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Horror

In this section you will find over 3.861 exciting and thrilling books about Horror. At Tales we have all types of good Horror books for each individual to enjoy, whether you want some of the classics, new or children’s horror books. We all need a little scare in our lives, to learn how to deal with the real world and acknowledge the fact that it is indeed okay to be scared. Scary stories also teach kids that Monsters are terrifying, but at the same time they’ll have an understanding of scary situations, and learn how to cope with them. Take a chance and let the mystery begin here.
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  • by Lisa Chant & Matt J Pike
    £14.99 - 15.49

  • by Patti Petrone Miller
    £13.99 - 16.99

  • by Tessa Hastjarjanto
    £12.49

  • by Nancy B. Dailey
    £12.99

  • Save 13%
    by Christopher Twin
    £12.99

    A group of Cree teens gather around a fire to share stories of spirits and shapeshifters in this chilling debut graphic novel."Bad Medicine's about as good as medicine can get - stories with blood on the ground, sure, but a lot left in the heart, too." -Stephen Graham Jones, author of The Only Good IndiansAfter wandering out to the river near their homes, five teens decide to build a fire and exchange horror stories. Chad begins by telling the group about an unfortunate fisher who encountered a cluster of small, malevolent creatures while navigating the river in his canoe. Attempting to defend himself, Carl lashed out with an oar... and his world changed forever. One by one, the teens try to outdo each other, and the evening evolves into an impromptu storytelling competition.On certain nights, if you walk along Loon River and peer under the bridge, you might spot a fire. You might hear a laugh. You might hear a scream. If you edge closer-and the conditions are just right-your view of the river will melt away, into the inky black beyond the firelight. Not to worry-the echoes of rushing water will help you find your way back. Or will they?Inspired by Cree folklore and modern Cree life, Bad Medicine will transport readers to terrifying new worlds that only exist at the edges of human imagination.

  • Save 14%
    by Sonia Hartl
    £9.49

    Getting over Your Vampire Ex is as Easy as Killing Him and Stealing His GirlfriendHolly Liddell has been stuck with crimped hair since 1987 when she agreed to let her boyfriend, Elton, turn her into a vampire. But when he ditches her at a gas station a few decades into their eternity together, she realizes that being young forever actually means working graveyard shifts at Taco Bell, sleeping in seedy motels, and being supernaturally compelled to follow your ex from town to town-at least until Holly meets Elton's other exes.It seems that Holly isn't the only girl Elton seduced into this wretched existence. He turned Ida in 1921, then Rose in 1954, and he abandoned them both before Holly was even born. Now Rose and Ida want to kill him before he can trick another girl into eternal adolescence, and they'll need Holly's help to do it. And once Holly starts falling for Elton's vulnerable new conquest, Parker, she'll do anything to save her.To kill Elton for good, Holly and her friends will have to dig up their pasts, rob a bank, and reconcile with the people they've hurt in their search for eternal love. And to win the girl, Holly will have to convince Parker that she's more than just Elton's crazy ex-even though she is trying to kill him.

  • Save 20%
    by Aden Polydoros
    £11.99

    "Haunting, exhilarating, and a howl of vengeance." -Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Followed With UsFrankenstein meets Inglourious Basterds in this stunning Jewish historical horror novel from the award-winning author of The City BeautifulVera was made for vengeance.Lithuania, 1943. A father drowns in the all-consuming grief of a daughter killed by the Nazis. He can't bring Chaya back from the dead, but he can use kishuf - an ancient and profane magic - to create a golem in her image. A Nazi killer, to avenge her death.When Vera awakens, she can feel her violent purpose thrumming within her. But she can also feel glimpses of a human life lived, of stolen kisses amidst the tragedy, and of a grisly death. And when she meets Akiva, she recognizes the boy with soft lips that gave warm kisses. But these memories aren't hers, and Vera doesn't know if she gets-or deserves-to have a life beyond what she was made for.Vera's strength feels limitless-until she learns that there are others who would channel kishuf for means far less noble than avenging a daughter's death. As she confronts the very basest of humanity, Vera will need more than what her creator gave her: Not just a reason to fight, but a reason to live.

  • by Kappiya Classics
    £10.49

  • by Ailynn Collins
    £6.99

    Three friends cheat on a math test and get away with it -- until a strange substitute teacher starts asking questions.

  • by Ailynn Collins
    £6.99

    Three friends cheat on a math test and get away with it -- until a strange substitute teacher starts asking questions.

