15 Supernatural Books to Read

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These 15 Supernatural Books to Read are just the thing to get your imagination going, from young adult to short stories to just plain creepy, there’s a little something for everyone.

15 Supernatural Books to Read

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Alright, alright, alright, nobody yell at me, okay? I know it’s still August and its 90 degrees outside and we’re all still thinking about the beach, buuuuuuuttttt… there’s no denying fall is right around the corner. Heck, last week I thought it was already here, then this week the weather changed it’s mind.

Anyways, I decided to get a jump start on the Fall Reading List, I was putting the list together this morning and thought to myself, why not do a themed list this time around? A list of Supernatural Books just in time for fall, seems like the perfect time of year to read supernatural books to me!

So we’re going to fill up the next few months with magic, vampires, werewolves, witches, psychics, ghosts, and I’m sure a few others will make an appearance in some of these stories.

Annnddd… before you get on my case about it, the answer is no, this Maine girl did no put anything by Stephen King on the list. I actually had both It and Pet Sematary on the list up until about an hour ago, but decided they didn’t quite fit what I was going for and 24 books needed to be chopped down to 15, so adios, creepy killing clown!

Anyways, here you have it, my list of 15 Supernatural Books to Read. I’ve read a few, but many are just books I hope to read in the coming months!

P. S. – The first pumpkin recipe of the year is coming very soon and if you’re not ready for fall you can always check out my Summer Reading List. Follow me on Goodreads to stay up to date and discuss books!

 

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

“My words are unerring tools of
destruction, and I’ve come unequipped with the ability to disarm them.”
― Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven Boys

Synopsis: “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

Why it made the list: This book had been chilling on my to-read shelf for two years. After trying and failing to get through Shiver, Stiefvater’ first novel in her first series, I was a little hesitant. Honestly, I don’t feel like they were even written by the same author. We read the first three books in The Raven Cycle series and they were all excellent! I love the mix of supernatural with historical fiction and the characters are great! This is probably the most underrated and under appreciated series in YA right now! Seriously, GO READ IT! This was one of my favorite book I read in 2015.

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

“Soon the cold would force them inside, so they clutched at lost summer.”
― Annette Curtis Klause, The Silver Kiss

Synopsis: Zoe is wary when, in the dead of night, the beautiful yet frightening Simon comes to her house. Simon seems to understand the pain of loneliness and death and Zoe’s brooding thoughts of her dying mother. Simon is one of the undead, a vampire, seeking revenge for the gruesome death of his mother three hundred years before. Does Simon dare ask Zoe to help free him from this lifeless chase and its insufferable loneliness?

Why it made the list: It’s been years since I read this book, it was shortly after I read Blood & Chocolate in middle school, so I forget a lot of the details. However, I do remember loving it and it’s way better than Twilight!

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

 “Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week’s end of the world and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.”
― Patrick Ness, The Rest of Us Just Live Here

Synopsis: What if you aren’t the Chosen One?

The one who’s supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death?

What if you’re like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again.

Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week’s end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.

Even if your best friend is worshiped by mountain lions.

Award-winning writer Patrick Ness’s bold and irreverent novel powerfully reminds us that there are many different types of remarkable

Why it made the list: Imagine Buffy told from Zander’s point of view, we can’t all be the chosen one and it’s time to see things from the other side! This book doesn’t come out until August 27th!

Nightmares by Jason Segel and Kristen Miller

 “I wouldn’t make fun of someone’s nightmares until you’ve slept a night in his pajamas.”
― Jason Segel, Nightmares!

Synopsis: Sleeping has never been so scary. And now waking up is even worse!

Charlie Laird has several problems.

1. His dad married a woman he is sure moonlights as a witch.
2. He had to move into her purple mansion, which is NOT a place you want to find yourself after dark.
3.He can’t remember the last time sleeping wasn’t a nightmarish prospect. Like even a nap.

What Charlie doesn’t know is that his problems are about to get a whole lot more real. Nightmares can ruin a good night’s sleep, but when they start slipping out of your dreams and into the waking world—that’s a line that should never be crossed.

