Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Set the Halloween Mood

Good morning peeps! So, it’s been a while since I’ve done a Top Ten Tuesday post (hosted by the wonderful The Broke and The Bookish)… partly because I felt like I was repeating my responses too much, and partly just from laziness. But I took at the prompt for this week and it turns out I’ve read enough decent books for this topic in the yast year, so here we are! The topic is Top Ten Books to Get In the Halloween Spirit.

Also, in case you’re interested, here are the links to my Halloween picks for the last two years: 2011 and 2010.

1. Nightside series by Simon R. Green – I’m 3 books into this series right now, and it’s so, so awesome. The series revolves around P.I. John Taylor, and the world he comes from – the Nightside, where it’s always 3 am and anything can happen. This series is such a fun mix of paranormal, mystery, fantasy, action, and gore. And they’re only about 230 pages each, so they’re quick reads too! (Also, that first book in the picture is a volume of the first 3 books – the first book is Something From the Nightside.)

2. Newsflesh trilogy by Mira Grant – The best zombie series I’ve read. There’s zombie horror, government plots, intrigue, twists – it’s so, so good. I’m thinking I may have to re-read these next year.

3. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton – If you’re looking for something a bit more nerdy, this was a really fun book. I enjoyed the science behind it a lot, but the action and suspense was INTENSE. What’s scarier than being chased by dinosaurs??

4. Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey – I thoroughly enjoy the bad-assness of James Stark, and he’s at his best when he’s killing something. There’s magic, voodoo, demons, trips to Hell, lots of drinking and swear words – enjoy!

5. All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness – I flew through these books, and I can’t wait for the third! It’s a really unique twist on the world of witches, demons, and vampires and all wrapped up in history and big plots and awesomeness. I was really hesitant to read these because of the hype, but it’s well-deserved.

6. The Diviners by Libba Bray - Alright, I’m reading this now. But so far it’s good and just the first chapter totally sets the tone of spooky-ness.

7. Coraline by Neil Gaiman – I just finished this as part of a readalong, and it was SO PERFECT for Halloween – especially when reading it in the middle of the night when it’s all quiet and dark out. There’s a brave little girl, a bizarre alternate world, and an awesome black cat.

8. Wishcraft series by Heather Blake – This is a cute new cozy mystery series, and they’re perfect if you’re looking for a little murder and intrigue, but with a big heaping side of magical and sweet. Darcy Merriweather is a witch – specifically, she’s a Wishcrafter; able to grant wishes as long as it’s within the rules. But learning her new set of powers is a little tougher as she’s also trying to solve surprising murders that crop up in the magical little town.

9. To Hell and Back series by Matthew Hughes – This is a wonderfully unique series in which socially-inept Chesney gets to play a crime-fighting superhero, along with his demonic sidekick Xaphan. The Damned Busters is the first book, and I definitely recommend it. The third book comes out in the winter – I can’t wait!

10. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde – If you’re more into classics, this should be perfect for you – a beautiful, vain young man is able to stay picture-perfect, while a portrait ages and shows the cost of his sins and depravity.

So, yay! Can’t believe I was actually able to come up with 10! I have read a whole lot of good fantasy/sci-fi this year, so that helps.

What do you recommend for Halloween reads?

~Sarah