The vampire is one creature that has endured in the darkest corners of the human imagination. Fast, strong, and nigh indestructible, these bloodsuckers evoke that unconscious fear of discovering we’re not on top of the food chain.
With its resurgence in mainstream media (yes, we’re talking about Twilight and the Vampire Diaries), there’s no doubt that vampires are “in” right now. Dangerous and sensual all at once, they’re the perfect villains (or protagonists) to mesmerize readers.
Best Vampire Novels to Read
From romantic vampires that sparkle beautifully, to downright gore-loving creatures of the night, this list showcases the vampire in all its literary angles. If you’re a lover of all things vampire, then this list is for you.
1. Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
For lovers of the classic Dracula-inspired vampire.
Ben Mears, a writer, returns to his childhood home to write about the infamous Marsten House. But the long-abandoned house has a new resident with a terrible secret. Before long, bodies begin to drop and vampires take over the town. Ben and a ragtag group of people must find ways to survive and get out of town.
Written with the hallmarks King is known for, this book presents a well written set of events that tumble down like dominos into an increasingly dreary conclusion.
2. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
For lovers of zombie fiction.
Robert Neville is the last man standing. A plague has killed off the human populace and turned them into vampires. By day, he hunts down the menace hiding in his city while trying to find a cure for the plague. By night, he barricades himself as legions of vampires swarm his home, eager for the living flesh within.
A modern classic, Matheson’s book is the reason why the zombie and vampire genre is what it is today as a heavyweight contender in mainstream media.
3. Dracula by Bram Stoker
For lovers of the classics.
Somewhere in Europe, centuries-old Count Dracula schemes to conquer Britain and spread the curse of his un-death. In London, a small group of humans prepare to meet him head-on in the hopes of destroying the seemingly immortal count.
This is the book that started it all. Though not the original vampire novel, Stoker’s book is responsible for turning the vampire into a global phenomenon.
4. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
For lovers of the romantic vampire.
This book is the confession of a vampire. From Louis de Pointe du Lac’s start as a young plantation owner, to becoming the immortal companion to a compassionless vampire, to all the crimes he committed as a vampire, he bares it all.
Unique at the time of its writing, this book changed the public perception of the vampire from a blood-thirsty creature to something worthy of empathy. This is the origin of the romantically-inclined vampire story.
5. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
For fans of historical fiction.
While exploring her father’s personal library, a young woman stumbles upon a series of letters that reveal her parents’ dark pasts and a world hidden beneath her mundane reality. Her discoveries all lead to the mystery of Vlad Tepes and his dark powers. But these discoveries have just put her into a whole lot of danger.
Kostova’s narrative is filled with adventure, romance, the fear of the unknown, and vampires. This is a book that feels like three generations worth of anticipation for a long awaited mystery.
6. Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
For lovers of dark stories.
Twelve-year old Oskar befriends Eli, a girl who just moved in next door. But there’s something odd about her, and he just can’t stay away. She’s never seen a Rubik’s cube, and he’s only seen her outside at night. As they grow closer, Eli reveals more about her “condition,” which is that she is, in fact, a vampire.
This book tackles the darker side of humanity, with anxiety, alcoholism, pedophilia, and murder being core themes set as the backdrop of a vampire story.
7. Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
For lovers of crime fiction.
Mexico is almost overrun by vampire gangs, except for Mexico city, whose humans have banded together to keep out the vampires. Domingo is a street-smart human kid living in the streets of the city. He suddenly finds himself the companion of Atl, a beautiful and dangerous vampire who must escape from the rival vampire gang pursuing her.
This is a love story set in a world where gang wars are a common experience, and vampires are a known quantity since the 1970s.
8. Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
For fans of George R.R. Martin’s works.
Abner Marsh is a riverboat captain commissioned by the mysterious Joshua York into captaining the biggest and fastest boat on the Mississippi. York turns out to be a vampire who has developed a potion that allows them to live without human blood, and wants to spread it out to his brethren. But not all vampires want the cure, and soon Marsh’s boat is beset from all sides by the undead.
