Can anyone recommend their favorite Vampire novel, preferably one that is not part of any series.
Can anyone recommend their favorite Vampire novel, preferably one that is not part of any series. A standalone novel with a little bite to it. Thanks!
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I’m sorry I gave away most of my vampire books and can’t remember names. But I did enjoy compilation books of vampire short stories, some with well known authors contribution. I had a couple of those.
most of my favorites are part of a series, the only one that isn’t that comes to mind is Midnight Mass by F. Paul Wilson
Thank you will check it out.
Also only series sorry.
MaryJanice Davidson (Undead series) – FUNNIEST EVER and Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy and Bloodlines) – really good worldbuilding and interesting narrative devices.
Poppy Z. Brite’s Lost Souls.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova Full disclosure…I haven’t read it but the lowest rating it got from my Goodreads friends was 3 stars. My husband also liked it very much, and he is a fussy reader…discards books quite easily if they don’t capture his attention right away.
Loved this. Recommend.
Super long but very good!
Came here to recommend this as well.
I enjoyed The Historian too !
Fevre Dream. George RR Martin.
Yes!
Thank you both!
Salem’s Lot by Stephen King.
“Fevre Dream” by George R. R. Martin
I’m going to break the rules a wee bit – Kim Newman’s “Anno Dracula” IS a series but the first novel can easily be read as a stand alone affair.
I Am Legend, Richard Matheson.
It’s not strictly speaking a vampire novel, but vampires play an important part in the alternative history novel “The Dragon Waiting” by John M. Ford.
Sherlock Holmes vs Dracule by Loren D Estleman.
I know it’s quite old (70’s) & you may have read it already, but my all time fav is “Interview With The Vampire” by Anne Rice
This would be my favorite also!
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
This is the best.
The initial ridiculousness of the main character’s name almost kept me away from reading it at the start, but I love everything she writes and gave it a chance and now it’s my favorite vampire book.
The Wolf’s Hour, Robert R. McCammon
My original favourite vampire series is now available as one book so it kinda counts ‘Midnight Blue: The Sonja Blue Collection’, other that ‘I am Legend’ already mentioned the only other non-series I enjoyed was ‘fat white vampire blues’ was a silly fun read.
Vlad by Carlos Fuentes, a quick but scary read. Also a great YA standalone is the Coldest Girl in Coldtown
by Holly Black. Super scary and dark for a teen book.
Thanks for the YA suggestion- change of pace. I am a psychologist but write book newspaper book reviews – will check out both
Hmmmmm
Thanks…keep thinking…
Dracula
The Dracula Tapes by Fred Saberhagen.
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. Surprisingly awesome
Loved it. But less thrilled with sequel. Have you read it?
@Nancy I haven’t but good to know that it wasn’t as good.
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell <3
“Fledging” by Octavia Butler
This was awesome. Definitely second this recommendation.
Going to check this out. I love Octavia Butler.
Not necessarily vampire but it is about a healing blood and eternal life.
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
LOVE! ❤️
Loved it – and I didn’t even know I could like horror! Read it at Christmastime for extra creepiness.
The otherworld series by Yasmine Galenorn it has a lot of different range of lile shifters, witches and vampires one of the mc the sisters is a vampire
The Historian
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Loved it….a real page turner as well as being so creepy.
I loved Ann Rice books
The Hunger – highly recommend! The book was made into a movie with David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve that kept true to the book.
Loved the movie. I didn’t know it was a book!
Will definitely have a look. Thanks!
Yes, loved the movie and the book by Whitley Streiber!
I Am Legend by Matheson. Quite a bit different from the movie.
Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett. The Igors are hilarious.
Oh yes how could I forget! Soooo funny
Oh how I love the Disc world books. The vampire photographer is so so good!
My dad told me about the vampire photographer when I started the series and he was totally worth the wait!
How in the name of buggery did I forget THIS?!?!?
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Fire-Elemental-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B005VTVE0U/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1503505620&sr=8-7&keywords=elemental+vampire+series This is a series of 4 but I really enjoyed them.
The Radely’s by Mat Haig. Set in England. A family try’s to pass for human teens don’t know they are vampires
Two short, unique series –Nancy Collins’ Sunglasses After Dark, and Marta Acosta’s Happy Hour at Casa Dracula. One’s dark, one’s witty; both have female vampire protagonists.
Black Bullet by L. D. Rose. It’s an action, romance packed lovely read!
Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. Nobody does it better.
“Sunshine” by Robin McKinley
So glad others recommend this one; I love it!
Let Me In by john ajvide lindqvist is a great vampire book!!!
And of course Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot.
I just came back to this post to recommend this book!
Is that the book the the Swedish film “Let the Right One In” was based on? Great film! American remake, not so much.
The Radleys by Matt Haig … loved it!
http://www.michelerhauf.com/vampscifan.html
Chelsea Quinn Yarbo (a series but so good)
These novels don’t have to be read in order, though, and work fine as stand alone.
@Annette true.
Let the Right One In. Seriously amazing!
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0312355297/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1503526278&sr=1-1
Try the original Dracula. It’s wonderful. Written in diary entries, it is different than what you might expect.
Believe it or not I have never done that- thank you for the suggestion!
Kostova’s The Historian–after Stoker.
Are you serious? Dracula!
I know- right! Crazy! I think I read some YA adaptation
The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez published in 1991. A black lesbian vampire story that spans American history beginning with the protagonist’s escape from US slavery and her encounter with a female vampire who runs a brothel and who turns her.
Better synopsis here…”.When a young black girl escapes from a life of slavery in 1850s Louisiana, she takes refuge in a brothel run by two mysterious women who educate her, become her family, and eventually introduce her to the world of vampirism and eternal life.” https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jewelle-gomez/the-gilda-stories/
Sounds very intriguing- thanks
The Historian
Jeanne seems like this has been a favorite if many. Thanks
@Nancy – and this was her debut novel. Excellent read.
@Maureen ?
I read the book, but I have also listened to the unabridged version and the readers are excellent. It is long, but the author includes much historical and geographical information. I did not think her second novel was as riveting.
Fledgling by Octavia Butler is also great and it’s more well written than my fav above.
I’m with the several people who have touted the first and original, Stoker’s Dracula…. but for an interesting and unique take, try ‘Blood of the Vampire’, by Florence Marryat … which was ALSO published the same year as Stoker’s – 1897 – but has a female protagonist!! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6601404-the-blood-of-the-vampire?from_search=true
You should check out Carmilla, a novella from the 1870s by Sheridan Le Fanu. Also I read Dracula and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Vampires really aren’t my thing but both of these are worth reading.
Agreed!
i really enjoyed The Historian
Dark gold by christine feehan got me hooked
Salon’s lot.
That was supposed to be “Salem’s lot” Geesh..
Samantha Moon
A little bite, eh? Fledgling, by Octavia Butler.
Sunshine by Robin McKinley.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Sunshine by Robin McKinley is the only vampire book I’ve ever liked.
My first was “diary of a vampire”. long time ago, but I remember I wanted to be a vampire after reading.
Me too. Seriously.
Do you remember author…
I haven read it myself (on my TBR list) but I have a friend who loved it! A Discovery of Witches (yes, it has vampires) it is part of a trilogy though.
It’s a weak trilogy, but the first book A Discovery of Witches is cracking good fun.
@Peg good to know! I will hopefully pick it up soon. Could I just read the first one and be done then do you think?
@Marionna yes, although the second one isn’t too bad. It’s the third one that just didn’t stand up.