Castlevania: Symphony of the Night-- Game Review

I just finished playing Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, considered by many to be the best game in its series and one of the best classic Play Station games of all time  (Ranked #1 on this list of best PS1 games, #1 on this list of best PS1 games, #119 on this list of best classic retro games of all time, #12 on this list of top 100 video games of all time…). This game was released in 1997, just over two decades ago. I didn't think I was ever going to play it. I would sigh forlornly at the beautiful artwork and internally accept that this game would be out of my reach. But THEN! Then it was re-released for the PS4 (alongside Rondo of Blood) which meant I could play it without having to buy any outdated hardware. It felt a little too good to be true, but here I am, having played Symphony of the Night!
        To preface: This game was the Trope Codifier for the "Metroidvania" genre. Metroidvanias are a type of action-adventure based off of the style of Metroid and some Castlevania games, especially this one. Metroidvanias are characterized by guided non-linear gameplay that involves a lot of backtracking and exploring secret areas to get better equipment and progress. Symphony is the go-to example for this type of game. Some of the things I loved about my favorite game, Undertale, include non-linear gameplay, random secrets that you have to go out of your way to find, a hidden second half that you accomplish certain tasks to unlock, memorable soundtrack that uses leitmotif, and multiple endings, all of which were made popular by this game.
        Unlike Undertale, this game has a relatively simple story that only surfaces occasionally. The basic story is this: Richter Belmont (from Rondo of Blood) defeats Dracula at the start of the game, but then goes missing. A girl called Maria Renard goes into Dracula's castle to look for him, followed by Dracula's half-vampire son, Alucard. Alucard tried to shut himself away in a coffin for permanent hibernation, but woke up to try to destroy his father. I am so glad I watched the TV show before playing this game, because that meant I was familiar with the whole backstory about Lisa's death. It made some scenes (especially the battle with the succubus and the final battle with Dracula) much more emotionally impactful than the would have been. Instead of feeling like I was missing something, I felt appropriately like my heart was getting ripped out. So, I highly recommend you watch the show before playing this! The voice acting in this game is well-known to be terribly cheesy. The voice-acting for this version comes from the 2007 PSP version and is therefore slightly less terrible than the original, though that means it unfortunately does not include the infamous line, "What is a man? A miserable little pile of secrets!" This was the first game in the Castlevania series that does not star a Belmont as its protagonist, but I think playing as a (half-)vampire is SUPER cool! Alucard has all these awesome spells (that are super difficult to use, but it's so satisfying whenever I'm successful and I hear "SOUL STEAL!"), and he can TURN INTO A BAT! And if you have the bat familiar equipped, you get a trail of little bats following you around and it's so CUTE! Alucard is awesome. ♥
        This game was designed to be kinder to new players, so I'm glad I played this before Rondo of Blood (even though Rondo of Blood comes first chronologically). Some old hands at Castlevania say that it's too easy. Thank god. I still found it very difficult at times, because I had to get used to the controls (and there was no tutorial, at all) and at some points in the game, mostly the beginnings of the first and second half, I found myself unable to go a few feet without dying and felt like I was just trying to last between save points. Overall, I was very well matched to the difficulty of this game. It was challenging, but only a few times did it become so grueling it stopped being fun. Once I got the controls down, it was very exciting to explore the castle and find more secrets! Enemies also got easier and easier to kill, so there was a definite sense of getting stronger overtime. Despite being 20 years old, the game does not feel too dated. I mean, it feels a little dated, but not so much so that it distracts from the gameplay. The sprite art and animation holds up really well and still looks beautiful. (Not so much the early PS 3D for the castle interludes.) Much of this game (and the whole Metroidvania genre) is about discovery: finding your way through a mysterious and dangerous world to collect stuff, gain powerups, and fight through to the golden ending. I can see why this game was so popular and so lauded!
        I only have a few critiques: This was the first game in the series to introduce RPG elements, and among those elements were armor, weapons, and potions that could counter specific kinds of enemy attacks (fire, ice, lightning, dark, holy, etc). These were mostly useless. Drinking the potions and equipping the armor did not make a significant enough difference in battles, making them feel pointless. For example, drinking the "resist stone" potion should make it easier to shake free at least, if not resist petrification entirely. It doesn't. There's no noticeable difference. Maybe part of this is the limitations of coding at the time, but overall I wished they were more useful. Related to that, as fun as it was to go through the castle finding secret areas, a lot of the weapons and armor you find isn't useful because they're a downgrade from the weapons you already have, or otherwise not useful. You start getting an abundance of weapons and healing items rather late in the game, right when you don't need them. What's the point of equipping that kind-of-cool sword if I've already got the Alucard sword? Those are minor complaints, though!
        So why is this in with all the Goth Stuff? ...Just look at that ARTWORK! Candles, castles, bats, a big moon, and a brooding half-vampire bishonen staring intently with a sword. But aside from that, this game does have an overall gothy feel to it, just by it's nature. You're a vampire prince traveling through a spooky castle filled with skeletons, demons, monsters, and other spooky creatures. The atmosphere and design of this game are what made it for me, and part of the reason I wanted to play it in the first place. The backgrounds are gorgeous-- the dark-toned statues of angels and demons in the Marble Gallery, the stained-glass windows in the Royal Chapel, the dark elegance of Olrox' Quarters... Don't be so focused on killing monsters that you forget to take in the beauty of the backgrounds. Also, shoutout to the music! The longer I played, the more I loved the soundtrack. (My favorite tracks are "Moonlight Nocturne," "Dance of Pales," and "The Tragic Prince.") The soundtrack definitely helps enhance the atmosphere. Spooky imagery is everywhere, so if you're a Goth who likes video games and you have a PS4, this is a classic that's more than worth it. As a Gen Z'er with no nostalgic appeal playing a 20-year-old game and thoroughly enjoying it, I can safely say that it stands the test of time!
Next on my list of PS4 games to play (apart from Rondo of Blood, of course) is Hollow Knight, another, much more modern Metroidvania that looks equally spooky!

