Bitchin' Blog Posts
GS. vs. STA: Vampire Romance Done Differently
by SB Sarah | by SB Sarah | November 03, 2008 | Monday at 8:01 pm | 98 CommentsBitchery reader Jennifer is a student at Davidson College who is focusing her research on the romance genre, and she comes to the Bitchery with a query.
She’s looking for vampire romance, specifically those that do ti differently, or did it over but better the second time:
I’m putting together a list of what I think are vampire romances that are both representative of the genre and ones that break, subvert, or rewrite vampire romances. But I’m afraid I’m going to leave an important book out!
Is there any way you could get a thread started so I could mine the brains of your readers for suggestions? I’m looking for romances that are both representative of the vampire romance genre, and those who break away from it.
If you doubt the mad power of Jennifer’s brain, take a look at her online essay Intertextuality and the Vampire Romance. A key quote in her examination of the “Death and the Maiden” motif in art, and the sexuality and inevitability inherent in those portrayals:
On another note, how eerie is it that the Death and the Maiden Paintings echo some romance novel covers in the way the two figures are positioned? Am I the only one seeing the similarity?
Do you know how hopping-in-my-chair giddy it makes me to see the power of big brainfulness applied to the themes of romance, especially when they are so intrinsically linked with similar themes in art and other subgenres of fiction? WORD TO YOU, JENNIFER.
So anyone got any ideas of vampire romances she absolutely should not miss, the ones that subvert the genre and/or the themes within it?
MaryKate said on 11.03.08 at 08:13 PM • [link]
Well, I’d say that Lara Adrian’s vamps are totally different than most vampires. They’re in actuality aliens. But she’s got a very well laid out mythology that she sticks to. It’s an interesting take on the vampire myth (sort of).
Then of course, there’s Ward. Her vamps are a different species and can only feed from vamps of the opposite sex. They can drink human blood, but it doesn’t do much for them sustenance-wise.
I’m not sure if that’s what she’s looking for, but those are two that occurred to me.
lesia said on 11.03.08 at 08:38 PM • [link]
Darkangel - Meredith Ann Pierce - when I was in high school this was the epitome of “but I can change him” bad boys.
Elizabeth said on 11.03.08 at 08:39 PM • [link]
I know its not romance in the strictest sense but I always think of Robin McKinley’s “Sunshine” when I think of a less than typical depiction of vampires.
There’s also “Bloodsucking Fiends” and “You Suck” by Chris Moore which are somewhat comical take on vampires but still romance novels.
Lizzy said on 11.03.08 at 08:49 PM • [link]
A second for Sunshine by McKinley.
Victoria Janssen said on 11.03.08 at 08:56 PM • [link]
In YA, EVERNIGHT by Claudia Gray has some awesome, awesome genre-bending of what seems at first like an ordinary teen vampire book, first person heroine.
Joey Hill did gender-role reversal in THE VAMPIRE QUEEN’S SERVANT.
P.N. Elrod has a series of vampire mysteries set in 1930s Chicago, with an ongoing romance. Her vampire hero is a lot different from the general run of Immortal Alphas.
Scott Westerfeld’s PEEPS, also YA, has vampires caused by parasites.
Emma Holly does the “vampires are aliens” thing, too—her vampires can change shape, as well.
Randi said on 11.03.08 at 08:57 PM • [link]
The Blood books by Tanya Huff; mystery noir with a romance subplot.
And how about Joey Hill’s, A Vampire Queen’s Servent?
thats95: no way; I can’t think of 95 vampire romances that buck the genre.
Marita Klements said on 11.03.08 at 08:59 PM • [link]
I don’t know if it would fit into the romance genre, or even entirely the book category, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer, my favorite atypical vampire mythology, now stars in a number of graphic novels.
Julie Leto said on 11.03.08 at 09:04 PM • [link]
Kresley Cole has an original mythology to her vamps in her Immortals After Dark series.
LenaB said on 11.03.08 at 09:14 PM • [link]
Look into some of the urban fantasy novels that are pseudo-romance - Kim Harrison, Laurell K Hamilton, and Christine Feehan’s Carpathian vampire books.
RfP said on 11.03.08 at 09:15 PM • [link]
Vamps as The Mob (or something similar) -
Version the ancient, Karen Chance’s Cassandra Palmer series
Version the modern, Susan Sizemore’s Prime series
Gemma said on 11.03.08 at 09:35 PM • [link]
I see that Joey W Hill’s The Vampire Queen’s Servant already has two mentions. It also has a sequel: Mark of the Vampire Queen. I was reading one of them last night. *bliss*
scigirl2525 said on 11.03.08 at 09:50 PM • [link]
Angela Knight’s vampires started off as King Arthur and his knights of the round table and were transformed by (alien) Merlin into immortal vampires symbiotic with their women, magical Majae (not vampires). The women are just as strong as the men and they go around transforming their descendants into vampires/majae through sex. Interesting mythology all around.
