BEST OF 2022: YOUNG ADULT HORROR AND DARK FICTION

6/12/2022

Best of 2022: Young Adult Horror and Dark Fiction

2022 was a terrific year for Young Adult (YA) and Middle Grade fiction (MG), so much so that this year we have two distinct ‘best of’ lists which separate out these two important areas of teen and children’s fiction. YA is traditionally aimed at ages 13+, whilst MG covers ages 9-12. However, this is variable depending on the strength of each individual reader, so make sure you also have a look at the companion MG list which Ginger Nuts will publish shortly.

The books are listed A-Z by author and were all published in 2022. Do contact us if you have something we might like to feature on the site in 2023.

Alex Bell – The Lighthouse

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stripes Publishing (29 Sept. 2022)

If you do not read much kids horror and are unsure what to recommend then the Red Eye brand is the perfect place to start, of which Alex Bell has several books on the twelve-title range. I guarantee that the incredibly well plotted The Lighthouse will have most young teens on the hook (and some adults) and make sure you hang around for a simply brilliant closing two pages which will wrong foot even the most jaded of adult horror readers.

The Lighthouse opens with fifteen-year-old Jess and twelve-year-old Rosie being shipped off to Bird Rock, a tiny island in the Outer Hebrides where they will stay with their ornithologist father, their half-brother Charlie and their stepmother. Jess narrates the story and is shocked to be stuck in such a remote location during the summer holidays, on an island dominated by gannets who shriek, stink, and poo endlessly. The family stay in the ancient lighthouse and bird hunters on the island say the lighthouse is haunted and has a very dark history. The manner in which the supernatural story was developed was perfectly pitched, expertly paced as Jess begins to feel increasingly isolated and things go bump in the night and Charlie begins to act stranger and stranger. But then things really kick off when Rosie disappears and nobody seems to remember her except for Jess. Along the way a teenage boy, with a tragic connection to the lighthouse helps out, and it was nice to see a token romance NOT thrown into the mix! This was a very cool pacey supernatural thriller. I loved it and watch out for that ending! AGE RANGE 11/12+

Tori Bovalino - Not Good for Maidens

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Titan Books; 1st edition (13 Sept. 2022)

Tori Bovalino follows her outstanding YA debut horror novel The Devil Makes Three with another deliciously captivating dark read. Not Good for Maidens is inspired by the Christina Rosetti poem Goblin Market and has some plot similarities in which two sisters are tempted by goblins. The story unfolds through two narratives told eighteen years apart, in the present-day Lou Wickett lives in Boston and is looking forward to the return of her aunt Neela, who is close to her in age and the pair are more like sisters. However, early in the action Neela disappears and we realise this is connected to the family’s history in York. Lou lives with both her mother and her aunt, who have been keeping secrets from her regarding their joint history in York, where they come from a lengthy line of witches. The second narrative jumps back eighteen years to York where (aunt) May was the same age as Lou and was having a fun time in York, until she falls for another girl. The problem was the girl was not any old girl, she was a goblin and much of the novel concerns the weird relationship between humans and goblins in York, which coexist in the Goblin Market.

I enjoyed both narratives, which both have great LGBTQIA+ representation with Lou being asexual. Bearing in mind goblins eat humans, there was a fair bit of gore thrown into the mix, clearly showing what happens to those who are too dumb to survive in the Goblin Market. Considering Lou has no idea she comes from a family of (former) witches she adapts very quickly when she realises to rescue her aunt she has to visit the Goblin Market herself. The story was a fine balance of clever characterisation and well-developed fantasy setting where to survive following the rules is vital and it was made even more believable that there is no indication that Lou will become a witch overnight. The romance in the historical setting had a Romeo and Juliet vibe and the idea that covens of witches might operate in plain sight was nicely portrayed. There is even the hint of a sequel. Overall, this was great stuff. AGE RANGE 13+

Kelly Devos – Go Hunt Me

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Razorbill (14 Jun. 2022)

I was hugely impressed by Go Hunt Me which is the fifth YA novel from Kelly Devos. There are many self-referential horror novels (referencing films) on the market, but what I really liked about Go Hunt Me was the fact that it avoided many of the same old classic films which are trotted out, instead the main character was a massive fan of The Babadook and the book partially uses the ‘Go Fund Me’ model which Jennifer Kent used to fund her modern classic film. Having said that Go Hunt Me is definitely aimed at those types of teens and there is a huge amount to enjoy. And like many great horror films make sure you follow events closely and prepare yourself for a whacky twist ending.