The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana: Game Review

I had been eagerly awaiting the release of The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana, a puzzle game by Joseph Vargo. Just think! A puzzle game by Joseph Vargo! After having solved six of the puzzles hidden in Nox Arcana CD cases, of course I was going to download an entire point-and-click game of similar puzzles with a Nox Arcana soundtrack! I like playing spooky point-and-click games anyway. I play a lot of "escape the room"-style games on my desktop, and tend to go for Halloween-themed ones, because atmosphere. Atmosphere is a thing this game does well, between the music and the visuals. My first playthrough of this game took nine hours, but now it takes about four hours.
        The story is pretty simple. You enter the abandoned manor of the vanished magician Doctor Arcana, are presented with a challenge by his ghost (or disembodied voice, at least), and have to solve all of his puzzles and uncover his secrets, or die trying. The puzzles themselves range from pleasantly fun to excruciatingly difficult. (I can't look at a scarab beetle without getting anxious.) They get easier on repeated playthroughs, but some are still challenging even then. Some of them involve encrypted languages, like the ones in the albums. The game expands on Theater of Illusion's lore... a bit... but doesn't actually use any tracks from the album. (I'm kind of mad that "Mysterium" wasn't used.) Most of the tracks are new, with two from Legion of Shadows. I wish there were more of them, because listening to the same loop for hours gets a bit old after a while, and Nox Arcana has such as huge selection! Vargo's paintings appear throughout the game as decorations on the walls and sources of clues, with the player character's hilarious commentary in their journal. There are a few things that only Nox Arcana fans will pick up on! Altogether, it was worth waiting for. I'm not sure if this game would appeal to everyone who isn't a diehard Nox Arcana fan, but I do recommend it to anyone who likes puzzles and has a dark aesthetic.

Here are some visuals:

Unfortunately, this one is not free to play. It's $15 on Steam. (I'm not being paid to advertise it.)

Fallen London: Game Review

  Fallen London is a desktop RPG, which you can find here: www.fallenlondon.com This is a fascinating and mysterious game that I would recommend to any Goth.

      
In this game, you are a citizen in an underground, fantasy version of Victorian London. London has been "stolen by bats," brought into an underground world called the Neath, and slowly adapted to its new surroundings. Throughout this game, you gain qualities, which allow you to complete tasks: Watchful, which allows you to spy on people (represented by an owl), Shadowy, which allows you to steal from people (represented by a cat), Dangerous, which allows you to fight people (represented by a bear), and Persuasive, which allows you to manipulate people (represented by a fox). Okay, that was an oversimplification, but this game still kind of encourages you to be a bad person, which is kind of fun! The devious persona you build lets you be who you are in the dark. The worldbuilding is incredibly detailed and clever, with mysterious secrets manifesting themselves at every turn. Come to Veilgarden and sample the mushroom wine, and the prisoner's honey, which allows you to experience your dreams. Play some Knife-and-Candle at Watchmaker's Hill. Do some archeology in the Forgotten Quarter and learn about the cities that came before. This game is truly voluptuous. Its writing style is enrapturing and beautiful. It calls you "delicious friend," its logo is a top hat with eyes and little fangs, and you can have a Sulky Bat as a pet! Currently, I am a compelling, sagacious, and irrisistable individual of mysterious and indistinct gender. Why "mysterious and indistinct gender," you may ask? "My dear sir, there are individuals roaming the streets of Fallen London at this very moment with the faces of squid! Squid! Do you ask them their gender? And yet you waste our time asking me trifling and impertinent questions about mine? It is my own business, sir, and I bid you good day."

