The Best Horror Books, Movies & TV Shows of 2018

There are still quite a few horror novels, films, and TV shows released in 2018 that I have yet to get to, but I'm proud that I did manage to read more this year than ever before (64 books, still not as many as most of my friends on Goodreads, but it was 14 over my goal of 50). I'm already compiling a list of books I want to read and movies I want to watch from other "Best of 2018" lists and hope to catch up in January. I just checked out The Hunger by Alma Katsu and Halcyon by Rio Youers from the library, I already have The Nightmare Room by Chris Sorensen on my Kindle, I just bought The Outsider by Stephen King from a thrift store, and plan on using an Amazon gift card I just received to buy Bone Saw by Patrick Lacey and Scream All Night by Derek Milman. I plan on watching Bird Box, Cam, and Annihilation on Netflix soon and I still really want to see the Suspiria remake and the new Predator movie. Anyway, here are my favourites in the horror genre this year. I'm going to list my top five books, and not limit it to books that came out this year (or else I would have a very short list), and only include my top two movies and TV shows because I watched less movies and TV than I read this year.

Top Five Books

1. We Soul Our Souls by Grady Hendrix

This was, in my opinion, the best horror novel of 2018. I've loved the other Grady Hendrix books I've read, My Best Friend's Exorcism and Paperbacks From Hell, so it's no surprise that I loved this one as well. I'm always on the lookout for horror novels with strong female protagonists and the main character in We Soul Our Souls, Kris, is a total badass.

2. The Tribe by Bari Wood

I've had this book on my shelf for a long time (I inherited it from my mom), but I wasn't inclined to read it until Grady Hendrix mentioned it in Paperbacks From Hell, so I guess I have him to thank for the two best books I read this year. A fascinating book about a group of holocaust survivors and a golem in New York City with well-written characters.

3. Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

OMG that crazy twist ending! Sarah Pinborough has written a handful of horror novels (I've read one, Breeding Ground), which is what piqued my interest when everyone was talking about Behind Her Eyes last year, because I typically would rather read horror than a psychological thriller. This was a real page turner and had a jaw dropping ending that would be impossible for even the most seasoned reader to guess. 

4. 6:02 by Mark A. Clements

I found this paperback at a used bookstore this past spring and read it immediately after reading a rave review for it written by one of my Goodreads friends, so thanks, because I really enjoyed it. Creepy psychological horror about a woman being haunted by her dead daughter...or is it all in her head? It's only 81 cents on Kindle right now, so there's no reason not to check this one out. 

5. Behind the Door by Frank Lambirth

This was such a fun read! If you're a fan of creepy hospitals or asylums in horror, definitely give this one a go. 

Best Movie: Hereditary

I normally don't like films that are a slow burn and when I first started watching this film I was a bit bored, but I quickly became invested in the family drama and the payoff at the end of the film was definitely worth it. The last half hour of Hereditary is terrifying and you'll be thinking about the ending for days.

Runner-Up: Halloween (2018)

This was such a fun movie! I had low expectations going in because the original Halloween is one of my favourite horror films of all-time and I've been disappointed by other Halloween sequels before, but I would say this is now my third favourite film in the franchise (Halloween H20 will forever be my second favourite). 

Best TV Show: The Haunting of Hill House

I rarely get scared when watching horror films/TV shows, but this show really freaked me out. I'm usually disappointed by adaptations of books I've read, but I actually enjoyed this more than the Shirley Jackson novel. Well, this is less an adaptation of the book and more of a reimagining--it's almost completely different, but it's still about Hill House being haunted. If you're a horror fan and somehow haven't watched it yet, I definitely recommend it. I loved it so much I think it has replaced American Horror Story as my number one favourite horror TV show. 

Runner-Up: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Netflix really hit it out of the park with their original series this year. I read and loved the comic book series of the same name, so I was psyched when I heard they were developing it into a TV show. Plus, I was a huge fan of the original Sabrina the Teenage Witch TV series. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is nothing like that show, it's much darker and features much more cannibalism.

