150+ Horror Books for Free! [PDF]

Welcome, thrill-seeker! Prepare to dive into the captivating universe of horror books, where each story will make you question shadows and nocturnal noises.

Our catalog is a true treasure for fans of horror books. We offer a selection that will shake your nerves and awaken your deepest fears.

But horror books aren’t just about fear. Here, you’ll find books that will not only terrify you, but also make you think, reflect, and sometimes even move you.

Want to explore the mind of a serial killer? Or perhaps you prefer haunted houses and restless spirits? Are you intrigued by creatures of the night or science fiction tales with a dark twist? We have horror books for all tastes.

So, if you’re ready to challenge your fears and immerse yourself in a reading you won’t be able to escape from, you’re in the right place. Browse, discover, and download the horror books waiting for you.

Happy scares!

1) Children's Horror Books

Children's Horror Books

Because fear and terror are not just a matter for adults, we have created a collection of children’s horror books for everyone at home to enjoy.

Several of the classic horror books are considered suitable for reading to the youngest members of the family, as they are stories with the element of fear and intrigue; some of them are even short readings.

We invite you to review our list and choose the stories that may be more in line with your child’s age and maturity to face fears.

2) Cosmic Horror Books

Cosmic Horror Books

In cosmic horror books, you will find unfathomable worlds, parallel dimensions, and dreams that crystallize and derive from episodes of madness. Ancestral beings that awaken and alter the established order.

Unlike other types of horror stories, in cosmic horror books, there are usually no heroes, and no man is relevant enough to decide his own destiny.

This type of horror does not focus entirely on deities, but can also be a natural phenomenon, such as thunder, a volcano, or an eclipse, so it is cosmic, of the cosmos as a whole. If you wish to enter a totally different world of horror, we invite you to take a look at this section.

3) Ghost Horror Books

Ghost Horror Books

When we are in the dark, most of us can sometimes feel as if some presence is there, and we begin to see silhouettes that our brain little by little gives a really dark shape.

Perhaps that is why there is a fear of the dark, of the unknown, and not knowing what we can find. How many ghosts have we been able to imagine?! Not only in moments of darkness, even during the day, and sometimes we can doubt if it is really a figment of our imagination.

If you are one of those who like “stories from beyond”, where ghosts have their most fearsome appearances, with supernatural, demonic, or religious elements, we bring you our collection of ghost horror books in PDF.

4) Gothic Horror Books

Gothic Horror Books

Gothic literature has left us with great works, and in one way or another, it has accompanied us throughout the centuries. Great classics and popular modern horror works have acquired and shared their distinctive features.

In gothic horror books, the stories are primarily set in dark, decadent, and ruinous environments. These environments can be cemeteries, wastelands, gloomy forests, crypts, and castles.

The spaces and environments are varied, but always generate in the characters feelings of anxiety and strangeness. These stories can be fed by popular legends and paranormal figures such as witches, ghosts, and vampires.

5) Horror and Romance Books

Horror and Romance Books

Can’t there be romance in horror stories? Of course, there is, and you can enjoy this excellent combination in our list of horror and romance books.

Stories of this type combine romance with paranormal or supernatural elements and characters and the setting and style of storytelling are inspired by the gothic novel.

Not only will you find passionate and dedicated lovers, but also vampires, sorcery, and ghosts, among others, will be part of the story. You will be able to enjoy unconventional love affairs.

6) Horror and Science Fiction Books

Horror and Science Fiction Books

Horror and Science Fiction are two genres that have managed to integrate and link in such a way that their mixture has given birth to great stories.

In the horror genre, the stories take on fear as a central element of the plot. On the other hand, science fiction tries to speculate about the future, space, and everything it contains, or about strange elements, parallel realities…

The mix of the characteristics of both genres in the development of the stories makes them unique and amazingly creepy works, you can enjoy this plot in our collection of Horror and Science Fiction books.

7) Horror and Suspense Books

Horror and Suspense Books

Suspense is a narrative technique that manages to keep us hooked, it is like a power of seduction that the authors strategically employ to captivate us in the development of the story.

Aside from fear, another characteristic of the horror genre is suspense. We experience it, for example, when we do not know what may happen to the characters, it generates in us questions that for the moment will not have an answer and forces us to stay in the reading until we find out.

If you are one of those who are fascinated by that feeling or state of uncertainty, doubt, anxiety, feeling a certain degree of tension, you can not miss the Horror and Suspense Books we have available for you for free.

8) Horror Books for Halloween

Horror Books for Halloween

Halloween has been expanding from Ireland (its possible origin), from Europe to the United States, and more recently in Latin America.

Many symbols with different meanings are used. The main ones are pumpkins with a malevolent expression with a light inside, witches, black cats, ghosts, skulls, and costumes.

Many of these elements and even the inspiration for your decorations and costumes can be found in our list of horror books for Halloween.

