2026 I Read Horror Year-Round Challenge - Second Quarter Check-In

Here I am...late again. So sorry! Not much to report on my end. I may not have read anything matching any of the categories. We shall see below. My reading year is not going great at all.

How did the first quarter go for you?

I'm doing the Chilling level which is 12 books in a year. Plus, I'm going to try to do the Complete the Word Bonus Challenge. I picked FRIGHT. Here's how it's going so far...

• Winter - set in winter or snow on the cover or winter in the title
  Freezing Point, Karen Dionne
• Epistolary horror - found footage, told in letters and/or diaries
• Cult and/or ritual
• Haunted house
• Full moon and/or woods on the cover
• Indigenous, Asian, or Latino author
• Pumpkins/Jack O' Lanterns on the cover
• Black author
• Book published in the 60's, 70's, or 80's
• Social justice horror
• Yule/Christmas holiday themed
• Whatever scares you the most
  Marla, Jonathan Janz (creepy...creepy scares me the most. lol)

F - Freezing Point, Karen Dionne
R
I
G
H - Hell Bent, Leigh Bardugo
T

So, yeah...not doing so great. I'm still trying to turn things around. I have some good horror lined up for a four month challenge I'm participating in so that should help. I'm currently reading Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. A third time read for me!

I keep track of my yearly challenges over on my sister site, True Book Addict. There's a link to my 2026
challenge page in the menu above.

I hope you're enjoying your horrific reading! Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.)...

Thanks for bearing with me! Wishing you continued terrifying reads!

2026 I Read Horror Year-Round Challenge - First Quarter Check-In

I apologize for being so late with this update! I've been in such a funk, both in reading and life in general. Too much going on in the world. It's overwhelming and really starting to wear me down. You will see how bad of a funk I'm in below. 

How did the first quarter go for you?

I'm doing the Chilling level which is 12 books in a year. Plus, I'm going to try to do the Complete the Word Bonus Challenge. I picked FRIGHT since it has an H - Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo. Here's how it's going so far...

• Winter - set in winter or snow on the cover or winter in the title
• Epistolary horror - found footage, told in letters and/or diaries
• Cult and/or ritual
• Haunted house
• Full moon and/or woods on the cover
• Indigenous, Asian, or Latino author
• Pumpkins/Jack O' Lanterns on the cover
• Black author
• Book published in the 60's, 70's, or 80's
• Social justice horror
• Yule/Christmas holiday themed
• Whatever scares you the most 
  Marla, Jonathan Janz (creepy...creepy scares me the most. lol)

F

R

I 

G

H - Hell Bent, Leigh Bardugo

T

So, as you can see, I'm not doing great. I am hoping I can turn things around starting this month. Wish me luck! Next up for me is The Siren of Groves Peak by Glenn Rolfe. It probably won't fit the challenge though. Oh well.

I keep track of my yearly challenges over on my sister site, True Book Addict. There's a link to my 2026
challenge page in the menu above.

I hope you're enjoying your horrific reading! Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.)...

Thanks for bearing with me! Wishing you terrifying reading. 

2025 I Read Horror Year-Round Challenge - Second Quarter Check-in

Late again. I really need to set a reminder. Apologies.

So, how did the second quarter go for you?

I'm doing the Chilling level which is 12 books in a year (plus, I'm trying for the Cryptid Bingo). Here's how it's going so far...

• Vampires - The Vampire Armand, Anne Rice
• Witches
• Folk Horror
• Written by a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) author
• A Ghost Story - The Hacienda, Isabel Canas
• Written by a female author - Pine, Francine Toon
• Cosmic Horror - Annihilation, Jeff Vandermeer
• Frightening Cover
• Adapted as movie/series - The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
• Katsu, Ketchum, King, or Koontz - Holly, Stephen King
• Black, gray, orange, or red cover - Horseman, Christina Henry
• Book featuring a Cryptid (mark off one BINGO square!) - The Dover Demon, Hunter Shea

I can't believe there are still two more quarters and I've already read eight! I also have three squares marked on Cryptid BINGO. I've read...

Loch Ness Revenge, Hunter Shea

The Dover Demon, Hunter Shea

Rogue, Luke Phillips (Bigfoot)

I keep track of my yearly challenges over on my sister site, True Book Addict. There's a link to my 2025
challenge page in the menu above.

I hope you're enjoying your horrific reading! Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.)...

2025 I Read Horror Year-Round Challenge - First Quarter Check-in

Sorry I'm late! Big thanks to Marla for posting her update on Instagram...a nice kick in the pants since I forgot. 

