2020 Year of Horror Reading Challenge

[Nicholas]

Hello.
I am thinking of doing horror themed reading challenge this year and figured I would share with this group.

Please feel free to make suggestions.

My goal was to create a large list and see how many I can complete by the end of the year

Short stories and anthologies count, but only for half of the list.
Anthologies can count for more than one category.
Podcast audio fiction counts as an audio book

Stories that are not horror, but have strong horror elements or horrorish parts count.

List (Updated with suggestions from the group

Winter horrors
Clowns
Mad scientist
Frankenstein like monster
Attack of the robot
Lovecraftian
Vampire
Genetic Mutations
Evolution gone horribly wrong
Were-animals
Half Animal, Half Human (Think things like centaurs lower half horse, upper half human)
Wishes gone wrong
Sinister camera
Mummy
Zombie
Infectious disease (excluding zombies)
Fungal zombies (ex:cordyceps)
Aliens
Parasites
Abduction
Terrorists
Serial killers
Animal attacks
Drugs
Sea voyage gone wrong
Ruins best left undisturbed
A stroll through the graveyard
A Video that should not be seen
Killer plants
Creatures from the ocean
Abandoned towns
Derelict ships
Camping trips
It started as a nice hike
Christmas
Haunted house
Haunted hotels
Haunted roads
Escape room to remember
A story originally written in another language
The science behind the horror
A story based off of real life events
Mindflayer type creatures
Psychological horror
Easter gone horribly wrong
The darker side of social media
An evil book
Sasquatch/big foot/abominable snowman
Horror themed anthology
Spooky forest
Real life horror story
A ritual
Demons
Possession by an entity
Dreams
Imaginary friends
Dolls
Dinosaurs
Fairy/fae
Insects
Story that inspired a tvshow or movie
Story based off of a movie
Story based off of a video game

Nick

[Atlanta]

I’m in

[Alastor]

Can you suggest some books based on this list? Others can add their own choices.
As an example A cosmology of monsters by Shaun Hamill would count as Mind falter type creatures.

[Alastor]

Mind flayer, stupid autocorrect.

[Nicholas]

oh. I should warn you all. I like reading challenges that are actually challenging. I really enjoy having to search for that one book that will complete a reading challenge.

We can totally suggest books. it would be more fun that way.

Dinosaurs: Jurrassic Park by Michael Crichton or The Lost World by Michael Crichton.

both are not horror novels but I think they have some strong horror situations.

Animal attacks: The Zoo by James Peterson or Cujo by Stephen King

A video that should not be seen: The Ring by Koji Suzuki

Lovecraftian: That Which Should Not Be by Brett J. Talley or Lovecraft and Carter by Jonathan L. Howard or just about any anthology or short story by H.P. Lovecraft

Real life horror story: Machete Season. The Killers in Rwanda Speak by Jean Hatzfeld

[Jeff]

I love this idea.

[Jeff]

I have a few book suggestions as well:

Derelict Ships- Dead Sea by Tim Curran

Camping trips: The Tent by Kealan Patrick Burke

Dolls: Collecting Death by Ron Ripley

Psychological horror: I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

A story originally written in another language: Battle Royal by Takami Koushun

Serial Killers: Headhunter by Michael Slade

Spooky forest: The Haunted Forest Tour by Strand and Moore

These are books that I really enjoyed. Don't want to recommend duds.

[Crowinator]

This is a really fun idea! I may not do all of the themes but instead focus first on the ones I haven't already read a book about; for example, I'm going to look for "an escape room to remember" for sure!

I'm reading an advance reader's copy of a YA novel right now that includes killer plants AND aliens (the aliens are the killer plants), called Bloom by Kenneth Oppel. It doesn't come out until 2020.

[Aster]

I wanted to try and get more active in the group next year, and this sounds like a lot of fun!

