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THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR DISSECTS THE NOVELS ON THE YA STOKER PRELIMINARY LIST

19/2/2021

Since 2017 Ginger Nuts of Horror has reviewed all the books which feature on the Preliminary Ballot of the YA section of the prestigious Bram Stoker Award and I am happy to announce that this year boasts is a very strong collection of ten titles. Arguably, the best they have selected in many years. Eight of the featured novels have all previously been reviewed in ‘Young Blood’, the YA section of Ginger Nuts of Horror, so it looks like the Stoker judges have been keeping an eye on what we have been reviewing. At some point half the field will be cut for the Final Ballot and good luck to all those involved.

ADAM CESARE – CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD (9/10)

Clown in a Cornfield is undoubtedly the most read (and anticipated) YA horror novel by adults in several years and it more than matched its pre-publication hype. This highly impressive teen debut from adult horror author Adam Cesare ticked many of the boxes required for a sure-fire YA hit: gore, engaging characters, great kill scenes and a sly sense of humour. I do love a ‘Final Girl’ and main character Quinn Maybrook was a great lead, particularly when the body count spirals in the second half of the story. Clown in a Cornfield truly is a book of two halves in which the first establishes the plot with the story exploding in the second stanza. Upon arrival in the sleepy and remote small town of Kettle Strings (Missouri) Quinn and her father Doctor Glen Maybrook are quickly sucked into a white-knuckle ride which, like many of the b-horror films it is inspired by, most of the bloodthirsty action takes place over a single night.

What of the clowns? This part of the plot is inspired by ‘Frendo’, the Baypen mascot, a creepy clown in a pork-pie hat which has been associated with the town for decades. If you have watched many of the slasher films Clown in the Cornfield plays homage to, you’ll realise these films were all about the kill sequences and in this regard the novel does not hold back on the gore which involves chainsaws, shotguns and crossbows. The clown action sequences were outstanding set pieces and are guaranteed to nail any teenage reader to the page as the body count spirals. I hope this highly entertaining novel is taken in the spirit in which it is intended: old fashioned gore, unrelenting action and gleefully violent fun which is played out with a nice group of teenage characters. First and foremost, teen fiction is a form of escapism, which is supposed to be fun, and in that respect this novel is an absolute winner. AGE 13/14+

DANIEL KRAUS – BENT HEAVENS (9/10)

Kraus has a superb back-catalogue of dark/horror YA fiction, including the highly recommended Rotters, and this latest release maintains this high standard. Eighteen-year-old Liv Fleming leads this genre-bending thriller which dances around horror and science fiction in a very convincing, Ohio, small-town setting. Teenage readers will easily tap into the troubled psyche and angst of a girl whose world was turned upside down when her father disappeared two years earlier, but it is the circumstances surrounding her father which makes this story fascinating. Lee Fleming was a very popular English teacher at the school Liv attended and before he disappeared indefinitely, vanished for a much shorter period before reappearing, naked, on the school campus. He was not the same man and was deeply psychologically traumatised claiming to have been abducted by aliens, with patchy memories of being experimented upon. Officially, it was presumed he suffered a mental breakdown and the family struggled to cope with the very public emotional fallout.

Once Lee Fleming returns after his first disappearance, he becomes obsessed with aliens and constructs a series of six very dangerous traps in the woodland surrounding his house and names them; Amputator, Hangman’s Noose, Crusher, Neckbreaker, Abyss and Hard Passage. I found Bent Heavens to be a great read and it has enough strings in its bow to attract differing types of teen readers with its convincing blend of horror, drama, and thriller. In the end the story did not go where many readers might expect it to and is backed up an impressive twist (although I saw it coming) which was also completely heart-breaking. Ultimately, even though Liv might not have been the most sympathetic of characters, her pain and grief were convincingly portrayed in a powerful novel about the lengths people will go to know the truth. Even if the answers are going to provide more pain, there is at least closure. AGE 13+

ERICA WATERS – GHOST WOOD SONG (8.5/10)

The debut novel from Erica Waters, Ghost Wood Song, has a unique position in YA horror; the first I have ever read which features bluegrass music as a major theme. Hell, how many mid-teens even know what bluegrass is? I just asked my fifteen-year-old daughter and she responded with “that weird hillbilly banjo music that kid from Deliverance played” so perhaps a few might! Shady Grove is named after a famous bluegrass tune and longs to follow in her late father’s footsteps by playing old school bluegrass music and part of the conflict comes from the fact that the other members of her band, including Sarah (who Shady has a thing for), want to play more modern or mainstream tunes. Older teens looking for a slow-burning drama with a strong musical theme and supernatural overtones will find much escapism in these pages.

Family dynamics play a key part of story after a death in the family, whilst Shady struggles to get over the death of her father, continually returning to one of his favourite songs. She believes that her father’s fiddle had the power to conjure up the dead and is set on finding it and although the supernatural story was interesting, I was more drawn to Shady’s relationships with Sarah and others. The music scenes genuinely sparkled, as they should in novels with this kind of vibe, and I thought Shady was very cool in sticking to her guns and not selling out. Ghost Wood Song also had an outstanding ending and although it will be too slow for some teens, those who enjoy a thoughtful read, with well-drawn characters are in for a treat. AGE 13/14+

DARREN CHARLTON – WRANGLESTONE (8.5/10)

Whilst zombies dominated the adult horror market a few years ago, they were a mere blip on the YA landscape and never amounted to much. It has also become trendy to write zombie novels without the dreaded ‘Z’ word ever used and in Darren Charlton’s excellent Wranglstone we have another, instead the Zs are referred to as the ‘Restless Dead’. It might be a zombie yarn, but at heart it is also a love story between two boys who find each other in a novel which has its own clever take on the zombie mythology. The ‘Wranglestone’ of the title is an excellent location for what is effectively a survival story set a generation or so after a zombie holocaust. Most people are dead and the story focusses upon a group of survivors who live on an island and follow very strict rules and regulations, for example, not accepting newcomers. Early in the story everybody is edgy as when winter arrives, the lake will freeze and that will bring the Restless Dead to their doorsteps.

You could argue that Wranglestone is not a horror novel, for long periods the zombies are in the background, with the focus more on Peter and Cooper and their place in the community. Cooper, on the other hand, is more outgoing and has more of a role as a hunter and defender, showing Peter the ropes in how they go about defending their home. I thought the story had excellent world-building, a credible backstory and was a fresh take on the zombie yarn. Adult connoisseurs on the ‘Z’ subject will undoubtedly have come across most of the ideas elsewhere, but for a teenage reader it was excellent stuff and the final third throws some very entertaining curveballs and decent twists about the darker side and origins of Wranglestone. It was also refreshing to read about a teenager who knew he was gay from the outset, there was no questioning or ambiguity, he had been attracted to Cooper since day one and that was that. AGE 12/13+

ESTELLE LAURE - MAYHEM (7.5/10)

I always enjoy authors who change directions with their fiction and with her third YA novel Estelle Laure edges away from teen dramas into the world of the supernatural with the beguiling Mayhem. The novel begins with sixteen-year-old Mayhem Brayburn and her single parent mother, Roxy, returning to the family home in the seaside town of Santa Maria where her father died when she was a baby. Much of the story is built around Mayhem’s return to her hometown and the secrets connecting her to her family and their unconventional history. Mayhem deals with the family dynamics in the Brayburn family and the vaguely explained hold they exert over the town they live just outside. In the time Roxy has been away her sister Elle has fostered three other children who are key characters in the novel and in the convincing relationships Mayhem builds when she uncovers her past.