EmmyS said on 11.03.08 at 09:57 PM • [link]
Lynsay Sand’s Argeneau series is different, in that vampirism is based in science.
Marta Acosta said on 11.03.08 at 09:58 PM • [link]
Uhm, well, my Casa Dracula series aren’t romances, but they are romantic comedies and academic types have said words like “subvert” and “reinvent” about them.
AP quoted me in a story about Anne Rice last week, so I’m totally like a nationally renowned official expert now. Ask me anything.
Hortense Powdermaker said on 11.03.08 at 09:58 PM • [link]
The Death and the Maiden theme is an interesting juxtaposition of the vampire trope, where getting bit by a vampire confers immortality on the bitee or, in some cases, brings the bitee back from the dead. (I’m thinking of Erin McCarthy’s Sucker Bet, where the female vamp resurrects the hero.)
Endless orgasms plus immortality - what’s not to like?
Rainbow Jen said on 11.03.08 at 09:58 PM • [link]
I always thought Christopher Pike’s The Last Vampire (YA) were interesting takes on the origins of the species, rooting it in a sort of Hindi-Buddhism. I really loved them as a teen, and think they’d be an interesting addition, given the age group they’re meant for.
MaryKate said on 11.03.08 at 10:00 PM • [link]
Marta - I totally squee’d when I read that. You so ARE the renowned expert!
percy a ashe said on 11.03.08 at 10:13 PM • [link]
IMO, Devyn Quinn does interesting things with the traditional vampire in her Kynn books. Might also look at Embracing Midnight, which is an alien/otherworld species of vamp.
Lita said on 11.03.08 at 10:15 PM • [link]
I am surprised that no what has yet mentioned Chelsea Quinn Yarbro’s Saint Germain. “Hotel Transylvania,” despite its seemingly lurid title, starts off the very long running series (2008 is the 30th anniversary of that book) about a vampire who is more humane than most humans. CQY has written 22 books focusing solely on St. Germain, plus another six featuring ancillary characters. A 23rd will be published this year.
For the uninitiated, the vampire named Ragozcy Francescus Saint-Germain was born in Wallacia over 2000 years before the birth of Jesus, and the books follow him from Neronian Rome (Blood Games) to the America in the 1930s (Midnight Harvest), although one of the ancillary books has an extended reference to his life as a priest in ancient Egypt (Out of the House of Life), and another covers his birth and early years of “undeadness” (Dark of the Sun).
The wonderful thing about all of the Saint-Germain books is the thorough and impeccable research, but the essential character of Saint-Germain is never forgotton, or inconsistently portrayed.
The original concept of the vampire Saint Germain on a real person, a nobleman of the same name in the court of Louis XIV who claimed he was and alchemist and an immortal. In fact, much of the detail in Hotel Transylvania reflect this character. CQY also merged in aspects of the composer St. Germain (about whom very little is known) into her own creation.
There are a lot of traditional “vampiric” aspects to Saint-Germain, shuch as he has no reflection and can only tolerate sunlight when on his native soil, although I don’t think garlic has any particular negative effect. He can drink blood from sleeping women, making the activity an extremely pleasurable dream, but he cannot have an erection (although an early book, Path of the Eclipse, alludes to the possibility if enough blood is consumed). He does not drink blood from other vampires either (again, the early books refer to a time when it was possible to do so).
Perhaps one could argue that the Saint-Germain novels are not romances, and would not qualify for Jennifer’s research, but I would state otherwise. Underneath all of the history and the tragedy (there is a lot of that) is the character’s principal motivation for his continued existence - Love.
CQY maintains an excellent website, with listings of all of the Saint-Germain books, in both order of publication and chronological order.
Saltypepper said on 11.03.08 at 10:18 PM • [link]
It’s not a romance, but Octavia Butler’s last novel, Fledgling, is a very different vampire novel. I am only sorry she died before she could write any more books set in this world.
Bridget Locke said on 11.03.08 at 10:21 PM • [link]
I love PC & Kristin Cast’s YA vampire romance. Though I suppose it’s not 100% romance, since Zoey is the main protaganist and it’s told from her POV. But they are some of the best YA books I’ve ever read. :)
DS said on 11.03.08 at 10:27 PM • [link]
To add to the not-a-romance-but-I-recommend-it Delicate Dependency by Michael Talbot in which the Vampires have a very interesting role intertwined with mysticism and alchemical imagery. Second Yarbro’s St. Germaine. He is a remarkably decent monster always at risk from humanity’s baser parts.
