The leaves are changing, the weather is gloriously crisp, and Halloween is right around the corner. Time to get your spook on and celebrate your favorite wicked beasts, whether they be ghosts, goblins, or our favorites — vampires!
Grab your crosses and garlic — we’re reviewing the best in vampire fiction. Check out our superlatives below, complete with the publisher’s descriptions.
1. Best literary fiction: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
To you, perceptive reader, I bequeath my history… Late one night, exploring her father’s library, a young woman finds an ancient book and a cache of yellowing letters. The letters are all addressed to “My dear and unfortunate successor,” and they plunge her into a world she never dreamed of — a labyrinth where the secrets of her father’s past and her mother’s mysterious fate connect to an inconceivable evil hidden in the depths of history. The letters provide links to one of the darkest powers that humanity has ever known — and to a centuries-long quest to find the source of that darkness and wipe it out. It is a quest for the truth about Vlad the Impaler, the medieval ruler whose barbarous reign formed the basis of the legend of Dracula. Generations of historians have risked their reputations, their sanity, and even their lives to learn the truth about Vlad the Impaler and Dracula. Now one young woman must decide whether to take up this quest herself — to follow her father in a hunt that nearly brought him to ruin years ago, when he was a vibrant young scholar and her mother was still alive. What does the legend of Vlad the Impaler have to do with the modern world? Is it possible that the Dracula of myth truly existed — and that he has lived on, century after century, pursuing his own unknowable ends? The answers to these questions cross time and borders, as first the father and then the daughter search for clues, from dusty Ivy League libraries to Istanbul, Budapest, and the depths of Eastern Europe. In city after city, in monasteries and archives, in letters and in secret conversations, the horrible truth emerges about Vlad the Impaler’s dark reign — and about a time-defying pact that may have kept his awful work alive down through the ages. Parsing obscure signs and hidden texts, reading codes worked into the fabric of medieval monastic traditions-and evading the unknown adversaries who will go to any lengths to conceal and protect Vlad’s ancient powers — one woman comes ever closer to the secret of her own past and a confrontation with the very definition of evil. Elizabeth Kostova’s debut novel is an adventure of monumental proportions, a relentless tale that blends fact and fantasy, history and the present, with an assurance that is almost unbearably suspenseful-and utterly unforgettable.
Why you should check it out: The Historian is a bit like The Da Vinci Code — only with vampire lore rather than religion. Written with a literary slant, it’s an adventurous tale that’s both fun and thought-provoking.
2. Spookiest novel: Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
Ben Mears has returned to Jerusalem’s Lot in the hopes that living in an old mansion, long the subject of town lore, will help him cast out his own devils and provide inspiration for his new book. But when two young boys venture into the woods and only one comes out alive, Mears begins to realize that there may be something sinister at work and that his hometown is under siege by forces of darkness far beyond his control.
Why you should check it out: Want to be too scared to turn the page? Stephen King is the master of horror — and it shines in this scary vampire tale.
3. Most brooding series: The Passage trilogy by Justin Cronin
An epic and gripping tale of catastrophe and survival, The Passage is the story of Amy — abandoned by her mother at the age of six, pursued and then imprisoned by the shadowy figures behind a government experiment of apocalyptic proportions. But Special Agent Brad Wolgast, the lawman sent to track her down, is disarmed by the curiously quiet girl — and risks everything to save her. As the experiment goes nightmarishly wrong, Wolgast secures her escape — but he can’t stop society’s collapse. And as Amy walks alone, across miles and decades, into a future dark with violence and despair, she is filled with the mysterious and terrifying knowledge that only she has the power to save the ruined world.
Why you should check it out: If summers are for fun beach reads, then autumn and winter are for meatier fare. If you’re looking for an all encompassing, brooding epic, then The Passage is for you.
4. Best standalone teen novel: Thirsty by M.T. Anderson
All Chris really wants is to be a normal kid, to hang out with his friends, avoid his parents, and get a date with Rebecca Schwartz.