The convincing developing friendship of the four children was crucial to the success of the book and for most of the time their relationships dominated the plot and the supernatural element lurked in the background. The subtle supernatural angle revolves around what makes the Brayburn’s different from everybody else in Santa Maria, with added conflict thrown in because the three other children are not Brayburn by blood. At a certain point, the ‘magic’ is explained away because the town is built upon a ‘Psychic Vortex’ where weird stuff can happen. Although I enjoyed Mayhem, its success with real teen readers will depend on how well they connect with Mayhem as a leading character and their interest in the family vibes which dominate the story. Other readers may find it a tad slow, but for those teens who enjoy thoughtful dramas with a supernatural twist it was highly engaging. AGE 13+

LESLIE KAREN LUTZ – FRACTURED TIDE (7/10)

Fractured Tide action kicks off with Sia on a scuba-diving trip; her mother owns a boat and together they entertain tourist on day excursions. Whilst on a dive around a popular ship-wreck site with a large group of teenagers they think they are being stalked by a shark, but quickly realise this is something much nastier lurking in the water which quickly claims its first victim. From that point on, which is still quite early in the novel, expect the unexpected. Monsters, time-travel, Bermuda Triangle style shenanigans, weird sinkholes, time repeating itself and all sorts of outlandish stuff are thrown into a convoluted mix. I am not going to go into any details about any of this part of Fractured Tide, just don’t expect it to make much sense, as it is as much X-Files as thriller.

Fractured Tide has an odd narrative style which some readers might find both frustrating and a tension killer. The whole story is told in the first person, present tense, by seventeen-year-old Sia in the form of journal entries written to her absent father. As Sia has a lot of swimming and diving experience the others look at her for leadership as events continue to get more outlandish and she holds things together admirably due to the lack of adult leadership. Her mother appears in patches and she also must watch out for her little brother Felix. Fractured Tide might have had a broader YA appeal if there had been more than one POV, including the underutilised Ben. Some of the reveals were handled very nicely and Fractured Tide keeps the reader guessing until the bitter end, which is no surprise as the story is wild. Even if you pick a few holes in the outlandish plot it was still very good fun. AGE 12+

ANN DAVILA CARDINAL – CATEGORY FIVE (FIVE MIDNIGHTS BOOK 2) (7/10)

Category Five is a welcome sequel to the YA Bram Stoker Award nominated Five Midnights (2020). Although this continuation of the story of teenager Lupe, who is half Puerto Rican and half American, is not as strong as the original, it is a very readable sequel, which has the same strong cultural feel of its predecessor. In Five Midnights, Lupe and her friends were stalked by the Puerto Rican version of the bogieman in a novel which had a neat sense of time and place which convincingly blended with the supernatural. Category Five does its best to repeat the same trick but lacks the freshness of the original and as another spooky mystery unfolds, Scooby Doo, Shaggy, and the gang sprang to mind in a story which although has its moments, lacked scares in the supernatural area of the story.

Much of the action takes place on the island of Vieques, not far from the Puerto Rican coast, some months after a devastating category five hurricane. Around the same time, a new holiday resort is being built on the island when strange things begin to happen, weird lights are seen, and before long there are dead bodies, some missing their hearts. Ghostly figures are also sighted which are introduced in a superb prologue. Meanwhile, Lupe is back in Puerto Rica visiting her police chief uncle and the story picks up the developing romance with Javier from the end of the previous novel. The supernatural mystery itself was slightly old hat and when revealed the concept will be very familiar to adult readers, however, it worked fine within a less demanding YA context. The strength of the novel was undoubtedly its setting, coupled with its vivid connection to local culture. Lupe was also a great character, unable to speak proper Spanish (and very pale skinned) her search for identity, as a ‘gringa’ with the locals was an enthralling read and was perhaps more engrossing than the supernatural story itself. AGE 13+

ASH PARSONS - GIRLS SAVE THE WORLD IN THIS ONE (7/10)

Girls Save the World in This One was the only comedy of the ten books on the preliminary list, and although it was some very funny moments it suffers from being much too long and perhaps being so stupid it becomes slightly hit and miss. But as it is billed as “Shaun of the Dead meets Clueless” you get what you pay for and a few moments had me snorting out loud and I also happily recommended it to my fifteen-year-old daughter who enjoys fiction with pop culture references and the world of fandom which is lightly explored and mocked in this book. It is also worth pointing out that the title Girls Save the World in This One is a total misfire, because girls save the world in every YA horror world these days with boys no longer getting a look in. The ridiculous story revolves around three best friends, June Blue, Imani and Siggy, and their day out to a zombie convention in their local town. Top of the bill is the opportunity of meeting the heartthrob of their favourite zombie apocalypse show, ‘Human Wasteland’ (remind you of anything?) and listen to panels, have photo opportunities, and meet other stars from the world of zombie film and television.

These types of uber-fan conventions are more of an American phenomenon than anywhere else and one wonders whether some of the jokes may go over the head of British or other non-USA readers? Before long, the teenagers realise that there are real zombies at the event and the fight for survival, even if the novel lacked true threat, is on. Because of the ‘cosplay’ aspect there are those who are dressed up as zombies, who looked more like ‘real’ zombies than the actual zombies! Some of this was very amusing and before long the girls are fighting for survival along with the heroes of the TV show and other quirky veterans of zombie films. Although much of the dialogue was snappy and engaging, the problem with Girls Save the World in This One is that it was a one-joke book and playing it out over 400 odd pages was just too much. This was dumb, but fun, and probably highly acquired taste. AGE 12+

MONIQUE SNYMAN - THE BONE CARVER (NIGHT WEAVER BOOK 2) (6/10)

The Bone Carver is a sequel to the entertaining fantasy horror The Night Weaver (2019) which reached the final ballot of the Bram Stoker YA Award a couple of years ago. This sequel which takes us back to the New England town of Shadow Grove, has the same main characters, locations and having read book one would be advisable before tackling this, however, there are recaps and it could also be read as a standalone novel. Shadow Grove is one of those weird towns where strange things happen and many people either take it for granted or turn a blind eye, as it is strongly connected to the fairy realm, with the supernatural bleeding into our world. The location is one of the great strengths of the book, as is Ridge Crest High School, both are very well drawn, and the author does a fine job of bringing to life.

In this latest adventure high school senior Rachel Cleary (and her cool Scottish cousin Dougal) start finding strange little models in odd places around the school, which they connect to a rash of accidents around town. Although Rachel is stressed about her exams, she realises that something powerful has come across from the fairy realm and as her aunt has had an accident she has to turn to Orion Nebulius, the supernatural being who helped her defeat the Night Weaver in the previous book. Although The Bone Carver was an entertaining enough read it took a while to get going and ages for Rachel to firstly find and bring Orion into the action before the plot moved into the key story thread. Overall, although this was a solid sequel, the central story, once it was revealed could have been stronger, but Rachel is an engaging enough character to partially gloss over that crucial shortcoming. AGE 12+

AIDEN THOMAS - CEMETERY BOYS 6/10

Yadriel, a trans teenager, is the main character of Cemetery Boys, who comes from a long line of ‘brujos’ which is the Latin American term for ‘witch’ and within the context of this novel is very much part of their local culture and day-to-day life. Due to Yadriel’s sexuality he has clashes with his family and issues of acceptance with other members of the Latin East Los Angeles community where he lives. His best friend is his cousin Maritza who is supportive of his situation and helps him in his quest to become a recognised brujo, which is seen as a rights-of-passage in the Latin community. To do so the pair perform a ritual to find the ghost of his murdered cousin, Miguel, however, something goes from and instead they raise the ghost of another recently murdered teenage boy, Julian Diaz, who it turned out attended the same high school as Yadriel. Following the surprise appearance of the ghost (which few other people can see except for Yadriel and Maritza) the plot takes in a few murders, family drama, sexuality, and romance, all of which is handled with a relatively light touch.

