by Hayley Charlesworth

Scandinavia has been the place on everybody’s lips in terms of culture in the past decade. Film, television and literature have been flooded with their typically cold, atmospheric thrillers, from the Millenium Trilogy books and films, through to TV shows like Borgen and The Killing. One of the big Scandinavian hits was Let the Right One In, a vampire novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist and later adapted for cinema by Tomas Alfredson (who brought a very Scandinavian flair to the English-speaking world with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.) While the film was an absolute triumph, spawning a lesser American remake in Let Me In, the book remains one of the great vampire novels of recent times.

by Laura W

Frankenstein has been, and still is, considered one of the greatest horror novels of all time. Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus was written by Mary Shelley and was originally published anonymously in 1818. Mary’s name finally appeared on the second edition, when it was published in France in 1823. The story tells of a brilliant scientist who creates a creature and the subsequent events that follow. What many don’t realize about the novel is that Frankenstein is not actually the name of the creature, but of the man who invented the creature, thus causing a great deal of confusion once people start reading. Let’s have a look at several of the covers of Frankenstein, to see if any actually clear up the confusion. Be warned, spoilers may lie ahead. 

by Cookie N Screen

I always lovely darkly morbid books. I really have. I was recounting my favourite book list for a project and each one that I have read has a similar vein – there are either gothic horror romps with bloody bits in their full form (The Gargoyle, Frankenstein), thrillers following unrelenting murders and intellectual trilobites between cop and villain (Silence of the Lambs) or have a sarcastic narrator at the helm of it (Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging). Most importantly, the hero at the core of it is probably not the most charming or angelic – enthused with visceral and destructive paths (Filth). So when Horns came into my possession, I have to admit, I was in glee that it seemingly combined all the pleasures I have when reading.

by Charlotte Dibley

Frank — no ordinary sixteen-year-old — lives with his father outside a remote Scottish village. Their life is, to say the least, unconventional. Frank's mother abandoned them years ago: his elder brother Eric is confined to a psychiatric hospital; & his father measures out his eccentricities on an imperial scale. Frank has turned to strange acts of violence to vent his frustrations. In the bizarre daily rituals there is some solace. But when news comes of Eric's escape from the hospital Frank has to prepare the ground for his brother's inevitable return — an event that explodes the mysteries of the past & changes Frank utterly.

by Hayley Charlesworth

On my 17th birthday, I was gifted a book by a friend that was quite unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Over the years, I have returned to that book numerous times, and each time have found something new to enjoy. As a 17 year old, it was the gore and horror, in my early 20s, it was the darkly erotic atmosphere. Now, I simply recognise it as a well-crafted, disturbing yet oddly sexy horror novel. The book is Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z Brite.

Note: Poppy Z Brite now goes by the name Billy Martin and identifies as male. As such, while we will be using the name Brite in this review, we will also be using male pronouns.

By Laura W

It seems Halloween has started early this year, and that’s all thanks to J. K. Rowling. Announced on the morning of October 24th on Pottermore, it was confirmed to fans that Rowling would be releasing a new story about a certain baddie from the hit series.