Showing posts with label I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge. Show all posts

Friday, May 1, 2026

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
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. 

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Friday, January 2, 2026

2025 I Read Horror Year-Round Challenge - Wrap-up


Year five complete! I was able to complete the Chilling level (12 books), and while I did not get a Bingo (or the coverall I was going for), I did manage to read a few Cryptid books. Here's what I read...
  • Vampires - The Vampire Armand, Anne Rice
  • Witches - Rosemary's Baby, Ira Levin
  • Folk Horror - Pine, Francine Toon
  • Written by a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) author - The Hacienda, Isabel Canas
  • A Ghost Story - Humbug, Luciano Marano
  • Written by a female author - Diavola, Jennifer Marie Thorne
  • Cosmic Horror - Annihilation, Jeff Vandermeer
  • Frightening Cover - All the Fiends of Hell, Adam Nevill
  • 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
Besides the Cryptid book above, I also read Loch Ness Revenge by Hunter Shea and Rogue (Bigfoot) by Luke Phillips.

How about you? Share your wrap-up in the comments, or link to a wrap-up post on your blog (or social media, shelf on Goodreads, etc.).

In case you missed it, sign-up for I Read Horror YR 2026 is open. This year I've added a fun (optional) Complete the Word challenge. Here's the link to the post. I hope you will join me again!


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Wednesday, December 31, 2025

2026 I Read Horror Year-Round Challenge


Welcome to year six of our fun and terrifying horror reading challenge!

This year I'm adding an optional bonus challenge. Full details explained below.

Once again, there are 12 categories and 4 levels of participation.

Here are the categories, or themes:
  • 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
Levels:

Spooky: Read 6 books from 6 categories
Chilling: Read 12 Books from all 12 categories
Frightful: Read 2 books from each category for a total of 24 books
Horrifying: Read 3 books from each category for a total of 36 books

Challenge runs from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Cross overs with other challenges count. Short stories are allowed if you're reading an entire collection or anthology. Books must be over 100 pages (one book under 100 pages is permitted). You do not have to pick your books ahead of time, but you can if you want.
Hashtag for social media: #IReadHorror

Details for the optional bonus challenge - Complete the word:

Read a book with a title that starts with each letter of your chosen word. Complete as many as you want. One of your main challenge books can count for one of the letters. 

The words
DREAD
FEAR
FRIGHT
HORROR
SCARED
TERROR

Any questions? Leave a comment or contact me (via image in sidebar). Grab the button and spread the word. Thanks!

Sign up here:

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Friday, October 31, 2025

Blessed Samhain...Happy Halloween!


Hope your day...and night...are safe and fun! 


I'd like to thank everyone for joining me for this year's Something Wicked Fall. If you're sad it's over, like me, don't worry. A new edition of the I Read Horror Year-Round reading challenge will start on January 1st, 2026. The sign-up, with categories and a new BINGO card, will be posted before the end of the year. Stay tuned! Also, the Spring into Horror Readathon is in April so plenty of horrific fun to go around. 

The Yuletide Spirit Reading Challenge and Readathon starts Thanksgiving week (U.S.) over at The Mystical Lantern and Seasons of Reading. There are plenty of Christmas ghost stories (and Christmas horror) that would be perfect for the challenge if you like things scary.

Until then, stop by this corner of the horror-verse anytime. I'm sure I will have some horror book and movie reviews to post every now and then.

Stay creepy!

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Saturday, October 4, 2025

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


How did your reading go in the third quarter? 

I'm doing the Chilling level which is 12 books in a year (plus, I'm trying for the Cryptid Bingo). I only have three categories left for the main challenge, and five for Cryptid Bingo. 

My planned reads for the three main categories are Slewfoot (Brom) for Witches, The Root Witch (Mexican American author Debra Castaneda) for BIPOC, and The Beast of Brenton Woods (Jackson R. Thomas) for Frightening Cover. For Cryptid Bingo, right now I have The Jersey Devil (Hunter Shea) and The Wendigo (Algernon Blackwood) on my list for fall reading.