Firstly, it was nice to see a trans character take the lead role in a YA horror novel, even if the ‘horror’ was very minimal, with the plot predominately dancing around the Latin supernatural angle and the personal situation of Yadriel. Lots of Spanish words are dropped into the text, which I found quite appealing, and had me reaching for Google translator. However, apart from the fact that Yadriel was trans and has both family and community problems because of it, he was presented in a relatively shallow manner. It was also incredibly easy to see where the book was going with everything telegraphed right to the cute ending. Ultimately, Cemetery Boys has a very positive message about diversity and accepting people for being themselves, also giving the readers an insightful look into the Latin American community and some of the issues trans teens might face. I am sure many readers will love this book, however, I found the blend of romance and the supernatural slightly unconvincing, but nevertheless enjoyed it.

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new BOOK REVIEW THE GATHERING OF SHADOWS BY MARK N DRAKE

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WOMEN IN (YA) HORROR MONTH: 30 YA AUTHORS YOU SHOULD KNOW

15/2/2021

What have the thirty authors featured in this article got in common besides the fact they are all women? That is easy, if they had a new book coming out tomorrow, I would have already pre-ordered it! In covering such a wide range of YA horror for Ginger Nuts, and through my day job as a school librarian, I track countless dark fiction authors (both male and female) and these thirty are all writers who have caught my eye and I look forward to what they might have next in the literary pipeline.

They are also connected by the fact that they are all in the early stages of their ‘horror career’. This is not an exact science, by that I mean, the majority have only written a couple of novels (or one) or are new to YA horror, having already published in other areas. In that manner, they are all authors to watch, particularly if you follow YA horror.

YA horror and dark fiction is already dominated by female writers however, it is still a useful exercise in bringing together in one article, potentially, the big names or stars of tomorrow. Some have had much more media coverage than others and there are many here who are ripe for literary exploration or with a lucky break could hit the bigtime overnight. Never forget also, if you are looking for a cool book for your favourite niece or nephew this is the perfect place to start. This list is an absolute treasure trove of great books and wonderful authors.

Ladies, The Ginger Nuts of Horror salute you all. YOU ROCK!

MELISSA ALBERT

Melissa’s dark fantasy debut, Hazel Wood (2018), impressed me greatly, a story which she continued in The High Country (2019) and a collection of short stories. What will this talented author give us next?

Here’s what we said about Hazel Wood when we first reviewed it:

Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice's life on the road travelling from place to place, always a step ahead of the strange bad luck which seems to follow them everywhere. There is something uncanny about the level of ill-fortune which is connected to the dark past of her family. Alice’s grandmother was a reclusive, somewhat of a cult writer, semi-famous for a collection of frightening fairy-tales which for some unknown reason is incredibly difficult to buy or find anywhere online no matter how much cash you have.

After the disappearance of her mother, Alice suspects she has been kidnapped by a character who claims to come from the cruel supernatural world of her grandmother's stories which are set in the Hazel Wood. This was an excellent fantasy novel which expertly blended two worlds together, some of the fantasy characters which seeped into ours were totally terrific. It was eerie, compelling and a fine mix of light romance, teen stuff, great characters, and fantasy mystery.

Laura Bates

Laura Bates is well known in the UK for her work and writing on feminism, however, her fictional debut The Burning (which does feature some of the same elements) truly blew me away. I hope she continues to write fiction and sticks with the supernatural theme.

Here’s what we said about The Burning when we first reviewed it:

If you’re on the hunt for a YA novel which effortlessly blends the horrors of teenage social media with the tale of a 400-year-old witch trial, then look no further. This was a superb read which carries a powerful message about the dangers of posting the wrong stuff online and peer pressure, delivering it in a naturalistic style, which never becomes heavy handed or preachy. In no time at all you will be rooting for the teenage protagonist Anna who is dragged through a horrific emotional wringer. The Burning is horror with a light touch, the pain, and long-term repercussions of one naive decision becomes scarier than any supernatural bogeyman. The fallout was severe, with Anna and her mother leaving their old life in Birmingham behind to live in a small coastal village near Saint Andrews on the east side of Scotland.

Starting any new school is difficult and Laura Bates completely nails the awkwardness of this transition, but before long she becomes friends with local girls, but bullying is never far away and soon her past catches up with her. The Burning has a second main story which nudges it into the horror genre, beyond that of everyday teenage life. As part of a school history project everyone researches a topic of local interest and after Anna discovers an obscure reference to someone who was suspected of being a witch centuries earlier. As she uncovers the story, the plight of Maggie, she realises the ‘witch’ has many startling similarities to her own plight and starts to feel a strong connection to the long-dead young woman, part of which whose narrative is told in flashback. With YA kids generally avoid books which obviously have a heavy-handed message, The Burning works because its warning are very subtle with a top-notch story, believable story, and a convincing dose of history.

EMMA BERQUIST

I have really enjoyed both of Emma’s supernatural novels, Missing Presumed Dead (2019) and the western zombie romp Devils Unto Dust (2018), and I hope we see a third novel soon.

Here’s what we said about Devils Unto Dust when we first reviewed it:

Emma Berquist’s startling debut Devils unto Dust is a zombie story set in the American old West which has an outstanding teenage girl character leading the action, which involves a hunt across largely empty desert landscapes which is beautifully described. The story revolves around problems with the nuclear family and what the main character Daily Wilcox (known as ‘Willie’) will do to protect hers after problems with her disappeared father. But along the way savour the empty, but incredibly described landscapes as Willie and her friends battle for survival. So, where do the zombies come into it?

Like most novels of this type the ‘Z’ word is never used, and they are known as ‘shakers’ with Texas being quarantined from the rest of the country as the undiagnosed virus spreads. In fact, the plot could have been lifted straight out an old b-western novel from the 1950s, but the horror twist Emma Berquist brings to the table is perfectly pitched. Willie’s drunk father steals money from a local moneylender who threatens to hurt Willie and her siblings if he is not reimbursed. The young woman then takes it upon herself to hire two ‘shake’ hunters with what little money they have left and sets out away from their home of Glory, Texas to find her father and retrieve the cash. There are some outstanding action sequences, but the zombies never dominate the story, and all the characters are incredibly well drawn.

AMELINDA BERUBE

Amelinda Berube has written two supernatural novels, with the second, Here There Are Monsters (2019) being particularly impressive. Amelinda has the potential to be one of the stars of the genre. A new novel soon please!

Here’s what we said about Here There Are Monsters when we first reviewed it:

I was really captivated by this slow-burning YA horror/fantasy novel which genuinely nailed the troubled psyche of a sixteen-year-old girl who is trying to deal with the sudden disappearance of her little sister, aged thirteen. The younger girl Deirdre had issues, which are revealed slowly as the plot moves backwards and forwards through narratives before and after the disappearance. Although Skye was not to blame, she feels guilty and it puts a strain on her relationship with her struggling parents who try not to accuse her. But when they’re so stressed tensions run very high and it is easy to cast stones.

The supernatural aspect is slowly filtered into the book and the haunting aspect of the story is cleverly connected to Skye, her new friends, and what lives within the local forest. Or is it something which has followed the sisters throughout their childhood? The compelling friendship dynamics Skye has with her new school friends works very well as she struggles to cope even more as the length of the disappearance stretches. The mystery quickly deepens, and I found this to be an excellent and atmospheric read for teenagers looking for a subtle supernatural slow burner.

