My Chilly TBR Horror List
A List of Five Horror Books I’m Eyeing for My Next Snowy Day In
We recently got hit with our first major snowfall. It was a Friday night, as the first round of flakes started making their way down, and all weather announcements were saying it was to last all weekend. The week before, my partner and I had visited some international markets, so our cabinets were loaded with all the snacks, our couch was piled with blankets, and I had all the cold brew I needed. Add some games, and we were set up for one cozy winter weekend inside. But on Saturday, as I watched the heavy flurry of snow fall, I realized I was missing something. This was the perfect setting for a new creepy book, and I was fresh out.
So to make sure I’m prepped for the next snow day in, I made a list of my next reads - all horror themed and all set in the snow. Gotta keep to a theme, right? Let me know if one of these caught your attention or if you have a recommendation I might have missed.
Stolen Tongues
by: Felix Blackwell
A romantic, scenic getaway into the mountains turns unsettling as screams and whispers begin emanating from the surrounding woods. Trying to enjoy their vacation, Felix and Faye do their best to chalk it up to their imaginations. But when a dark figure begins appearing at the tree line, things take a darker turn as it seems to be contacting Faye in her sleep.
This one is HIGH up on my list. As I’ve stated multiple times, I’m a creepypasta girly, and Stolen Tongues is an award-winning pasta from Reddit's No Sleep forum. I stumbled upon it by accident, though, when I was looking through YouTube for something to listen to while working on an art piece. I wish I remembered who did the reading because it was GOOD! I was so sucked into the story that I abandoned the art piece just to fully immerse myself.
So when I discovered Felix turned it into a full novel, I was ecstatic! I can’t wait to see what new twists and turns and new details were woven into the tale.
Below
By: Laurel Hightower
Two strangers must trust each other to survive a late-night ride through West Virginia, where a deadly snowstorm and a winged creature are out to get them.
I’m not even going to lie to you about this one. I plan on reading this for the Mothman. The premise of the story sounds beyond interesting, and I think it would genuinely be something I’d eventually grab. But as soon as I realized Mothman might be the prime antagonist, I was sold a million times over. Horror and Mothman. Please take my money!
The Shuddering
By: Ania Ahlborn
A group of friends find themself snowed in at a family cabin in the woods. On a normal day, this would be a setting for a cozy weekend in - if not for the thing lurking in between the trees, and it has no plans on letting them go.
I actually kept seeing this one come up on Booktok. Personally, I don’t put much stock into those who overly hype certain books - but when I looked into the story and read some reviews, it seemed worth a shot. The summary gives me major Until Dawn vibes, though, so I’m personally interested in how the monster gets played out in this one. But really, you can’t really go wrong with a cabin in the woods horror trope, right?
The Abominable
by: Dan Simmons
In 1924, during the start of the Mt. Everest craze, a group of thrill seekers go missing near the shoulder of the mountain, halting all further attempts to reach the top. Three years later, with funding from the mother of one of the missing people, a new team makes a bold attempt of their own. But the higher they ascend, the more they come to realize they aren’t alone.
Similar to Below, my Cryptid enthusiasm is driving my interest in this book. While skimming the reviews, that interest only grew as it seems there is a deeper mystery than a simple Bigfoot stalking and attack. The possibility of otherworldly and worldly forces at play in this tale gives me ‘Dyatlov Pass’ vibes, and that mystery lives rent-free in my mind. But to avoid spoiling it for myself, I made my way from the comments and just decided to give it a go.
Our Winter Monster
by: Dennis Mahoney
People are disappearing in the snow, and the thing behind it might finally be revealing itself. In the midst of a snowstorm, reports of damage, from cars to people, are making their way to the sheriff's office. Now the sheriff and a stranded couple find themselves in a life-or-death situation, all fighting for the chance to reach morning light.
This one is fresh off the press, as the release date is set for Dec 2nd. While the idea of horrifying monsters is always an interest of mine, I think what is drawing me to this book is that there seems to be a hint that the story with be playing with human horror as much as the monster behind the snow. Because let's be honest, sometimes humans can be far more horrifying and ugly than any monster. I’ll definitely be snagging this one, and can’t wait to see the juxtaposition of the monster vs the human condition.
So did any of these snag your interest? Or what do you plan on reading this snowy season?
Let me know, and Happy Reading!
Lys