Suggestion for "Story based off of a video game": Sins of the Fathers

I haven't read it, but I have played the game and really liked it. Found the book by surprise at a used book store a few years ago, so this will be a good excuse to finally get around to reading it.

[Judy Cadena]

Yaaas!! I LOVE this idea!! This is a perfect challenge to track all of my NoSleep short stories. I'm really excited for this one! I'm going to go back and reread all my top faves and post them here with any new ones!

[Elke]

Seems 11 is my lucky spot, it's my third here. Another challenge where I have no idea what my final result will be, but I'm in to find out...fantastic idea for this challenge! Already have a couple books in mind that I need to get off my shelf anyway, this is just the right incentive.
A ritual: Midnight in the Pentagram
A story originally written in another language: Hollow Kingdom: Das Jahr der Krähe
Abandoned towns: Das Dorf der toten Seelen
Abduction: Big Woods
After-Life: Welcome!
Aliens: Bloom: Die Apokalypse beginnt in deinem Garten
Asylum: We Are Monsters - Belle Vue
Camping trip: Those Who Came Before
Creature: Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1
Cult/Religious: Devil's Creek
Demons: What Hell May Come
Drugs: Die Plage
Escape room to remember: Strangers
Genetic Mutations: Misfits
Ghost: The Dark Man - Ministry of Souls - Das Schattentor - Das Gespenst Von Canterville
Ghoul: Ghoul
Haunted House: Belle Vue
Horror themed anthology: Midnight in the Pentagram
Infectious disease (excluding zombies): The Apocalypse Strain
Insects: The Nest
Killer Plants: Bloom: Die Apokalypse beginnt in deinem Garten
Lovecraftian: Borne of the Deep
Parasites: The Apocalypse Strain
Possession by an entity: Midnight in the Pentagram
Post-Apocalypse: Vanishing Hour - Das Dorf
Purgatory: Welcome!
Psychological Horror: Hochland - The Poor and the Haunted - We Are Monsters
Sea voyage gone wrong: Blood Cruise
Serial Killer: Das Grauen in Murdsheim - Slash
Splatterpunk: The Woods Are Dark
Vampire: In the Valley of the Sun - Vampire State Building
Wendigo: Those Who Came Before
Were-animals: One Too Many
Winter horrors: One Too Many
Zombie: Ever After - Hollow Kingdom: Das Jahr der Krähe - Zombie Dash

A lot of themes left unread, a couple of them expected, some I could have sworn would be on my list by the end of the year - but as with everything else, this year was different on too many levels.

Not read:
An evil book
Animal attacks
A ritual
A story based off of real life events
A stroll through the graveyard
Attack of the robot
A Video that should not be seen
Christmas
Clowns
Creatures from the ocean
Derelict ships
Dinosaurs
Dolls
Dreams
Easter gone horribly wrong
Escape room to remember
Evolution gone horribly wrong
Fairy/fae
Frankenstein like monster
Fungal zombies (ex:cordyceps)
Half Animal, Half Human (Think things like centaurs lower half horse, upper half human)
Halloween
Haunted hotels
Haunted roads
Imaginary friends
It started as a nice hike
Mad scientist
Mindflayer type creatures
Mummy
Real life horror story
Ruins best left undisturbed
Sasquatch/big foot/abominable snowman
Sinister camera
Spooky forest
Story based off of a movie
Story based off of a video game
Story that inspired a tvshow or movie
Terrorists
The darker side of social media
The science behind the horror
Wishes gone wrong

[Andrew “The Weirdling”]

I’m in!

