The 10 Best Christmas Horror Books to Read this Holiday Season
The 10 Best Christmas Horror Books to Read this Holiday Season,
such as The Shining, NOS4A2, Frankenstein, Ghost Story, Wolf Winter, The Terror etc..
What's up everybody welcomes to my blog and today I'm sharing The Best Christmas horror Books when you see this it will be Christmas Day so Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everybody.
It's Christmas time, and I thought it'd be fun since I love horror books so this was a perfect time to share the best Christmas horror books.
Today I want to do an article recommending some of my favorite horror books that are either set around the holidays or at least take place in the winter months.
Best Holiday Horror Books for a Very Scary Christmas
The best books to read a Christmas or a winter holiday can be a tricky question. Whether it's the story of a sad child being abused, a girl becoming a monster for love, or a man writing a fairy tale, each book has its own emotional effect.
You have to choose the right book for the best holiday horror book, the best Christmas horror story, the best horror books about Christmas, the best horror novels, and the best horror books on Christmas or winter holidays.
If you don’t like horror stories or other horror-based stories, you can choose other books to read. You can choose other books for your Christmas or winter holidays. This is because these books are more for thrillers and mystery novels.
1. The Shining
The Shining by Stephen King: Stephen King was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Book Awards in 2003 for "inheriting the great tradition of American literature of paying attention to plot and atmosphere, reflecting the beautiful and tragic moral truth deep in the human soul". This book is one of his masterpieces.
It's another story about the hotel. The environment of the hotel itself can produce all kinds of weird plots. As the book says, "Any big hotel has had an ugly thing," "It's like every big hotel is haunted. Why? Hell, people come and go.
Sometimes someone will suddenly die in the room, of heart Illness, stroke, or other diseases. A restaurant is a place of superstition. There is no 13th floor, there is no room 13, and there is no mirror behind the door to the guest room. These are all these things.”
The protagonist of the story, Jack, is an unemployed college teacher who finds a job in Yuanwang Hotel, which is amidst the mountains. In the long and severe winter, Jack and his wife and son will stay in the hotel for several months. He intends to do a big job and make a difference in writing.
In this book, the narration of the story is also progressive step by step. There have been bizarre failures of the hotel’s boiler, the roasted honeycombs give birth to bees, and the diary of the former guardian, etc. The relationship between the incidents has changed between the three. Suffering from writing obstacles and the suspicion of his family, Jack once again became addicted to alcohol, thus destroying his and his wife's fragile trust.
Jack's transformation is partly due to the depravity of human nature, and partly because of the terrifying power of the hotel itself. His transformation is the culmination of the entire book. The author's handling is also the most ingenious. In the bar, the conversation between Jack and the former guard was chilling:
" —Kill him. You must kill him, Jack, and her. Because the real artist must endure pain. Because every man Destroy his beloved things; because they are always conspiring against you, trying to hinder you and make you unsuccessful."
For a writer, "the real artist must endure pain" is the truth, but when the truth is here, it is distorted and used for murder, which is so plausible. It seems that for every really good horror story, his villains or obstructive forces are not simple killers. They all contain deep human weaknesses, so they can always find good excuses for their actions. These excuses are often difficult to refute.
I think the reason why these works are successful is that their villains have truly stood up and have their own souls. When they use words to laugh at positive characters, they are independent individuals, and what they say will impress readers and even the author himself. Only in this way can the conflict of a story play its best role and give everyone a great reading experience.
2. NOS4A2: A Novel
NOS4A2: A Novel by Joe Hill: I first read the author's collection of short stories, which are almost wonderful, so I found this one to read. The readers performed very wonderfully, with each person's heart, thought activities, dialogue, development of the story, and the exchange of roles. It feels like an impossible task.
The author also said at the end that this book is about parenting and its difficulty. It feels easy to enter the world described in the book, especially in this world that is already living in a science-fiction-like world.
The biggest feeling this book gives me is that the author has spread a big net, which seems very mysterious, but in fact, there is almost no place that makes people feel scared.
When reading this book again, I seemed to read Christie by Stephen King and Caroline by Neil Gaiman. Later, I was not surprised to see Neil Gaiman's name in the tribute. It seems to be a plate of snacks mixed with various flavors, without emphasis or characteristics.
Of course, although I have always told myself not to compare this work with Stephen King’s Skinning, I was still unable to control it and fell into a comparison mood when I watched it. Jin's works are nonsense, and straightforward, and will start with the most common little things in life and alienate them. It makes you think that fate is a big hole and that no one can escape it.
But this book still feels weaker. Originally, my expectations were still high. After all, kidnapping young children and traveling through time and space can have a lot of extensions and associations. But even in terms of emotions, it was almost meaningful, and it was almost meaningful in the development of the story. I have to go to see which details make me feel horrible. Maybe Wayne dreamed that someone came in. Others were really mediocre.
Including Vic in the later period, Maggie's death feels like dying for the sake of death, and I don't quite understand the meaning of this. Wouldn't it be more reasonable for Lou to die? Then he can go back home after losing weight successfully?
So that's it. I don't know if I want to see other works now.
3. Frankenstein
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: This is the crooked literature written by the second girl in the family. Although it can indeed be called the originator of science fiction, it can also be combined with countless latecomers of the same subject to talk about the so-called human nature, creation, society, and psychology.
I deny that Mary didn't necessarily think so deeply when writing this article. Of course, it is not very good. Regardless of the plot and personality, it is very naive. If you say that this book is bad from this background, it is good to be a hooligan...
Because I am obsessed with science fiction and read this world's first science fiction novel, I accidentally discovered that it is better to read than peter pan and charlottes Web!
The content is more to my taste! I admire Mary for being able to use such a simple vocabulary to let people feel the joys, sorrows, sorrows, and joys of the characters in the book with her description, and even choked up on the encounter with the artificial humans in Chapter 5.
The good and evil aspects of human nature and the expression of the alienation of human nature brought about by the use of technology are very real. In fact, Dad can add this to the first step of reading the original version together~
I really admire Mary Shelley’s skill, and even if there are new words on every page when I read it, I can see the joy, sorrow, sorrow, and joy of the characters in the book.
The biggest tragedy may be that you can never blame anyone, but it just happened. The being, for I don't know what to address it. He did not ask Frankenstein to create himself, and Frankenstein may not really want to create this abhorrent creature. So the tragedy began.
Sometimes I wonder whether those parents who are not prepared, those who irresponsibly abandon or refuse to educate their children, are like Frankenstein, will they one day taste the bitter fruits of their own cultivation.
4. Ghost Story
Ghost Story by Peter Straub: For four aging men in the terror-stricken town of Milburn, New York, an act inadvertently carried out in their youth has come back to haunt them. Now they are about to learn what happens to those who believe they can bury the past -- and get away with murder.
Peter Straub's classic bestseller is a work of "superb horror" (The Washington Post Book World) that, like any good ghost story, stands the test of time -- and conjures our darkest fears and nightmares.
It began shortly after the party at which one of their members, Edward Wanderley, had died or was killed. The Chowder Society, who for years had met in customary evening dress with the object of telling each other tales of every kind, now found themselves drawn towards the supernatural. It was some sort of solace for Edwards's loss.
They began to tell ghost stories, extraordinary ghost stories ...ghost stories that did not always stop when the teller finished speaking ...
Then came the dreams, shared simultaneously by the Chowder Society members, forecasting horrors the four aging men can scarcely bring themselves to discuss. And now they are about to learn what happens to those who believe they can bury the past and get away with murder.
5. Wolf Winter
Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekbäck: "Wolf winter,'" she said, her voice small. "I wanted to ask about it. You know, what it is." He was silent for a long time. "It's the kind of winter that will remind us we are mortal," he said. "Mortal and alone."
Swedish Lapland, 1717. Maija, her husband Paavo, and her daughters Frederika and Dorotea arrive from their native Finland, hoping to forget the traumas of their past and put down new roots in this harsh but beautiful land. Above them looms Blacka-n, a mountain whose foreboding presence looms over the valley and whose dark history seems to haunt the lives of those who live in its shadow.
While herding the family's goats on the mountain, Frederika happens upon the mutilated body of one of their neighbors, Eriksson. The death is dismissed as a wolf attack, but Maija feels certain that the wounds could only have been inflicted by another man.
Compelled to investigate despite her neighbors' strange disinterest in the death and the fate of Eriksson's widow, Maija is drawn into the dark history of tragedies and betrayals that have taken place on Blacka-n. Young Frederika finds herself pulled towards the mountain as well, feeling something none of the adults around her seem to notice.
As the seasons change, and the "wolf winter," the harshest winter in memory, descends upon the settlers, Paavo travels to find work, and Maija finds herself struggling for her family's survival in this land of winter-long darkness. As the snow gathers, the settlers' secrets are increasingly laid bare.
Scarce resources and the never-ending darkness force them to come together, but Maija, not knowing who to trust and who may betray her, is determined to find the answers for herself. Soon, Maija discovers the true cost of survival under the mountain, and what it will take to make it to spring.
6. At the Mountains of Madness
At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft: The development of science has constricted the living space of various religions except for Buddhism, pulling down the sublime of gods and absolute spirits;
while the Renaissance emphasized the freedom of man and raised the spirit of man, the value and meaning of survival and dignity;
Both make the philosophy of magnificent narrative gradually dissipate and turn into a professional and fragmented post-philosophy.
Existentialism is actually such a lament:
it believes that human beings live in a meaningless universe, and human existence itself is meaningless, but human beings can make themselves on the basis of existence and live a wonderful life.
Although it emphasizes human-centeredness and respect for human personality and freedom, in fact, the world is still nothing in the eyes of existentialism.
The vast universe has no meaning, human existence has no value, emotions and morals are only temporary, only nothing but eternity.
The Cthulhu family attributed the world to distortion and madness in despair, which is also a kind of answer to painful existentialism.
In this era, philosophy no longer does grand narratives, because human beings have already felt the emptiness of value.
Science can only make factual judgments, not value judgments. No matter how far the science develops, you can only continue to ask why, without realizing it.
People are just gagging, waiting to be "converted" to "belief", or to fall into heterodox hedonism and cynicism.
People can only look at them, watching those superhumans as Nietzsche said, still struggling, and never giving up, staggering forward, looking for a way to solve the technical puzzle and the dilemma of nothingness.
But the way ahead is only darkness, and it will only be darkness.
7. The Terror
The Terror by Dan Simmons: This book proves Dan Simmons' talent in various writing fields. The most well-known Hyperion is a science fiction classic, Summer of the Night is the best horror novel, and this terror is a horror novel based on Franklin's Arctic expedition.
Simons is worthy of being one of the best contemporary writers. His works never save effort, 800 pages at every turn, or even more, etc., because most of his writings are historical suspense novels, he possesses countless historical materials, respects historical facts, and does not restrict historical materials, and his narrative skills are more difficult for others to recite.
There are not many novelists like this now. Therefore, you will never regret reading his book, because you will always keep it on your bookshelf/in your heart.
In May of 1845, Sir Franklin led 129 crew members on two sailing ships-Erebus (Yin Yang Boundary) and Terror (Fear). They set off from England to the North Pole to excavate a Northwest Passage. They have disappeared since then. The novel describes their disappearance.
After several years of speculation, it seems that the names of the two expedition ships indicate a disaster. Although the scientific explanation may be a tragedy caused by the weather and spoiled canned food, the author added a lot of imagination to it, adding supernatural Elements that make this novel confusing and confusing.
The claustrophobic space, the mysterious Eskimo woman, the terrifying monster, and the fatal death of the crew are intertwined in this magnificent masterpiece.
8. The Turn of the Screw
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James: In the story of The Turn of the Screw, Henry James uses the perspective of a governess to disclose her haunting experience in a country home. At the beginning of the story, the governess was persuaded by the charming owner of the house to look after his nephew and niece, Miles and Flora.
However, her encounters of keeping running with the ghosts of the dead valet Quint and her dead predecessor Miss Jessel break the peace of the house. In order to accomplish her duty of being a governess, the governess gained the responsibility of protecting the children and finding the truth.
The kids and also Mrs. Grose, however, do not support and understand her actions and behavior in seeking the truth. In the end, her insistence on her duty even scared Flora, which resulted in her illness and also consequently cause the final death of Miles. The value of the book is more than the story itself but also the narrator's language.
In the novel, Henry James uses the symbol of “duty” to imply the governess's overwhelming care for the children which goes over the responsibility of her job. By using the word “duty”, the governess's action of protection can be explained because of her bond with the innocent children and her crush on the handsome employer.
This essay will be emphasized how the symbol of duty becomes the reason that the governess goes beyond her responsibility as a normal employer who cares too much about Flora and Miles. Moreover, the essay will also focus on explaining how the duty implies the governess's admiration towards her employer.
Henry James uses the symbol of “duty” to imply the governess's overwhelming care for the children which goes over the responsibility of her job. By using the word “duty”, the governess's action of protection can be explained because of her bond with the innocent children and her crush on the handsome employer.
9. Krampus: The Yule Lord
Krampus: The Yule Lord by Brom: Santa Claus, my dear old friend, you are a thief, a traitor, a slanderer, a murderer, a liar, but worst of all you are a mockery of everything for which I stood. You have sung your last ho, ho, ho, for I am coming for your head. I am coming to take back what is mine, to take back Yuletide..."
One Christmas Eve" in a small hollow in Boone County, West Virginia, a failed songwriter named Jesse witnesses a strange spectacle: seven thugs cloaked in black attacking a man in a red suit with a sleigh. When Jesse steps in to help, the mysterious figures all disappear, leaving behind a large sack-a a magical bag that will plunge the down-on-his-luck songwriter into a thrilling adventure.
The bag turns out to be the property of Krampus, the ancient trickster demon who punishes the wicked and Jesse's new master who will teach him things about the man in red he didn't know, including how a half a millennium ago, the cherry-cheeked jolly old saint imprisoned Krampus and usurped his magic.
But Santa's time is running out, for the former Yule Lord is determined to destroy his enemy and reclaim his holiday. Now, Jesse has the chance to save his daughter and his own broken dreams ...and return wild magic to all the impoverished folk of Boone County. and return wild magic to all the impoverished folk of Boone County. and return wild magic to all the impoverished folk of Boone County.
10. The 12 Terrors of Christmas
Award-winning author Claudette Melanson offers eleven new and original stories to make your skin crawl at any time of the year. This horror anthology also includes an original short by Amazon International Best-Selling Author, Lynn Lamb, titled "Bring Me Flesh and Bring Me Wine."
A special bonus story is also included by Melanson, "Mislead," previously published only on the Halloweenpalooza blog. Grab a cup of cocoa and make sure the windows and doors are locked tight as you settle in by the fire to enjoy these tales of terror, but be warned...locks have never succeeded at keeping Santa from gaining entry.
If you enjoy a slice of horror with your holiday cheer, this collection of Christmas horror shorts will satisfy all your dark cravings during the holidays...and beyond.
Terror One: Who is Santa really? Does something sinister lurk beneath the red suit and apple-cheeked visage? More importantly, what does Santa want for Christmas?
Terror Two: It is said that every wish bears a cost...even a wish of good intent. What do Detective Talbot and his son, Mallory, stand to lose when the pair seek to right a wrong on Christmas Eve?
Terror Three: Christmas can be a time for great joy...but also for heart-wrenching regret. Can the magic of Christmas Eve turn back the clock before time runs out for Morana and her family?
Terror Four: Snow falls white and clean, seeming to purify the small town of Moon, Pennsylvania, but the woods behind Vaughn's home have taken on a sinister cast. The snow keeps falling in record-breaking depths, but does evil lay hidden beneath its seemingly-innocent luster?
Terror Five: As his elves scurry to fill the toy orders for the busy season, an unknown terror creeps toward the workshop intent on releasing an evil meant to cancel Santa's yearly deliveries forever.
Terror Six: A well-meaning elf casts a spell that could inadvertently reveal the dark truth about Santa's workshop and its inhabitants. The world's children may end up paying a terrifying price, proving that the path of good intention oftentimes does indeed lead to hell.
Terror Seven: A scary twist on a Classic Christmas poem
Terror Eight: Santa's sleigh plummets to the ground, tearing all hope of a merry Christmas to bits and pieces. Will the elves be able to employ enough magic to stitch together some sort of solution? Or will their efforts only deliver greater horror and loss?
Terror Nine: Trinette is preparing to celebrate her first Christmas in love. Her boyfriend says he found the perfect gift for her, but beneath the shiny red paper and ribbon lies a secret he's kept hidden during all the months of their courtship...
Terror Ten: The world's population explosion means business is booming at Santa's workshop, with the need to expand making a difficult excavation below the permafrost necessary. But the elves should use caution lest they dig up an evil best left buried.
Terror Eleven: A special holiday treat for Maura DeLuca fans! Riptide ended on a happy note, but how did Maura's extended family celebrate Christmas? Could it be that the holiday didn't quite play out the way the vampires planned?
Terror Twelve: It's a dangerous time to call oneself a non-believer. Those who scoff at Santa's existence are melting all over the world. But could the benevolent head elf turn out to be the murderer?
Vampires, ghosts, demons, elves, werewolves, serial killers, and a rampaging Krampus are just a few of the monsters creeping amongst the pages of The 12 Terrors of Christmas. Are you brave enough to venture inside to experience the flip side of the typical Hallmark-themed Christmas?
11. The Christmas Bell
The Christmas Bell: A Horror Novel by L.A. Detwiler: From USA Today Bestseller L.A. Detwiler comes with a disturbing paranormal horror novel that will bring hell to the holidays and chilling fear to the festivities.
Some Christmas ornaments should be left in the attic.
When Candace Mills, 26, heads home for the holidays to visit her mother and ailing grandmother, she's expecting a peaceful, dull Christmas. She has no idea, though, that a single Christmas ornament is about to send her into a whirling chasm of evil.
It starts with the Christmas bell, scratched and worn in one of Grandma Anne's boxes in the attic. Once they put it on the tree, Grandma Anne starts to say terrifying things and act strangely. Candace and her mother assume it's her dementia talking—until they start to have dangerous encounters with a fiendish being.
As the secrets of Anne's past involving her twin sister rise to the surface, the women face sinister horrors from a dark force looking for revenge.
Will any of them be able to survive, or will they fall prey to the malevolent secret Grandma Anne is harboring from her past?
Conclusion: The 10 Best Christmas Horror Books to Read this Holiday Season
These books are less about the darkness and more about the thriller or mystery that they present. the books that you choose to read are the right choice. You have to read your favorite book for your Christmas horror, winter horror, holiday horror book, or Christmas book.
I think this is the perfect time of year to read scary Christmas books although if I'm honest I pretty much say that in every season something about Christmas which is all about love and joy just makes me want to read books about creepy things spooky places and all of that good stuff.
So here are my recommendations for the 10 Best Christmas Horror Books to Read this Holiday Season. I think I have a good variety here so hopefully, there is something for everyone let's get started now.
Book Recommender
LOOKING FOR MORE BOOKS TO READ?
Explore and find your next good read - Book Recommender for specific interests.
Discover ratings, reviews, summaries, and genres from Google Books.
Get Book SuggestionsKnow someone who might be interested in this article? Share it with them.
About Muhiuddin Alam
Muhiuddin Alam is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ReadingAndThinking.com. He serves as a consistent contributor to various websites and publications, including Medium, Quora, Reddit, Linkedin, Substack, Vocal, Flipboard, and Amazon KDP. Alam personally read numerous books and, for the past 10 years, has been providing book recommendations and reviews. Find Me: About Me & Google Knowledge Panel.
