I read 140+ books this year, and I typically do an end-of-year recap of my favorites. Due to the incredibly high number of books I read this year, I’m separating my posts into horror and non-horror. None of these books are listed in any particular order.

PSYCHIC TEENAGE BLOODBATH by CARL JOHN LEE

Psychic Teenage Bloodbath is about Susan, a young girl who develops psychic powers after a tragic accident at the school dance leaves her in a coma. She uses her newfound powers to enact revenge on those who wronged her, and absolute insanity ensues.

This is an extreme horror novel, so it is FULL of gratuitous sex and gore. It’s incredibly over the top and vile, but in all the right ways. The story gets crazier and crazier with each chapter, resulting in the most cinematic, blood-soaked climax. It is a story about revenge, and I have to admit, I found myself feeling bad for Susan. Granted, she does some downright maniacal things once she starts getting her revenge, but honestly? Good for her. I would definitely suggest this book to fans of Carrie and A Nightmare on Elm Street, but I implore you, have a barf bag ready.

(Bonus points for also featuring some awesome queer representation!!)

MAGGIE’S GRAVE by DAVID SODERGREN

Looking for a claustrophobic, atmospheric folk horror story? Maggie’s Grave is the perfect book to scratch that itch. Set in an isolated town in the Scottish highlands, Maggie’s Grave tells the tale of a group of teens who accidentally resurrected Maggie Wall, a witch who has haunted their town for hundreds of years. Maggie is back, and she’s ready to get her revenge.

This book is downright chilling at times. The setting was incredibly effective; the thought of being trapped in a town that’s essentially cut off from the rest of the world, being chased by a reanimated witch, is bone chilling. Not only is the story atmospheric, but it is very violent and gory, teetering on the edge of being extreme at times. Maggie is a very solid villain. She has a pretty tragic backstory that makes you feel empathy for her, but a shiver also races up your spine when you read the descriptions of the way she looks and moves. Maggie Wall is a force of nature who refuses to hold back when it comes to getting her revenge. I would not want to be trapped in an abandoned town with her.

SISTERS OF MANCHESTER by SELENE RAFAELA KAPSASKI

I picked this book up on a whim during “Terrify Your Tablet Day” back in October, and I’m so glad I did! Sisters of Manchester follows Sonia, a transwoman looking for safety from her shapeshifting ex-boyfriend who is stalking her. She is taken in by a local women’s shelter, in which she meets a coven of witches who are looking for their fourth & final member. The coven offers Sonia the safety she’s longed for, but at a cost.

This book was such a pleasant surprise! I love witch stories, because I adore watching women discover their own power; in this case, it’s even more prominent knowing the main character is a woman who’s faced a lifetime of adversity. The dynamics in this book were especially interesting, especially since it follows a woman being indoctrinated into a coven rather than discovering witchcraft on her own. Sisters of Manchester is a story of female empowerment that will enchant horror fans, especially those who love the movie The Craft.

WAIF by SAMANTHA KOLESNIK

Waif was certainly different from what I expected based off of the plot synopsis, but I still greatly enjoyed it. This is a pretty strange little book about body modification and body image, and it delves into some rather…interesting territory to say the least.

THIS IS WHERE WE TALK THINGS OUT by CAITLIN MARCEAU

There is something about isolated horror that just bothers me. There is also something about horror involving toxic parents that just works for me. Combine those two aspects, and you get a masterpiece. This is Where We Talk Things Out is the type of book you can knock out in one sitting, because the story is so gripping that you simply NEED to know what will happen next. This is a tight, terrifying story about a young woman snowed in at a cabin with her estranged mother. What started as a weekend meant to hash out differences quickly spirals into a nightmare. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and will have you gasping until the final page.

THE PRETTIEST GIRL IN THE GRAVE by KRISTOPHER TRIANA

I saw a lot of my high school self in the characters in The Prettiest Girl in the Grave. This story is centered around a group of young girls who go to their local graveyard to play a secret game that has been infamous in their town for years. They quickly discover that they underestimated what exactly they were getting themselves into, and they soon find themselves in grave (get it) danger. One of the girls’ mothers actually played this same game many years before, and she knows the horrible consequences of playing. Can she find the girls and stop them before it’s too late?