Early in the film Alex Rush receives a rejection from the film school she has set her heart on attending, however her boyfriend Jax is accepted. Both are huge horror fans and submitted the same joint film, but Alex finds out later that Jax edited his in a slightly separate way but didn’t tell her. However, things begin to look up when a famous actor helps Alex set up a Go Fund Me page which if successful she hopes to shoot a new film to submit to the university. Soon the cash is flowing in and the actor invites them to shoot the new film in a remote Romanian castle which has connections to the myth behind the Dracula story. Alex narrates the story, but soon her boyfriend and five other friends are heading to Romania with the actor as the chaperone. However, once in Romania the actor dumps them and they are on their own at the isolated castle where things start to go horribly wrong. Go Hunt Me was a lot of fun with believably dumb teenage characters, sly film references, slick action sequences and a great balance between thriller and horror which does not stop. The build-up which lured the group to Romania and the infighting over the Go Fund Me disappearing cash was also very believable. A terrific book.
AGE RANGE 12/13+

Frances Hardinge – Unraveller

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Macmillan Children's Books (1 Sept. 2022)

Frances Hardinge is an absolute master in crafting highly original dark fantastic fiction and Unraveller is another outstanding example of fantasy blended with superb characterisation and unique worldbuilding skills. The ability to curse others lies at the heart of Unraveller and one of the main characters has the ability to ‘unravel’ curses which have been inflicted upon other people, a skill which is exceedingly rare. It is tricky to convey in words how this strange ability works so here is an example; siblings are cursed and are turned into two distinct types of birds, one bird without realising it kills and eats their human sibling without realising they were a much smaller bird. The surviving bird is later turned back into a person and then fully understands they have consumed their family member. How do they cope with the guilt? Tricky.

Early in the novel we realise that Kellen can ‘unravel’ curses, but he also has anger management issues and other problems. He travels with his best friend Nettle, who was previously cursed, turned into a bird and still communicates with her brother who has chosen to remain in bird form. Together they are recruited to investigate an organisation which is collecting life-destroying curses which takes them on a very odd journey across ‘The Wilds,’ the most dangerous and unmapped part of the country. The land of Raddith is a brilliantly described setting; beautiful, menacing, populated by strange creatures and full of inhabitants with real fear of the unknown and potential curses which could come unexpectedly and from anyone. It is so vividly described that children will truly be able to let their imaginations run wild in this fantastic land as they get wrapped up in the crazy exploits of Nettle and Kellen. This is fantasy fiction at its absolute best, which is loaded with beautifully crafted sentences, deep meaningful relationships and engaging mini mysteries as the story advances to a terrific ending. Highly recommended. AGE RANGE 11/12+

Lauren James – Green Rising

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Walker Books; 1st edition (2 Sept. 2021)

Lauren James has published some great books and Green Rising keeps her hot streak going with style. The novel opens at a climate change demonstration where something unique occurs when the activists bust into the building. Main character Gabrielle shoots to fame when she becomes the first teenager to display a bizarre unnatural ability; growing plants from her fingers and skin. She becomes an overnight sensation, and as other teens start to show the same strange ability, the climate change activist movement is reinvigorated with the call to help heal the planet, which the teens (called ‘Greenfingers’) can do by helping clean oil spills or healing holes in the ozone with their new-found abilities.

The story revolves around Gabrielle and two other characters, Hester who is the millionaire daughter of an oil tycoon and the face of the family business who are seen as the enemy to the activists and Theo, who comes from a long line of fishermen. Soon legions of other teenagers from around the world are developing variations of the same strange new ‘Greenfingers’ power and challenge the dangerous establishment of big business. This story was such a cool call to arms I hope it finds its way into the hands of countless teens and is the perfect blend of speculative, fantasy, and science fiction with a powerful message that you can make a difference. The use of social media exchanges and newspaper clippings were also seamlessly and convincingly integrated into the story. Highly recommended. AGE RANGE 12+

Kate Alice Marshall – These Fleeting Shadows

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking Books for Young Readers (9 Aug. 2022)

These Fleeting Shadows is another complex read from the outstanding Kate Alice Marshall which blends the supernatural, dark family drama, LGBTQIA+ love story and twister of a thriller. As with all of Marshall’s YA fiction nothing is quite what is seems and you will have to read this one closely to enjoy the impressive revelations which are dropped in the final quarter of the book.

Helen Vaughan’s grandfather dies and she returns with her mother to the expansive ancestral home of Harrowstone Hall for the funeral where she discovers she is the major beneficiary in the will. However, to claim the fifty million inheritance and estate she must live in the house for a year, without leaving the grounds and function as ‘Mistress’ to the house. The novel is built around the fact that this is no normal house and the fact that a supernatural presence called ‘The Other’ lives in the house and that Helen also has visions connected to a troubled past childhood. The story concerns Helen’s year in the house as she negotiates the family members, some of which want her to succeed and other see her fail. However, it is much more complex than that as the house is intrinsically a part of the family and soon Helen finds herself getting deeper into a supernatural family drama, not to mention the witch she befriends who lives on the grounds. Although the book might be too slow for some and does not rely on jump scares or violence more discerning and mature readers and guaranteed to be sucked into its intoxicating revelations and drama. AGE RANGE 14+

Julia Rust & David Surface – Angel Falls

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Haverhill House Publishing LLC (26 Sept. 2022)

I was a huge fan Angel Falls co-written by Julia Rust and David Surface which was one of those very reflective which deserves to find an audience and hopefully there are enough thoughtful teenagers out there willing to take a chance on this very subtle supernatural drama. Even though it was very slow moving and did not include any over-the-top big finish I found this powerful character study of two lonely teenagers, who connect, strangely moving. Rarely have I seen supernatural happenings kept so far on the backburner as in Angel Falls, but it did not spoil my enjoyment of the book as the two sixteen-year-old main characters were so well drawn, along with the family dramas they are involved in, I barely noticed.

