What’s my favorite month of
the year? It’s October! And no, it’s not because my birthday is in October.
It’s because it’s the lovely month of Halloween.
For me,
Halloween means fantasy books, inspiration, magic (figuratively), and
Halloween-themed desserts and accessories! 😊
As a blogger and writer, I
haven’t had the chance to pen stories on paper over the past year. (Yes! Lots
of stories going on in my head, but those don’t count.)
Since I haven’t been able to
do much writing, I figured it’d be great to give those who have been able to
write – about my favorite theme – a shout out and feature here on the blog.
So, if you’re
looking for books about Halloween, magic, or a bit of horror, keep reading this
post.
I will note that I haven’t
read ALL of the books on this list. But I did reach out to fellow book bloggers
for some recommendations.
Books that I HAVE read will
be linked at the title and the link will take you to my review. If it’s a book I
haven’t read, I’ll let you know.
The books are divided into
sections so scroll down to find the section of your choice. Books are divided
into:
- Halloween-themed
books
- Books
featuring magic
- Horror
books
- Fantasy
and paranormal books (not witchy or horror)
- Book
excerpts
Naturally, you can imagine
there will be some overlapping books. I’ll note that in the description that
follows each recommended read.
Last but not least, my last
blog post on Recommended
Reads for Halloween was in… 2015 apparently. This list only
includes a couple of reads from the old list but the majority of these books
were either published or read after 2016.
There are a few books on
this list that are due to be published this month. I was planning to publish this
post earlier in the month. So a couple of books were released since I started
writing this post.
Now find your
next read! If you’ve read a book that you think is worth a mention here, let me
know in the comments!
Part 1:
Halloween-themed books
Costumes
and Cadavers by Katherine Brown This is a Halloween-themed
novella that I read earlier this year. I gave it a 3.5-star rating because I
felt there were a couple of downsides with the main character. But it’s still
worth checking out if you’re looking for a quick Halloween read.
The post also includes an
exclusive interview with the author.
Cookies,
Corpses, and the Deadly Haunt by Rachael Stapleton
Cookies, Corpses, and the
Deadly Haunt is a Halloween-themed cozy mystery. It’s a
fun read that got 4 stars from me.
Midnight
Spells Murder by Mary Angela
I read Midnight Spells
Murder a while back but it seems I forgot to write down my review so that’s
on my never-ending to-do list. I do recall giving this book an overall rating
of 4 stars.
Midnight
Spells Murder is the second book in the Happy Camper
Mystery Series. It’s a perfect Halloween-themed cozy mystery. So, time to
snuggle up!
Here’s the
book synopsis:
Spirit Canyon’s annual
Spirit Spooktacular weekend is on, and for local amateur sleuth Zo Jones, it’s
boomtime for business at her Happy Camper gift shop…until a murderer drops in
for a browse.
To celebrate Halloween at
the Happy Camper, Zo schedules a talk by successful author and self-proclaimed
witch Marianne Morgan. Although Marianne’s benign brand of witchcraft is more
about feminine empowerment than black magic, her presence is still not welcomed
by everyone.
Then on a midnight stroll
home, Zo spots what seems to be a new Halloween decoration propped up outside
the Happy Camper. What she finds is not a mannequin but a dead Marianne, her
lifeless body dressed in traditional witch’s garb. But why would someone send
this good witch back to the spirit world permanently?
Soon Zo realizes that plenty
of folks have motives for murdering Marianne. What’s worse, nosy TV newsman
Justin Castle plans to broadcast a report associating Marianne’s murder with
the Happy Camper.
Zo calls on her partner in
sleuthing, local forest ranger Max Harrington, to help her find the culprit
before Justin’s report airs. Otherwise, Zo’s business just might go bust. But
to catch this killer, Zo will have to risk much more than just her reputation…
A Halloween Homicide by Tonya
Kappes
I’ve read other books by Kappes but I’m loving this
Halloween-y cover! A Halloween Homicide was published earlier this
month so it’s brand new!This looks like an exciting read combining Halloween with
a cozy mystery. Since I haven’t read this, I’m sharing the book synopsis:
If y'all love holidays, small towns, undying
relationships, southern food, animals, and a smidgen of homicide, THIS cozy
mystery series is for you.