THERESA BRAUN

I thoroughly enjoyed Theresa’s YA debut Fountain Dead (2018), and I know she has been busy on other writing and editing projects, but hopefully she will return to the world of YA soon. Tap me for a review any time Theresa!

Here’s what we said about Fountain Dead when we first reviewed it:

Mark and his family relocate due to work reasons and he finds himself friendless and lonely in a big old house which right from the start gives him the creeps and feelings of unease. Crucial to the story, he is also becoming aware that he is gay. The sexual awakening part of the story is handled very well and is convincingly woven into the supernatural plot which spirals back to the early inhabitants of the house in the 1860s. Mark also has a dominating mother, and a little sister, both of which play an important part of creating a convincing family dynamic.

Although Fountain Dead is not a long book and I hope potential teen readers find the 1860s storyline set in the Civil War period concerning American Indians as engaging as the present-day sequence which takes place in 1988. The way in which the paranormal activity escalated and morphed into a creature story was entertaining but the tension could have been ramped up even higher. Often in haunted house novels it is the location which dominates proceedings, but on this occasion, I thought the central character Mark was the real strength of the story and that’s a key ingredient to a successful YA novel. This thoughtful and entertaining ghost story has much to catch the eye of teens you enjoy character driven supernatural thrillers.

ANN DAVILA CARDINAL

Ann Davila Cardinal’s debut, Five Midnights (2019), was a deserved finalist for the prestigious YA Bram Stoker Award, layering a supernatural tale with a strong flavour of Puerto Rico. Her second novel Category Five (2020) continued the same series with a fresh supernatural mystery. What can we expect with her third? More horror please.

Here’s what we said about Five Midnights when we first reviewed it:

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced supernatural thriller set over a few hot and sweaty days in Puerto Rico. An American teenager (who has a Puerto Rican father) who speaks rubbish Spanish visits the island for the summer she gets sucked into a supernatural mystery surrounding the disappearance of her cousin and several of his friends. Luckily, her uncle is the chief of police and so she has some insider knowledge on what is going on and inserts herself into a convoluted and brooding mystery.

The horror aspect revolves around a Puerto Rican version of the boogieman who is killing teenagers with birthdays whose are very close together and known to Lupe. Has someone activated a curse, or how does this create targeting its victims? This is all part of the drama Lupe is sucked into. Seen from multiple points of view, throw in a splash of romance, a musical heartthrob, Lupe is an energetic lead character who is not scared to clash with the tough local women who see her as a ‘gringo’ interloper who needs to be put in her place. A highly entertaining supernatural thriller with a convincing and enlightening culturally different setting.

ERIN CRAIG

I was impressed by Erin’s dreamy and romantic debut The House of Salt and Shadows and look forward to reading Small Favors later in 2021.

Here’s what we said about The House of Salt and Shadows when we first reviewed it:

The House of Salt and Sorrows is a fascinating retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses fairy tale in which Annaleigh is the oldest surviving sister, determined to break the curse that's slowly killing her sisters. The deaths have left her family distraught as they are forever dressed in black and in mourning, also on edge, forever wondering who might be next. Annaleigh’s father has also remarried and announces his wife is pregnant with a son and the complex family dynamics begin to change. Although it was a slow novel, there was a lot going on with numerous creepy scenes and some decent twists, particularly in the second half.

The wind-swept remote castle setting was one of the strongest aspects of the story and the strong romantic aspect of the story point the book towards the female audience ever more so. Annaleigh was an engaging main character with a nice voice and after deaths by plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, and a slippery plunge there is no surprise she tries to break the curse and instead is plagued by a series of ghostly visions whilst her sisters disappear at night, but to where?

VICTORIA DALPE

I adored Parasite Life (2016), the startling debut from Victoria Dalpe, and I hope we see new fiction from her soon. This novel was originally published by the troubled ChiZINE and I hope the rumours that the novel had found a new home are true.

Here’s what we said about Parasite Life when we first reviewed it:

When it comes to unsettling and intense debut novels Victoria Dalpe’s Parasite Life is up there with the best of them. The teen market has been saturated with vampire novels, but this unnerving tale sails miles above the pack, partly because the ‘teen-life’ sequences are so painfully believable they exist without any need for horror, an isolated and lonely seventeen-year-old girl with no friends is horror enough. However, when the supernatural angle is filtered into the plot, it is done so cleverly and believably you are going to be sucked into a unique take on the vampire myth. Blend both story strands together, supernatural, and teen angst, and you have an intoxicating and very feminine vampire tale. Jane is the novel’s powerful narrator and voice, who spends her time looking after her invalided mother who either cannot or refuses to talk to her and has an undiagnosed wasting illness. She has no friends, they have little money, and she escapes her humdrum life by hiding away in books. However, early in a novel outgoing and vivacious Sabrina arrives at her school and life takes an amazing and exciting upturn.

Equally cool is the fact that Dalpe creates her own version of what a vampire is and sets her own rules, for example, the vampires in this story can live in sunlight. It sounds strange, but something about these weird deviations click. The author also tackles tricky subjects such as menstruation, which when you think about it, should play an important role in vampire novels, but never do. There is a budding sexual attraction between the two girls which awakens something hidden in Jane and it takes the girls into some dark places as the novel progresses. These relationship scenes are a combination of sexy, sensual, sleazy, and terrifically edgy writing as Jane discovers her hidden talents. This is a very mature YA novel which was originally written as an adult novel before being toned down at the request of the publisher.

SHEA ERNSHAW

I thought both of Shea Ernshaw’s supernatural novels were great, The Wicked Deep (2018) and Winterwood (2019) and am looking forward to tackling a new novel before too long.

Here’s what we said about The Wicked Deep when we first reviewed it:

The Wicked Deep was an entertaining debut which blends dark fantasy, horror, and a taste of teen romance. Ernshaw’s novel deserves to be a hit, probably with a young teen female audience who enjoy the supernatural mixed with engaging teen drama. The plot is centred around a local myth… Two centuries ago, in a small town in Oregon, three sisters were drowned in the ocean who were suspected of being witches. According to folklore, every summer since, they've emerged from the shadowy depths, temporarily possessing the bodies of drunk or stupid teenage girls and using them to lure boys to the harbour where they will meet their deaths. Something like sirens from Greek mythology.

Over the years there have been several suspicious deaths which has fed the myth, and the town makes great tourist trade from the summer festival which celebrates its colourful history around the witches. Penny Talbot’s mother owns a local bed and breakfast and after she gives a summer job to Bo Carter, who she thinks is cute, is sucked into the old town mystery and might even be the next victim. It’s definitely aimed at girls, and had a great mix of folklore, magic, witchcraft, the paranormal with young love blossoming in the background.

SARA FARING

Sara made a well-deserved splash with her startling debut, The Tenth Girl (2019), which she followed with another supernatural tale, White Fox (2020). I look forward to seeing in seeing which direction her third novel takes.

Here’s what we said about The Tenth Girl when we first reviewed it:

The Tenth Girl is one of those books which is picking up as much love as it is hate, being polarising in all sorts of ways, in particular, because of the outrageous twist ending. I am not going to comment which way I swing, as this is one of those occasions where you need to make up your own mind. Also, was this a YA novel? Yes and no. To be frank, an adult could pick it up by mistake and never twig it was predominately aimed at teens. This very twisty gothic thriller is mainly set in an Argentinean boarding school of the 1970s, so it is unique for points of references, making it challenging for a YA audience with the oppressive government dictatorship of that decade lurking in the background. It follows a young teacher beginning at a girl’s boarding school in Patagonia, in a house built by colonizers on land that formerly belonged to the Zapuche, an indigenous people in Argentina.