  • by Oliver Erhardt
    £14.49

    Dustere Albtraume vom leuchtenden Nebel, ein ratselhaftes Foto und eine verhangnisvolle Entscheidung, die das Leben aller in Cornish Cove fur immer verandert. Der dreizehnjahrige Dee will endlich Antworten und die bekommen er und seine Freunde, schneller als es ihnen lieb ist. In aller Eile schmieden sie einen Plan, wahrend der NEBEL von Cornish Cove schon immer wusste, was er wollte... LEBEN. Der Fluch von Cornish Cove erzhlt die Geschichte des Nebels von Cornish Cove weiter. In dieser 'Fortsetzung' erfhrst du, was frher geschehen ist und gleichzeitig wie es jetzt weiter geht. Die Ereignisse der Vergangeheit haben immer noch ihre Auswirkungen auf die Gegenwart. Der dreizehnjhrige Dee wird nmlich von Albtrumen geplagt, die mit dem leuchtenden Nebel zu tun haben, der den alten Fischerort Cornish Cove seit Jahren heimsucht. Dieser Nebel ist nmlich gefhrlich und ernhrt sich von den positiven Energien der Menschen die dort leben. Es ist an der Zeit dem Nebel endlich seine Kraft zu entziehen. Dee und seine Freunde schmieden einen Plan, bei dem sie aber auch von Erwachsenen untersttzt werden. Gemeinsam nehmen sie es mit dem leuchtenden Nebel auf.

  • by Rita Monette
    £10.49

    Behind Every Legend Lies the Truth.Moving is nothing new for ten-year-old Nikki Landry. Her father relocates their raggedy old houseboat several times a year in search of better crabbing spots. However, their latest move has brought her to a mysterious bayou where she feels something is watching her from a nearby island.Nikki learns of a local legend about something sinister inhabiting those swamps, stealing the souls of dogs...which would explain the strange howling sounds. Papa reassures her there's nothing on the island but gators and snakes. He should know. He's spent his whole life trapping and fishing those bayous and swampsBut maybe there's something Papa doesn't know.Nikki and her new friends begin to uncover strange happenings from years ago that may have started the old legendand town folks aren't talking.Then her beloved beagle goes missing.Join Nikki as she seeks to discover the real truth behind the legend of Ghost Dog Islandbefore it's too late.

  • Save 11%
    by Amy McCaw
    £7.99

    NEW ORLEANS, 1995. MINA'S HAVING A KILLER HALLOWEEN. Three months after Fang Fest, Mina's settling into her new life. Despite the teething problems in her relationship with Jared, she has her sister back, new friends and a part-time job to die for. Over Halloween, Mina and the gang have planned a spooky week of Gothic restaurants, horror movies, ghostly tours, creepy carnivals and a costume ball. But the fun doesn't last. Mina is on work experience with Detective Cafferty while the police are investigating a savage masked killer and a rise in suspicious 'animal attacks'. During her own investigations, Mina discovers a mysterious group of slayers, who are battling to control the rogue vampires. The threats circle closer as Mina spends her days with the police and nights with the slayers. Will she and her friends survive Halloween without being staked, stabbed or bitten?

  • by Tj Berry
    £11.49

    The supernatural world enjoys a peace that has never been achieved before. The Angels and Daemons have set aside direct aggression and their creations the wolves and vampires have signed a peace treaty that has lasted over a hundred years. Now, the last natural born vampire, who has lead a sheltered life, is getting a chance to experience the world and falls head over heels into an ill-born romance with Nathan, a wolf with a terrifying secret.

  • by Tanya Landman
    £7.99

    A thrilling gothic tale of hubris gone badly wrong. A young man's search for the secret of the spark of life leads him to a horrific experiment in which he creates a gigantic creature from dismembered body parts. Rejected by his creator, the initially gentle creature turns monstrous when his desire to find companionship and love are thwarted. Tanya Landman revisits Mary Shelley's classic Gothic horror story, bringing to life Dr Frankenstein and his monstrous creation in an accessible format that more readers can enjoy.

  • Save 14%
    by Mike Lucas
    £9.49

    Witches only exist in stories. Everyone knows that. But what if the stories are real?FOUR FRIENDS. FOUR TRUTHS. ONE NIGHTMARE.If you wander into the wood ...If you hear scratching sounds from the Old Quarry ...If you go too close to the edge ...WATCH. OUT.

  • by Ozzie Morrow Jr.
    £26.49

    Do you want to know what happens to wayward kids who would not listen to their mothers?Kids like this would enrage the Mombie so much; that she would grab any delinquent kid she would find after dark and drag them up to the mountain to her shack and chain them up to teach them a lesson. This book is an anthology that tells us three different tales about the Mombies. Read through, have fun and enjoy the adventures that Michael, Orbie, Youcee and the other kids had.

