Who doesn’t love a good vampire read? For me, vampires were the first supernatural creature that I read. Why? Well, because of Stephanie Meyer. YES! I must credit her to my love of vampires and to my love of reading, in general. Before reading the Twilight series, I was an off and on reader. I would read books — mainly chick lit books or the odd adult contemporary — but I wouldn’t say I was in love with reading.
Yes, Edward turned me.
Including Stephanie Meyer’s reads, here are some of my favourite vampire books “so far” — that is, from the beginning of my love affair with books.
The Best of the Best
The Twilight series, by Stephanie Meyer
Initially, I didn’t want to read these books. EVERYONE was talking about them and I didn’t want to fall prey to the hype. This was until my sister-in-law told me she was reading them and they were amazing. I promptly went out and bought myself a copy and the rest is history. I’ve read Twilight so many times that I should probably get a new copy — the spine on my copy looks horrible, but that’s only because I’ve read it so many times. I am Team Edward all the way and even though these aren’t great literary classics, they were still a lot of fun to read.
The Vampire Academy series, by Richelle Mead**
Big love for this series. And you know what? I LOVE the covers. I know a lot of people seem to hate them and find them to be a total turn-off, but I adore them! I will admit that I wasn’t totally pleased with the way this series ended, BUT I was a huge fan of Richelle’s writing the whole way through and she kept my interest until the very end. Awesome.
** click on the covers for my reviews
Let the Right One In, by John Ajvide Lindqvist
I read this book around the time the movie came out (the original, not the American remake) and LOVED IT. It was spooky, gory, lovely, and fantastic. Made me a real fan of Lindqvist’s writing.
The Beginning of the Road
These are books that are part of a series that I’m just beginning and am already having feelings of major love towards them.
** click on the covers for my reviews
The Night Huntress series, by Jeaniene Frost
I’m only 1.5 books into this series, but I LOVE IT! The first few books have been sexy and smart and I’m eager to continue reading about Bones and Cat.
The Drake Chronicles series, by Alyxander Harvey
This is quite a fun series about two friends — one’s a vampire and the other is not. I’ve read the first book and a novella and am in love. AND this series is by a Canadian author!
The Pretty When She Dies series, by Rhiannon Frater
I loved the first book in this series and instantly wanted more. Luckily, Rhiannon has just released the second book in this series AND is working on the third book. It’s going to be EPIC.
Middle Ground
While there are vampire books I love and vampire books I hate, there are also some that give me mixed feelings. These are books I wanted to love, but just couldn’t get into them, or books that are part of a series that are just hit and miss. Also known as the ‘meh’ books.
The House of Night series, by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
When I started this series, it was just after reading and loving Twilight. Since I was so new to the YA genre, I actually started loving these books. But then they just went on and on and now I find myself just waiting until the rest of the series is finished so I can finish them once and for all.
Team Human, by Sarah Rees Brennan and Justine Larbalestier
I know this was supposed to be more of a parody book, and there was a lot of hype around it, but I just couldn’t get into it. There were some parts that I loved and I wanted to really love the whole thing, but other parts that drove me nuts.
The Worst of the Worst
Of course, while I love all of the above mentioned vampire books, there were also some I was NOT thrilled with. You may feel different, but here are the vampire books that I wish I had never read.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, by Seth Grahame-Smith
I wanted to like this one SO MUCH! The cover is what initially drew my in, but it turned out to be quite the boring read. Of course, the vampire hunting parts were probably the best parts of the book! I loved the gore and mystery (and the addition of music), but this is time reading I wish I could get back.
The Last Vampire, by Christopher Pike
Having heard so many good things about Christopher Pike, I fully expected to love this book. I was also a vampire newbie, but pretty much relied on whatever the WalMart special was. I was intrigued by the cover of this one and its minimalism, but the main character was just too drab for me.
The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1), by Julie Kagawa
I know many people will disagree with me on this one, but this was a book I could NOT get into. I read the whole thing and was bored a lot of the time. I couldn’t stand the characters and found the entire thing to be way too long. I still feel Julie Kagawa love, but only with her Iron Fey series.
Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1), by Charlaine Harris
Admittedly, I read this book way before I started really getting into supernatural books. I don’t think I really “got” the book, but I remember hating it when I read it. That being said, I plan to reread this book and hopefully continue on in the series — maybe my tastes have changed since then!
What are some of your favourite — or some of your not-so-favourite — vampire reads?
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I must confess that I don’t read a lot of vampire books, I’ve only read the Twilight series and the first book in the Vampire Academy series. I really liked the last one, Twilight for me pretty much only worked the first book and after that I was enjoying them less and less (though I did stubbornly read on of course
). I really want to read more of the ‘classic’ vampire novels like those by Anne Rice. I watched the first True Blood episode and it majorly turned me off the Sookie Stackhouse books, though I might give them a try sometime…
I still need to read The Immortal Rules, will be interesting to see how our opinions compare
In which I actually meant I really liked the FIRST book in the VA series, cause who would start with the last book…
Ha ha .. you never know!