The young woman is attempting to escape the Argentinian government, but it seems that she may have gotten herself into an even more dangerous, disturbing situation as very quickly strange things happen at the boarding school and she is told not, under any circumstances, to go out at night. This book will not be for everyone, but when you do get to the end, some of the more abstract sequences make a lot more sense. Whatever you think, you’ll be shaking your head and will never see the ending coming. Avoid spoilers at all costs.

KATHRYN FOXFIELD

Good Girls Die First (2020) was Kathryn’s impressive debut novel and it heralded the arrival of a new voice in YA UK horror.

Here’s what we said about Good Girls Die First when we first reviewed it:

Good Girls Die First is a fast paced, eventually supernatural, spin on Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None involving a group of ten teenagers who are lured to the derelict carnival on Portgrave Pier. Each are given a flier which implies blackmail, or the revealing of deep and dark secrets, should they fail to turn up at the pier. The novel is told in the third person from sixteen-year-old Ava’s point of view and the ten characters have varying connections to each other and part of the fun of Good Girls Die First is finding out what they are. As those involved are all sixteen expect bitchiness, fallouts, failed relationships, sexual encounters, drunken moments, half-truths, and out-and-out lies. In a nutshell: a bunch of relatively normal teens!

All ten characters each have a big secret they are desperate to protect and this was the most convincing aspect of the novel which leads to intense interactions between the characters, name calling and blaming. But what do they all have to hide? Ava is our central character, whose hobby (and potential career) is photography who loves snapping ruined buildings and desolate urban landscapes. After ten have made their way onto the pier and abandoned amusement arcade disaster strikes and the construction crumbles and their only way back to dry land disappears. Soon fog rolls in and a storm approaches, they are well and truly stranded, and the fun begins. Good Girls Die First has a lot to offer; it was edgy, pacey, and written with convincing dialogue, it was also refreshing to read a thriller set in the UK that does not particularly play to the stereotypes you might find in an American equivalent. Good Girls Die First delivers old-fashioned entertainment in spades, was not deep, but very easy to get lost in for a few hours.

CAROLINE FLARITY

I enjoyed Caroline Flarity’s debut The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter (2019) tremendously and I hope she releases new fiction soon. Send is some news please Caroline!

Here’s what we said about The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter when we first reviewed it:

Sixteen-year-old Anna is having a tough time at school, often known as ‘Zombie Girl’, because she has a prominent scar on her face and a father with a very odd job. He is a type of ghost hunter (or exorcist) and specialises more in ‘cleaning’ haunted objects, rather than ghosts. They struggle to pay the bills and Anna still reflects on the death of her mother eight years earlier and the fact that her soul may be stuck in spiritual limbo and could still be possessed by a demon. I thought this novel cleverly balanced its supernatural story with the normal trials and tribulations of a teenage girl who comes from a weird family and does her best to deal with it. Anna has two good friends she can count on (Freddy and Dor) but has a major crush on a boy from school which plays an important part in the story.

As well as covering stuff like social media shaming, bullying and peer pressure the supernatural angle builds nicely as the plot develops into a much wider conspiracy. As Anna is her dad’s assistant in his supernatural dealings she is bullied at school, but at the same time strange stuff really does seem to be happening, which many people believe is because of a rare solar storm which will light up the night sky. Anna is an engaging character, she is not perfect, makes a lot of wrong decisions, but nobody gets it right all the time and shines when the chips are down. A great combination of school life, teenage angst, and a few demons.

LIANA GARDNER

Liana has published three novels, two of which are supernatural, with the third Speak No Evil (2019) truly blowing me away, both her other novels are aimed at younger age groups. I cannot wait to see what this talented author produces next, and hope she sticks with YA.

Here’s what we said about Speak No Evil when we first reviewed it:

Liana Gardner’s outstanding Speak No Evil has a fascinating musical theme to it, with the story revolves around a sixteen-year-old girl who is in the American care-home system and has not spoken for almost two years. The doctor treating her realises music is very important to her and uses lyrics as a way of breaking down the communication barriers. The reasons for this are revealed very slowly and is told over multiple time periods, going back to when Melody Fisher was five years old, with the novel repeatedly jumping across the time periods, but as it progresses the backstory slowly closes in on the Melody who is sixteen. Ultimately this is a powerful novel about abuse, overcoming abuse and the resilience of Melody Fisher as she slowly, with a lot of help, turns her life around. I’m not ashamed to say I had a tear in my eye on more than one occasion.

Perhaps it is the backdrop of the story which edges it towards dark fiction rather than family drama, as this is very dark indeed. Melody’s parents both attend a church where snake-handling is part of the normal Sunday service, however, Melody’s mother is scared of the snakes, but Melody is gifted with animals and has a beautiful voice which almost has a hypnotic quality, but soon something goes horribly wrong with the snakes. Teenage novels which touch on subjects as dark as this, which also features a very unpleasant rape scene, need hope and even though Melody does not talk she does have others fighting in her corner for her. Perhaps in real life she would slip through the cracks of society? But this if fiction and we all need hope. A quite beautiful book.

CHRISTINE LYNN HERMAN

My fifteen-year-old daughter truly adored Christine’s debut The Devouring Gray (2019) and immediately hoovered up the sequel The Deck of Omens (2020). Although Titan do not necessary bracket their books as ‘YA’ these two novels tick all the boxes. Christine returns later in 2021 with All of us Villains. My daughter cannot wait. I will happily buy it for her.

Here’s what we said about The Devouring Gray when we first reviewed it:

The Devouring Gray begins when Violet Saunders returns to her mother’s hometown, Four Paths, after the death of her sister. When she arrives, she realizes she is a member of one of the very old founding families and many people deliberately keep their distance from her because of her heritage. But she eventually connects with the other founder’s children: Justin, May, Isaac, and Harper. She begins to see Four Paths true nature and the danger that lurks in the forest. When bodies start showing up, the teenagers must put all their differences aside and figure out how to stop ‘The Beast’, a dangerous creature that comes from ‘The Gray’ before it strikes again. I loved this book so much, mainly because of the convincing characters and its highly original take on magic.

The biggest mystery throughout the books is what exactly is ‘The Gray’ and where did this ‘Beast’ come from? Considering none of the characters genuinely know, it is also a self-discovery journey for all of them uncovering their origins. If you are confused by what ‘The Gray’ and ‘The Beast’ are, I am not going to give any spoilers, but they are highly significant to both novels. I realised that some people are comparing this to the hit TV show Stranger Things and it certainly has similarities, for example, ‘The Gray’ is reminiscent to ‘The Upside Down’ and ‘The Beast’ recollects ‘The Demogorgon’ but is significantly smarter.

LAUREN JAMES

Lauren is five books into a highly impressive career, with The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker her first supernatural effort. Her previous stories have taken in first love, with her third novel The Loneliest Girl in the Universe (2017) (science fiction) and fourth The Quiet at the End of the World (2019) featuring a virus which kills off most of the human race both top quality reads. But this is her debut ghost story, I hope it is not her last.

Here’s what we said about The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker when we first reviewed it:

I love authors who confidently dance around the genres and few do it better than the highly versatile Lauren James. In the simplest of terms this latest novel is a confident splash into the supernatural world and her world-building after main character Harriet Stoker falls to her death in the opening pages is second to none. YA novels set in the ‘after-life’ are dime-a-dozen (see the underwhelming previous novel in this list as an example), but this effort was top loaded with engaging characters and a carefully thought out after-life eco-system which adds extra dimensions to the plot. It is much too easy to have dead teens observing those they have left behind this novel throw that concept out the window and concentrates on the ‘being dead’ side of things and is all the better for it.