Five Catherine Cavendish Book Reviews

Damned by the Ancients is the third book in the Nemesis of the Gods series by Catherine Cavendish, but you don't need to read the others in the series to understand the plot of this one. I really enjoyed the second book in the series, Waking the Ancients, and I enjoyed this book just as much.

Ryan, his wife, Yvonne, and their nine-year-old daughter, Heidi move into Villa Dürnstein in Vienna, the former home of Dr. Emeryk Quintillus, an archeologist obsessed with Cleopatra. After they move in, strange things start happening, like Heidi suddenly being able to speak another language, and Heidi seeing a man in the basement that no one else can see. Dr. Quintillus won't stop until his beloved Cleopatra is brought back to life...even if he has to use a child as the vessel.

I was looking forward to Damned by the Ancients since I read the last one in the series, so I had high expectations and it did not disappoint. Cavendish is excellent at creating relatable characters and I truly cared about the family in this book.

I thought this book would be very similar to the last book in the series, but in addition to Dr. Quintillus's odd obsession with Cleopatra, and the haunted Villa Dürnstein, there were a lot of other spooky elements added. I loved the scenes with the creepy doll, the cat that protects Heidi and secretly talks to her, and how Dr. Quintillus forces Gustav Klimt to use ashes from Cleopatra's mummy.

The ending left an opening for a sequel and I really hope Cavendish writes another book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

After Stella's cancer goes into remission, she decides to move to a peaceful small town with her husband to recuperate. But Priory St. Michael is anything but peaceful. There are rumours that something horrible that happened in the apartment before they moved in. Stella seeks the help of a Wiccan woman and learns that a succubus and incubus might be lurking in her new home.

I love Catherine Cavendish's writing, so of course I enjoyed The Demons of Cambian Street. It has everything I've come to expect from a Cavendish book: atmospheric, creepy, with relatable characters that you care about.

This spooky novella features a Halloween seance, so it would make a great Halloween read, and at just 97 pages it's a quick read and could easily be read in one sitting.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Becky is a maid at Stonefleet Hall and she hates cleaning Miss Abigail's room. There's something sinister about the bedroom, not to mention the blood stain on the floor that always reappears, no matter how hard Becky scrubs it. When she finds a doll made of feathers and wax, and people in the house start dying, she knows something is terribly wrong at Stonefleet Hall.

Miss Abigail's Room is like a creepy version of Downton Abbey, and I'm a huge fan of that show, so I enjoyed this novella very much. If you're a fan of Downton Abbey and creepy stories, check this one out, you won't be disappointed.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Elinor has been in a deep depression since her husband and daughter died. She hasn't been able to keep a job, and is deeply in debt, plus she has horrible nightmares on top of all her other problems.

Suddenly, her nightmares stop, she lands a job interview, and her life seems to finally be back on track. At the same time, several people are found dead with their eyes scratched out, seemingly murdered but ultimately deemed as gruesome suicides. Elinor's best friend Marnie thinks Elinor's newfound happiness is connected with the suicides and and enlists the help of Hazel, a woman who has had a similar experience with a demon. Together can they stop the devil inside her?

The Devil Inside Her was a heartbreaking story. I felt so sorry for Elinor. Just when she thinks things are turning around her life gets even worse.

I've read almost all of Cavendish's books and while they're always very atmospheric and eerie, this one is also fairly gory, which I really enjoyed because I'm a gorehound. So, if you're looking for a read that is atmospheric but also doesn't skip on the gore, The Devil Inside Her, is the novella for you.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Nadine, Maggie, Gary, and Nick, have each done horrible things in the past that they've kept secret. When they're all invited for dinner by Erin Dartford, a famous fashion writer, they all wonder why they've been chosen. Someone knows their deep, dark secrets and waited a long time for their chance at revenge.

Cold Revenge is a unique novella in that it had me cheering for the evil to win because once I read their horrible secrets, I felt that they deserved something bad happening to them. I did feel sympathetic toward one character who truly did regret his actions, but the rest seemed very cold and awful. But having unlikable characters isn't necessarily a bad things because it's very satisfying when they get their comeuppance. So, if you also find it satisfying when terrible things happen to terrible fictional characters, read this novella.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix

Kris Pulaski used to be the guitarist in a heavy metal band called Dürt Würk. Right before they hit the big time, the band's frontman, Terry Hunt, decided to go solo as Koffin, becoming rich and famous so fast it's as if he sold his soul to the devil.

