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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Ottawa chapter.

With Halloween right around the corner I am currently consuming all the Halloween content. I have been watching all the Halloween specials of my favourite shows, Halloween Disney classic movies and some scary movies here and there. But one of my favourite things to do is read a good book. With the weather being cold I love curling up in my blanket, my favourite autumn candle burning and a good book in hand. During this time of the year I like reading a variety of books that fall into the magic/fantasy, horror, and murder mystery genres. Here are a few that you should include to your reading list to read around this spooky season.

 

 

  1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

 

A book about a competition between two magicians, that takes place in a magical circus called “Le Cirque des Rêves”, need I say more? This book is mesmerizing from the start! It is so whimsical and magical it is hard not to enjoy.  

 

2. The Diviners by Libba Bray

 

From the outside, this book looks like a light hearted read, it takes place in New York during the 1920s. However what you will find inside is quite surprising. It contains mysterious powers, a museum all about the occult and a terrifying killer that is on the loose… Definitely a perfect read for Halloween!

 

3. Vicious by V.E. Shwab

 

This book will catch your attention from the first page and it will keep you hanging until the very end. It takes place during two different times lines, it starts off with two science undergrad students who are best friends, one of them ends up in prison, and after ten years, has broken out and is on the hunt to get revenge from his ex-best friend. 

 

4. The Hand Maid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

 

This book was turned into a tv show last year so you know it is good, the premise of this story is pretty terrifying. If you like dystopian novels, this one is for you.

 

5. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

This story follows a boy who grew up living in a graveyard and was raised by the ghosts that live there… If this does not scream spooky scary I do not know what does!

 

6. The Gates by John Connolly 

 

This book had me at “Samuel Johnson and his dachshund, Boswell, are trying to show initiative by trick-or-treating a full three days before Halloween”. A really funny read!

 

7. One of Us is Lying by Karen M.Mcmanus

 

If you enjoy murder mysteries this one is for you, five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive, you get to see what went down that day during detention and try to figure out who committed the murder. 

 

8. Night Film by Marisha Pessl

 

If you are going to buy one book off this list I highly recommend grabbing this one, (plus it is only $5 right now at Chapters, so grab it while it is cheap!) there are pictures, newspaper clippings and websites showed every few pages, all of these visuals just made the book so much more interesting to read. This book is mysterious, suspenseful and was intriguing from the start, it is pretty hard to put down once you get started. 

 

9. Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

 

When a book is described as a “deliciously creepy horror novel [that] has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion…” you know you are in for a good time. 

 

10. Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

 

LOOK AT THAT COVER! Does that not scream creepy and spooky to you? Warning, that is not the only creepy image that you will find throughout this book. 

 

Zeinab M

U Ottawa '19

5th year biochemistry student who is just trying to navigate her way through life day by day...
Fourth year Criminology student at the University of Ottawa, Leafs fan, makeup lover and Harry Potter enthusiast.