Cryptid Reads for Chilly Fall Nights

Hello, Book Nerds! Welcome back to Reading Has Ruined My Life or welcome if you are new. As always, my name is Hannah and I am your captain on this journey into my bookcases.

I can wait no longer. It’s officially Spooky Season here on RHRML. To kick things off this year, I thought I would offer up some more book recommendations. Though instead of presenting you all with some horror and thriller reads for the chilly fall nights, I thought it would be fun to recommend some cryptid reads. No, not more reads based on your favorite cryptids. All today’s reads have cryptids and creatures in them. But if you want those cryptid inspired book recs, you can click here.

Now onto this list!

5. Let’s kick things off with the premiere cryptid book of the 2020s: Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks. The title truly tells you everything you need to know about the plot. What I can tell you is Max Brooks always does a phenomenal job at creating “historical” chronicles that somehow blends science fiction and the fantastical into one horrific tale.

4. Let’s continue this list with a cozy cryptid mystery series. I can only be talking about the Monster Hunter series by Annelise Ryan. Morgan Carter, owner of a small town bookshop, hunts cryptids in her spare time. Honestly my dream job/life right there. In the first book of the series, Morgan is called in by the police to help investigate a homicide. The victims have some strange bite marks on their bodies that may or may not be from a sea monster, hence why our amateur cryptozoologist is called in. From Nessie, to Mothman, to Bigfoot, to the Hodag, this cozy mystery series has my attention this Spooky Season.

3. Perhaps you’re looking for a children’s literature recommendation. Perhaps your kid is looking for a horror-lite read. I have you covered with this next book. It Came From the Trees by Ally Russell is my next rec. A missing child, a string of attacks, and the police have no leads. That’s why a scout troop, led by young Jenna, descend into the wilderness in search of one of their own. Soon the troop finds evidence that points towards Bigfoot as the culprit.

2. Into the Drowning Deep and its prequel Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant were a must mention when I was curating this list. This is the story of the Atargatis and its crew. How a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a mockumentary about mermaids led to a ship vanishing. Years later, a new team sets out to find the Atargatis and learn what happened to the crew. It’s a chilling tale sure to keep readers with fears of the deep ocean (AKA me) up all night.

1. Let’s ends things with a laugh and some terrifying chills. The Haunted Forest Tour by James A. Moore and Jeff Strand finishes this list. The Haunted Forest Tour takes you through a deep forest filled to the brim with ghosts, ghouls, werewolves, and creatures of all kind. Enjoy some spooks on Halloween night and go even further into the forest than ever before. And don’t worry, you’ll be perfectly safe in the tour trams; safety is guaranteed. Packed full of nonstop action, gore, Jurassic Park level hubris, and every creature known to man, The Haunted Forest Tour offers readers a Halloween night they won’t forget.

Thus endeth our list!

Thank you very much for joining me today, Book Nerds. I must bid you all adieu now. I will see you all again next Wednesday with a new Spooky Season review. If you can’t wait that long, then I highly suggest giving Reading Has Ruined My Life a follow over on Instagram (@ReadingHasRuinedMyLife). I post there almost daily so come back often to revel in literary goodness. You can also follow the blog on Twitter and BlueSky (@RHRMLBlog). If you want something not related to books then why not check out my podcast Nothing to See Hear. The show stars me and two of my dearest friends as we talk about everything and anything. I have a series on the show called Cryptid Corner if you want to hear the lore behind some of the most well-known cryptids out there. Nothing to See Hear can currently be found on Spotify and YouTube with new episodes releasing every Wednesday evening.

Until next time, stay safe, wash your hands, and read some good books for me.

See y'all then, bye!