🎃 10 Spine-Chilling Halloween Novellas Under 200 Pages — From YA Thrills to Dark Erotica

Short horror reads for every mood this spooky season — from cozy young adult chills to disturbing adult horror that bites back.

Looking for quick, terrifying reads that still pack a punch? These Halloween novellas all clock in under 200 pages, making them perfect for busy readers who want to get into the spooky spirit without committing to a full novel. Whether you love young adult scares, psychological thrillers, or twisted erotica with a bite, there’s something haunting here for you.

1. Burn for Jack by Aversa Thorn

Genre: Erotic Horror • Pages: 154 • Trigger Warnings: Gore, sexual content, dubcon themes

This cult favorite blends erotic obsession with ancient myth. It’s twisted, sensual, and deeply unsettling — perfect for readers who want their Halloween reads bloody and seductive. Think Crimson Peak meets Candyman, but much, much hotter. 🔥🎃

❤️ Love Your Horror Dark and Twisted?

If this haunting novella is your vibe and you’re craving something a little more seductive (and still terrifying), don’t miss my curated list of dark romance novellas under 200 pages. Expect morally grey leads, twisted obsession, dark monsters, and forbidden heat — all wrapped in a bite-sized format perfect for spooky season.

2. The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

Genre: YA Fantasy Horror • Pages: 145

A beautifully written journey through time, mythology, and the meaning of Halloween. Perfect for readers of all ages, this classic novella offers lyrical prose and an eerie charm that lingers. 👻🎃

3. Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu

Genre: Gothic Horror • Pages: ~100

Before Dracula, there was Carmilla — a sapphic vampire story steeped in atmosphere. This 19th-century novella is a moody, sensual classic with lush descriptions and slow-building dread. 🧛‍♀️🩸

4. The Possession of Natalie Glasgow by Hailey Piper

Genre: Paranormal Horror • Pages: 86

Hailey Piper is a rising star in indie horror, and this short but potent possession story proves why. With eerie pacing and a powerful emotional core, it’s a perfect late-night read. 👻🧠

5. The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

Genre: Lovecraftian Horror • Pages: 149

This retelling of Lovecraft’s “The Horror at Red Hook” turns the story on its head, offering both critique and homage. It’s brilliantly written and unflinchingly dark, exploring race, power, and cosmic horror. ☠️🩸

6. You’ve Lost a Lot of Blood by Eric LaRocca

Genre: Experimental Horror • Pages: 121 • Trigger Warnings: Graphic content, psychological trauma

A haunting blend of manuscript, poetry, and fragmented narrative, this book is disturbing in all the right ways. Perfect for fans of experimental fiction and queer horror with literary flair. 🔪☠️

7. The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

Genre: Psychological Thriller / Horror • Pages: 64

A scammer-turned-psychic finds herself tangled in a very real haunting — or something even worse. Witty, sharp, and surprising, this novella is ideal for readers craving suspense and a killer twist. 🕯️🏚️

8. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones (Novella Excerpt)

Genre: Indigenous Horror • Pages: ~100 (excerpted version in select anthologies)

If you can find a copy of the novella-length version or sample chapter, this story delivers fierce imagery and a powerful message about guilt, heritage, and vengeance — all wrapped in a supernatural elk-horror package. 🧟🦌

9. Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca

Genre: Body Horror / Epistolary • Pages: 120 • Trigger Warnings: Self-harm, abuse, intense psychological horror

This viral novella explores the dark spiral of an online relationship through emails and chat logs. Deeply disturbing and unforgettable — not for the faint of heart. ☠️🩸

10. The October Boy (Dark Harvest) by Norman Partridge

Genre: Urban Legend / Halloween Horror • Pages: 169

A modern cult classic. Each Halloween, a pumpkin-headed boy runs through a Midwestern town — and teenage boys must hunt him down. Gritty, fast-paced, and soaked in nostalgia and fear. 🎃🧟

Why Short Horror Fiction Hits Hard

Novellas are uniquely suited for horror: they build tension fast, punch hard, and leave you breathless. With Halloween creeping closer, these under-200-page gems are perfect for your October TBR.

Pin It, Share It, Read It Later

📌 Save this list to Pinterest or share it with your book club — because every reader deserves a few sleepless nights this season.

Have a favorite novella I missed? Contact me — I’m always looking for my next haunting read.