Hey, guys!
I tried to be clever with the banner and spell October with the books, but it was only marginally successful ;) I have a rule every October: I only read paranormal/horror/thriller type books, in honor of the Spooktastic month that is my favorite month, that is October! For this month, I picked 18 of my favorite spooky “monsters” and a correlating book for you to read this month! Some of these are my absolute favorites, and I highly recommend you picking a few to read to get you in the mood!
Aliens: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Obsidian is definitely the first thing that comes to mind when I think about aliens. Not only is it one of my favorite YA books, but the main character has my name!! Double whammy. And I’m not kidding when I say its a fav. Between Daemon’s smoking…well, everything, and Katy’s adorableness, Armentrout knocked this one out of the freaking park. Daemon and Katy’s romance is a total “slow burn” and I enjoyed every minute of it! High school hot-guy romance at its peak. Daemon is my soulmate, and I challenge anyone who tries to claim him under my watch.
Yes, that means you, Miranda! Trying to steal my man. Pfft.
Gargoyles: White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Jennifer L. Armentrout has it going ON with her drool-worthy bad-boys that aren’t quite human–or sometimes at all. With Daemon and Roth, the guy pictured to the right (although I image him much hotter), she knows how it’s done! I have to admit, up until I read this book, Gargoyles were still the lion-statues sitting outside libraries in New York, and stone creatures crouched at the top of parapets. But apparently, they’re a “real” thing, and Armentrout has unleashed them once more for our reading pleasure.
Though this series heavily features Gargoyles, only 1.5 of the love-triangle (yes, I said the hated the most hated hyphenated-word, you can cut down on the hissing. Roth’s clearly the only contender), it still bloody counts. Zayne, the unfortunate guy who thinks he has a chance against Roth, is a full-fledged gargoyle. Roth, the clear winner, is a demon. Layla, the meat they’re fighting over, is both. Still don’t know what a gargoyle is? Read White Hot Kiss!! Then you can join in on my fangirling over Roth because it’s feeling kind of one-sided right now.
Devil and Reaper: Charley Davidson by Darynda Jones
Let’s be clear, Charley Davidson is not the devil. However, Rhyes, the hot piece featured throughout this series, is the SON of the devil. Charley Davidson is actually a kind of “reaper” who sends ghosts to heaven or hell or whichever they deserve. This 11 book series may be a little … off in the terms of plot, but the humor makes up for it every. Damn. Time. Feel you need some laughs this Halloween? Take a load off, dig in that candy bowl, curl up and worship Charley Davidson; Queen of the Snappy One-Liners. I’m not kidding. They are snappy. And hilarious. Don’t judge the plot, it gets a little ridic, but OMG is it funny.
Demons: The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
Ok, I know that I just said that Obsidian was one of my favorite YA books ever… but this one is, too. I don’t really think this book has actual demons, but there is a “Demon King,” so it counts. If you’ve read The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, the Seven Realms is that… but the YA version with a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers, forbidden romance that we actually like! The first two books (The Demon King and The Exiled Queen) are both stunning…but it’s Gray Wolf Throne (book three) that really hits the breaking point and rockets from stunning to exquisite! Is there a word better than exquisite? It’s that. Hands down.
With political intrigue a fierce, sassy, utterly ruthless plot and white-hot romance, what’s not to love? Chima’s writing ability is absolutely flawless! I mean… oh I could go on about this series for days. No matter how many times I read her books, Cinda knocks me off my feet. In fact, I went to Books by the Banks this weekend in Cincinnati and she gave me the Shadowcaster ARC!!! The sequel to the amazing Flamecaster, I can’t wait to dive in! After I finish this series for the fourth time and reread Flamecaster, that is! Thank you again, Cinda! You’ve seriously made my month :)
Genie: Three Wishes by Kristen Ashley
Hands down my favorite genie book EVER!!! Not just because it’s Kristen Ashley, one of my favorite authors (EVER!!), but because it’s pure genius. Autumn is often the time for Book Slumps, and Kristen Ashley is notorious for pulling my right out of the slumps! I can’t tell you how many levels I connected on with the main character (and Nate…. holy hell. He had my kindle in flames, girlfriend. Smoldering), Lily Jacobs. You should read the scene where she makes her wish in the beginning! She was in high school and hadn’t quite grown into her looks and was bullied horribly. Every member of her family gets one wish, and she uses hers after a particularly horrible incident at school.