[Alabama]

I love this idea, I'm in
Total completed 37


Winter horrors Moon of the Crusted Snow
Clowns The Pilo Family Circus
Mad scientist We Are Monsters
Frankenstein like monster
Attack of the robot
Lovecraftian The Amulet
Vampire The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
Genetic Mutations
Evolution gone horribly wrong
Were-animals
Half Animal, Half Human (Think things like centaurs lower half horse, upper half human)
Wishes gone wrong
Sinister camera
Mummy Mine
Zombie The Reapers are the Angels
Infectious disease (excluding zombies) The Stand
Fungal zombies (ex:cordyceps) The Boy on the Bridge
Aliens Unidentified
Parasites
Abduction
Terrorists
Serial killers Into the Black Nowhere
Animal attacks Hell Hound
Drugs Wallflower:
Sea voyage gone wrong Monsters in Our Wake
Ruins best left undisturbed The Reddening
A stroll through the graveyard
A Video that should not be seen
Killer plants
Creatures from the ocean
Abandoned towns The Splendor of Fear
Derelict ships
Camping trips The Night Will Find Us
It started as a nice hike Hunted
Christmas Cold as Hell
Haunted house This House is Haunted
Haunted hotels The Sun Down Motel
Haunted roads
Escape room to remember
A story originally written in another language Fever Dream
The science behind the horror
A story based off of real life events
Mindflayer type creatures
Psychological horror Fragile Dreams
Easter gone horribly wrong
The darker side of social media
An evil book The Woman in the Woods
Sasquatch/big foot/abominable snowman Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre
Horror themed anthology The Valancourt Book of Horror Stories: Volume One
Spooky forest Rules for Vanishing
Real life horror story
A ritual Midnight Solitaire
Demons The Demonic
Possession by an entity The Mark
Dreams The Shadows
Imaginary friends Violet
Dolls Such Small Hands
Dinosaurs
Fairy/fae The Tooth Fairy
Insects The Nest
Story that inspired a TV show The Turn of the Screw
Story that inspired a movie The Godsend
Story based off of a movie
Story based off of a video game

[Nicholas]

Judy Cadena wrote: "Yaaas!! I LOVE this idea!! This is a perfect challenge to track all of my NoSleep short stories. I'm really excited for this one! I'm going to go back and reread all my top faves and post them here..."

I was thinking of listening to some NoSleep Podcast episodes for this. I would also recommend The Drabblecast and Pseudopod. They have some good horror stories.

[Aster]

I've been trying to find books to read for some of these and I'm wondering what the difference is between "Real life horror story" and "A story based on real life events"?

[Nicholas]

Oh. O.o I think they are pretty similar to each other and open to your interpretation.

to me: real life horror story could be a non-fiction historical book on a horror like event.

based on real life events could be a fiction book that is based off of a real events but has added fictional events (historical fiction)

Example: non fiction book about the evidence of Jack the ripper versus a fictional book that features Jack the ripper.

Nick

[Aster]

That makes sense, thanks for the clarification!

[Daffy]

I'm in! This group has some really fun challenges for 2020.

[Elke]

Nicholas wrote: "Oh. O.o I think they are pretty similar to each other and open to your interpretation.

to me: real life horror story could be a non-fiction historical book on a horror like event.

based on real ..."

Thanks, I would have understood it totally different, but that may be due to bad translation on my side ;)

IMHO, real life horror is horror which could actually happen like this in reality anywhere anytime.

Imagine a story like Ketchum's 'Girl Next Door' being completely invented (which I thought at first, before I got more details about the book). As it is, the book is what I understand as 'based on real life events'.

[J.D.]

Love this idea, I'm in!

[Elke]

Did anyone mention Clowns already!? And I'd like to add a winter setting, which imho is the best seasonal combination with horror stories.

Jeff wrote: "I have a few book suggestions as well:
Derelict Ships- Dead Sea by Tim Curran
Camping trips: The Tent by Kealan Patrick Burke
Dolls: Collecting Death by Ron Ripley
Psychological horror: I'm Thi..."

Nice ideas! Though I don't understand this one:
'A story originally written in another language' - do you mean just any translation of a horror story?

[Nicholas]

Yep. That is exactly what that means. Any translation will due.

I dont mind adding clowns and winter setting to the list.

[Bekah]

This is an awesome idea!

