### 15 Best Historical Fiction Horrors to Read This Halloween
Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to get into the spooky spirit than by diving into some historical fiction horror books? These stories blend the eerie and unsettling with historical settings, making them perfect for a chilling read. Here are 15 of the best historical fiction horrors to keep you up all night.
1. **A Secret History of Witches** by Louisa Morgan
– This book follows the Orchiere family, a family of witches, over five generations. It’s a fascinating tale of strong and powerful women facing persecution and protecting their craft and way of life. The story takes an interesting turn during World War II, where the final Orchiere woman joins Queen Elizabeth’s coven.
2. **Magic Lessons** by Alice Hoffman
– Part of the Practical Magic series, this book tells the story of Maria Owens, a witch whose powers are highlighted beautifully in Hoffman’s magical realism writing style. From England to the Caribbean and finally to Manhattan, Maria’s journey is filled with love, heartbreak, and real fear of being hanged as a witch.
3. **The Heretic’s Daughter** by Kathleen Kent
– Set in 1691, this book is about ten-year-old Sarah Carrier and her family who relocate to Andover, Massachusetts. Unbeknownst to them, they bring smallpox, which leads to their mother, Martha, being imprisoned as a witch during the Salem witch trials. The story is heart-pounding and heart-shattering as it explores the bond between Sarah and her mother.
4. **The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel** by Alyssa Palombo
– This retelling of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow features Katrina Van Tassel at the forefront. The story is a tragic romance of forbidden love, where Katrina must use her otherworldly powers to find her beloved Ichabod Crane before he disappears. The book is filled with spooky vibes and a twist ending that will keep you guessing.
5. **Dracula** by Bram Stoker
– Although not strictly historical fiction, Dracula is a classic horror novel that has defined all vampire books. Published in 1897, it tells the story of Count Dracula and his aversion to all things holy. The novel is an epistolary, meaning it is a compilation of fictional letters authored by different characters with diverse perspectives.
6. **The Haunting of Hill House** by Shirley Jackson
– This gothic horror novel, published in 1959, is widely considered one of the scariest stories of all time. It follows a quirky researcher who gathers a group of strangers in a haunted house to record supernatural stirrings. The story is wonderfully unsettling and has been adapted into both a 1963 film and a 2018 Netflix series.
7. **The Call of Cthulhu** by H.P. Lovecraft
– Written by the master of cosmic horror, H.P. Lovecraft, this story unveils a destructive Cthulhu, a nightmare corpse city, and a cult of Cthulhu worshipers. Lovecraft’s work often explores the unknown through cosmic themes, making his stories terrifying and thought-provoking.
8. **Something Wicked This Way Comes** by Ray Bradbury
– This dark fantasy novel, published in 1962, is set in a carnival that seems to appear out of nowhere. The carnival is filled with men riding carousels backward and balloon-floating witches, making it a place of pure terror. The title is taken from a Shakespeare line, suggesting that something wicked is indeed coming.
9. **The House of Last Resort** by Peter Straub
– This novel follows Tommy and Kate as they move to an Italian village and discover the
