"Horror has always been an avenue for social commentary and critique, providing a glaring example of the overt horrors of the real world. Monster horror has its roots in Romanticism, with Gothic horror following closely behind. In contemporary horror, the "monster" or villain is frequently a social problem, revealed like a bad guy on Scooby-Doo. The most important aspect of any horror novel is the atmosphere of emotion: the dread, obsession, ice cold terror must be felt by the reader.
This list is comprised of a mix of horror styles, some of which are more violent and disturbing than others. Finding a horror style that works for your comfort level can take some time, so it's okay if you have to skip some books in the meantime."
