Horror & Sci-fi
May the stories
be with you
Alien worlds, dystopian futures and the things that stalk the dark. Horror and sci-fi push imagination beyond the limits of reality. From distant galaxies to the depths of our worst fears, the page is where these worlds first come to life.
Here you’ll find a selection of reads to dive right into. From books, to magazines and podcasts, explore what scares or inspires you and see where it takes you.
But this is just the beginning – there's a world of stories out there to help you Go All In on horror, sci-fi, or whatever you’re into.
Reads for 5–11 year olds
Spooky stories and
strange worlds
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Book Audiobook
The Invasion of Crooked Oak – The Crooked Oak mysteries Book 1
Ages 9-11Stranger Things meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers in this thrilling sci-fi adventure with an ecological twist.
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Book Audiobook
The Zombie Project
Ages 9-11The action-packed and horrorful zombie adventure from debut author Alice Nuttall, with an original environmental twist!
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Book Audiobook
Little Horror
Ages 9-11Little Horror follows Rita, a two-year-old with the mind of a teenager. When her parents disappear, she goes on the run from sinister pursuers.
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Book Audiobook
Isadora Moon
Ages 7-9Half vampire and half fairy, this illustrated series follows a girl who struggles to fit in, mixing magic with feisty fun for young readers.
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Book Audiobook
After
Ages 9-11Jen and her father cross a deserted world after tech collapse, seeking survivors and a new life after the Flood wipes out people and machines.
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Graphic Novel
Bumble and Snug and the Shy Ghost
Ages 5-7A shy little ghost vanishes before the show, so Bumble and Snug must save the day amid falling stages, magic tricks, friendship and chaos.
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Picture Book
Creepy Pair of Underwear
Ages 5-7Jasper Rabbit buys glowing underwear that seems fun until it frightens him at night, leading to a clever plan that helps him feel safe again.
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Picture Book
The Witch in the Tower
Ages 7-9A stunning, highly illustrated coming‑of‑age fantasy about self‑discovery and empowerment, filled with Júlia Sardà’s exquisite, magical and richly detailed art.
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Book
Zombierella: Fairy Tales Gone Bad
Ages 7-11A dark, Halloween-ready twist on Cinderella as an undead heroine sets out to confront the cruel sisters who tormented her, in a deliciously gothic adventure.
Podcast
A podcast for horror lovers, by horror lovers
This weekly podcast explores the evolution of the horror genre, from silent cinema to modern classics, via different sub-genres with guests that discuss horror movies
Reads for 11–16 year olds
Where the weird and
wonderful begin
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Audiobook
BBC World Service – The Dark Is Rising
Ages 11-16A young boy’s time-travelling fight against ancient evil. This dramatisation of Susan Cooper’s cult novel is a magical journey into the supernatural.
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Book Audiobook
Dreadwood (Series)
Ages 11-16Fast-paced blend of comedy and horror, following a group of students caught up in terrifying events linked to a sinister forest.
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Book Audiobook
Keep Your Friends Close
Ages 14-16A tense thriller for young adults about trust, power and toxic friendships.
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Book Audiobook
And the River Drags Her Down
Ages 14-16A haunting, lyrical tale of grief, sisterhood and revenge that blends Gothic horror, mystery and Korean folklore.
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Book
Poems from a Witch’s Pocket
Ages 11-14A young witch’s pocket treasures – spells, notes, and observations – shape a magical world of nature, mystery and change, told through practical, surreal poems.
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Book
Ditching Saskia
Ages 11-14A supernatural graphic novel that gently weaves together tough, everyday themes of identity, grief, and accepting flaws in those we love the most.
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Book Graphic Novel
100 Tales from the Tokyo Ghost Café
Ages 14-16Akira crosses spirit-haunted Japan to find his family, meeting yōkai and eerie tales in a manga-inspired journey rich with folklore and adventure.
YouTube channel
Nerd out over sci-fi horror on this YouTube channel
Sci-fi horror enthusiasts can fill up on adult horror book recommendations, analysis and entertainment with Quinn's Ideas.
Reads for Adults
Out of this world reads
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Audiobook
The Reformatory
AdultsHistorical, horror novel about a boy from a brutal reform school who can see ghosts.
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Podcast
The Lovecraft Investigations
AdultsPodcasters investigate witchcraft, the occult and secret government operations in this horror fiction which is a modern take on the words of HP Lovecraft.
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Podcast
Quinn’s Ideas
AdultsSci-fi horror enthusiasts can enjoy horror book recommendations, analysis and entertainment through this YouTube channel.
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Book Audiobook
Annihilation
AdultsThe first volume of the classic Southern Reach series, a cosmic mystery which has become a sci-fi horror film starring Natalie Portman.
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Book
Tales of Occult Britain
AdultsA collection of short stories by nine contemporary authors, each set in real-world locations across the UK and Northern Ireland.
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Podcast
The Evolution of Horror
AdultsFor horror enthusiasts, this weekly podcast explores the evolution of the horror genre, from silent cinema to modern classics, via different subgenres.
Graphic novel
Ghost stories in a graphic novel for teens
A combination of prose and manga, these haunting short stories will entertain those with an appetite for the supernatural.
Library finder
You don’t have to
buy it to read it
Libraries make it easy to dive into books around your interests, without needing to buy them. Borrow titles, discover new authors and Go All In on your passions.
Podcast
An absorbing horror story dramatisation on BBC Sounds
Podcasters within a podcast investigate witchcraft, the occult and secret government operations in this adult horror fiction which is a modern take on the words of HP Lovecraft.
Great for teens and adults alike.
