Oh the Horror
Explorin the unknown, diving into fears, and providing insight on the genre fiction of horror books.
What is Horror?
Definition and Subgenres
The horror genre:
Horror books invoke a feeling to readers, that feeling emotion can manifest in may forms, usually fear or dread of the unknown. Something is off, something is wrong, something is looming in the darkest corner and the deepest shadow. Waiting for the turn of a page. Horror feeds off fears.
The horror genre is ripe with subgenres, for fears are many. The unexplained phenomena can take many shapes, form in ways that draw the reader further into the darkness. The subgenres can overlap, merge and horror plays well with other genres such as dark romance, thrillers, mysteries, fantasy, or inspired by true crime.
Latest Posts
Resources
explore more resources dedicated to horror genre.
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Please note: I am not affiliated with any of the websites listed below.
Websites
Featuring paperbacks from the 70s, 80s, and 90s era, not the most frequent updates but a fun collection of unique pop cult paperbacks
Horror Books Recommended by Stephen King
The Bruce County public library posted a complied a list by the King of horror Stephen King of titles he recommends or inspired him and his writings.
Book reviews focusing on new and old horror titles by Rich Duncan
Looking for the newest horror books of 2025? Jumpscares provides a month by month list of horror titles with book descriptions
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Paperbacks from Hell by: Grady Hendrix
This resource focuses on genre paperbacks from the 70's and 80's eras with exploration of subgenres including: Creepy Kids, When Annibnals Attack, Gothic and Romantic and Splatterpunks, Serial Killers and Super Creeps.
Classic Horror Writers by: Harold Bloom
This resource focuses on literary horror fiction with historical authors and bibliographies. Early authors from 1700 and 1800's and critical reviews of the writing styles of the authors covered from this time period
Books Cont.
101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered by: Sadie "Mother Horror" Hartmann
If you are looking for recommendations of modern horror novels then this may be a useful read. The chapters include themes such as Paranormal: Haunted Houses, Ghost, Creatures and Crypids. Human Monsters, Supernatural, and Natual Order Horror. There are author spotlights as well. The book develops icons for things like Book to Move, cults, Dark Academia, Gothic, ect and includes Horror Tones (atmopsheric, bleak, blood-soaked, humorous) and Styles: (Abstract, Brisk paced, critically aclaimed, dual timelines, ect)