Horror Books Where the Power Doesn't Fail! | Recommendations

[@devlyn873]

I think incorporating modern elements like that makes it even scarier since it places it even closer to our real life experiences and removes whatever security blanket illusions we have for these things. It reminds us that a cell signal and a full battery doesn't equal safe.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I completely agree!

[@caytmiashell]

Love the recommendations! Tech in horror is always the most scary to me, especially with “smart” technology. I think very soon we’ll see more books with tech as a focus.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Yes I completely agree!

[@august3777]

This all sound fun, but the idea of a witch being in a novel really sounds so much more fun.

[@nevskislake]

So many of the books from this list sound so good, but I am definitely adding The Girl in the Video and Broken Monsters to my TBR. I love when modern technology is integrated into horror, particularly if the technology is haunted or used in some malicious way, like a scary catfishing story. This is embarrassing to admit, but I once wrote a little short story about a young man who becomes the client of a web cam girl, and, as his "relationship" with her progresses, he begins to question if the girl he is interacting with is still alive. The story was not really good, but it was inspired by certain specific fears that many people have regarding modern technology/social media that can make for good horror stories in better hands than mine. How many of us, every once in a while, feel like we are being watched through the cameras on our laptops or spied on by our cellphones? How many us have experienced at least one creepy interaction on social media? How much of who we project on social media is our authentic selves, and how much is a performance? And the idea of performance in social spaces can be particularly scary when you don't really know the person behind the computer screen. That said, I get that cellphones can complicate something like the slasher genre though or a home invasion story.

[@arilith504]

Your story sounds great, definitely an interesting concept! There is no need to be embarrassed about writing, regardless of its quality. :)

[@nevskislake]

@@arilith504 - Thank you!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I completely agree that technology, particularly the internet, offer so many amazing opportunities for creepy stories

[@rj-reads]

Looking forward to reading these. I could see it adding a level of realism, kind of like how found footage horror feels more real and scary.

[@cmmosher8035]

I remember reading a book called I Death about a teenager living in Northern Ontario who is stalking his ex gf. The novel is told through his blog posts and it also includes the comments section which adds an interesting layer as people question if the blog is real or egg the guy on etc. The author is Mark Leslie, who i have to admit I have met at a few book signings and cons over the years. It was an interesting take for a horror thriller.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

That sounds very interesting

[@brockyhorror]

I went into Hex completely blind and i loved how unique it was. also, that witch was scary as hell

[@TheShadesofOrange]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@Nixx0912]

Have you read his new book, it's on my pail of shame

[@brockyhorror]

@@Nixx0912 i have not and now i probably will not 💀lol

[@Nixx0912]

@@brockyhorror why?

[@fiberartsyreads]

Good list! I really need to get to The Changeling!! Tastes Like Candy is a fun slasher that incorporates social media to a point. One of the characters is an influencer and the teens talk about IG and all that.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I think you will love the Changeling!

[@TheMike28212]

Great video! I have Ghoster, The Girl in the Video, and Broken Monsters on my tbr.

[@JasonsWeirdReads]

Great list, Rachel! The Girl in the Video gave me the chills and I think that it made my top list for the year I read it. I still need to get to Broken Monsters and The Changeling.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh I think you'll really love the Changeling!

[@opheliasgrace]

Broken Monsters was a screaming social commentary about social media. Very cool, very good!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

You are so right!

[@emcdonald496]

I DNFd Hex, but i think I need to give it another try. I have a hard time with supernatural stories, especially regarding witches. I don’t know why. Thanks for giving your review from that social media, technology perspective. I see this title recommended so frequently. Thanks Rachel!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Glad you enjoyed the video

[@sarahbevc2434]

Thank you! You always have such good recommendations!

[@WadeZK]

Not sure if you've read it or talked about it before, but "The Turn of the Key" by Ruth Ware is one of my favorites in this vein. It's about a young woman who is hired as a nanny in a house that's full of smart home technology, which starts displaying some inexplicable and creepy behavior shortly after her arrival. I thought it built a nice, creepy atmosphere and it was a fun read overall.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh yes that's a good example of horror with technology!

