I read 174 books this year (!), which is a personal record. 
I also spent almost $800 on books this year, which is a much sadder record.
Rather than put my brain through a Scanners-worthy explosion of concentration, I decided to do TWO top ten lists this year. One for horror, and one for everything else.
Oh, it was still an impossible feat, but at least I still have a face.
Horror first!
10: Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon & Mu
This was both my first Junji Ito and my first manga experience. It's quirky, fun, and emotionally draining.
9: Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV (writer) and Werther Dell'Edera (art)
This graphic novel has been picked up by Netflix, with Mike Flanagan attached. Extremely dark stuff. You'd like it.
8: The Autumnal by Daniel Kraus (writer) & Chris Shehan (art)
I read 25 graphic novels this year, and this was the best one. Creepy, memorable, and perfect for Halloween. I guess Kraus is good in every medium.
7: Don't Go to Wheelchair Camp by David Irons
Yes, it has humorous moments but don't judge it by the silly title alone. This book has some genuinely scary moments and is very well written. The characters will stay with you too. It was the best splatterpunk novel released in 2021.
6: Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage
Perhaps the best evil kid story I've ever read.
5: Black Wind by F Paul Wilson
I have read a lot of FPW and have loved most of it, but I'm thinking Black Wind has got to be his best work. Part historical, part dark fantasy/horror, with a well written tale of friendship holding it all together.
4: Wasps in the Ice Cream by Tim McGregor
This was the best coming-of-age book that I read this year. McGregor is no fluke either, as I invite you to read his mermaid horror story, Lure. Wasps in the Ice Cream is currently unavailable, but the folks at Raw Dog Screaming Press are changing that in 2023. Keep an eye out.
3: Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
If this one sounds familiar, it's probably because the horror reader community has been talking about it constantly for over a year now. The hype for this wicked little novella just kept getting bigger and bigger, culminating in a Stoker award nomination and a Splatterpunk award win. Now it's on the shelf at Barnes & Noble, so there are no excuses.
2: The Changeling by Victor LaValle
There aren't many dark fantasy books that I LOVE, but this is surely one of them. LaValle got horror's attention with the Lovecraftian The Ballad of Black Tom, but The Changeling is his masterpiece. Trust me.
1: On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel
Full disclosure: It's a small stretch to call this one a horror novel, but it IS a serial killer story, and sometimes the only way I can get your attention is to say "horror." Also, I should mention that it is essentially tied with The Changeling, but I felt like I'd be selling out having a tie for #1. McDaniel also won my best-of-the-year honor for Betty in 2020. Unfortunately, like McGregor's Wasps in the Ice Cream, you will have to wait for it (February 14!)
And now for the best of non-horror:
10: Last Things by Jacqueline West
Found this one thanks to Ginger Nuts of Horror's Tony Jones (shout out to www.gingernutsofhorror.com!) This guy really knows his young adult literature. This is a YA heavy metal, dark fantasy story. That should be enough. Get it.
9: Forgetting Places by SP Somtow
Forgetting Places was the best YA that I read this year. There is definitely a uniqueness to Somtow's writing that seems to be missing in most YA literature.
8: A Writer's Tale by Richard Laymon
The reading of this book was 20 years in the making. I've been an enormous Laymon fan since the 90's, and have coveted this book ever since discovering him. A wonderful peek behind the curtain of Laymon's life and career.
7: The Mothers and Fathers Italian Association by Tom Monteleone
It's like an autobiography, but only written when Tom was in a bad mood. Hilarious, and often truthful to a fault. The story of the alien hoax alone is worth the cover price.
6: Upgrade by Blake Crouch
I'm not sure where I'd put this one with Crouch's other novels, but I can honestly say that I've loved every one of them.
5: Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier
If mainstream psychological thrillers are your thing, this is one of the best I've read in recent years. Hillier is never bad, but this one is exceptional.
4: Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan
Unique for a domestic thriller, and unlike what Langan has done before. A modern fable of herd mentality.
3: Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
A comedy zombie apocalypse? Done before. But a comedy zombie apocalypse with a wisecracking redneck crow for a narrator? If that doesn't catch your attention, we can't be friends.
2: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Even better than The Martian (which I also loved). The best science fiction book that I read this year.
1: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Yeah, the one that won all of the fancy literature awards. I was surprised at how much I liked it; I rarely like the "important" books. Be forewarned though: this is a 700 page heartbreak. It's one of the bleakest books I have ever read. So naturally I want you to read it.
Happy 2023 everyone!