9) Horror Books for Teenagers

Horror Books for Teenagers

The horror genre is one of the most captivating in reading, especially since you can enjoy it from a very young age, such as adolescence. During this age, we feel braver and this drives us to want to know and share stories of this kind.

You can take advantage of this desire to develop the habit of reading in an entertaining and chilling way. Some of these stories you may already know from their movie, but you only got a taste of what you’ll find in teen horror books.

Perhaps you are one of those who like terror but not enough to lose sleep, or, you are from a team that does not care and likes feeling fear to the fullest. In our collection, you will find free stories for all levels of fear.

10) Horror Books with Haunted Houses

Horror Books with Haunted Houses

Haunted houses are so called because paranormal phenomena such as apparitions, noises, movements of objects, etc., occur inside them.

Most of us, when we see an abandoned house or property, with an old style, we are intrigued, and even more, if it is a house with stories that go beyond our reasoning.

Haunted houses are a propitious setting for the development of great stories. Homes are supposed to generate a warm, family-like atmosphere, however, this is not the case in horror books with haunted houses.

11) Horror Books Written by Women

Horror Books Written by Women

When we think of horror books it is very easy to think of great authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, or H.P. Lovecraft. But they are not the only ones, there are also excellent horror books written by women.

It is not so easy for authors to awaken in us the feeling of terror while we immerse ourselves in reading, to make us look out of the corner of our eyes to check that there is no strange presence around us.

But they have done it, and in recognition of their work, we have decided to create this section for you to get to know new horror stories and the authors behind them.

12) Horror Short Stories

Horror Short Stories

Stories capable of causing fear, shocks and chills are also present in short texts. Horror short stories are one of the most widely read groups, mainly due to the interest they arouse in the general reading public.

With narratives that generate fear, the authors of these books manage to activate the minds and perceptions of the readers, taking them to an unparalleled level of emotion and exaltation.

If you like this type of emotion, you should not miss this collection of free horror short stories. All are ideal to raise your adrenaline levels.

13) Paranormal Horror Books

Paranormal Horror Books

Terror and paranormal events are the perfect combination, they are out of logic stories, unreasonable, and at the same time chilling and terrifying. Perhaps many of our nightmares are fueled by this type of reading.

Paranormal events or phenomena are those that science cannot explain, and perhaps that lack of explanation is what most attracts our attention.

With paranormal horror books, you won’t stop being amazed at the wit of the authors to describe in the darkest way the manifestation of evil and the fight that will take place to try to defeat it.

14) Psychological Horror Books

Psychological Horror Books

There are fears that are in us and accompany us in the darkness. We are in bed and they are waiting for us impatiently behind the door. These fears, inspired by childhood trauma or by specific stories, end up getting deeper. They are the shadow in the distance with which the writer has to play to make psychological horror an art.

These kinds of fears are formed in our minds, attend to our subjective world and move away from the most graphic horror. Since it is not presented by monsters, witches, vampires, zombies, haunted houses and industrial quantities of blood.

It is usually considered that the pioneering author of this modality was the great American storyteller Edgar Allan Poe, who through stories such as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Man of the Crowd or The Imp of the Perverse, among others, found a new way to make the traditional Gothic novel obsolete.

15) Horror Books in French

Horror Books in French

The literary genre of terror has as its main objective to provoke fear in readers, in fact, the main characteristic of this genre is the effect it generates in the audience, which we refer to as fear.

Horror books are distinguished by managing to affect the thoughts of the people who read them, through the events that the story covers; these events can be executed by human characters or not.

According to what experts say, a character of supernatural origin or belonging to the monster category is not required to terrify readers. You can see this and enjoy it in each of the categories ofhorror books that we have put together for you.

Enjoy this selection of 15 horror books in French.

16) Horror Books in Portuguese

Horror Books in Portuguese

The literary genre of terror has as its main objective to provoke fear in readers, in fact, the main characteristic of this genre is the effect it generates in the audience, which we refer to as fear.

Horror books are distinguished by managing to affect the thoughts of the people who read them, through the events that the story covers; these events can be executed by human characters or not.

According to what experts say, a character of supernatural origin or belonging to the monster category is not required to terrify readers. You can see this and enjoy it in each of the categories ofhorror books that we have put together for you.

Enjoy this selection of 15 horror books in Portuguese.

17) Horror Books in Spanish

Horror Books in Spanish

The literary genre of terror has as its main objective to provoke fear in readers, in fact, the main characteristic of this genre is the effect it generates in the audience, which we refer to as fear.

Horror books are distinguished by managing to affect the thoughts of the people who read them, through the events that the story covers; these events can be executed by human characters or not.

According to what experts say, a character of supernatural origin or belonging to the monster category is not required to terrify readers. You can see this and enjoy it in each of the categories ofhorror books that we have put together for you.

