Spooktober Recommends: Classics to YA

Here it is guys...the final recommends post for Spooktober! 

This was actually supposed to go up on Halloween but I've had a jam packed week and haven't had time to finish my last review book for the month so I'm switching blog posts around! 

So, I came across a couple of books when I was doing my recommends posts that I thought sounded like a YA version of certain classics, or that went with some of the classics or was similar in some way and I thought I'd do a blog post about them! I could only find four, I'm sure there are more although for the life of me I can't find a YA Dracula! 

SO. Here we go! 

1. Phantom of the Opera

In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera.

At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance blossoms, Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light and he’s forced to make a deadly choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he’s ever known. 

Roseblood is, as the synopsis says, a modern day spin on Phantom of the Opera! Whether you've read the classic itself or seen the movie or the stage show...then this is for you! I feel like I need to read Phantom of the Opera before I read this, it's on my shelf, but I've not had the guts to dive in yet! 

2. Jekyll and Hyde

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one... except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch...

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on even if it seems no one believes her.

The Girl in the Steel Corset is one of my favourite books, I'm not going to lie to you guys! I've included it because Finley reminds me a lot of Jekyll and Hyde, or rather a version of them, soooooo YA Jekyll and Hyde right there but with lots more going on! 

3. Frankenstein

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein and inseparable until Konrad falls gravely ill. In the forbidden Dark Library, Victor finds an ancient formula, and seeks an alchemist to recreate the Elixir of Life. With friends Elizabeth and Henry, he scales highest trees in the Strumwald, dives deepest lake caves, and each sacrifices a body part.

This Dark Endeavour isn't so much a YA version of Frankenstein but it is a YA prequel to Frankenstein and I actually thought it was pretty damn good! If you're kind of intimidated about starting Frankenstein, then this prequel might be a good way to get yourself psyched up for it! 

4. The Fall of the House of Usher

Madeline Usher is doomed.

She has spent her life fighting fate, and she thought she was succeeding. Until she woke up in a coffin.

Ushers die young. Ushers are cursed. Ushers can never leave their house, a house that haunts and is haunted, a house that almost seems to have a mind of its own. Madeline’s life—revealed through short bursts of memory—has hinged around her desperate plan to escape, to save herself and her brother. Her only chance lies in destroying the house.

In the end, can Madeline keep her own sanity and bring the house down? The Fall is a literary psychological thriller, reimagining Edgar Allan Poe’s classic The Fall of the House of Usher. 

The Fall is a YA version of The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe and it was SO good when I read it you guys! Perfectly creepy and Halloween-y! I haven't read much Poe to be honest, I was slowly working my way through one of those collected works books but this is one of the few I had read, and I loved this reimagining! 

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Spooktober Recommends: Murder

Hey guuyyys! 

So it's very nearly Halloween which means this is pretty much the last recommends post, I've got one left but it's different to these ones! I should also remind you guys that my giveaway ends tomorrow, so head to my Twitter and check out the pinned tweet before it's too late! 

SO. Today's recommends post. Murder....*evil laughter* 

Can't have Halloween without some blood and guts and murder! 

1. Nevernight

Destined to destroy empires, Mia Covere is only ten years old when she is given her first lesson in death.

Six years later, the child raised in shadows takes her first steps towards keeping the promise she made on the day that she lost everything.

But the chance to strike against such powerful enemies will be fleeting, so if she is to have her revenge, Mia must become a weapon without equal. She must prove herself against the deadliest of friends and enemies, and survive the tutelage of murderers, liars and demons at the heart of a murder cult.

The Red Church is no Hogwarts, but Mia is no ordinary student.

The shadows love her. And they drink her fear.

Okay so I had to include this because it's a completely brilliant, blood soaked read and I just feel like it's a great Halloween read because of all the blood and gore and murder and the atmosphere. Plus I really love this book and everyone needs to read it like NOW. 


2. The Diviners

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first. 

Yet another of my favourite reads! This is perfect for Halloween, it's so creepy and like...I read it in one go because I kept reading and then it hit four am and I was like...well...I'm too freaked out to sleep so I'll just finish it off...and there we go! Genuinely such a good read you guys! 


3. Made For You

Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital to discover an attempt has been made on her life. But who in her sleepy town could have hit her with their car? And why? Before she can consider the question, she finds that she's awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people's deaths when they touch her.

While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old friend, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva's power to keep her friends - and themselves – alive. But the killer is obsessed and will stop at nothing to get to Eva…

This is the first book I read by Melissa Marr, and so far the only one, some of her others are on my list I just haven't gotten around to it yet! I loved this, it was so well done and really kept me guessing until the end! 



4. The Naturals

Cassie Hobbes is not like most teenagers. Most teenagers don’t lose their mother in a bloody, unsolved kidnapping. Most teenagers can’t tell who you are, where you’re from and how you’re likely to behave within moments of meeting you. And most teenagers don’t get chosen to join The Naturals.

