I’ve been an avid vampire fan since I was a child. I read Interview With The Vampire when I was nine. Where does one go from there? Well, I’ve devoured just about every vampire-themed book and film on the market today. Then, when it came time to write my own books, I did a deep dive into the history, theology, sociology, and speculative science behind the vampire myth. But I’m not going to tell you to read the boring classics (even though Dracula is a personal favorite). I’m going to list the fun books—the ones like Twilight, but better. I firmly believe reading should be fun and full of magic, no matter how old you are.
I wrote...
Dark Heirloom (An Ema Marx Novel)
By
J.D. Brown
What is my book about?
My description is…To save humanity, she must trust the vampire who stole hers.Dark Heirloom is the first installment of the 5x award-winning Ema Marx series. If you like strong female heroines, lots of action, and a hint of romance, then you'll love J.D. Brown's gripping urban fantasy world.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Interview with the Vampire
By
Anne Rice
Why this book?
I read Interview at the impressionable young age of nine. I still remember randomly picking it up from the library shelf like it was yesterday. If my mother had any idea the content I was reading—well, thank goodness she didn’t, haha. That book was my paranormal awakening, so to speak. It sparked my obsession with horror and dark fantasy. Since then I’ve devoured everything from Bram Stoker to Stephenie Meyer.
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Guilty Pleasures: An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Novel
By
Laurell K. Hamilton
Why this book?
In my mind, Hamilton is the queen of Urban Fantasy. She wrote dark, gritty heroines who didn’t apologize for being sexually active—and she did it before it was cool. Anita Blake is like a more mature version of Buffy. Everyone should read that series at least once.
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Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires)
By
Chloe Neill
Why this book?
I’m biased. Some Girls Bite takes place in Chicago, where I’m from, and where some of my own characters are from. It’s really cool to see how another author uses the city I grew up in and love. But aside from that nifty accolade, it’s a fun well-written story with mature themes. The main character, Merit, is no shrinking violet. She can kick ass and take names with the best of them, which is why I love her books. It would be amazing if our characters could meet mine someday.
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Dark Lover: The First Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood
By
J.R.Ward
Why this book?
Honestly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this one. I don’t think any other vampire romance in the world grips its readers the way the Black Dagger Brotherhood series does. Yes, it’s a romance, but you won’t find any sugary sweetness or melodrama here. These characters are deep, flawed, and intoxicating in a way that always has me ripping through the pages, reading as fast as I can. The relationships are mature and complicated. There’s death and loss, children and family, toxic backstories, trauma…not all of them get a happy ending. Keep the tissues close. You have been warned.
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Undead and Unwed: A Queen Betsy Novel
By
MaryJanice Davidson
Why this book?
I’m including Undead & Unwed for those who don’t like dark & gritty themes like I do. I’m including it for the readers who like chick-lit and comedy—because this series is freaking hysterical. I would recommend it to fans of the Sookie Stackhouse series (oops, not me namedropping another title in there, haha). The main character, Betsy, is a vampire queen unlike any you’ve ever seen before with all the sass of the south between her fangs, and she’s having a very bad day… Go read it. You’ll be glad you did.
