The Greatest "Horror, Fiction, Fantasy" Books Since 2010

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This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 300 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

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Genres

Horror

Horror is a genre of literature that is designed to evoke feelings of fear, terror, and dread in the reader. It typically features supernatural or paranormal elements, such as ghosts, monsters, or otherworldly creatures, and often explores themes of death, violence, and the unknown. Horror books can range from subtle and psychological to graphic and gory, but they all share the common goal of scaring and thrilling their readers. Whether it's a classic ghost story or a modern slasher novel, horror books offer a unique and thrilling reading experience for those who enjoy being scared out of their wits.

Fiction

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre of literature that typically involves imaginative and supernatural elements, often set in a fictional world or alternate reality. These stories often feature mythical creatures, magic, and epic battles between good and evil. Fantasy books can range from high fantasy, which includes complex world-building and intricate plotlines, to urban fantasy, which blends fantastical elements with contemporary settings. The genre allows readers to escape into a world of wonder and adventure, where anything is possible.

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  1. 1. Her Body and Other Parties: Stories by Carmen Maria Machado

    "Her Body and Other Parties: Stories" is a collection of short stories that weave elements of psychological realism and science fiction to explore the realities of women's lives and the violence inflicted upon their bodies. The narratives range from a woman refusing to let her husband remove a green ribbon from around her neck, to a salesclerk in a mall making a horrifying discovery within the seams of the store's prom dresses. The book centers on women's experiences in their bodies, touching on themes of sexuality, gender, and the dynamics of power.

    The 3342nd Greatest Book of All Time
  2. 2. Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

    In a universe where necromancers hold power, Gideon, a skilled swordswoman, is reluctantly paired with her childhood rival, Harrow, to compete in a deadly trial that could grant them immortality. As they venture into an ancient, decaying mansion filled with secrets and puzzles, they must unravel the mysteries of their world and face sinister forces lurking within. With a blend of dark humor, complex characters, and a gripping plot, "Gideon The Ninth" is a thrilling and unique blend of science fiction and fantasy.

    The 8131st Greatest Book of All Time
  3. 3. Tokyo Ghoul by Sui Ishida

    In a dark and twisted version of Tokyo, creatures known as ghouls lurk in the shadows, surviving by consuming human flesh. The story follows a young college student who, after a fateful encounter with a ghoul, becomes a half-ghoul himself. Thrust into a hidden world filled with danger and hunger, he must navigate the blurred lines between human and monster, grappling with his new reality and the moral complexities of his insatiable appetite. As he struggles to maintain his humanity, he finds himself caught in the crossfire between ghoul factions and the relentless ghoul investigators determined to eradicate their kind.

    The 9648th Greatest Book of All Time
  4. 4. The Devil In America by Kai Ashante Wilson

    "The Devil in America" is a haunting novella that intertwines African folklore with the brutal history of post-Civil War America. It follows the story of a young African American girl and her family, who are grappling with the lingering horrors of slavery and the malevolent forces that seem to follow them. As the family confronts the racism and violence of their time, they also face supernatural threats that are tied to ancient powers and the dark legacy of their ancestors. The narrative weaves a tale of generational trauma, the cost of survival, and the struggle to protect loved ones from the evils both human and otherworldly.

    The 9658th Greatest Book of All Time
  5. 5. Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand

    In this gothic novel, a 1970s British acid folk band retreats to an ancient country house to create their next album, only to find themselves enveloped by supernatural occurrences. As the young musicians are drawn into the eerie atmosphere of Wylding Hall, the strange environment fuels their creativity, leading to the creation of a legendary album. However, the summer takes a dark turn when the lead singer mysteriously vanishes, leaving behind a tangle of haunting memories and unanswered questions that persist for decades, until the surviving band members reluctantly confront their past in a series of interviews, revealing the chilling truth behind the disappearance.

    The 9751st Greatest Book of All Time
  6. 6. The Ballad Of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

    The book reimagines the early 20th-century horror landscape by centering on a Black protagonist, Charles Thomas Tester, in 1920s Harlem. Tester, a street musician and hustler, becomes entangled in the dark and supernatural underbelly of New York City when he delivers an occult tome to a reclusive sorceress. His actions catch the attention of malevolent forces, leading to a series of events that expose the racial tensions and eldritch horrors lurking beneath the city's surface. As Tester's involvement with these arcane powers deepens, he is transformed in ways that challenge the very fabric of reality, culminating in a confrontation with otherworldly consequences. The narrative serves as both a critique of Lovecraftian racism and a compelling tale of cosmic horror and societal injustice.

    The 9828th Greatest Book of All Time
  7. 7. Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh

    "Spirit Hunters" is a gripping tale of a young girl who moves into a new house with her family, only to discover that it harbors dark secrets and restless spirits. As eerie events unfold and her younger brother's behavior becomes increasingly strange, she must confront the chilling truth about the supernatural forces at play. With the help of her grandmother and her own burgeoning abilities as a spirit hunter, she embarks on a perilous journey to save her brother and put the troubled spirits to rest, uncovering her family's hidden past and her own connection to the spirit world in the process.

