It’s Horror October and today I’m focusing on YA authors who write horror books that really terrify or are just downright creepy.
Whatever genre an author debuts with definitely impacts their image. Now, there are many things responsible for the success of any book. YA has come a long way in that a good guy facing off the bad guy isn’t limited to the darker genres anymore. However, I can’t help but notice that there are only a handful of young adult horror authors and that its subgenres are much more popular (re: zombies and dark fantasy). So while we definitely need more young adult horror, here’s a list of thirteen authors who delved into the genre.
Before. Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood is probably the most popular book when it comes to young adult horror. And why wouldn’t it be, featuring a ghost harboring murderous rage for anyone who dares enter the Victorian house that was her home back in the 1950s? The sequel titled Girl of Nightmares is almost, if not quite, as popular as its predecessor.
After. Blake then went on to write an adult mythology series titled Goddess War which mainly garnered mixed reactions and ratings despite most of Antigoddess ratings averaging four stars while, the recent release of its sequel, Mortal Gods, seems to receive more love.
What’s next? A young adult fantasy series, the first of which is titled Three Dark Crowns, releasing in fall 2016. There are assassins and it takes place on a remote island and who doesn’t want to read stuff like that.
Before. Writing under the alias of Mira Grant, Seanan McGuire made her debut as a young adult author with Feed, the first book in the Newsflesh trilogy. A series that majority of people love which Grant describes it as ‘thoughtful horror and horrific science fiction’ set in a post-apocalyptic world where zombies exist.
After. In 2013, Parasite, the first book in her new Parasitology series, was released which tells the story of parasites going after the human race. I guess, letting tapeworms grow in one’s stomach for immunity purposes is horrifying.
What’s next? An anthology and the conclusion to her Parasitology series titled Chimera are set to release in 2015. And oh, a standalone book titled Rewind set in the same world as Newsflesh is coming out in 2016.
Before. Brenna Yovanoff is primarily a young adult paranormal fantasy writer that crosses over as paranormal fantasy horror. Her debut, The Replacement, tells the story of Mackie Doyle (who might not be human) uncovering the cause of mysterious happenings and eerie creatures roaming the underworld of the small town of Gentry.
After. Since her debut, Brenna Yovanoff has published a book every year. The Space Between, her most popular title to date, is about the daughter of a demon and a fallen angel who travels to earth and dips in her demonic powers in the process. Paper Valentine is a haunting murder mystery whereas, Fiendish is a gothic tale of Clementine who was locked in a cellar for ten years.
What’s next? Again, not exactly horror, Fourteen Dreams ‘is about a high-achieving girl who falls for the most imperfect boy in school through a series of mysterious dreams that change how she feels about herself, her future, and love.’
Before. Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a story about Mary and others from her village trying to in a village overrun with flesh-eating zombies.
After. In between writing a couple of anthologies and a collection of short stories, The Dead and Empty World, Carrie Ryan have co-authored a middle grade fantasy series with her husband, John Parke Davis. The Map to Everywhere is about a master thief Fin who combine forces with a crew to scour the world for the map to Everywhere.
What’s next? Daughter of Deep Silence releasing on June 2nd, 2015 is a young adult romantic thriller about Frances Mace who seeks revenge from a rich family posing as her friend who died as a result of the attack on the luxury yacht they were on. There’s also an untitled book releasing in 2016.
Before. Jonathan Maberry is known for horror fiction and rightly so because of his Benny Imura series. But before he wrote horror, Maberry used to write about martial arts. His departure from martial arts began with Ghost Road Blues, a highly acclaimed adult horror thriller about three criminals.
After. His adult Joe Ledger series about a Baltimore detective began in 2009 and a year later, Maberry’s Rot & Ruin was released. Set in a post-apocalyptic world that’s been infested by zombies, the series follow Benny Imura as he struggles to survive. Maberry also wrote some graphic novels as well as a few anthologies and collections of short stories.
What’s next? A middle grade urban fantasy series starting with The Orphan’s Army releasing in June 2015 along with an untitled horror novel that will be released in 2016 by St. Martin’s Griffin.
Before. Madeleine Roux debuted with a young adult series featuring zombies back in 2011. Allison Hewitt Is Trapped initially started out as experimental fiction on her blog.
After. HarperTeen published a creepy photo-illustrated series starter Asylum in 2013 that many found page-turning despite being predictable. Sanctum, the second installation of the series, isn’t nearly as creepy or impactful as Asylum as fans of the series either ended up feeling underwhelmed or overwhelmed.
What’s next? The conclusion to Asylum series coming in August 2015.
Before. Before he was a YA author, Ransom Riggs wrote The Sherlock Holmes Handbook in 2009. Two years after that Quirk published his novel. Set on a mysterious island, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children features strange, gifted children who are pursued by monsters from a set of spooky photographs.
After. The Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children graphic novel was released in 2013 and gave an extra edge to the overall mood of the story. Three years later, the just as peculiar but much more adventurous sequel, Hollow City, was released in January 2014.
