I've done a few recommendation posts for Stephen King books in the past, but nothing quite on this scale. I owe a huge thanks to Zoe at Readabiltea for the inspiration, as it was her Beginner's Guide to Agatha Christie that made me realise that my King knowledge might actually be helpful to new Constant Readers. Not that I'm an expert or anything, I just really like Stephen King's books.

Recommendations: Mental Health 2.0

Paperweight by Meg Haston

If you're looking for a take on eating disorders that isn't all romanticised beauty and light, this is the book for you. Paperweight is dark, gritty, and raw. The main character, Stevie, deals with the trauma, grief, and guilt following the death of her brother, as well as her personal demons. A must read for fans of dark and angry YA.

A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard

If sweeter stories are more your cup of tea, A Quiet Kind of Thunder is the one for you. Featuring representation for anxiety, selective mutism, and Deafness, this book tackles some serious issues whilst still retaining quite a light-hearted tone. There are still moments of teenage angst, but overall this book is as sweet as pie.

Thin by Grace Bowman

Or perhaps memoirs are more your idea of fun. Part fictionalisation, part true story, Thin follows Grace's journey battling herself and her weight. It tackles the myths surrounding anorexia and looks at both the descent into the depths of the illness and the beginnings of recovery. Not for the easily triggered, but a very informative read.

Recommendations: Mental Health

Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

( agoraphobia / obsessive-compulsive disorder / self-harm )

For an incredibly close, real look at life with various anxiety disorders, this is the book for you. Even with a lighter note of friendship and budding romance throughout this still manages to pack a punch and shed light on the reality of mental health. Tentatively hopeful with more of a focus on recovery than triggering scenes.

The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer

( schizophrenia / grief / munchausen syndrome by proxy )

A slightly more mature read, but by no means complicated or inaccessible. Written by someone with a history of mental health nursing, this is a beautiful depiction of how the loss of a loved one can impact your own health. Sensitive yet still realistic, this spends a lot of time looking at two brothers and how their lives change.

After the Fire by Will Hill

( post-traumatic stress disorder )

Although not apparently obvious which mental health issues are present in this book, it is obvious that the children from inside The Fence have some. Moonbeam's time inside has left her damaged, and this follows her on a journey of acceptance and healing. Set heavily in a clinical facility that looks at her memories and tries to unpick them, there are mentions of more sensitive topics including rape, imprisonment, and gun violence.

Recommendations: Stephen King 2.0

Blaze

If you're looking for fast-paced thriller that's also oddly heart-warming King - or rather Bachman - has you covered in Blaze. Following the eponymous hero, this little gem sets out on a journey of kidnap, grief, and learning to fend for oneself. You won't want to like Blaze, but by the end of the book you'll adore him.

Gerald's Game

Or perhaps you prefer your stories packed with flashbacks and hallucinations, with a side of gore, for good measure? Gerald's Game will compel you to continue reading even when you wish you'd never started it in the first place. Not for the faint of heart, or for those particularly sensitive to sex and any kind of abuse.

Cujo

Perhaps not the best read for any dog lovers out there, Cujo promises action and blood. Lots of blood. King takes the sweet St. Bernard and puts him in a situation that's terrifying thanks to its plausibility, something few horror writers seem to employ. There are no supernatural elements here - just good old rabies. 

Recommendations: Little Black Classics

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

If you're looking for some creepy tales, look no further than this short story collection. At first glance, they may seem simple, but rest assured that you're in for a treat with these classic ghost stories. as they'll stay with you long after you've closed the book. 

The Old Nurse's Story by Elizabeth Gaskell

Another Victorian ghost story that perfectly captures the era and will send a shiver down your spine. Let yourself be transported back to the 19th century with this meandering tale of uncertainty and haunted houses.

The Dolphins, the Whales, and the Gudgeon by Aesop

Or, if you need something lighthearted, give this collection of fables a go. A bit of fun, yet also lessons in their own right, Aesop's fables never fail to amuse and provide moments of levity after such dark tales.

Recommendations: Graphic Novels

Bedlam by Nick Spencer

If you want something dark, gory, gritty, and full of black humour then this is the series you need to start. It's an intense first volume but such a gripping read that you won't want to put it down until you've finished - and then you'll be reaching for the second volume. The art is gritty, with splashes of red all over the page. A good indicator for the tone of the story.

Rat Queens: Sass and Sorcery by Kurtis J. Wiebe

For something more fun and lighthearted - and with an all female leading cast - Rat Queens is what you need. It's funny but still badass, with characters and an adventure that draw you in and keep you entertained. There's diversity, too, with a romance you can't help but root for and friendships that are even better.

The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirkman

A more serious look at horror comics but still just as gripping, The Walking Dead is a must-read for any zombie fan. And even those who don't care for zombies, as it's so character driven you almost forget this is set in a post-apocalyptic world. It's dark - and not just because it's drawn in grey-scale - and at times harrowing, disgusting, and emotional. You won't regret picking this up.

Recommendations: Sci-Fi and Dystopia

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

If you want sci-fi with androids, cyborg, and aliens but still want a fun young adult story then The Lunar Chronicles is the way to go. Cinder introduces all the spacey and futuristic elements but it also lays the foundations for the bigger picture. And it's a quick, fun read - what more could you want?

Slated by Teri Terry

A dystopian with some scientific (and political) elements, Slated is a bit darker but still an incredibly gripping and compelling read. Full of mystery, you can't help but read on as you try and piece everything together alongside the main character, Kyla. 

