The 10 Best Vampire Books
This wiki has been updated 16 times since it was first published in March of 2018. They're as sexy and enchanting as they are dark and evil, which is why vampires have entranced readers for over a century. If you're looking for a few books to keep you up until the wee hours, the selections on this list are perfect for stashing on your nightstand — right next to the garlic and crucifix, of course. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Bram Stoker's "Dracula"
2. Dead Until Dark
3. Salem's Lot
Editor's Notes
January 29, 2020:
Vampire books can be as passionate as any romance novel, as suspenseful as a thriller, and gorier than a horror book, which is why they are so ridiculously appealing. This versatility also gives them the power to charm many audiences, from young adults thirsting for a love story to those who adore action and adventure. We did our best to select tomes to endear readers of all stripes.
For instance, history lovers will appreciate Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and The Historian, while Interview with the Vampire and Bram Stoker's "Dracula" are ideal for thoughtfully meditating on philosophy, symbolism, and mortality. If you're more interested in something lighthearted and fun that still has depth, the newly-added Dead Until Dark is a solid choice.
We decided to replace The Killing Dance with Dead Until Dark. As book six in the Anita Blake series, the plot and cast of characters in The Killing Dance can feel undeveloped to the unfamiliar. The wildly-popular, New York Times bestselling Sookie Stackhouse series, which begins with Dead Until Dark, is easy to jump into. These novels are a bit lighter than the Anita Blake books, infused with quirk and humor while still maintaining the eeriness, lust, and gore that fans of the genre have come to expect. Those who get into this entire series also have a television iteration to look forward to in True Blood.
Today we also added acclaimed fantasy writer George R. R. Martin's Fevre Dream, which replaced The Passage. Fevre Dream takes a unique perspective by creating a gritty, well-developed protagonist who is a foil to the main vampire character rather than a love interest, and despite being a mere mortal, finds strength and power in himself without requiring the supernatural. This book also gives a very interesting backstory to why and how vampires exist, something many other novels opt not to do.
4. The Historian
5. Let the Right One In
6. Interview with the Vampire
7. Fevre Dream
8. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
9. Robin McKinley's "Sunshine"
10. The Strain
Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.