Why I Love Horror: The Darkness, the Questions, and the Battle Between Good and Evil
I have been working on this list for years, and I had so much fun putting it together.
Mainly for adults but also includes books for older teens, and some of my childhood favorites.
As a voracious reader since the age of three, my reading friends and I discovered our love for scary stories around age 11, 4th-5th graders. My best friend and I loved horror stories and were constantly finding new ones to share, like those by Lois Duncan and Mary Downing Hahn.
In the eighth grade, we read The Shining, quickly followed by Ghost Story.
To this day we still share back-and-forth. We both just purchased the newly released Other Worlds than These, the finale of The Talisman, by Stephen King and Peter Straub, two of the best horror writers out there, in my opinion.
Why do we love horror?
Why would anyone willingly read a book that frightens them enough to sleep with the lights on—or, in my case, nervously stare into the darkness of a walk-in shower at four in the morning? I've asked myself that question more than once. I've been reading mysteries, thrillers, and horror novels since childhood, and some of my favorite books are the ones that have genuinely frightened me. But I've come to realize that what I love most about horror isn't necessarily being scared.
It's being made to think.
I especially love psychological horror, supernatural stories, and dystopian fiction. The stories that stay with me aren't the ones with the most frightening monsters or gruesome scenes. They're the ones that challenge my understanding of humanity, morality, and the sometimes frightening ease with which good people can make terrible choices.
I'm particularly fascinated by the eternal battle between good and evil. As a person of faith, I believe that the spiritual struggle between God and Satan is real and unfolding around us, whether we recognize it or not. I have always been intrigued by stories exploring that conflict, particularly those involving temptation, deception, spiritual forces, and the consequences of our choices.
And then there's dystopian fiction.
Oh, how I've always loved dystopian novels! Perhaps because they ask some of the most important questions imaginable: How much freedom are we willing to surrender in exchange for security? How easily can an entire society be manipulated? What happens when technology outpaces morality? And at what point do ordinary people begin accepting the unacceptable? These questions feel especially relevant today. (I mean, sometimes I look at the world around us and think we're already living in a dystopian novel.) But dystopian fiction also reminds me of the extraordinary capacity of human beings to resist oppression, stand against injustice, and hold on to hope, even in the darkest circumstances.
To me, the most memorable horror stories illuminate something about human nature. They make us question what we believe, what we fear, and what we might do if confronted with the unimaginable.
And sometimes, of course, they're just deliciously terrifying.
So here are some of my all-time favorites: books that have frightened me, challenged me, made me question everything, and occasionally had me laughing at myself for being afraid of the dark. As I scoured my home library and bookshelves to compile this list, I just kept finding more and more and more. Because for some reason, I just can’t get enough horror. If you’re like me, hopefully there’ll be some new ones on this list for you.
Happy reading. And perhaps leave a light on.
—K.C.
Kim's All-Time Favorite Horror
The Top-Ten
The Diviners - Libba Bray
The Shining - Stephen King
The Stand - Stephen King
Tender Is the Flesh - Agustina Bazterrica.
Ghost Story - Peter Straub
Shadowland - Peter Straub
Down a Dark Hall - Lois Duncan
Summer of Fear - Lois Duncan
This Present Darkness - Frank Peretti
Auralia's Colors - Jeffrey Overstreet
My autographed 1st edition! The Diviners, by Libba Bray
By Libba Bray
My #1: The book that scared me so much, I actually laughed at myself.
One of my all-time favorite horror novels, The Diviners is so extraordinarily well written that readers can practically step into the glamour and excitement of 1920s New York City—its lavish parties, speakeasies, Broadway shows, and dazzling nightlife. But beneath all that glamour, something ancient and unspeakably evil is awakening. When a seemingly innocent birthday celebration involving a Ouija board unleashes a terrifying supernatural presence, the darkness begins spreading far beyond anyone's imagination. Enter Evie O'Neill, a spirited young woman whose troublesome behavior has earned her a one-way ticket to Manhattan, where she'll live with her Uncle Will. Evie couldn't be more thrilled! It's the height of Prohibition, and New York promises everything she's ever dreamed of—shopping, parties, entertainment, and excitement. The only problem? Uncle Will is obsessed with the occult, and Evie fears he might discover her deepest secret: a supernatural gift that has caused her nothing but trouble.
