There seems to be a new genre emerging in the bookish world of late.
The vampire/demon novel.
In this post-Harry Potter writing world, no one can stop talking about the Twilight series of books by Stephenie Meyer, the Twilight movie (due out in theaters December 12), or, more immediately, the release of Breaking Dawn, Meyer's latest novel chronicling the deliciously sexy, star crossed story of vampire Edward and mortal Bella in perfectly atmospheric Forks, Washington.
(Oh yeah. I totally have it pre-ordered.)
But since everyone ELSE in the book world is talking about the Twilight saga, I thought I'd mention a few other books that rank among my favorite vampy tales that I like to sink my teeth into (hee!)...
Katie MacAlister has written several vampire novels, all with snappy and hilarious dialogue, dark and broody vampires, and a bit of the supernatural all tied up in a quick, satisfying read. MacAlister has invented her own "vampire lore," and her books are sexy romps where the vampire with redeeming qualities always gets the outspoken girl who does not know her own worth. These were my first foray into vampire romance, and they are still among my very favorites. Her "Dark Ones" novels include: A Girls’ Guide to Vampires, Sex and the Single Vampire, Sex, Lies, and Vampires and Even Vampires Get the Blues.
Melissa de la Cruz has written toothy books for the young adult set, beginning with her first novel, Blue Bloods. De la Cruz has crafted a vampire tale of "the four hundred", the elitist of the elite in New York City society who just happen to be vampires, with a back story going back in American history to the Jamestown settlement. A dishy romp - think Gossip Girls meets vampires. De la Cruz's second novel in the series is entitled Masquerade.
Laurell K. Hamilton has built an empire of fantasy books based on vampires. Her (legally sanctioned) tough-as-nails vampire hunter, Anita Blake, ends up falling in love with a seductive, powerful vampire (a "Master of the City") named Jean-Claude. And falls in love with a werewolf. And a wereleopard. And another vampire. And anoth.... well, you get the gist. Hamilton's early novels were very much in the horror vein, but with the enticing human-vampire story running throughout. Her later novels, however, have taken a turn from horror into almost pure erotica - much to the chagrin of her original fans who feel she has “jumped the shark” on the series. Hamilton, however, makes no apologies for the heavy-sex, little-plot novels of late. I really enjoyed the first novels in the series, but admit that I am no longer a reader of her Anita Blake series – too much Mary Sue, too much erotica without a substantive plot, and too much vague meandering language for me. And DEFINITELY not enough of that sexy Master of the City…
Hamilton’s Anita Blake series include the titles: Guilty Pleasures, The Laughing Corpse, Circus of the Damned, The Lunatic Café, Bloody Bones, The Killing Dance, Burnt Offerings, Blue Moon, Obsidian Butterfly, Narcissus in Chains, Cerulean Sins, Incubus Dreams, Micah, Danse Macabre, The Harlequin, and Blood Noir.
Julie Kenner has written a hysterical series of books featuring Kate Connor. To get a sense of Kate, picture Buffy retiring from her vampire hunting gig and settling down in the 'burbs with her hubby and daughter, only to have the demons start stalking her instead and pulling her out of retirement. Kate is a great protagonist, and Kenner writes with a light touch but with great threads linking her novels together. Kenner’s novels include Carpe Demon, California Demon, Demons are Forever, and Deja Demon.
Nora Roberts' trilogy consisting of Morrigan's Cross, Dance of the Gods and Valley of Silence, while not strictly vampire tales, do have vampiric characters, and represent Roberts' first foray into fantasy fiction, which she does well. Each book in the trilogy follows one character, but weaves the plot of all the characters together into one final throwdown of good versus evil. I could not put these novels down!
Elizabeth Kostova took on quite the undertaking with her 656-page novel - about Dracula. In The Historian, Kostova has three storylines that she weaves together, all centering around the search for Dracula - and the belief that he is still alive in Europe today. This novel is full of moonlit castles, crypts and dusty books enough for any gothic reader.
So, if you are looking for other books with bite (hee!), give these novels a try…
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