CELEBRATE GOOD CRIMES
In book 2, Violet Rhinehammer is busy trying to keep the
Junctional Journal afloat and that includes the participating in all the
Halloween activities planned. One problem, Violet is not a fan of Halloween or
anything that comes with it. Including a haunted ghost walk.
Town folks believe Violet has woken an angry spirit due
to the nature of her snooping around into the past history of Holiday Junction.
Darren Strickland, a life-long resident, thinks Violet is
letting her imagination run away.
Violet begins to dig deeper when local law enforcement
seems to be dragging their feet, after all, she's got a hot story to uncover,
but really uncovers a buried secret along with some old skeletal bones that
gives Violet the fright of her life.
Meanwhile, Mille Kay is adjusting to spending time with
new friends and making sure she puts the southern in her new tradition even if
it includes her coming face to face with the ghost!
Part 2: Books Featuring Witches and Magic
Those who know me personally
know I love all things with a magical feel or magic-themed.
Call it magic, magick,
magik, majik, whatever you like…Here are my book recommendations for
magic-themed books including a few that are due to be released.
Bound by
Kirsten Weiss
Bound is
the first book in Kirsten Weiss’s paranormal cozy mystery series The Doyle
Witch Mystery Series. I absolutely loved this book! So, if I can recommend
a book for you this Halloween, it’s this one!
I have to warn you though,
you may end up having to read the whole series – which is on my to-do, I mean
to-read list!
Here’s an excerpt from
Bound:
Alchemy,
Arsenic, and Alibis by Shea McLeodAlchemy, Arsenic, and Alibis is
the fourth book in the 5th series by Shea MacLeod. it’s a novella-sized magical
cozy mystery with an amazing lead character.
Though it’s the fifth book in the
series, it was my first in the series. And I absolutely loved it!
After I finished it, I
picked up the first book Potions,
Poisons, and Perils, however I felt that book 4 was much
better than book 1!
My overall rating for Alchemy,
Arsenic, and Alibis is 5 stars, my review for Potions, Poisons, and Perils
was 3 stars.
Echo:
The Curse of the Blackwood Witches by
Yasmine Maher
I’m really excited about
this book not just because it’s got magic and witches but more importantly
because it’s by my friend and former work colleague, Yasmine Maher.
Echo: The Curse of the Blackwood Witches was
released on 10 October 2022. While I got an advanced reader’s copy (ARC), I
haven’t been able to do much reading in September and October so I’ll be
updating this post with a link once I’ve read and reviewed the book.
For now, here’s the book synopsis:
Master
forbidden magic, destroy an immortal enemy, and prevent the apocalypse—all
before college finals.
Echo Blackwood has no idea
she’s a witch, but after supernatural beasts attack her sister’s wedding, she
discovers her long-dormant magic, and she’s quickly catapulted into an
impossible war.
The novice witch is the only
one who can stop the immortal Jivar—but her magic hides a sinister secret. The
dark arts run through her veins, and using their power could cost her soul.
Desperate to control her
magic and uncover the truth about herself, Echo and her newfound allies must
race against time to defeat Jivar before he unleashes his fury and destroys the
world.
Can Echo use the powers of
evil to save the world? Or will fighting fire with fire only end in her ruin?
Imbued with all the
thrilling action and marvelous magic, Echo: The Curse Of The Blackwood Witches
is a riveting and unforgettable read that will sweep you up and refuse to let
you go.
Read the first
chapter of Echo by Yasmine Maher here.