Identified by the FBI as uniquely gifted, Cassie is recruited to an elite school where a small number of teens are trained to hone their exceptional abilites.

For Cassie, trying to make friends with the girls, and to figure out the two very different, very hot boys, is challenging enough. But when a serial killer begins recreating the details of her mother’s horrific crime scene, she realises just how dangerous life in The Naturals could be...

If you love Criminal Minds you're going to love this, it's like a YA version of Criminal Minds and it's so good! I breezed through this in one go, and the sequel, I've been waiting ages for the paperback of the third one to come out for ageeesssss now! 


5. Jackaby

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--deny.

I'm about to start this one very soon, and I've heard nothing but good things about it! I do love a historical read, especially when it sounds as fun as this one does! And ya know....murder with a supernatural twist! 




6. Stalking Jack The Ripper

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world. 

This book was SO DAMN GOOD you guys! It was really, really creepy yet I found myself reading it at night mostly like an idiot! I loved the writing, I loved the plot and the research that went in to it and I loved Audrey Rose, she was a brilliant main character and her romance with Thomas was freaking adorable! 

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Spooktober Recommends: Ghosts & Ghouls

Okay so I've been trying to save this because it's probably my favourite but I figured it was time, because Halloween is drawing ever closer! Today's rec post is all about ghosts. Now, I don't know about you, but I can handle most scary/horror things....except for ghosts. Ghosts freak me out to another level, like I had to go watch Paranormal Activity and I didn't sleep properly for a week. I used to watch Most Haunted ALL the time, and it always creeped me out. I think it's the whole not knowing thing that creeps me out, whatever! 

Anyway, this category is my favourite because they're the only thing that can truly creep me out and there are a lot of great books in this post and a lot of my favourite series in particular! 

1. The Name of the Star

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago. 

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

This is one of my favourite series, and one of my library finds! I really do need to take another trip there to see what gems I find this time! I've read all three books, eagerly awaiting each new book, and now I'm desperate for book four! I love how Maureen has written this, it's creepy and there's originality and it's just SO good! But like...really creepy! And from this book it just keeps getting better and better! 

2. Born At Midnight

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. 

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

This is one of my all time favourite series, and honestly, I really feel like it's totally underrated. Like I don't see many people reading it or saying they've read it! This series is SO damn good, I can't even. There's all kinds of supernaturals/paranormals, there's fun and romance and this series is incredibly creepy because GHOSTS! Kylie can see ghosts and they're usually bugging her to solve their murder and it's just so creepy a lot of the time! 

3. Shadowland

There's a hot guy in Susannah Simon's bedroom. Too bad he's a ghost.

Suze is a mediator - a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.

But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy. There's a ghost with revenge on her mind... and Suze happens to be in the way.

Okay so this isn't the same level of creepy as the previous two books, and it's actually the least creepy of all the books on this list, but I had to include it because it's one of my favourite series! I read it when I was in school and it's one of my re-read series! These books are a lot of fun and there's a lot of mystery and ghosts! 

4. Haunting Violet

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.

Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

I only recently read this, and I actually read it for Spooktober! I read it in one sitting like I seem to find myself doing with all of Alyxandra's books, and I completely loved it! It was creepy, there was a totally cute romance and there was plenty of mystery to be solved! I loved the setting, and it really fit with the story, there's no way it would have worked in a modern setting! 

5. Shutter

Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat—a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum. As one of the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage, she has trained since childhood to destroy monsters both corporeal and spiritual: the corporeal undead go down by the bullet, the spiritual undead by the lens. With an analog SLR camera as her best weapon, Micheline exorcises ghosts by capturing their spiritual energy on film. She's aided by her crew: Oliver, a techno-whiz and the boy who developed her camera's technology; Jude, who can predict death; and Ryder, the boy Micheline has known and loved forever.

When a routine ghost hunt goes awry, Micheline and the boys are infected with a curse known as a soulchain. As the ghostly chains spread through their bodies, Micheline learns that if she doesn't exorcise her entity in seven days or less, she and her friends will die. Now pursued as a renegade agent by her monster-hunting father, Leonard Helsing, she must track and destroy an entity more powerful than anything she's faced before . . . or die trying. 

Okay so I put this on the list because I started to read it not long after I got it, but then I got a build up of review books and had to put it on the back burner, which is where it's been ever since. Which is really bad of me but there you go! I'm hoping I'll have time to get to it this week because what I have read was really good, which is why I'm recommending it! 

6. Unbreakable

I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.

When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

Okay Supernatural fans, this one's for you! As soon as I started to read this my brain screamed "Supernatural" at me, and I freaking love Supernatural! This book is so damn good, it's creepy, there's mystery and suspense and romance and I've been waiting for a third book for what feels like forever! I read both books in no time at all because I couldn't put them down. They're definitely Halloween material you guys! 

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