A significant part of this game, especially its worldbuilding and backstory, is Lovecraft-esque cosmic horror-- eldritch entities and abominations, ruined cities, madness, and information that mankind was not meant to know. (I mean, come on, there's even a tentacle in the promo art). If you like Lovecraft, you would probably enjoy this game. Not all of Fallen London revolves around the cosmic horror thing, but DON'T SEEK MR. EATEN'S NAME. 

For a game that's mostly text on a screen, it's very atmospheric.

Though the app no longer exists, the soundtrack is still fantastic:

Spooky Cartoons for Spooky People

The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy: This is one of the more well-known cartoons on this list. You've probably heard of this one, and if you haven't, you need to watch it! This is a show about two kids who permanently enslave the Grim Reaper. One of the kids is a complete imbecile named Billy, and the other is a vicious and merciless little girl named Mandy with plans to take over the world (and that's not Played for Laughs-- it's entirely feasible).  As for Grim, he is a pretty nice guy when he's not working or pushed to his limits, and he has a Jamaican accent. This is a very weird show, with lots of surrealism, absurd plots, and shameless parodies of pop culture. It has an insane, quirky supporting cast, and it's often difficult to tell exactly what is normal in this world. Many episodes have unresolvable endings, so the show has very little internal continuity. It breaks the fourth wall constantly, and is filled with so many references and dirty humor that it's hard to tell whether it's for kids or for adults. It's very likable, and grows on you over time. Voltaire has done two songs for this show, featured in the episode "Little Rock of Horrors" and the feature film Billy and Mandy's Big Boogie Adventure.

Danny Phantom: A very well-known cartoon. If you don't know what it is, it's basically Ghostbusters meets Spiderman (secret identity superhero + highschool drama). Not an outright "goth" show, but probably something Goths would like. Sure, it's a show about ghosts and other spooky stuff, but this show is on this list purely for Sam Manson. "Regular people sweat. Goths? We simmer." Most Goths will probably be able to relate to her, and the best thing about her is that she is very realistic and only marginally stereotypical, in the same way that all Goths are marginally stereotypical. She also becomes less and less so as the series goes along. (Incidentally, Sam's voice is also the voice of Mandy.) I'm particularly impressed by this show's ability to be serious and fun at the same time. No episode is difficult to watch, no matter how intense it gets. This show is fun and thrilling and worth the watch.

Ruby Gloom: I was very excited when I found this! This is a Canadian Netflix cartoon about "the bright side of the dark side" that takes spooky imagery and turns it into an adorable, cheerful show with endearing characters. The protagonist, Ruby Gloom, is possibly the most perky Perky Goth that ever was. Despite her name, she is endlessly optimistic and friendly. Her friends include Misery, an extremely unlucky and pessimistic girl (possibly a banshee); Iris, an adventurous cyclops; Skull Boy, a skeleton; Frank and Len, conjoined twins (possibly zombies?) that love rock music; Poe, a pretentious raven; Scaredy Bat, an adorable little bat that is afraid of flying and the dark; Boo Boo, a ghost that would rather prank than scare people; and Doom Kitty, an intelligent black cat that speaks only in violin chords. The best thing about this show is that the spooky setting and characters are treated as being entirely normal, without being overly "Halloweeny," and constantly breaking stereotypes. It's just the world they live in! (To give an example, while the friends are all hiding from the sun, Scardy Bat throws a pink lawn flamingo among a jumble of stuff. Everyone looks at him. “What? It’s a phase. I’m over it now.”) This is an ideal show for Goths.

Growing Up Creepie: A Discovery Kids show about a girl who was raised by insects, and can talk to bugs. She goes to an ordinary middle school with ordinary people, and has to keep her secret. She lives with her insect family in a Addams-Family-esque mansion. She's Goth without being stereotypical-- not outwardly cheerful, but laid back and friendly, with a delightfully dark fashion sense. In one episode, she takes beautiful photos of a cemetery, and even her teacher has to admit that she "found beauty in the darkness." The mysterious and spooky events of each episode are usually explained away by her various creepy-crawly relatives (followed by bug facts), but something actually supernatural is revealed at the end. (It's worth mentioning that in one episode, Creepie does make friends with more stereotypical, South Park-ish Goths.) If you love entomology, you'll probably love this show, and even if you're not that into bugs, you'll still probably like it! Turns out that most of the Ruby Gloom cast is also in this show!

