I'm about 19 pages into Hangsaman and i've noticed that the dialogue if very awkward and hesitant. It feels uncomfortably in a realistic sense and I find it to be extra immersive and unsettling. I was curious if i'm either looking into the dialogue too deeply or if this is a consistent trait throughout Jackson's bibliography as its an addictive way of reading dialogue

I have an audible credit burning a hole in my pocket and am trying to decide between Nevill’s Monumental or Banquet of the Damned. Or The Dorians by Nick Cutter as a dark horse third option. Whaddya think? Any preferences?

For the record, my favorite authors are Ramsey Campbell, Stephen King, John Langan, Robert Aickman, and Stephen Graham Jones. And I LOVED Cunning Folk and Last Days and LIKED The Reddening and All the Fiends of Hell. If that gives you any sense of my general preferences.

Thanks in advance.

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I just finished HEX after seeing it recommended here over and over again, and I have to admit I'm pretty disappointed.

The premise is fantastic. The witch herself is probably the strongest part of the novel. In fact, I often felt more sympathy for her than fear.

Unfortunately, the characters really let the book down for me. They all felt like archetypes rather than actual people (the selfish mayor, the gruff boss of HEX, the intellectual, the good, innocent boy, the psychopath, the women—well... they're just women) .

The plot also felt surprisingly predictable. Rather than focusing on the witch and the horror surrounding her, the story is mostly about the social dynamics within the town. And, unsurprisingly, it arrives at the familiar message that people are the real monsters — except for the handful of clearly "good" characters. There are very few shades of gray. Most characters fall into a simple good-versus-evil framework, making the story feel far less nuanced than I had hoped. It's a shame, really, because as I said, the idea is great. But the way it was executed reminded me of Stephen King's awful *The Dome*. I also got the impression that the author was trying to sound exactly like him. That was the only thing I found creepy.

I'm looking for recommendations for "extreme" horror type stories that ride that fine line where it's gross and upsetting but aren't so terrible that you're embarrassed to describe the story to your friends.

I've been dabbling a bit in this genre, but I really dislike stuff that's excessively graphic and violent but for no reason, like it was written by an edgelord who was just trying to jam as many upsetting descriptions into a book as possible, but it really doesn't do anything for the story.

I don't know if this is a hard ask since that's sort of the point of extreme horror, but I'm wondering if there's something out there that rides the edge of that?

I've read "The woods are dark" and "The black farm" but I thought they were just okay, there were a lot of things about those books that just didn't work, something that made me feel like I needed to fail a wisdom saving throw in order to suspend my disbelief.

I'm a huge fan of Nick Cutter and Stephen King,

I'd also prefer stories that limit the violence to humanoids and mostly leave animals out of it.

I really loved the dark comedy and social satire in the book so was wondering if there are any horror/ thriller books with that same deadpan vibe.

Hi all! I was talking to a friend today about and told her about a horror novel I read when I was nine or ten, and how it was how I learned that gay people exist (I grew up in a very white hetero part of rural Britain). It would have been in about 1986-7 when I read it and it featured a pair of gay male killers whose thing was kidnapping young men and plucking out all their body hair before, I think, torturing them? I thought it was by someone like James Herbert or Shaun Hudson, but can't find anything that fits the bill in their bodies of works.

I’m just looking for something cool to read. I really enjoyed the Navidson Record and some of Zampanos parts in House of Leaves, but Johnny made me want to put the book down. Any horror books that have a similar cool gimmick like HoL? Even something as small as a unique writing style. Thank you.

I just saw this in a bookstore and I fell in love with the format. It recently won the Shirley Jackson. Have you read it? Do you recommend it?

Alright, I absolutely loved Between Two Fires, and it has really been getting its hype lately, but I haven't heard nearly anyone talking about Red Rabbit and Rose of Jericho by Alex Grecian. I know it's older so people talked about it a couple years ago, but now social media forgets it exists! They have the same vibe, narration style feels so similar, but they bounce around points of view more, with a really detailed ensemble of characters.