Twenty years later, Kris works at a Best Western and finds out, via a giant billboard, Koffin is returning for a farewell tour. The information floods Kris with past resentment and anger, fueling her to embark on a journey to confront Terry and find out what really happened on the night the band broke up.

I loved this book! The journey Kris goes through is so epic, it's reminiscent of Lord of the Rings. The plot has lots of twists that I didn't see coming and scenes that shocked me, making me stay up late reading to see what happened next.

Kris was such a kickass heroine. She goes through so much in this book—crawling through tunnels, watching people die in front of her, being held prisoner at a rehab centre, and so much more—and never gives up, she just keeps fighting. All the characters are relatable and I liked all the bandmates Kris reunited with along the way.

You don't have to be a huge heavy metal fan (I'm not) to enjoy We Sold Our Souls. There are probably lots of references to metal music that went over my head, so if you're a fan of metal (or just a horror fan) you need to read this book.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

BOOK REVIEW: The House by the Cemetery by John Everson

Every town has that notorious house where - if the legends are to be believed -something horrible took place and is now haunted. In Bachelor's Grove, that house is in the woods next to a cemetery, and according to the rumours, it was once occupied by a witch. It's a spooky old house and seems like the perfect place for a haunted house attraction to a man named Perry. He recruits his carpenter friend, Mike, to repair the house before the Halloween season. But there might be some truth to the stories about the witch, as Mike, Perry, and several haunters and hauntees come to discover.

The House by the Cemetery reminded me a lot of a B horror movie. It was a fun and gory read. I loved all the horror movie references. Each room in the haunted house was inspired by a different horror movie (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Curtains, among others) and they were designed by the haunters, who love horror movies - two were even nicknamed Argento and Lucio.

The only part of the book I found lacking were the characters. In true B movie fashion, the main character, Mike, wasn't very bright and at times I just wanted to yell at him. There were a lot of characters and sometimes I had a hard time keeping them straight. I had an especially hard time telling Jeanie and June apart. Their names were similar, they were both makeup artists for the haunt, they both loved horror and Halloween, and they were both interested in the same guy. But I still found all the haunter characters, and their love of horror and Halloween, relatable.

Although I didn't love all the characters, I still enjoyed the book. If you're a horror movie fan looking for a book to read this Halloween, The House by the Cemetery would make a great choice.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Dewey's Readathon Closing Survey

I fell asleep around 4:00 am. The older I get, the harder it gets to stay up late. I wanted to read 19 books, but only ended up reading five.

Total pages read: 757

Closing Survey

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

At 4:00 am I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore so I just went to bed.

2. Tell us ALLLLL the books you read!

The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy, Kill for Satan! by Bryan Smith, Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan, Halloween III by Jack Martin, Paper Girls Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, and Matthew Wilson, and part of Damned by the Ancients by Catherine Cavendish

3. Which books would you recommend to other Read-a-thoners?

Kill for Satan! by Bryan Smith was really gory and fun and it takes place on Halloween, so it's a good read for this time of year.

4. What’s a really rad thing we could do during the next Read-a-thon that would make you happy?

I thought the Hourly Instagram Photo Challenge was really fun. 

5. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? Would you be interested in volunteering to help organize and prep?

I'll definitely participate next time. 

Mid-Event Survey

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now?

I just finished Down a Dark Hall and I think I'm going to read Halloween III next.

2. How many books have you read so far?

Three: The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy, Kill for Satan! by Bryan Smith and Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

Damned by the Ancients...I've been saving it to read closer to the end.

4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

My boyfriend was watching TV and I got sucked into watching it too.

5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

How easily I've given into distractions. I hope to read more in the second half. 

Dewey's Readathon

Today is Dewey's Readathon! Once again, I will attempt to read for 24 hours. 