Reviews by Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
Twitter: @pinheadspawn
I also spent almost $800 on books this year, which is a much sadder record.
Rather than put my brain through a Scanners-worthy explosion of concentration, I decided to do TWO top ten lists this year. One for horror, and one for everything else.
Oh, it was still an impossible feat, but at least I still have a face.
Horror first!10: Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon & Mu
This was both my first Junji Ito and my first manga experience. It's quirky, fun, and emotionally draining.
9: Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV (writer) and Werther Dell'Edera (art)
This graphic novel has been picked up by Netflix, with Mike Flanagan attached. Extremely dark stuff. You'd like it.
8: The Autumnal by Daniel Kraus (writer) & Chris Shehan (art)
I read 25 graphic novels this year, and this was the best one. Creepy, memorable, and perfect for Halloween. I guess Kraus is good in every medium.
7: Don't Go to Wheelchair Camp by David Irons
Yes, it has humorous moments but don't judge it by the silly title alone. This book has some genuinely scary moments and is very well written. The characters will stay with you too. It was the best splatterpunk novel released in 2021.
6: Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage
Perhaps the best evil kid story I've ever read.
5: Black Wind by F Paul Wilson
I have read a lot of FPW and have loved most of it, but I'm thinking Black Wind has got to be his best work. Part historical, part dark fantasy/horror, with a well written tale of friendship holding it all together.
4: Wasps in the Ice Cream by Tim McGregor
This was the best coming-of-age book that I read this year. McGregor is no fluke either, as I invite you to read his mermaid horror story, Lure. Wasps in the Ice Cream is currently unavailable, but the folks at Raw Dog Screaming Press are changing that in 2023. Keep an eye out.
3: Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
If this one sounds familiar, it's probably because the horror reader community has been talking about it constantly for over a year now. The hype for this wicked little novella just kept getting bigger and bigger, culminating in a Stoker award nomination and a Splatterpunk award win. Now it's on the shelf at Barnes & Noble, so there are no excuses.
2: The Changeling by Victor LaValle
There aren't many dark fantasy books that I LOVE, but this is surely one of them. LaValle got horror's attention with the Lovecraftian The Ballad of Black Tom, but The Changeling is his masterpiece. Trust me.
1: On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel
Full disclosure: It's a small stretch to call this one a horror novel, but it IS a serial killer story, and sometimes the only way I can get your attention is to say "horror." Also, I should mention that it is essentially tied with The Changeling, but I felt like I'd be selling out having a tie for #1. McDaniel also won my best-of-the-year honor for Betty in 2020. Unfortunately, like McGregor's Wasps in the Ice Cream, you will have to wait for it (February 14!)
And now for the best of non-horror:
10: Last Things by Jacqueline West
Found this one thanks to Ginger Nuts of Horror's Tony Jones (shout out to www.gingernutsofhorror.com!) This guy really knows his young adult literature. This is a YA heavy metal, dark fantasy story. That should be enough. Get it.
9: Forgetting Places by SP Somtow
Forgetting Places was the best YA that I read this year. There is definitely a uniqueness to Somtow's writing that seems to be missing in most YA literature.
8: A Writer's Tale by Richard Laymon
The reading of this book was 20 years in the making. I've been an enormous Laymon fan since the 90's, and have coveted this book ever since discovering him. A wonderful peek behind the curtain of Laymon's life and career.
7: The Mothers and Fathers Italian Association by Tom Monteleone
It's like an autobiography, but only written when Tom was in a bad mood. Hilarious, and often truthful to a fault. The story of the alien hoax alone is worth the cover price.
6: Upgrade by Blake Crouch
I'm not sure where I'd put this one with Crouch's other novels, but I can honestly say that I've loved every one of them.
5: Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier
If mainstream psychological thrillers are your thing, this is one of the best I've read in recent years. Hillier is never bad, but this one is exceptional.
4: Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan
Unique for a domestic thriller, and unlike what Langan has done before. A modern fable of herd mentality.
3: Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
A comedy zombie apocalypse? Done before. But a comedy zombie apocalypse with a wisecracking redneck crow for a narrator? If that doesn't catch your attention, we can't be friends.
2: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Even better than The Martian (which I also loved). The best science fiction book that I read this year.
1: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Yeah, the one that won all of the fancy literature awards. I was surprised at how much I liked it; I rarely like the "important" books. Be forewarned though: this is a 700 page heartbreak. It's one of the bleakest books I have ever read. So naturally I want you to read it.
Happy 2023 everyone!
Reviews by Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
Twitter: @pinheadspawn
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