When a young woman is found murdered, her body marked with a cryptic symbol, Evie realizes her unusual abilities might help catch a serial killer. But the more she uses her gift, the more she attracts the attention of the dark presence overtaking the city.
What makes this novel so terrifying is how gradually that evil grows stronger. It begins almost imperceptibly, appearing in dreams, lingering in shadows, and slowly making itself known. Eventually, Evie's life is in grave danger—and the nightmare threatens to become a horrifying reality for everyone. I was so thoroughly engrossed that I couldn't stop reading, even at 4 a.m. And yes, I remember walking to the bathroom and finding myself staring nervously into the dark recesses of my shower. I actually started laughing at myself. I mean, evil spirits can lurk anywhere, right? Adding to the fright was how closely some of the supernatural elements reminded me of my own real-life haunting and Ouija board experiences, which I've shared in my story, "Hidden Hauntings." An absolute favorite. Beautifully written, richly atmospheric, and genuinely terrifying.
Which cover do you prefer? Then or Now?
The Shining, by Stephen King
Most readers probably know the story thanks in part to the movie. Jack Torrance accepts a job as winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, an isolated Colorado resort that closes each year when heavy snowfall makes the mountain roads impassable. Jack, his wife Wendy, and their five-year-old son Danny move into the hotel for the winter. But the Overlook has a dark history. Terrible deaths have occurred there, including the murder of a previous caretaker's family. And the hotel is haunted by far more than ordinary ghosts. Young Danny possesses a supernatural ability known as "the shine," which allows him to perceive things others cannot—including the unspeakable evil inhabiting the Overlook. As winter deepens and the family becomes increasingly isolated, the hotel's dark influence grows stronger. Eventually, Danny must escape—or die. The movie is fantastic, but it simply cannot do justice to the book. Some of King's most frightening scenes are omitted, while others are almost impossible to recreate. One scene that has in the book that has stayed with me for decades involves the hotel's topiary, hedges meticulously trimmed into the shapes of different animals.
Winter kicks in and Danny is creating a snow fort, and he notices the animal shrubs seem to move. But when he looks directly at them, they seem to be all in place. Occupied with playing in the snow, Danny turns his back to the shrubs, until it becomes abundantly clear they are moving toward Danny. Every time he turns his back, he hears them growling, closer, but every time he turns back to look, they freeze in place, distorted, with open jaws and fangs for teeth. Until Danny barely makes it to his fort and looks out to see all the snow covered animal shrubs snarling, yet frozen, just outside the open door of Danny’s snow fort.
That scene terrified me when I read it. Decades later, I can still remember the feeling of reading it for the first time. And that, to me, is the mark of an extraordinary horror writer. Stephen King doesn't simply tell us something frightening is happening. He makes us experience it. The Shining remains one of my all-time favorite horror novels—and the book that introduced me to a lifetime of reading Stephen King.
Wow to then and now, current book cover vs. cover above?
Ghost Story & Shadowland, By Peter Straub
Ghost Story was the very next book I read after The Shining. Was I too young to be reading these books at thirteen? Well, I certainly didn't think so!
Ghost Story tells the story of four elderly friends who gather regularly to share ghost stories. Calling themselves the Chowder Society, the men have known one another since their youth, and their storytelling gatherings have become a cherished tradition.
But these aren't simply tales told to frighten one another. Decades earlier, the men were involved in a tragic event—and a terrible secret they have kept buried ever since. Now, each is suffering increasingly disturbing nightmares, and the past they thought they'd escaped is beginning to resurface. As the narrative moves between past and present, readers gradually discover what really happened and why the consequences have followed these men throughout their lives. And just when we think we're beginning to understand the truth, another piece of the mystery emerges. What makes Ghost Story remarkable is that the entire novel gradually becomes a ghost story of its own, with the characters trapped inside something far more terrifying than the tales they've spent their lives telling. I've read this book multiple times over the years, and it remains one of my favorites—not simply because it's frightening, but because the storytelling is so extraordinarily good. A masterfully layered supernatural mystery, with intelligent characters, dark secrets, and a haunting that refuses to stay in the past.
