The other day, Anna posted books to read with the same vibes as Interview with the Vampire, on which you might have noticed, there were precious few actual vampires. That’s because this list was coming! Ten books featuring vampires—not all of them horror books—for your reading pleasure this spooky season. You can also find some more vampire recs (along with other spooky season stalwarts) in last year’s post!
A lot of these titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)
Carmilla
J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Goodreads
Rep: lesbian mc
Why Should I Read It?
You didn’t think this list would be complete without this absolute classic now, did you? If you haven’t read the OG lesbian vampire, then you really need to rectify that right away. It’s available as a free download (ebook and audiobook) from the Gutenberg Project, so get going! There’s no excuses now!
Garlic and the Vampire
Bree Paulsen
Goodreads
Rep: achillean character, nonbinary character
Why Should I Read It?
This is the absolute cutest graphic novel that I’ve ever read, hands down. Okay, so the vampire isn’t the protagonist, but hear me out! If you want to read some vampires for spooky season, but horror isn’t really your thing (understandable tbh!), then this is a book/series you’ll want to get your hands on. Also, what isn’t there to love about Garlic?
The Route of Ice and Salt
José Luis Zárate, trans. by David Bowles
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc
CWs: internalised homophobia, homophobic violence
Why Should I Read It?
Another book where the mc isn’t a vampire, but this one is probably more obvious an inclusion than the above entry, being a retelling of part of Dracula, but making the oft-mentioned allegorical link between vampires and homosexuality less allegorical. It’s only a short book, but one that sucks you in entirely, and leaves you wanting more.
Heart of Stone
Johannes T. Evans
Goodreads
Rep: autistic gay mc, gay mc with ADHD
CWs: period typical homophobia, internalised homophobia
Why Should I Read It?
We pivot now to a book with a very different tone: a romance! If you’re looking for a book which feels very gentle and soft, like a big warm hug, but also has vampires, then Heart of Stone is for you. Sometimes all you really need is a low angst romance, am I right?
The Accursed Vampire
Madeline McGrane
Goodreads
Rep: nonbinary mc, sapphic characters
Why Should I Read It?
We all love a book featuring a character, cursed to be alone, who goes on an adventure and collects a found family on the way, right? Well this is that book (sort of)! Either way it’s a fun little romp that will make you feel unexpectedly emotional at the end. And there’s good news! The sequel is out next year.
Smoke and Shadows
Tanya Huff
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc
Why Should I Read It?
Who doesn’t love their vampires with a side of ghostly mystery? If you’re looking for a book with a bit of bite (haha), then you can’t go wrong with this one. I mean, who does fantasy like Tanya Huff does fantasy? No one, that’s who.
The Gilda Stories
Jewelle L. Gómez
Goodreads
Rep: Black lesbian mc
CWs: attempted rape, slavery
Why Should I Read It?
Another classic making the list now, one described as a very lesbian American odyssey, which should alone be sufficient for you to want to read it, no? This is a vampire book with a different, and fascinating, take on vampires too, that’s less about the hunt and blood, and more about community and care. A definite must-read.
The Mellification
Nat Buchbinder
Goodreads
Rep: trans mc
Why Should I Read It?
With the little disclaimer that this book is in the midst of being reprinted (hopefully coming back out this year or next?)—and thus meaning that I haven’t actually read this one—The Mellification is slotted in here to whet your appetite, really. After all, how many books do you know that grapple with transness and becoming a vampire (not that many, that me and Anna managed to find)? This is one to be on the look out for.
The Quick
Lauren Owen
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc
Why Should I Read It?
Of all the recs here, I think this and The Gilda Stories have the most similar kind of vibe to something like Interview with a Vampire (the novel this is). This one, for example, contains a similar kind of menace to it, a society hidden in the shadows, lurking. Sounds like the perfect read for a late autumn night, to me!
Every Dark Desire
Fiona Zedde
Goodreads
Rep: Jamaican lesbian mc, Jamaican lesbian li
CWs: rape, gore, blood
Why Should I Read It?
There’s something about vampires, it seems, that makes them a perfect vehicle to explore toxic relationships. Something about the act of sucking blood, of sucking life, as a metaphor for unhealthy partnerships. Anyway, if that’s the sort of thing that floats your boat, give this book a try!
What would you rec?
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