Top Ten Tuesday (50)

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books to Get In the Halloween Spirit

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. It’s awesome. Every Tuesday, the lovely folks over at The Broke and the Bookish post a top ten list topic so that book lovers like you and me can pour over our shelves and make our own lists. You can check out all the other Top Ten Tuesday‘s on their site!

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t’s been awhile since I indulged completely in the 100% FUN of Halloween, but I can still dig the spirit of it, guys. Any day that gives me an excuse to eat candy and a reason to watch HOCUS POCUS, which I own on DVD, one of the best holiday-themed movies of all time, is alright by me. In an effort to get myself all geared up for this spooky holiday, though, here are my 10 favorite Halloweenish books. I can’t lie, though: get ready to be smacked upside the head by Captain Obvious. (Although I am going to TRY to make this list something other than “my favorite paranormals”.)

The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle

Guys, I just finished reading this one the other day and I have to tell you: The creeptastic factor in this book is off the charts awesome. The vampires in this book are frightening. You know how vampires are actually supposed to be scary because they SUCK OUR BLOOD and are vicious, cold, undead monsters who only need us for food? Yes, no? Does any of this sound familiar? Well, the vamps in THE HALLOWED ONES will remind you.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Guys, just look at the cover for this book and tell me it doesn’t look like something creepy is going on. GHOSTLY HOVERINGS OVER SLEEPING GIRLS ARE CREEPY. Top this off with the fact that the baddy in this book is Jack the Ripper-related and you have a recipe for some solid Halloween freakiness.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

This book–Cas Lowood especially–reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows ever, Supernatural. ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD is about a kid who hunts demons like his dad did and has all kinds of feels about it. It also has a woman in white, ghosts, hauntings, witchy business, and a pretty legit villain. I still remember how creeped out I was the first time we saw him. CREEPED. OUT.

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

ZOMBIES! SO, granted I’ve only read one zombie book ever, but I think it was a pretty excellent one, full of suspense and danger. Courtney Summers never lets you or the characters forget that there are zombies just outside the door, and the tension and fear of not knowing if one of them is INSIDE AMONGST YOU is unsettling to say the least.

The Raven Boys: The Raven Cycle #1 by Maggie Stiefvater

So seriously, my review of this book is coming soon. But trust me when I tell you that this book has a totally different kind of Halloween-appropriate vibe going on than the other books I’ve mentioned so far. THE RAVEN BOYS is all about the atmosphere.  There are generally unsettling chills in this book, but what really makes it a great book for this list is vibe. It kind of settles over you as you read and just doesn’t go anywhere. It’s pretty excellently creepy.

Croak: Croak #1 by Gina Damico

Ah, finally a Halloweeny book with LOLs. CROAK is a fun book, friends. Sure, there’s definitely some paranormal business going on that is not fun at all, and, you know, the book is about REAPERS, so it’s got the cred. But CROAK is also quirky and clever. Hands down the lightest book on my list.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

What? So I have two Maggie Stiefvater books on my list. Totally deserved, friends. I know I’ve mentioned somewhere that I seem to read lots of Maggie’s books in the fall. Halloween is in the fall. The Scorpio Races themselves take place in November. Plus, the water horses are deadly and ominous. Sigh, I need to reread this one STAT.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Holy atmosphere, Batman! THE NEAR WITCH is seriously one of the most atmospheric, creepy books I’ve read in a long time. It’s got this great sense of fear and the unknown. There’s lots of mystery in this book, and reading it gives you this feeling of unease and anxiety. SUPER Halloween book.

Nevermore: Nevermore #1 by Kelly Creagh

When it comes to classic literature, I don’t think it can get much creepier than Edgar Allan Poe. I’m not such a huge fan of him, but I am a big fan of NEVERMORE. It’s got the same vibe: dark secrets, dangerous worlds, terrifying dreams.

Vampire Academy: Vampire Academy #1 by Richelle Mead

So I kept hemming and hawing over whether or not to put this on here because, honestly, it’s more of a romance in my mind than a creepy vampire book. But vampires do count for something, and there is lots of drama and secrets and danger. Also, it’s basically impossible to put down. Gripping for sure.