Shadowland, by Peter Straub
Death, dark magic, disturbing secrets, and doomed romance definitely make Shadowland for adults, though the main characters are teenage boys. I read Shadowland more than twenty-five years ago, and it has remained firmly lodged in my imagination.
Tom Flanagan and Del Nightingale are freshmen at an exclusive all-boys boarding school, where they attract the unwanted attention of an older student nicknamed Skeleton—a deeply disturbed bully who seems determined to torment them. But something stranger is happening. Tom experiences terrifying dreams involving an enormous bird and a mysterious figure watching him. Events at the school turn more disturbing, and Tom accepts an invitation to spend the summer with Del at his uncle's Vermont estate, Shadowland. Del's uncle, Coleman Collins, is a celebrated magician, and the boys share a fascination with magic and illusion. But it doesn't take long for Tom to realize there's much more happening at Shadowland than ordinary stage tricks. The magic is real. So are the dangers. And Collins is interested in more than teaching a few impressive illusions. He is searching for someone to inherit his extraordinary powers—and he believes Tom may be the one. A dark, deeply unsettling novel about the dangers of power, manipulation, and magic that is anything but make-believe.
Which cover is more creepy? This current version, or the cover from my home library shared above?
Summer of Fear, by Lois Duncan
Lois Duncan was another favorite author of my childhood, and two of her books have stayed with me ever since: Down a Dark Hall and Summer of Fear. In Summer of Fear, Rachel's family welcomes her recently orphaned cousin, Julia, into their home following a tragic accident. At first, Julia seems like a shy, vulnerable girl who needs the love and comfort of her new family. But Rachel quickly begins noticing things that don't seem quite right. Strange events occur. Relationships begin changing. And Julia seems to possess an almost unnatural ability to charm everyone around her—especially the people Rachel loves. The more Rachel questions her cousin's behavior, the more isolated she becomes. No one believes her. Not her friends. Not her family. And certainly not the adults who should be protecting her. One of the things I love most about Lois Duncan's books is her ability to take an ordinary teenage experience—family relationships, jealousy, friendship, or the frustration of not being believed. After all, what's more terrifying than knowing something is terribly wrong and being unable to convince anyone else? A suspenseful psychological and supernatural thriller that makes readers question appearances, trust, and the dangers hiding inside an ordinary family.
Down a Dark Hall, by Lois Duncan
In Down a Dark Hall, a highly selective boarding school for girls accepts only a handful of students, each chosen for reasons that aren't immediately clear. Blackwood School seems to offer an extraordinary education, but something about the isolated mansion and its unusual headmistress, Madame Duret, is deeply unsettling. Each girl arrives with her own history, personality, and expectations. But as the school year progresses, the students begin demonstrating remarkable talents—abilities they never knew they possessed. A girl who could barely play the piano suddenly performs magnificent compositions. Others discover astonishing gifts for writing, painting, or mathematics. At first, these abilities seem miraculous. But where are they coming from? And why is the school's headmistress so interested in cultivating them? As the truth gradually unfolds, the girls discover that Blackwood is hiding a terrifying secret, one that threatens far more than their education. What I especially loved about this novel was the way Duncan revealed the mystery piece by piece. Like the students themselves, readers initially want to believe something wonderful is happening, even as an increasingly ominous sense of danger suggests otherwise. A wonderfully creepy supernatural mystery about extraordinary talents, hidden motives, and the terrifying consequences of trusting the wrong people.
This Present Darkness, by Frank Peretti
What if the greatest battles between good and evil are taking place all around us, every day, and we simply cannot see them?