Harriet lives with her grumbling grandmother and has just started a photography course at university, whilst exploring an abandoned building, she falls to her death. When she wakes up, she does not realise she is dead, but the moment of her demise sent a bolt of life energy around the building and reawakened all the other ghosts which inhabit the building. Why do so many ghosts ‘haunt’ this building? You will have to read it to find out. Although Harriet is the main character, the story is also seen from a few other ghosts, who have been there for varying lengths of time. There is a lot going on in this book, some great twists, including ghosts having unique special powers and the system in which ghosts exist within the house (which they could not leave) was outstanding. And watch out for the granny!

E. LATIMER

E. Latimer’s debut Witches of Ash and Ruin (2020), a tale of witchcraft in rural Ireland really caught my eye, which Latimer followed with the Middle Grade tale The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Grey (2020). I will be looking out for Escape to Witch City, which is released later this year with some interest.

Here’s what we said about Witches of Ash and Ruin when we first reviewed it:

E. Latimer’s Witches of Ash and Ruin has a striking opening sequence, seventeen-year-old Dayna Walsh is in school and struggling to cope with terrible OCD when a flock of birds fly and crash against the classroom windows. Dayna suspects it is somehow connected to herself, probably because she is a ‘witchling’, the term used for a trainee witch who has not completed her training and is yet to ascend to full witch status. Dayna has recently split up from Samuel and is coming to terms with the fact she is bisexual, which is a key part of the plot. She is also part of a local witch’s coven, who effectively hide in plain sight, and her religiously strict father has no idea that she is training to be a witch. As the story is set in rural Ireland, a Catholic country, religion also plays a part in the plot.

The story is told in five different voices, Dayna is the only one belonging to the local coven, along with ex-boyfriend Samuel who has a smaller part, is unaware of the coven, and drifts in and out of proceedings. Two of the other voices are Meiner and Cora who come from a visiting coven and appear after another local witch is murdered. The two covens then band together, but with much distrust and friction, attempting to solve the murder. The fifth voice is of one of the killers, Dubh, who pops up here and there, but has limited interactions with the main characters until near the end. Witches of Ash and Ruin was an engaging mythological fantasy novel which should appeal to teenage girls.

LORIEN LAWRENCE

I loved Lorien’s very cool Middle School debut, The Stitchers (2020), and cannot wait to read more of her fiction. Bring it on Lorien.

Here’s what we said about The Stitchers when we first reviewed it:

If you are looking for a Middle Grade, top end of primary age 10 to 12 then The Stitchers was an entertaining read. It lacked the scares and depth of character to mix with out-and-out YA horror, but if pitched at the right age level has much to enjoy. The cover implies it to be the first book in the ‘Fright Watch’ series and seen as it finishes (not exactly with a cliff-hanger) there is plenty of scope for a second book. The Stitchers main strength are the two main characters and their interactions with each other (and growing attraction) as the plot develops. It features a very engaging first-person narrative from Quinn Parker’s perspective and young readers will enjoy being in her head. Set in small-town America, the two best friends are future members of the ‘Scoobie-Gang’ who enjoy solving mysteries, fooling around, snooping on their neighbours, and in particular, “the Oldies” who live close by on Goodie Lane.

Whether the pair have an over-active imagination or not, when the action begins, they suspect the group of old people who live on Goodie Lane are hiding a deep dark secret. These old folks never seem to age, have lived there longer than anyone else can remember and as the snooping continues, “the Oldies” realise they are being watched. Some kids might find the supernatural story very slow to get going, but this is not a Goosebumps BOO! type of story and relies of strong characterisation, nice descriptions, and atmosphere rather than shock scares. I also thought it was very cool when it was revealed why the book was called The Stitchers.

LESLIE LUTZ

Leslie’s debut, Fractured Tide (2020), is an impressive blend of fantasy, science fiction and horror. I await her second novel with interest.

Here’s what we said about Fractured Tide when we first reviewed it:

Fractured Tide action kicks off with Sia on a scuba-diving trip; her mother owns a boat and together they entertain tourist on day excursions. Whilst on a dive around a popular ship-wreck site with a large group of teenagers they think they are being stalked by a shark, but quickly realise this is something much nastier lurking in the water which quickly claims its first victim. From that point on, which is still quite early in the novel, expect the unexpected. Monsters, time-travel, Bermuda Triangle style shenanigans, weird sinkholes, time repeating itself and all sorts of outlandish stuff are thrown into a convoluted mix. I’m not going to go into any details about any of this part of Fractured Tide, just don’t expect it to make much sense, as it is as much X-Files as thriller.

Fractured Tide has an odd narrative style which some readers might find a slight tension killer. The story is told in the first person, present tense, by seventeen-year-old Sia in the form of journal entries written to her absent father. As Sia has a lot of swimming and diving experience the others look at her for leadership as events continue to get more outlandish and she holds things together admirably due to the lack of adult leadership. Her mother appears in patches and she also must watch out for her little brother Felix. Some of the reveals were handled very nicely and Fractured Tide keeps the reader guessing until the bitter end, which is no surprise as the story is wild.

KATE ALICE MARSHALL

I thoroughly enjoyed Kate’s second novel, the twisty Rules for Vanishing (2019) and in her third she stuck with the supernatural in a tale for younger kids, Thirteens (2020). In her soon to be published fourth novel, Our Last Echoes (2021), Kate returns to YA. I cannot wait.

Here’s what we said about Rules for Vanishing when we first reviewed it:

Rules for Vanishing was a very clever, original, and sneaky novel told via transcribes, written testimonies, interviews, exhibits, and video evidence. We know from the beginning that the action kicks off in April 2017 and that police discussions are conducted in May 2017 with Sara being the suspect under the microscope. The story revolves around a local legend; once a year an isolated road is rumoured to magically appear, which leads to the entrance to a supernatural dimension and those who follow the path must follow precise rules or risk being trapped there forever. If Sara’s crazy story is to be believed she was lucky to make it out alive, what we don’t know is which of her friends survived along with her, and so we enjoy a story which is enticingly told out of synch.

Why was Sara attempting to enter another dimension you might ask? Exactly a year previously her sister Becca went missing and her parents think that she ran away with her boyfriend, but her sister Sara has another solution to the disappearance and begins to investigate. Did Becca play the game and became lost in another world? Of course, the world is real before long Sara, on the hunt for Becca, and her friends are attempting to get through the seven gates to complete the challenges and be free to leave. I thought this was a very entertaining novel which was both atmospheric and very cleverly written, almost with a documentary feel to it in which the reader had to solve their own puzzles and conduct their own analysis right to the end. Well worth checking out. AGE RATING 12+

AMY McCAW

Amy is possibly the ‘newest kid on the block’ as her debut Mina and the Undead (2021) is out very shortly. It is a promising debut, and I will be interested to see if Mina returns in Amy’s second novel.

Here’s what we said about Mina and the Undead when we first reviewed it:

Set in New Orleans in the 1990s, seventeen-year-old Mina joins her sister in the city for the summer vacation, hoping for some excitement and escape from her family problems. Visiting from Whitby in the UK, she hooks up with Libby’s friends and is quickly sucked into a murder mystery after a young woman is killed at the house of horrors, Mansion of the Macabre, where her sister’s cute flatmate Jared works as a vampire. Her sister is quickly pegged as a suspect and the reader realises that there have been other similar killings and the police are struggling for suspects. But is there anything genuinely supernatural going on?

