It already smells like pumpkin spice latte in the air. Therefore it is time to put on your cozy sweater or hoodie, get a blanket, light the fireplace and start reading books with some Halloween vibe. This season is full of magic, witches, haunted houses and all the spooky things. Here is a list of the 13 best halloween books for young adults to read this fall
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
This first book in the young adult fiction series is set in 1888 in London and is based on real-life Jack the Ripper murders. It follows the story of Audrey Rose Wadsworth, Lord Edmund Wadsworth’s daughter. Behind her aristocratic life, she leads a secret one full of forenგsic science.
When her family is not watching, she spends time either in her Uncle Jonathan Wadsworth’s lectures or in his basement laboratory, where she assists him in performing autopsies on cadavers. It all changes one day when the body of a murder victim, Mary Ann Nichols, is brought for an autopsy and investigation.
Not long after, another body is brought, also a murder victim. That’s when Audrey and her uncle’s younger student Thomas Cresswell decide to start their own investigation on the multiple murders. This search for answers helps them discover the mysteries of their own twisted world and families.
This book is full of twists and turns and the scenes that describe the period so well. Inside, you will even find old spooky imagery.
There are 4 books in total in this series that follow new investigations and adventures of Audrey and Thomas. In my opinion, this is the best book by Kerru Maniscalo. So, do not miss out on the opportunity to read it during the spooky season.
Kingdom of The Wicked By Kerri Maniscalco
Another atmospheric book series by this author, that’s perfect for setting the Halloween mood, is Kingdom of the Wicked.
The novel is set in the 1800s in Palermo, Sicily. Emilia and Vittoria, grew up hearing horror stories from their grandmother about the princes of Hell and dark magic. Emilia and her twin sister are Streghe, the witches who secretly live among humans. Their family owns a family restaurant in Palermo and life seems good and peaceful for Emilia. Until suddenly Vittoria is brutally murdered, found dead with strange symbols carved into her flesh. Determined to uncover the truth behind Vittoria’s death, Emilia seeks justice that leads her to the darkest corners of Palermo.
Emilia’s search for answers takes an unexpected turn when she encounters Wrath, one of the deadly 7 princes of hell, those of who her grandmother warned her. Wrath has been summoned to Palermo to investigate a series of murders that bear the mark of dark magic. Drawn together by a shared desire for justice, Emilia and Wrath form an uneasy alliance as they delve deeper into the mysteries of the town.
As they dig deeper into the dark secrets, they uncover a greater threat not only to the town but also to the delicate balance between the mortal and demon realms.
This is a tale of dark magic, forbidden love, and the blurred lines between good and evil, making it a fitting choice for the season.
Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
This series is composed of 6 books full of monsters, a mysterious island, an abandoned orphanage and children with superpowers, making it a perfect Halloween read.
16-years-old Jacob is devastated after his idol, his grandfather Abe died. Jacob was the one who saw him being killed by an unknown monster, however, the official cause of death says rabid dogs. The last word Jacob heard from his dying grandfather was “Rosebud”.
Abe used to tell Jacob stories and show photos featuring invisible boys, strong girls, and people with mouths in the back of their heads when he was a little boy.
To uncover the mystery behind the last word from Abe, Jacob decides to visit Cairnholm Island in Wales, where his grandfather grew up. What Jacob finds on the island is way more complicated than what his grandfather used to tell him. He investigates a destroyed orphanage where he finds more pictures, similar to those Abe showed him. As he explores the house he sees more and more proofs of Miss Peregrine and her Peculiar Children.
Are these children alive? Are they dangerous? Have they killed his grandfather? Who are the monsters that killed him? These and many questions are answered throughout all the books. This fantasy filled with graphical photographs on its pages will set a perfect spooky mood for Halloween.
City Of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake Series) by Victoria Schwab
Victoria Schwab is a queen mother of mystical, magical, otherworldly, paranormal books. City of Ghosts is not an exception. And what gives more Halloween vibes than a trilogy full of ghost stories?
These books tell us a story about a girl named Cassidy and her best friend, Jacob, who also happens to be a ghost. When Cass was little, she almost drowned on her birthday. But Jacob was the one to save her. After this accident, she was able to cross the other side of the “Veil” and see the ghosts trapped there, just like Jacob could.
Cass cannot wait to go to the beach for the summer, to hang out with Jacob there, but her parents have other plans. Being paranormal investigators they decide to go to Edinburgh, Scotland, to shoot their TV show about paranormal activities.
Edinburgh, also known as the city of ghosts, has a lot of mysteries to uncover. Cass and Jacob find themselves pulled into the Veil multiple times and discover the story of the Raven in Red.
They meet a girl named Lara, who also happens to be seeing the ghosts. Together they get pulled into a number of life-altering adventures and have to fight the ghosts for their lives. The kind of adventures awaiting them is for a reader to find.
This is one of the best ya Halloween books you can encounter out there and it is perfect for the spooky season.
