Books To Read This October

It’s October, a.k.a. one of my favorite months in any given year. And, typically, I put together a short list of recommendations, comprised of books that I’ve read throughout the year that are perfect for the Halloween season too.

• The first one is Breakup From Hell by Anna Dàvila Cardinal. Technically I read this book last year, but, since the HarperCollins union strike was happening, my review was posted later in 2023 instead. There is a strong religious element in the story, since it deals specifically with demons, as the title pretty much suggests. But Breakup From Hell was still a good story with a few scares. (To read my review click HERE)

• Up next is Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall. I’ll have a review for this one later in the month, but I’m choosing to mention it here as well. I won’t say too much about it right now, but just know that it has magic, mystery, plenty of folklore-like aspects, and a strong witchy vibe to it.

• My next recommendation is Michelle Jabès Corpora’s Holly Horror. It’s an eerie and incredibly atmospheric story. And while it’s setting—including Hobbie House—wasn’t isolated, there was an insular and solitary note to the story that’s due to how the perspective of the main character was written. If you’re looking for a creepy ghost story, then Holly Horror is one I would definitely recommend. (To read my review click HERE) 

• Another ghost story is the middle grade novel: Field of Screams by Wendy Parris. There were plenty of frightening moments in this story, which was balanced with the personal journey for the main character, Rebecca, as well. (To read my review click HERE)

• Ninth House and Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo were a surprise for me. They’re dark, but I really like how Bardugo does the mysteries alongside the supernatural and secret society aspects. But, while I loved them, this recommendation comes with a slight warning. These are very dark novels, and I’d keep that in mind. (To read my review click HERE and HERE) 

• A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid had gothic trappings in a fantasy setting combined with myths, academic rivals, and a sense of dread and isolation. It’s one of the most atmospheric novels I’ve read this year and, with everything mentioned above, it would make for a perfect read this October. (To read my review click HERE)

• My next one is The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland. This is one of my top favorite books of the year so far because of its take on vampires. It’s essentially a character study, for a vampire grappling with what it means to be a vampire and live that long of a life through the many horrors of history. It’s also a dual timeline novel, set throughout history and to the present of the character’s life.(To read my review click HERE) 

• Last but certainly not least is Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia! This is another good one. Films and occultism in 90s Mexico, delivered with Moreno-Garcia’s usual flare for vibrant characterization and a thrilling page-turning adventure. (To read my review click HERE)

So those are my recommendations. If you have your own, feel free to leave them in the comments. Thanks for reading!   

Field of Screams by Wendy Parris

Title: Field of Screams 
Series: n/a
Author: Wendy Parris
Source/Format: NetGalley; eARC
More Details: Middle Grade; Horror
Publisher/Publication Date: Delacorte Press; August 1, 2023

Goodreads     Amazon     Barnes & Noble 

Synopsis from Goodreads...

A new pulse-pounding supernatural mystery about twelve-year-old Rebecca, who has always wanted to hunt ghosts . . . until she meets one.

Paranormal enthusiast Rebecca Graff isn't happy about being dragged to Iowa to spend the summer with family she barely knows. But when she tracks a ghostly presence to an abandoned farmhouse, she starts to think the summer won't be a total lost cause! The trouble is no one believes her. Then Rebecca finds a note stashed in a comic belonging to her late father--a note that proves the same spirit haunted him when he was twelve. Suddenly she feels a connection to the dad she pretends not to miss, and she is determined to uncover the story behind the haunting. But the more Rebecca discovers, the scarier the ghost becomes. Soon she is in a race to piece together the puzzle and recover a family legacy before it is lost forever and a horrible tragedy repeats itself.

It’s been a minute since I picked up a middle grade horror novel, but when I saw that Field of Screams was about a paranormal enthusiast and abandoned farmhouses—and the cornstalks on the cover reminded me of Small Spaces—I was instantly interested. Field of Screams is, of course, a very different story from Small Spaces. But what the two books had in common was a good balance between the themes—family, loss, grief—and a spooky atmosphere/happenings tied to a local mystery that found its roots far closer to home than the characters ever expected.

The story follows Rebecca, as she and her mom head to Iowa for the summer. It was the perfect setup, because it quickly removed the characters from familiar places and into the virtual unknown. The setting wasn’t inaccessible per say, it was rural and had a lot of large farms, but it was utilized well. Particularly in regards to the way that the environmental challenges heightened the sense of isolation, tension, and general creepiness.

And, from what I got from Rebecca’s perspective, most of the aforementioned was less than ideal, which was understandable (sometimes the phrase “be careful for what you wish for,” is actually sound advice). But, I liked how the story dealt with her character under circumstances that were best described as stressful and terrifying. Her hope for finding the uncanny; the frustration over missing summer with her best friend; the discontent over being stuck with family members who were almost strangers; and feeling alone and unheard. It was good stuff.

Field of Screams was spooky, but the story was also endearing (thanks to the characters) with an ending that was heartwarming. So, if you’ve liked books like Small Spaces by Katherine Arden and the Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown, then Field of Screams should be on your radar.    

About the author....

Wendy Parris grew up in the Midwest loving books and hoping to glimpse a ghost. After graduating from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in radio/television/film, she acted in Chicago storefront theaters, performed improv comedy, and freelanced in public relations. Now she writes spooky novels for kids. A member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Wendy has been published in the Illinois chapter’s Prairie Wind quarterly. She lives with her family near Chicago in an old house that is probably not haunted. FIELD OF SCREAMS is her debut novel.

Goodreads     Website    Instagram

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Delacorte Press) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!