The books:

1. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

2. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

3. Midnight by John Russo

4. Twinkle, Twinkle, "Killer" Kane by William Peter Blatty

5. Halloween III by Jack Martin

6. Halloween Party by R.L. Stine

7. Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan

8. The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy

9. Goosebumps Graphix #1: Creepy Creatures by Gabriel Hernandez, Greg Ruth, and Scott Morse

10. Paper Girls Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, and Matthew Wilson

11. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #7 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Robert Hack, Jack Morelli

12. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #8 Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Robert Hack, Jack Morelli

13. Damned by the Ancients by Catherine Cavendish

14. Kill for Satan! by Bryan Smith

15. Twin Lakes: Autumn Fires by Melissa Lason and Michelle Garza

16, The Haunted Forest Tour by James A. Moore and Jeff Strand

17. The Halloween Children by Brian James Freeman

18. Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge

19. 1922 by Stephen King

The snacks:

• Pumpkin spice pretzels
• Boursin herb & garlic cheese and crackers
• Candy corn M&M's
• Assorted chips
• Dirty chai tea

Opening Survey

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

Oakville, Ontario, Canada

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

Hmmm...I really want to read all of them, that's why I chose so many and couldn't eliminate any, I guess Damned by the Ancients by Catherine Cavendish because I really enjoyed the book that preceded this one in the series, Waking the Ancients.

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

The candy corn M&M's because I bought them last month when I took a trip to Philadelphia and I've been saving them for this. 

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

Yesterday was my 31st birthday, 

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

I want to read more than I did last time. I think I say that every time, haha. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Siren and the Specter by Jonathan Janz

I loved both Children of the Dark and The Sorrows by Jonathan Janz, so I was really looking forward to reading The Siren and the Specter, and it did not disappoint.

Alexander House is a famously (supposedly) haunted house, recently purchased by a couple planning to turn it into a tourist attraction. They ask David Caine, an old friend and skeptic who writes books that debunk famed "hauntings," to investigate Alexander House, hoping he will write about having a supernatural encounter in the house, thereby attracting tourists. David assumes this is like all the other "haunted" houses he's written about and is prepared to disprove yet another legend. But Alexander House has a dark past. It was the site of horrible crimes committed by Judson Alexander, a depraved man who still haunts the house, as David is about to find out.

This was a very spooky haunted house story. All the scenes with "the long bedroom" creeped me out so much. Judson Alexander was a great villain and I really enjoyed the parts of the book that spoke of the disturbing things he did in the past.

The only problem I had with the book was that the main character, David, was unlikable and I had a hard time understanding some of his motivations and his selfishness - at least until a bit of his childhood was explained later in the book. I had a hard time rooting for him, but I liked Sheriff Harkless and David's love interest, Jessica, so there were a few characters I could connect with.

The Siren and the Specter is an unsettling ghost story that would make an excellent Halloween read this October.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: The Second Wife by Catherine Cavendish

Crossroad Press has recently published new editions of five of Catherine Cavendish's novellas: Cold Revenge, Miss Abigail's Room, The Demons of Cambrian Street, The Devil Inside Her and this one, The Second Wife.

When newlywed Chrissie Marchant moves into Baron Grove, her husband Joe's home, it becomes apparent that he may not be completely over the death of his first wife. A large picture of Emily Marchant still hangs in the living room, the house is still decorated just as it was when she died and Joe refuses to change anything. After a few unsettling experiences are accompanied by Emily's signature scent of vanilla, Chrissie realizes that maybe Joe's first wife hasn't moved on either.

I'm a huge fan of Catherine Cavendish. This is the sixth book I've read by her and she never disappoints. The Second Wife is a creepy and atmospheric ghost story.

The characters are well-developed. Chrissie is a relatable protagonist and her reasons for not wanting to leave after her ghostly encounters are understandable (her sister lives on the other side of the world and Joe is all she has) and make the story more believable, keeping me from constantly wondering why she didn't just leave every time something freaky happened to her. I hated Joe and didn't understand what Chrissie saw in him...I guess he's a rich and handsome doctor, but keeping a shrine to your dead wife after you remarry is weird and creepy.