  • by Ricky Adlam
    £12.49

  • Save 11%
    by Mary Arrigan
    £7.99

    Nobody ever passed the old Garvan house alone; gossip and suspicion surrounded it. But when an eerie cry draws Meg, Pete and Harvey into its grounds, little do they expect to be swept up into a love story that spans the century. What part do the dilapidated house, a mysterious old man and a strange bird play in this story and how can Meg, Pete and Harvey right the wrongs of history?

  • by Alex Foulkes
    £7.99

    Straighten your cape and ready your fangs . . . the ghosts are biting back. The spookiest story you'll listen to this year is the ghoulish follow-up to Alex Foulkes's highly acclaimed Rules for Vampires. A vampire and a ghost being friends is unheard of. It makes no sense. The two factions have despised one another for all eternity. But . . . Leo the vampire and Minna the ghost have battled together side-by-side, they're sisters-in-arms, they're best friends, and they'll have to work together to vanquish a new, deadly threat. Summoned to the Ghostly Realm for the murder of the Orphanmaster, Leo must complete three tasks to prove herself worthy of her unlife, each more treacherous than the last. Can Leo convince the Ghostly Realm of her innocence and earn her freedom, or will she be trapped there forever? A monstrously funny and devilishly dark new adventure in Alex Foulkes's Rules for Vampires series, Ghosts Bite Back is perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket and Skulduggery Pleasant to sink their claws into. Praise for Rules for Vampires:'A wickedly fun debut, with a wonderfully strong girl hero.' Cressida Cowell, Children's Laureate 'Fans of fast-paced, well-written gothic romps will devour Rules for Vampires.' Phil Earle, bestselling author of When the Sky Falls'Deliciously dark, fangtastically feisty and gloriously gothic!' Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Amelia Fang'Brilliant! It's a deadly funny, twisty, gothic romp with the loveliest vampire. Sara Ogilvie's illustrations are the perfect match.' Jenny McLachlan, bestselling author of Land of Roar'Wonderfully atmospheric, humorous and touching.' Radiya Hafiza, author of Rumaysa

  • by Coral Byers
    £6.99

    Happy Halloween! Follow ten little monsters as they dress up, explore and more in this fun preschool counting book based on the classic nursery rhyme This Little Piggy.This little monster tries a treat,This little monster plays a trick . . .It's dress-up time! Ten excited children become cute and colourful Halloween monsters and an ordinary street becomes a spooky world full of surprises. Follow along with the little monsters as they go trick-or-treating, find a pumpkin patch, and explore a mysterious cave . . . before running all the way home!With ten children to find and count as you turn the pages, loads to spot along the way, and a special surprise fold-out ending, this picture book is specially developed for imaginative little preschool monsters everywhere. There is a bonus section at the end with reading tips for parents and carers, giving ideas for discussion and extra things for children to spot.This Little Monster is a riotous read-aloud preschool adventure - come and join in the fun! And for roarsome dinosaur fans, look out for This Little Dinosaur in the same series.

  • Save 11%
    by Aiden Thomas
    £7.99

    Cemetery Boys is an LGBTQIA+ ghost story about magic, acceptance and what it means to be your true self. From the instant New York Times-bestelling author Aiden Thomas.Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him.In an attempt to prove himself a true brujo and gain his family's acceptance, Yadriel decides to summon his cousin's ghost and help him cross to the afterlife.But things get complicated when he accidentally summons the ghost of his high school's resident bad boy, Julian Diaz - and Julian won't go into death quietly.The two boys must work together if Yadriel is to move forward with his plan.But the more time Yadriel and Julian spend together, the harder it is to let each other go.'A celebration of culture and identity that will captivate readers with its richly detailed world, earnest romance, and thrilling supernatural mystery' - Isabel Sterling, author of These Witches Don't Burn

  • by Matthew Dewar
    £12.49

    If proud bookworm Syd could dive into a book and become the main character, she wouldn't hesitate. A warrior princess, a swashbuckling pirate, or a witch-in-training would be infinitely better than her boring life. When Syd develops headaches that only get better when she reads, the doctor thinks she's lying, and worse, her mum believes him and confiscates all her books. Afraid and alone, the headaches worsen, accompanied by demanding voices in her mind begging her to read. Can she feed the hungry little bookwyrm living in her brain, or will he starve and eat her from the inside out?

