Horrorscopes! Tell Us Your Sign & We'll Tell You What Scary Book to Read

By NYPL Staff
October 30, 2020
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Who knew feeling spooked, startled and scared could be so fun? A great horror book may induce fear and dread, but it keeps you on your toes, excites you with unexpected twists, and turns and keeps you guessing what chilling event is going to happen next. (And if you're worried that "horror" equates to goo and gore—it usually doesn't!)

This Halloween, we enlisted three NYPL librarians whose knowledge of the horror genre runs wide and deep to recommend some of their favorite horror reads. All of the books below come highly recommended for any reader, but for a little extra fun, they've tailored their suggestions to the zodiac to tap into some of the traits that may influence the personality, character and emotions of each astrological sign. 

Your horror aficionado recommenders:

Ready for your recommendations? Jump below to read your "horrorscope!"

I'm an Aries!

I'm a Taurus!

I'm a Gemini!

I'm a Cancer!

I'm a Leo!

I'm a Virgo!

I'm a Libra!

I'm a Scorpio!

I'm a Sagittarius!

I'm a Capricorn!

I'm an Aquarius!

I'm a Pisces!

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Aries, you run hot-blooded! Passionate in everything you do, your ambition and competitiveness sometimes get the better of you. Your boldness and willfulness sometimes make your temper flare, but also make you a strong, confident leader.

What to Read:

Hell Houseby Richard Matheson 

Haunted house stories tend to run the gamut between “maybe a little spooky” to “Yup, yup the ceilings are raining blood-definitely haunted.”Hell House falls in the latter category. While it may be a bit daunting for most readers, this horror novel is perfect for Aries who are up for the challenge. 

Rolf Rudolph Deutsch is going to die. But when Deutsch, a wealthy magazine and newspaper publisher, starts thinking seriously about his impending death, he offers to pay a physicist and two mediums, one physical and one mental, $100,000 each to establish the facts of life after death. Dr. Lionel Barrett, the physicist, accompanied by the mediums, travels to the Belasco House in Maine, which has been abandoned and sealed since 1949 after a decade of drug addiction, alcoholism, and debauchery. For one night, Barrett and his colleagues investigate the Belasco House and learn exactly why the townfolks refer to it as the Hell House.  —Amanda

Horns by Joe Hill

You prefer to deal with your problems head-on, by lowering your horns and charging. So you might enjoy a book about literal horns. After his girlfriend is murdered in a vicious crime of passion, Ig Parrish wakes up one morning to find that devil horns are growing on his head. Hilarity ensues when the horns make everyone around him confess their deepest, most secret desires, but once he stumbles onto the identity of the killer, he becomes consumed by the burning desire for vengeance! Horns by Joe Hill is one devilishly sly horror novel. —Isaiah

Battle Royale: The Novelby Kōshun Takami, new translation by Nathan Collins

Aries are ruled by the planet Mars (fun fact: Mars is the Roman god of War) and are associated with the element of fire. Basically “Be aggressive! Be-Be Aggressive” is their highschool cheerleading motto. This thrilling novel presents a horrifying battle for survival that should appeal to Aries who are aggressive, competitive, and up for challenges. I mean, what’s more challenging than battling against your classmates until you’re the last one standing?  

Koushun Takami's notorious high-octane thriller envisions a nightmare scenario: a class of junior high school students is taken to a deserted island where, as part of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are provided arms and forced to kill until only one survivor is left standing. Criticized as violent exploitation when first published in Japan—where it became a runaway best seller—Battle Royale is a Lord of the Flies for the 21st century, a potent allegory of what it means to be young and (barely) alive in a dog-eat-dog world.  —Amanda 

The Exorcistby William Peter Blatty 

You know that saying “The book is always better than the movie”? Well if the film adaptation is widely regarded as one of the greatest horror movies of all time, then the book must be even better right? Also, remember Aries are associated with aggressive and bold personalities? This is one of the most aggressive and bold horror novels I have ever read. (Fun fact: The main character Regan was born on April 6, which makes her—you guessed it—an Aries.) 

