Creature Feature: 128 New Books with Vampires, Witches, Ghosts, and More!

Posted by Sharon on October 1, 2024

In our ongoing effort to provide the ultimate Halloween reading experience, we’ve decided to try something a little different. We’ve pulled out a bevy of new books from 2024 that feature traditional scary story creatures. Vampires. Ghosts. Demons. The usual suspects.
 
To our delight, we uncovered tons of creature feature books (128!) published this calendar year, cutting across virtually all genres. That's right: Beasts are back and ghouls are cool, baby! You’ll find plenty of traditional horror in here, but the bigger surprise is how often these creatures wander off into the other bookstore aisles. Vampires and dragons in the romance section have become familiar enough, but how about ghosts on the YA shelf? Or psychological horrors stomping around in bucolic historical fiction?
 
As you might imagine, the dividing lines get pretty blurry with this sort of collection, and you’ll see lots of crossover specimens. For example, The Black Bird Oracle, book five in Deborah Harkness’ popular All Souls series, famously features vampires and witches, and The Werewolf's Guide to Seducing a Vampire is pretty self-explanatory.
 
Sharp-eyed readers will find some excellent curveballs in here, too. Minotaur romance, for instance. Or cozy demons. Or cranberry bog monsters. Or allegorical necro-viruses. Good times!
 
Click on the book cover art for more information about each title. If you come across some interesting leads for future reading plans, use the Want to Read button. Happy hunting!
 

Vampires

 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Ghosts

 
 
 
 
 


Witches

 
 
 
 
 
   


Dragons

 
 
 


Animal Shape-Shifters

 



Monsters: Minotaurs, Bog Bodies, Zombies, Beasts & Unnamed Horrors

 
 
 
 
 


Demons

 



Now it's your turn! Are you a vampire lover? Do you eat up zombie books? Which creature books will you always pick up? Sound off in the comments below!


Comments Showing 1-50 of 59 (59 new)


message 1: by Mica (new)

Mica I have Murder Road on my TBR, but 'd like to add some of these!


message 2: by Sarah (new)

Sarah None of the Vampire Books appeal to me. My teenage Twilight loving self would be so disappointed.


message 3: by Law (new)

Law There are so many books to read on this list. There's no way I can read them all. However, I've read one on this list, Bride, which was disappointing. Anita de Monte Laughs Last keeps appearing on lists. I might read it but I might not due to some controversy about the author. Is it any good?


message 4: by Patricia L. (new)

Patricia L. O’Leary I want to read:
When among crows
The spell shop
Lady mecbeth
I’m afraid you’ve got dragons


message 5: by Amanda (new)

Amanda I highly recommend To Shape a Dragon’s Breath. :)


message 6: by LaceyGoodBooks (new)

LaceyGoodBooks I have one of the books


message 7: by Susan (new)

Susan I’ve read four on this list but there’s plenty more I want to read.


message 8: by Sophie (new)

Sophie Gillespie Law wrote: "There are so many books to read on this list. There's no way I can read them all. However, I've read one on this list, Bride, which was disappointing. Anita de Monte Laughs Last keeps appearing on ..."

May I ask what the controversy is about (or where I can go to find out more)? I too am interested in the book.


message 9: by Berengaria (new)

Berengaria Sophie wrote: "May I ask what the controversy is about (or where I can go to find out more)? I too am interested in the book. "

This review sums the controversy up very well:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 10: by Law (new)

Law Should I be disappointed in Goodreads for promoting a controversial author like Gonzalez? They keep putting Anita de Monte Laughs Last on booklists.


message 11: by ✮⋆˙ (new)

✮⋆˙ You’re missing Traitors of Eden from the list!! Such a good gothic romantasy


message 12: by Keily (new)

Keily What are the odds that there are two books titled We Shall Be Monsters that released this year?


message 13: by NewNobodyAccount (new)