So, how did the first quarter go for you?

I'm doing the Chilling level which is 12 books in a year (plus, I'm trying for the Cryptid Bingo). Here's how it's going so far...

• Vampires
• Witches
• Folk Horror
• Written by a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) author
• A Ghost Story
• Written by a female author
• Cosmic Horror
• Frightening Cover
• Adapted as movie/series
• Katsu, Ketchum, King, or Koontz - Holly, Stephen King
• Black, gray, orange, or red cover - Horseman, Christina Henry
• Book featuring a Cryptid (mark off one BINGO square!) - The Dover Demon, Hunter Shea

I'm currently reading The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde which will fit the "adapted as movie" category. I watched the 1945 film last week when I started the book.

Here's my updated Cryptid Bingo Card

I keep track of my yearly challenges over on my sister site, True Book Addict. There's a link to my 2025

challenge page in the menu above.

My Spring into Horror Readathon is going on this month over on Seasons of Reading so I expect I'll get some categories knocked out. If you would like to join us, stop over there. You can join in at any time during the month AND we're having a 24-Hour Readathon on April 12. 
Here are my planned reads for the readathon:

I hope you're enjoying your horrific reading! Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.)...

Holly by Stephen King - Review

I always say, "If you have anything you're supposed to be doing, DO NOT pick up a Stephen King novel." Truth! I read this in three days, which is pretty good for me...it is 450 pages after all. I've said this before and I'll say it again. Holly Gibney is one of my most favorite characters, certainly in my top three of King's characters. This case in particular had no supernatural element, as in other Gibney tales, but it is no less riveting. Holly says it best on page 442 (paraphrasing slightly):

"...Roddy and Emily Harris were worse. Why? Because there was nothing supernatural about them. Because you couldn't say their evil came from outside, and comfort yourself with the idea that if there were malign outside forces, there were probably good ones as well. The Harris' evil was both prosaic and outlandish...Holly isn't sure she wants to revisit a world capable of holding people like Rodney. Or like Emily, who was...more calculating and at the same time much, much crazier."

I can't wait to read what Holly does next.

2024 I Read Horror Year-Round Challenge - Second Quarter Check-In

How did the second quarter of the challenge go for you?

For the Chilling Level, I read one book for the word "Dark" in the cover. That was Children of the Dark by Jonathan Janz. I'm planning to knock several out during Quarter Three. My planned reads below...

Animal Kingdom by Iain Rob Wright for Nature Gone Wild

Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne for Gothic novel

I Found Puppets Living in my Apartment Walls by Ben Farthing for Creepy Object

Lone Women or Don't Fear the Reaper for BIPOC author

I (try to) keep track of my yearly challenges over on my sister site, True Book Addict. There's a link to my 2024 challenge page in the menu above.

Fun reminder...Something Wicked Fall starts in just two months!! Trying to decide on a read-along selection. Maybe Stephen King.... Stay tuned.

I hope you're enjoying your horrific reading! Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.)...

2024 I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge - First Quarter Check-In

The first quarter of 2024 is in the books. So, how did it go?

I'm doing the Chilling level which is 12 books in a year. I'm doing well...I've already read four books!

• Witch, dark, blood, bone, or body in title
• Nature gone wild (when plants or animals attack)
• Creepy character/object (House, doll, child, etc.)
• Holiday horror (Christmas, yule, etc.)
• Short story anthology or collection - Out There Screaming, Jordan Peele, Editor
• Takes place during Halloween season
• Winter theme, or winter on cover - A Winter Haunting, Dan Simmons
• A book that is also a movie - I'm Thinking of Ending Things, Iain Reid
• By BIPOC author
• Classic horror novel
• Dark Academia novel (here's a list on Goodreads) - Ninth House, Leigh Bardugo
• Gothic novel

I keep track of my yearly challenges over on my sister site, True Book Addict. There's a link to my 2024

challenge page in the menu above.

Not sure what's up for me next, but my Spring into Horror Readathon is going on this month over on Seasons of Reading so I expect I'll get some categories knocked out. If you would like to join us, stop over there. You can still sign up.

I hope you're enjoying your horrific reading! Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.)...

I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge - 2023 Third Quarter Check-In

So sorry I'm late with this check-in! With all the scary events going on, it completely slipped my mind. 

How are you doing on the challenge?

Here's my progress on the Chilling level (12 books in a year)...