I really liked the first half of the Vampire Academy series … it kind of ended on a sour note for me.
I need to read more classic vampire books, too — the kind that have more original, gothic-y vampires. I started watching True Blood and THEN bought the Sookie Stackhouse books. I read the first one and hated it! I do hope to read it again — maybe I’ve changed my mind!
I look forward to seeing what you think of The Immortal Rules! I’m kind of in the minority with that one.
Heh. I’ve read Dead Until Dark twice, but… I just could never quite get into it.
I haven’t read The Immortal Rules yet. But I own it. So I will read it. I know I lot of people LOOOOVED that book, so I’m interested to see if I fall in line with them or you.
I think the Night Huntress series will always be my favorite (er…favourite, excuse me) vampire series, just because it was that series that got me started on paranormal.
My problem is that I OWN at least 7 books in the Sookie Stackhouse series, so I feel like I should give them a chance.
I’m interested to see what you think of The Immortal Rules, too!! Surely I can’t be the ONLY person in the minority!
Oh, and THANK YOU for changing to Canadian spelling in your post. Much appreciated.
*waves a Canadian flag at you*
I just finished Let The Right One In – and wow, that’s one creepy book. I also loved The Vampire Academy Series, and didn’t like Abe Lincoln Vamp. Hunter – I thought I was the only one that felt this way since so many people like it!
Oh GOOD! I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who didn’t like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter! I had to force myself to keep listening to it. Such a disappointment. And I’m happy you read Let the Right One In!! I have an ARC of his other book, Little Star. I can’t wait to read it!
Aww, you didn’t like The Immortal Rules? I LOVED it! It probably helps that I’m on a dystopian kick right now..lol Julie Kagawa rocks.
I alos LOVE the Sookie Stackhouse series. So good!
But then, I also loved both Twilight and VA, and that’s all I’ve read out of all these books..lol
I think I like vampire books..lol
Julie Kagawa DOES rock, but I think I’ll stick to her fairy books.
Vampire books are AWESOME!
The only one I’ve read on your page is Immortal Rules, and I did like it, but I totally understand that there’s probably better Vampire books out there. I’m going to make sure I read Halfway to the Grave and Pretty When she dies very soon, probably for Halloween. I have to admit I’m not a Twilight fan at all, but I’m glad you liked it so much, I have many friends that loved it
I loved the Twilight series because it got me really into reading again AND into YA. Without it, I’m not sure where I would be as a reader right now! Probably not blogging or anything, so I’m grateful.
I have TONS of scary books I’m trying to read in the next month! I love this season!
Yeah, I’m right there with you on the House of Night series. It was the same for me. I was new to YA and read the first one on a whim. Then I got sucked in, then the series just kept going and going… Now I’m just reading because I want to know how it all plays out in the end. I have to say, though, the companion novellas are some of my favorites (they’re quite different from the rest of the series).
AGREED. I need to know how it all finishes, but I’ll wait until all the books are out. Is the 10th one the FINAL book?
I haven’t tried any of the novellas! Maybe one day …
I don’t know. My sister told me the series is supposed to have 11 books, but I don’t really know for sure. I keep wondering how they’re going to prolong it when it seems like we’re at the end already. o_o
I think it’s waaaay too long. I thought it was 12 books total. I’m kind of hoping that means 10 is the final (with the 2 novellas).
Hmmm, interesting, because there is a third novella coming out in early 2013, I believe. Plus, “Hidden” doesn’t really sound like the ending to a series to me. But… we can still hope.
You’re right … there are 12 books in the series, plus 4 novellas AND 2 companion books:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Night
So I may wait until 2014 to finish reading this … or, I may just give up now.
LOL Oh jeez… That means there are three more books? How the heck can they stretch it out that far? Book 10: Hidden, Book 11: Revealed, Book 12: Finished?
I love this post!
I have to admit, I am not a fan of the Twilight books. I read them all, but I would lump them in the Worst of the Worst, or maybe Middle Ground. I don’t know.
Awwww, I am so sad that you didn’t like The Immortal Rules! I love that book.
I am right there with you on Pretty When She Dies! I love Rhiannon Frater and all of her books are wonderful. Have you read The Tale of the Vampire Bride yet? Also by Rhiannon, but it’s most in line with the original, Gothic vampires.
I haven’t read The Tale of the Vampire Bride yet! Actually, I started it, but then had other books I had to get finished, so it went on the back burner. Hopefully I can read it for Halloween month! I love Gothic vamps.
I wouldn’t say the Twilight books are well-written or anything, but they got me to be the reader I am AND introduced me to the glory of YA books. THAT’S why they’re the Best of the Best for me.
Ah. I see what you mean about Twilight. Yes, I can agree with that.
And yes! You should definitely give Tale of the Vampire Bride a read for October.
I plan to! I started and it was really good! Love how Gothic it is.