This Present Darkness brings that possibility to life vividly, in this supernatural thriller that explores the unseen spiritual warfare between God and Satan. In the seemingly ordinary small town of Ashton, strange things are happening. A newspaper editor investigating suspicious activities and a local pastor struggling to protect his congregation begin uncovering a sinister conspiracy involving powerful individuals determined to gain control of the community. But what these men don't realize is that the corruption and manipulation unfolding around them are part of a much larger battle.
In the unseen spiritual realm, angels and demons are engaged in a terrifying struggle for the souls of the townspeople. As the earthly and supernatural storylines intertwine, readers witness the forces of darkness working through deception, temptation, and the desire for power, while the forces of good fight back through faith, courage, and prayer. As a person of faith, I believe in spiritual warfare, and this book brings that battle to life. This book has stayed with me for decades. Originally published in 1986, This Present Darkness helped establish an entirely new audience for Christian supernatural suspense, demonstrating that a novel rooted in faith could also be genuinely frightening. A powerful, suspenseful exploration of the eternal battle between good and evil—and a reminder that darkness doesn't always announce its arrival.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, This Present Darkness returns in a special collector’s hardcover edition, featuring a new introduction, notes from the author, along with images from his original handwritten manuscript.
Tender Is the Flesh, by Agustina Bazterrica | Translated by Sarah Moses
Do not let other reviews fool you. This is NOT a novel about animal cruelty and vegetarianism, although it certainly raises questions about both. My greatest takeaway was how easy it becomes to dismiss the value of a human life. The twist ending left me so stunned I immediately re-read, then I listened to the audiobook.
In a disturbing near-future dystopian world, all animals contract a virus deadly to humans. And in far less time than one might imagine, society embraces a horrifying alternative. As the story unfolds, the true nature of that alternative is revealed little by little through the experiences of Marcos, a man who works in the meat-processing industry. He knows the business exceptionally well. He has always been one of the best at what he does, producing the finest, most tender specimens. He follows the practices and principles taught to him by his father, including the importance of never wasting any part of the product. This book is absolutely not for the faint of heart. A brutal, thought-provoking novel that will haunt readers long after the final page.
The Stand, by Stephen King
To me, The Stand is the ultimate, epic novel about the battle between good and evil.
After a deadly plague wipes out nearly all of humanity, the survivors start having dreams. Some dream of an elderly woman sitting among the cornfields. Others dream of the Walking Man. Gradually, the survivors begin making their way toward one side or the other, often without fully understanding why. With an enormous cast of characters, each with personal histories, struggles, weaknesses, and strengths, their storylines gradually intertwine as they attempt to rebuild their lives and emerge from the ruins of civilization. Beneath the destruction is a larger story about faith, free will, temptation, sacrifice, and the ultimate struggle between light and darkness. What stays with me are the choices made by ordinary people when confronted with extraordinary evil. But for all of its devastation, The Stand is profoundly satisfying, as a story about faith, hope, and the enduring power of good. God wins. End of story.
The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King's The Stand, Edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene
And for everyone who loves The Stand, I highly recommend The End of the World As We Know It, a collection of horror writers got together and contributed a stand-alone, original short story set in the world Stephen King created. For longtime fans of The Stand, what could be better than a new collection of stories? Know someone who loves The Stand? Gift them this book. They'll love it!
The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer
Everyone should read Nancy Farmer.
In this extraordinary dystopian novel, young Matteo Alacrán—Matt—discovers that he is a clone of El Patrón, a powerful and ruthless drug lord who rules a country called Opium, situated between the United States and what was once Mexico. But in Matt's world, clones aren't considered fully human. They're treated as property, valued only for what they can provide to the people who created them. As Matt begins uncovering the truth about his existence, he must confront a society built on exploitation and greed. I loved reading this book! Also highly recommended by Nancy Farmer, The Ear, the Eye and the Arm.
Auralia's Colors, by Jeffrey Overstreet
Technically, this is not horror but Christian fiction and fantasy, safe for teens. I found this book so beautiful and so devastating, it has stayed with me for years, and I had to include in this roundup.