Inspired by a true story of a child's demonic possession in the 1940s, William Peter Blatty created an iconic novel that focuses on Regan, the eleven-year-old daughter of a movie actress residing in Washington, D.C. A small group of overwhelmed yet determined individuals must rescue Regan from her unspeakable fate, and the drama that ensues is gripping and unfailingly terrifying. —Amanda

Bonus Book: My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite


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Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Known to be stubborn and slow (or, let’s put that in a better light—determined and unhurried), you are also warm-hearted, reliable, and sweet. You crave luxury and comfort and are willing to work hard to get it.

What to Read:

The Dead Zone by Stephen King

Stubborn, reliable, stable: that definitely describes you, Taurus! It also describes Johnny Smith, the likable everyman hero of Stephen King’s The Dead Zone. Poor Johnny is an ordinary nice guy who emerges from a tragic accident with a shocking new power and a terrible responsibility to save the world.  —Isaiah P. 

The Grip of It by Jac Jemc, White Is For Witching by Helen Oyeyemi, and Little Sister Death by William Gay

Taurus, you like to be surrounded by comfort and luxury, and tend to seek these things out most in your home. So haunted house stories are probably extra scary to you. This Halloween, face your fears with not one, not two, but three tales of sinister dwellings: Jac Jemc’s The Grip of It, Helen Oyeyemi’s White Is For Witching and William Gay’s Little Sister Death.  —Isaiah

Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin 

Rosemary Woodhouse is a sweet and kind person caught up in a horrifying situation. Rosemary Woodhouse and her struggling actor husband Guy move into The Bramford, an old New York City apartment building with an ominous reputation and mostly elderly residents. Neighbors Roman and Minnie Castavet soon come nosing around to welcome the Woodhouses to the building, and despite Rosemary's reservations about their eccentricity and the weird noises that she keeps hearing, her husband takes a special shine to them. Shortly after Guy lands a plum Broadway role, Rosemary becomes pregnant, and the Castavets start taking a special interest in her welfare. As the sickened Rosemary becomes increasingly isolated, she begins to suspect that the Castavets' circle is not what it seems...

Also Rosemary was born in April, so she actually is a Taurus!  —Amanda 


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Gemini (May 21-June 20)

You are a social butterfly and the life of the party. Being easy-going and talkative play into your desire to travel and you seek out adventure to fulfill your independent streak and express your personal freedom.

What to Read: 

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

One fictional character who fits the Gemini description perfectly is Tom, the title character of Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley, a charming sociopath whose obsession with one of his beautiful rich friends takes a deadly turn while vacationing in Italy.  —Isaiah 

Miseryby Stephen King

Best-selling novelist Paul Sheldon thinks he’s finally free of Misery Chastain. In a controversial career move, he’s just killed off the popular protagonist of his beloved romance series in favor of expanding his creative horizons. But such a change doesn’t come without consequences. After a near-fatal car accident in rural Colorado leaves his body broken, Paul finds himself at the mercy of the terrifying rescuer who’s nursing him back to health—his self-proclaimed number one fan, Annie Wilkes. Annie is very upset over what Paul did to Misery and demands that he find a way to bring her back by writing a new novel—his best yet, and one that’s all for her. After all, Paul has all the time in the world to do so as a prisoner in her isolated house...and Annie has some very persuasive and violent methods to get exactly what she wants...

Geminis are represented by twins, and they have a reputation for dual personalities because of this. Watching the way Annie turns from kindly nurse to homicidal maniac from one sentence to the next fits the stereotype perfectly. Also, Geminis love their freedom, so horror stories about being held captive are sure to freak them out!   —Amanda


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Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Your symbol is the crab and this can be fitting as you’re prone to moodiness and, well, crabiness. You can be introverted and prefer to create close, intimate bonds with a few people. These friends will value your loyalty and protectiveness of them and overlook your frequent mood swings.