  • by Howard Pease
    £19.99 - 26.99

  • by Tevin Hansen
    £14.49 - 21.49

  • Save 13%
    by Matthew K Manning
    £12.99

    A haunted school. A suspicious group of adults. And a gang of kids and their dog ready to solve any mystery in this officially licensed Scooby-Doo picture book. When Shaggy and his pup Scooby-Doo sneak into Crystal Cove Elementary School's library after hours, they discover the reason it's been closed—there is a ghost living in it! At least that's what the librarian, Miss James, believes. Now the Mystery Inc. Gang must try to find out who is actually ripping pages out of library books—and they suspect it's not a real ghost. Join Shaggy, Scooby, Velma, Fred, and Daphne in this Mystery Inc. picture book mystery as they check another spooky case off their list.

  • Save 20%
    by Rachel Moore
    £11.99

    "Radcliffe Prep. The third most haunted school in the country, where a student disappearance isn't uncommon and no one dares stay in the library after dark. And Este Logano enrolls with the hopes of finding her dead father. Not literally, of course. She doesn't believe in ghosts. Going to her dad's school just seems like her best hope at figuring out who he was. But then Este meets Mateo, who is maybe--probably--definitely--a real ghost. And an annoying one at that. When Mateo frames Este for the theft of a rare book from the library's secret spire and then vanishes, Este will have to track him down or risk being expelled and leaving Radcliffe early just like her father did. Except following in her father's footsteps might be more dangerous than Este ever anticipated. As she investigates the library with its secret passageways, hidden tunnels, and haunted halls, she learns that the student disappearances aren't just myth. And if she isn't careful, she'll be next"--

  • by Caleb Cook
    £9.99

    A young boy who came from the darkness now lives in the light. Although he has found companions of a sort, his truest desire--to search for his mother--will lead the lonesome boy elsewhere. Doubting the assassins guild he found himself a part of, Ruwanda enlists Ivan in his quest. But as the two uncover deadly secrets about the Organization, the red fog follows close behind...

  • by Emma Read
    £7.99

    Deliah, Sam and Claude follow little sister Amity inside amysterious mansion. But no sooner have they found her than the floorbeneath their feet starts to twist and turn: the house rearrangesitself like a giant Rubik's cube. To escape, they must solvethe puzzle - and the century-old mystery of a girl who disappeared...

The Horror Genre
Horror is a cultural genre that is meant to scare, shock and repulse its audience. An important thing to remember about this type of genre is that it elicits a dreadful sense in the reader through frightening and terrifying themes, situations and descriptive images. When we read a horror book, everything is important, such as the storyline, characters and the whole atmosphere. It is meant to provoke and shock the reader with its exploration of the unknown. The depreciating value that horror has, will help us understand why something is indeed scary. Look at it this way, once you see the monster come into the light, and you see it for what it truly is, it will help you to be less afraid. This genre also has several sub-genres, some of them consist of; Gothic, Science fiction, Survival, Occult, Dark fantasy, Paranormal, etc. Each has its own distinct characteristics. 

Classic Horror books
If we think about some of the popular classic horror books, the first author that will pop up is most likely the gothic writer Edgar Allan Poe. The gothic novel is a subgenre under horror that specifically has a focus on death, originated in the 18th century and is mastered by him. In the 19th and 20th century the horror writers focused on something completely different, such as tales involving occult ideas, and the popular books Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Dracula by Bram Stoker came into the picture and still kept their relevance today. Frankenstein is a classic story about a scientist who accidentally creates a monster when his experiment goes horribly wrong. And Dracula is a gothic novel about a vampyre who has a desire to spread the undead curse to as many mortal humans as possible. These two popular stories are well known worldwide and they will never lose their relevance, no matter how old they get. That is the magic of being a classic.  

New Horror books
As for the newer horror books, 2019-2021 had been some epic years for horror fiction. It is an ever-evolving genre and so many new voices blossomed. Most of the popular horror stories today involve crime writing, especially serial killers, slashers, and the ghost of the past. Something about newly written gothic stories that take place in the Victorian-era is so thrilling to read about, here we find books like the Stalking Jack the Ripper series by Kerri Maniscalo. The author incorporates themes of equality and social justice which takes the mystery of the infamous murderer to a whole new level. The main character Audrey Rose, eschews polite society for the very scandalous pastime of learning burgeoning science of forensic medicine. While she spends her time being captivated by science, there’s a serial killer on the loose. There’s nothing more thrilling and entertaining than reading about an inspiring heroine who solves mystery crimes. 
Children’s horror books are also important to address. Here we find Nightmares by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller, where the younger audience can explore dark territory but at the same time be comforted. It is a book that’ll reassure you how to overcome the power of fear. The main character Charlie’s and his friends’ adventure in the Netherworld is harrowing, because they’re in constant danger, but together they try to face their fears and conquer their nightmares. 

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