Netflix' Castlevania: Unlike the other cartoons on this list, this is not a kid's show in any way, shape, or form. Swearwords abound, it features extremely graphic violence throughout, and the first episode ends with a conversation about bestiality preceding a bar brawl. But this is, for once, a good video game adaptation! The second season got a full 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it deserves it! They successfully made a good drama series out of a game that mostly consists of killing stuff through a labyrinthine castle. The story is loosely based on Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse and follows vampire hunter Trevor Belmont, a sorceress named Sypha, and the half-vampire Alucard as they attempt to prevent Dracula from committing genocide out of grief for his murdered wife. It's packed with gothic imagery, vampire politics, commentary on religious corruption, and references to the games. The most impressive thing about this show is how it is easy to sympathize with almost every character, among both the heroes and the villains (there were only two that I actively hated). Also, for every scene of gore that made me want to cringe away from the screen, there was another scene with Alucard to cancel it out. (I think I have a crush on Alucard, which is saying something.) This show got me into the games. Two of the best games in the franchise were re-released for the PS4 the day season 2 came out, so I'm going through a whole Castlevania phase right now. I can't recommend this enough.

Honorable mention goes to Gravity Falls. I'm a huge fan of this show. It's not a Goth show, but I first got into it because it was listed on PhantomStrider's Spookiest Cartoon Episodes list, so that should tell you something. In general, the show has excellent character development, episode plots, and overall storytelling-- I would recommend it to anyone, but Goths might really enjoy this show. Some of the episodes in this series are really dark, and there are plenty of ghosts, zombies, monsters, and inter-dimensional space demons. "Northwest Mansion Mystery" is a particularly gothic episode.

Spooky Films for Spooky People

I did a reading list, so I'll do a film list too. I have seen all of these films before. This is not, by any means, the ultimate film list for Goths. This is a list of spooky movies that I think most Goths would enjoy, and about half are kids' films. There are no true horror movies on this list, because I'm not a huge fan of horror. Horror stories I love, but horror movies? No thanks. I will add to this list as I watch more movies.

The Nightmare Before Christmas —  I'll start off this list with a familiar holiday classic. Pretty self-explanatory, this one. Though Tim Burton was the producer and came up with the concept of this film, it was actually directed by Henry Selik. Nightmare is a holiday staple for most Goths, and it's easy to see why.

Coraline — A frightening and whimsical adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel, and another Selik creation. I love this film. It's fairly true to the book, with one added character that I think was a very good addition. Some of the more terrifying parts of the book (like Coraline's fight with what became of the Other Father) are toned down, but it's still very creepy and it still captures the surreal, sinister tone of the novel.

Corpse Bride— Yet another creepy stop motion film. This one actually was directed by Tim Burton. Seriously, every film by Tim Burton could be on this list, but this is my favorite of his that I've seen. It's an adorable and romantic film about a socially awkward Victorian boy who accidentally marries a dead woman (it makes sense in context). Hilarity ensues as he tries to figure out what to do with his situation, as he's engaged to another (still living) woman that he very quickly fell in love with. There's also this evil guy called Lord Barkus that gets in the way. Barkus. Don't you want that to be your name? I suppose it's better than Everglot. Is it?

The Haunted Mansion— Based directly on every Goth's favorite Disney ride, this is a particularly dark Disney movie (two people die in the opening credits!) about a family of realtors that get stuck in the titular mansion. Full of ghosts, mystery, and undead armies, it's more of a dream than a nightmare, in my opinion. I loved this one. I swear those dining chairs came from Haunt Furniture. If I had $2000, I would totally get one of those chairs! Until I'm a world famous writer and as rich as JKR, I'll just drool.

Interview with the Vampire— The film of the book. I wouldn't expect Louis and Lestat to be played by Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise respectively, but hey, it actually worked. Altogether a faithful adaptation of the novel. (Unlike Queen of the Damned-- Rice herself condemned that one.)

The Addams Family and The Addams Family Values—  DUH NUH NUH NUH *snap snap* DUH NUH NUH NUH *snap snap* DUH NUH NUH NUH, DUH NUH NUH— okay, okay, I'll stop. Seriously, who doesn't love this clan? Their sheer quirkiness and endlessly quotable lines make them so lovable and relatable. Honestly, the films are entertaining, but you should try to find as much of the original show as possible online, if you can. I've been able to find it on Dailymotion.

The Sixth Sense— A classic, and very spooky. I like this film because it's chilling without being an outright horror movie. For those who don't already know, it's about a boy who sees dead people, and a child psychologist that tries to help him deal with all the ghosts that are haunting him. Everyone should see this at least once.

The Phantom of the Opera— A beautiful story with gorgeous imagery and even more beautiful music, this is a must-see for Romantigoths.

Young Frankenstein— That's FRAHNK-in-steen! A classic Mel Brooks comedy that makes fun of gothic horror in general, and uses/reuses all your favorite jokes from other Mel Brooks movies. It's as quotable as all the rest, and entertaining regardless of its relevance to the original novel. If you're a Goth who prefers comedy to horror, you should watch it. ...I wish I had a castle like that.

Something Wicked This Way Comes— An old, fairly obscure live-action Disney movie, based on Ray Bradbury's book of the same name. I haven't read the book, so I can't say much about how it relates to the book (though after reading the summary on Wikipedia, it seems to follow the plot closely enough). Though Disney guarantees a happy ending, this does not feel like a Disney film. This is a story about two boys, Will and Jim, who visit a mysterious carnival that shows up in October. Don't let the slow leadup fool you-- this comes close to being a psychological horror film. The carnival is much more sinister than the boys originally realize.  I liked the psychological touch to this film, which reminded me of my own work. Though Le Cirque des Rêves is not sinister, I could clearly see the influence Something Wicked had on The Night Circus. This one's definitely worth watching at least once. (Mr. Dark has excellent fashion sense, and I'm sure that he and his carnival people are particularly nasty Shadows.) I'm definitely going to have to read the novel.

The Black Cauldron— Another obscure Disney film, from the 1980s. This was the first animated Disney film to get a PG rating, if that tells you anything. It was loosely based on a book/series of books, and has a high fantasy setting. If you like Dungeons and Dragons or The Lord of the Rings, you might like it. It's about a wannabe hero and his friends who stop an evil lich king from acquiring the  One Ring Horcrux Black Cauldron, a powerful object that is the essence of evil itself. The lich, called the Horned King (uh... kind of offensive to pagans?), uses the cauldron to resurrect an army of undead soldiers. Definitely darker than most Disney films, especially for its time. It definitely had a creepier color scheme and animation style than other Disney films. However, it bombed at the box office and almost collapsed the industry, so you wouldn't have heard of it before. Maybe it would have done better had it been released now. I'm a sucker for high fantasy and anything creepy, so I gave it a watch.

Dark Shadows— A Tim Burton film based off of a TV show of the same name. Very gothy, with plenty of ghosts and vampires, family curses, beautiful interior design, and the signature style of Tim Burton. However, it does not portray witches well.

What We Do in the Shadows — A hilarious New Zealand mockumentary about a bunch of vampires who share a flat. They dress in styles from their respective eras, have wildly different personalities, and have to deal with paying rent and doing chores in addition to hunting humans. ("You haven't done the dishes in five years!" *cut to huge pile of bloody dishes in the sink*) It's also pretty difficult to get into nightclubs if you can't enter a room without being invited. In short, what would modern life be like for the average vampire?

Pan's Labyrinth— I was excited to watch this. I expected that it would be Alice in Wonderland with darker themes and imagery. It wasn't. I expected that the protagonist would leave her war-torn world for a dark and magical one. Nope. This is not a fantasy film. This is a bloody, violent war drama and a gruesome tragedy, with fantasy elements. Actually, I think this one could legitimately be considered horror, and it does have a well-deserved R rating. Some of those fantasy elements (okay, a fair few) were really predictable. However, it's still a beautiful film with fantastic imagery. I loved the protagonist, and the faun. I'd still recommend it, but you have to know what you are getting into. If you would prefer something lighter, I'd suggest the other Labyrinth. You know which one I'm talking about.

Bram Stoker's Dracula— *sigh* I've been on a crusade to find a good Dracula film, and of them all, this was the most accurate to the book.  (In the Bela Lugosi version, Renfield goes to Castle Dracula. Renfield. RENFIELD!) It follows the plot pretty closely, except for the stupid reincarnation thing. I actually would have really liked the love story, if it were its own thing. Mina Harker is not in love with Dracula.  Seriously, I need a Dracula adaptation that actually does Mina justice! This film was a bit corny, and there were some characterizations that I thought were off (Lucy, van Helsing, Harker, Mina), but it includes elements of the book that are absent in other adaptations, such as Dracula's imperviousness to sunlight, and the way he gets younger when well-fed, and the existence of Quincy Morris. It also references the epistolary element of the novel. I do love the visuals, and you've got to love Gary Oldman. If you're going to watch a Dracula movie, watch this one, because it is the most accurate to the book, and it has a beautiful gothic atmosphere and visuals.

Dorian Gray— Damn. I watched the 2009 adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray. It got mixed reviews, I think mostly based on book accuracy, but it was dark and sensual and sexy. Hedonism, bisexuality, sex, murder, depravity, corruption, all that good stuff. CHRISTIAN Gray? Girl, you ain't seen nothin' until you met DORIAN Gray! Definitely recommend, especially if you want to see an actual film in which two men kiss. (Can't see Ben Barns as anyone but Dunstan Thorne, though.)