The
Witches of Blackbrook by Tish Thawer
The Witches of
Blackbrook is a must-read witchy and magical read. For
some reason it reminds of the Charmed series, though it’s quite different.Here’s an excerpt from my
review:
“Quick-paced
and easy to navigate, the story is about three witches: Karina, Kara and Kenna,
who lived in the late 1600's, when magic was practiced freely. Mischief befalls
the three, when a woman tricks the elder sister, claiming her baby is ill.
After that, Karina is accused of killing the baby and being the devil's
daughter. She is sentenced to burn at the stake, where she performs a spell to
protect her and her sisters.
Karina's spell
takes the sisters, and the rest of the witches, across time, to be reborn in
different bodies every time.”
My overall rating for this
book? 5 stars!
The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait by Cleo Coyle
My first ever read for Cleo Coyle was The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait, a paranormal cozy mystery with a ghost from the 1900's!
Here's a part of my review:
“I
liked how Jack offered tips and ideas to Pen using his dream-memory technique,
while also giving her a heads-up along the way as she searches for a killer.”
The Ghost and the Stolen Tears by Cleo CoyleWhile I didn't get a chance to review this book - it was part of a tour and I was scheduled for a review - I felt the paranormal and mystery elements deserved to be featured here.
The link will take you to the spotlight post for the 8th book in the series. Each book can be read as a standalone.
Take it from me, I started the series with book 7 :)
With
Fire in their Blood by Kat Delacorte
With Fire in their
Blood is a book featuring magic and political
intrigue in ancient Italian city. The magic appears towards the middle of the
novel. Published by Penguin Books, I felt there were a few problems with this
book.I read this book as part of
a blog tour. Some people adored this book, others like me, had mid-way feelings
about it. So it’s not a 100% recommendation. By the way, it’s a first in a
series.
Love the cover though!
One
Poison Pie by Lynn Cahoon
One Poison Pie is
paranormal cozy mystery featuring kitchen witches! It was my first-time hearing
about kitchen witches, though I may have seen something similar in a movie or
TV series at some point.
“They didn’t
wear black, pointy hats or fly around the moon. Mia’s magic was more about the colors,
the food, the process of making a house a home.”
My overall rating for this
one? 4 stars
Magick
and Mayhem by Sharon Pape
Magick and Mayhem is
a paranormal cozy mystery featuring magic and …. Merlin! Yes, you read that
right! The great wizard Merlin finds himself in modern day California and he’s
discovering foods like pizza and gadgets like the iPod (and the toilet!)This is a 5-star, humor-filled,
murder mystery that I highly recommend as a Halloween read.
"Did
this man really expect me to believe he was the legendary wizard? He looked
more like a Don Quixote wannabe."
A
Charming Fatality by Tonya Kappes
If you’re into cozy
mysteries, then you’ve probably picked up one of Kappes’s books at some point. A
Charming Fatality is the 7th book in The Magical Cures Mystery
Series. It’s also my first read in the series. And that’s the cool
thing about cozy mysteries; they’re usually standalone books so you can start
where you want!
Part 3: Horror
books
Now it's time to look at some creepy books that will make the room feel colder than it really is!
Fountain
Dead by Theresa BraunFountain Dead
combines paranormal, historical fiction, and horror. If you’re looking for an
interesting read this Halloween, Fountain Dead by Theresa Braun is worth
checking out.
The book moves across two
storylines. One is in 1988, while the other is set 100 years earlier. The
common factor: A mansion.
My overall rating for this
book was 3.5 stars.
"Unbeknownst
to Mark, the Victorian planned his summer boot camp the minute he stepped onto
the property."
The Cabin Sessions by Isobel Blackthorn
I’ve not read Blackthorn’s The Cabin
Sessions but I have read a few of her other novels. Both involved
travel and one was on the paranormal side.
But The Cabin Sessions
is different. It’s scary psychology and knowing Blackthorn’s writing style, I can
bet you it’s going to be great read.
