"Alanna gritted her teeth and thrust her chin forward stubbornly. She would see this through."    It's midwinter in the endless library, and Aurelien has only the very best books to shine a light in the gloom. "Alanna" (1983) by Tamora Pierce is a bright, fun, gritty-in-age-appropriate-ways, accessible first book in a girl-forward fantasy series.    Episode references: Sunny Nwazue from AKATA WITCH series by Nnedi Okorafor Penelope from THE MYSTERY HOWLING series by Maryrose Wood -- Want more quoteable quotes? Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/spookyaurelie ..read more

A wealthy CEO faces a criminal investigation amid tragedy, trauma, and a supernatural threat. The Usher family learns an informant lurks among them.   The Fall of the House of Usher (2023) has entered the Flanaverse. Based on various Edgar Allan Poe stories and characters, this show explores the prominent and wealthy Usher family. Is this just spooky Succession? Is it spooky at all? What kind of horror is this? Watch episode 1 along with Aurelien and find out!    The Fall of the House of Usher (2023) Created by Mike Flanagan Directed by Mike Flanagan, Michael Fimognari Network ..read more

"Her head starts to turn, and I gasp --"   Trick or treat, spooky friends! Aurelien and Dustin (from The Rewatch Recap) wrote a spooky little PG-rated story together. Keep an eye on your windows and stay alert as you settle into "The Woman in the Brown Coat" (2022).    Produced by Dustin: https://linktr.ee/DustinCanRead  With additional voice acting by Kay: https://linktr.ee/fmwlpod    -- Want more original stories? Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/spookyaurelien  ------- Theme: Magical Transition by Kevin McLeod Additional music and sound effects ..read more

"All the future looked gloomy and threatening, and the gaunt wolf hovered at the door of the Lynnes' humble home."   Gather round, spooks and strangers! For this special spooky season October Friday the 13th, Aurelien reads aloud chapter 1 of "Her Dark Inheritance" (1892) by Mrs. E. Burke Collins. What do you think the inheritance is, spooky friends? And do you want to hear more?    Read the story: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46363/46363-h/46363-h.htm    -- Want more spooky reads? Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/spookyaurelien  ------- T ..read more

"It was on Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve, that superstition ran riot..."   Trick or treat!   Aurelien explores the spooky archives of Project Gutenberg and comes back with 1880s non-fiction takes on Scottish Halloween traditions. How is bobbing for apples part of a divination ritual? Is any of this actually spooky? Join around the cauldron for readings and stories from "Curiosities of Superstition, and Sketches of Some Unrevealed Religions" (1882) by W. H. Davenport Adams.    Read it for yourself: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/41566/41566-h/41566-h.htm    -- Wa ..read more

"Mary was a misfit. She didn't want to be beautiful. And she wasted time doing mad things - like eating and sleeping."  Aurelien reads another original Twilight Zone source story. This time, let's go back to 1952 (or is it 2022??) with The Beautiful People by Charles Beaumont.    Read the story at https://www.gutenberg.org/files/36258/36258-h/36258-h.htm    Want more old school stories? Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/spookyaurelien    ------- Theme: Magical Transition by Kevin McLeod Additional music and sound effects from zapsplat.com ..read more

“Don't join the book burners. Don't be afraid to go in your library and read every book...” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower     Aurelien digs out from under a pile of library sale books and catalogs her unread gems. Tune in for hot takes on old books!    Ranging from "the most unusual mystery novel ever written", to neurological non-fiction, to the YA of our nightmares, and short story collections from famous writers, plus all the various genre adventures, and a random secret gift, the gang's all here.    Shade of the Tree by Piers Anthony Condominium by John D. MacD ..read more

Spooky salutations, listeners and readers! It's time for a "what I was reading when I wasn't here" mid-2023 check-in. Slither into the shade and have a listen, then make your plan of (reading) attack.  **** Black Bloom by Felix I.D. Dimaro After Dark with Roxie Clark by Brooke Lauren Davis Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant The Two Doctors Gorski by Isaac Fellman The Honeys by Ryan La Sala The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston Birds, the first story in Evil Flowers by Gunnhild Øyehaug, translated by Kari Dickson **** Episode references: Cari Can Read yo ..read more

"Here are the confessions of a vampire."   Let's read INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (1976) by Anne Rice together, spooky friends! Tune in to hear Aurelien's running commentary on her first time reading Chapter 1/paperback book pages 1-34.    Readalong with your own copy or just listen in for the story!     --   Theme: Magical Transition by Kevin McLeod Additional music and sound effects from zapsplat.com If you'd like to support the podcast or commission an episode, https://ko-fi.com/spooky ..read more

And now she sat so very quietly, so very still, like a living-dead doll staring out the window.   Buenas noches, spooky friends! This week, let Aurelien tell you all about how Georgina's perfectly planned life got flipped-turned upside down - by Death. Set during the Mexican Revolution, "This Strange Way of Dying" (2011) by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a spooky dark historical love story about choosing your future and also, becoming a goth queen. Spoilers ahead!   Read "This Strange Way of Dying" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia http://giganotosaurus.org/2011/08/01/this-strange-way-of-dying/   ..read more