A scary title can set the stage for a good horror novel before you even open the first page. It can evoke feelings of dread and anticipation of what’s to come. Why am I talking about horror novel titles? Because we have some new releases this week with really powerful, haunting titles. And on that note, I thought I’d recommend a few books with good titles, too. Enjoy!
Book goods
Eric LaRocca Horror Pillow by MildredMillers
New publications
The Building That Wasn’t, by Abigail Miles
Now for the new releases. I have to say, the title of this first release made me very curious when I first saw it. The building that didn’t exist follows Everly Tertium. One day in the park, an old man approaches her and claims to be her grandfather. He invites her to his apartment building, where she experiences a disturbing feeling of déjà vu. She is sure that she has been here before and done all these things before. This novel will make your head spin and make you question everything.
“I Was a Teenage Slasher” by Stephen Graham Jones
I was a teenage slasher is another really interesting title. And it’s exactly what it sounds like: the autobiography of a serial killer. Tolly Driver seems like a normal teenager, but he’s cursed to keep killing and seeking revenge. Set in 1980s Texas, this is the story of the making of a slasher from the perspective of the slasher, the way he wants his story told.
A more comprehensive list of new releases can be found in our “New Books” newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
I know that the film adaptation of this novel is called Knock on the hut, but for me the book title is much more interesting. For more information about the book versus the movie, check out my interview with author Paul Tremblay! When couple Eric and Andrew go on a cabin vacation with their 7-year-old daughter Wen, they have no idea that this trip will change their lives forever. And the fate of the world. One lazy afternoon, while Wen is catching locusts in the woods outside her vacation cabin, she encounters a stranger named Leonard who claims he needs her help to prevent the end of the world.
We Are Here to Hurt Each Other by Paula D. Ashe
This final book is a short story collection with a title that sends a chill down my spine. These 12 short stories by Shirley Jackson Award-winning and Bram Stoker Award-nominated author Paula Ashe are every bit as disturbing, dark and bleak as the title suggests. You can “try to run, to hide, but there is no escape: we are here to hurt each other.”
What’s your favorite horror novel title? Let me know! Let’s chat about it. You can follow me on Instagram at emandhercat (and message me). Sweet dreams, horror fans!
If this newsletter was forwarded to you by a horror fan, or you read it on bookriot.com and would like to receive it directly in your inbox, you can sign up here.
