Horror novels for beginners?
Hello,
I used to love horror movies but my very graphic imagination coupled with PTSD just feed on the images to make my daily nightmares more disgusting.
But I’ve started to read the nosleep subreddit and I love it, it’s not making the nightmares stronger sooooo I think I’m good to go for books.
I’m looking for recommendations:
– one shot, no sagas please
– short stories collections accepted
Important
– avoiding detailed cannibalism it’s one of my triggers, I’m ok with zombies
– no rape either. Again, PTSD and being a victim, let’s not dwell on that
– classics are ok but I’d rather read less well known gems so I’m not spoiled by popular culture.
Thank youuuuu ✨
by HauntedHautistic
5 Comments
maybe start with a light thriller or a crime novel. that being said if its light goofy horror you’re after horrorstor (the book about a haunted ikea) is iconic!
Seconding previous commenter’s rec of Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix (and his other books) for a lighter horror novel. Some of my top horror reads this year were Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig, Lone Women by Victor LaValle, The Reformatory by Tananarive Due, and Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice.
I recommend ‘American Psycho’ by Bret Easton Ellis for readers who are not faint of heart and are intrigued by satirical horror. This book delves into the mind of a psychopathic Wall Street yuppie and presents a chilling and controversial critique of consumerism and superficiality.
White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi!
I would call this *slow burn horror*.
More than mystery/suspense/thriller, but not quite outright “horrifying” either.
This book made me feel unsettled, uneasy – it’s eerie. Very Poe-esque.
My boyfriend jokes that I don’t like Horror as a genre (books/movies), and what I like is “Dread.” He’s right! A good long extended low level persistent “dread.”
Two that are pretty short but really great are Comfort Me With Apples by Katherynne M Valenti and Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin.