Best Reads


As a children's bookseller, I get asked a lot for horror recommendations, but what I find most of the time is that it's not the readers themselves doing the asking, it's their parents/aunts/uncles/grandparents. They know their kids like horror, but since most of it can't stand it themselves, they don't know where to start.

So over the next few weeks I thought I'd present five of my favourite books that any parent can confidently give their horror fan, knowing that they'll devour it.

NB: These recommendations won't come in any order, they're all as brilliant as each other.


Wardstone Chronicles: The Spook’s Apprentice by Joseph Delaney





What's it About?
Thomas Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son, which makes him Spook material. The problem is, Tom isn't convinced he wants to be a Spook – after all, a Spook’s role is to roam the county, ridding it of dark creatures like witches, boggarts and even the devil himself. Can Tom complete his training as an apprentice and become the best Spook the county has ever seen? Or will he be won over by the dark side?

And in a Nutshell?
Dark fantasy, brilliant world-building, the horror comes from build-up and scary monsters rather than gore, long series, books start off youngish (perhaps 10/11+) and get older, movie Seventh Son coming in 2013.

Why is it a Best Read?
As of writing this, there are ten books in the Wardstone Chronicles main storyline, two books of short stories, two standalone tales that also tie in with the main one, and one bestiary. As a body of work, it is absolutely my favourite series – this is dark fantasy at its very best. The series has some of the most memorable characters, both heroes and villains (who are sometimes both). Not only that, but the various plots just grow stronger with each book, and the creatures of the dark become more terrifying.

Buy It
My Review
Spook's Website


Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy


 
What's it About?
Skulduggery Pleasant. Living Skeleton. Ace Detective. Razor-sharp wit. Also, he can do magic.
Stephanie (AKA Valkyrie) finds herself working as his partner after he shows up at her uncle's funeral and introduces her to a whole world she didn't know existed - a world of magic-wielding maniacs who want to do things like raise ancient evil monsters. Now Valkyrie must harness her own powers in order to prevent the end of the world.

And in a Nutshell?
It's hilarious. You won't even care what the plot is (though it's a great plot) because you'll want to follow Skulduggery Pleasant anywhere. High-action, larger-than-life characters, starts out for readers 11/12 and gets darker as the series progresses, aimed more at 13/14.

Why is it a Best Read?
By now the popularity of this series probably means it needs no introduction, but for those of you who haven't checked it out (or have dismissed it because of the giant, grinning skeleton on the front) this is a plea to remedy that situation. Go out now and pick up book one, then stay nearby while you finish it, because I guarantee you'll be back to buy the rest.

The reason this series has been so popular with readers is, simply, because it's so funny. It's hard to find really funny horror books. Detective Skulduggery Pleasant tends to steal the show with his witty one-liners, but the humour isn't limited to him - a cast of brilliant characters means that almost every page will have you laughing out loud.

But it wouldn't be much of a horror book if it was all laughs, and the action itself is top-notch, with super-sized fight scenes and terrifying villains. The world-building is just spot on too, and the mythology Landy has created builds a fascinating foundation for a rollicking good detective series.

Buy It
My Review
Derek Landy's Blog
 


The Fury by Alexander Gordon Smith


What's it About?
Brick, Cal and Daisy are three very different kids with one unfortunate thing in common – everybody wants to kill them. Otherwise normal people turn into ravening, zombie-like creatures when they come into range, so the only thing they can do is stay far, far away from other human beings. Easier said than done. They eventually find refuge in an abandoned themepark, but the problems don’t stop there. Because strange things are happening to them – things that could be called super powers – and they'll need to learn more about these powers if they're to defeat their terrifying new enemy.

And in a Nutshell? 
Zombies (sort of), edge of your seat terror, not a lot of gore, brilliantly written characters, 12+

Why is it a Best Read?
The Fury is a relatively new book, which makes it perfect for those keen horror fans who have read everything else. It’s such a great set-up: the spooky location, the horrible fate that awaits those targeted (and if the reader needed any convincing, a kid well and truly gets it in the opening chapter). But what really makes this book for me are the characters – the three main characters are all utterly different but you genuinely care about all of them, especially Brick, the misunderstood thug, and the introduction of less-than-warm-and-fuzzy Rilke later on in the book really rounds out the cast. 

The Fury is a long book, but it will absolutely keep you hooked the whole time. I was. This is the perfect book for fans of Gone – in fact, I think it’s much better than Gone, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series holds (Book 2: The Storm out May 2013).

Buy It
My Review
Alexander Gordon Smith's Website


The Enemy by Charlie Higson



What's it About?
The adults of the world have started to act funny. As in, they'll rip apart and devour any kid they can get their hands on, so the only way to survive is to hole up and hope for the best. A bunch of kids have been living in an abandoned shopping mall, but they can't stay there forever. Instead they decide to make the journey across London to Buckingham Palace, which they hear is a paradise of safety, plentiful food and fresh water. But is there such a thing as paradise in the zombie apocalypse?

And in a Nutshell?
The best zombie YA series, hands down. A huge cast of characters means you never know who's safe and who isn't, and there are lots of wonderfully original gory parts that will satisfy even the bloodthirstiest of readers. Probably one of the scariest books out there, so make sure you give it to readers 12+. Also, as the timelines in the different books isn't sequential, you can read them out of order, but it is better to start with The Enemy.

Why is it a Best Read?
The characters. The characters. The characters.

Okay, sure, it's also a best read because it's so terrifying, but it's terrifying because you actually care about the characters. There isn't a single cardboard cut out or Mary-Sue amongst Higson's cast, they're all so real that it's like you're peering through a window watching them trying to survive. They run the whole range from loveable to detestable, and everything in between. Higson is an absolute master when it comes to writing teen characters, and he's not afraid to put them through some pretty horrific stuff.

On the surface, the zombie apocalypse seems to have been done to death, but when you read a book like The Enemy, you'll finally realise what true horror really is.

Buy It
My Review
Charlie Higson's Website

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