book reviews

Book reviews for horror fans; weather a sleepless night with literary accounts of hauntings, possessions, zombies, vampires and beyond.

The Dark Side of Your Zodiac Sign (And Why It’s Scarier Than You Think)
You’ve probably read dozens of lighthearted horoscopes. “Today’s a great day for love.” “You’re glowing with energy!” “Take a leap of faith!”
By Hamad Haider8 months ago in Horror
The Twisted Brilliance of Scanners: Psychic Mayhem Through Cronenberg’s Lens
There’s a kind of chaos that only David Cronenberg can choreograph—a cerebral, fleshy chaos that wraps body horror around deep psychological dread. Scanners is one of his most striking creations, a film that fuses the grotesque with the cerebral, making it far more than just a gory sci-fi thriller. Released in 1981, Scanners has aged like a jagged bottle of wine—one that leaves you a little dizzy, a little disturbed, and entirely mesmerized. The film is one of the earliest examples of a director fearlessly exploring themes like mental manipulation, bodily autonomy, and the danger of unchecked power.
By olxia10 9 months ago in Horror
Every Friday, My Sister’s Empty Room Smells of Mehndi
Every Friday, My Sister’s Empty Room Smells of Mehndi My sister Iqra was the light of our home. Laughter followed her, and so did the scent of mehndi — henna she applied every Thursday night, a family tradition passed down by our grandmother.
By Noman Afridi9 months ago in Horror
I Prayed Alone in an Abandoned Mosque — But Someone Said Ameen Behind Me
I Prayed Alone in an Abandoned Mosque — But Someone Said Ameen Behind Me It was a dusty, sunburnt village road — one I had never taken before.
By Noman Afridi9 months ago in Horror
We Buried My Father — Then Heard Crying from the Grave
We Buried My Father — Then Heard Crying from the Grave He passed away just after Fajr. Peacefully. Calmly. With his hand resting on the Qur’an he used to read every morning.
By Noman Afridi9 months ago in Horror
The Girl Who Saw Someone Outside Her Window Every Night
The Girl Who Saw Someone Outside Her Window Every Night Her name was Inaya. Seven years old. Curious, gentle, always drawing stars on every page.
By Noman Afridi9 months ago in Horror
The Toy That Watched Back
The Toy That Watched Back It was a gift. A fluffy red-and-yellow monkey toy with button eyes and stitched lips. Little Hamza, only four, received it on his birthday.
By Noman Afridi9 months ago in Horror
She Dreamt of a Burning House — Then Watched It Burn
She Dreamt of a Burning House — Then Watched It Burn Her name was Areeba. Nine years old. Soft-spoken. Always drawing things she didn’t understand — flames, staircases, cracked ceilings. Her mother thought she had an overactive imagination.
By Noman Afridi9 months ago in Horror
It Lives in the Sewers
Hey, wanna hear something really messed up? So there's this town called Derry. Sounds normal, right? Trees, bikes, ice cream trucks… but Derry has a secret. Every 27 years, something horrible wakes up under the town.
By Silas Blackwood9 months ago in Horror
The Grave Was Empty — But He Was Buried
The Grave Was Empty — But He Was Buried His name was Qari Nadeem. Respected. Quiet. A man of Qur’an. He led Taraweeh every Ramadan, taught tajweed in the village madrasa, and rarely spoke of anything worldly.
By Noman Afridi9 months ago in Horror
My Brother’s Shadow Didn’t Follow Him
My Brother’s Shadow Didn’t Follow Him I was ten when I noticed it. My brother, Zeeshan, was fourteen. He was tall for his age, quiet, and always seemed to be thinking about something distant.
By Noman Afridi9 months ago in Horror
The Boy Who Returned After 40 Days — But Not As Before
The Boy Who Returned After 40 Days — But Not As Before His name was Usaid. Three years old. Chubby cheeks. Curious eyes. The kind of boy who chased butterflies, laughed at birds, and cried every time his mother left the room.
By Noman Afridi9 months ago in Horror