My recommendations:

Insects - The Hatching by Ezekial Boone
Fungal Zombies - The Girl With All The Gifts or The Boy On The Bridge by M.R Carey
Zombies - Feed by Mira Grant
Creatures of the ocean - Bone Quarry by K.D McNiven
Story originally written in another language - Battle Royale by Takami Koushun
The darker side of social media - Ghoster by Jason Arnopp

One Of Us by Craig DiLouie is an incredible book and definitely has horror content but I'm not quite sure where I would place it

[Bekah]

Hi Nicholas, any chance of getting something to do with mutations put on the list?
maybe genetic mutations, evolutionary mutations, part animal part human beings or something along those lines?

[Bella]

I really like this idea!

[Nicholas]

Bekah wrote: "Hi Nicholas, any chance of getting something to do with mutations put on the list?
maybe genetic mutations, evolutionary mutations, part animal part human beings or something along those lines?"

Yep. I can add that. I am assuming when you put part animal, part human beings you mean things like centaurs or minotaurs (having a half human and a half animal)

That might be hard to find, but the idea of a horror themed minotaur story sounds exciting.

I am going to post an updated list soon.

[Nicholas]

I originally posted this with the intention of posting an updated list for everyone. Then I realized, that I can just edit my original post. That would probably (hopefully) be easier for everyone. Ill just use this post to update my reading.

[] = Not Read Yet

Winter horrors
Clowns
Mad scientist
Frankenstein like monster
Attack of the robot
Lovecraftian
Vampire
Genetic Mutations
Evolution gone horribly wrong
Were-animals
Half Animal, Half Human (Think things like centaurs lower half horse, upper half human)
Wishes gone wrong
Sinister camera
Mummy
Zombie
Infectious disease (excluding zombies)
Fungal zombies (ex:cordyceps)
Aliens

Parasites: No Sleep Podcast Season 7 Episode 17, I Don't Know What It Is, But It Keeps Screaming by Yuki Iwama

Abduction
Terrorists
Serial killers
Animal attacks
Drugs
Sea voyage gone wrong
Ruins best left undisturbed

A stroll through the graveyard: The Cabinet of Curiosities 36 Tales Brief and Sinister: Just A Little Grave Yard Game by Claire Legrand

A Video that should not be seen: [Sprial by Koji Suzuki]

Killer plants
Creatures from the ocean
Abandoned towns
Derelict ships
Camping trips
It started as a nice hike
Christmas
Haunted house
Haunted hotels
Haunted roads
Escape room to remember
A story originally written in another language
The science behind the horror
A story based off of real life events
Mindflayer type creatures
Psychological horror
Easter gone horribly wrong
The darker side of social media
An evil book
Sasquatch/big foot/abominable snowman
Horror themed anthology
Spooky forest
Real life horror story
A ritual
Demons
Possession by an entity
Dreams
Imaginary friends
Dolls
Dinosaurs
Fairy/fae
Insects
Story that inspired a tvshow or movie
Story based off of a movie
Story based off of a video game

Yeah. This is a super long list. I am looking forward to this.

[Nicholas]

More Recommendations

Vampire: I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Vampire: The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro
Lovecraftian: Carter and Lovecraft by Jonathan L. Howard
Evolution Gone Horribly Wrong: Pines by Blake Crouch (Though, to be honest, I feel the third book The Last Town has a more horror feel to it)
Haunted House: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
An Evil Book: Thickety A Path Begins by J. A. White

[Tim]

This is definitely an interesting idea. No clue how much I'd be able to pull off, but I'm totally down to give it a whirl

[Lioness7]

I'm in.