NewNobodyAccount Shout outs to The Witchstone by Harry Neff in the Demons section!!!! Easily the BEST book I’ve read ALL. YEAR. Can’t wait to vote for it in this years Choice Awards!!!!


message 14: by ❓Epitaph❓ (new)

❓Epitaph❓ Technically, Lord of the Rings fits all those categories. Wizards, Dragons, Necromancers, Wizards etc.


message 15: by Silvie 🍁 (new)

Silvie 🍁 Dragons and witches >>>> anything else ❤️


message 16: by Ichi (new)

Ichi oh wow they really ate with the covers, they are so beautiful 😭


message 17: by archivist13 (new)

archivist13 not two completely different books named ‘we will be monsters’


message 18: by S. (new)

S. Atherton Monsters, Relics, and Dangers Unknown fits the bill here, if you don't mind me suggesting it.


message 19: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Ghosts, witches and demons, yes please!


message 20: by Kirinna (new)

Kirinna Well now I feel silly for working on my own list, this one is perfect!


message 21: by Meg (new)

Meg Black Bird Oracle and Incidents Around the House are must-reads!


message 22: by Ximena (new)

Ximena para estas epocas siempre leo a V. E. Schwab, pero necesito recomendaciones!


message 23: by Riana (from Kelsier's crew) (last edited Oct 11, 2024 11:51AM) (new)

Riana (from Kelsier's crew) I've read none of them yet. Which one if them would you recommend? (I don't like spicy and romance books btw)


message 24: by Michele (new)

Michele I've read two and I have two on TBR


message 25: by penny (new)

penny i need more lists like these, i always struggle with what to read and this has helped alot because i love to read about stuff like this!


message 26: by Ariadne (new)

Ariadne Why is a six-year-old book (Children of Blood & Bone) on a "new books published this year" list...?


message 27: by Renee (last edited Oct 12, 2024 11:58PM) (new)

Renee Ariadne wrote: "Why is a six-year-old book (Children of Blood & Bone) on a "new books published this year" list...?"

I'm going to assume they meant to put book three in that spot since that did release this past June. Children of Anguish and Anarchy (Legacy of Orïsha, #3) by Tomi Adeyemi


message 28: by zanny (new)

zanny taylor Law wrote: "Should I be disappointed in Goodreads for promoting a controversial author like Gonzalez? They keep putting Anita de Monte Laughs Last on booklists."

Can I ask why Gonzalez is? I haven't read any of their book nor have i heard anything about them.


message 29: by L. (new)

L. Personius The Whistlers, Magic and Mayhem #1, has witches, magic and a strong October vibe!


message 30: by Olivia (new)

Olivia Moseley Hey yall I'm new to good reads if any of you guys would like to send me a friend request plz do!!


message 31: by Cass (new)

Cass Not quite new now but The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones is literally the perfect Halloween read


message 32: by Dimitria (new)

Dimitria Henk Melkor wrote: "Technically, Lord of the Rings fits all those categories. Wizards, Dragons, Necromancers, Wizards etc."

i kept looking for it while looking at the list and was chocked it wasn't included. those who love fantasy books will be surprised at how wide the lord of the rings universe is. i'm not a huge fantasy fan myself, but this saga is incredible; highly recommend.


message 33: by Bill (new)

Bill Philibin Weird... "Horror" as a genre, is one of my "go-to" genres... But there are just three from this list I've read already, and another three on my TBR list.


message 34: by Brianna (new)

Brianna Davis Just added some to my TBR


message 35: by Hanna (new)

Hanna Intresting list but I wante wearwolfs one it.


message 36: by Ariadne (new)

Ariadne Renee wrote: "Ariadne wrote: "Why is a six-year-old book (Children of Blood & Bone) on a "new books published this year" list...?"

I'm going to assume they meant to put book three in that spot since that did re..."


Ah, that would make sense. Looks like that just slipped by the editor, then lol. I read a lot of fantasy so I had heard of the first book, but wasn't aware that a new series title came out this year since I haven't started the first one.


message 37: by A. Elizabeth (new)

A. Elizabeth The Screaming Staircase is a wonderfully chilling ghost world to emerge into with a steaming cuppa in hand and a soft blanket on the couch.

