Some stories send a chill down your spine long after the final page, while others leave you questioning what is real. This Halloween, Rakuten Kobo invites readers to explore a darker side of storytelling with five unsettling reads spanning Malaysian folklore, supernatural mysteries, surreal horror and gruesome tales.
With Halloween falling on Saturday, 31 October, the curated selection offers something for every kind of thrill seeker, whether you prefer a haunting rooted in Malaysian history, an eerie story set within the familiar walls of a home, or horror that ventures into more disturbing territory.
For film lovers, there is another reason to pick up a book this spooky season. Other Mommy, the Malaysian cinema adaptation of Josh Malerman’s Incidents Around the House, opened on 8 October. Readers can discover the source material behind the on-screen scares and experience the story in its original literary form.
Malaysian readers can also enjoy 25% off eBooks sitewide from 16 to 18 October using promo code SYOK26102. Exclusions may apply. Please visit Kobo’s website for the full terms and conditions.
Start with stories closer to home
The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo | RM23.99
What happens when a marriage proposal comes from a family whose son is already dead? Set in 1890s colonial Melaka, Malaysian author Yangsze Choo’s The Ghost Bride follows Li Lan into a world of restless spirits, family secrets and unexpected romance. Drawing on Chinese folklore and historical detail, the novel offers an atmospheric introduction to supernatural fiction with a distinctly Malaysian setting.
Best for: Readers who enjoy haunting mysteries, historical fiction and supernatural romance.
Rupert Wong, Cannibal Chef by Cassandra Khaw | RM14.44
For readers who prefer their supernatural fiction with a generous serving of dark humour, Malaysian author Cassandra Khaw serves up an unusual tale set in Kuala Lumpur. Rupert Wong earns his living cooking for ghouls while handling administrative duties for the Ten Chinese Hells. Between monstrous clients and gruesome culinary demands, his working life is anything but ordinary.
Best for: Readers who enjoy irreverent fantasy, supernatural world-building and gruesome humour.
Venture into the strange and unsettling
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman | RM45.39
Now adapted for the big screen, Incidents Around the House brings supernatural terror into a place that should feel safest of all: home. Eight-year-old Bela is surrounded by her family, but she is also haunted by an entity she calls Other Mommy. Told through a child’s perspective, the novel turns an ordinary domestic setting into a source of mounting dread while exposing the tensions and vulnerabilities within the family.
Best for: Readers who enjoy intense supernatural horror and psychological tension.
Bunny by Mona Awad | RM35.79
An invitation to join an exclusive group of classmates seems like a chance to belong for an outsider in an elite creative-writing programme. But beneath the group’s seemingly sweet exterior lies something far more disturbing. Mona Awad’s Bunny blends dark academia, campus satire and surreal horror into a strange, unpredictable story that challenges the line between imagination and reality.
Best for: Readers who enjoy unconventional narratives, dark academia and surreal psychological horror.
For readers who want something darker
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw | RM40.29
A mermaid and a plague doctor travel into a forest inhabited by a nightmarish community in this dark reimagining of familiar fairy-tale elements. Cassandra Khaw’s short, lyrical novella pairs striking prose with visceral horror, making it a memorable pick for readers who appreciate unsettling imagery and stories that refuse to offer easy comfort.
The title is also available through Kobo Plus, Rakuten Kobo’s eBook and audiobook subscription service, for RM27 per month.
Best for: Readers with a strong appetite for dark fairy tales, body horror and graphic imagery.
Make room for one more chapter
Once readers have found their next chilling read, a Kobo eReader offers a dedicated way to settle into the story, whether curled up at home or reading on the go.
The Kobo Clara BW features a compact 6-inch black-and-white display, while the Kobo Clara Colour adds colour book covers and highlights. For readers who prefer a larger screen and physical page-turn buttons, the Kobo Libra Colour features a 7-inch colour display.
All three devices come with ComfortLight PRO, which allows readers to adjust brightness and colour temperature to suit their surroundings. Those who prefer reading on their existing devices can also access their eBooks through the free Kobo Books app on compatible phones and tablets.
EBook prices reflect the linked Malaysian-store editions as checked on 12 October 2026 and may change. Reading recommendations and content notes are editorial guidance and do not necessarily reflect the official views of Rakuten Kobo.