Good vampire books kick ass. Here are 3 of my favorites – at least 1 of which will satisfy just about any type of reader.
The Passage, Justin Cronin
Seriously, this brick of a book is depressing as hell, but well written, detailed (maybe a tad too much), and is one of my favorite vampire novels. People either love it or hate it, but one thing is for sure – the audiobook version of this is truly the way to go. The narrators (Scott Brick, Adenrele Ojo and Abby Craden) were incredible and really brought the characters to life. The pacing was spot on – and since this is a huge 700+ page book, terrible pacing would have killed it! Listening to it as an audiobook totally freaked me out at times. I suggest you turn off the lights and just sit with this one in order to get the full creepy effect.
Let The Right One In, John Ajvide Lindqvist
This is one weird vampire book – definitely more like a psychological thriller. I thought it took a little while to get going, but once it did, it blew my mind! It has some gross parts, some disturbing parts, and of course, the weird/ creepy bits … really creepy. I was thoroughly engrossed when things really got going. I really love how the vampire aspect of the book doesn’t exist in a vacuum so to speak – it’s about many characters, and has quite a few underlying threads running through it – bullying, friendships, despair & drunkenness. The author took his time with the story – thankfully not rushing the ending, and he wrapped up all the various story lines & loose ends masterfully.
Suffer the Children, Craig DiLouie
Just read the summary, and you’ll see why this book made my list … and yes, it delivers on the exciting premise.
A devastating illness that suddenly and swiftly kills all young children across the globe. Soon, they return from the grave…and ask for blood. And with blood, they stop being dead. They continue to remain the children they once were…but only for a short time, as they need more blood to live. The inevitable question for parents everywhere becomes: How far would you go to bring your child back?
What’s on your list of fave vampire novels … and yeah, I’ll probably judge you if I see Twilight.
(Photo Credit: Rocky Raybell/Flickr)
// Comments //
fishgirl182 @ nite lite
I have heard really good things about The Passage and Let the Right One In. Both sound creepy! Haven’t heard of the third but I will definitely have to check it out.
Beth
I often pick themes with my reading and pursue them. I found a challenge once that was a stepping-stone idea — you read a book and then have it recommend the next one (this is easiest with nonfiction, since there is often a bibliography). Or I have an interest in something and I read everything around it. I stumbled into vampires after really enjoying Charlaine Harris’s Dead After Dark, and found a lot of fun stuff.
Alysia @My Little Pocketbooks
I love theme reading. I never heard of it or did it before blogging but now it just makes everything funner! I love vampire books and I will check these out. Anne Rice is coming out with a new Lestat book soon by the way.
Tanya Patrice
Ooh thanks for the heads up about the upcoming Anne Rice Lestat book. I’ll have to check it out.
Tanya M @ Mom's Small Victories
I have been reading Harry Potter series with my book club. It is the first time I have read a series one after the other. I do love some good magic and had not read too much in that theme prior.the other theme I love og course is reading books in different cultures so when I am not reading for book club or a review book, I enjoy escaping to foreign lands.
Britt @ Not So Teen Reads
I find myself reading by theme when it gets closer to certain holidays. Halloween always makes me want to read ghost stories and murder mysteries, for Christmas I always try to find books with Christmas in them, and for some reason the summer always makes me want to read contemporary.
Tanya Patrice
Halloween time is like the ultimate in theme reading for me. I heart creepy books 🙂
Kimberly @ On the Wings of Books
I don’t usually set out to read by theme, but I end up doing it by default. I noticed that recently I’m all about witches. A few months ago it was vampires. I’m the opposite of you though and I like the less scary ones, I’m a wuss!
Tanya Patrice
I feel a witches theme coming on in the near future for me too Kimberly.
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