And when your worst nightmares start to come true . . . well, that’s something only Charlie can face. And he’s going to need all the help he can get, or it might just be lights-out for Charlie Laird. For good.

 Why it made the list:

1. Jason Segel co-wrote it!

2. It sounds fun!

3. Jason Segel co-wrote it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously Wicked by Tina Connolly

 “When you’re enslaved to a wicked witch, you end up thinking fast to keep all the weird witchy things a secret. Not always good fast, but fast.”
― Tina Connolly, Seriously Wicked

Synopsis: The only thing worse than being a witch is living with one.

Camellia’s adopted mother wants Cam to grow up to be just like her. Problem is, Mom’s a seriously wicked witch.

Cam’s used to stopping the witch’s crazy schemes for world domination. But when the witch summons a demon, he gets loose—and into Devon, the cute new boy at school.

Now Cam’s suddenly got bigger problems than passing Algebra. Her friends are getting zombiefied. Their dragon is tired of hiding in the RV garage. For being a shy boy-band boy, Devon is sure kissing a bunch of girls. And a phoenix hidden in the school is going to explode on the night of the Halloween Dance.

To stop the demon before he destroys Devon’s soul, Cam might have to try a spell of her own. But if she’s willing to work spells like the witch…will that mean she’s wicked too?

Why it made the list: I thought this seemed like a cute book that would be great for preteens who stumbled upon this post.

 Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

“Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies.”
― Richelle Mead, Vampire Academy

Synopsis: Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth’s magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest vampires – the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa’s best friend, makes her a dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them.

After two years of freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir’s Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-to-be, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. But inside the iron gates, life is even more fraught with danger… and the Strigoi are always close by.

Rose and Lissa must navigate their dangerous world, confront the temptations of forbidden love, and never once let their guard down, lest the evil undead make Lissa one of them forever…

Why it made the list: I’ve heard a lot of good things about this book, regardless of the YA vampire stigma, and I actually found that I enjoyed the movie. That means it’s time to tackle the series!

Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

“Real love is to offer your life at the feet of another.”
― John Ajvide Lindqvist, Let the Right One In

Synopsis: It is autumn 1981 when the inconceivable comes to Blackeberg, a suburb in Sweden. The body of a teenage boy is found, emptied of blood, the murder rumored to be part of a ritual killing. Twelve-year-old Oskar is personally hoping that revenge has come at long last—revenge for the bullying he endures at school, day after day.

But the murder is not the most important thing on his mind. A new girl has moved in next door—a girl who has never seen a Rubik’s Cube before, but who can solve it at once. There is something wrong with her, though, something odd. And she only comes out at night….

Why it made the list: I’ve wanted to read this book for years. It has great ratings and an intriguing plot line.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

“Sorry, we’ve got ghosts.”
― Deborah Harkness, A Discovery of Witches

Synopsis: Deep in the stacks of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.

Why it made the list: Mostly because I can’t even count the number of times this book series has been recommended to me.

Open Window: Truth from the Shadows by Courtney Harvey

Synopsis: Alex Wells appears from afar as a typical high school senior, yet visions of the dead invade her mind in a way that is anything but typical. Nighttime visits from spirits are commonplace. Questioning her sanity, she struggles inside self-inflicted walls, hiding her secret from the world. As she comes to terms with her strengthening psychic abilities, the latest vision of a young stranger’s violent suicide has her spinning out of control. While attempting to take charge of her life, she is compelled to uncover his story, forcing her to face her own fears and follow him on his journey to seek redemption. As her family and friends watch her spiral into a well of despair, she refuses to give up seeking out his truth, no matter the cost. It may only be the new boy in school who can lift her from the depths of self-destruction, but he too has a secret to hide.

Why it made the list: The author is actually a friend of mine and when this book came out I devoured it in just a few hours! Well written and fast paced!