ParaNorman— Another creepy stop-motion kids' film by Laika, the same company that made Coraline. At first, it seems like a zombie flick about an I-See-Dead-People kid named Norman, but it turns out to be surprisingly insightful and beautiful. Norman has to use his gift to appeal to the emotions of a malignant spirit, to put off her curse for good. It contains an important message about the way fear affects people. I cried at the end. Worth the watch.

Nyx's Unofficial Gothy Reading List

Some of these are must-reads for every Goth, and others are spooky books that I personally enjoyed. Everything on this list I have read. I think almost all of it is available on Amazon. I will keep adding to it as I read more books.

1. Dracula by Bram Stoker: Yup, a classic. Every Goth must read this one. This is a story that's been greatly influenced by film and other media-- surprisingly few people have read the actual book. For those who don't know, Dracula is an epistolary novel about a group of people who try to stop a Romanian vampire who is ravaging Victorian England. I remember being surprised that the book was actually much more about Dracula's effect on Victorian society than the vampire himself. Some of the horror has worn off now because the book is so famous, and because it plays to contemporary fears that are no longer relevant, but it had a gigantic influence on modern vampire novels and just about everything that came after it. I'm really disappointed that I haven't found a film adaptation that is true to the book. Most adaptations twist the plot into knots, or at least ruin Mina's character. Mina is fairly badass for a Victorian gothic heroine! Seriously, read the book. You may be surprised that, although Dracula had such an influence on vampire lore, some traditional aspects of vampire lore didn't apply to him-- sure, he was a night creature, but he actually could go out in sunlight without being harmed at all. He would just be significantly weaker and unable to use his powers.


2. Interview with the Vampire (and sequels) by Anne Rice: ​​​​A more modern classic. Almost all of Anne Rice's novels could be on this list, but the only one I've actually finished is Interview, and even if you don't read all the Vampire Chronicles, you should at least read this one. Even Voltaire's read this one, and he hates reading (sure, he found it as boring as any other book he's bothered to pick up and forgot most of it, but it's one of only three books he's ever read in his life, so if he read it, you have to). It's about a depressed vampire named Louis who agrees to tell his life story to a young interviewer. Louis was once a young plantation owner in New Orleans before he was turned into a vampire by the nefarious Lestat de Lioncourt. This book was intense, emotional, and sensual, as is the rest of the series. I still haven't finished The Vampire Lestat, even though it's been a year (as difficult as it is for me to get through, I like it better than Interview, because Lestat is basically Astor). Every Goth should read Interview at least once, even Voltaire.

3. The Sandman by Neil Gaiman: This is a popular must-read in the Goth community. It is a series of graphic novels, technically part of the DC universe, though somewhat separate (apart from character cameos). I've only read the first book, Preludes and Nocturnes, which follows the adventures of Morpheus (or simply Dream), a god/anthropormorphic personification/immortal entity that seeks to regain his magical items after breaking free of a magical prison. Beautifully contemplative at some times and downright horrific at others, it explores themes such as dreams, life and death, heaven and hell, and madness/insanity. Dream also has a sister, a perky Goth girl called Death. She's a lot more fun than you'd think. (Preludes and Nocturnes is stand-alone, so you don't have to read the whole series if you don't want to.)

4. Coraline by Neil Gaiman: I'm a huge Neil Gaiman fan, so quite a few of his books will appear on this list. Coraline is technically a kids' book, about a girl (Coraline, not Caroline-- actually the result of a typo that Neil decided to keep!) with a boring life and annoying parents who finds a magical otherworld where everything is better. She has an Other Mother and an Other Father too, and she wants to stay forever, until she realizes that it is a lot more sinister than it seems. It plays to children's wishes for a better version of life where everything is fun and parents will let you do what you want, and makes that dream a nightmare. Even before it's revealed what the Other Mother wants, there's still something "off" about the Other World that makes it unsettling. Overall a very creepy story, and much darker than the film at some points. You will never look at buttons in the same way ever again. There's also a sassy black cat!

5. Tales from the Dark Tower (and sequels) by Joseph Vargo (and other writers)*: This is a series of books based on Joseph Vargo's dark fantasy artwork (with an accompanying Nox Arcana album) about a vampire called Lord Brom who guards an ancient evil trapped within the Dark Tower, a sinister structure in the fictional town of Vasaria, Romania. The first book is a collection of short stories written by Vargo and a selection of other authors. The stories tell the history and lore of the Dark Tower, tied together by the larger plot arc, which acts as a framing device. The later two books are mostly written by Vargo and focus more on the main plot. Unfortunately, there is a biblical element and a Light = Good/ Dark = Evil dichotomy present in this book, which I wouldn't expect from someone like Vargo, though given the context it's less Light vs. Dark and more Dark vs. Darker. The stories are romantic, horrific, and gruesome, with plenty of Vargo's signature description that's so dark and morbid it's almost sappy. So, it's not the best writing on this list, but it's definitely entertaining. If you like horror stories, I definitely recommend reading it in a dark room at midnight with the album playing.