Here's how it's going so far...
  • Vampires - The Vampire Armand, Anne Rice
  • Witches
  • Folk Horror - Pine, Francine Toon
  • 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 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.)...

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Monday, July 21, 2025

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.)...

photo Cat.gif

Thursday, April 3, 2025

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.)...

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Friday, January 3, 2025

2024 I Read Horror Year-Round Challenge - Wrap-up


That's year four in the bag! On my part, I managed to complete my chosen level, the Chilling level...read 12 books. Here's what I read...
  • Witch, dark, blood, bone, or body in title
    Children of the Dark, Jonathan Janz April 16
  • Nature gone wild (when plants or animals attack)
    Animal Kingdom, Iain Rob Wright August 26
  • Creepy character/object (House, doll, child, etc.)
    Cunning Folk, Adam Nevill December 13
  • Holiday horror (Christmas, yule, etc.)
    Christmas and Other Horrors: An Anthology of Solstice Horror December 23
  • Short story anthology or collection
    Out There Screaming, Jordan Peele, editor February 25
  • Takes place during Halloween season
    Mischief Night Massacre: Ten Tales of Halloween, Jason Parent October 24
  • Winter theme, or winter on cover
    A Winter Haunting, Dan Simmons January 14
  • A book that is also a movie
    I'm Thinking of Ending Things, Iain Reid March 2024
  • By BIPOC author
    Lone Women, Victor LaValle August 24
  • Classic horror novel
    The Necromancers, Robert Hugh Benson October 30
  • Dark Academia novel 
    Ninth House, Leigh Bardugo February 14
  • Gothic novel
    The Dismembered, Jonathan Janz April 28
How about you? Share your wrap-up in the comments, or link to a wrap-up post on your blog (or social media, shelf on Goodreads, etc.).

In case you missed it, sign-up for I Read Horror YR 2025 is open. This year I've added a fun (optional) BINGO challenge with a specific theme. Here's the link to the post.
I hope you will join me again!


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Friday, December 27, 2024

2025 I Read Horror Year-Round Challenge


Here we are at year five! Time for another year of reading great horror!

This year I'm including an optional BINGO challenge...the Cryptid BINGO Challenge! 
Details and BINGO card are below.

Once again, there are 12 categories and 4 levels of participation.

Here are the categories, or themes:
Levels:

Spooky: Read 6 books from 6 categories
Chilling: Read 12 Books from all 12 categories
Frightful: Read 2 books from each category for a total of 24 books
Horrifying: Read 3 books from each category for a total of 36 books

Challenge runs from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. Cross overs with other challenges count. Short stories are allowed if you're reading an entire collection or anthology. Books must be over 100 pages (one book under 100 pages is permitted). You do not have to pick your books ahead of time, but you can if you want.
Hashtag for social media: #IReadHorror

Details for the optional Cryptid BINGO Challenge:
Complete as one BINGO, or more, or go for the cover-all. 

Here are some lists for ideas on Cryptid horror books:
Crypto Fiction Books
Cryptids Books


Any questions? Leave a comment or contact me (via image in sidebar).
Grab the button and spread the word. Thanks!

Sign up here:

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Saturday, July 6, 2024

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.)...

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Tuesday, April 2, 2024

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.)...

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Tuesday, January 2, 2024

2023 I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge - Wrap-up


Year three of the challenge is complete! Once again, I tried for the Chilling level. Didn't quite make it, but only three books shy. Here's what I read:
How about you? Share your wrap-up in the comments, or link to a wrap-up post on your blog (or social media, shelf on Goodreads, etc.).

In case you missed it, sign up for I Read Horror YR 2024 is open. Here's the link to the post.
I hope you will join me again!


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Sunday, December 31, 2023

2024 I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge

It's year four! Here's to another year of great horror reading!