Unfortunately, Chris appears to be turning into a vampire. So while his hometown performs an ancient ritual that keeps Tch’muchgar, the Vampire Lord, locked in another world, Chris desperately tries to save himself from his own vampiric fate. He needs help, but whom can he trust? A savagely funny tale of terror, teen angst, suspense, and satire from National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson.
Why you should check it out: This a novel that will easily appeal to both adult and teen readers. Even John Green has recommended this clever tale.
5. Best teen series: The Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith
A deadly love triangle…
Elena: beautiful and popular, the girl who can have any guy she wants.
Stefan: brooding and mysterious, desperately trying to resist his desire for Elena… for her own good.
Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him.
Elena finds herself drawn to both brothers… who will she choose?
Why you should check it out: It has smokin’ hot vampire brothers, an epic love triangle, and a plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The series is easily as good — if not better! — than the show, and that’s saying something!
6. Most suspenseful series: Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton
Published over 10 years ago by Ace, Guilty Pleasures marked the debut of a series that was destined to grow from cult favorite to a major New York Times bestseller. Now, for long-time Anita Blake junkies and newfound fans, Guilty Pleasures makes its trade paperback debut. Readers will learn how Anita Blake started raising the dead-and killing the undead. And how she met Jean Claude, the master vampire destined to become not only her biggest nemesis, but her greatest lover…
Why you should check it out: The Anita Blake books are fun, fast, and furious reads! You’ll stay up way too late flying through this series.
7. Most romantic series: Dark Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dear Reader,
Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to be immortal? To journey through the night stalking the evil that preys on humans? To have unlimited wealth, unlimited power? That is my existence, and it is dark and dangerous. I play hero to thousands, but am known to none. And I love every minutes of it.
Or so I thought until one night when I woke up handcuffed to my worst nightmare: a conservative woman in a button-down shirt. Or in Amanda’s case, one buttoned all the way up to her chin. She’s smart, sexy, witty, and wants nothing to do with the paranormal — in other words, me.
My attraction to Amanda Devereaux goes against everything I stand for. Not to mention the last time I fell in love it cost me not only my human life, but also my very soul. Yet every time I look at her, I find myself wanting to try again. Wanting to believe that love and loyalty do exist.
Even more disturbing, I find myself wondering if there’s any way a woman like Amanda can love a man whose battle scars run deep, and whose heart was damaged by a betrayal so savage that he’s not sure it will ever beat again.
Why you should check it out: Chemistry, chemistry, chemistry! They may be complete opposite, but Kyrian and Amanda have it in spades. Swoon!
8. Sexiest series: Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J. R. Ward
The only purebred vampire left on the planet and the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who killed his parents centuries ago. But when his most trusted fighter is killed — orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate — Wrath must put down his dagger and usher the beautiful female into another world.
Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn’t there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of the Brotherhood and blood frighten her. Yet his touch ignites a dawning new hunger — one that threatens to consume them both…
Why you should check it out: Biceps, pecs, and abs — oh my! If you’re looking for a little steam to fill your cold autumn nights, then you’ll want to get cozy with Wrath. Don’t let his name fool you — Wrath has a gentle side and knows how to please the ladies.
9. Snarkiest series: Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead
St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school — it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s — the very place where they’re most in danger… Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi — the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires — make Lissa one of them forever.
Why you should check it out: Rose is the perfect protagonist — she’s a witty badass that makes the Vampire Academy series a fun read for all. If you loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you’ll love Vampire Academy.
10. Best lighthearted series: Undead series by Mary Janice Davidson
First Betsy Taylor loses her job, then she’s killed in a car accident. But what really bites is that she can’t seem to stay dead. And now her new friends have the ridiculous idea that Betsy is the prophesied vampire queen, and they want her help in overthrowing the most obnoxious power-hungry vampire in five centuries.
Why you should check it out: If you’re looking for a light, refreshing vampire read (and yes, those two things can go together), then you can’t go wrong with Mary Janice Davidson’s Undead series. Warning: You may need tissues… but only because you’ll be laughing so hard.