I think Kristopher Triana really captured what it’s like to be a teenage girl who is not only juggling the thousands of changes coming her way, but who also is eager to simply fit in and belong. The dynamic and the dialogue between the girls all felt so genuine, and honestly was even relatable at times. During their trip to the graveyard and into the crypt, they are tasked with revealing some pretty intimate details about their lives; not only do these revelations constantly shift the dynamics, but they also make the reader feel more empathetic towards the characters. The crypt they enter also has an insanely tragic backstory, so this book is packed full of tragedy and despair. I know every one of us has convinced a friend to play Bloody Mary at some point in our lives, aching for the rush of adrenaline and the satisfaction of terrifying our friends. These girls embark on that same journey, but it just has much darker implications.

GOTH by OTSUICHI

Goth is a collection of short stories centered around 2 schoolmates who have a morbid fascination with serial killers and death, and they are especially interested in the strange occurrences that happen in their town.

This was a pretty solid collection of stories! I would describe the overall vibes of the book as dark, chilling, and haunting. Out of all the stories in the collection, I think my favorites were “Grave”, “Memory/Twins”, and “Voices”. These were the stories that impacted me the most and shook me to my core.

MAUL RATS by IVY THOLEN

Ginny is a high school girl who is forced to live with her aunt, uncle, and cousin while her parents are off preparing the world for Y2K. Unbeknownst to Ginny, her cousin Michelle has been left mentally unstable after a tragic event that took place at the local mall the previous year. As soon as Ginny arrives in town, a string of murders begins…and each victim is somehow connected to that very same mall. The local teens are being stalked and killed by someone wearing the mall mascot’s costume…and that person wants revenge. However, Ginny begins to wonder if the murderer is sleeping in the bedroom next to her…

This book perfectly captures the vibes of a 90’s teen slasher flick. It manages to be nostalgic without being over-the-top or ham-fisted. It kept me on my toes the entire time; I couldn’t really tell who the killer was until the big reveal. I initially wasn’t a fan of the killer wearing the costume (because the mentally imagery is admittedly very silly), but once the killer is revealed, the costume does make perfect sense. I also really loved Ginny: she’s a young, kick-ass horror fanatic…how could you not root for her? This book kicks off with an incredible cold open that took me by complete surprise, and it kept me engaged until the very end.

MAEVE FLY by C.J. LEEDE

I already wrote a pretty extensive review of Maeve Fly, so I will keep my thoughts here short and sweet. This book is incredibly strange, unhinged, and full of female rage. If you’re looking for a book that’s essentially the female version of American Psycho, look no further!

THE LAST HAUNT by MAX BOOTH III

If you were on the internet at all in the early 2000s, you’ve probably heard of McKamey Manor at some point. If you’re unfamiliar, McKamey Manor is a haunted attraction that gained internet notoriety for offering $20,000 to anyone who could complete the haunt. Participants were often pushed past their limits (and their “safe-words” were always ignored by the haunt workers), and fans would tune in to watch the torture live on Facebook. The Manor gained infamy for its brutality, and the fact that nobody has ever successfully completed the experience; it also became a phenomenon due to the fact that the haunt has had to relocate several times because it kept being shut down.

The Last Haunt is a documentary-style novella that is heavily inspired by McKamey Manor. It tells the story of a haunted attraction very similar to the one described above that comes under fire when a participant dies during her experience. The novella consists of interviews with law enforcement, former haunt workers, and survivors. The format kept the story engaging and exciting! I thought it was a great way to present this story. I also appreciated that each character had a unique voice, as that can sometimes be hard to accomplish in epistolatory stories. Overall, it’s a very fun, tongue-in-cheek book that you can knock out in one sitting.