She wishes for a man in her future and the things she said… YES!!! It’s every book lover’s dream man! She won my heart then and there. But then the rest of the book happened and she (well, they) had me laughing and crying and giggling and smirking and bawling my freaking eyes out. This book is basically a contemporary romance…with a genie. But it’s lovely and wonderful and AHHH just read it, already!
Succubus: Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
I have to admit, it’s been years since I read this series and I don’t even remember if I finished it (yeet!) but I’ve decided that this October, I’m going to get back in the saddle with this wonderful series. I don’t actually remember much about it, but I remember that Georgie Kincaid could kick some booty and that the succubus-part of the book was very sexy. When you have to feed on sexual energy to survive, I can totally understand why she’s such a snarky bitch.
I think she may have worked at a bookstore? But it’s not all roll-and-tumble fun games for Georgia. When you literally feed on your partners’ energy to survive, that makes having relationships hard. She may not be a virgin, but she’s completely foreign in the land of love, and that was one roller coaster that I thoroughly enjoyed. Hilarious and snarky… with a side of paranormal mystery.
Changeling: Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
When it comes to changelings, Singh has it in the bag. She has proved that she can not only knock us out with her contemporary romances but also with her purr-worthy males and their lascivious ways. In the Psy-changeling series, Singh has created a whole new race that has yet to hit the paranormal shelves–or screens–yet! And that’s saying something, as the paranormal genre as a whole has experimented with some pretty freaky stuff. But she has managed to scrounge another one up, and I can’t wait for you to read all about the Psy.
Written like a laid-back contemporary novel but cleverly disguised as a hard-hitting paranormal, she has bought my love forever. With political intrigue, human (or rather, non-human) connection and heat under the sheets, Singh is one for record books and at the top of your October TBR. (Review)
Poltergeist: Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Because of course when I saw “poltergeist,” how could I think of anything but Peeves? I mean, Peeves may be relatively harmless as long as there’s no chalk or chandeliers around, but he’s still a force to be reckoned with. If he’s not monstery enough for you for Halloween, you could always be Voldemort! I don’t know how you’re going to get your nose off, but I wish you luck in your endeavor to try :) You can’t be Voldemort with a nose.
Werewolves: King Hall by Scarlett Dawn
King Hall has been a favorite for a very long time. A completely new take on the world of vampires, werewolves, mages, and elementals, or as they’re collectively called, mysticals, I guarantee you will fall in love with this one. In this world, there is one leader of each faction, an “alpha” if you will, and when Lily suffers a personal loss, she is named future Queen of Shifters. However, what she experiences among the other future leaders is far from the mutual contempt she expected, and wonderful friendships (and romantic entanglements) bloom as the group bonds. However, when the fragile peace between the Commoners and Mysticals is broken, the group must step up to save their own existence and it is lovely. The romance in this one is a white-hot, friends-to-lovers forbidden romance, but it’s the friendship in the group that really takes it over the top.
Fae: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Of course, I had to throw Throne of Glass in there! Duh! Not only is she a badass assassin (which totally counts for a scary Halloween thing), but, uh, there’s also Fae. (Trying to be non-spoilery, because all you idiots who haven’t read it yet have to get over your idiocy at some point. I’m trying to be supportive, but GOSH! READ IT!!!!!!!) Anyway. Not only is Celaena a badass assassin who kicks butt, takes names and commits homicide, but she is also pretty terrifying when she gets pissed. If you haven’t read Throne of Glass yet, this would be a good time to get in gear and enjoy the hell out of this series that gets so much better with each book.