11. Goriest series: The Strain trilogy by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan
An epic battle for survival begins between man and vampire in The Strain — the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy from one of Hollywood’s most inventive storytellers and a critically acclaimed thriller writer. Guillermo del Toro, the genius director of the Academy Award–winning Pan’s Labyrinth and Hellboy, and Hammett Award–winning author Chuck Hogan have joined forces to boldly reinvent the vampire novel. Brilliant, blood-chilling, and unputdownable, The Strain is a nightmare of the first order.
Why you should check it out: If you don’t mind a large helping of blood and guts to go along with a compelling story, then given this series a try.
12. Guiltiest pleasure: Twilight trilogy by Stephenie Meyer
Isabella Swan’s move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife — between desire and danger. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.
Why we love it: Could millions upon millions of fans be wrong? Not likely! It’s not without criticisms, but despite it all, the Twilight Series is compelling and compulsively readable.
13. Hottest male lead: Lestat in The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
Here are the confessions of a vampire. Hypnotic, shocking, and chillingly erotic, this is a novel of mesmerizing beauty and astonishing force — a story of danger and flight, of love and loss, of suspense and resolution, and of the extraordinary power of the senses. It is a novel only Anne Rice could write.
Why you should check it out: Lestat is sexiness personified. He’s dark, dangerous, and just a little bit too hot to handle.
14. Hottest female lead: Sookie Stackhouse in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She’s quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn’t get out much. Not because she’s not pretty. She is. It’s just that, well, Sookie has this sort of “disability.” She can read minds. And that doesn’t make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He’s tall, dark, handsome — and Sookie can’t hear a word he’s thinking. He’s exactly the type of guy she’s been waiting for all her life…
But Bill has a disability of his own: He’s a vampire with a bad reputation. He hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, all suspected of — big surprise — murder. And when one of Sookie’s coworkers is killed, she fears she’s next…
Why you should check it out: Sookie Stackhouse is a strong female lead — not because she can kick butt, but because she has an inner strength. It’s this that allows her to be an effective foil for Bill and all the other preternatural creatures that come her way.
15. Most dangerous vampire: Lilith in the Circle trilogy by Nora Roberts
In the last days of high summer, with lightning striking blue in a black sky, the sorcerer stood on a high cliff overlooking the raging sea… Belting out his grief into the storm, Hoyt Mac Cionaoith rails against the evil that has torn his twin brother from their family’s embrace. Her name is Lilith. Existing for thousands of years, she has lured countless men to an immortal doom with her soul-stealing kiss. But now, this woman known as vampire will stop at nothing until she rules this world — and those beyond it…
Hoyt is no match for the dark siren. But his powers come from the goddess Morrigan, and it is through her that he will get his chance at vengeance. At Morrigan’s charge, he must gather five others to form a ring of power strong enough to overcome Lilith. A circle of six: himself, the witch, the warrior, the scholar, the one of many forms, and the one he’s lost. And it is in this circle, hundreds of years in the future, where Hoyt will learn how strong his spirit — and his heart — have become…
Why you should check it out: Sometimes it’s the villains that make a story special. If you’re the type that loves to hate, meet Lilith — a power-hungry megalomaniac that gets her kicks by luring men to their doom.
16. Best love triangle: Evernight series by Claudia Gray
Bianca wants to escape.
At the eerily Gothic Evernight Academy, the other students are sleek, smart, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn’t fit in.
When she meets handsome, brooding Lucas, he warns her to be careful — even when it comes to caring about him. But the connection between them can’t be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart… and to make Bianca question everything she’s ever believed.
Why you should check it out: Bianca is torn between Lucas the vampire hunter and Balthazar the vampire. Yep, you read that right. Sounds pretty epic, right?
17. Best vampire partners: Cat and Bones from the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost
Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father — the one responsible for ruining her mother’s life. Then she’s captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.
In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She’s amazed she doesn’t end up as his dinner — are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn’t have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side… and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.
Why you should check it out: There’s nothing quite like the heat from a working partnership. Just think of Booth and Brennan or Buffy and Spike. It’s the “will they or won’t they?” that keeps us coming back for more.
Who’s your favorite literary vampire? Tell us in the comments!
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