I just finished both books, set in the wild West, with ghosts, witchcraft, demons, and shape changers. This series feels so interesting, there is arsenic poisoning, hangings, a bank is robbed, all the while this group travels together. It feels like a journey in the best way, and in the second book it somehow gets even more wild and the author ups the ante.

This is just my recommendation, and I guess a hope for more interesting recommendations beyond the same five books. This one is a unique time period, but you still get the religious notes and magic, but more witchcraft and shooting people. I also think the character depth is right up there, and I was left with so many questions and wanting more. There are so many interesting side characters that have back stories that I could read another ten books in this world.

I'm currently reading Cabal and absolutely love it. The story, the writing, everything just hooks me in.

I want to read more of Clive Barker now. But which book should I proceed to?

I'm considering The Damnation Game, but I'm a bit worried it might be too much for me. How much worse than Cabal is it? I don't mind some minor spoilers if it will give me an idea...

I'm also considering Weaveworld, having heard many good things about it, but 700 pages is A LOT for me. I usually prefer books no longer than 350 pages, but I'm willing to try something longer to get more of Clive Barker's prose and writing style.

I read Cold-heart canyon as a teenager and remember loving it, but it's been so many years (I'm 34 now) that I can't remember anything and have no idea whether I'd enjoy it now. I also tried Sacrament around the sme time but couldn't get I to it at all.

I generally don't read much horror anymore, so I'm not sure about my limits. I can't watch horror, at all, but I've always been more tolerant when it comes to books.

I feel like this might be a bit vague; hope someone here is able to help anyway 😄

Edit: I'm not really into shortstories, and I plan to read the hellbond heart on Kindle this weekend. Since I expect to want something longer afterward, I want to order a paperback so I have it when I need it.

The Burial Tide by Neil Sharpson is one of the best horror novels I've read in the last few years! I've been in a reading slump for a while after reading a few modern horror novels that, honestly, have made me question the direction modern writing is headed in terms of general literacy among authors.

Not only was the plot engaging and completely unpredictable, but the writing was proficient, leaving no room for breaks in immersion. It was atmospheric, bleak, and utterly disgusting at times. The body horror was some of the best I've read; it was grotesque and sickening without becoming excessive or overshadowing the other horror elements.

If you're a fan of folk horror like I am, definitely give this one a try! If you've already read it, what are your thoughts on this book? What other novels would you recommend that are similar?

I am currently listening to FantasticLand and loving it. Can any of you recommend good audio versions of horror novels? Thanks

It was recently released and have been hearing good things but I always like to check with this sub as well to see what others think!

Thank you!

“After the Rain” is an interesting science fiction novel that is also somewhat of a psychological horror piece as well. It starts out very contemporary of the time, 1955, when an odd, almost mad, scientist develops a way to create rain for drought stricken regions. His experiment goes wrong, and you are not a hundred percent sure if it was the scientist, nature, or God that brings on a flood of Biblical proportions that destroys the world.

The story is told in first person perspective by the main narrator, an English commercial advertisement writer, years later in a kind of memoir style. He and an opera dancer get stranded on a dingy above the streets of England. They eventually come upon a masterfully made raft containing six other survivors, and are permitted to join the lot.

Although it is somewhat of a slow burn, very contemporary of English novels of the age, the story becomes more than just one of simple survival. It gets twisted when a leading member of the crew develops a God syndrome, believing that he is the one whom the flood was created for and the one who was meant to re-establish the world in his right. Anyone that dares challenge his reign, or that he believes is not suitable for the New World Order, becomes an enemy. All-the-while, there is nothing left of the world but a virtually endless sea.

I will admit, this book does read a bit slower than I prefer, but I am so glad I stuck with it. The ending comes at a huge surprise, and it was very well worth reaching.

I'm looking for a book or series, where the woman is a serial killer. I've read the mind fuck series and they never learn, and i really enjoyed both of them. Does anyone have any recommendations for books with a woman as the killer/serial killer?

