Five Horror Novels with Relatable Characters: A Guest Post by Alyanna Poe
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Five Horror Novels with Relatable Characters: A Guest Post by Alyanna Poe
As an author of horror, one of the challenges we face is creating relatable characters. You have to imagine a person into existence and convince readers that they are real. In my opinion, one of the best ways to do so is to flaw a character. No one relates to the goody-two-shoes that always makes the right decisions. Real humans are in that grey area of life where they know that right and wrong exist but don’t always make the “right” decision. Real people struggle with decisions and hesitate, and utilizing that in horror is a key way to building tension. Here are five horror novels that give us characters in the grey area of life, making it easy to relate.
Five Horror Novels with Relatable Characters: A Guest Post by Alyanna Poe
The Stand by Stephen King
I’d like to start off this list with a book with a multitude of characters. The Stand includes a wide range of characters, from drug addict to righteous hero to a wise old woman. With such an array of characters, one can relate to one or bits of multiple, but King has a great way of letting us deep enough into their lives and their perspectives on the apocalypse while continuing on with the story.
Personally, I found Nick the most relatable character as his disabilities isolated him from the other characters, yet he was very understanding, especially toward Tom Cullen, a developmentally disabled man.
This is a classic Good vs. Evil narrative, but many of the characters fall into that realistic grey area, leaving them with human imperfections. I do believe a good majority of people who read The Stand can find at least one character to relate to.
Five Horror Novels with Relatable Characters: A Guest Post by Alyanna Poe
John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin
This book was not what I was expecting at all. I don’t think many people really expect what lies between the pages of John Dies at the End, but I would like to say that I relate to David. David, whose name is on the front cover where the author’s name usually goes, is the storyteller and main character. While life is happening at him and he has no control of what is going on, he has the attitude of a twenty-something year old frat guy and rolls with the punches.
While it may seem like he knows full well what to do, he has moments of raw humanity where he questions his very existence. Despite the horror-comedy vibes this book gives off, these moments can be very emotional or, on the polar opposite side, very tense. Making life or death decisions, David is left to think about himself and the ones he cares about, and turns out, he has a pretty big heart.
Five Horror Novels with Relatable Characters: A Guest Post by Alyanna Poe
Mine by Robert McCammon
If you are a parent, I urge you not to read this book. Just kidding! But parents and those with parental instincts…beware. As Laura grapples with labor and her struggling marriage, she doesn’t even know Mary has taken her newborn baby straight from her arms.
Never have I ever read a first scene (not what I just described above) so terrifying. Absolutely something I will remember for my entire life. Besides that, Laura has been working around thoughts that she isn’t living the life she wants, but this baby is supposed to help, right? You are sent on a journey with her as she chases Mary from state to state to get her baby back. Written in times before security cameras were on every building and smartphones, Laura can only rely on witnesses and her car. Laura fends off feelings of sorrow and absolute emptiness at having her baby ripped from her arms so she can experience pure fury and adrenaline as she repeatedly tries to hunt down and kill Mary.
Mine is almost 500 pages of edge of your seat tenseness as you hope that Laura will get her baby back, and as someone who’s always had maternal instincts, this book shook me to my core. McCammon gives the clearest picture of how insane Mary is and that only intensifies the fears surrounding this child. While I found myself occasionally relating to or even feeling bad for Mary, I always hoped Laura would triumph and finally get to hold her baby again.
Five Horror Novels with Relatable Characters: A Guest Post by Alyanna Poe
The Cipher by Kathe Koja
Depressingly beautiful, this is a book I’d like to wipe from my memory and experience for the first time again. Nicholas falls into a rut, with his life, the place he lives, his job, even his on again off again girlfriend, but when he and Nakota discover a dark hole in one of the closets of his apartment building, things are finally different.
Only problem is: is this change for the better?
Nicholas is a young man struggling with alcoholism and living a life I could only describe as grey. As someone who struggles with depression, much like Nicholas, I found myself caring deeply for him, sharing the same concerns, and hoping he’d see better days. He’s easily relatable to those who see the bleakness of life and those struggling with inner demons while the outside world seems to be crumbling away.
Five Horror Novels with Relatable Characters: A Guest Post by Alyanna Poe
Kill Creek by Scott Thomas
Four authors are sent into a “haunted” house with an internet guru as their guide. As an author myself, I found myself relating to Sam and T.C., yet still caring for the other two authors. I do believe any creative person can relate to these authors, especially Sam and T.C. as they struggle with their pasts. Presentability comes up a lot in Kill Creek. Sam has concerns that if he writes too deeply and honestly, people will find out his troubled past, meanwhile T.C. is on the opposite end of the spectrum, seeming to release her trauma into her writing, and I relate to both. I think many authors and artists have that nagging voice in the back of their mind telling them when and where to stop with a piece. If you are emotionally invested in your artwork, this can allow viewers and readers very deep into your mind without you realizing it. It’s frightening when someone reads or views your art and asks a question you didn’t think you’d exposed. It’s a balancing act of presenting who you want to be as an artist while also hiding those parts of you that you don’t want anyone to see.
Similarly to King, Thomas allows us just deep enough into the minds of these authors to understand who they are and their fears, while moving along with this fast paced story. I definitely suggest this book for authors and artists especially. It displays the struggle of being a career artist: jousting with other authors and artists, presenting the perfect image, creating on a time frame, and that’s not even the scariest bits of this book.
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As a reader, I found myself deeply attached to many of the characters throughout this selection of books, and as a horror author, I found myself studying just how these authors presented the characters. I think one of the best ways to flaw a character is to start with what you know and expose the flaws you are comfortable sharing. This is different from using a flaw you see in someone else because you know how you feel about it internally. Using this can allow the reader into the character’s head, further connecting the reader and character, and after reading these books, I am left to wonder how each author relates to their characters.
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About the Author
Author
Self-published author of five horror books and counting. Alyanna started her first novel at 14 and published when she was 18. She has plans of traditionally publishing, comic book writing/illustrating, and world domination. Some have said her writing is horrific yet has a sick twist of comedy, making them laugh at all the wrong times.
Artist
From digital art to photography to painting to metal art, Alyanna enjoys art of all kinds. She especially enjoys marring her physical appearance in self-photography projects (like the one above). You can check out her work on her Portfolio page and purchase her designs on RedBubble.
Keep an eye out for future artist projects.
Podcaster
Having read poetry on her YouTube channel weekly, people began asking for a podcast. The Indicted Fiction Podcast allows Alyanna to narrate her books, giving her readers a free audiobook experience. Check out Season One: Adam's Murder and follow along as Abigail Drummer tries to solve the murder of her brother.
Links:
Five Horror Novels with Relatable Characters: A Guest Post by Alyanna Poe
