Monsters have been literary figures since before our time. From lurking under our beds to hiding in plain sight as our neighbors, lovers, or inhabitants of a gloomy-looking castle, authors have taken these feats and reimagined monster tales in bold and terrifying ways. If you thought you knew vampires, zombies, and werewolves, think again. Here are ten books that reinvent monster lore and will have you hooked!
Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones
This story of a teenage boy raised on the run by his werewolf family turns the classic werewolf myth on its head. As he prepares to enter adulthood, he is stuck between the human world and the wild, wondering whether or not he’ll ever transform and live the unpredictable life of the wolves. Equally tender yet gritty, this coming-of-age story turns the werewolf character into a powerful representation of identity in a world that treats you as an outsider.
Freaky Folklore: Terrifying Tales of the World’s Most Elusive Monsters and Enigmatic Cryptids by Carman Carrion
If you’ve ever been curious about the monsters and creatures that have haunted the stories of folklore, this book is for you! This illustrated collection of stories goes into the tales of 50 different monsters and legends alike. From the Chupacabra to the shape-shifting water horse, Kelpie, you’ll gain cultural knowledge along with spooky sightings and encounters that bring these monsters to life!
Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne
This story follows 24-year-old Angelika Frankenstein as she watches her brother resurrect the dead. When she assists her brother in reassembling a man back to life, she decides to pursue science for the sake of love — not creation or resurrection. Upon “Will’s” awakening, her attempts to romance her creation do not go as planned, as his memory is wiped, and he is set on finding out his identity. She instead goes along with his investigation and encounters yet another love interest that leaves her wondering if she built the perfect match or an experiment. This book reimagines Frankenstein as more than a doctor, blending moral unease and a quirky romance!
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Trigger Warning: This book contains triggering topics such as suicide, body horror, and murder. Please exercise personal care while reading.
Set in Victorian London, Dr. Henry Jekyll is a renowned and respected scientist with many ambitions. One day, a mysterious and brutish man, Edward Hyde, is allowed access to his home, laboratory, and even his will. Despite their close relationship, they are suspiciously never seen in the same room. Robert Louis Stevenson doesn’t just give us a physical monster; he delivers a novel that tackles the inner monster and overall human morality.
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Trigger Warning: This book contains triggering topics such as self-harm and domestic violence. Please exercise personal care while reading.
Blending 1920s Mexico and ancient Mayan mythology, this novel follows Casiopea Tun, who opens a mysterious box in her grandfather’s home and accidentally releases the god of death. Now bound to him by magic, she is forced into the journey of helping him reclaim the throne from his cruel brother. This book blurs the line between mortal and monster and shifts the god of death archetype, transforming it into something more complex and captivating.
Swamp Monster Massacre by Hunter Shea
Trigger Warning: This book contains triggering topics such as body horror and gore. Please exercise personal care while reading.
Chaos erupts deep within the Florida Everglades after a small boat of tourists, among them a wanted criminal, accidentally kills a young creature whose species is only found in legends. The dwellers of the swamp are now vengeful. On top of their tall and strong physique, they are now moving with a purpose. This novel emphasizes the mythical aspects of monsters and their deeply human wrath, which is perfectly fit for those who crave a suspenseful story.
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Trigger Warning: This book contains triggering topics such as sexual assault, murder, and animal cruelty. Please exercise personal care while reading.
Taking place in the suburbs of 1980s Sweden, Oskar, a 12-year-old boy who is bullied day after day, is awaiting the day that the opportunity for revenge will come. That is, until he befriends Eli, a mysterious girl who seems to only come out at night. As they continue to get to know each other, the death count seems to rise. Combining the horror genre with the theme of heartbreak, this book transforms the vampire trope from a lurking predator to an immortal and lonely outsider.
The Mere Wife by Maria Dahvana Headley
This book follows Dana Mills, a veteran who has no memories from her past, who retreats to a secluded mountain cave with her son, Gren, near a neat, gated suburb called Herot Hall. While past the border, Willa Herot and her son Dylan, who both live a life of privilege, befriend Gren. When both of their drastically different worlds collide, it’s revealed that monsters are not always what they seem and may be hiding behind white picket fences. This story is ideal for a monster story reimagined with inquisitive and moral twists!
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
This story is as if Dracula took place in a dusty libraries and war-stricken cities instead of a gothic and spooky castle. The Historian follows a young woman who discovers a mysterious book in her father’s library and becomes tangled up family secrets and an academic hunt that leaves the possibility of Vlad the Impaler being alive. Mixing in historical fiction, vampires, and thriller, this reinvents the monster as more of a terrifying yet intellectual being hiding in plain sight.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen
Trigger Warning: This book contains triggering topics such as self-harm and suicide. Please exercise personal care while reading.
This reimagining of Jane Austen’s classic story takes the themes of marriage and class and gives them a zombie-fied makeover! Elizabeth Bennet is still the same witty and independent woman; however, now she is also an experienced zombie slayer! When a plague takes over Meryton and resurrects the dead, Elizabeth Bennet and the arrogant Mr. Darcy take it upon themselves to fend off the horde of zombies. This book is perfect for those who adore this classic love story and are curious to see it with a monstrous twist!
Whether they’re undead civilians, swamp creatures, or werewolves, these stories are anything but ordinary! Monsters sure have evolved and so should your reading list with these picks.
If you’re curious about the famous stories that brought these monsters to life, click here.
For books like these and more, check out our Bookshop bookshelf Vampire and Werewolf Books to Sink Your Teeth Into.