Mad scientist
Frankenstein like monster
Attack of the robot
Lovecraftian
Vampire
Were-animals - 1/23/20 - Outage by TW Piperbrook
Wishes gone wrong
Sinister camera
Mummy
Zombie - 2/2/20 - Ferocious by Jeff Strand
Infectious disease (excluding zombies)
Fungal zombies (ex:cordyceps)
Aliens
Parasites
Abduction
Terrorists
Serial killers - 1/4/20 - Allhallow's Eve by Richard Laymon
Animal attacks - 1/11/20 - Fatalis by Jeff Rovin
Drugs
Sea voyage gone wrong
Ruins best left undisturbed
A stroll through the graveyard
A Video that should not be seen
Killer plants
Creatures from the ocean
Abandoned towns
Derelict ships
Camping trips
It started as a nice hike
Christmas
Haunted house - 2/7/20 - Sick House by Jeff Strand
Haunted hotels
Haunted roads
Escape room to remember
A story originally written in another language
The science behind the horror
A story based off of real life events
Mindflayer type creatures
Psychological horror
Easter gone horribly wrong
The darker side of social media
An evil book
Sasquatch/big foot/abominable snowman
Horror themed anthology
Spooky forest - 1/19/20 - The Haunted Forest Tour by James A Moore & Jeff Strand
Real life horror story
A ritual
Demons
Possession by an entity
Dreams
Imaginary friends
Dolls
Dinosaurs
Fairy/fae
Insects
Story that inspired a tvshow or movie
Story based off of a movie
Story based off of a video game

[Judy Cadena]

So are we posting/tracking the stories we've read here by editing our posts?

[Nicholas]

Judy Cadena wrote: "So are we posting/tracking the stories we've read here by editing our posts?"

Hello
Good question. I have been mulling it over for a while. I think the best way is to post your list here, edit it to update, or repost your list every once and a while.

Nick

[Aster]

Alright, first book is done and the challenge is officially underway!

Winter horrors
Clowns
Mad scientist
Frankenstein like monster
Attack of the robot
Lovecraftian
Vampire - NVK
Genetic Mutations
Evolution gone horribly wrong
Were-animals
Half Animal, Half Human (Think things like centaurs lower half horse, upper half human)
Wishes gone wrong
Sinister camera
Mummy
Zombie
Infectious disease (excluding zombies)
Fungal zombies (ex:cordyceps)
Aliens
Parasites
Abduction
Terrorists
Serial killers
Animal attacks
Drugs
Sea voyage gone wrong
Ruins best left undisturbed
A stroll through the graveyard
A Video that should not be seen
Killer plants
Creatures from the ocean
Abandoned towns
Derelict ships
Camping trips
It started as a nice hike
Christmas
Haunted house
Haunted hotels
Haunted roads
Escape room to remember
A story originally written in another language
The science behind the horror
A story based off of real life events
Mindflayer type creatures
Psychological horror
Easter gone horribly wrong
The darker side of social media
An evil book
Sasquatch/big foot/abominable snowman
Horror themed anthology
Spooky forest
Real life horror story
A ritual
Demons
Possession by an entity
Dreams
Imaginary friends
Dolls
Dinosaurs
Fairy/fae
Insects
Story that inspired a tvshow or movie
Story based off of a movie
Story based off of a video game

Total completed: 1

[Tim]

I've begun. This will definitely be interesting.

Winter horrors
Clowns
Mad scientist
Frankenstein like monster
Attack of the robot
Lovecraftian
Vampire - NVK
Genetic Mutations
Evolution gone horribly wrong
Were-animals
Half Animal, Half Human (Think things like centaurs lower half horse, upper half human)
Wishes gone wrong
Sinister camera
Mummy
Zombie
Infectious disease (excluding zombies)
Fungal zombies (ex:cordyceps)
Aliens
Parasites
Abduction
Terrorists
Serial killers
Animal attacks
Drugs
Sea voyage gone wrong
Ruins best left undisturbed
A stroll through the graveyard
A Video that should not be seen
Killer plants
Creatures from the ocean
Abandoned towns
Derelict ships
Camping trips
It started as a nice hike
Christmas
Haunted house - Devil's Night: The Haunting of Fitz Mansion
Haunted hotels
Haunted roads
Escape room to remember
A story originally written in another language
The science behind the horror
A story based off of real life events
Mindflayer type creatures
Psychological horror
Easter gone horribly wrong
The darker side of social media
An evil book
Sasquatch/big foot/abominable snowman
Horror themed anthology
Spooky forest
Real life horror story
A ritual
Demons
Possession by an entity
Dreams
Imaginary friends
Dolls
Dinosaurs
Fairy/fae
Insects
Story that inspired a tvshow or movie
Story based off of a movie
Story based off of a video game