Here’s the book
synopsis:
The Cabin Sessions
brims with psychology and atmosphere.A storm is rolling into the narrow mountain pass when
hapless musician Adam Banks stands on the bridge over the river that cleaves
the remote village of Burton. The night is already blighted by an astrological
omen, and Adam thinks of turning back.
Instead, struggling against
rising panic, he resolves to fulfil his obligation to perform the guest spot at
The Cabin Sessions. He cannot let down his mentor, Benny Muir.
But bad news awaits him. And at least one fellow musician
he would rather not meet.
Told from third person viewpoints of Adam and Philip, the
town’s plumber, the evening is mapped out in slow eerie detail – that at once
manages to evoke Burton’s fanatical cult history while also acting as a
harbinger of the disaster to come.
In between these two male
viewpoints, is the delicate first-person voice of Eva, the breath holder, whose
recollections shed an unsettling light on the characters in The Cabin.
Read the first chapter of
Isobel Blackthorn’s The Cabin Sessions via The Next Chapter.
Thirty
Scary Tales by Rayne Hall
This is a collection of
short stories by horror author and writing coach Rayne Hall. Featuring various
settings and topics, the stories in this collection range from scary to
occasionally gory. There are several stories with a supernatural theme, while
some of the stories are inspired by some of the author’s real-life events.Here’s an excerpt from my
review:
“There are
tales of vampires, ghosts, magic and dreams and other supernatural elements.
They are all beautiful and enjoyable but do not compare to the pleasure and
intrigue I experienced while reading The Grey Walker, Arete, Through
the Tunnel, The Colour of Dishonour, Burning, and The
Painted Staircase – just to name a few."
Monsters
Exist (Anthology)Monsters Exist is
a collection of short stories featuring horrifying monsters, something
mythical, and some more real than others.
However, I must note that it
contains gore and adult themes. So not recommended for anyone under 18 or even
21.
It's one of the few books on this list with adult themes.
Bellamy by
Darcy Coates
Bellamy is a short horror
story by horror-only (so far) author Darcy Coates. It features a long-abandoned
children’s home. Leanne returns to Bellamy, where she was placed along with her
brother. We later learn that Leanne’s brother went missing during their time in
Bellamy and was never found. My overall rating for
Bellamy is 5 stars.
“There
was something wrong with Bellamy. Leanne had been running from it for most of
her life. It had brought her home, though. Perhaps it had always intended to.
Perhaps no one ever truly escaped the building."
Anthologies for your Halloween
Want more scary Halloween
reads? Crystal Lake Publishing has you covered! Here are 3 anthology
recommendations from them to keep you under the covers this Halloween!
I haven’t read these books
but I have read a couple of short stories for a couple of authors, though the
synopses are enticing.
Anthologies for your Halloween
Want more scary Halloween reads? Crystal Lake Publishing
has you covered! Here are 3 anthology recommendations from them to keep you
under the covers this Halloween!
I haven’t read these books but I have read a couple of
short stories for a couple of authors, though the synopses are enticing.
Shallow Waters: Special
Halloween Edition (A Series of Supernatural Stories Book 9)
This short story collection will be released on 31
October 2022 *muaaahaha*
For more info, follow Crystal Lake Publishing on
Twitter or visit their website.
Here’s the synopsis for the
anthology:
Nothing stays buried this Halloween!
Not with 18 scary tales of flash fiction filled with
Halloween goodness.
Shallow Waters is an official monthly flash fiction
contest hosted by Crystal Lake Publishing, with different themes each month.
