You’re at crunch time. That book lover friend or family member who loves the darker side of things still needs that perfect gift. You’re lucky, I did one of the most difficult challenges this year and narrowed down my Top Five Horror books for you. These are in no particular order as there was no way I could get that nuanced. I read A LOT of good horror this year. In fact, I had almost 20 books on the original list, but the books below left me with brain worms. These are the five that randomly sneak into my consciousness, or subconscious, when I least expect it. Let’s dive in…
In the Eyes, In the Shadow by Gage Greenwood
Released this year, In the Eyes delivers one of the most moving grief horror stories I have ever read. From page one I felt for Jackson and the rollercoaster he was on. The hits don’t stop coming. Some of you may have read the review I wrote on this book earlier in the year. Coming in at just around 280 pages, Greenwood delivers more than grief, but a twist on a ghost story that still has me terrified of my own OCD and obsessions. It’s fast-paced, like a 1990’s Buick going downhill with the break line cut. There is no stopping death once it looks back at you. It is time to accept the consequences of our actions.
Good Boy by Thomas R. Clark
The 5th Anniversary Edition of Good Boy was released this fall, bringing refreshed art and a new forward by Lisa Vasquez, editor-in-chief of Memento Mori Ink Magazine. There is also a beautiful remembrance at the end by Clark. So, if the passion sandwich doesn’t bring you tears, the story certainly will. While this is a dystopian, splatterfolk tale, it is rife with raw emotion. The protagonist is a terrier with the heart of Cane Corso, and what is there not to love about that? The entire story is less than 100 pages and will leave you thinking about how to leave the world a better place, but also how to protect our furry friends.
Maeve Fly by C.J. Leede
Wow. This was another one I wrote a review on earlier this year, and it packs a punch. Leede brings us a Good-For-Her, splatterpunk/psychological, L.A. love story filled with blood, guts, and lots of questions. Thankfully many of these questions are answered over time while the reader is trying to digest what kind of human Maeve is, while trying to cope with the fact that she works at the happiest place on earth. Yeah. It’s that kind of book. The slow unravelling of Maeve is done so perfectly and beautifully that I even had to make art inspired by the insanity of it all. This one is for friends with less trigger warnings than more.
Mean Spirited by Nick Roberts
I won’t lie. I’m a Roberts fangirl. I had a hard time narrowing down which one of his books were my favorite (I read a few this year). Mean Spirited took the cake. While we see the possession trope in horror all the time, Nick throws a twist on it in the form of Conehead—a lovable, goofy dog. Most of the time. This isn’t just an exploration of what may haunt the shadows, but the darkest corners of our minds. Mean Spirited looks at the human condition and what our weaknesses and addictions can do to us and our families. Ultimately, it’s our choice to overcome the hurdle, but it doesn’t hurt to ask for help. Also, maybe side-eye your dog occasionally.
The Church Beneath the Roots by Felix Blackwell
Blackwell delivers something between paranormal and cosmic horror that has made me thrilled I live in a desert nowhere near a mountain range. This book had me feeling angry and so invested in the well-being of the characters, especially Onwé. We are not only delivered absolute terror due to an unknown presence, but due to the conditions of the residents on the reservation. Blackwell delivers this with authenticity, pulling me back to when my nana would take me to participate in events on the reservation, but not before helping close friends. This one still haunts my dreams and sometimes my waking moments when I go to the chicken coop at night.
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