[Jeff]

This is what I've got so far:

Half Animal, Half Human- Fiddleback: Jeff Vrolyks
Zombie- The Hospital: The First Mountain Man Story: Keith C. Blackmore
Possession by an Entity- Under the Blade: Matt Serafini
Vampire- Enter, Night: Michael Rowe
Real life horror story- Haunted Shores: True Ghost Stories of Newfoundland and Labrador: Dale Jarvis
Spooky Forest- The Wendigo: Algernon Blackwood
Dreams- Jack & Jill: Kealan Patrick Burke

[Joe]

I'm in!

X 1) Winter horrors - Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
X 2) Clowns - Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore Brian Bolland
X 3) Mad scientist - Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits by David Wong
X 4) Frankenstein like monster - Prodigal Son by Dean Koontz
X 5) Attack of the robot - I Have No Mouth and I Must Screamby Harlan Ellison
X 6) Lovecraftian - The Resurrectionists by Michael Patrick Hicks
X 7) Vampire - The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
X 8) Genetic Mutations - The Bighead by Edward Lee
X 9) Evolution gone horribly wrong - Метро 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky
X 10) Were-animals - Jackals by Charles L. Grant
X 11) Half Animal, Half Human - The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
X 12) Wishes gone wrong - The Wish Doll: A Horror Short Story by Austin Grisham
X 13) Sinister camera- The Chill by Scott Carson
X 14) Mummy - To Wake the Dead by Richard Layman
X 15) Zombie - Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist
X 16) Infectious disease (excluding zombies) - The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus by Richard Preston
X 17) Fungal zombies (ex:cordyceps) - The Fungus by Harry Adam Knight
X 18) Aliens- Conspiracies by F. Paul Wilson
X 19) Parasites - The Parasite by Arthur Conan Doyle
X 20) Abduction - Unspeakable Things by Jess Lourey
X 21) Terrorists - Red Rain by Dean Koontz
X 22) Serial killers- Every Dead Thing by John Connolly
X 23) Animal attacks - Fear by Ronald Kelly
X 24) Drugs - All the Rage by F. Paul Wilson
X 25) Sea voyage gone wrong - The Deep Alma Katsu
X 26) Ruins best left undisturbed - The Reddening by Adam Nevill
X 27) A stroll through the graveyard - Twilight Eyes By Dean Koontz
X 28) A Video that should not be seen - Tribesmen by Adam Cesare
X 29) Killer plants - Specimen 313 By Jeff Strand
X 30) Creatures from the ocean - Borne of the Deep Michael Patrick Hicks
X 31) Abandoned towns - Salvage by Duncan Ralston
X 32) Derelict ships - The Night Boat by Robert R. McCammon
X 33) Camping trips - Blue November Storms by Brian James Freeman
X 34) It started as a nice hike - The River at Night by Erica Ferencik
X 35) Christmas - Twelve Days of Christmas Horror by Rick Wood
X 36) Haunted house- The House by Bentley Little
X 37) Haunted hotels - The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
X 38) Haunted roads - Ghost Road Blues by Jonathan Maberry
X 39) Escape room to remember - The Escape Room by Megan Goldin
X 40) Story written in another language - Valley of Terror by Zhou HaoHui
X 41) The science behind the horror - Petrified by Graham Masterton
X 42) A story based off of real life events - Let's Go Play at the Adams' by Mendal W. Johnson
X 43) Mindflayer type creatures - Beyond The Chaos Gate: Lovecraftian Horror by Quentin Ravensbane
X 44) Psychological horror - Carrie by Stephen King
X 45) Easter gone horribly wrong - Easter Eggs and Bunny Boilers: A Horror Anthology by Matt Shaw
X 46) The darker side of social media - Zoo City by Lauren Beukes
X 47) An evil book - The Killing Kind by John Connolly
X 48) Sasquatch/big foot/abominable snowman - Crota by Owl Goingback
X 49) Horror themed anthology - If It Bleeds by Stephen King
X 50) Spooky forest - Suicide Forest by Jeremy Bates
X 51) Real life horror story - The Silence by Don DeLillo
X 52) A ritual - Ritual by Steve Stred
X 53) Demons - Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
X 54) Possession by an entity - Little Girls by Ronald Malfi
X 55) Dreams - Devil's Advocate by Jonathan Maberry
X 56) Imaginary friends - When Darkness Loves Us by Elizabeth Engstrom
X 57) Dolls - The Doll-Master and Other Tales of Terror by Joyce Carol Oates
X 58) Dinosaurs - Raptor Red by Robert T. Bakker
X 59) Fairy/fae- Storm Siren by Mary Weber
X 60) Insects - Whispers by Dean Koontz
X 61) Story that inspired a tv show or movie - Carrie by Stephen King
X 62) Story based off of a movie - The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
X 63) Story based off of a video game - Last Descendants by Matthew J. Kirby

