When Books Glow by Midnight. Halloween Reads

Well, well, well, what have we here? Obviously, all my Halloween-related posts will heavily feature The Nightmare Before Christmas. I promise will try not to gush too much about all its nightmarish amazing-ness. As I promised yesterday, I'm sharing with you all the creepy stories to add to your Halloween book pile. Okay, not all the creepy reads or this would be a very-long-and-certainly-infinite article. I'm just sharing some of my favourite books that give me Halloween vibes (some are hidden gems that deserve more hugs) and hopefully I'll ruin someone's book ban. *evil laugh*

As I've written a thousand time before, Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake is the perfect Halloween read (if you want to buy a copy you may use my affiliate link). The book features ghosts, witches, voodoo and ghosts hunters. All the ingredients to create a bone-chilling atmosphere. If you aren't convinced yet, here are a few more reasons why you should read it this Halloween:

• Cas, a ghost hunter, travels the world hunting for spirits that left behind enough supernatural energy to kill humans;
• Anna, the nightmarish ghost of a girl murdered in 1958, haunts this very creaky house and murders everyone who steps on it (the deaths are rather gory and bloody); 
• Spooky and blood-curling tale with macabre scenes that may freak one out and deadly mysteries to solve; 
• The writing is beautiful and enthralling;
• The romance between Cas and Anna (a romance between a human and a ghost screams Halloween love-story if there's such thing);

TRIGGER WANING! Animal death. I don't think I'll ever get over animals dying on books or films. Why do writers and screenwriters do this?! These creatures are defenceless. It's not okay to kill them!!!

I do have some issues with the ending of A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis (I won't share what bothered me because it's a huge spoiler), but I'm still hoping for a sequel. You should pick this mentally terrifying book because:

• There's a nightmarish, traumatic and dreadful Victorian asylum in which there's a lot of physical and psychological abuse. It's an accurate representation of what happened in these cold and shadowy places;
• Dark secrets, noxious murders, past demons and mysteries to unveil;
• So much heartbreak. I just want to hug Grace 💕;
• We're all mad here! This book is an exploration on madness. Who's mad? What's mental illness?
• Also, it features criminal psychology. Dr. Thornhollow is a lovely weirdo. Even though there's no romance or whatsoever in this book and Grace and Thornhollow were always battering, there were a few moments I shipped these two (another reason why I need a sequel! I must know about the future of these two). 

Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London was published when dystopian/apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic novels were on their peak (can we go back to those times? I miss some good dystopian novel) and because of such it became a hidden gem.

Why should you read this hidden gem this Halloween?

• A new world order rose after a bloody war between humans and vampires. Humans are owned by the vampires (they must give their blood to the vampires) and live in perpetual fear;
• Vampires. I know they aren't popular monsters/fantastic being these days, but vampires still deserve some love;
• A decrepit and ramshackle world;
• Vampire attacks = Scary moments = Blood!

Downside: The usual YA clichés and stereotypes. A special cornflake, high school drama with a mean girl included and the hated love-triangle. But if you can get over it, it's quite a good story. 

I could recommend a classic Gothic story, but a Gothic retelling sound so much more fun, right? Also, who hasn't already read most of the classics? This is another hidden gem (I mentioned it before on Top Ten Tuesday) and I hope I can convince you to read Cadaver & Queen by Alisa Kwitney.

You should read this Frankenstein retelling because,

• It's set on a Victorian Gothic building. The story is set in a church turned into a medical school, Ingold. As any Gothic building, it's chilling, full of hidden secrets, suffocating passageways and things crawling between the walls;
• The creepy things are Bio-Mechanicals, human beings that went through an "unmastered" revival process and are now empty minded servants - apart from Victor Frankenstein who still has his wits;
• Haven't I told you that Victor is an undead creature? Yes, he's and Elizabeth takes front stage.
• Female power! Elizabeth defies conventions. She travels alone to Ingold to study medicine in a all-boys school. She fights for GENDER EQUALITY! 
• Twisted Gothic tropes. No more damsels in distress that pass out after listening to an owl or seeing the shadow of a cat.

No list of mine will ever be complete without mentioning Victoria Schwab (or V.E. Schawb). Without longer delay, these are the reasons why This Savage Song is a perfect Halloween read:

• MONSTERS! Corsai, Malchai, Sunai will make you shiver. There's this creepy lullaby (if I can call it a "lullaby") that describes how deadly these creatures born of human violence are;
• A dark, dangerous and fractured world;
• Monsters, humans and monstrous humans. It makes you think about the dark side of humanity and what means to be human;
• August! He may be a Sunai, but he's a bookworm. Who doesn't want a bookworm monster in their life? Definitely the perfect book boyfriend;
• Violence, death and bloodstained scenes;
• Friendship. August, a monster, and Kate, a human, build a friendship and become allies - even if she's an Harker and he's a Flynn. Also, no romantic vibes! Just a very well written friendship between a boy and a girl. 

What are some of your favourite spooky reads? 

Have you read any of these books? Loved? Hated? Any favourites?

Which books do you think should be featured on a Halloween book pile?