Spooky Scary Book Tag

This book tag was created by booktuber Shelby Masako.

Header image is art by Tim Jacobus, the cover artist for the Goosebumps series! Check him out!

1. What goes bump in the night?: Name a book that has legitimately scared you while reading it.

Against Medical Advice by Against Medical Advice
It’s hard to pick because there have been a few, but I’d have to go with Against Medical Advice. This humble little novella was so horrifying it made me feel sick. I felt so afraid for one of the characters in this story, I had to know what would happen but the story got so intense that I had to pace myself.

2. Jack-o’-Lanterns and Classic Costumes: A book you always reach for during Halloween time

Anything by Junji Ito
I am a huge fan of horror manga and I absolutely love Junji Ito. His stories can be creepy, funny, and genuinely insane and I can read some of his stories over and over and never get tired of them.

3. Black Cats and Magic Mirrors: A book you love that is laced with superstition and/or magic

Woodworm by Layla Martínez
Woodworm is a beautifully written book that is bursting at the seams with superstition and ghosts. The women in the book live in a house of shadows that feels alive.

4. Witch’s Brew: Favorite witch character in any book/series

Maggie Wall from Maggie’s Grave by David Sodergren
Maggie Wall is the most terrifying witch I’ve ever read in any book! Her entrance is one of the most memorable moments that has stayed with me and from there the book goes full throttle and never lets up.

5. Ghouls and Ghosts: A book that still haunts you to this day (good or bad)

Adabana by NON
Another manga pick, but for good reason! Adabana is a horror-thriller manga about two girls: one dead, and the other turns herself in for murder. As you learn more about what happened between the girls the story just gets darker and more horrifying. I genuinely felt empty inside and cried so much reading this series. It is amazing and criminally under read.

6. Haunted Graveyard: You’re all alone in a haunted graveyard, you get ONE book to give you comfort, which is it?

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
With all the horror that I read I occasionally need a palette cleanser and there is no book more comforting to me than Legends & Lattes. The entire book felt like a warm hug and I just felt so happy the entire time reading it.

7. The Undead: Favorite supernatural creatures to read about (i.e. vamps, zombies, werewolves, etc)

Spirits
This is such a difficult choice for me! In my younger years I would have said vampires without question, and then around ten years ago I was in a really big zombie phase. Most recently I’ve been obsessed with alien stories though that’s more paranormal than supernatural. After some thought I decided to go with spirits. I’m terrified of the dark and the paranormal. La Llrona, wendigo, onryō, they are all frightening to me! I couldn’t sleep for two weeks after watching Ju-On those spirits still scare me to this day.

8. In the dead of night: Pick a book with a black cover.

Everything the Darkness Eats by Eric LaRocca
There are many beautiful ones but there is just something stunning about Everything the Darkness Eats. Black glossy text on a black cover and black chapter pages, it’s so striking I was in awe when I actually saw this book in person.