Simone and Her Books

Happy Halloween, everyone!

There is an unbelievable amount of vampire stories to pick from during this season. I’m so happy about that because I’ve been a fan of vampire stories since I was a kid. And if you’re like me trying to wade through all the stories to find the ones worth reading, then I would recommend these. This is a list of a few of my favorite stories and while my TBR of vampire books is much longer, the ones I’ve picked here are perfect for learning and loving vampires.

Sorry, I didn’t include Twilight here but I will admit that I’ve been a fan since I was a kid of that one. But that’s for your guilty pleasure reading if you’re into that.

Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker

This is my latest vampire pick and it is perfect for any fans of Dracula, especially since the book is written by Bram Stoker’s great grand-nephew using his own personal notes discovered by the Stoker family years after Bram had passed away. The story follows the Stoker family and the mysterious happenings around their nanny, who turns out to be a vampire on a mission. It’s suspenseful, mysterious, and very bloody.

An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson

Not only is this time of year perfect for spooky books, but it is also a great time for dark academia and what better way to celebrate both than with a vampire story of sisterhood, friendship, and the choice between your romantic paramour and your best friend. Laura and Carmilla are academic rivals winning over the praises of their favorite professor. But when Laura, the new girl, learns a bit more about Carmilla’s relationship with her professor, she’s included on a huge secret about her favorite poetry professor and the school.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

While technically not a vampire story, it does feature a vampire who falls in love with the main character, Diana Bishop. But not only is it such a great vampire story, it’s super rich in its witch-y history telling. It seems a bit perfect for the holiday! The story follows Diana Bishop as she uncovers a missing alchemical manuscript at Oxford University. It turns out this book is much more valuable than an old book and embroils her into the world of witches, vampires, and other monsters who are also on the hunt for this book.

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

While there’s many choices in the romantasy realm this year for vampire stories, I’m partial to Jennifer L. Armentrout and her romance series, From Blood and Ash! This is the story of a young person, Poppy, who is forced to be “The Chosen One” has been pretty secluded all her life. But when Hawke becomes her personal guard, it gets a bit difficult to stay pious right before her ascension. This one is filled with so many twists and turns that you’ll definitely be reaching for book 2 by the time you’re finished.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Garth Hendrix

This was my first Garth Hendrix book and probably the one that made me a fan of his writing. The story takes place in a small town in South Carolina where people live pretty boring American lives. Patricia lives a pretty average life, but when a sensitive artist and stranger moves in next door and children start to go missing in the neighborhood, Patricia and her book club start to investigate. With a very similar vein to My Best Friend’s Exorcist, this book combines two very different genres to give you a book filled with blood, gore, and the enduring power of friendship.

What are some of your favorite vampire books?