My reading-slump cure is a short book. Something I can pick up without feeling like I've just signed a six-month lease.
And obviously, if that short book is going to make me deeply uncomfortable and afraid, even better. These four under your skin in such a way that putting them down feels impossible.
So if you’re struggling to find your next obsession, pick up one of these.
But first, as always, I interviewed Chris Panatier this week on Talking Horror.
"Can horror come from too much love?"
Chris Panatier is the author of The Redemption of Morgan Bright, Shitshow, Daytide, and his newest novel, Worry Box. Chris writes across horror, science fiction, and fantasy. His books swing from darkly funny and completely bizarre to the kind of horror that gets under your skin, and they keep circling back to how far we'll go for the people we love.
In our chat, he tells me how a date night viewing of Interstellar sent him home to start a novel at 38, and how his first book deal landed in his Hotmail junk folder. We get into the bike ride that sparked Shitshow, his dark carnival inside a porta potty, and the StokerCon panel where Neil McRobert told him to go write Worry Box and not tell anybody. He also opens up about the intrusive thoughts he had as a new dad, and realizing the whole book might have been his own worry box.
Plus, a first look at Kill Me With Fire, his grimy witch book from Shortwave, his next Angry Robot novel So You Wanna Summon a Demon, and a wide release of Daytide from Saga Press.
So grab your copy of Worry Box, and check out the episode on Youtube, or listen on Spotify or Apple Music.
Now for the recs.
Find all the books listed below on the shelf here
William by Mason Coile
Tiny book. AI terror. Totally addictive. This is the one for when you want your next read to come with a little technological dread. I loved how much horror fit into this small package. Suddenly the reading slump is the least of your problems.
Rest Stop by Nat Cassidy
Unpredictable, extremely violent, and so many bugs. Consider that last part useful information before you commit. This packs an incredible punch for such a short read, and it absolutely earns its space on this list. Small does not mean gentle. Which is exactly what we suspect from Mr. Cassidy.
Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
A bloodthirsty governess doing her absolute worst. I'm here for it. Sometimes that is the entire sales pitch you need, and this is one of those times. If your reading slump requires a woman behaving terribly to get things moving again, allow me to introduce you.
Guillotine by Delilah S. Dawson
Do you like reading about bad things happening to bad people? Excellent. Violent, toxic revenge in a bite-sized package. That was enough to get me on board, and it is exactly the energy I want from a short horror read. Sign me up, EVREY TIME!
What's your reading-slump rescue book?
Hit reply and tell me the one that got you reading again.
Rachel xo
Host of Talking Horror Podcast