    The 9956th Greatest Book of All Time
  8. 8. Forget The Sleepless Shores by Sonya Taaffe

    "Forget The Sleepless Shores" is a collection of speculative fiction and poetry that weaves together a tapestry of haunting tales and lyrical explorations. The works within this anthology traverse the landscapes of myth, history, and the supernatural, delving into themes of memory, loss, and longing. Readers are invited into worlds where the boundaries between the living and the dead blur, where ancient gods and mortals interact, and where the echoes of old tragedies reverberate into the present. The prose is rich and evocative, challenging the reader to embark on a journey through eerie and otherworldly narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.

    The 9988th Greatest Book of All Time
  9. 9. Alice by Christina Henry

    In this dark and twisted retelling of a classic fairytale, Alice finds herself trapped in a nightmarish version of Wonderland. With the help of a mysterious man named Hatcher, she embarks on a dangerous journey to escape the clutches of the sadistic ruler known as the Rabbit. As they navigate through the grotesque and violent world, Alice and Hatcher uncover the truth about their own pasts and must confront their inner demons in order to survive.

    The 10072nd Greatest Book of All Time
  10. 10. Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami

    In this dark fantasy manga series, a high school student is thrust into a hidden world of sorcery and spectral horrors when he swallows a cursed object to protect his friends. This act binds him to a powerful curse, and he must join a secret organization of Jujutsu Sorcerers to fight malevolent entities and collect the scattered pieces of the curse to prevent its malevolent power from wreaking havoc. As he undergoes rigorous training and battles, the student navigates a treacherous realm of sorcery, discovering his own latent abilities and the complex moral landscape of using curses to combat curses.

    The 10233rd Greatest Book of All Time
  11. 11. Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto

    The book is a dark fantasy manga that follows the life of a young man burdened with crippling debt, who finds himself entangled in a brutal world of devil hunters after merging with a devil dog he names Pochita. This transformation grants him the ability to transform parts of his body into chainsaws, which he uses to fight malevolent devils in exchange for money. As he becomes more involved in this violent and morally ambiguous society, he navigates through complex relationships, his own desires for a better life, and the sinister machinations of those who seek to use his unique powers for their own ends.

    The 10233rd Greatest Book of All Time
  12. 12. The Lamb Will Slaughter The Lion by Margaret Killjoy

    In a small town filled with anarchists and magical creatures, a group of friends embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind the sudden appearance of a mysterious and vengeful spirit, known as the "Lamb." As they delve deeper into the dark secrets of the community, they must confront their own beliefs and ideals, challenging the very essence of their existence. With tension rising and danger lurking at every corner, the friends must navigate a treacherous path to find the answers they seek, all while facing the inevitable clash between power and freedom.

    The 10240th Greatest Book of All Time
  13. 13. Authority by Jeff VanderMeer

    "Authority" is the second book in a trilogy that delves into the mysteries of a clandestine government agency tasked with investigating an enigmatic and dangerous region known as Area X. The narrative follows a character brought in to oversee the agency after the tumultuous events of the first expedition. As he attempts to assert control and understand the strange occurrences within Area X, he encounters uncooperative staff, cryptic notes left by his predecessor, and the unsettling realization that the contamination thought to be contained within Area X may have more influence over the agency than previously believed. The protagonist's journey is one of psychological unraveling, as he grapples with the opaque hierarchy of the organization and the increasingly blurred lines between reality and the otherworldly phenomena associated with the area he is supposed to manage.

    The 11070th Greatest Book of All Time
  14. 14. Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer

    "Acceptance" is the final installment in a science fiction trilogy that delves into the mysteries of Area X, a surreal and ever-changing landscape that defies explanation and has claimed the lives and sanity of many who have ventured into it. As the narrative shifts between multiple characters and timelines, the novel explores the fates of the expedition members, the origins of Area X, and the secretive agency attempting to understand it. The story weaves together the past and present, blending elements of horror, environmental science, and psychological drama to reveal the profound and often terrifying transformations wrought by this enigmatic zone. Through the eyes of a lighthouse keeper, a former director of the agency, and others deeply affected by Area X, the book examines themes of identity, the human impact on the environment, and the unknowable nature of the world around us.

    The 11070th Greatest Book of All Time
  15. 15. Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King, Owen King

    In a small Appalachian town, an extraordinary event unfolds: women who fall asleep become shrouded in a cocoon-like gauze. If disturbed, they awaken in a violent, primal state. Meanwhile, in this bizarrely evolving world, Evie Black, a mysterious woman with a unique immunity to the sleeping phenomenon, emerges as both a potential savior and a harbinger of doom. As tensions between men and women escalate, the town becomes a battleground for a deeper societal confrontation, with Evie at its center. This novel weaves a rich tapestry of character and conflict, exploring themes of gender, power, and survival in a world teetering on the brink of an unfathomable transformation.

    The 11273rd Greatest Book of All Time

Reading Statistics

Click the button below to see how many of these books you've read!

Download

If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

Download