The Selection by Kiera Cass

And if you want something more romantic but still crave the action that comes with the dystopian genre, The Selection series is the one for you. Packed with princess dresses and drama the first book is less focused on the dystopian world, but it's so damn cute it doesn't matter.

Recommendations: Classics

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

If you're after something a little more thrilling and easier to read than, say, Wuthering Heights, you need look no further than this modern classic. Following Merricat, her sister Constance, and their Uncle Julian as they survive in a town that hates them, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is full of ups and downs, unreliable narrators, and mystery. It's hard to say much more without giving away the essence of the plot, but trust me in that this will not disappoint. 

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

There's a reason why A Streetcar Named Desire is cited as one of the best plays from the last century. Despite being so short, you're instantly transported to 1940s New Orleans with Blanche, a character you can't help but feel pity for while simultaneously wanting to shake some sense into her. Powerful, raw, and deeply concerned with family and mental illness, Williams will leave you thinking long after you've walked away.

The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

A little darker than the others on this list, but no less gripping. Again concerning women and mental illness, this short horror story is both an excellent introduction to classic horror and Penguin's little black classics. A snippet of classical literature that will not bore you or become a chore to read - definitely worth the 80p.

Recommendations: Colouring Books

Adult colouring is quite the trend these days and there are many books to choose from. If you're still looking for Christmas gifts, or maybe just want to treat yourself over the festive period, here are the top three that I'd recommend.

Recommendations: Thrillers

Mother, Mother by Koren Zalickas

This hidden gem features a bit of everything: mystery, mental illness, dysfunctional families, addiction, running away. It keeps you thinking, totally unable to put it down for even a second, right until the very end.

Before We Met by Lucie Whitehouse

For those new to the world of thrillers, this is a good starting point. A short, easy read but still compelling and packed with questions. You might see the twist coming, but then again you might not.

The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong

A young adult thriller perfect for fans of fiction that tackles mental health. Just when you think you've figured it all out, the truth is revealed and you're left questioning everything, wondering how things could have reached that point.

Dream Literary Collection

I was recently contacted by Ryan from the team at Invaluable - an auction site that features art, jewellery, rare books, and other collectibles - to put together my dream literary collection. After browsing the books on the site, I compiled my list.

Recommendations: Horror

Under my Skin by James Dawson

James Dawson was a fantastic discovery. Both of his horror novels are fantastic (Say Her Name would have made it onto this list if the cover had matched the others, but it didn't) and definitely worth picking up. Especially if you enjoy young adult horrors that don't have happy endings.

Horns by Joe Hill

Coming from none other than Stephen King's son, you expect this to be a good book. And it is. Dark and creepy yet still realistic, making it all the more chilling, Horns is a must read if you're a fan of anti-heroes. Probably give it a miss if you're afraid of snakes, though.

The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

Out of the three the most unique, in that it's told entirely through the form of diary extracts, interviews, and police files. A gripping read that leans more towards psychological thriller, with elements of mental health thrown in, that is still sufficiently creepy.

Recommendations: Contemporary

Shift by Em Bailey

Laced with paranormal aspects, this story touches on friendship, music, and illness in a tactful and interesting way. Thoroughly unputdownable, it's a must read for those transitioning from fantasy to contemporary.

Bunheads by Sophie Flack

Perhaps better suited to dedicated followers of ballet, Flack weaves a tale of one girl's dedication and sacrifice for her hobby. With interesting and appealing characters, you'll enjoy it even if you don't understand all of the terminology.

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

More of a standard contemporary, this focuses on romance more heavily, as well as love for hobby like Bunheads. However, there are strong lessons on the value of friendship, family, and being true to oneself. 

Recommendations: Historical Fiction

Changling by Philppa Gregory

Quite a simple read that combines fantasy and mystery with life in 15th Century Italy. While this isn't the best book out there, it is worth persevering with for the second and third books in the as yet incomplete quartet.

Fleshmarket by Nicola Morgan

This has a much darker tone than most historical fiction I've come across. It deals heavily fairly heavily with death and squalor - and Burke and Hare, who don't really need much of an explanation. Still, a very interesting read that made me think.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

For such a big book that focuses on such an important and heavy topic, I actually found it to be a very quick and easy read. It wasn't the tear-jerker I expected (blame that on my heart of ice) but it still got me thinking and feeling and being grateful for the world I live in now. 

Recommendations: Stephen King

The Shining

A classic place to start if you're new to King's work. Spine-chilling and disturbingly realistic, this will put you off wanting to stay in a hotel for a while and guarantees at least one nightmare.

Misery

Much tamer than some of his other novels - although particularly gory in some scenes - Misery is one piece of literature that will no doubt leave you thinking that something like that could actually happen, especially in today's celebrity crazed society.

Full Dark, No Stars

Perhaps one of King's darker pieces, this collection of short stories will have you simultaneously on the edge of your seat and wanting to put the book down. Jam packed will plenty of topics many try to steer clear of - rape, murder, revenge, and justice being but a few. Not for the faint hearted.

Recommendations: Fantasy

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
If you're looking for an mature, adult epic fantasy filled with action, romance, magic and intrigue then this is a bit of a no-brainer.

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
I feel like this straddles the line between young adult and more grown up fantasy as, although it is childish in the fact that it has daemons and child protagonists, it does touch on some heavy subjects (religion, war, and politics being among them).

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Do I really need to say anything? Everyone loves a bit of Percy Jackson now and again, and if someone says they don't then they're lying or just haven't read Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Greek mythology is so interesting. Go and read this book now.