This Halloween Horror Anthology
includes:
Introduction by Joe Mynhardt
“Mummy’s Boy” by Karen Bayly
“Tumshie” by William Meikle
“Arts and Crafts” by Madison McSweeney
“The Halloween House” by Sheldon Woodbury
“West Pennfield Township Newsletter, October 2021” by Tom
Coombe
“I Want Candy by Larry Hinkle
“Let the Darkness In” by Ricki Whatley
“Soul Cake” by Anthony D. Redden
“The Pumpkin Fetch" by Tom Deady
“Wishing” by Jay Bechtol
“One Parent Survives” by Wil Dalton
“Don’t Eat the Candy” by Matt Bliss
“The Red Scarf” by Rhea Rose
“Shackled to the Shadows” by Richard Thomas
“Apple Tree Man” by Roxie Voorhees
“Smooth Man” by Kim Mannix
“Sleepy Hallowed” by Joseph VanBuren
“How to Create the Perfect Pumpkin” by Francesca Maria
From Crystal Lake Publishing:
“This anthology is perfect for fans of
Halloween books, flash fiction, scary stories, classic horror tropes, horror
books, mystery thrillers, horror anthologies, and mystery and suspense flash
fiction stories. With a bit of dark humor and candy sprinkled over the top.”
Grab a copy of Shallow Waters via Amazon.
October's End: Halloween Horror
Stories (Dark Tide Mysteries and Thrillers Book 3)
This collection was published on 7 October 2022. Grab
your copy of October’s End via Amazon.
Anthology synopsis:
Three leading voices in modern horror take us on a
journey through Halloween in the infamous town of Clifton Heights.
DAUGHTER OF THE MISTS by Kevin Lucia
Clifton Heights’ biggest classic horror movie cinephile
finds himself plunged into the midst of his own personal horror movie
nightmare, in which he discovers how savage the classic monsters actually are.
ONCE UPON A HALLOWEEN NIGHT by Jeremy Bates
In the days leading up to Halloween night, two brothers
will discover the worst kinds of monsters are often human.
BROTHERS by Jason Parent
Sometimes, bonds between brothers are thicker than blood.
Rand wants nothing more than to be an Alpha, a member of the most popular
fraternity on campus. He convinces his best friend, Henry, to pledge with him.
Before they can join, Rand and Henry must follow the
senior Alphas’ rule: a predicament that soon leaves them humiliated,
victimized, and broken. Rand is left to face the torment alone but, hiding in
the darkness, another is willing to share it with Rand, one who promises
something more sinister than revenge...and a Halloween party the survivors of
which will always remember.
Halloween Beyond: Piercing the
Veil (Dark Tide Mysteries and Thrillers Book 4)
This collection is scheduled for release on 21 October
2022.
Book synopsis:
When the Halloween Beyond stores appear across America,
they intertwine the lives of three visitors in a web of mystery and magic.THE TALKING-BOARD by Lisa Morton
Can ancient magic exist in the modern world?
When Kayla’s sister Hailey went missing in the nearby
Ghost Woods on Halloween night, the last person to see her was the solitary,
elderly Brigid.
Kayla, who has long suspected Brigid of being involved
with Hailey’s disappearance, dreads the first anniversary of her sister’s
vanishing even as her best friend Sophie urges her to put the past behind her.
Halloween nears and Kayla pays a visit to the pop-up
Halloween Beyond store, where an enigmatic clerk named Maeve convinces her to
buy a talking-board. Kayla begins receiving messages which claim to be from
Hailey, but is it actually something more sinister calling out from beyond the
veil?
Brigid—who may be a witch—offers to lead Kayla into the
Ghost Woods on Halloween in search of answers. Kayla discovers dark truths
about herself as she and Brigid confront the terrifying supernatural forces
that claimed Hailey.
NEW BLOOD by Lucy A. Snyder
Maddie is keen for Halloween, but when she moves to a
strange coastal town, a Devils’ Night party forces her to face eldritch dangers
that threaten her entire family.
A GENTLEMAN’S SUIT by Kate Maruyama
Halloween Beyond is magic. The store’s inscrutable clerk
finds Lex exactly the right costume which somehow makes people see the
nonbinary Lex for who they really are.
It’s Lex’s last Halloween at home before college, and it
had better be good. When Lex’s father, Beto, known locally as the King of
Halloween adds an enormous animatronic Death on a boat to the collection in his
elaborate front yard haunt, Halloween night takes a deadly turn.