6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: I just finished this book, and it is a work of art! Breathtaking, magical, perfect. Where to begin? The novel centers around a circus, Le Cirque des Rêves, which is entirely black and white and only open at night. I call this the Hunger Games for Romantigoths. Celia and Marco are two young magicians who have been trained since childhood to compete with each other, in a game that neither knows the rules to, and only one can be left standing. Naturally, they fall in love. The book has three different timelines-- Celia and Marco's timeline, which describes the formation of the titular circus and their relationship with each other-- Bailey's timeline, which is about a boy who is infatuated with the circus-- and a second person timeline, which describes your own journey through the circus. I love that, although the competition drives and affects everything, it's more of a subplot. Most of the novel is about the circus itself. One of the things I really love about this book is, although Le Cirque des Rêves is nocturnal and ethereal, it is not sinister. Reading about Le Cirque des Rêves is like reading about Hogwarts. My heart aches to go there. It just seems so magical and ethereal and I would be elated to go there. The magicians can do actual magic, which they disguise as stage magic. The magic system in this book is very realistic and interesting. The love scenes are beautiful, passionate, and sensual, with none of the angstiness of YA fiction. I love the writing style. Also, somersaulting kittens. Read it, and be a rêveur!

7. Edgar Allen Poe: Every Goth has to have read something by Edgar Allen Poe. "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Masque of the Read Death" are two of my favorite Poe stories, and I can recite "The Raven" from memory. Here's Red's take on Poe: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KZqzk7p2uY

8. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: This is another book so influenced by film and media that no one knows anything about the original novel. I hope you know that "Frankenstein" is the scientist's name, not the monster's name. The monster's grand awakening happens at the beginning of chapter 4 and is fairly underwhelming. No dramatic exclamations of "IT'S ALIIIIIIIIIIVE!" or anything like that. Nope. Poor Victor Frankenstein spends takes one look and runs for his life after seeing how ugly it is, and it proceeds to kill everyone he ever loved. The moral of the story: Monsters are people too (but you already knew that). Unlike Dracula, this is a sad story. It does not end well. However, despite the lack of space travel, this could be considered the first science fiction novel. I'm putting it on this list because it's a classic gothic horror novel and one of the most famous, but personally, I found it so depressing I couldn't bring myself to finish it, at least for now.

9. Through the Woods by Emily Carroll: A graphic novel of five short horror stories. Chilling, with lovely artwork. Give it a read.

10. Gothic Charm School by Jillian Venters: Not a novel, but a great resource for people new to the Goth scene. The Lady of the Manners is such a fun person and she gives genuinely good advice. Friends don't let friends dress like the Crow.

11. Under My Hat: Tales from the Cauldron and Witches: Wicked, Wild, and Wonderful: Two (unrelated) anthologies of short stories about witches. In both these books, witches are generally portrayed in a positive light. The stories are creative, original, and fantastical, though one story (by Holly Black) in Under My Hat is about real witches at a Beltane festival. I really love both these anthologies and if you like witches (or are one), you should read them. Both books feature stories by Neil Gaiman, Tanith Lee, and Jane Yolen.

12. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: Would you sell your soul for eternal youth and beauty? Another classic gothic novel, and one I'd definitely recommend. It was the only novel Oscar Wilde ever wrote, and it contained so much homoerotic subtext that it was used as evidence against him when he was put on trial. It's a short but compelling, sensual, and gruesome story about the nature of hedonism, sin, corruption, and the darkness within our souls. Dorian Gray may have been an inspiration for Tom Riddle/Voldemort. So glad I read this one. I think it's a new favorite!

13. Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan: It's purple, called "Shadow Magic" and has a giant bat on the cover? Of course I was going to read it! This was a cute, entertaining children's novel about a street-smart, badass peasant boy called Thorn and Lady Lilith Shadow, the sole heir to her family who is being married off to her mortal enemy out of desperation. Lily lives in a dark castle filled with bats, and comes from a long line of necromancers, but is forbidden from using magic to save her kingdom. Sure, it was a bit cliche— House Shadow's mortal enemies are from "House Solar" and wear white— but it was a really engaging mystery story with likable characters. The only thing that really bothered me is that this shadow kingdom, where people love bats and darkness and have bigger cemeteries than towns— is called "Gehenna." I thought it sounded stupid and not at all ominous until I learned it was a word for Tartarus or Hell. Oh... okay then. I still prefer "Umbragard," though. The second book was even better. This may not be a particularly deep or mature series, but it's still a ton of fun.