This post makes me SAD, Kristilyn. Just SAD. Putting Twilight in the best and The Immortal Rules in the worst…*sobs*
Ha. Just kidding. Maybe. I was definitely a Twilight fanatic when I first read it, but since I’ve been blogging, Twilight feels so bottom of the barrel to me now. I think my horizons have broadened and it just doesn’t stand up to some others now. And The Immortal Rules has ZOMPIRES! How could you hate it? Oh wait, you aren’t a zombie lover. *sigh*
Whatevs. Our differences are what rocks about this community, so continue to make me sad. I still adore you. LOL
Ha ha … take that, Smash!
I totally agree with you. Twilight isn’t well-written, though the story is light and fluffy for a vampire story. The reason it’s in my Best of the Best is because that series is what got me to be the reader I am today. I don’t even want to know where I would be had I not read it. Twilight got me into YA books, which I love now. I know I was struggling finding the books that I really liked before reading it and was all over the place. Now I finally feel like I know what books I like. So, yeah. Twilight will always be the best for me because without it I may not be blogging today, or reading as voraciously as I do.
And yeah. The Immortal Rules just dragged for me. Like I said – ONE DAY! I will find the zombie (or ZOMPIRE) book for me.
Oh, and thank you for still loving me.
♥
I think Twilight is responsible for the book blogging explosion, IMO. It got a lot us either interested or more interested in reading.
P.S. Please tell me you at least loved Zeke?
Umm … *looks away*
I’d put the Night Hunter series in the Meh range and I agree with Christopher Pike, but I love the Sookie Stackhouse books!! I also love Vampire Academy AND House of Night – those books get better with each one that comes out! At first they were more like witches than Vampires… but that’s slowly changing. Twilight is my obsession, and the reason I read more YA than I did before . The BDB are fantastic – you should def read those ones
(They are adult too – bonus!) I also like The Immortal rules – but I felt like it was more of a prequel to the real story, so I look forward to the next one. And the Vampire Diaries books are good – they get weirder with each one – I def like the Tv show a lot better. BTW – you missed a pretty good AWESOME zombie book – Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein!
I’ll definitely have to give the Sookie Stackhouse novels another chance! I remember absolutely HATING it when I first read it!
I like the Vampire Diaries TV show, too. I read the first few books in that series (I think the first 4), but thought they were just okay. They’re quite juvenile compared to the show!
I yearn for the days of Dracula, when vampires were creatures of the night to be feared.
YES! There aren’t a lot of books like that out these days, are there? That’s why I love Let the Right One In … such a creepy novel!
You know what I hate? How it has become so cool to hate on the Twilight series. The very same people who were drooling over it at the time are now making fun of it. I mean sure, the movies suck and after reading more you realise that they’re not perfect, but there is no denying how much everyone loved them!
I really didn’t like The Immortal Rules either and I need to read the Vampire Academy series soon!
Great post!
THANK YOU!! Like I’ve said, the books aren’t great literary classics or anything, but they were fun to read and got me into reading. Even though they’re not spectacular, I’d still consider them a favourite. Heck, I may even read the first one again!
*high fives*
And THANK YOU for not loving TIR … I felt like I was the only one!
Ah vampires – one of my favorite paranormal creatures! I prefer tasty vamps like Damon Salvatore though
YES! I’ve never read the Vampire Diaries books, but I do love him in the TV show.
Christopher Pike! That is a blast from the past. Did you read his Remember Me series? Not vampire, but I remember being obsessed!
I haven’t read much vampire lit. I’d like to try Ann Rice, though.
I remember reading Christopher Pike when I was younger, but I’m not sure which books! It was him and R. L. Stine that I liked.
I’d like to try Ann Rice, too!
I’m trying to think of some of my favorite vampire books and can only come up with the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. *stares off into the distance* And Cat and Bones. Huh. I know there are more. I KNOW THERE ARE!
Ha ha … but you picked classic ones! I still need to start the Black Dagger series!!
Reading the House of Night series right now. It does look a little long…
It’s so long! I hope you like it, though.
I’m not embarrassed to admit that I enjoyed reading both the Twilight and Vampire Academy series. I’m kind of a chicken and I don’t think I’d like a “real” vampire book. I did like Immortal Rules, which surprised me, because I try to avoid zombies completely. I don’t think I’ve read anything else on your list.
PS I love the Canadian spelling
I love both of those series as well.
I do like scary vampires, but I sometimes prefer them to be nice. *shh* Don’t tell anyone!
I seriously need to read more vampire books. Sometimes I feel like I’ll never get through all the books I want to and I feel like crying because of that. I WISH I COULD READ FASTER.. OR NOT SLEEP SO I COULD READ. But anyways, I can’t believe it’s almost the end of your Bookish Extravaganza. That’s crazy!
Ha ha … exactly! If only we didn’t require sleep.
The cover VA actually made me not want to read the series because I thought the model looked like Angelina Jolie and I hate her but I sucked it up and read it and loved it. I agree with you on HoN – I’ve broken up with the series.
I thought the same thing! But I did love it, too.
And yeah … HoN. *sigh*
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