What to Read:

Psychoby Robert Bloch 

Moody? Super loyal and overprotective of family? Sounds like Norman Bates to me. Mary Crane believes she has found shelter from the storm when she checks into the Bates Motel, but the knife-wielding owner, Norman Bates, soon rips her peace of mind to shreds and the nightmare begins. —Amanda 

Ghost Summer: Stories by Tananarive Due

If your mood changes often, then a collection of short stories is great if you want a book that will take you on lots of different journeys. This super scary collection of stories by horror titan Tananarive Due is bound to give you something for every mood. —Rhonda

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

Working a dead-end job you hate would be enough to make anybody crabby, but what if the job was haunted? That just might be the case for poor, demotivated retail worker Amy in Grady Hendrix’s Horrorstor when a portal to the other side opens in her IKEA-like furniture megastore. This book is scary, funny and gross; you’ve never seen a rat race with so many real rats before! —Isaiah


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Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Here’s the good news: you are brave, big-hearted and a natural leader. The downside? You have a big ego, try to dominate others and can be self-centered. Ambitious and arrogant—a potent combination! But let’s not forget your faithfulness and loyalty to those you deem worthy.

What to Read:

Books of Blood by Clive Barker

You’re a courageous natural leader, Leo, which means your friends may not even want to read a horror book unless you read and approve it first. If you accept that responsibility, we recommend starting with Clive Barker’s Books of Blood, one of the most viscerally gruesome collections out there. Hey, nobody ever said being a leader was easy! —Isaiah 

The Last One: A Novel by Alexandra Oliva

She wanted an adventure. She never imagined it would go this far. It begins with a reality TV show. Twelve contestants are sent into the woods to face challenges that will test the limits of their endurance. While they are out there, something terrible happens—but how widespread is the destruction, and has it occurred naturally or is it man-made? Cut off from society, the contestants know nothing of it. When one of them—a young woman the show’s producers call Zoo—stumbles across the devastation, she can imagine only that it is part of the game. —Amanda

The Ruins by Scott Smith

Leos love to take charge, especially of groups, which makes a survival horror read like this perfect for this sign.

Trapped in the Mexican jungle, a group of friends stumble upon a creeping horror unlike anything they could ever imagine.Two young couples are on a lazy Mexican vacation–sun-drenched days, drunken nights, making friends with fellow tourists. When the brother of one of those friends disappears, they decide to venture into the jungle to look for him. What started out as a fun day-trip slowly spirals into a nightmare when they find an ancient ruins site . . . and the terrifying presence that lurks there. —Amanda

Bonus book: American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis 


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Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Do people often tease you for being Type A? So what if you’re practical, conscientious and, dare you say, a perfectionist. You get things done and done right. And if people around you don’t live up to your standards? Well, you can be a bit of a control freak and frustrated by what you see as others’ failings. But you mostly keep it to yourself and avoid confrontation. Sigh, we can’t all be high achievers... 

(Fun fact: Stephen King and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley are both Virgos!) 

What to Read:

Laird Barron books like The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us and Croning

What could be more terrifying for a control freak than the loss of all control? That’s why cosmic horror stories are so scary: they suggest that nothing we insignificant little humans do makes any difference, and we could all be wiped out at a moment’s notice by powers beyond our comprehension. For a healthy dose of cosmic horror, start with Laird Barron! His collection of interlocking short stories The Beautiful Thing that Awaits Us All and novel Croning both hint at monstrous forces older than humanity and more chilling than the void of space.  —Isaiah 

