Compelling. A compelling novel compels you to keep reading. It has a certain force or charm that draws you in. It could be due to a strong emotional connection the story creates or a mystery that needs to be solved.
Imaginative. An imaginative novel takes you to places you've never been before, either literally in a fictional world or conceptually in terms of ideas. It shows the creativity of the author. Fantasy novels like 'Harry Potter' are highly imaginative with their magical creatures, spells and wizarding world.
Dreadful. It emphasizes a sense of great fear or horror. For instance, a dreadful curse. Also, 'chilling' which makes you feel cold because of fear, like a chilling wind in the story. And 'ghastly' which is used to describe something shockingly horrible, such as a ghastly apparition.
Heartwarming. When a life story is full of love, kindness, and positive relationships, it can be heartwarming. For instance, a story about a family that has supported each other through thick and thin can be described as heartwarming.
Gripping. It holds your attention tightly, like a thriller that makes you eager to turn the pages to find out what happens next.
Mournful. A story described as mournful is full of grief and sadness, often associated with loss. For example, a story about someone losing a loved one would be mournful.
Macabre. It often implies a gruesome or morbid quality, like a story about a serial killer's strange and disturbing habits. Also, 'blood - curdling'. This adjective makes you think of something so terrifying that it could literally make your blood freeze in your veins, like a sudden and unexpected encounter with a monster in a story.
Malevolent. It describes something or someone full of ill will, like a malevolent spirit. Another is 'forbidding', which gives the sense that a place or situation is not welcoming and is likely to be dangerous. 'Hideous' is good for describing grotesque things like hideous monsters.
Sure. 'Melancholic' can be used to describe a character who is sad or a place with a sad atmosphere. 'Dazzling' is good for something bright and impressive, like a dazzling ballroom. 'Solemn' is useful for serious or formal situations in the story.
There are 'blood - curdling' and 'hair - raising'. 'Blood - curdling' is often used to describe a sound or a situation that is so terrifying it makes your blood seem to freeze. 'Hair - raising' gives the feeling that your hair is standing on end because of fear. Another adjective is 'nightmarish', which implies that something is like a bad dream but in a very real and scary way. You can use 'blood - curdling' to describe a scream in the story, 'forbidding' to describe an old castle, and 'nightmarish' to describe an overall situation that the characters are in.
Endearing. When the characters in a love story are kind, cute, and their love is pure, it gives an endearing quality to the story. For example, a story about a couple who met in a small town and fell in love while helping the local community is very endearing.
Epic can be a great adjective for a story. It gives the sense of something grand and large - scale, perhaps with a lot of action and adventure. Hilarious is another good one for comical stories that make you laugh out loud. And poignant, which is used for stories that are deeply moving and touch the heart in a sad or bittersweet way.