This beast of a year is crawling towards its inevitable end, its cadaver to resurrect itself as the new year. I’m spending the last two weeks (and the first few days of 2025) with my family in Hungary, eating a ridiculous amount of food, having an almost equally ridiculous number of drinks, listening to the political rants of some distant relatives while nodding heavily and trying not to respond, and resting a little too. I’m a bit late, I know, but happy holidays to you all. I hope you can also relax and party before the new year swallows us whole.

There is no snow in my homeland anymore, which I miss very much. I would love to play with my son in knee deep snow like I had done in my youth, but the snowy landscapes of Christmas are becoming fantasy like The Lord of the Rings. By the way, I try to re-read the books or re-watch the Peter Jackson trilogy every year. It’s the greatest Christmas story ever, for me at least. What are your favourite films or books you read this time of the year? Hit reply and tell me.

I haven’t worked on the novel in these two weeks, but that’s fine. I need this rest so that I will be able to jump into work and writing in the new year. I was thinking about not writing a greatest hits of books this time, but I love lists, so I couldn’t resist. This is more for me than you, but I’m going to share it, anyway.

My favourite reads in 2024:

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson – I haven’t read this classic before. It’s the story of four seekers investigating a haunted mansion, an exploration of isolation, belonging, and the dark corners of the human mind. A masterpiece of psychological horror, and a must read.

Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King – This collection of four novellas showcases Stephen King at his darkest, exploring the depths of human depravity and revenge. The title is apt. There is no light and no hope in these stories. And some dare to say that King cannot write horror anymore.

The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood – A novella, but I cannot miss it from this list. The vast wilderness of the Canadian forests has an atmosphere of primal terror and cosmic dread in the story. Blackwood explores themes of nature’s unknowable power and humanity’s insignificance. Unnerving and haunting.

Cunning Folk by Adam Nevill – The master of folk horror strikes again. A terrifying tale set in modern-day rural England, where a family’s dream home becomes a nightmare. This book has some truly disturbing and terrifying scenes. I stand by my claim that no one writes scarier stories today than Adam Nevill.

Tender is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica – This dystopian horror novel presents a world where animal meat has been replaced by legally processed human flesh, creating a devastating critique of society’s capacity for normalisation of the unthinkable. Very disturbing and highly thought provoking. You will not be the same after reading it.

Locke & Key: The Golden Age by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez – Hill and Rodriguez return to this beloved series with a collection that enriches the mythology of Keyhouse Manor. Amazing work with a nice Sandman crossover. Recommended.

The Great and Secret Show and Everville (The Books of the Art) by Clive Barker – These were long overdue. They didn’t disappoint. Both books are dark fantasy epics that explore the war between dreams and reality. The books are philosophically complex while maintaining a blend of horror and wonder. Not to be missed by any Barker fans.

The Wolf’s Hour by Robert McCammon – I’m not a fan of spy thrillers, but McCammon’s unique blend of werewolf horror and World War II history was a treat. He masterfully balanced supernatural elements with historical authenticity, creating a pulse-pounding adventure that never lost sight of its horror roots. It was a whirlwind, and I couldn’t put it down.

Non-horror:

Dune Trilogy by Frank Herbert – Inspired by the new Dune films, I read the whole first Dune Trilogy. These books are fantastic. A meditation on politics, power, religion, set in the far future where humans are not even humans anymore. Highly philosophical throughout, I regularly had to close the book to process what I had just read, in a good way. A classic for a reason.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky – I’ve read some classic literature this year, and this one is a standout. It follows the moral and mental deterioration of Raskolnikov, a student who commits murder to prove his own superiority. It’s an unforgettable exploration of guilt, redemption, and the human capacity for both cruelty and grace. No wonder it has been in print for over a century.

Solaris by Stanislaw Lem – Another deeply philosophical and psychological science fiction masterpiece. The story of humanity’s attempt to communicate with a seemingly sentient ocean planet. It’s almost horror in some places. I have read nothing like it.

This would be it. I hope some of these will spark your interest. Finally, I would like to say an infernal thank you for all your support and encouragement. I hope you enjoyed my stories, and hopefully you’ll enjoy the novel too when it comes out. I’ll keep the chalice raised in your name in 2025 as well.