But sometimes books aren’t so easy to define. A Wrinkle in Time has science fiction and fantasy elements. Bluets is both an essay and poetry at the same time. A space opera may combine science fiction and romance. Historical fiction and thrillers can go hand in hand. These are genre-blending novels — or sometimes hybrid novels or cross-genre novels, depending on who you ask. It just means they take elements from more than one genre to make one awesome book. And the horror novel is no different! Horror, with its creepy crawlies, its ghostly visions, its monsters lurking just behind that door, can benefit from more light-hearted subplots, like a romance or a family element, a touching friendship story, or a romp into the fantastical. The movie Spontaneous is horror, comedy, romance, and a coming-of-age story all in one! It, too, has a coming-of-age element while the clown wreaks his havoc. These additions to the story just make it all the more impactful when the monster calls. If you’re interested in exploring the best genre-blending horror novels, look no further! Here are 20 to get you started.
Horror Meets Sci-Fi
Horror Meets Fantasy
Horror Meets Historical Fiction
Horror Meets Comedy
Horror Meets Fairytales
Horror Meets the Suburbs
I hope at least one of these genre-bending scare-fests knocks your socks off. If you’re in the mood for more terrifying tales, check out this intro to the social horror genre or these new psychological horror novels!
