The best books that feature Dracula as a main character

Victoria Steele Logue Author Of Redemption
By Victoria Steele Logue

Who am I?

I was introduced to vampires through Barnabas Collins of Dark Shadows fame, but I was a child and found the show boring. But, when I was 15, I was handed the paperback edition of Salem’s Lot and it scared me to death. I was hooked, reading books, and watching movies about vampires whenever the chance arose. When I wrote the first draft of Redemption, it sat for years before I reworked it, reading Dracula again and taking notes, researching Vlad the Impaler, and watching lots of vampire movies before re-writing it. Since then, I’ve continued reading vampire fiction and watching movies and shows about the creatures whenever I can.

I wrote...

Redemption

By Victoria Steele Logue,

Book cover of Redemption

What is my book about?

It is the 21st Century and Wolfdietrich has grown tired of being a vampire. But, on his way back to his hideaway, he spots Ginny, a woman who reminds him of his long-lost love. Trapped as a vampire for nearly four centuries, Wolf rediscovers the humanity he lost as well as his love for Ginny. Unfortunately, there is one obstacle preventing their being together—the vampire who created him, Vlad Drakulya, still walks the earth. Even though killing Vlad will destroy the man she loves, Ginny joins Wolf in the search for his maker. Redemption entwines the stories of Vlad III and Wolf, sweeping through centuries of history and across continents. Wolf has found love, but can a vampire find redemption?
Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The books I picked & why

Dracula

By Bram Stoker,

Book cover of Dracula

Why did I love this book?

If it weren’t for this groundbreaking classic, all the books and movies and television shows about vampires would not exist. Stoker created not just the iconic vampire with his novel but much of the vampire lore. I own multiple copies of Dracula and had read it numerous times before being inspired to create vampires like Stoker’s in my book. While people have used their imaginations to create new breeds of vampires (think Twilight or True Blood, for example), I still think the creepiest, and by far the scariest vampire will always be Count Dracula.

Dracula

By Bram Stoker,

Why should I read it?

20 authors picked Dracula as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'The very best story of diablerie which I have read for many years' Arthur Conan Doyle

A masterpiece of the horror genre, Dracula also probes identity, sanity and the dark corners of Victorian sexuality and desire. It begins when Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula purchase a London house, and makes horrifying discoveries in his client's castle. Soon afterwards, disturbing incidents unfold in England - an unmanned ship is wrecked; strange puncture marks appear on a young woman's neck; a lunatic asylum inmate raves about the imminent arrival of his 'Master' - and a determined group of adversaries…

Explore
Topics
Genres

The Historian

By Elizabeth Kostova,

Book cover of The Historian

Why did I love this book?

This book should have been called The Historians because nearly every character in it from Vlad the Impaler to the narrator, herself, are historians. Kostova's characters use history to track down the ancient vampire, and this is the reason I found this book so compelling as I was also using history when writing my novel. A plus for me was that I also found myself caring for the characters. The Historian spans centuries and takes you through many countries in the hunt for the vampire who has wreaked havoc on so many lives and does so in a compelling way.

The Historian

By Elizabeth Kostova,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Historian as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Late one night, exploring her father's library, a young woman finds an ancient book and a cache of yellowing letters addressed ominously to 'My dear and unfortunate successor'. Her discovery plunges 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 evil hidden in the depths of history.
In those few quiet moments, she unwittingly assumes a quest she will discover is her birthright - a hunt for the truth about Vlad the Impaler, the medieval ruler whose barbarous reign formed the basis of…

Explore
Topics
Genres

Dracul

By Dacre Stoker, J.D. Barker,

Book cover of Dracul

Why did I love this book?

I must admit this book appealed to me first because it was co-written by the great-grand-nephew of Bram Stoker. I also loved that a young Bram Stoker was a main character. I won’t offer any spoilers but it’s a fascinating tale about how Stoker was inspired to write his book, Dracula. If you’re looking for a horror tale, this book supplies plenty of terror and like most books that feature Dracula as a character, you will find yourself in locations all over Europe. This book offers yet another fine example of the enduring spell Count Dracula casts on our imaginations.