What’s next? The conclusion to Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children trilogy which doesn’t have a release date yet.
Before. Bethany Griffin debuted with Handcuffs in 2008, a young adult contemporary before the publication of Masque of the Red Death. Inspired by the similarly titled work of Poe, Masque of the Red Death and its sequel are more of a dystopian steampunk with elements of gothic horror thrown in for good measure.
After. A psychological thriller of sorts, The Fall is Bethany Griffin’s entry into young adult horror. Again influenced by Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, it tells the story of Madeline Usher who is trapped in a house that has a mind of it own.
What’s next? An as-of-yet untitled book that will probably release in 2016.
Before. Hillary Monahan’s debut, MARY: The Summoning, takes root in the urband legend of Bloody Mary. Rightfully creepy, Mary seems to lack the gore which makes many wonder where the series is headed next.
What’s next? The sequel to Mary which doesn’t have a release date. Also, The Awesome releasing on May 26th, 2015 under a pen name of Eva Darrows. The Awesome is a paranormal comedy featuring a sassy and smart protagonist, Maggie Cunningham.
Before. Laurie Faria Stolarz debuted with a paranormal mystery Blue is for Nightmares and then went onto to write paranormal romance series Touch.
After. Told from multiple point of views, Welcome to the Dark House is about a contest to face your scariest nightmare in order to meet the movie producer of the Nightmare Elf series but of course, things aren’t as simple as they seem.
What’s next? The sequel Return to the Dark House releases on July 21st, 2015.
Before. Rick Yancey debuted with adult literary fiction, A Burning in Homeland back in 2003 and then entered the YA genre a couple of years later with a fantasy series beginning with The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp.
Then. 2009 saw the release of The Monstrumologist, a horror thriller about the monstrumologist chasing gruesome monsters with the help of his assistant. The series is four books long as of now.
After. Released only last year, The 5th Wave, become hugely popular. Set in a post-apocalyptic world with aliens, the starter and its sequel are fast-paced and filled with edge-of-your-seat action.
What’s next? The conclusion to The Fifth Wave’s trilogy is set to release in August 2015.
Before. Nova Ren Suma’s debut and sophomore novels, Dani Noir and Imaginary Girls, are mystery YA with surreal and creepy elements thrown in for good measure.
After. Released in 2013, 17 & Gone is Suma’s most creepy novel to date where a teen receives visions of missing girls. The boundaries of mental perception are tested in this psychological horror.
What’s next? The Walls Around Us, which follows the stories of a living and a dead girl, is a haunting novel featuring magical realism and is set to release on March 24th, 2015 and an untitled book releasing in 2016.
Before. Before writing books about serial killers and such, Barry Lyga used to write contemporary YA. Boy Toy is one of his highly acclaimed coming-of-age novel about Josh Mendel. His venture into the middle grade genre with Archvillain proved successful for the most part.
After. Mostly renowned for I Hunt Killers, Lyga’s Jasper Dent series follows Jazz, the son of a serial killer who’s finally been jailed. Can Jazz follow in his notorious father’s footsteps? The series conclusion, Blood of My Blood was released recently.
What’s next? Co-authoring with Peter Facinelli (Carlisle from Twilight, anyone?) and Rob DeFranco, Barry Lyga’s After the Red Rain has already started gathering hype despite its release date of August 2015. Set in the future, the cli-fi dystopia follows the life of a boy named Rose.
Have you read any of these? What are your favorites? Looking forward to any creepy, scary titles by any of the thirteen?
THE MONSTRUMOLOGIST!!!!! I wish more people would read it. I LOVE that series!I Hunt Killers, Imaginary Girls, Rot & Ruin and Anna Dressed In Blood are great books too!
I wish there would be more books like those! There really aren't a lot and only have of them worked for me. I wish those authors whose horror books I loved would keep writing horror books.
*half of them
What a great list of authors. I liked Anna dressed in Blood and I can't wait to read more from Blake. I absolutely love The forest of hands and teeth, my first zombie book and therefor a special series for me. Mira Grant's Parasite blew me away, I'm curious about Feed. I was really surprised by Miss Peregrine. I heard some mixed things about it, but I fell in love with his story building.
I love Anna, I Hunt Killers, Miss P's and the Forest Of Hands And Teeth! This is such a great list, I'm always on the lookout for more YA horror so I'm extremely thankful to you for making this!!!
-Jon from Bookish Antics!
I steer far away from zombies but I love a bit of horror. I've been looking at picking up 17 & Gone because the premise just sounds amazing. And Anna Dressed in Black has been on my TBR for yonks. There'll come a day when I get there. I promise…
I haven't read any of these but Anna Dressed in Blood has been on my TBR for god knows how long. Hopefully I'll get to venture into YA horror soon!
What a cool post! Thanks for sharing! I don't read a lot of horror, but I did enjoy Brenna Yovanoff's Paper Valentine, and her upcoming book sounds amazing. 😀