TOP TEN TUESDAY
October 25, 2016

It’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by the wonderful blog at The Broke and the Bookish! This week’s topic was Halloween themed so I chose Ten Reading Recommendations for Horror-Chickens. 

I … am horror-chicken. I don’t do horror, I simply cannot read ghost stories, and I don’t do much in the way of scare-your-pants off… BUT I still absolutely love Halloween and some amazing novels that are perfect reads for this spooky holiday!

HOW TO HANG A WITCH by Adriana Mather

This book was the perfect combination of Hocus Pocus meets The Craft for me! I had so much fun reading and I loved the real history that it incorporated as well. The book came to be because author Adriana Mather is actually a descendent of families involved in the Salem Witch Trials so she uses (and bends) her own family’s experiences to create the book! It was a lot of fun.
REVIEW

STALKING JACK THE RIPPER by Kerri Maniscalco

I had SO much fun reading this book! It was spooky, suspenseful, gritty, and quite clever! Kerri Maniscalco has some awesome characters in her leads and she really brings the setting to life as well! I don’t do scare-your-pants-off horror but I loved this historical horror story, bringing to life the story of Jack the Ripper (also with real history tied in here and there)!
REVIEW (to be posted on Thursday!)

THE FALL by Bethany Griffin

This is a really neat retelling of Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher! I absolutely loved the gothic-horror vibe and how the house itself was a character. It creeped me out but it wasn’t too much for a chicken like me! The perfect blend of spooky and suspense.
REVIEW

THE FIRST HORROR (99 Fear Street) by R.L. Stine

Okay, I have NO idea how these books read now but I was obsessed with Fear Street when I was a kid/pre-teen. I read these books when I was like 11 or 12 and scared myself so badly that I had constant nightmares. (My mom told me to stop reading these books and my nightmares would go away… you know, because I was 11 and couldn’t figure out why I was having them.) I remember this series and the cheerleader series the most and they were so messed up but for some reason I couldn’t get enough of them!

THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman

This was my first Neil Gaiman book EVER and I loved it! I listened to the audio (narrated by Neil himself) and it was stupendous. It’s paranormal and yes, takes place in a graveyard but isn’t really scary. I liked that it was delightfully dark and yet had a beautiful message of family and friendship throughout.
REVIEW

LAST CALL AT THE NIGHTSHADE LOUNGE by Paul Krueger

This was a really fun new adult/adult urban fantasy! Think paranormal meets demon hunters and alcohol is the magical power to defeat them. I had a lot of fun reading it! I think there could have been more world-building to really hook me but it was a fun and quick read with some zippy main characters and I loved the idea of mixology = magic!
REVIEW

BORN WICKED by Jessica Spotswood

I can’t believe I STILL have not continued this series but I really loved the first book! It was a really neat alt-history concept regarding witches and I really loved this family dynamic. I really need to pick up book two sometime because I loved the entire vibe of BORN WICKED!
REVIEW

UNSPOKEN by Sarah Rees Brennan

This is another series I really need to finish! I absolutely loved the vibe of this book and the characters were so well-developed! There were quite a few surprises that awaited me here — and quite a few feels too! I really need to find time to read the second book!!
REVIEW

HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER by Lish McBride

This was such a fun and campy horror/comedy mix! I haven’t read many books like this but I loved the horror, paranormal, gore, and humor all rolled into one!
REVIEW 

THE BODY FINDER by Kimberly Derting

Ah yes, another series that I started and still haven’t finished. But I remember enjoying this one quite a bit! I liked that it was mystery meets paranormal and this is about as close to ghost stories as I get!! Plus the friends-to-more romance surely didn’t hurt 😀
REVIEW

What are some of your favorite Halloween reading recommendations? Do any of these books top your Halloween reading list?