In the kingdom of Abascar, color has become a privilege, only reserved for royalty. Enter Auralia, a mysterious young girl discovered as an infant in the wilderness, lying in the footprint of a monstrous creature. Raised among thieves and outcasts beyond the kingdom's walls, Auralia possesses an extraordinary gift: she can create beautiful, enchanting colors unlike anything the people of Abascar have ever seen. But her gift is forbidden. As Auralia's creations begin attracting attention, she unwittingly challenges the foundations of a kingdom built on secrecy, fear, and control. Her remarkable talent draws the interest of a hardened king, an exiled wizard, and a prince harboring dangerous secrets. And what begins as a young girl's innocent desire to share beauty becomes something far greater. What happens when those in power attempt to control beauty itself? When fear and oppression prevent people from recognizing the extraordinary gifts surrounding them? And can one person's courage and creativity bring light into a world that has forgotten what it means to see? The writing is rich, imaginative, poetic, and filled with symbolism, strange creatures, unforgettable characters, and mysteries that gradually reveal themselves. The first in The Auralia's Thread series, fantasy rather than traditional horror, but its themes of darkness, deception, power, and the struggle between oppression and hope make it a natural addition to this collection. I loved Auralia and needed to know what happened to her. A beautifully imagined fantasy that reminds us how extraordinary the gifts of creation can be—and how dangerous it becomes when those gifts are suppressed.
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Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful, by Arwen Elys Dayton
What happens when science allows us to redesign humanity? And just because we can change something, does that mean we should? This collection of six interconnected stories explores a future in which genetic engineering and technological advances make it possible to create stronger, smarter, healthier, and seemingly perfect human beings. But at what cost? As the stories move further into the future, the boundaries between human beings, machines, and our understanding of God's creations become increasingly blurred. A thought-provoking and frightening glimpse into a future that may not be as far away as we'd like to believe. Highly recommended for readers ages 14 and up.
Greatest Hits, by Harlan Ellison | Edited by J. Michael Straczynski
I only recently discovered Harlan Ellison's work, thanks to my daughter, who was studying his writing for a literature class. In particular, she introduced me to the short story, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. Humanity has been destroyed by a sentient artificial intelligence known as AM, a being with extraordinary power but angry over being unable to experience life as humans do. Five people remain alive, deliberately preserved by AM for the sole purpose of tormenting them. The AI manipulates their surroundings, exploits their psychological vulnerabilities, and subjects them to unimaginable suffering. And because AM controls everything about their existence, even death seems beyond their reach. Warning: This story is deeply disturbing, both psychologically and physically, and is appropriate for adults and very mature readers only. But it certainly made me think, and it has definitely stayed with me. Ellison's writing leans heavily into science fiction, often exploring humanity's darkest impulses, the misuse of power, and the consequences of technological advancement. For readers who love intelligent, unsettling science fiction that asks uncomfortable questions about humanity and the future of technology, Ellison is an author worth discovering.
Greatest Hits brings together some of his most celebrated stories, including:
“Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman — Hugo Award winner
I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream — Hugo Award winner
Mefisto in Onyx — Bram Stoker Award winner
Jeffty Is Five — Hugo Award winner
Shatterday — Adapted for The Twilight Zone
The Whimper of Whipped Dogs — Edgar Award winner
Paladin of the Lost Hour — Hugo Award winner; adapted for The Twilight Zone
Dungeon Crawler Carl — Matt Dinniman
Recruitment (The Resistance Trilogy) - K. A. Riley
Killing Sadie — Rachel Peterson
Night of Madness — Ryan Douglass
Our Strange Duet — Erin A. Craig
Tell the Ghosts I'm Gone — Kalynn Bayron
Keep the Ghost Light On — Kate Messner
Winterveil — Ava Reid
Detours — Brian James Freeman and Stephen King
Immortal Dark — Tigest Girma
The Knife of Never Letting Go — Patrick Ness
Scared Stiff — Sara Latta
Steampunk: H.G. Wells — Zdenko Basic
Dream by the Shadows — Logan Karlie
The Hunger Games — Suzanne Collins
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas — John Boyne
Hekate — Nikita Gill
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