wendy in the wild

In 2024 I made it a goal to read (or reread) 12 books. Since it was my first post-grad school year and hadn’t really read for pleasure in some time, I wanted my goal to be achievable (it’s my same goal for 2025). I ended up reading about 30 books, most of them horror, though I did spend some time reading what I called ‘nonfiction adventure horror’. Here are some standouts (good or bad).

Favorite Books

The Fisherman by John Langlan – One of my first forays into cosmic horror, I enjoyed the flashback portion of the book more than the contemporary parts.

Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman – A fun read I finished in under a day, though I found the main villain a little underwhelming and possibly mean-spirited.

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher – This is one of the few audiobooks I listened to this year, and it was definitely worth it. It’s a reimagining of Poe’s Fall of the House of Usher. I listened to What Feasts at Night, but it wasn’t nearly as fun as What Moves the Dead.

The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown – Another audiobook, this is a nonfiction book dealing with the Donner Party. I’ve never liked the Treks that go on in Utah, and this book just cemented that opinion.

Not-Favorites

A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher – With how much I enjoyed What Moves the Dead, I really wanted to like T. Kingfisher’s other horror novels, but the ‘quirky girl’ thing got old. I did end up finishing the book: it was a great premise, but I just didn’t really like a protagonist that talks like a 2014 tumblr post.

Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi – This was another highly recommended book on r/horrorlit, and I had high hopes for it: I’d hoped it would be an interesting take on religious horror (specifically Catholicism), with the supernatural horrors being usurped by the too-real horrors of suffering and abuse done in the name of and covered up by religion. If I hadn’t thought it would be that kind of book, maybe I would have enjoyed what it actually was? I don’t know.

DNF

Stonefish by Scott R. Jones – There’s nothing actually wrong with this book, and from everything I’ve read about it, I think I’d enjoy it, but it’s just not the right time for me to read past the first couple pages.

The Terror by Dan Simmons – I read The Terror back in 2018 when the show first premiered. When it dropped on Netflix a couple months ago, I rewatched and decided to listen to the audiobook. Unfortunately I came to the conclusion that aside from certain elements, this was just a rare case of the show being superior to the book.

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer – Just forgot about it, then the hold was up, and now it’s several months wait for me to get it again.

Looking at 2025, I have the same 12-book reading goal! I’m looking forward to reading Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman, Wrist by Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler, and Desperate Passage by Ethan Rarick.