• Book by BIPOC author - My Heart is a Chainsaw, Stephen Graham Jones
• Title with Dead, Blood, or Bone - The Dead Path, Stephen M. Irwin
• Horrific cover - The Vessel, Adam Nevill
• Set in the past - The Green Man, Kingsley Amis
• Folk Horror - The Loney, Andrew Michael Hurley
• Winter theme or cover - Subhuman, Michael McBride
• Black, red, or white cover - Black Mouth, Ronald Malfi
• Zombies, Witches, Vampires, or Werewolves - Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker (I LOVED this book!)
• Something by Poe - The Fall of the House of Usher (click the title to read my write up).
  

All I have left are three categories and I already have planned reads for them. I'm hoping to get to them this month, but we shall see. Planned reads...

• Fairy Tale Retelling - Gretel by Christopher Coleman
• Written by a woman - Hummingbird by T.C. Parker
• Debut Horror - Awake in the Night by Shauna McEleney

I hope you're enjoying your horrific reading! Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.).

Important: I'll be working on next year's challenge soon and I want you to help me come up with the categories. If you are actively participating in this year's challenge, please post your category in the comments. Thank you! I can't wait to see what you come up with. 

Happy Horror Reading!

I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge - 2023 Second Quarter Check-In

Another quarter done! How are you doing on the challenge?

I'm doing the Chilling level which is 12 books in a year and I've finished seven books (currently reading #8).

• Book by BIPOC author - My Heart is a Chainsaw, Stephen Graham Jones
• Title with Dead, Blood, or Bone - The Dead Path, Stephen M. Irwin
  
• Horrific cover - The Vessel, Adam Nevill (I don't know about you, but I thought this was a pretty horrific cover. lol)
  
• Set in the past - The Green Man, Kingsley Amis
• Folk Horror - The Loney, Andrew Michael Hurley
• Winter theme or cover - Subhuman, Michael McBride
• Black, red, or white cover - Black Mouth, Ronald Malfi

I keep track of my yearly challenges over on my sister site, True Book Addict. There's a link to my 2023 challenge page in the menu above.

As I said above, I'm currently on book eight which is Dracul, Dacre Stoker & J.D. Barker, reading for the Zombies, Witches, Vampires, or Werewolves category.

I hope you're enjoying your horrific reading! Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.).

Announcement!

I want you to help me come up with categories for the 2024 challenge! Each person who is signed up and actively participating will be able to submit one category. I will accept your category submissions when I post the quarter three check-in. Fun!

I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge - 2023 First Quarter Check-In

The first quarter of 2023 is in the books. How did you fare? 

I'm doing the Chilling level which is 12 books in a year and I'm happy to say, I've finished three books.

• Book by BIPOC author - My Heart is a Chainsaw, Stephen Graham Jones
• Set in the past - The Greeen Man, Kingsley Amis
• Folk Horror - The Loney, Andrew Michael Hurley

I keep track of my yearly challenges over on my sister site, True Book Addict. There's a link to my 2023 challenge page in the menu above.

Next up for me are The Dead Path by Stephen M. Irwin (Title with dead, blood, or bone) and Black Mouth by Ronald Malfi (black, red, or white cover). 

I hope you're enjoying your horrific reading! Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.)...

Announcement! The Spring into Horror Readathon is going on through the month of April. You can still sign up. Full details at the Seasons of Reading blog.

I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge 2022 - Third Quarter Check-in

Three quarters have flown by! I apologize for not having an update at the end of the second quarter. I was going on vacation in early July so I was working, and getting prepared for the trip. Completely slipped my mind!

I'm not doing too bad. My progress is below. Still not sure if I'm going to make it or not. Fingers crossed!

Full challenge details here...you can still join in.

What I've read so far: 

Book by a BIPOC (female): Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Book by a BIPOC (male): The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle (currently reading)

Purple, orange, or green on the cover: The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor

Vampires: Impact Winter by Travis Beacham

Folk Horror: Winterset Hollow by Jonathan Edward Durham

A modern Gothic tale: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Gothic horror classic: Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake (currently reading)

So, how's it going for you with the horror reading? Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.).

Get new posts by email:

I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge - 2022 First Quarter Check-In

I'm so sorry for being late with this! Thankfully, Gilda messaged me which was a much appreciated reminder. 

First quarter is done and I guess I'm not doing too bad. I'm doing the Chilling level which is 12 books in a year. I'm currently on my second book (and almost finished) The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones (BIPOC male author), and planning to read my third one by end of month which is Ten by Gretchen McNeil (Slasher category). First book read, in the BIPOC female author category, was Certain Dark Things by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia. 

Not quite sure what's up for me next, but probably either The Vampire Armand by Anne Rice (Vampires category) or The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (Serial killer from the past category).