Vampire obsessed Mina was an engaging lead character, as she negotiates spending time with her sister and her friends, whilst adapting to life in a foreign city. The supernatural angle was an interesting one and although the vampire story is not introduced until well into the action, the reader could see it coming and could have done with more of a bang upon arrival. The teenager is also dealing with the disappearance the previous year of her mother and it was obvious she was going to reappear and how. Mina and the Undead was a very easy and undemanding read, which young teens should see as a fun read.

CYNTHIA MURPHY

Last One To Die (2021) was a cool early new addition and voice to YA horror fiction. Let us hope Cynthia is here to stay, bringing in a new generation of UK YA horror writers.

Here’s what we said about Last One To Die when we first reviewed it:

Last One to Die is a very easy read and I found myself speeding through it trying to identify who the killer was. Genuine teen readers should have a lot of fun negotiating the red herrings and it was one of those books which had “I’m just going to read one more chapter before bed….” written all over it. It does not pretend to be deep, or have anything particularly new to offer, but instead delivers a solid page turner and escapism around shadowy areas of the Southbank area of London. The story begins when 16-year-old Niamh arrives in London to study drama for the summer, as part of the course she will also work in a Victorian museum which has interactive exhibits in which she will play a teenager who is connected to one of the paintings/exhibits in the museum. Niamh also looks uncannily like the genuine Jane Alsop who died in 1838.

Niamh was a very sympathetic leading character which is an important attribute in a YA novel, and I am sure most readers will connect with her plight. The early stages of the romance between Niamh and Tommy were also very cute and added an extra element to the story. Last One to Die is written in such a way that it should appeal to both thriller and horror fans, with the supernatural element becoming more pronounced as the story develops.

STEPHANIE PERKINS

If you follow YA Stephanie Perkins will be a very familiar name as she has written some very successful novels. However, in 2017 she changed direction completely with the excellent There’s Somebody Inside Your House, another horror novel, The Woods Are Always Watching should be coming later this year. I’m looking forward to that one.

Here’s what we said about There’s Someone Inside Your House when we first reviewed it:

There's Someone Inside Your House was a very quirky change of direction for an author best known for writing teen romances. Essentially the plot harks back to the teen horror films popular in the 1980s and 1990s with a serial killer on the loose. Set in a small sleepy Nebraska town a teenager has been killed in a particularly gruesome way and when there is a second death tension ratchets up. The main character is a mixed-race Hawaiian girl, Makani Young, who is living with her grandmother after her parents split up and have little time for her. Makani has her own secrets as to why she left Hawaii, which are revealed slowly, and the novel very carefully builds her friendships and relationships, whilst maintaining a certain level of attachment, even nostalgia, to its slasher roots. It features some gruesome scenes, is a lot of fun and overall a very decent page-turner for young teens and is equally entertaining for those who do not normally read horror and are more drawn to thrillers.

RORY POWER

I have enjoyed both of Rory’s supernatural novels, Winter Girls (2019) and Burn Our Bodies Down (2020), this is an author which is going places! I await with interest what Rory comes up with next.

Here’s what we said about Winter Girls when we first reviewed it:

Wilder Girls begins eighteen months into a quarantine in which the Raxter School for Girls has been cut off from the rest of the world. Because the action is set on an island, once a weird illness called the ‘Tox’ begins to manifest, keeping the girls isolated on a corner of the island is not too difficult. However, the government airdrop in minimal food and switch off the telephones and internet and the reader soon realise something truly fishy, or some kind of conspiracy, is going on.

The ‘Tox’ can lead to strange body altering manifestations such as developing a second spine, or an eye closing over, bits of anatomy fall off or grow in weird ways. Over the eighteen months many girls have died and as the promised cure has failed to materialise the ‘Tox’ forces the girls to go to extremes to survive. The story is seen from three rotating perspectives Hetty, Reese and Byatt who have complex relationships and friendships with each other. Although it was a very enjoyable read which I’m sure teenagers will get sucked into, successfully blending the troubled teenage psych with extreme situations.

REBECCA SCHAEFFER

Between 2018-20 Rebecca released the superb Market for Monsters trilogy which began with Not Even Bones. The kids in my library loved this trilogy. I wonder what the author will come up with for us next?

Here’s what we said about Not Even Bones when we first reviewed it:

Not Even Bones was a very clever and original debut which had me hooked from the beginning with an intoxicating blend of fantasy and horror. Nita is a teenage girl who acts as a mortician for her psychopathic mother and dissects the bodies of supernatural beings she has caught and killed. In this fantasy version of our world there are all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures, some of which are protected by certain laws, but on the black-market are fair game and can be worth a fortune. Nita’s mother auctions bits and pieces of her kills on the internet with her daughter helping. However, in the opening stages of the novel the mother brings home a live boy and expects Nita to cut his ear off so she can auction it. After that she intends to sell his eyes. This is too much for Nita who helps him escape, leading to a whole load of new problems, her mother only being one of them. This was a gleefully gruesome book, with some very explicit scenes, however the world the author creates is incredibly well drawn, especially when you realise Nita has her own supernatural powers. Truly superb fun for kids with a top-notch blend of fantasy, world building and the supernatural.

CAT SCULLY

I loved Cat’s funky and highly stylised debut, Jennifer Strange (2020), and cannot wait to read the second novel which the author has in the pipeline. The world has not seen the last of Jenny Strange and this girl is a fighter and deserves to be a star.

Here’s what we said about Jennifer Strange when we first reviewed it:

If you are after a fast-paced, gory, and very stylish YA horror novel then look no further than Cat Scully’s excellent demon-soaked debut Jennifer Strange. The pace is unrelenting from the first page with the entire plot spread over a few days after Jennifer arrives in Savannah to stay with her estranger elder sister Liz. Jennifer is a conduit for ghosts and demons, which means that the undead can attempt to inhabit her body and take over her physical form and possess her. Bearing in mind that Savannah is regarded as one of the most haunted places in America, Jennifer really is in the wrong city and on the first day of school there are deaths connected to a demon manifestation and her weird gift. The plot does not hold back on either the violence or death, with a swiftly mounting body count as Jennifer is sucked into a supernatural mystery. Much of the violence does have a stylised bubble-gum, almost comic book, feel to it which complement the cool drawings which open many of the chapters.

Written with a first-person narrative, Jennifer was an engaging lead character, who is presented in an accessible and down to earth manner which young teens will have no problem connecting with. She is neither a superhero or ultra-cool and is just coming to terms with her new power and the reader has fun following her initial baby steps into the realms of the supernatural. I also loved her vulnerability; highlighted with her nerves when she attends school for the first time, head down, scared to draw attention to herself. Jennifer Strange is also an outstanding gateway read for young teenagers developing an interest in horror. The creatures are relentless in their quest to get to Jennifer and it was incredibly easy to be sucked along on this rollercoaster journey. I have a feeling the story of Jennifer Strange is not yet over and I will certainly be returning for more.

PAM SMY

Pam’s debut, the wonderfully ghostly and moving Thornhill, was publish back in 2017. Her long awaited second novel, The Hideaway, arrives later this year. It is long overdue, and I cannot wait.

Here’s what we said about Thornhill when we first reviewed it:

Thornhill is a huge book weighing in at around 500 pages which an adult could easily read in a couple of hours, mainly because it is a time-slip story with the present-day element told only in beautiful pictures, which are just so easy to read and are incredibly expressive.