Dracul

By Dacre Stoker, J.D. Barker,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dracul as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Scary as hell. Gothic as decay' Josh Malerman

'Reading Dracul is like watching a classic vampire film . . . a terrifying read' R. L. Stine

Inspired by the notes DRACULA's creator left behind, Dracul is a riveting, heart-stoppingly scary novel of Gothic suspense . . .
___
Dracul reveals not only the true origins of Dracula himself, but also of his creator, Bram Stoker . . . and of the elusive, enigmatic woman who connects them.

It is 1868, and a 21-year-old Bram Stoker has locked himself inside an abbey's tower to confront a vile and ungodly beast. He…

Explore
Topics
Genres

Powers of Darkness: The Lost Version of Dracula

By Hans C. De Roos (translator), Bram Stoker, Valdimar Ásmundsson

Book cover of Powers of Darkness: The Lost Version of Dracula

Why did I love this book?

This Icelandic Dracula remained hidden from the world-at-large as merely a translation of the original for more than a century before Hans Corneel de Roos translated the Icelandic back into English. What he discovered is that Asmundsson took the liberty of making Dracula his own book. A Nordic spin on the vampire is reason enough to discover this interesting take on Stoker’s Dracula. Two-thirds of the book takes place at the Count’s castle in Transylvania where the notorious vampire is given much more depth and voice. Nordic lore spices this story up as well as a very seductive vampiress. The book is also much shorter than Stoker’s, which makes it an easy read.

Powers of Darkness: The Lost Version of Dracula

By Hans C. De Roos (translator), Bram Stoker, Valdimar Ásmundsson

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Powers of Darkness as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Powers of Darkness is an incredible literary discovery: In 1900, Icelandic publisher and writer Valdimar Ásmundsson set out to translate Bram Stoker’s world-famous 1897 novel Dracula. Called Makt Myrkranna (literally, “Powers of Darkness”), this Icelandic edition included an original preface written by Stoker himself. Makt Myrkranna was published in Iceland in 1901 but remained undiscovered outside of the country until 1986, when Dracula scholarship was astonished by the discovery of Stoker’s preface to the book. However, no one looked beyond the preface and deeper into Ásmundsson’s story.In 2014, literary researcher Hans de Roos dove into the full text of Makt…

Explore
Topics
Genres

Anno Dracula

By Kim Newman,

Book cover of Anno Dracula

Why did I love this book?

Newman’s creative mashup brings a dizzying host of personalities into the Jack the Ripper murders as historical people and characters from fiction collide in Queen Victoria’s London. Vlad Tepes casts a long shadow across the political and social landscape. This take on Dracula himself, and other ancient vampires, is fresh and frightening and I was glad to discover it. The playful mix has Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Lestrade investigating The Ripper in a world where vampires are out in public, and Vlad is Prince Consort to Queen Victoria. The bold concept works well and is a ferociously fun ride.

Anno Dracula

By Kim Newman,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Anno Dracula as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

It is 1888 and Queen Victoria has remarried, taking as her new consort Vlad Tepes, the Wallachian Prince infamously known as Count Dracula. Peppered with familiar characters from Victorian history and fiction, the novel follows vampire Genevieve Dieudonne and Charles Beauregard of the Diogenes Club as they strive to solve the mystery of the Ripper murders.

Anno Dracula is a rich and panoramic tale, combining horror, politics, mystery and romance to create a unique and compelling alternate history. Acclaimed novelist Kim Newman explores the darkest depths of a reinvented Victorian London.

Explore
Topics
Genres

5 book lists we think you will like!

The best books to get to know Romania and her people
The best quirkiest books about life after death
The best fantasy novels for quality writing and believable characters
The best books featuring letters that change someone’s life
The best books from the gothic darkness of vampires to wizards, goblins, and dwarves

Interested in Count Dracula, vampires, and Eastern Europe?

9,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about Count Dracula, vampires, and Eastern Europe.

Count Dracula Explore 15 books about Count Dracula
Vampires Explore 250 books about vampires
Eastern Europe Explore 60 books about Eastern Europe