Martin brings his personal brand of complex characters and grimdark plots into a re-imagining of vampire fiction, set in the deep south of America.
9. The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan
For fans of the viral outbreak premise.
A Boeing 777 stops dead on the tarmac of JFK airport. The CDC sends out a team that finds everyone dead inside. Unbeknownst to them, a vampiric virus has been unleashed, which soon wreaks havoc on the streets of New York City.
Though largely following traditional lines, Del Toro and Hogan’s masterfully written characters provide a razor sharp realism to the story as they struggle to contain a world-ending pandemic.
10. Some of Your Blood by Theodore Sturgeon
For lovers of military fiction.
George Smith, a soldier, is transferred to a military psychiatric clinic. He’s taken under the care of Dr. Philip Outerbridge, who asks him to recount his life’s story. What follows is a horrific case study of what Outerbridge believes to be a non-supernatural vampire who drinks blood when faced with emotional burdens.
This book includes no supernatural element, but relies entirely on a deranged human psyche to deliver the horror that the vampire brings to our imaginations.
11. The Lesser Dead by Christopher Buehlman
For fans of the unreliable narrator.
Joey is a vampire living beneath New York City’s abandoned underground, along with others of his kind. They live with a strict set of rules to guarantee their continued survival. But when child vampires who feed too much on their victims suddenly appear, things rapidly deteriorate. One by one the group falls victim to the children until Joey’s all that’s left for feeding.
Already a heart-racing read from the beginning, the twist at the end catapults this book into new heights as almost everything about the story is essentially changed.
12. Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett
For lovers of comedy and light-hearted fun.
King Reverence invites Count Magpyr and his family of vampires to the city of Lancre for his daughter’s naming ceremony. But what should have been a simple ceremony turns into a royal snafu when the Magpyrs refuse to leave, ever.
Pratchett offers a more light-hearted version of vampires that are still as enjoyable a read as their more gory counterparts. This is a perfect introductory novel for those wanting to get into the vampire hype, but still can’t stomach the usual blood and guts.
13. Vampire Hunter D by Hideyuki Kikuchi
For lovers of Japanese literature.
It is 12,090 A.D. and the war against vampires has just ended. Now, humanity is crawling out from the ruins, hoping to rebuild. In such an age of vulnerability, human villages want a Hunter—one with the skills to fight against the remaining vampires and their genetically engineered servants. D is one such hunter who may just be the key to humanity’s salvation.
Kikuchi creates a grim future with incredible worldbuilding and characters that leave you aching for hope and justice.
14. Black Sun Rising by C.S. Friedman
For lovers of science fiction.
Centuries ago, human colonists arrive on Erna, a beautiful and habitable planet. But the seemingly perfect planet is home to the Fae, a terrifying force that feeds on the human mind, drawing forth a person’s deepest nightmares or treasured dreams and giving them life. Twelve centuries later, four people undergo a mission to confront an evil that puts the entirety of humanity into danger.
In this book, humanity is no longer at the top of the food chain and must constantly struggle to not fall prey to the dangers of Erna. Definitely the perfect read for those who love vampire and science fiction alike.
15. The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas
For lovers of the lonely monster trope.
Edward Weyland’s vampirism stems from biological means rather than the supernatural. An innocuous anthropology professor by day, and blood drinker at night, he lives his life between extended hibernations. Rather than kill, he steals blood from labs. In fact, he just wants to be left alone.
Charnas’s book blends the psychological thriller with a unique piece of vampire fiction as we delve into the mind of a vampire suffering from an existential identity crisis.
Reading Vampire Novels
Vampires have become the poster creatures for all things that go bump in the night. They’re some of the most convenient vessels for projecting our own curiosities and imaginations, and they’re readily available to entertain everything from our fear of the dark, to our sexual fantasies and escapism attempts.
If you’re looking to dip your toes into vampire fiction, this list is a good starting point. Each book is a different perspective of the vampire, which will help you determine which particular vampire niche you’re into.
Do you have any favorite books about vampires? Let us know in the comments below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