Thornhill itself is a care home for kids in 1982 which is shortly going to close for good, the story focusses on Mary who is a lonely orphan who suffers from selective mutism and is bullied mercilessly by other girls and one particularly nasty girl who is the ringleader. Flick forward to 2017, Ella moves into a new house which overlooks the burned-out shell of Thornhill and she is sure she can see a ghostly figure watching her in the derelict building and in her loneliness feels an attachment to her. Adult readers will be able to tell where the story is going, but it is so beautifully told you will still have a tear in the eye come the end. The drawings are so simplistically great they really do tell the 2017 story of Ella without the needs of any words at all.

MONIQUE SNYMAN

Monique’s YA debut The Night Weaver (2018), which was a great read, reached the final ballot of the YA Bram Stoker Award a couple of years ago, and the recently published Bone Carver (2020) takes us back to the spooky down of Shadow Grove. Monique’s debut Muti Nation (2016) has a sequel Dark Country out later this year.

Here’s what we said about The Night Weaver when we first reviewed it:

Shadow Grove is one of those small sleepy American towns where nothing much ever happens and main character Rachel Cleary dreams of escaping and studying to be a vet at university. However, she is from one of the town’s oldest families and her house borders upon a huge forest which everybody avoids without saying why. When the story opens several small children have disappeared and both the police and local community are strangely lethargic in doing anything about it. A mystery begins to develop when Rachel and a former close friend suspect something has happened to their parents and other adults. Before long we’re heading into Stepford Wife territory with a strong whiff of dark fantasy and fairy folklore with an entertaining novel which moves along at a good pace.

The Night Weaver was a very easy to read page-turner and even though the supernatural being of the title which stalks the novel was not particularly scary the novel has much to commend and I could see young teenage girls in particular spinning through this in no time at all. The main character Rachel Cleary stole the show, engaging, funny, knows her own mind and is trying to overcome the death of her father. She is ably supported by a super cool local granny, a distant relative from Scotland and a cute guy from school. As the mystery develops it moves deeper into dark fantasy and scary fairy supernatural realms.

PETERNELLE VAN ARSDALE

I adored Peternelle’s debut, The Beast Is An Animal (2017), which she followed with The Cold Is In Her Bones (2019). Hopefully Peternelle has something new in the pipeline for us.

Here’s what we said about The Beast Is An Animal when we first reviewed it:

This wonderfully dark fantasy horror novel might have been pitched at the adult market in the USA, however, it is most definitely a YA novel. You’re not going to come across many darker and edgier fairy-tales than this, which is one of those books which can be equally enjoyed by both teenagers and adults.

The setting of this imaginative and dreamlike novel is kept vague but is probably medieval Wales. A farmer and his wife being blessed with twin baby girls, Angelica and Benedicta. But there is a problem, the twins are the mirror image of each other, both carrying a mark which symbolises ‘the Beast’ (a simple birthmark). Their mother realises this, fearing for their safety, keeps them hidden from the local villagers. But before long their secret is out, and the farmer succumbs to the pressure of the masses and casts his wife and daughters out into the ‘forest’, an alternative to seeing them drowned or stoned as witches. For a while he visits them but as time goes on, they are forgotten, but begin to change when they have no contact with humanity, until they contact a little girl called Alys.

ERICA WATERS

I was blown away by Erica’s debut Ghost Wood Song (2020) and cannot wait to read her second novel, The River Has Teeth, published later in the year.

Here’s what we said about Ghost Wood Song when we first reviewed it:

The debut novel from Erica Waters, Ghost Wood Song, has a unique position in YA horror; the first I have ever read which features bluegrass music as a major theme. Shady Grove is named after a famous bluegrass tune and longs to follow in her late father’s footsteps by playing old school music and part of the conflict comes from the fact that the other members of her band, including Sarah (who Shady has a thing for), want to play more modern tunes. Although Ghost Wood Song was terrific and older teens who are looking for a slow-burning drama with a strong musical theme and supernatural overtones there is much escapism to be had in these pages.

Family dynamics play a key part of story after a death in the family, whilst Shady struggles to get over losing her father, continually returning to one of his favourite songs. She believes that her father’s fiddle had the power to conjure up the dead and is set on finding it and although the supernatural story was interesting, I was more drawn to Shady’s relationships with Sarah and others. The music scenes genuinely sparkled, as they should in novels with this kind of vibe, and I thought Shady was very cool in sticking to her guns and not selling out. Ghost Wood Song also had an outstanding ending and for those who enjoy a thoughtful read, with well-drawn characters are in for a treat.

MARY WATSON

Although Mary Watson has written an adult thriller and has a short story collection, she is relatively new to YA, but genuinely caught my eye with her debut The Wren Hunt (2018) and its companion story The Wickerlight (2019). Mary returns later in 2021 with a brand-new YA novel, Blood to Poison. I cannot wait to see which direction her fiction heads into next.

Here’s what we said about The Wren Hunt when we first reviewed it:

The Wren Hunt was a strange one which takes its time getting going but is worth sticking with. It’s more dark fantasy than horror, but fans of the latter will happily cross genres with another highly impressive YA debut which cleverly utilises Irish mythology. Two supernatural factions (the Judges and the Augers) battle for survival in a version of modern-day Ireland which is top heavy with magic, superstition, and queer goings on. The two factions are eternal enemies, and the main character is an Auger, ‘Wren Silke’, who has a powerful supernatural gift which is one of the main thrusts of the novel.

Wren is a really engaging character, and for the sake of her family, goes undercover, as an intern, at the family home of their sworn enemy hoping to discover anything which might tip the ancient battle in her family’s favour. However, with magic the reality is rarely black and white, and the teenager gets into trouble along the way, especially as her power and gift is slowly revealed. The Wren Hunt was a very ambitious novel, and I enjoyed the quirky mix of genres and cleverly drawn fantasy world which eerily echoed our own.

WOMEN IN HORROR – IT’S A MATTER OF CONFIDENCE

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THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR DISSECTS THE NOVELS ON THE YA STOKER PRELIMINARY LIST

ADAM CESARE – CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD (9/10)​

DANIEL KRAUS – BENT HEAVENS (9/10)​

ERICA WATERS – GHOST WOOD SONG (8.5/10)​

DARREN CHARLTON – WRANGLESTONE (8.5/10)​

ESTELLE LAURE - MAYHEM (7.5/10)​

LESLIE KAREN LUTZ – FRACTURED TIDE (7/10)​

​ANN DAVILA CARDINAL – CATEGORY FIVE (FIVE MIDNIGHTS BOOK 2) (7/10)

​ASH PARSONS - GIRLS SAVE THE WORLD IN THIS ONE (7/10)

​MONIQUE SNYMAN - THE BONE CARVER (NIGHT WEAVER BOOK 2) (6/10)

​AIDEN THOMAS - CEMETERY BOYS 6/10

WOMEN IN (YA) HORROR MONTH: 30 YA AUTHORS YOU SHOULD KNOW

MELISSA ALBERT

​Laura Bates

EMMA BERQUIST​

AMELINDA BERUBE

THERESA BRAUN

ANN DAVILA CARDINAL

ERIN CRAIG​

VICTORIA DALPE​

SHEA ERNSHAW

SARA FARING​

KATHRYN FOXFIELD ​

CAROLINE FLARITY

​LIANA GARDNER

​CHRISTINE LYNN HERMAN

​LAUREN JAMES

​E. LATIMER

LORIEN LAWRENCE​

LESLIE LUTZ​

​KATE ALICE MARSHALL

AMY McCAW​

CYNTHIA MURPHY​

STEPHANIE PERKINS​

​RORY POWER

​REBECCA SCHAEFFER

CAT SCULLY​

​PAM SMY

​MONIQUE SNYMAN

​PETERNELLE VAN ARSDALE

​ERICA WATERS

​MARY WATSON

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