BIGBOOBENSTEIN by JEFF O’BRIEN

I saw someone share the cover of this book on Instagram, and I knew I needed to check it out immediately. Bigboobenstein is about a girl who decides to get breast implants to impress her boyfriend, but the surgery is botched, and she’s left horrifically scarred. Unsatisfied with her operation, she decides to end her life…but she is recovered and brought back to life by the same doctor who botched her breast augmentation. With a second chance at life, the woman sets out for revenge.

It sounds like a B-movie horror flick…and that is exactly what you get with Bigboobenstein. It is insanely hilarious, but only if you have the sense of humor of a 13-year-old boy. I personally found it hilarious, but I know some people may find it crude and disgusting. Surprisingly, underneath all the sex and gore is a story about self-worth and societal expectations for women. It is heavy on the Frankenhooker and Reanimator vibes, and I say that with love!

GHOSTS OF EAST BALTIMORE by DAVID SIMMONS

I spent the first 20 years of my life growing up in Baltimore City, so when I saw a book on Kindle Unlimited titled Ghosts of East Baltimore, I instantly downloaded it to my library. This book follows Worm, a man who was recently released from a 2-year sentence in prison only to discover his beloved city is being ravaged by a new drug that’s causing terror on the streets. He decides to take matters into his own hands and tries to save Baltimore…but he has to do so before his 9:00pm curfew at the halfway house.

This book is absolutely insane. It feels like an acid trip gone horribly wrong, which is fitting, given the subject matter. It’s a melting pot of cosmic horror, body horror, science fiction, and crime noir. The author also is a Baltimore native, and you can tell because he perfectly captures the indescribable vibes of the city. His love for Baltimore oozes through the pages, and I greatly enjoyed this story!

MARY: AN AWAKENING OF TERROR by NAT CASSIDY

Mary is about, well, Mary! A woman who is beginning to experience the first symptoms of menopause, who ends up returning to her hometown in pursuit of discovering who she truly is. Upon her arrival, horrible things begin happening, and Mary struggles to uncover the history of her hometown…and herself.

That’s all I’m providing for a plot synopsis, as that’s about all I knew about this book prior to starting it; going into this book as blind as possible worked wonders for me, so I highly recommend you do the same! This is probably one of the most haunting books on this list. The story is honestly insane, and I loved the way that the story progressed and unraveled. The plot is pretty intricate, and every time I thought I knew where the story was headed, it would take another sharp turn.

Mary is an incredibly sympathetic character; it’s clear that she’s faced some suffering prior to the beginning of the book, and she continues to be tormented throughout the story. Her story is one that exposes the way that women are often made to feel invisible and unimportant all throughout our lives (but especially) as we age. It’s a somber, haunting story that will creep into your heart and stay there for a while.

DEVIL’S CREEK by TODD KEISLING

If you like stories about cults that will trigger your religious trauma, boy do I have the book for you. Devil’s Creek is a sprawling epic of both suffering and salvation. There are a few sequences in this book that managed to actively terrify me while I was reading them, but this was one of those books that occupied my mind even when I wasn’t reading it. I’d find myself thinking about the characters and the story at all hours of the day, and that doesn’t happen too often. Now, this book might have been incredibly effective to me because I attended Catholic school for 12 years, so it might not be as unnerving as I’m implying. However, this book is a masterclass in storytelling that is sure to knock any horror fan off their feet.

TASTES LIKE CANDY by IVY THOLEN

I tried really hard to avoid listing the same author more than once, but I could not choose between Tastes Like Candy & Maul Rats, so I’m featuring both! Tastes Like Candy is another slasher, in which a group of friends is being stalked by a masked killer through a carnival at night. I really enjoy books that take place at carnivals, as I think they’re a fun and interesting setting for a horror story. What sets Tastes Like Candy apart from the rest of the carnival-themed horror is that the author actually really incorporates the carnival setting into the kills, leading to some incredibly creative and gruesome deaths.

2023 has been a very productive reading year! There were so many books that I adored, which made compiling only my top 15 horror books into a list incredibly difficult. If you made it this far, thank you for the support in 2023, and I cannot wait to talk books with you all in 2024!