Enjoy this selection of 15 horror books in Spanish.

18) Vampire Books

Vampire Books

Vampires have an aura of darkness and charm that has captivated many readers of vampire literature. It is that effect of fear, combined with an inevitable attraction that has captured the public’s attention for centuries.

The figure of the vampire comes from literature and its origins date back to the 18th century, although it was the 19th century that produced the narrative stories that would make way for Bram Stoker’s great Dracula.

The 20th century was not left behind, it was during this period that a creature that was completely demonic and despicable was humanized even more. Since then, it has not stopped evolving and today, many authors continue to amaze us with vampire stories.

At the end we invite you to visit:

| Best Books: The Best 25 Horror Books [Paid]

| Horror Authors: 15 Authors of Horror Books You Must Read

| Gifts Books: The Best 5 Horror Books to Give as Gifts

Featured Horror Books

1) Dracula by Bram Stoker

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Dracula is a novel in the best English Gothic style of the Victorian era, an unparalleled mix of horror, terror, and romanticism. Over time, it has immortalized the figure of the vampire, giving it the appearance that we all know today.

Written by Bram Stoker and published in 1897, it is a classic that no one should stop reading. Despite the fact that there were previous works that had a vampire as a character, it was Dracula who took center stage in the collective imagination.

The novel tells us about the vicissitudes of the lawyer Jonathan Harker and those close to him since he makes the decision to work for Count Dracula in Transylvania. From there, fear, the supernatural, and the characters’ struggle to escape evil come together.

2) The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by R. L. Stevenson

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by R. L. Stevenson

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a short psychological horror novel, a true classic of universal literature that deals with a very human and complex theme. Its exquisite descriptions and the atmosphere of mystery that remains until the end make it an emblematic work.

The central theme is the eternal dilemma between good and evil, which is so relevant and at the same time makes this a timeless book. Is it possible to be happy living in one of the extremes? What about tints and grays? These are some questions that may arise from reading this novel.

3) The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

The Canterville Ghost is a short story written by Oscar Wilde. What the author achieves with this work is proof of his mastery, his knowledge of the literary language, and his ability to poignantly mix mystery and humor.

It is a narrative text that leaves the reader captivated from start to finish. It’s about a ghost who, as usual, devises a plan to scare the new family that will move to Canterville Castle. The problem is that these people are not what he expected.

The Otis are part of a distinguished American family that is not impressed by the appearance of a simple ghost. This, logically, leaves the specter disconcerted and begins a conflict that finishes in an almost poetic way.

4) The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

The Phantom of the Opera is a novel by French writer Gastón Leroux, published in 1910. Listed as a great work of Gothic literature, it mixes romance, drama, mystery, and veiled social criticism.

Without a doubt, the author revolutionized with his literary proposal where a strange being makes an appearance at the Paris Opera to horrify the public and be seen by a young singer he is in love with

The novel presents us with lyrical language mixed with a perfect gothic atmosphere to make this an unforgettable read.

5) The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe

The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe

The Black Cat is one of the most popular horror stories by Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1843. Literary critics have cataloged this story as one of the most horrifying ever written in the world.

A black cat occupies the main scene, along with the protagonist, a man who seems kind and peaceful, but who is a terrible alcoholic. Violence, death, and guilt are themes that intertwine in this masterpiece, leaving breathless any soul that reads it.

6) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein is a gothic horror novel, written in the early 19th century. It has become a universal classic due to the originality of its plot and its novelty at the time. It has also been cataloged as the first real work of science fiction.

Victor Frankenstein is a young man with great aspirations in the field of science. He wants to create something unprecedented: give life to a dead body. This leads him to experiment in the lab and, to his horror, he succeeds in undertaking it.

Seeing that he had created some kind of monster, Victor immediately regrets it, flees, and then tries to get rid of it, but cannot do it. The creature is a being that cannot adapt to the world and its unhappiness leads it to take revenge. Thus begins the persecution between creation and creator, which takes the characters to the limit of despair.

7) The Call of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft

The Call of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft

The Call of Cthulhu is a story that tells us about the appearance of one of the mythological characters created by Lovecraft throughout his career as a writer. It was published in 1928 and received remarkable success, making Cthulhu one of the most popular entities in horror literature.

The story begins with the death of a professor, whose most important papers are left to the protagonist and narrator of the story. He becomes aware of the existence of a kind of octopus-headed monster called Cthulhu, who lies asleep in the depths of R’lyeh.

He also discovers that the professor was part of a cult that wants to awaken Cthulhu so that it can rule the world. With a disturbing plot, in this story, Lovecraft plunges us into a world of mystery that leaves us perplexed.