At 110 pages, this is a quick read and can easily be read in one sitting. The novella gets to the spooky scenes by the second chapter and never lets up the suspense until the satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended for fans of gothic horror, ghost stories, or anyone looking for a chilling read.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

24 in 48 Wrap-Up

Total time read: 18 hours and 40 minutes

Total pages read: 826

Books read: the last 100 pages of The Sitter by R.L. Stine, The Manitou by Graham Masterton, I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan, The Watcher in the Woods by Florence Engel Randall and Slasher Camp for Nerd Dorks by Christoph Paul

I didn't post at all this weekend because I wanted to try to focus on reading but I still didn't manage to read for the full 24 hours.

I decided to start the readathon with a book that wasn't in my stack, The Sitter by R.L. Stine because I only had 100 pages left and I wanted to finish it. I think it's supposed to be one of his "adult" novels, but the only difference I could tell between this and a Fear Street book was the occasional curse word and sex scene. Disappointingly, there was the same amount of gore and deaths as in one of his YA books (and mostly animal deaths, in typical R.L. Stine fashion).

The book I enjoyed the most was The Manitou by Graham Masterton. It's weird, gory, creepy and basically everything I look for in a horror novel (and I love that stepback cover!). This is the fourth book I've read by Masterton and with this book he has earned a place as one of my favourite horror authors. The other novels by Masterton I've read—Walkers, Feast and Mirror—are all just as entertaining as The Manitou and I highly recommend all of them. I'm so happy that I was lucky enough to come across a bunch of Graham Masterton paperbacks at Value Village a few weeks ago!

24 in 48 Readathon

Today is the 24 in 48 Readathon! Instead of reading for 24 hours straight, for this readathon, you have the whole weekend to read 24 hours. I'm going to try to read for 12 hours on Saturday and 12 hours on Sunday.

Books I plan on reading:

1. The Manitou by Graham Masterton
2. The Visitor by Chauncey G. Parker III
3. Camp by Alan Saperstein
4. The Bad Seed by Willian March
5. Harriet Said by Beryl Bainbridge
6. The Glory Hand by Paul and Sharon Boorstin
7. Letters From the Dead by Campbell Black
8. Last Summer by Evan Hunter
9. I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan
10. The Watcher in the Woods by Florence Engel Randall
11. Slasher Camp for Nerd Dorks by Christoph Paul
12. Camp Carnage by Elliot Arthur Cross

I'm probably not going to get through all these, but once I started adding books to my pile I just couldn't stop.

Dewey's Readathon Closing Survey

When I finished Blood Secrets by Craig Jones, I was struggling to keep my eyes open, so I just went to sleep. I probably would've fallen asleep earlier if Blood Secrets wasn't such a page turner. I read a few reviews that said it has a huge twist at the end and I had to keep reading to see what it was. I definitely didn't see that ending coming. I'm not going to say anymore because I don't want to spoil it.

Total pages read: 478

Closing Survey

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

Around 6:00 am I literally couldn't keep my eyes open anymore and I fell asleep

2. Tell us all the books you read!

Revolver by Michael Patrick Hicks, Keeper of the Children by William H. Hallahan and Blood Secrets by Craig Jones.

3. Which books would you recommend to other readathoners?

I enjoyed all of them and recommend them all.
 
4. What's a really rad thing we could do during the next readathon that would make you smile?

I liked that the mini challenges ran through the entire readathon instead of hourly.
 
5. How likely are you to participate in the readathon again? 

I will definitely be participating in the October readathon.

Readathon Update

I'm still readathoning, but I'm getting pretty tired. I just finished reading Keeper of the Children by William H. Hallahan. It's a weird book about a man who's trying to get his daughter back from a cult led by a man who uses astral projection to animate marionettes, teddy bears, scarecrows, and other inanimate objects in order to kill people. Oh, and he has large, muscular cats to kill people for him as well. I love the cover of this book and I was surprised to find the scene depicted on the cover was actually in the book.

Right now, I'm reading Blood Secrets by Craig Jones.

Dewey's Readathon Mid-Event Survey

Wow, we're already halfway through the readathon and I've only read 1³/₄ books. Actually, the first one was only a 60 page short story, not really a book. Revolver by Michael Patrick Hicks is a brutal, thought-provoking story about a future where the US is run by the alt-right and a young woman decides to commit suicide live on a TV show to win money for her family.

