If you’re anything like me, you know the most wonderful time of the year is actually October. Although, I think horror should be read year round, October is the perfect month to break out your coziest blankets and read some spooky books. I don’t know exactly what it is that I love so much about spooky season. There’s just something about apple cider, carving pumpkins and being scared to turn your lights out at night or to walk your dogs in the dark. I’ve always loved being scared and that’s exactly what Halloween and Horror is made for. I hadn’t exactly planned on exclusively reading horror this month, but that’s what ended up happening, and I’m not complaining. I’ve been on a horror streak and it just feels so right this time of year.
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
What can I say? This book was truly disturbing, disgusting, nasty and vile. There’s just one problem, It was masterfully written and I couldn’t put it down. This book will repulse you, but it will also absolutely draw you in and will have you wondering what the actual f is wrong with you. Why are you still reading this book?
This strange twisted story takes place in a Medieval fiefdom called Lapvona. Quite possibly hell on earth, Lapvona is full of human depravity and selfish disgusting people who treat each other horribly, while frequently wondering if they will get into heaven. Marek is a strange little boy with a twisted spine and other deformities, brought on by his mother’s attempts to abort him. Marek lives with his abusive father and is desperate to be loved, unfortunately for Marek no-one in Lapvona is capable of this. The only possible exception is an elderly village midwife Ina, who continues to nurse the entire village full of grown men, and who allows Marek to nurse from her in exchange for chores. (I told you this was disturbing). Please don’t feel bad for Marek, he’s just a bad as the rest of them.
All this is just the tip of the iceberg, and things only get worse from there. If you don’t mind being completely disgusted by humanity, then by all means check this book out, but please check trigger warnings – there are many. I don’t know what kind of witchcraft Ottessa is using to be able to write a book that is simultaneously so good yet so repulsive, but she’s done it.
Red Dog Rating: 4/5 Stars.
All Hallows by Christopher Golden
It’s Halloween night in 1984 and the Barbosa’s are putting to rest their haunted woods tradition, with one last go before they are forced to sell their house and move away from Parmenter road. This novel is full of 80s horror nostalgia and it follows several different characters, all part of the neighborhood of Parmenter road in Coventry, Massachusetts. On this particular Halloween, a portal is opened, allowing strange children to infiltrate the neighborhood kids. These outsiders are creeping everyone out, and are desperately asking the neighbors to hide them away from “The Cunning Man.” On top of this, all hell breaks loose with the adults in the neighborhood as continuous drama ensues.
The backstory and lore fell a bit flat for me with this one. I did thoroughly enjoy the 80s nostalgia, which wasn’t in your face the whole time, and it read just like an 80s horror movie, which just made it a fun read if nothing else. It is quite character driven in the first half and the action and horror doesn’t really pick up until past the half way mark. Read my full review here.
Red Dog Rating: 3/5 Stars.
Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina
As with a lot of Indigenous horror, what is most terrifying about this story, also exists in reality. Sisters of the Lost Nation follows Anna Horn, who has noticed some strange things at her job as a chamber maid for the reservation’s casino. She starts to suspect that these strange occurances may be linked to several girls who have gone missing from the reservation, and then her sister goes missing too.
While there is some supernatural horror in the form of a rolling head that seeks to devour Anna, the real horror is depicted in her desperate search for her sister, in which local police are unhelpful at best and even the adults on the reservation are reluctant to take Anna seriously. Just as much thriller as it is a folk horror, the author draws on his Native American heritage and knowledge to tell a captivating tale that is all too relevant and important when it comes to drawing attention to the many missing and murdered indigenous women and girls across the US.
Red Dog Rating: 4/5 Stars
Let the Woods Keep Our Bodies by E.M. Roy
This is a sapphic horror which takes place in a small town in Maine. Leo has adjusted as best she can after losing both of her parents simultaneously. She now lives with her, protective Aunt and Uncle and sometimes it seems like she will never get out of Eston. When Leo meets Tate, they start to notice something strange going on within the woods surrounding their town. Then Tate goes missing, leaving Leo reeling and looking for clues left behind in order to find Tate before it’s too late.
Part coming of age love story, part mystery and part horror, this story was a little all over the place for me. Strange portals in the woods, conspiracy theories and random cryptids, it took a bit to long to get to the action and when it all fell into place there were still few missing pieces. In the end I felt like not everything made sense or had been fully explained and this book just wasn’t for me. I think this could work for a lot horror readers, especially those who like creepy Maine Cryptids.
I received this book as part of my first Nightworms book subscription.
Red Dog Rating: 2/5 Stars.
Schrader’s Chord by Scott Leeds
This was really just a fun horror read from beginning to end. Right from the start of this supernatural horror, we can see dead people, thanks to a set of cursed records that open the gate to the land of the dead. The catch is, whoever opens this gate must die, thus severing the link between worlds. This is what happens to Raymond Remick and it’s what will happen to his son Charlie, daughter Ellie and their friend Ana, if they can’t find a way to appease the ghostly creator of the records: Ivan Schrader.
With obvious major musical elements to this novel, it was a little bit reminiscent of The Sixth Sense and surprisingly a little bit Final Destination. Curses and haunted objects are one of my biggest fears, but I thoroughly enjoyed going along for the ride with Charlie and friends. I also enjoyed the lore behind the curse and felt that it was thoroughly explained in a satisfyingly spooky way.
Red Dog Review: 4/5 Stars
Nestlings by Nat Cassidy
Ana and Reid have nearly survived their first year of parenting, but not without its challenges. Reeling from an incident they refuse to acknowledge, and in need of a change, Ana and Reid reluctantly accept an affordable housing apartment on the 22nd floor of the Deptford building. While Ana struggles to feel like they belong in the upscale apartment building, Reid becomes obsessed with its history and celebrity inhabitants. Their infant daughter Charlie, affectionately referred to as “baby bird” is acting strange and odd bite marks begin to appear on her body. Tension builds between Ana and Reid leading up to Charlie’s first birthday, as they struggle with their roles as parents and partners. When it becomes clear that there is something very wrong with the Deptford building and its creepy crawly inhabitants, it may be too late to keep their family intact.
This was truly a great read for me and it absolutely oozed with eerie psychological horror as well as some disturbing body horror. This is not the book for you if you can’t stand bugs, or maybe it is if you really want to be creeped out. This story which is highly influenced by the authors Jewish heritage and recent personal challenges is a unique and engrossing horror that I listened to ever chance I got until it was finished.
I received access to this audiobook prior to the October 31 release through Netgalley and thanks to Macmillan Audio and Tor Nightfire. Read my full review here.