8) The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

The Turn of The Screw is a short novel with a catchy, mysterious, terrifying, and surprising plot. It is masterfully written by Henry James, who creates a building tension throughout the narrative, as well as an unsettling atmosphere where you constantly feel that something terrible is about to happen.

With scenes capable of making your skin crawl, and characters described in great detail, both in their psychology and in their appearance, this novel makes an impression in everything it achieves in such a short length of pages.

The main narrative voice is that of a governess who goes to work in a Victorian house, where she begins to perceive a series of supernatural phenomena. This, together with her suspicion that something terrible happened recently in that place, leads her to do an almost detective investigation that finishes in a totally unexpected way.

9) Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu

Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu

Carmilla is a gothic horror novel, the precursor of the vampire stories that inspired later works such as Dracula. It was published in 1872 and written by Sheridan Le Fanu, who gave the narrative different elements that make it enter the Gothic genre.

The protagonist, Laura, narrates how her life with her father changes radically after the accidental arrival of a beautiful, seductive and irresistible young woman. The two become close friends after Carmilla’s carriage crashes in front of Laura’s house.

The unconscious young woman is received at the father and daughter’s home for her to recover. From then on, the strangest events begin, especially in Carmilla’s behavior.

10) The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Portrait of Dorian Gray is considered a classic of gothic horror literature, with innovative ideas for the time and dealing with controversial themes. This work was first published in 1890 and, we can appreciate the main character who likes to corrupt souls everywhere in a selfish eagerness to please himself.

The young Dorian Gray makes a dark pact in which he has a free pass to live a sinful life without suffering the consequences of the passage of time on his body. However, no pact with evil is free, something is always taken in return. Dorian must suffer the consequences of a life without limits that will inexorably lead him to a tragic end.

11) The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The House of the Seven Gables is a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, for many critics the best American work of that time. It was published in 1851 and dealt with the curse that has fallen on the Pyncheon family, more specifically on the land where their mansion is built.

It all originated at the end of the 16th century when Colonel Pyncheon became infatuated with the idea of appropriating a piece of land owned by Matthew Maule, who refused to give it up. Using his influence as a judge, Colonel Pyncheon took advantage of the witch-hunting moment to accuse Maule of sorcery.

Before being executed, the man put a curse on Pyncheon, who shortly after building his house of seven roofs, died mysteriously. The consequences of this curse have enveloped generation after generation until the 19th century as if the family’s sins could be inherited.

12) At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft

At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft

At the Mountains of Madness is one of the most famous novels by the American author H.P. Lovecraft. It is part of his Cthulhu mythology and tells the story of an expedition to Antarctica by a group of scientists from the fictional Miskatonic University.

The expedition team has a newly created drill that will allow them to penetrate the subsoil to find fossils and other evidence of how life has developed in that part of the planet.

The expedition was divided into two groups, one of which went to a mountain range where they made impressive discoveries of fossils never seen before. But, out of nowhere, these scientists disappeared. The other group went in search of them, and when they arrived they found a mountain full of evil.

In the mountains of madness, it tells us about the defenselessness and vulnerability of the human race, before other cosmic beings of great power.

13) The House on the Borderland by William Hope Hodgson

The House on the Borderland by William Hope Hodgson

The House on the Borderland is a novel that masterfully combines supernatural horror and fantasy. Some of the events narrated in the book are considered by many critics to be unique in this type of literature, at least until the year of its publication in 1908.

A man lives in a house in Ireland, where he experiences a series of frightening encounters with creatures that seem to emerge from the depths of this place. This nightmarish journey is the result of the man opening a portal to another dimension.

In addition to the terrifying creatures he has to deal with, the protagonist will be taken on a cosmic journey in which he learns about the beginning and end of the universe.

14) The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

The War of the Worlds is a horror and science fiction novel published in 1898. It deals with an invasion of aliens from the planet Mars. The narrator is the author of articles classified as speculative science and is the protagonist of the novel, although his name is never revealed.

The Martians do not come in peace, they are ready to unleash a war, an intention that is clear from the first encounter with humans. Throughout the chapters, we will witness all the vicissitudes that the protagonist will live from the invasion.

The masterfully described attack and defense make this book a classic of science fiction that gives us for the first time the description of extraterrestrial beings. It would remain forever engraved in the collective memory.

15) Morella by Edgar Allan Poe

Morella by Edgar Allan Poe

Morella is a horror and suspense story written by Edgar Allan Poe and published in 1835. It is about a married couple formed by the protagonist narrator and Morella, a strange woman who reads books about mysticism. Due to the practices of dark magic, Morella manages to become immortal, however, her physique degrades more and more every day.

Her husband is afraid of her, however, he does not get away from her. When they have their daughter, Morella dies, but everything indicates that her soul entered the little girl’s body. Subsequently, a series of strange events unfold and keep the reader anxious until the end.

Well, here ends our selection with the best Horror Books. We hope you liked it!

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