Johnathan Stroud has an intellectual style of writing that's both cozy and mind whirring and is sure to keep you entertained.

Have a haunted Halloween! 🎃 👻


Jessiereadsfantasy I just added most of these to my TBR!


message 39: by Anna (new)

Anna I added many of these since they look so good; I hope we get more creature feature lists including sci fi horror creatures or the like. I just watched Alien Romulus and I've been reading some deep sea creature books and it has me wanting morrreeeee.


message 40: by Kristina (new)

Kristina Velasquez Law wrote: "There are so many books to read on this list. There's no way I can read them all. However, I've read one on this list, Bride, which was disappointing. Anita de Monte Laughs Last keeps appearing on ..."

it is really good - I recommend it. I honestly ignored the conversely. to my understand "her estate" was upset they didnt get money or didnt want a story about her at all. its not a memoir, its a work of fiction. And honestly I felt like it bought more people to even know who Anita de Monte was.. I had never heard of her before. I think the writer was respectful


message 41: by Ashley (new)

Ashley Law wrote: "Should I be disappointed in Goodreads for promoting a controversial author like Gonzalez? They keep putting Anita de Monte Laughs Last on booklists."

What's the controversy?


message 42: by slauderdale (new)

slauderdale Woof. Very few of these on my radar. I read "Children of Blood & Bone"; "The Butcher of the Forest" is on my to-read shelf.


message 43: by Iron (new)

Iron Man Dimitria wrote: "Melkor wrote: "Technically, Lord of the Rings fits all those categories. Wizards, Dragons, Necromancers, Wizards etc."

i kept looking for it while looking at the list and was chocked it wasn't inc..."

tRUE VERY TRUE, CLASH OF CLANS ALSO DOES


message 44: by Dominique (new)

Dominique Wow what an exciting list!! I want to read SO MANY! Luckily I've bought a few already, and can skip the ghosts and the zombies because they aren't for me. Vamps, witches, deamons, YES!


message 45: by T.ScottReviews (new)

T.ScottReviews Melkor wrote: "Technically, Lord of the Rings fits all those categories. Wizards, Dragons, Necromancers, Wizards etc."

Lord of the Rings wasn't released in 2024 as per what the list was including. Although they did muck up and include CoB&B instead of the latest book in that series.


message 46: by T.ScottReviews (last edited Oct 19, 2024 08:46PM) (new)

T.ScottReviews Dimitria wrote: "Melkor wrote: "Technically, Lord of the Rings fits all those categories. Wizards, Dragons, Necromancers, Wizards etc."

i kept looking for it while looking at the list and was chocked it wasn't inc..."


The list specifies it's about books released in 2024 (although they mistakenly included Children of Blood and Bone instead of Children of Anguish and Anarchy though 🤦🏽‍♀️).


message 47: by Sue (new)

Sue I read about 100 books a year, mostly Sci-Fi.


message 48: by Kristine (new)

Kristine Law wrote: "Should I be disappointed in Goodreads for promoting a controversial author like Gonzalez? They keep putting Anita de Monte Laughs Last on booklists."
This is my Review of the Audio for Anita de Monte Laughs Last:
I gave it 3 Stars ⭐️
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

So, should you skip the book, I will leave that up to the reader. There are many controversial authors and the reasons vary. I just think that since this book was heavily influenced by a Real Artist, that should be noted somewhere by the author. Otherwise, I enjoyed this Audio Book.


Janalyn, the blind reviewer I love a real monster story and have read so many on this list it’s too much to put in my comment put it there Shapeshifter‘s real monsters ghost ET see I could read those books all day!


message 50: by Tricia (new)

Tricia Frances Where are the real creature feature books? None on this list.
Check out my Goodreads booklist for real creature feature books.


« previous 1
back to top