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
This book by Victoria Schwab set in the mysterious and secluded village of Near will blurr the line between the ordinary and the supernatural for you.
Near is known for its folklore and legends, particularly the story of the Near Witch—a fabled witch who is said to roam the moors, luring children away with her whispered lullabies.
In this village where the winds whisper secrets lives Lexi Harris with her younger sister Wren and their guardian Maggie. Lexi does not believe in the story of the Near witch, claiming it just keeps the townfolk in constant fear of the unknown.
Suddenly, a young boy named Cole appears in Near under mysterious circumstances and at the exact same time Children start to vanish from their beds at night, echoing the legend of the Near Witch. The villagers start to blame this unexpected stranger. Lexi decides to uncover the mystery and prove Cole innocent. Together they start to unravel the mysteries of Near and confront the ancient magic that shrouds the village.
Together with these two magical characters you will confront the idea that sometimes the most terrifying things are the ones we create in our minds.
This book is perfect to read this fall, especially if you love scary stories full of secrets.
Gallant by Victoria Schwab
Victoria Schwab’s storytelling will transport you to a place with old haunted house and Ghouls. The place where life and death are separated by a wall.
Olivia Prior lives at Merilance school for girls after her mother’s disappearance. The only thing her mother left her, is a journal which seems full of madness. Every day she is taunted by other girls at her school. Suddenly a mysterious letter appears from Olivia’s uncle, who invites her to Gallant – the Prior family estate.
Arriving there Olivia finds out that it is nothing like a normal household. But she does not care if her cousin Matthew hates her or that she sees Ghouls around the estate. She desperately wants to find a place where she belongs and Gallant seems to be that exact place.
Soon Olivia discovers the secrets of Gallant and wants to uncover them. One day she crosses the wall surrounding the manor and finds herself in Gallant that is not Gallant. The Ghouls here are real and it is rulled by a mysterious figure. She discovers the truth about her father and the mad journal of her mother begins to make sense.
This is magical story about the dark and the light, about a girl without voice but loud enough to defeat the dark, about evil and good in this wold, about love and what we leave after ourselves.
With its’s Ghouls and mysteries this is a perfect book for every age.
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
If you are looking for something perfect for the spooky season, but not yet scary this book is a perfect match. Erin A. Craig with her beautifully descriptive writing style, gives us a chance to travel to the remote island of Highmoor.
In the chilling, gloomy manor on the island lives Annaleigh Thaumas, who has just lost 4 of her sisters. They have passed away under mysterious and disturbing circumstances, and the entire community of Highmoor is shrouded in grief and superstition.
As Annaleigh refuses to come to terms with what happened she starts to see the ghosts of her sisters. They try to communicate with her. While trying to cope with the grief, the ghosts lead Annaleigh and her remaining sisters to a hidden doorway in their home. The door leads to glittering, otherworldly balls held by a mysterious group of guests. This event offers the sisters a perfect getaway from their grief and reality. However, who are the people at these parties and are they safe? These are some of the questions Annaleigh tries to find the answers to.
As she investigates deeper into the mysteries surrounding her family and the island, she unravels a complex tapestry of dark secrets, curses, and the blurred lines between life and death.
This book will make you question the true nature of grief, loss, and the boundaries between the living and the dead. The author did such a great job at describing the gothic world, that it will for sure leave you with a sense of unease.
The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartt
Getting a bit away from ghosts and turning to the Vampires! This Vampire revenge story is a perfect Halloween book.
This book gave me a bit of Pretty Little Liars vibes when reading, especially the special Halloween episodes they had. However, Vampires here are not the deadly blood-sucking monsters.
Holly Liddell is a girl turned into a vampire in 1987 by Elton Irving. When he turned her into this bloodsucking creature, he promised her eternal love. But he turns out, he cannot keep his promise and dumps her 34 years later. Holly does not know what to do. She is stuck in a 16-years-old body and does not have a lot of the options.
She meets Rose McKay and Ida Ripley, also turned into vampires by Elton with the same promises. They ask for Holly’s help in their vengeance and offer their own in return. They plan to kill Elton but Holly still hesitates.
It all changes when they meet another one of Elton’s targets, Parker Kerr. Holly instantly feels attracted to her.
To kill Elton for good, Holly and her friends will have to dig up their pasts, rob a bank, and reconcile with the people they’ve hurt in their search for eternal love. And to win Parker, Holly has to convince her that she’s more than just Elton’s crazy ex—even though she is trying to kill him.
In the end “Getting over Your Vampire Ex is as Easy as Killing Him and Stealing His Girlfriend”.
Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone
This romantic dark gothic fantasy filled with monsters and magic will keep you awake the whole night during our favorite Halloween season.
To describe it shortly, a girl falls in love with a monster and makes a deal with the devil to save the said monster.
Before being taken in by an abusive foster parent, siblings Violet and Arien have a journey through the woods trying to find their new home. Suddenly during this journey Arien’s magic manifested. Rowan Sylvanan, the young lord of Lakesedge, soon hears about Arien and his magic and demands that Arien move to Lakesedge.
