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Read Harder Challenge 15

Throughout 2020, All Lit Up-er Tan Light has been participating in BookRiot’s Read Harder Challenge—a reading task designed to expand readerly boundaries—and doing so with an indie twist. Each entry in this series will highlight one or two completed challenges along with a list of books from All Lit Up to have you reading harder, too! Scroll on for this month’s challenge—perfect for spooky reading in October!

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ALU Editor

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Challenge 15: Read a horror novel published by an indie press
Book: The Vetalaby Phillip Ernest
(Linda Leith Publishing)

About the book: When her mentor dies, Nada finds herself face-to-face with the undead creature that a rare Sanskrit text describes, an evil which long ago killed her lover and set her on the path of obsessive revenge. She must rely on her intellect, mythic lore, and even dreams to piece together the mystery of the manuscript.Tan’s take: I devoured this book in one sitting. The story is at once familiar to vampire fans—a love that burns eternal—but at the same time, the traditions related to the Sanskrit Vetala myth and the setting of Pune, India bring a unique quality to this novel. I am also a sucker for books about books. The Vetala was the perfect spooky read for October.

Looking for more horror from indie presses? Try…

The Laws of the Skies by Gregoire Courtois, translated by Rhonda Mullins (Coach House Books)
The Plague by Kevin Chong (Arsenal Pulp Press)
Wrist by Nathan Adler (Kegedonce Press)
Mina’s Child by Paul Butler (Inanna Publications)
Earthbound by Blonk (Pow Pow Press)
Pontypool Changes Everything by Tony Burgess (ECW Press)
The Death Scene Artist by Andrew Wilmot (Wolsak & Wynn) 

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Want to join the challenge?  Click herefor a downloadable and editable PDF of the 2020 Read Harder Challenge tasks. Stay tuned next month for more Read Harder!

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