Lex is having trouble letting go of old friendships, of
home, of Halloween itself, but they now face the hardest kind of letting go.
This anthology is perfect for fans of Halloween stories,
supernatural, horror anthologies, classic horror, Mystery and suspense, the
occult, magic, strong female protagonists, and thrillers.
Grab your copy of Halloween’s
End via Amazon.
Part 4: Fantasy
and Paranormal Books (But not witchy or horror)
If you’re looking for
something that’s on the paranormal side but without the Halloween and magic
themes and that’s not horror, this section is for you.
Dewey
Decimated by Allison BrookeDewey Decimated is paranormal
cozy mystery by Allison Brook. It’s not a witchy or fully-Halloween-themed but
they do have a fun Halloween event in the book. There is murder and ghosts!
My overall rating for Allison Brook's Dewey Decimated is 4 stars.
Here's a quote from my review of this paranormal cozy mystery:
Vampires
and Villains by Elizabeth Pantley
This is one of my most
recent reads in 2022. Vampires and Villains by Elizabeth Pantley isn’t a
witchy book but it’s a paranormal cozy mystery featuring vampires and characters leaping into books!
I've always had my eye on Elizabeth Pantley's books, now I got a chance to read an interesting and exciting one.
The blog post also features an exclusive interview with author Elizabeth Pantley.
Road of the Lost by
Nafiza Azad
Who doesn’t
love a good fantasy? Road of the Lost by Nafiza Azad is a recommendation from fellow
fantasy author Intisar Khanani,
author of The Dauntless Path and The Sunbolt Chronicles.
You
can follow Nafiza Azad on Twitter for
more info.
Here’s the book
synopsis:
Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince, this gorgeous young adult fantasy follows a girl who discovers she’s spent her life under an enchantment hiding her true identity on her quest into the magical Otherworld to unlock her powers and discover her destiny.
Even the most powerful magic can’t hide a secret forever.
Croi is a brownie, glamoured to be invisible to humans. Her life in the Wilde Forest is ordinary and her magic is weak—until the day that her guardian gives Croi a book about magick from the Otherworld, the world of the Higher Fae. Croi wakes the next morning with something pulling at her core, summoning her to the Otherworld. It’s a spell she cannot control or break.
Forced to leave her home, Croi begins a journey full of surprises…and dangers. For Croi is not a brownie at all but another creature entirely, enchanted to forget her true heritage. As Croi ventures beyond the forest, her brownie glamour begins to shift and change.
Who is she really, who is summoning her, and what do they want? Croi will need every ounce of her newfound magic and her courage as she travels a treacherous path to find her true self and the place in the Otherworld where she belongs.
Part 5: Horror
and Halloween Excerpts
My
American Nightmare, Women In Horror
(Short story collection)
This book features a
spotlight about short story collection My American Nightmare, Women In
Horror by various authors. This was a Halloween post back in 2018 when the
book was first released. It features a short excerpt from one of the short
stories.
Daughter
of Magic by Teresa Roman (Book excerpt)
This is a book excerpt post.
I have not read the book myself. But feel free to check it out here.
Rising Tide by Claudette Melanson (Book excerpt)I've not read Rising Tide but I do know it's free via Amazon and it's the start of a paranormal horror series featuring vampires!
You won't find any glittery vampires in this books! Here's an excerpt to get you started with this series.
By the way, Rising Tide
and the rest of the series got the following awards or nominations:
2015 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner for YA Mystery
2015 RONE Award Finalist for YA Paranormal
2015 New Apple Top Medalist for Young Adult Ebook
Chosen as one of 400 for the 2nd round of the Amazon
Breakthrough Novel Award for 2014!!!
And that's it - for now!
Think I missed anything? Got books you'd like to recommend? Leave them in the comments below.
I have a few more Halloween-themed cozies on my kindle and other reads... so I'll be updating the blog till the end of the year and hopefully have new post for next year.
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