WEEKLY BOOK RECS: 6 book reviews and suggestions every week
Hey babes! It’s holiday season, but if you’re like me and love mixing a little spook with your festive cheer, this week’s horror Christmas book recs are going to be perfect for you. From ghostly hauntings to creepy creatures lurking in the snow, I’ve got six books that’ll have you eyeing those twinkling lights a little differently this year. Let’s cozy up with a blanket, grab some hot cocoa, and dive into these chilling holiday tales. 🎅🏼💀
1. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
Rating: 4.7/5
Genre: Horror, Supernatural Thriller
Tropes: Creepy Villain, Supernatural Abduction, Christmasland
Main Characters: Vic McQueen, Charlie Manx
What It's About:Imagine a place called Christmasland, but instead of fun and presents, it’s filled with nightmare fuel. Vic McQueen has a unique ability to track down lost things, but when she crosses paths with Charlie Manx—a supernatural villain who kidnaps kids and takes them to his twisted Christmasland—things get intense. The stakes? Well, they couldn’t be higher.
Review:OMG, Christmasland is the stuff of NIGHTMARES. Joe Hill took the idea of holiday cheer and flipped it on its head in the creepiest way possible. Manx is one of those villains who will haunt your dreams—he’s terrifying, but also magnetic in that way where you just can’t look away. The holiday theme makes this the perfect read for anyone who loves both Christmas and horror, but beware, babes—this one gets DARK. The suspense is next-level, and if you’re into twisted tales that keep you on edge, you need this in your life.
2. Krampus: The Yule Lord by Brom
Rating: 4.5/5
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Horror
Tropes: Mythical Creatures, Holiday Horror, Revenge Plot
Main Characters: Jesse, Krampus, Santa Claus
What It's About:So, you know the legend of Krampus, right? The darker, scarier counterpart to Santa? Well, in this book, Krampus is out for revenge after being imprisoned for centuries, and guess who he’s gunning for? Yep—Santa Claus. Meanwhile, Jesse, a down-on-his-luck musician, gets caught up in this ancient battle. It’s dark, epic, and packed with Christmas folklore.
Review:This book is straight-up badass. Krampus is not your typical monster—he’s vengeful, angry, and honestly, kind of relatable in a weird way. The battle between him and Santa is intense, and Brom’s dark, gothic writing pulls you in from the first page. The holiday vibes are there, but this is no cheery Christmas story—think dark, gritty, and full of mythical chaos. Plus, the illustrations are gorgeous, adding a whole new level to the story. If you want to explore the creepy side of Christmas folklore, this book slaps.
3. The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories (Anthology)
Rating: 4.3/5
Genre: Gothic Horror, Short Stories
Tropes: Ghost Stories, Haunted Houses, Victorian Era Vibes
Main Characters: Various
What It's About:Ready for a little Victorian spookiness this Christmas? This anthology brings together the best ghost stories that Victorians used to tell around the holidays (yes, ghost stories were a thing at Christmas!). From haunted houses to eerie specters, these tales are guaranteed to give you the creeps—with a side of that old-fashioned charm.
Review:Cozy up and prepare to be creeped out in the most charming way. There’s something so nostalgic about reading ghost stories from the Victorian era—they’re not graphic, but they’re so beautifully eerie. Perfect for late-night reads by the fireplace. The atmosphere in each story is immaculate, giving major old-timey gothic vibes. If you’re into more subtle scares and love the idea of classic ghost tales, this anthology is a total vibe for Christmas.
4. Secret Santa by Andrew Shaffer
Rating: 4.2/5
Genre: Horror, Dark Comedy
Tropes: Office Horror, Haunted Object, Black Humor
Main Characters: Lussi Meyer, Xavier Blackwood
What It's About:Picture this: It’s the 1980s, you’ve just landed your dream job at a publishing house, and the office is super into horror novels. Sounds cool, right? Except things get weird fast when a Secret Santa exchange goes horribly wrong, and Lussi Meyer gets stuck with a cursed gift that starts wreaking havoc. Cue the creepy holiday madness.
Review:This one is SO much fun! It’s got just the right mix of scares and humor. The office setting gives it that nostalgic, ‘80s vibe, and the cursed object element adds some real chills. The dark humor is on point, and while it’s definitely got its creepy moments, it’s also weirdly hilarious in places. If you love horror with a side of quirky humor and some holiday spirit thrown in, you’ll fly through this one.
5. The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn
Rating: 4.4/5
Genre: Horror, Creature Feature
Tropes: Snowed-In, Cabin Horror, Survival
Main Characters: Ryan, Jane, Lauren
What It's About:A group of friends heads up to a remote mountain cabin for a holiday getaway—just in time for a massive snowstorm to trap them inside. But it’s not just the snow they have to worry about. There’s something out there in the woods, and it’s hungry. What starts as a festive retreat quickly turns into a fight for survival.
Review:This is the stuff of nightmares. The isolation? The snowstorm? The monsters lurking in the woods? It’s literally everything you want in a winter horror novel. The pacing is quick, the characters are relatable (even when they’re freaking out), and the tension just builds and builds. It’s one of those books where you think, “How much worse can it get?” and then it does. If you love the idea of a holiday getaway turning into a fight for survival, this book is perfect for those chilly nights in.
6. Snowblind by Christopher Golden
Rating: 4.3/5
Genre: Horror, Ghost Story
Tropes: Winter Storm, Ghosts, Small Town Secrets
Main Characters: Doug Manning, Allie Schapiro
What It's About:Twelve years ago, a freak snowstorm hit the town of Coventry and left several people dead under mysterious circumstances. Now, as another massive storm rolls in, the ghosts of the past seem to return—quite literally. As the storm worsens, the town’s residents start seeing figures in the snow… and the danger isn’t over yet.
Review:Chilling—both literally and figuratively. The atmosphere in this book is so intense, you’ll feel like you’re in the snowstorm, bracing for whatever’s about to happen next. The supernatural elements are woven in so well, and the small-town setting makes everything feel personal and eerie. If you’re looking for a ghost story that blends emotional depth with creepy vibes, Snowblind will give you that perfect winter fright. Think of it as the ultimate snowstorm nightmare.
Which spooky Christmas novel are you picking up first? Let me know which one you’re diving into (with all the lights on, of course!), and don’t forget to tag me in your #HolidayHorror posts @apolloimperium! 🎅🏼🔪📚
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