[@detritus666]

I really recommend Found: An Anthology of Found Footage Horror Stories. Incorporates a lot of contemporary elements, as well as more traditional found media, and has some very high quality short stories. Not involved in this in anyway btw :)

[@lauravadu1919]

All of these sound sooo good! I am now reading The Changeling, which I bought because of your recommendation and I LOVE it so far :)

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I'm so happy you are loving it!!

[@christianlaforet6093]

How many classic horror stories would be ruined if even one person had a cell phone lol. I hate the "I can't get a signal" excuse, but totally get why so many writers use it. Still, it's nice to see some books that actually incorporate modern tech into the narrative.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

It's SO true!

[@Priscilla_Bettis]

I love the subject of this video! I would have been hard pressed to name a horror book that incorporated our everyday, always-on technology.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks! I was hoping it would be an interesting way to recommend some good books

[@sandhyashyamsundar9209]

Great video. I always look forward to your themed lists! I know you don’t watch a lot of horror movies as much as you read them, but do check out Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse (2001). It’s a classic in tech horror films. 🤗

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thank you!

[@monakai8473]

I heard of only two of them - and they all sound great Thank you 😊

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Awesome

[@micheller4440]

Great recommendations! I plan on checking them all out. Thank you!!

[@jessicamou]

I remembered people around me were whispering ‘if only she turned her Siri on and said call 911’ when I watched Gerald’s Name 😂

[@Amanda-dn4ld]

Would definitely recommend A Touch of Jen. so bizarre and interesting and good tech horror.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks for the rec

[@gleamogirljoelle]

I literally added them all to my wishlist!!

[@chrisconnors7418]

Ghoster, The Girl in the Video, You are Invited caught my interest. I’ll see if the library has them. Glad to see these compared to the ones where some supernatural entity somehow drains the phone batteries or prevents them from connecting. Why do that instead of using those phones to terrorize the people you’re haunting even more? I have Broken Monsters on my eReader so will read it soon. I think I have The Changeling borrowed from the library but it may get returned before I read it. I think modern tech can make horror even creepier. It means there are now more ways for something weird or evil or creepy to infiltrate our lives. Given how much personal stuff many folks put online then the gradual loss of control of your own tech and your personal life by proxy will hit some readers in the feels.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I completely agree that there is SO much potential to make technology creepy. As someone with an "online presence", I am always afraid of the dangers of it

[@cindywingetbooks]

I really enjoyed Hex. The rest of these books all sound really good. The movie, The Ring, scared the crap out of me as a teenager and it used modern technology.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh yes I think I watched the American version. Even that was so creepy

[@cindywingetbooks]

@@TheShadesofOrange yeah. I should have specified. I meant the American version. I haven't seen the Japanese version, but I just bought the book 😃

[@amandaluceroserenity4804]

In 3 Miles Past by Stephen Graham Jones the second story in the book called No Takebacks is about a scary app kids make I like that one

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh cool!

[@caroreads4888]

Thanks for all the recommendations 💛✨

[@hadessabaphomete3955]

I loved HEX so much... :3 such a great book! right now I'm reading Lapvona - its sickening and upsetting I fell in love with this unusual book from Otessa Moshfegh

[@TheShadesofOrange]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@lorealshedrick3502]

So happy I found your channel! I subbed right away haha also love how u linked more book recs in description thank u sm ☺️

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh thanks!

[@alexandrakeckmontanari5180]

Great list Rachel! You are invited looks great

[@jamespaulashley-hall1152]

I hate technology in horror. Still one of my favorite channels

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Appreciate you sticking around!

[@jamespaulashley-hall1152]

@@TheShadesofOrange Definitely. I may end up liking one of those books. I enjoy your channel because it's come off as genuine and not over the top. If I had a channel then I would strive to be like you and your channel.

[@Blazer1408]

Please, make a video recommending fast paced books

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh that'd be fun

[@NamasteBbooktube]

Great list of books

[@zubaerchaudhari8267]

Hello

[@candicebarbata5028]

😱😱😱