That is how Violeta Graceling ended up at the Lakesedge estate with her 13-years old brother Arien and adopted mother.
When arriving at the estate, she expects to find a monster there. Rowan, the said monster, drowned his entire family when he was a boy. Now he has to feed his blood to a cursed lake once a month.
Violeta’s plan is to save her brother from Rowan. However, they end up having to work together and their feelings towards each other start to change.
In this book you will find strong sibling relationships, Beauty and the Beast vibes and a spooky house with lovely secondary characters. It is a fun way to spend October hours.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
This is a 5 book series that will add a touch of mystery and magic to your Halloween reading list.
Blue Sargent lives in a weird household, with psychic women in the town of Henrietta, Virginia. She is not psychic like other women, but she still possesses a power to amplify the energy of the supernatural. She is a vital asset to the women in her family, who use her abilities for their psychic readings.
The book begins with a chilling prophecy: Blue will cause the death of her true love. This prophecy has been following her every step of her life and she never wanted to fall in love.
The Raven Boys is a group of wealthy students in the prestigious Aglionby Academy. It is led by a charismatic group of boys: Gansey, Ronan, Adam and Noah. In their spare time, they are trying to find the resting place of the legendary Welsh king, Glendower, who is said to grant a wish to whoever wakes him.
Unfortunately Blue’s and the group’s fates cross. She becomes involved in their ques. Together, they uncover the town’s hidden mysteries, ancient ley lines, and supernatural phenomena. Amidst this chaos, Blue’s prophecy looms over the group too. Will it come true or not, is for you to find out.
This book filled with supernatural, friendships, mystery and magic is a perfect one to read this Halloween.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
This standalone book also by Maggie Stiefvater featuring the supernatural is a book you want to read and then retell during a spooky bonfire on a cool autumn night.
Kate “Puck” Connolly lives on an island of Thisby, which is a home of its most celebrated and perilous tradition—the Scorpio Races. These races are not like your typical horse races. Instead, they feature deadly water horses known as Capaill Uisce, fierce and carnivorous creatures that rise from the sea.
Puck is determined to join this male-dominated race and save her family from financial ruin. However the Scorpio Races are not for the faint of heart. Riders risk their lives to compete, as the capaill uisce are known for their brutality and a tendency to drag their riders to a watery grave.
As the races draw near, the tension on the island rises, and the stakes become even higher.
While preparing for races, Puck meets Sean. He is an enigmatic and skilled rider who has a deep connection with the capaill uisce, particularly one named Corr. He also happens to have a reputation as the best rider on the island. As they Puck and Sean prepare for the races, their friendship begins to evolve into something deeper.
Author’s descriptions of these mythical creatures, with their dark eyes and deadly beauty, are both captivating and unsettling. As the races approach, the suspense builds, and you’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat, eagerly rooting for Puck and Sean.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
This one is particularly perfect if you are searching for something more moving and filled with true love, but still having tha Halloween vibe of unknown and mysterious.
Connor O’Malley‘s mom is seriously ill and he has to deal with this unraveling situation himself. At school, he’s bullied and isolated, and at home, he faces the reality that his mother’s condition is deteriorating rapidly.
It all changes one day when a monstrous yew tree from a nearby cemetery comes to life and visits him. This ancient tree monster, voiced by Ness‘s powerful prose, appears at Conor’s window at the same time each night. The monster tells him stories, which make Conor’s question his perceptions of good and evil.
The monster insists that Conor must tell his own story, the truth that he’s been hiding from himself. He kind of becomes both a mentor and a tormentor, pushing Conor to confront his deepest fears and emotions.
The monster’s stories begin to intertwine with Conor’s reality, blurring the boundaries of the narrative. It serves as a reminder that the most terrifying monsters are the ones we carry inside us.2
The monster’s stories are captivating, and they draw you into a world where fantasy and reality merge seamlessly, making it a perfect setting for the Halloween season.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This magical and enchanting tale by Erin Morgenstern with a touch of wonder and mystery makes a good Halloween book.
“Le Cirque des Rêves” (The Circus of Dreams) opens only at night. This is not your ordinary circus; it’s a place where the impossible becomes possible, where dreams come to life, and where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur.
The circus is an arena for the magical competition of two young magicians Celia Bowen and Marco Alisdair. They create wondrous and breathtaking displays of magic to outdo the other. Celia, with her artistic spells, and Marrco with more intellectual approach soon transform the circus into a bewitching wonderland that captivates all who enter.
As their magic becomes more elaborate they start to fall in love with each other, even though only one can survive by the rules of their competition. The end of the competition will wreck your heart.
The circus’s performances are spellbinding. You will read about the Wishing Tree, the Ice Garden, the Labyrinth of Clouds and the Midnight Dinners. At some point it will transport you to the world where the veil between reality and the supernatural is thin, and magic seems just within reach.
As you embrace the enchantment of the Halloween season, consider adding “The Night Circus” to your reading list
