month when I read more stories about ghosts and witches and goblins. It's unsurprising, then, that my TBR for this month consists mostly of horror stories and other Halloween-y type books. I also tend to read a lot more anthologies in October for some reason, so there are a few books on this list that are collections of short stories.
A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan. The description on Amazon is as follows:
"Brittany, 1821. After Grand-mère Ursule gives her life to save her family, their magic seems to die with her.
Even so, the Orchires fight to keep the old ways alive, practicing half-remembered spells and arcane rites in hopes of a revival. And when their youngest daughter comes of age, magic flows anew.
The lineage continues, though new generations struggle not only to master their power, but also to keep it hidden.
But when World War II looms on the horizon, magic is needed more urgently than ever - not for simple potions or visions, but to change the entire course of history."
Nightmare Escapade: A Horror Anthology by Waylon Piercy
At some point, everyone fears the dark, and the things that lurk within it!
In these eight stories, people are forced to confront their personal horrors, and no one emerges unscathed.
The little boy who is convinced that something sinister stalks him...
The weary soldier who runs afoul of a terrifying stranger...
The man whose vacation is disturbed in a most unwelcome fashion....
The former cop who finds himself caught up in the search for a missing child...
The young woman who finds herself trapped in a dark cellar following a tornado...
These people, and others, each embark on their own dark journeys within these pages. Join them, won't you?
The Scarred God by Neil Beynon
The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror 2018 Edition edited by Paula Guran
This is an anthology of, as the name says, dark fantasy and horror. The 2019 edition won't be released until November, so I've been saving the 2018 one for this year. I like short scary stories, partly because of my love for Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark from when I was a kid and partly because I sometimes find fully length horror novels a little boring.
At some point, everyone fears the dark, and the things that lurk within it!
In these eight stories, people are forced to confront their personal horrors, and no one emerges unscathed.
The little boy who is convinced that something sinister stalks him...
The weary soldier who runs afoul of a terrifying stranger...
The man whose vacation is disturbed in a most unwelcome fashion....
The former cop who finds himself caught up in the search for a missing child...
The young woman who finds herself trapped in a dark cellar following a tornado...
These people, and others, each embark on their own dark journeys within these pages. Join them, won't you?
The Scarred God by Neil Beynon
Anya longs to follow in the fabled footsteps of her warrior grandmother. But when the forces of the corrupt Scarred God raid her village, she fears she doesn’t have the stomach to wield the cold steel. Captured, her only path of escape is to commit an unthinkable act of bloodshed…
Guilt-ridden over her first kill, Anya vows to rescue those still held for sacrificial slaughter. But before she can set the captives free, she must survive a bewitched forest by tying her fate to its shadowy guardian. To defeat the Scarred God, the unlikely pair seek a rival deity whose twisted motives could lead to the realm’s liberation… or its doom.
Can Anya unleash her inner hero before the vengeful gods destroy the world she loves?
I'm not sure if the last one really fits with the theme of the others, but the premise does intrigue me and I'm hoping to read it sometime this month.
Those are my TBRs for October. What are yours?
I'm not sure if the last one really fits with the theme of the others, but the premise does intrigue me and I'm hoping to read it sometime this month.
Those are my TBRs for October. What are yours?
Oooh The Scarred God looks really interesting! I like this list. I haven't heard of any of these but they look perfect for the season.
ReplyDeleteI started reading The Scarred God today. Pretty good so far, I'll let you know how I like it
Deleteintested in a secret history of witches and the anthology! cant wait to see whether you enjoy them or not! :)
ReplyDeleteI'll let you know!
DeleteNice to meet you. I look forward to your #Blogtober posts. Im also doing a 20 Books for Christmas reading challenge. Hope you'll join in that too.
ReplyDelete