Genre Guide: Horror
by Yaika Sabat
Resource obtained from NoveList
Why do we love horror?
This variance in tone and technique can leave readers deeply unnerved or shocked and disturbed. Unlike most other genres, horror is known for the emotional response it evokes rather than specific content or structure.
Fans are looking for that jolt of emotion that may not come from the heart, but from the brain. Experiencing that fear, dread, or psychological thrill that comes from within the blood-soaked pages of a gruesome book.
Subgenres
Here are some of the subgenres NoveList uses to distinguish between types of horror.
Body horror: These books revolve around all the disturbing and gruesome things that can happen to your body whether by supernatural means or by the hands of others.
Cosmic horror: Look here for insane elder gods, the cults that worship them, and horror beyond human understanding.
Ghost stories: These spine-tingling stories feature ghosts, poltergeists, and other spirit entities that haunt houses, antagonize characters, and frighten readers.
Gothic fiction: In an atmosphere of gloom, suspense, and horror, these books often feature crumbling castles, haunted places, and complex or disturbing family relationships.
Historical horror: Atmosphere and setting play key roles in these tales of horror, set in the past, that explore life and social conventions of the featured era.
Horror classics: These books made enough of an impact to have us returning, even after many years, earning a special place in the literary imagination.
Finding horror by appeal
Based on customer data, these appeals are some of the top traits that readers look for in horror. Follow the links to find example reads. When it comes to matching books with readers, appeals can help more than plot details because they capture the reading experiences the reader wants.
Horror that is atmospheric: These books evoke the story's setting, whether it's a gothic mansion or a small Midwestern town.
Horror that is creepy: Unsettling in a visceral, skin-crawling way, these books often have supernatural elements or eerie settings and leave you feeling uneasy.
Horror that is disturbing: A good choice if you want to explore the darker side of human nature -- you'll find stories that often portray socially marginal or dysfunctional individuals.
Horror that is fast-paced: These exciting books that unfold rapidly, moving you quickly through the story.
Horror that is gruesome or violent: Not for the squeamish! In these pages, you'll find graphic violence, explicit gore, or other grisly elements.
Horror that is menacing: A sense of threat or danger pervades throughout the narrative, causing a consistent feeling of dread.
Horror that is scary: These spooky books have a frightening or menacing feeling that makes young readers uneasy.
Horror that is suspenseful: You're living on the edge with these books that range in intensity, from subtle psychological unease to nail-biting tension.
Common reader misconceptions about horror
"Horror is always violent or gory."
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Horror can certainly be violent and gruesome, but the level and description of violence vary greatly within the genre, with some stories using the dread of inferred violence to make an impact instead of a detailed gore.
"Kids shouldn't be reading horror, it's too scary."
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Whether a horror book is too scary depends on the individual child. Horror for kids and teens is written with different levels of scares to match what works for different readers.
"Horror always has ghosts or supernatural stuff."
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Ghosts, werewolves, zombies, vampires, and all other types of supernatural entities certainly have a big presence in horror, but there is a substantial amount of the genre that is rooted in psychological fears or all-too-human monsters.
"Horror doesn't have diverse representation."
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It is true that, for a long time, that many of the most popular or promoted books were written by white authors, there have always been diverse authors in the genre -- even if they didn't get the same level of attention. Since around 2015, there have been increasingly more books published by diverse authors, ushering in a renaissance for the genre.
Read-alike genres
Apocalyptic fiction: It's the end of the world as we know it. Whether it's from zombies, robots, asteroids, or pandemics, readers experience the threat that humanity may not survive.
Focus on apocalyptic fiction that is gritty, emotionally intense, haunting, or violent.
Dark fantasy: Featuring monsters with real bite, morally grey anti-heroes, and combining fantasy and horror elements, these books mix magic and the macabre, making them an easy pairing with horror.
Try dark fantasy that is suspenseful, creepy, menacing, or atmospheric.
Dystopian fiction: These books can provide horror readers with a dose of fear through their focus on often chilling effects that repressive governments or systems of social control have on society and individuals.
Focus on dystopian fiction that is bleak, creepy, scary, or flawed characters.
Thrillers and suspense: The clock is ticking in these fast-paced, action-packed, and increasingly tense stories, providing a similar sense of tension or dread found in many horror stories.