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Home , Dark fantasy, Horror fiction

Horror Subgenres

By Gabrielle Steffler

Though horror is a well-known in specifically a favourite subject of teen itself, is a genre that encompasses many literature. Two current popular teen different subgenres. As horror has become a series are the Morganville Vampire series by more popular genre in young adult fiction, Rachel Caine and the House of Night series these subgenres have been explored more by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast. widely. This article presents some of these horror subgenres, including some examples of the more popular young adult works. Zombies are currently one of the most popular horror creatures, found in books, TV Creatures shows, and movies for all ages. This trend Horror books featuring legendary and continues in YA literature. Zombies are also mythic creatures are currently very popular. a common topic for cross-genre works, often Three of the most popular examples of this paired with apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic subgenre are explored here. horror, or inserted in already existing stories to form alternative literature. Some works that may be especially of interest to teens are Though some John Maberry’s Rot & Ruin and Dust & debate whether Decay. Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series should be Though perhaps not considered part of found quite as the horror genre, it widely as vampires is undeniable that and zombies, the books a sizeable role in the recent werewolves are a resurgence in the popularity of the vampire classic horror genre, especially among young adults. Since creature. With the high profile of YA horror ’s , vampires have been creature literature today, books with a staple of the horror genre, but they are now werewolves are easily found, often in series.

Bree Despain’s Dark Divine series and Edo Paranormal and Van Belkom’s Wolf Pack and Lone Wolf are The paranormal and supernatural horror examples of this particular subgenre. encompass horror books with an Psychological extraordinary element. In reality, any creature horror literature featuring A popular horror subgenre for all ages, mythological or legendary creatures like psychological thrillers and horror are vampires and werewolves would also fall usually void of any supernatural, , or into this wider category. However, there are paranormal elements. Instead, they are set in many paranormal and supernatural books real places and times, and usually feature a that do not feature horror creatures. Nancy human as the or subject of interest. Holder’s Possessions series features teens One of the most commonly found topics in who are possessed, as indicated by its title. this subgenre are serial killers and Melissa Marr’s Ink Exchange centres on the psychopaths. Barry Lyga’s YA , I Hunt main ’s discovery of faeries. Killers, features the son of a trying to distance himself from his father.

Apocalyptic The dark fantasy genre is really a cross- genre between fantasy and horror. These Apocalyptic (or post-apocalyptic) novels are books are primarily fantasy, but have a set during or after a global event that that is fitting with the horror genre. Some drastically changes the world’s landscape. suggestions for this genre are the Abarat Depending on the harshness of the quintet by and Pure by apocalyptic process and new realities, these Julianna Baggott. sorts of novels often have elements that allow them to fall in the horror genre. Apocalyptic books can often be cross-genre References stories; for example, certain creatures, like zombies, can be responsible for the Barry Lyga Dot Com. (2013). I hunt killers. apocalypse. Others, like Mike Mullin’s Retrieved from Ashfall, feature natural disasters that http://barrylyga.com/novels/i-hunt- perpetrate an apocalypse. killers/

Mike Mullin. (2013). Information about

ASHFALL, a young adult novel by Mike Mullin. Retrieved from

http://www.ashfallbook.com/

Monster Librarian. (2013).

lists for young adults. Retrieved from http://www.monsterlibrarian.com/hor rorfictionlistya.htm