The best vampire novels to sink your teeth into

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always had a wild imagination and have been creative and expressive through various art forms since I was young. After a series of crazy and vivid dreams, I decided to turn them into a story. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I had over 20 projects, each with a different style but all with my voice. I grew up in Cheshire and studied digital media at the University of Bradford, but moved to my paternal home in Spain in 2009, where I now teach English and moonlight as a fantasy author.


I wrote...

The Viper's Library

By Emilia Dashfire,

Book cover of The Viper's Library

What is my book about?

Zelenka, a vampiric viper, fled her blood-thirsty sisters and her sire centuries ago and made a quiet life for herself in a palatial library. When Dante, Kian, and Naveed, a group of hunters, chase vipers onto Zelenka's lands, word gets back to her sisters, and she reluctantly makes a deal with her enemy. 

While Zelenka has deeper reasons for the deal, Dante is keeping secrets that could change everything for her. Zelenka and Dante form an unlikely alliance to pull off the trick of a lifetime, but lines get blurred in order to keep up appearances.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Book of Azrael

Emilia Dashfire Why did I love this book?

Dianna and Liam, two immortals, struggle to free themselves from their past and the expectations of their future. But when they join forces, they realise their future might be the same.

This book was amazingly written with the perfect balance of a great story and complex, morally grey characters. I especially love how Dianna does bad things to protect the one she loves and has an excuse for everything.

By Amber V Nicole,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

One of Book Riot's 'Best and Swooniest Romantasy Books'

Don't miss this addictive BookTok sensation! A perfectly steamy, high-stakes, TRUE enemies-to-lovers, dark epic romantasy!
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World Ender meets Ender of Worlds . . .
A thousand years ago, Dianna gave up her life in the deserts of Erioa to save her dying sister. She called upon anyone who would listen, not expecting a monster far worse than any nightmare to answer. Now she must do what he asks, even if that means securing an ancient relic from the very creatures that hunt her.

A King thought long dead and long…


Book cover of The Awakening

Emilia Dashfire Why did I love this book?

This dark academia fantasy will make you feel every single emotion possible.

Dragon shifters, pegasuses, sirens, and vampires are just a few of the fun shifters in this series. Twins, Tory and Darcy have to navigate a whole new world and way of life after they discover they’re princesses from a Fae realm. 

This isn’t a book to be taken seriously when they say things like “I laughed like a hyena on crack” and “Hands off my buttery bagels, you slippery salmon,” but that’s what makes it worth reading. Also the great characters, fun magic, and dangerous romances.

By Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

The Amazon.com and Wall Street Journal #1 bestselling dark fantasy romance series from authors Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

I’m a Gemini. Impulsive. Curious. Headstrong. A twin. Heir to a throne I know nothing about. And it turns out, I’m Fae.

But of course there’s a catch - all I have to do to claim my birth right is prove that I’m the most powerful supernatural in the whole of Solaria. And sure, technically that’s true as I’m the daughter of the Savage King. But the bit they didn’t put in the brochure was that every single Fae in this…


Book cover of The Serpent and the Wings of Night

Emilia Dashfire Why did I love this book?

Imagine if Rapunzel was kidnapped by a vampire king but then hunted the people who could kill her with one bite.

This is a fantastic book with vampires, magic, wings, and a female main character that’s realising not everything is as she was led to believe. There wasn’t a moment that I doubted it would be 5 stars. 

One of my favourite things is how she struggles to accept the truth about the people she thought were her family. She also has to ally with a vampire who has a dangerous curiosity for her, and I loved trying to work out why.

By Carissa Broadbent,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Serpent and the Wings of Night as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always-always-guard your heart.

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.

But winning won't be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.

Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an…


Book cover of Of Shadow and Moonlight

Emilia Dashfire Why did I love this book?

Vampires, shifters, and reincarnation; I’ll read that again and again and again. It’s like if A Walk to Remember met The Mortal Instruments with a dash of Twilight. This was a fun read that I sailed through far too quickly. 

Each character had their own mini story which makes this book a well-rounded story with a main focus but also intriguing characters. With the female main character having a fatal disease, and the male main character being immortal, the desperation to hang onto each other makes for a rare romance.

By Luna Laurier,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Of Shadow and Moonlight as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Take a story inspired by Black Dagger Brotherhood's vampires, add a dash of a modern twist on A Court of Thorns and Roses/Throne of Glass and a splash of Greek mythology and you get Of Shadow and Moonlight. Vampires, Monsters, Greek Mythology, Gods, Magic, Heartbreak, and more!


A woman fated to die young, a man cursed to live forever, and a darkness that threatens to destroy everything they love.



Cassie was never able to experience the life that many take for granted, the freedom to dictate her own journey. No, her life had been spent sheltered, protected from an inevitable…


Book cover of City of Thorns

Emilia Dashfire Why did I love this book?

Mistaken identity, a deadly game, and confusing desires make for a fun read. This book was one of my instant favourites because of its sassy style and the female main character psycho-analysing the people around her because of her studies in psychology.

Rowan is determined to find her mother’s killer, but her plan falls apart when a demon kidnaps her and accuses her of being someone else.

I love the way she plays two roles as herself and her shadow self and how she uses that to play games with Orion, who may or may not want to kill her. It makes for a unique character and a very interesting story.

By C N Crawford,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

I never thought I'd be singing happy birthday to myself in a dungeon. And yet when a sinfully sexy demon crashes happy hour, that's exactly what happens. He's known as the Lord of Chaos, and he's mistaken me for my succubus doppelgänger.


Happy birthday to me.


When he tastes my blood, he finally understands I'm mortal. And I realize we have something in common: we both crave revenge. So we make a deal: I can stay in the forbidden city to hunt for my mom's killer. In return, I'll help him get the vengeance he craves. I just have to…


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The Blade in the Angel's Shadow

By Andy Darby,

Book cover of The Blade in the Angel's Shadow

Andy Darby Author Of Me and The Monkey

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Fantasy lover Psychonaut Cat dad Designer Metalhead

Andy's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

Dr Dee has designs for a British Empire that will dominate the world for ages to come ushering in Revelation, and with the aegis of the Angels, he has the power to make it a reality.

But, two elements are missing, and through blackmail and occult ritual, infamous swordswoman Captain Lament Evyngar and her giant Dutch comrade are forced to journey to the war-ravaged Spanish Netherlands on a quest that will reveal the truth about strange entities that use humans to fight out their eternal conflicts and in doing so alter Lament and the course of history forever.

The Blade in the Angel's Shadow

By Andy Darby,

What is this book about?

Infamous swordswoman Captain Lament Evyngar awaits execution in the Tower of London, charged with heresy and attempted regicide, but all is not as it seems. Unwittingly entangled in the schemes of the Angels, she recounts her tale to the Queen's sorcerer, Dr Dee, who is more than a little responsible for her predicament.

Dr Dee has designs for a British Empire that will dominate the world for ages to come, and with the aegis of the Angels, he has the power to make it a reality. But, two elements are missing, and through blackmail and occult ritual, Lament and her…


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