So, how's it going for you with the horror reading? Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.)...

...and, as always, thank you for joining me!

Get new posts by email:

I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge - Third Quarter Check-in #IReadHorror

Here we are at the nine month mark! Time is flying by. 

I've read five from my list of 12 books. I'm doing the Chilling level. Starting to grow concerned about finishing. Egads! (Full challenge details here...you can still join in.)

What I've read so far:

Winter theme, or winter appearance on the cover (snow, ice, etc.)
The Ascent by Ronald Malfi (short review on Goodreads)

Written by a woman
The Witch's Trinity by Erika Mailman (Review)

Historical horror (must be an historical novel written by a contemporary author)
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

A body of water (featured in story, on cover, or in title)
Cradle Lake by Ronald Malfi (short review on Goodreads)

Written by an Indie Author

August's Eyes by Glenn Rolfe (review)

I'm currently reading Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia for Woman on Cover category. Hoping to check off a couple more categories as well this month.  

So, how's it going for you with the horror reading? Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.).

Get new posts by email:

I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge - Second Quarter Check-in #IReadHorror

Here we are at the six month mark! Time is flying by. 

I've managed to check two more off my list of 12 books. I'm doing the Chilling level. (Full challenge details here...you can still sign up.)

What I've read so far:

Winter theme, or winter appearance on the cover (snow, ice, etc.)
The Ascent by Ronald Malfi (short review on Goodreads)

Written by a woman
The Witch's Trinity by Erika Mailman (Review)

Historical horror (must be an historical novel written by a contemporary author)
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

A body of water (featured in story, on cover, or in title)
Cradle Lake by Ronald Malfi (short review on Goodreads)

I'm currently reading Glenn Rolfe's August's Eyes which comes out in...you guessed it...August (Indie Author category). 

So, how's it going for you with the horror reading? Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.).

Get new posts by email:

I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge - First Quarter Check-in #IReadHorror

Can't believe it has been three months already! 

I've managed to check two off my list of 12 books. I'm doing the Chilling level. (Full challenge details here...you can still sign up.)

What I've read so far:

Winter theme, or winter appearance on the cover (snow, ice, etc.)

The Ascent by Ronald Malfi (short review on Goodreads)

Written by a woman

The Witch's Trinity by Erika Mailman (Review)

I'm currently reading these books for the listed categories:

Historical horror (must be an historical novel written by a contemporary author)

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

A body of water (featured in story, on cover, or in title)

Cradle Lake by Ronald Malfi

Hoping to get to Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia this month as well (Woman on cover category) since it is my Spring into Horror Readathon this month. 

So, how's it going for you with the horror reading? Share your progress in the comments (update, links to posts/reviews, etc.). 

Save the Date! #SomethingWickedFall 2020

Stay tuned for details...coming later in August.

Doctor Sleep Read-Along - Week Six #SomethingWickedFall

Oh man, did I not feel bad for what happened to Crow. Not only evil, but just plain mean. Insulting the intelligence of a little girl (well, preteen, I guess). Just because she has those powers doesn't mean she's learned everything there is to learn in life. Abra and Dan together...that's some powerhouse.

So, the True Knot is not much of a knot any longer, with many leaving the group. Poor Rose...not. Serves her right. I keep thinking of the woman who is playing her in the movie, Rebecca Ferguson. I'm not sure if she's my vision of the evil of Rose the Hat. We shall see. Ferguson is a good actress though. I totally keep picturing Ewan McGregor as Dan. Can't help it.

How about that revelation about Lucy and Dan? I was floored! I did not see that coming at all. What did you think of that element. I'm not so sure it works. Kind of seems like an afterthought. I wonder if that will come up in the movie. I bet they cut that out. Again, we shall see.

Well, we are in the home stretch. One more section left until we reach the end. I'm excited to find out what happens.

More next week...

Share your thoughts on this week's section in the comments, or leave a link to a post. We'll be back next week for the next section. If you need the reading schedule, find it here.

The Midsommar Watch-Along will be Saturday, October 19 at 10:00 pm Eastern/9:00 pm Central. 

We will be using Slack for discussion while we watch (It's free!). Click the Invite link below to join/signup: https://join.slack.com/t/seasonsofreading/shared_invite/enQtNzU2Njc0MTkyOTEzLWEwMWE2NzdjOGMzYjAwNmZjMjk2MmUwODRmNTRhYzIwZjBkODVkY2U3ZTMwZGIxNmI0ZWU1NmE4MjcwNDI5YmI