Scary, Spooky, Supernatural, and Sweet: 10 Masterful Books by Charles de Lint

Taking place in de Lint’s imagined North American city of Newford, The Onion Girl follows the story of a young artist named Jilly Coppercorn. The city of Newford is filled with creatures and myths from across time and culture. Jilly is a painter who captures the magic of the spirits in Newford in her works. 

In this novel, de Lint peels back the layers surrounding the usually happy and positive Jilly, to reveal the darkness and secrets of her past. This book explores a fantasy through horrors that are all too human and familiar to our world. 

Widdershins explores a growing romance between Jilly and another Newford character, Geordie Riddell. Fairies and other magical spirits conspire to bring together the two protagonists, who the inhabitants of Newford (and many readers) believe are destined for one another. This story of love is set in the context of growing tension in the city between the North American animal people and the fairies who have arrived more recently, exploring themes of prejudice, growth, and lasting bonds. 

Departing from the expectations of a fantasy novel, this book has no mythical or animal creatures, just humans, albeit with some twists. Altagracia “Grace” Quintero is tough. Tattooed, cigarette-smoking, and dirty with grease, she works customizing hot rods at a motor shop. Grace sticks to the few square blocks that contain her whole life. Then she meets John Burns. John is tied down by his own past and the guilt he feels about his younger brother’s death. As the two get to know more about each other, their love grows. The only issue is that they met two weeks too late. 

Originally published in 1990 under the pseudonym “Samuel L. Key," Angel of Darkness is a dark fantasy and horror book, one of the most gruesome in de Lint’s canon. An ex-cop named Jack Kelley discovers the dead body of a runaway girl in the ashes of a house fire, and that is just the beginning of this twisted tale. 

A powerful angel of darkness has been unleashed and is being powered by the agony of countless victims, forced to undergo various forms of abuse. Disturbing and bloody, this story does ultimately lead to redemption, but it isn’t for the faint of heart. 

Another novel originally published under de Lint’s pseudonym, this book is an early example of the author’s integration of urban settings into fantasy and horror stories. When a series of child murders begins, newspaper photographer Jim McGann finds clues that remind him of the case of a child murderer who ran rampant years before and has since died. Native American police officer Thomas Morningstar is on the case but is drawn back first by his outsider status and then by the supernatural capabilities of his opponent. 

The last of the Key novels, this book is a horror thriller that, while set in the city of Newford, does not have any supernatural elements. It follows Rachael Sorenson, a woman trying to escape from an abusive relationship. Despite Rachael’s attempts to rebuild herself, making new friends and healing her mind, her ex-husband will not let her go. 

At a turn of luck, a stranger comes to Rachael’s rescue. Photographer Harry Landon is entranced by Rachael’s appearance and would do anything for her. But there is something sinister in his motivations, and his terrible actions come to light, as it is not just Rachael he worships, but Beauty itself. 

In this magical murder mystery, police in a Canadian city are at a loss for leads relating to a string of murders. The only element tying all of the killings together is that they are each in some way related to the Romani community in the city. The Romani people live on the edges of the city, sticking to their traditional ways. While the police search for a suspect, the Romani know there is something supernatural in their midst, He Who Walks With Ghosts, Mulengro. Magic must be harnessed to defeat the darkness that is viciously killing off the community. 

Published in 2009, Muse and Reverie is the fifth of Charles de Lint’s short story collections that take place in the Newford Universe. In this series of pieces, de Lint revisits many of the beloved characters that have appeared throughout his many books and stories set in newford, including Jilly Coppercorn. This doesn’t mean, however, that readers new to de Lint’s works won’t be equally as absorbed in the compelling characters and plotlines crafted here. All readers will be drawn in by the magic and myth of de Lint’s unique urban fantasy landscape. 

In this novel, de Lint takes the city of Newford into the internet age. Newford has its own research and library website, Wordwood, that is popular among its citizens. When a sudden crash of the website causes everyone who had been using it to disappear, the city is thrown into chaos. Christy Redding sees his girlfriend Saskia disappear right before his eyes. In order to save those who have vanished, Christy and his friends must journey into Newford’s otherworld, where the physical manifestation of Wordwood dwells. 

If you're looking for something on the lighter side, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest is an illustrated, middle grade book. The magical story of Lillian Kindred, a 12 year old girl who believed in the magic of the forest even before she had proof for it, is told beside stunning art from illustrator Charles Vess. Lillian is saved by a group of cats after she is bitten by a snake, with only one small caveat: she’s now a kitten. Readers follow along as she journeys through the forest and meets magical creatures on her quest to become a girl again. This unique fairytale carries an important lesson for children and adults alike.