5 Spooky Books for October
With October upon us and Halloween just around the corner, sometimes it’s to take a break from classes and find a cozy spot on campus to sit with a cup of tea and a good book. Here’s a list of five spooky books for this month that you can read to unwind from midterms or enjoy over Fall Break!
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Witches? Vampires? Daemons? Say less! A Discovery of Witches is the first novel in the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. It is a modern-day fantasy series that follows historian and witch Diana Bishop, a descendant of Bridget Bishop of the Salem Witch Trials, and Matthew de Clermont, a couple hundred year old vampire. This series has almost everything you could want, including romance, history, time-travel, supernatural beings, LGBTQ+ representation, and magic. Did I mention that the first book also takes place around Halloween? Perfect for October!
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
This wouldn't be a list of spooky Halloween books without the mother of sci-fi herself, Mary Shelley. A classic novel from the early nineteenth century, Frankenstein is considered to be one of, if not the first, science fiction books to ever be written. The book is about Victor Frankenstein, a scientist from Geneva who is determined to prove he can create life. By meddling with uncontrollable forces of science, Victor creates his monster. The story is told in multiple perspectives following both Victor and the events that happen in his life, as well as the monster and his search for his creator.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Verity takes a step away from the supernatural and enters the realm of psychological thriller. Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling author takes up a job as a ghostwriter for best selling author, Verity Crawford, who recently suffered a tragic accident and has been in a vegetative state ever since. Lowen moves into Verity’s house, along with Verity’s husband, Jeremy, and son, Crew, where she is supposed to review Verity’s notes and continue writing her series. However, as a romance between Lowen and Jeremy begins to brew with Verity just a floor above, things may not be as they seem. Lowen finds a secret manuscript in a drawer of Verity’s desk and begins to wonder just what type of monster she may be working for.
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
This 1872 vampire novel is a forgotten classic, predating the work of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Considered to be one of the first vampire books, Carmilla takes place in a remote Austrian castle. In that castle, buried deep in the forest lives Laura, a young woman caring for her sick father. The two are unexpectedly visited by a strange guest named Carmilla, who is irresistibly charming and mysterious. In recent years, Carmilla has been described as an incredibly sapphic, gothic romance and the original vampire novel.
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
If you’re looking for a book of progressive feminist theory disguised as a fantasy story about witches and the power of sisterhood, then this is the book for you. The Once and Future Witches takes place in the fictional city of New Salem in 1893 as the estranged Eastwood sisters are reunited. The three sisters, raised on their family history of magic and witchcraft, enlist themselves in New Salem’s women’s suffrage movement which quickly escalates into a witch’s movement. The sister’s, hunted those who stand against witchcraft and change, go beyond what is considered acceptable for decent women of the time to bring about change. This story dives deep into female roles of the late nineteenth century as well as what it means to fight for what you believe in. The Once and Future Witches has a very gloomy and witchy aesthetic that is perfect for this time of year.
As with all books, please be sure to check any trigger warnings before reading. Some of these stories contain content that may be triggering for readers.
Mia Martino - Staff Writer