Once again, there are 12 categories and 4 levels of participation.

Here are the categories, or themes:
  • 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
  • Takes place during Halloween season
  • Winter theme, or winter on cover
  • A book that is also a movie
  • By BIPOC author
  • Classic horror novel
  • Dark Academia novel (here's a list on Goodreads)
  • Gothic novel
Levels:

Spooky: Read 6 books from 6 categories
Chilling: Read 12 Books from all 12 categories
Frightful: Read 2 books from each category for a total of 24 books
Horrifying: Read 3 books from each category for a total of 36 books

Challenge runs from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024. Cross overs with other challenges count. Short stories are allowed if you're reading an entire collection or anthology. Books must be over 100 pages (one book under 100 pages is permitted). You do not have to pick your books ahead of time, but you can if you want.
Hashtag for social media: #IReadHorror

Grab the button and spread the word. Thanks!

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Saturday, October 14, 2023

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)...
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!

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Wednesday, July 5, 2023

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).
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!

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Sunday, April 2, 2023

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.


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Monday, January 2, 2023

2022 I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge - Wrap-up


Year two of I Read Horror is done and dusted. How did you do? Once again, I don't think I quite completed the Chilling level (which is 12 books in a year), but let me list the categories below and see how I stacked up...
  • Book by a BIPOC (female) - Certain Dark Things, Silvia Moreno-Garcia
  • Book by a BIPOC (male) - The Only Good Indians, Stephen Graham Jones
  • Folk Horror - Winterset Hollow, Jonathan Edward Durham
  • A Gothic horror classic (published 50 or more years ago, published no later than 1972) - The Marble Faun, Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • A modern Gothic tale (published within 50 years ago, published 1973 or later) - Fireside Gothic, Andrew Taylor
  • Purple, orange, or green on the cover - The Devil in Silver, Victor LaValle
  • Serial killer from the past - fiction or non-fiction (before 20th century) Examples: Jack the Ripper, H.H. Holmes, Burke and Hare (I started The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, but have not finished yet.)
  • Short story collection/Anthology
  • Slasher
  • Vampires - Impact Winter, Travis Beacham
  • Werewolves
  • Witches - In the House in the Dark of the Woods, Laird Hunt
So, I didn't do too badly. Managed to finish 9 out of 12. 

How about you? Share your wrap-up in the comments, or link to a wrap-up post on your blog (or social media, shelf on Goodreads, etc.).

In case you missed it, sign up for I Read Horror YR 2023 is open. Here's the link to the post.
I hope you will join me again!


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Friday, December 30, 2022

2023 I Read Horror Year-Round Reading Challenge


Year three! I can hardly believe it. So much great horror out there now. How do we even keep up?! I know! This reading challenge!

Once again, there are 12 categories and 4 levels of participation.

Here are the categories, or themes:
  • Fairy Tale Retelling
  • Zombies, Witches, Vampires, or Werewolves
  • Book by BIPOC author
  • Title with Dead, Blood, or Bone
  • Something by Poe
    Note: Since most of Poe's works are less than 100 pages, the rule doesn't apply for this category...read some of his poems, a couple/few short stories, or a combination of both.
  • Set in the past
  • Horrific cover
  • Folk horror (Ideas: https://tinyurl.com/yy8jj56a or https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/folk-horror?page=1
  • Winter theme or cover
  • Black, red, or white cover
  • Written by a woman
  • Debut horror
Levels:

Spooky: Read 6 books from 6 categories
Chilling: Read 12 Books from all 12 categories
Frightful: Read 2 books from each category for a total of 24 books
Horrifying: Read 3 books from each category for a total of 36 books

Challenge runs from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. Cross overs with other challenges count. Short stories are allowed if you're reading an entire collection or anthology. Books must be over 100 pages. You do not have to pick your books ahead of time, but you can if you want.
Hashtag for social media: #IReadHorror

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