Ghosts: Penmort Castle by Kristen Ashley
You know that Kristen Ashley is one of my favorite authors EVER. Her Ghosts and Reincarnation series is just awesome :) Penmort Castle tells you about badass (well, we don’t really know, only suspect, what he does) Cash Fraser, who needs to hire a girlfriend. Abigail Butler, in dire need of money, poses as a paid escort. Cash, immediately taken by this beauty, ups the stakes, demanding that Abigail must live with him in his castle (passed down from generation to generation, a real national treasure) and the tension between them heats up...and a threat from a decades-old vengeful ghost threatens to ruin it all. Basically… that national treasure of a house is haunted :)
Villains: Young Elites by Marie Lu
The Young Elites is an obvious choice for Monstrous reads. Adelina is what we bookish types call an “anti-hero”. She fights for the greater good but isn’t necessarily “good” in the way she goes about it. In fact, one would even describe her as quite villainous–especially with a glimpse of that magic of hers. Driven quite mad at times by her powerful magic, Adelina fights for her freedom and her sanity, entertaining us with her extravagant and dramatic stunts, and pride. With a dangerous, almost evil, power, she’s managed to alienate all those who could possibly accept her monstrousness and must find her own way to freedom.
Witch: Grave Witch by Kalayna Price
Reminiscent of Kate Daniels, Throne of Glass, Mercedes Thompson, and Charley Davidson, Price has managed to pen a kickass series that just want the audience wants…but is somehow wholly unique. A three-dimensional urban fantasy, Kalayna Price astounds me with the depth at which she has made her world. Alex Craft is a grave witch, who can raise a ghosts “shade”, basically the dead person’s memories, and has many powers besides that are so fun each time they pop up! My favorite part of this series is Death.
Alex can see things that no one else can see, like the Reapers that collect souls at their death, and one of them she’s known since she was a little girl, whom she’s dubbed “Death”. A true invisible friend, except that man, just happens to be extraordinarily handsome (swoons). The interactions between them have me drooling (THE COFFEE!!!) and I can’t recommend this series highly enough for your next Halloween read!
Vampires: Until the Sun Falls From the Sky by Kristen Ashley
I’ve made it no secret that Kristen Ashley is an all-time favorite, indeed, she has another book upon this very list. But seriously, this series kicks serious ass. In Until the Sun Falls from the Sky, Lucian is a vampire (of course) and Leah Buchanon’s family has served the vampires for centuries. But Leah wants nothing to do it. Little does she know that Lucian has been waiting for her for years and is willing to break all the rules and go against his race to fight to have her. Seriously, guys, this book is absolutely amazing! I loved the different take on the world of vampires and Lucian’s domineering personality, while still managing to be wrapped around Leah’s finger…so great! The trials and tribulations they went through were nothing short of heartbreaking and I was rooting for them the whole way! Not to say that Lucian wasn’t a serious ass in certain parts, because he totally was, but Leah more than made up for with her stubborn rebelliousness and sweet personality :)
Mythology: Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
There are so many mythological creatures you could be for Halloween and there’s plenty to choose from, straight from the story of our favorite demi-god, Percy Jackson! Lover of blue foods and totally rocking the blonde-hair-green-eyes combo, Percy is my childhood sweetheart. This may be a blast from the past for some of you, but I have to admit that I’ve been feeling nostalgic lately. Watching my neighboring children playing tag on the street and excitedly discussing their house-hitting plans with a total abandon and exuberance that only children can muster has made me miss my childhood. Driving and grocery shopping is great, but that doesn’t mean I still don’t mean I don’t get nostalgic watching a good-old game of tag and wanting my childhood back. Percy Jackson is part of that nostalgia, and I can’t think of a better time to read your favorite childhood read than during the most childish and wonderful time of year :)
What are some of your favorite “monsters” to read about? Have you read any of the books on this list? Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you!
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