Rose Bialk/The Mossy Log
Are you looking for a read that is just as horrifying as your textbooks but far more entertaining? Get into the Halloween spirit with these five unique horror novel recommendations, ranked from vampires to cannibals.
“House of Hunger” by Alexis Henderson
It all starts with an ad in the local paper. A countess is on the hunt for a new bloodmaid, a woman willing to give blood in order to provide restorative healing, to join her ranks. The protagonist, Marion, is living in filth in a small, run-down home with her brother, Raul. Raul is about as useless as a sack of rocks and spends all of Marion’s hard-earned coin. When she is told that the job includes free room and board and a hefty retirement pension, she eagerly accepts. She then arrives at Countess Lisavet’s castle, and is surprised to find a mutual infatuation budding between her and the countess. It is hard to let someone suck your blood without starting to fancy them at least a little, right? Join Marion for this horrific journey of obsession and erotic vampirism. This opportunity does not come often, so you better get the first bite.
“We Used to Live Here” by Marcus Kliewer
A queer married couple, Eve and Charlie, score a killer deal on an old house in the middle of nowhere. Shortly after moving in, they get a knock at the door. It is a nuclear family of four asking to come in and see the house, with the father claiming it was his childhood home long ago. You may want to slap the couple in the face when they do, indeed, let the family in for a tour, but trust me, you are going to want to know what soon unfolds. Each hallway leads to new realities with alternate versions of themselves and the people they love. Read this if you want to feel like you have gotten lost in a time warp that started in your childhood bedroom.
“Tomie” by Junji Ito
This horror anthology is about a young, beautiful woman named Tomie who seduces men into madness. It is written and illustrated by one of the most renowned manga authors of our time, Junji Ito. Not only is Tomie incredibly convincing, but she is also nearly impossible to kill. Have you ever wanted a gorgeous succubus to eat you alive? Or maybe you have wanted to implant yourself so deeply into the mind of your situationship that they do whatever you ask? If the answer is yes to either of those questions, you definitely need to get your hands on this collection of Tomie’s torturous adventures.
“Lapvona” by Ottessa Moshfegh
“Lapvona” is a story that I would describe as horror, not for the suspense or jump scares, but for its ability to make you think about how absolutely feral human beings can be. Moshfegh tells the story of a medieval village that suffers at the hands of its king. He incites violence and suffering without remorse, and mostly just for the drama. A sassy priest, a town wet nurse without age limits and a young boy who commits a crime upon the castle makes up the cast of this twisted tale. Have your anti-nausea medication ready here folks; I never knew how many things one man could do with a grape until I finished this story.
“Tender is the Flesh” by Agustina Bazterrica
This brutal novel is the last on the list for a reason. If you have made it this far, you may be looking for something truly disturbing, guaranteed to make your skin crawl. Well, look no further. In a world where all animals have become infected with a deadly disease, humans are forced to choose between veganism (the horrors!) or cannibalism. Cannibalism is justified through the breeding and domestication of humans kept especially for consumption. Are you sick yet? Keep reading to the end for a plot twist that will likely have you throwing this book across your room, and then into the hands of a friend to force them to endure what you just had to. I loved this book because it made me question the mental health of those who work in factory farms and what my arm would taste like.
Next time you’re lying in bed, unable to fall asleep, pick up one of these terrifying reads. Nothing is better than being too afraid to turn the page.
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