Boo-Cause Reading’s Spooktacular: Vampires

Posted October 8, 2020 by Berls in Spooktacular / 7 Comments

Join us for Boo-Cause Reading’s Spooktacular this month, as we talk about various spooky topics. We did a post with the full schedule and topics, so you can easily join in whenever you’d like.

Berls on Vampires

Once upon a time, I thought I was not interested in Vampires in the slightest. I remember seeing Dracula on my European Literature syllabus as an undergrad and rolling my eyes. I internally thought, “great this nonsense.” Well, I was hooked. I’ve read some great vampire books since then, not to mention one of my all time favorite shows is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I even named my dog Buffy. So yes, I like my vampires. And I like every variety – from the classics to Urban Fantasy to Romance and the cozy mystery. I could make a very long post of recommendations. Instead I’m going to give you my top 5 books/series… in the order that I read them.

  1. Dracula by Bram Stoker. It’s a classic for a reason folks. Seriously good writing and brilliant use of the epistolary style. Plus, if you’re going to really read your vampire books, I recommend being familiar with THE vampire book. So many of them use his concept of vampire and tweak it or comment on it.
  2. Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I know, it’s kinda ridiculous to have these two side by side, right? The definition of Vampire next to the series that basically threw that all away. And, while I love the shit out of this story, there’s no denying that Bram Stoker and Stephanie Meyer are not in the same class in terms of skill as writers. She tells a good story, though! I own, but have not read the recently released Midnight Sun (though I did read the leaked chapters years ago).
  3. Jane Jameson by Molly Harper. This is a hilarious series with a spin-off (Half-Moon Hollow) uses Stoker’s idea of a vampire and makes it super fun. I’d consider it a cozy mystery series, I think. This is one you have to do in audio, too. Amanda Ronconi is one of my favorite narrators.
  4. Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. This series is one that recognizes the vampire lore created by Stoker. And then it takes it to a whole new level of action and supernatural characters. This urban fantasy series is non-stop and features one of my favorite couples, Cat and Bones (who happens to remind me of Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
  5. Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter by Laurell K. Hamilton. This one should be much higher on the list, because people have tried to get me to read this series for years. I’ve been given the books, not once, not twice, but three times. And IDK… maybe I didn’t like the covers? I really don’t know why I didn’t crack open the books. But finally in 2018 I was given the books for the fourth time and decided to try them out. I have read the first 7 books now and plan to read more soon!

So that’s my top 5… but I know there are plenty more great ones out there! What are your favorites? Link up or tell me in the comments!


About Berls

Michelle adopted me as part of her blog when I decided to close down my blog, Fantasy is More Fun. The blog was dying, but my love of reading and the blogosphere was still strong as ever - so I found my new home here at Because Reading!

I'm not just a book lover, but a one time author (that hopes to be more in the future), wife, mom to the cutest, happiest, best 2 year old and step-mom to the craziest, sweetest 22 year old on the planet. My family mean everything to me and they appear frequently in the Sunday Post with Berls. So grab a glass of wine and chat books, blogging, and family with me!

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7 responses to “Boo-Cause Reading’s Spooktacular: Vampires”

  1. Sophia Rose

    I took until my thirties to finally read Dracula and then I read a few classic retellings on it before jumping into main stream urban fantasy/PNR vampires. I loved the STephanie Meyer series and Cat and Bones. I need to try the Jane Jamisons and still have only read an Anita Blake novella.
    My favorite is Karen Chance’s Dorina Basarab series though I’ve enjoyed Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed, JK Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, and Charlaine Harris’ Sookie STackhouse series, too.

  2. Barb @ Booker T's Farm

    You named some great series. I really loved Jane Jameson when I read them and I’ve read most of the Kat and Bones books. Bones was probably my first book “boyfriend.” I really enjoyed the Anita Blake up until about book 8 and then it became Anita’s harem of men and while I have nothing against that, it became too much and very redundant. I do think the first ones are great though. Thanks for hosting. I’m having a blast doing these posts.