The River at Night by Erica Ferencik

Mother nature is super unpredictable, making wilderness survival stories the perfect match to get under the skin of a Virgo. Winifred Allen needs a vacation. Stifled by a soul-crushing job, devastated by the death of her beloved brother, and lonely after the end of a fifteen-year marriage, Wini is feeling vulnerable. So when her three best friends insist on a high-octane getaway for their annual girls' trip, she signs on, despite her misgivings. What starts out as an invigorating hiking and rafting excursion in the remote Allagash Wilderness soon becomes an all-too-real nightmare: A freak accident leaves the women stranded, separating them from their raft and everything they need to survive. When night descends, a fire on the mountainside lures them to a ramshackle camp that appears to be their lifeline. But as Wini and her friends grasp the true intent of their supposed saviors, long buried secrets emerge and lifelong allegiances are put to the test. To survive, Wini must reach beyond the world she knows to harness an inner strength she never knew she possessed.  —Amanda

Bonus Book: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (listen to Rhonda and co-host, Frank Collerius, discuss The Turn of the Screw on their NYPL Podcast, The Librarian Is In: Book Club: The Turn of the Screw, Ep. 175)


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Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Libra, don’t you tire of always being the even-keeled, fair-minded one in the group? No, you don’t. You’re an idealist and are pained when you see injustice. You avoid conflict and promote harmony. But you have your faults, too—you’re notoriously indecisive and passive-aggressive in your relationships.

(Fun fact: Clive Barker is a Libra!)

What to Read:

We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory

Your supportive nature and tendency to always play mediator/peacekeeper make you an ideal participant in group therapy, so you’d probably enjoy Daryl Gregory’s We Are All Completely Fine, a short novel about a support group for survivors of monster attacks and supernatural serial killers.  —Isaiah 

Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff 

Libras are easily offended by instances of injustice and strive for fairness in all things. A horror novel that combines actual real-world issues and traditional horror is sure to get Libras riled up. Being that H.P. Lovecraft, whose work this story is based on, is an extremely problematic author, Libras will also be pleased to see his work being repurposed and subverted. 

Chicago, 1954. When his father Montrose goes missing, 22-year-old Army veteran Atticus Turner embarks on a road trip to New England to find him, accompanied by his Uncle George—publisher of The Safe Negro Travel Guide—and his childhood friend Letitia. On their journey to the manor of Mr. Braithwhite—heir to the estate that owned one of Atticus’s ancestors—they encounter both mundane terrors of white America and malevolent spirits that seem straight out of the weird tales George devours. —Amanda

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

Libras certainly do love justice and fairness, and novels that combine horror with real-world evils like racism and discrimination are bound to stick with them. Much like Lovecraft Country, Victor LaValle’s The Ballad of Black Tom retells one of H.P. Lovecraft’s more problematic horror stories through the eyes of a black man, this time in 1920’s New York. It’s a short novel, but it hits hard! —Isaiah

Monster by Naoki Urasawa; [story co produced with Takashi Nagasaki; translation & English adaptation, Camellia Nieh; lettering, Steve Dutro; cover & interior design, King Clovis; editor, Mike Montesa]

Libras are represented by scales because they strive for balance and equality in their lives. Sometimes trying to be fair and balanced has unforeseen consequences. This manga series is a suspenseful thriller, but Libras will definitely find the concept of “no good deed goes unpunished” horrifying. 

Everyone faces uncertainty at some point in their lives. Even a brilliant surgeon like Kenzo Tenma is no exception. But there's no way he could have known that his decision to stop chasing professional success and instead concentrate on his oath to save peoples' lives would result in the birth of an abomination. The questions of good and evil now take on a terrifyingly real dimension. Years later, in Germany during the tumultuous post-reunification period, middle-aged childless couples are being killed one after another. The serial killer's identity is known. The reasons why he kills are not. Dr. Tenma sets out on a journey to find the killer's twin sister, who may hold some clues to solving the enigma of the "Monster." —Amanda  


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Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

“Relax!” is not what you like to hear. You can’t help it—you’re emotional, passionate and, ok, intense sometimes. If you harness your emotions, you put them to good use going after what you want with boldness and single-minded ambition. Watch out for your jealous tendencies and controlling nature.

