Nightbooks

Written by J. A. White and J. A. White

A boy must tell a new scary story nightly to survive a witch's captivity.

4.0 Goodreads · 10,960 ratings

294 pages· 59,902 words· Est. 8.5 hour read· 660L

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Trapped by a witch, young Alex must spin a new scary story each night to stay alive. As his tales dwindle, he faces the terrifying prospect of being trapped forever. Can he craft a story with a different ending and escape this twisted fate? Dive into a world where storytelling is a matter of life and death, and discover if Alex can outwit the witch before time runs out. Perfect for fans of Coraline, this tale weaves suspense, plot twists, and the art of storytelling into a gripping adventure.

From the publisher

A boy is imprisoned by a witch and must tell her a new scary story each night to stay alive. This thrilling contemporary fantasy from J. A. White, the acclaimed author of the Thickety series, brings to life the magic and craft of storytelling. Alex’s original hair-raising tales are the only thing keeping the witch Natacha happy, but soon he’ll run out of pages to read from and be trapped forever. He’s loved scary stories his whole life, and he knows most don’t have a happily ever after. Now that Alex is trapped in a true terrifying tale, he’s desperate for a different ending—and a way out of this twisted place. This modern spin on the Scheherazade story is perfect for fans of Coraline and A Tale Dark and Grimm. With interwoven tips on writing with suspense, adding in plot twists, hooks, interior logic, and dealing with writer’s block, this is the ideal book for budding writers and all readers of delightfully just-dark-enough tales.

At a glance