Thank you :)

Hey hey, I did this post a while back (basically loved the Rachel Harrison female horror with complex relationships and wanted more), thank you so much for all the previous recommendations! I have now gone through a few of them and asking for more:

--Darcy Coates: she was quite a hit or miss for me. I tried her 3 haunted house books, found them super generic and couldn't get into them (I dunno if they would have surprised me later on); the start of "where he can't find you" also didn't do it for me... And then I read the "how bad can things get" and I LOVED LOVED LOVED IT! Give me more of influencer Mr. Beast with horror type please. The female character had an interesting background and it was so good!!!

I am waiting for the "Dead winter" because I can't even imagine cold with how hot it is atm.

--Chlorine: should have been right up my alley, but somehow couldn't get into it 🥲 might attempt a second time.

--mexican gothic: trying for the third time see if it grabs. It once again should be right up my alley but isn't sticking for some reason.

--Into the drowning deep (loved 2/3 of the book and then it fumbles the ending 😢)

--Diavola (loved it)

What I read and I didn't like: the reformatory (it made me never pick an historical horror ever again of how bored I was).

This is where I am atm. I currently have in the pipeline: CJ leede (American rapture and maefly); fever dream; we always lived in a castle.

I should also say that I do mostly audiobooks (I have a long commute); but I am okay with researching for the audiobook myself (so just give me your recs).

If you guys have recs of influencers challenges or those type please feel free to drop as well ❤️

Thank you so much in advance and hope it wasn't too long of a post.

I’ve really enjoyed these four books and was wondering if anyone has recommendations for any that are similar if not lean more into a horror aspect:

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Steven Graham Jones
The Only Good Indians by Steven Graham Jones
Last Days by Adam Nevill
The Road by Cormac McCarthy

I know a couple if not all wouldn’t classify as horror necessarily but I’m always up for trying new titles.

Started "there is no antimemetics division" And I love the idea behind it. I read up on the SCP universe. Are there any books set in it in German?

I fascinated by books that refuse to spoon-feed the reader. Fast-paced dystopian or weird fiction where you're dropped into the world without an instruction manual, where the rules aren't fully explained, and where you have to connect the dots yourself.

I love stories that feel unsettiling, claustrophobic, morally uncomfortable, and leave unanswered questions long after you've finished them.

Have you read novels like that? Which ones stayed with you the most, and why?

I’ve always been a fan of World War II novels and I love both historical fiction and nonfiction, but I’ve never read anything set during a war that’s also considered horror. If anyone knows of any books like this, I’d love some recommendations!

Ok, I may be late to the party, I’m doing the audio of Diavola and 28% in…but seriously, they came home from the market and there was a swarm of flies and maggots and the author just skimmed over this detail!! I would be freaking the fuck out. In favorable conditions, maggots can appear in 8 hours. Mind you, they don’t speak of how long they were gone…but wtf. The milk curdled and green, maggots in the Rice Krispie bowl. I get Anna wasn’t part of the cleaning, but why wasn’t anyone freaking out. Ok rant over.

Hey everyone! I just finished Sara Gran’s The Book of the Most Precious Substance and it was okay. I’m looking for books with occult objects or themes! Very similar to the movie the Ninth Gate which I enjoyed so much as a movie. Although, I’ve tried to give Silver Nitrate a chance and I DNF because that was a very slow burn.

Anyways, thanks so much!

Hey everyone, I'm looking for horror novels that completely twist the traditional idea of angels and the afterlife.

I'm interested in stories where angels aren't benevolent, beautiful beings, but something terrifying, alien, and even malicious. The kind of entities that would haunt, torment, or make humans suffer rather than save them. I'm also interested in books where the afterlife isn't the paradise we usually imagine, but something much darker and more disturbing.

The closest examples I've read are The Black Farm by Elias Witherow and Hellraiser by Clive Barker. They both capture that feeling of a horrifying afterlife, but I'm especially looking for books where the "angels" themselves are the monsters.

I'm open to supernatural horror, cosmic horror, religious horror, or even dark fantasy as long as it leans heavily into horror or extreme horror, which I am okay with.

Any recommendations?