Best Horror Secret Cult Novels: Which Ones Should I Read?

One underrated horror novel is 'The Ruins' by Scott Smith. It has a really creepy premise. A group of tourists visit an ancient Mayan ruin, and things start to go horribly wrong. The sense of isolation and the unknown is what makes it so terrifying. Another is 'The House Next Door' by Anne Rivers Siddons. It's about a haunted house that affects the lives of those around it in very disturbing ways. And 'The Fisherman' by John Langan. It combines elements of Lovecraftian horror with a unique and haunting story about fishing and the supernatural.

A really good coming of age horror novel is 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' by Ransom Riggs. It's about a boy who discovers a strange home full of children with special abilities. He has to grow up fast as he uncovers the secrets and the horror within. 'The Wasp Factory' by Iain Banks is also worth reading. It's a disturbing and thought - provoking story about a young man's life and the strange and often horrifying things he experiences. And 'The Graveyard Book' by Neil Gaiman is a unique take on the genre. A boy is raised in a graveyard among the ghosts, and as he grows, he learns about the world of the living and the dead.

I also recommend 'Uzumaki' by Junji Ito. This manga is filled with disturbing and nightmarish imagery. It tells the story of a town obsessed with spirals, and the horror unfolds in a very slow - burning yet terrifying way. The art is detailed and really adds to the overall sense of unease.

One of the top horror novels on Ranker is 'The Shining' by Stephen King. It's a classic that will keep you on the edge of your seat with its spooky hotel setting and a family slowly being driven mad.

One of the best is 'The Shining' by Stephen King. It's set in an isolated hotel with a haunted past. The slow build - up of the horror as the main character, Jack, descends into madness is truly terrifying. Another great one is 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker. The classic vampire tale with the eponymous count is full of suspense and dread. Then there's 'It' also by Stephen King. The shape - shifting Pennywise the clown preys on children's fears in the town of Derry.

I'd recommend 'The Darkest Part of the Woods' by Ramsey Campbell. It involves a cult that has ties to an ancient and evil presence in the woods. The novel plays with the idea of the forest as a place of mystery and danger, and the cult is at the heart of the malevolence. It's full of eerie descriptions and a sense of creeping horror that builds throughout the story.

One of the best Xianxia novels is 'Coiling Dragon'. It has a great story with a protagonist who gradually grows stronger. The world - building is detailed, full of various magical beasts and powerful cultivators. Another good one is 'A Record of Mortal's Cultivation to Immortality'. It follows the journey of an ordinary mortal as he overcomes countless difficulties on his path to immortality.

Some great fantasy novels from 2018 include 'Spinning Silver' by Naomi Novik. It's a richly detailed retelling of fairytales with strong female characters. Another one is 'Children of Blood and Bone' by Tomi Adeyemi. It has a unique magic system and a story of revolution in a fantasy world.

Some great Android novels include 'The Martian' by Andy Weir. It's a thrilling story about an astronaut stranded on Mars and his fight for survival. The science and humor in it make it really engaging.

Some of the best Gothic novels include 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker. It's a classic that introduced the world to the iconic vampire, Count Dracula. The atmosphere is dark and foreboding, with a sense of mystery that keeps readers on edge.