Haunted buildings are such a fascinating trope in horror literature, and 'Thirteen Storeys' by Jonathan Sims nails that eerie, claustrophobic feeling of a place that’s alive with malice. If you’re craving more stories where the walls themselves seem to breathe, there are plenty of titles that dive into similar territory. One that immediately comes to mind is 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski. It’s a labyrinthine nightmare about a house that’s bigger on the inside than the outside, shifting and changing in impossible ways. The book’s experimental format—with its footnotes, layered narratives, and chaotic typography—mirrors the disorienting horror of the setting itself. It’s not just about ghosts; it’s about the architecture becoming a character, almost predatory in its unnaturalness.
Another great pick is 'The Shining' by Stephen King. While the Overlook Hotel isn’t an apartment building like in 'Thirteen Storeys', it’s absolutely a place with a personality, one that preys on its inhabitants. King’s mastery of atmosphere makes the hotel feel like a living, breathing entity, with its history of violence seeping into every corridor. For something more modern, 'The Apartment' by S.L. Grey is a brutal, unsettling ride about a luxury apartment block where the residents are trapped in a cycle of grotesque horrors. It’s less about traditional hauntings and more about the building as a manifestation of societal decay, but the sense of dread is just as palpable. I love how these stories make the setting itself the villain—there’s something primal about fearing the place you call home.
2026-03-18 10:56:28
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Ashwyck Academy for the Damned
Novella Wright
10
1.3K
Isadora didn’t want to come to Ashwyck Academy.
It wasn’t the haunting towers or the iron gates that unnerved her. It wasn’t the students—dark, beautiful, terrifying things cloaked in magic and menace. It was what it meant.
Coming here was a last resort. A whispered admission from her parents that something was wrong with her. That despite being born of a temptress and a mind-bending killer, despite all the bloodlines and rituals and whispered prophecies—Isadora was still painfully, tragically human.
She was quiet, clever, and careful. Not powerful. Not wicked. Not like the others.
Her parents called it “late blooming.” The High Table called it “defective.” But no one said it out loud. Instead, they tucked her into Ashwyck like a final gamble and hoped the academy could awaken whatever dark inheritance slumbered beneath her skin.
She hadn’t wanted to come. She still doesn’t belong.
But Ashwyck has its own secrets.
And Isadora is about to discover that the parts of her she’s most afraid of are the ones they’ve been waiting for.
Ben has just bought his first house. It's a bit of a fixer-upper. When strange things start happening, he assumes it's the quirkiness of an old house. Because ghosts don't exist, right?
When Covid hits, the Thomas Family decided to pack up their lives in the city and move to Buttershire, to the family mansion on the hill. But there is a secret to the mansion, that no one told the family when they got the keys. Whilst the adults seem oblivious to what is happening around them, the teenage knows that the clock is ticking. What they discover is truly not for the faint of heart.
I found an old quill in an antique shop and decided to buy it since I have always wanted to write with quills. However, as soon as I touched the quill to the paper, I was transported into the book. I wasn't the only one there, though three males who always hide their identities behind masks were in the book with me. They claim the quill belongs to them, and I must return it. Since I refuse, they follow me into every book I go into. One day, I was debating which of my mature books to write when I accidentally spilled the ink onto my book, 1001 Dark Tales. The only way they'll help me out of the book is if I give the quill back, and there is now a fourth. As I go through more of the book with them, I start noticing things. Things I had never planned for in my book, and it concerned me because even though I hadn't written those parts yet, none of the other stories I had used the quill on had ever gone that off track. However, when we tried to leave the book, it wouldn't let us back out. It seems we're stuck in the book until we finish all 1001 Dark Tales.
In the haunting halls of an abandoned asylum, love and madness entwine in a deadly dance. Elias, a handsome investigator with a thirst for uncovering the truth, stumbles upon the dark legacy of Nina—a beautiful yet manipulative spirit trapped in a cycle of seduction and torment. Once a victim of betrayal, Nina now preys on the souls of men, drawing them into her web of desire and despair. As Elias delves deeper into the asylum’s chilling past, he becomes entangled in Nina’s seductive grasp, forced to confront the terrifying truth of her existence. The line between pleasure and pain blurs as he grapples with the haunting allure of her beauty and the sinister pull of her vengeance. With each encounter, Elias risks losing his mind—and his very soul—to the twisted love that binds them. In a battle between desire and survival, Elias must uncover the secrets of Nina’s past before he becomes just another victim in her endless cycle of horror and lust. Can he escape her clutches, or will he succumb to the darkness that awaits him?
Emma Caldwell's ordinary life as a librarian in Willow Creek is turned upside down when she receives an enigmatic invitation to the reading of a stranger's will at Haverstone Manor. What begins as an inexplicable summons quickly spirals into a labyrinth of secrets, danger, and intrigue. As Emma delves deeper into the manor's mysteries, she discovers she's not the only one with a stake in its secrets. Fellow guests, each with shadowy motives, vie for a piece of the late Lord Haverstone's enigmatic legacy.
Amid ancient symbols, cryptic maps, and peculiar artifacts, Emma uncovers the existence of a machine designed to manipulate time itself. Guided by clues left by the deceased lord, Emma must navigate a gothic maze of shifting alliances, hidden chambers, and eerie warnings. Her companions, including a sardonic teenager and a glamorous but cunning relative of Haverstone, are as unpredictable as the dangers lurking in the shadows.
When betrayals come to light and an old foe reveals their true intentions, Emma finds herself the reluctant guardian of a power that could reshape existence—or destroy it. As the stakes rise, she must unravel the truth about Haverstone’s experiments and decide whom she can trust, all while racing to prevent the manor’s secrets from falling into the wrong hands.
Blending gothic suspense, unexpected humor, and thrilling twists, "Haverstone's Legacy" is a gripping tale of mystery and courage, where every choice could mean the difference between salvation and catastrophe.
If you're craving more eerie, atmospheric reads like 'The Thirteenth Floor: A Ghost Story,' you're in luck—there’s a whole world of spine-tingling books waiting for you. One that immediately comes to mind is 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill. It’s a classic ghost story with that same slow-building dread and a haunted setting that lingers long after you’ve finished reading. The way Hill crafts tension is masterful, and the ending packs a punch that’ll leave you staring at your bedroom ceiling at 3 AM, questioning every creak in the house.
Another great pick is 'Hell House' by Richard Matheson. It’s got that same mix of psychological horror and supernatural elements, with a haunted mansion that feels almost alive in its malevolence. Matheson’s writing is razor-sharp, and the way he explores the characters’ fears makes the horror feel deeply personal. If you enjoyed the unsettling vibe of 'The Thirteenth Floor,' this one will definitely scratch that itch. For something a bit more modern, 'The Silent Companions' by Laura Purcell blends historical fiction with ghostly horrors, and the unreliable narration adds this delicious layer of ambiguity—is it really ghosts, or is the protagonist losing her mind? I love how Purcell keeps you guessing right up to the last page.
And let’s not forget 'The Little Stranger' by Sarah Waters. It’s a slower burn, but the way the haunting intertwines with class tensions and post-war England’s decay is just brilliant. The ambiguity of whether the supernatural is real or a projection of the characters’ psyches makes it a perfect companion to 'The Thirteenth Floor.' Honestly, any of these would be a fantastic next read if you’re chasing that same chill down your spine.