Mid-Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now?

Keeper of the Children by William H. Hallahan

2. How many books have you read so far?

1³/₄

3. What book are you looking forward to most in the second half of the readathon?

Blood Secrets by Craig Jones

4. Have you had any interruptions? How did you deal with those?

My boyfriend was being a bit distracting so I went to my bedroom to read and shut the door.

5. What surprises you most about the readathon, so far?

That I haven't fallen asleep yet.

Dewey's Readathon

Today is Dewey's Readathon! I will once again attempt to read for 24 hours.
 

Books I plan on reading:

1. Keeper of the Children by William H. Hallahan

2. Blood Secrets by Craig Jones

3. The Cellar by Richard Laymon

4. The Surrogate by Nick Sharman

5. The Prom Queen by R.L. Stine

6. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

7. Hellraiser Masterpieces Vol. 1
 

On my Kindle:

8. Revolver by Michael Patrick Hicks

9. 1922 by Stephen King

10. The Con Season by Adam Cesare 

Snacks I will be consuming:

- Charcuterie board (with brie, apricot jam, water crackers, 

grapes, cantaloupe, prosciutto and salami)

- Potato salad

- Chips

- Reese Crunchers

- Chocolate bars

- Big Foot gummies

-Peace Iced Tea

Opening Survey

1. What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

Oakville, Ontario, Canada

2. Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

Keeper of the Children...I had it in my stack for the readathon last April, but never got around to reading it and seeing it mentioned in Paperbacks From Hell has made me want to read it even more.

3. Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Everything on my charcuterie board...I love brie.

4. Tell us a little something about yourself!

I love yard sales and there's a giant one this morning that I can't miss, so I'm going to start reading a bit late this morning.

5. If you participated in the last readathon, what's the one thing you'll do differently today?

I want to read more than I did last time...I'm pretty sure I say that every time, but I'm really

trying to make a dent in my TBR mountain this year.

BOOK REVIEW: Waking the Ancients by Catherine Cavendish

In 1908, Lizzie Charters accompanies archaeologist Dr. Emeryk Quintillus on a dig in Egypt, unaware of his obsession with Cleopatra and his plan to bring her back to life using Lizzie's body.

In 2018, Paula and her husband, Phil, have relocated to Vienna for Phil's job, signing a three-year lease a breathtaking mansion with a too good to be true price tag. Paula soon realizes the reason for the low price when Phil goes away on a business trip, leaving her in the house alone. Strange occurrences lead Paula to discover the previous owner of the estate was Dr. Quintillus, who is still trying to find a way to be with his love, Cleopatra, even through death.

I love Catherine Cavendish's writing. Including Waking the Ancients, I've read five of her books (so far) — Linden Manor, The Pendle Curse, Dark Avenging Angel and The Devil's Serenade — and I've enjoyed all of them. Cavendish is great at writing detailed descriptions that immerse you in the story and establishing an eerie atmosphere. 

The most important part of a novel to me are the characters and Cavendish writes believable and relatable characters. I've been trying to not only read more horror books written by female writers, but to also read more horror books with strong female protagonists, which all of Cavendish's books feature.

The plot of Waking the Ancients is unique, combining the real history of Cleopatra with a fictional story about the supernatural.

This book is the second in the Nemesis of the Gods series, but each can be read as a standalone novel. I haven't read the first book in the series, Wrath of the Ancients, and I wasn't confused at all, but I enjoyed this book so much I'll definitely be reading the first book. The third book in the series, Damned by the Ancients, will be released October 23 and I'm already counting the days! I highly recommend Waking the Ancients to anyone looking for a creepy supernatural tale.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

24 in 48 End Post

I didn't quite make it to the end, I read a total of 21 hours 18 minutes, so almost the full 24.

I read 4 and 3/4 books: Truth or Dare by R.L. Stine, Ladies' Night by Jack Ketchum, Woman in White by Kristin Dearborn, Those Who Follow by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason, and 3/4 of Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer. I read a total of 831 pages.