What to Read:

The Crow by James O'Barr 

Graphic novel rec! Here we have a classic of gothic horror. One year after he and his fiance are brutally murdered by a street gang, Eric Draven rises up from the dead as The Crow, a supernatural being who cannot rest until his dead lover is avenged. This graphic novel is full of stunning imagery, brutal action, and poignant storytelling. Eric’s brutality, emotion, and passion for both revenge and the love of his fiance drive this horror love story forward with intensity.  —Amanda

North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud

Here’s a tip for passionate, intense readers like yourself, Scorpio: horror novels can deliver more than just scares! If you want stories that will wrench your heart and make you feel intensely for fictional characters, then run (don’t walk) to reserve your copy of Nathan Ballingrud’s North American Lake Monsters, where you’ll encounter werewolves, ghosts and vampires but also metaphorical monsters such as depression, loss, grief, dysfunction and toxic masculinity. A haunting read for sure! —Isaiah 

Bonus books: Pet Sematary by Stephen King, Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice and 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill and Within the Shadowsby Brandon Massey
 


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Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Somebody has to push the boundaries and, Sagittarius, it’s often you. You’re a risk taker with an independent streak which often leads to innovation and new ways of doing things. You’re also funny and extroverted (your mom probably called you her “wild child”), but you bore easily if you’re not entertained and get impatient when the pace of life feels too slow. 

(Fun fact: Shirley Jackson is a Sagittarius!)

What to Read:

The Best of the Best Horror of the Year edited by Ellen Datlow

You crave freedom and get bored easily, so though you might benefit from a variety of short stories, only the best will do for you. The Best of the Best Horror of the Year compiles all the short fictions that horror superstar editor Ellen Datlow deems the best of an entire decade, the cream of the crop.  —Isaiah

John Dies at the End by David Wong and The Unnoticeables by Robert Brockway

You believe in crossing boundaries, Sagittarius, and horror-comedies make people laugh by taking them far outside of their comfort zones. It’s a match made in heaven! If you want to laugh in fear this Halloween season, check out David Wong’s John Dies at the End, about two slacker buddies who take on dark forces with their dog, and Robert Brockway’s The Unnoticeables, which pits an aging punk rocker and a Hollywood stuntwoman against a conspiracy of angelic machines determined to permanently “upgrade” the human race. —Isaiah

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson 

You want books that push boundaries? Then try this tale from fellow Sagittarius, Shirley Jackson.I won’t spoil too much, but this short novel is definitely a trip and I would 100% classify its protagonist Merricat as a “wild child”.  

My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am eighteen years old, and I live with my sister Constance. I have often thought that with any luck at all I could have been born a werewolf, because the two middle fingers on both my hands are the same length, but I have had to be content with what I had. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise, I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the death-cap mushroom. Everyone else in my family is dead... —Amanda 


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Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Your strong work ethic and discipline are to be admired, but sometimes you take it too far and miss out on some of the beauty of life. But those around you appreciate that you’ve got it together and are a reliable, solid citizen. Your symbol is a sea goat, but we suspect you fail to see the whimsy in that.

(Fun fact: Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809, which means he was born on the cusp of Capricorn and Aquarius!)

What to Read:

I Am Legendby Richard Matheson

Capricorns tend to be individuals who hate being told what to do and will stubbornly defend their own beliefs and traditions. The protagonist of I am Legend stubbornly fights and protects himself from the vampire infestation that has taken over the world no matter how bleak his future looks. 

Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth...but he is not alone. Every other man, woman, and child on Earth has become a vampire, and they are all hungry for Neville's blood. By day, he is the hunter, stalking the sleeping undead through the abandoned ruins of civilization. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for dawn. How long can one man survive in a world of vampires?  —Amanda P.