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

 “I love books, by the way, way more than movies. Movies tell you what to think. A good book lets you choose a few thoughts for yourself.”
― Karen Marie Moning, Darkfever

Synopsis: MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks… until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death—a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed—a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae…

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane—an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women—closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all—powerful Dark Book—because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands…

Why it made the list: At first glance, I wouldn’t have thought this to be my kind of book, but one of my favorite Goodreads reviewers gave the series amazing reviews so I figure I better see what all the fuss is about.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

 “I’d made the vampire cry. Great. I felt like a real superhero. Harry Dresden, breaker of monsters’ hearts.”
― Jim Butcher, Storm Front

Synopsis: Harry Dresden — Wizard Lost items found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment. Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he’s the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things — and most of them don’t play well with humans. That’s where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a — well, whatever. There’s just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry’s seeing dollar signs. But where there’s black magic, there’s a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry’s name. And that’s when things start to get… interesting. Magic. It can get a guy killed.

Why it made the list: Mostly because my brother in law would disown me if I put together a list of supernatural books and didn’t include his beloved Dresden Files series. This series is greatly reviewed, I just haven’t gotten a chance to pick it up yet!

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

 “I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was.”
― Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Synopsis: A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of curious photographs.

A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

Why it made the list: I swear this book is mentioned at least 1 out of ever 7 I hear about. With the movie in the works, I figure it’s time to read it. Creepy kids… yay (not)!

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

 “Teenagers. Everything is so apocalyptic.”
― Kami Garcia, Beautiful Creatures

Synopsis: Is falling in love the beginning . . . or the end?

In Ethan Wate’s hometown there lies the darkest of secrets . . .

There is a girl. Slowly, she pulled the hood from her head . . . Green eyes, black hair. Lena Duchannes.

There is a curse. On the Sixteenth Moon, the Sixteenth Year, the Book will take what it’s been promised. And no one can stop it.

In the end, there is a grave.

Lena and Ethan become bound together by a deep, powerful love. But Lena is cursed and on her sixteenth birthday, her fate will be decided. Ethan never even saw it coming.

Why it made the list: If you saw the movie, pretend you ever wasted your time on that piece of crap. The book however, is so different and oh so good! It sucked me right in!

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

 “Maturity is highly overrated.”
― Kelley Armstrong, Bitten

Synopsis: Elena Michaels is the world’s only female werewolf. And she’s tired of it. Tired of a life spent hiding and protecting, a life where her most important job is hunting down rogue werewolves. Tired of a world that not only accepts the worst in her–her temper, her violence–but requires it. Worst of all, she realizes she’s growing content with that life, with being that person.

So she left the Pack and returned to Toronto where she’s trying to live as a human. When the Pack leader calls asking for her help fighting a sudden uprising, she only agrees because she owes him. Once this is over, she’ll be squared with the Pack and free to live life as a human. Which is what she wants. Really.

Why it made the list: We needed some werewolves on the list and this series comes highly recommended!

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

 “People fall so in love with their pain, they can’t leave it behind. The same as the stories they tell. We trap ourselves.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Haunted

Synopsis: Haunted is a novel made up of stories: Twenty-three of the most horrifying, hilarious, mind-blowing, stomach-churning tales you’ll ever encounter.

They are told by the people who have all answered an ad headlined ‘Artists Retreat: Abandon your life for three months’. They are led to believe that here they will leave behind all the distractions of ‘real life’ that are keeping them from creating the masterpiece that is in them. But ‘here’ turns out to be a cavernous and ornate old theater where they are utterly isolated from the outside world – and where heat and power and, most importantly, food are in increasingly short supply. And the more desperate the circumstances become, the more desperate the stories they tell – and the more devious their machinations to make themselves the hero of the inevitable play/movie/non-fiction blockbuster that will certainly be made from their plight.

Why it made the list: Well, about 5 years ago, shorty after we moved into our house, I came out of our bedroom in the dark and saw the cover and screamed bloody murder. I didn’t know it was just a cover when I saw it, the cover is glow in the dark and it freaked me right the #$%^ out. Matt teases me about it, A LOT! Anyways, Palahniuk is a pretty messed up guy (Fight Club, anyone?) and my husband loves him. So this was his pick for the supernatural books list, enjoy!