[Patrick]

I'll try this but probably not complete it

Winter horrors
Clowns
Mad scientist
Frankenstein like monster
Attack of the robot
Lovecraftian
Vampire
Genetic Mutations
Evolution gone horribly wrong
Were-animals
Half Animal, Half Human (Think things like centaurs lower half horse, upper half human)
Wishes gone wrong
Sinister camera
Mummy
Zombie
Infectious disease (excluding zombies)
Fungal zombies (ex:cordyceps)
Aliens
Parasites
Abduction
Terrorists
Serial killers
Animal attacks
Drugs
Sea voyage gone wrong
Ruins best left undisturbed
A stroll through the graveyard
A Video that should not be seen
Killer plants
Creatures from the ocean
Abandoned towns
Derelict ships
Camping trips
It started as a nice hike
Christmas
Haunted house
Haunted hotels
Haunted roads
Escape room to remember
A story originally written in another language
The science behind the horror
A story based off of real life events
Mindflayer type creatures
Psychological horror
Easter gone horribly wrong
The darker side of social media
An evil book
Sasquatch/big foot/abominable snowman
Horror themed anthology
Spooky forest
Real life horror story
A ritual
Demons
Possession by an entity
Dreams
Imaginary friends
Dolls
Dinosaurs
Fairy/fae
Insects
Story that inspired a tvshow or movie
Story based off of a movie
Story based off of a video game

[Elke]

I would also like to recommend Splatterpunk and Halloween as additional themes.

[Joe]

I can't believe I'm in the position to finish this amazingly difficult, menacingly fun challenge! I have one category left to read... "Easter gone horribly wrong"! Can anyone help recommend a good Easter horror book? I can't start a new year without finishing this!

[WendyB]

Joe wrote: "I can't believe I'm in the position to finish this amazingly difficult, menacingly fun challenge! I have one category left to read... "Easter gone horribly wrong"! Can anyone help recommend a good ..."

How about Easter Eggs and Bunny Boilers: A Horror Anthology

[Joe]

WendyB wrote: "Joe wrote: "I can't believe I'm in the position to finish this amazingly difficult, menacingly fun challenge! I have one category left to read... "Easter gone horribly wrong"! Can anyone help recom..."

Thank you! Just finishing up this awesome anthology and I will have completed this challenge! Good luck to everybody and I hope we do something similar next year!