The Changelingby Victor LaValle

A strong work ethic is great preparation for a slow burn and the patience to go along with a journey without knowing quite where it will take you. The Changeling does just this, takes you on a journey filled with real and supernatural monsters. —Rhonda [don't miss Rhonda discuss this intriguing book on NYPL's The Librarian Is In podcast, Episode 174]

Anno Dracula by Kim Newman

One book with abundant rewards for the hardworking and diligent reader is Kim Newman’s Anno Dracula. You’ll need to keep your eyes peeled while reading this absorbing vampire novel, because so many characters from Victorian literature and history make a cameo or get namedropped, including practically every vampire who ever appeared in film or print. Blending elements of historical fiction and espionage thriller, this is definitely a series that favors the eagle-eyed bookworm, film buff or history student! —Isaiah 

Bonus Book: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova


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Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Besides having the best theme song, you have a rich imagination and are a creative thinker. While being kind and a good friend, you also have a reputation as an outsider and can be guarded with your emotions. Off the beaten path is where you’ll be found, exploring your individuality and bucking convention. 

What to Read:

Uzumaki: Spiral into Horrorby Junji Ito 

You want to buck convention? This manga does just that. With its creepy imagery and truly unique story, Junji Ito is the master of horror manga that will haunt your nightmares.

Kurouzu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan, is cursed. According to Shuichi Saito, the withdrawn boyfriend of teenager Kirie Goshima, their town is haunted not by a person or being but a pattern: UZUMAKI, the spiral—the hypnotic secret shape of the world. The bizarre masterpiece horror manga is now available all in a single volume. Fall into a whirlpool of terror! —Amanda

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado and The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers

As someone who’s independent, original and maybe just a tad eccentric, you might be drawn to books that experiment with subject, style and tone. Carmen Maria Machado’s Her Body and Other Parties takes on urban legends and cop shows with a healthy dollop of feminism and magic realism, while Robert W. Chamber’s collection of trailblazing collection of weird tales The King in Yellow  has great fun playing around with dystopian timelines, unreliable narrators and forbidden knowledge. —Isaiah


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Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Your greatest strengths— empathy, sensitivity, optimism—can also be your downfall as your rose-colored glasses make you overly trusting and overly emotional. Flexible and adaptive to your surroundings almost to a fault, you can have a hard time making decisions and are sometimes unreliable.

(Fun fact: Richard Matheson is a Pisces!)

What to Read:

The Haunting of Hill Houseby Shirley Jackson

Pisces are naturally dreamers and sometimes have trouble telling the difference between reality and imagination. Their sensitive nature is both their greatest asset and biggest flaw as they can easily become both overwhelmed and overemotional. This psychological thriller will be sure to suck them in as they, along with the protagonists, try to find out what exactly haunts the halls of hill house. 

It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own. —Amanda  

And Then There were Noneby Agatha Christie

This book is generally classified as a mystery or thriller because it was written by a Master of Mystery, Miss Agatha Christie, however, each murder is horrifying as is the concept in general. 

First, there were ten—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a little private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. A famous nursery rhyme is framed and hung in every room of the mansion. When they realize that murders are occurring as described in the rhyme, terror mounts. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion.  —Amanda

The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea

Pisces are hopeless romantics, and just like the fish that represent them they will easily be swept away by this gothic romance. Their imaginations are already prone to running wild, so just like the protagonist, they will be consumed with figuring out what exactly is in the attic. The Glass Woman is perfect for fans of Jane Eyre and Rebecca, which are not horror novels in the traditional sense, but they do feature unsettling and thrilling moments. 

Rósa has always dreamed of living a simple life alongside her Mamma in their remote village in Iceland, where she prays to the Christian God aloud during the day, whispering enchantments to the old gods alone at night. But after her father dies abruptly and her Mamma becomes ill, Rósa marries herself off to a visiting trader in exchange for a dowry, despite rumors of mysterious circumstances surrounding his first wife’s death. —Amanda

Through the Woods: Storiesby Emily Carroll 

Thoroughly imaginative and horrifying, this graphic novel has total Pisces energy. 

It came from the woods. Most strange things do. Five mysterious, spine-tingling stories follow journeys into (and out of?) the eerie abyss. Come, take a walk in the woods, and see what awaits YOU there. —Amanda

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Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!