14. The House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellaires: A creepy kids' book about wizards with illustrations by Edward Gorey? YES! It's a story about a boy who moves into his uncle's house after his parents die, but the house is magic, his uncle is a wizard, and an evil wizard planted a mysterious clock somewhere in the house. I kind of wish I'd read this before seeing the film, as I had the film in my head the whole time and they are quite different. The film aims for a Potter-like whimsey, and though it definitely has some darker elements, its tone is altogether lighter than the book (i.e. it's not Coraline). The book is a slow-burn horror kind of story, which is another reason why I wish I didn't know what the ending was!
(The film is still fun and worth checking out, but I'm leaving it off my Spooky Films list because it's tone is a bit too light, and that does occasionally clash with the darker conflict. It takes place over a MUCH shorter time frame, so the ending feels a bit rushed, but it's still worth the watch. The thing I loved most about it were subtle, obscure references to the occult that I picked up on! I mean, how many other viewers would know what Enochian Glyphs are? I wish all the occult stuff was in the book, but alas.)

15. Shadowbook by Ny-- oh, come on, you knew it was coming! Shameless self-advertising! You can read it here: www.shadowbook.pub

*Not to be confused with the Stephen King series.

Best of Nox Arcana

It's October, which means it's officially SPOOKY TIME!!!

So, here's a list of all the best Nox Arcana songs. Whether you use it as background music for your haunted house, or just like to listen to it on a regular basis, these are the most beautiful and most classic Nox Arcana songs. They're arranged in no particular order, just what I thought would sound good, though most of my favorites are near the top. Please be aware that these are only from the albums I've listened to, so they may not be the best of all time. (I can't post videos for each one, so you'll have to look them up on Youtube or iTunes yourself)

"We Are Legion" - Legion of Shadows (this song speaks for itself. Every album starts with a short voice recording that sets up the context of the album)

"Night of the Wolf" - Transylvania (most popular song)

"Labyrinth of Dreams" - Grimm Tales (my all-time personal favorite!)

"Into the Night" - Legion of Shadows (another personal favorite)

"Shadow Dance" - Season of the Witch (easily the best song from the latest album)

"Echoes of Elise" - Ebonshire Vol. 3 (a haunting cover of "Für Elise")

"Hearthside Lullaby" - Ebonshire Vol. 2 (so beautiful and calming, especially in comparison to most of NA's other music)

"Magic and Moonlight" - Winter's Eve (mystical!)

"The Hidden Realm" - Legion of Shadows

"The Raven" - Shadow of the Raven (based off the poem by Edgar Allen Poe, this song reintroduced me to Nox Arcana and offically started the craze) 

"Ebonshire" - Winter's Knight

"Haunted" - The Dark Tower

"Haunted Carousel" - Carnival of Lost Souls (you want creepy carnival music, you've got it!) 

"The Dark Tower" - The Dark Tower (ABANDON ALL HOPE, YE WHO ENTER HERE!)

"Crimson Thirst" - The Dark Tower

"Born of the Night" -The Dark Tower

"Dark Desire" - The Dark Tower (honestly I reccommend this entire album. Listen to it while reading the books!)

"Noctem Aeternus" - The Dark Tower (dark and dramatic, with a very creepy surprise in the middle!) 

"Nocturne" - Transylvania (classic)

"Pandora's Music Box" - Carnival of Lost Souls (also classic)

"The Forgotten Path" - Grimm Tales (mysterious and kind of sexy) 

"Unhallowed Halls" - Gothic 

"Twilight" - Grimm Tales

"Saturnalia" - Winter's Majesty (totally brings to mind a ritualistic circle dance) 

"Gifts of the Magi" - Winter's Eve

"Undying Love" - The Dark Tower (romantic, and threatening!)

"Legion of Shadows" - Legion of Shadows (yes, demons are coming for your souls. Except the demon is YOU!)

"Shadowplay" - Theatre of Illusion (a fast-paced piece full of dark magic)

"Highland Storm" - Blood of the Dragon (the only Celtic-sounding song NA has)

"Pax Terra" - Winter's Eve (a gorgeous Lain hymn that's oddly uplifting. Nox Arcana gloriam!)

"Toccata" - Legion of Shadows (oh, come on, it's freaking Toccata and Fugue in D Minor!)

("Greensleeves" from Winter's Eve isn't technically on this list because it's particularly Christmasy, but I'm mentioning it anyway because I love it so much.)