24 in 48 Update #2

I'm still reading, I've read for 16 hours 45 minutes, so far. Since my last post I've finished two books, Woman in White by Kristin Dearborn and Those Who Follow by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason. Both are creepy, engrossing reads and I recommend both of them.

I love horror books with a winter setting, so I knew I would love Woman in White. It's about mysterious disappearances that leave a lot of blood and no bodies in the small Maine town of Rocky Rhodes.

I enjoyed Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason's first book, Mayan Blue, so I was really looking forward to reading Those Who Follow and it didn't disappoint. It's about a man who can
travel from our world to another and leads a double life - in our world, he's your average guy and in the other he's a sadistic monster who tortures and kills.

Challenge: the first book on your shelves and the last book on your shelves.

This battered copy of Off Season
by Jack Ketchum is the first book
on my shelves because Jack Ketchum is my
favourite writer so I shelved all his
books at the top. 

Dope by Sara Gran is the last book on my
shelves because it's on my non-horror shelf,
the last (and smallest) of my shelves. 

24 in 48 Update

So far, I've read for 7 hours 45 minutes and I've finished two books, Ladies' Night by Jack Ketchum and Truth or Dare by R.L. Stine.

Jack Ketchum is one of my favourite writers and I was devastated earlier this week when I found out that he passed away. The Girl Next Door is my all-time favourite horror novel - it's the most disturbing book I've ever read and if you're a horror fan and haven't read it yet, then you should read it immediately. I highly recommend all of his novels, in addition to The Girl Next Door, Off Season, Red, Right to Life, Stranglehold and his short collection, Peaceable Kingdom are all excellent. The Girl Next Door, Red, Offspring, The Lost, The Woman and short story "The Box" were all made into great films as well ("The Box" was a segment in the film, XX).

There are still a few Ketchum books I haven't read yet, so I decided to read one this weekend, Ladies' Night. It's a gory and fun book about a toxic spill in New York City that basically turns all the women into zombies. If women going insane and murdering men in gruesome ways is your idea of a fun read, then I definitely recommend this book. I thought it was a very entertaining read.

Truth or Dare by R.L. Stine is a Fear Street book that takes place outside Shadyside in rich girl's ski cabin - or mansion - where a group of high school kids get snowed in...with a KILLER! I actually thought this was a pretty good Fear Street book, it's one of the few where I didn't guess the identity of the killer.

OK, back to reading now. I'm currently reading Woman in White by Kristin Dearborn and really enjoying it.

24 in 48 Readathon

This weekend is the 24 in 48 Readathon! The idea is to read for 24 hours over the course of the weekend, starting at midnight last night (I was in bed by 10:30, so I didn't get started yet). I plan on reading 12 hours today and 12 hours tomorrow.

What I plan on reading (most of these are on my Kindle):

That's my cat, Betty, photobombing

1. Someone at the Door by Richie Tankersley Cusick 
2. Truth or Dare by R.L. Stine 
3. The Snowman by R.L. Stine
4. Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
5. Ladies' Night by Jack Ketchum
6. Chills by Mary SanGiovanni
7. Those Who Follow by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason 
8. Woman in White by Kristin Dearborn
9. Saving Grace Devine by Catherine Cavendish
10. I Wish I Was Like You by S.P. Miskowski

Snacks I plan on eating:

• Spinach dip with pumpernickel bread
• Sweet Marie Bars
• Assorted T-discs
• Starbucks Doubleshot Coffee Energy Drink

Challenge: What's the oldest children's book you have, or a book you've held onto since your childhood?

I don't have a lot of books from my childhood because I mostly just checked out books from the library and didn't own many, plus the ones I did own I lost in a house fire last year. But I brought this box set of Emily of New Moon books by L.M. Montgomery back with me from my a visit at my childhood home a few years ago with the intention of re-reading them (I haven't yet). I remember buying this box set at Chapters on a shopping trip to the city with my grandma (I grew up in the middle of nowhere). I was about 11-years-old and I was obsessed with the Emily of New Moon TV series on CBC and I wanted to read the books that the show was based on. I remember loving the books even more than the TV show.