Jessie Reed moves to the seaport village of Beauport for the summer (from New York) after her father inherits an old house. Separated from her friends, and with her parents having marriage problems, whilst out exploring Jessie meets Jared Younger. The pair initially fight after meeting in the remote area of Angel Falls, which Jared claims is dangerous, but after a false start they become friends. Jared has his own problems, his father a well-known local artist, suffers from crippling depression and they are struggling to make ends meet. Together they explore Angel Falls, which is beautifully and vividly described, they soon realise there might be some weird power in the local area and the power to grant wishes. However, things are significantly more complex than that and there are various flip backs in time, a side-story with Jared’s teacher and a missing teenage girl. Fans of thoughtful, character driven stories which balance the pain of early teen romances with very subtle supernatural stories are in for a real treat. AGE RANGE 13+

Danielle Valentine – How to Survive Your Murder

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Razorbill; 1st edition (30 Aug. 2022)

Danielle Valentine writes under several names and How to Survive Your Murder is undoubtedly the strongest of her novels and is a wacky blend of thriller, stalker/slasher horror with an oddball warped take on the classic James Stewart film It’s a Wonderful Life. Although it is aimed at older teens, adults readers could have fun with it as it top-loaded with horror film references, way more than any genuine teenager is likely to know. If you have no idea who the fictional horror film character Sidney Prescott is, then you might not get very far with this book as the main character Alice Lawrence is a horror film obsessive and much prefers them to real life, that is until her elder sister Claire is murdered in an early flashback whilst she waits in court to give evidence against the accused.

To call How to Survive Your Murder far-fetched would be an understatement, but do not let that put you off, that is part of the fun, with the eventual killer (like in a horror film) being the least (and I mean LEAST!) likely candidate. I am not going to go into details about how this happens, but Alice flips back in time to before her sister is murdered and is given the opportunity to ‘bring her back’ but only is she identifies the genuine murderer. What follows is an entertaining horror thriller, where Alice has to come out of her horror film shell, flirt with a gorgeous college boy, and do her best to keep her sister alive in this past-alternative reality. The book has a major Final Girl vibe as Alice uncovers secrets, some very close to home, whilst other characters come to a sticky end, whilst the clock ticks down to zero. Horror film fanatics in particular will love this book as will thriller readers who love a cool twist (and double twist even). All the characters are aged sixteen plus, so it’s aimed at older readers with numerous f-bombs and sporadic violence. Great gruesome fun. AGE RANGE 14+

Katherine Webber – The Revelry

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Walker Books (6 Jan. 2022)

Katherine Webber makes a fascinating change of direction with her fourth novel, The Revelry, her first foray into the supernatural after three YA dramas. Her trademark great characterisation and realistic teen situations remain, but this time there is a beautifully undiagnosed otherworldly feel to proceedings, with Ember Grove being a terrific setting where things are a little bit different. One of the great strengths of The Revelry is that it uses restraint and through its clever subtleties never overtly specifies why this town is unique. The novel is built around a weird event which nobody ever openly talks about called ‘The Revelry’ which is a once-a-year event all school leavers are secretly invited to. What goes on at The Revelry? Another great strength of the novel is the fact that Catherine Webber keeps the reader on the hook for most of the story, dropping the odd hint or flashback whilst sneakily dancing around the subject.

The Revelry is also a cool novel about friendship, with besties for a decade Bitsy Clark and Amy absolutely pitch perfect and beautifully captured sixteen-year-olds. Seen from the point of view of Bitsy, who is happy to be in the shadow of the more naturally outgoing Amy until things take a darker turn. The plot was exceptionally clever and was built around the pairs obsession with The Revelry and what happens after they sneak entry into one of the events two years before their allotted time. The novel concerns the fallout and the contrasting circumstances which follows the girls, including a string of bad luck for Bitsy, all of which puts an incredible strain on their friendship. The supernatural elements were beautifully balanced with the teen drama, friendship issues, blending together into an absolutely first-rate supernatural drama, which could be equally enjoyed by teens who don’t normally read otherworldly stuff. AGE RANGE 12/13+

By Tony Jones

Be sure to check back into The Young Blood Library next week when Tony brings his best Middle Grade Horror books of 2022