RfP said on 11.03.08 at 10:31 PM • [link]
CT Adams has an unusual take—vampires as a hive, ruled by a queen. She bites people to lay her eggs in their flesh; when the critter hatches, it crawls through the bloodstream and wraps itself around the ganglia or something of the sort. Quite disgusting. Those bitten become part of the herd = mind-controlled snacks on the hoof.
Last I checked in on the series, the heroine was wearing a neck protector and making time with a werewolf.
Staple said on 11.03.08 at 10:32 PM • [link]
I’m going to third Sunshine by Robin McKinley.
EE Knight has a different take of vampires in his vampire earth series, but they aren’t really romance, so you probably wouldn’t be able to do anything with them.
Ilona Andrews’s Magic Bites and Magic Burns series has an interesting take on vampires too. It has a romantic element in it, but not with regards to vampires.
The Queen Betsy series by MaryJanice Davidson is definitely a vampire romance, but it is a lot lighter than say Feehan’s Carpathian series.
Don’t know how much that’ll help, but that’s just my two cents.
P.S. A true “Death and the Maiden” book would be the YA book Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt. Yup, it’s exactly what it sounds like.
Rosemary Laurey said on 11.03.08 at 10:37 PM • [link]
I’d second Lita’s mention of Yarrbto’s St Germaine.
And while the books not romance sin the conventional senses, IMO a hero who only receives full sexual pleasure by giving it, is pretty romantic .
Ezri said on 11.03.08 at 10:43 PM • [link]
No one’s mentioned Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter books, but I think they’d probably also fall into the category of a non-traditional vampire series. Kenyon’s created a whole mythology for the series which takes the general mythological tradition we’re used to and turns it on its head. The “vampire” characters get the teeth and the ability to drink blood, but only a couple of them actually need blood to survive. I think the mythological backstory to the series sets it apart from the usual vampire genre.
Cat Marsters said on 11.03.08 at 10:47 PM • [link]
For a series of romances that reinvented the vampire hero, look at Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunters. After endless tortured, brooding woe-is-me types, she wrote vampires who “are the scary things that go bump in the night. And we love every minute of it.” (from her website).
I’ve read so many ‘mad bad and dangerous to know’ vampires since that I’m getting kind of bored with them (especially since most of them consider wearing leather and having a tattoo to qualify them for the above) but I think this was one of the first, and pretty refreshing at the time.
I haven’t read the Gardella Chronicles (on my TBR list) but a historical series has got to make a change from all the rest?
Victoria Janssen said on 11.03.08 at 10:52 PM • [link]
I forgot these sf examples, all of which play with tropes and with romance:
FLEDGLING by Octavia Butler (and her earlier book, WILD SEED, which features a vampire who drains life rather than blood)
THE MADNESS SEASON, by C.S. Friedman
THE VAMPIRE TAPESTRY, by Suzy McKee Charnas
Jenica said on 11.03.08 at 10:52 PM • [link]
I think Amanda Ashley wrote a lot of classics, before vamps were all in style. I didn’t read a lot of them, but I think a classic theme was redeeming a lost soul with the love of a heroine - in the newer books, we just convert her with nanos or Carpathian blood. Sherrilyn Kenyon sort of continues this theme with the heroine restoring the soul. Charlaine Harris’s world is certainly engrossing - some detailed government/culture as well. I also remember enjoying Katie MacAlister’s vamp stories. I feel like the novels where the vampires are aliens/different race/nanos, etc. were initially a departure from the classic soulless undead mythology, but they all seem alike to me now. MaryJanice Davidson’s series (which I’ve never adored, honestly), seemed to be a departure in the attitude and experiences of the heroine. One review that caught my interest recently was for a female vamp that didn’t have superpowers - just an amplified aura that aroused protective instincts. That seemed like a departure from the classic super strength, hearing, telepathic abilities. Sorry I don’t remember the title!
Jan said on 11.03.08 at 10:52 PM • [link]
Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series has a vampire mythology that is slightly different from the norm. Interesting comments to guide my future reading!
Mel said on 11.03.08 at 11:04 PM • [link]
I agree with other posters: MaryJanice Davidson’s Betsy books are a bit out of the norm, simply with POV and all that sarcasm (FTW!) I look at them as new-gen vampire romances.
I really liked the Argeneau series from Lynsay Sands too; I enjoyed the science perspective and the I-really-can-eat-garlic vibe she got going.
And I don’t see it here, but I liked Nora Roberts’ The Circle Trilogy. Granted the vamp romance wasn’t until the 3rd book, but the series was basically about vampires. I just really liked the way she handled the vamp protagonist. He was very believable as a vampire tortured soul :) Uber sexy. Pretty traditional in terms of vamp romance but not quite… Gawd it’s Nora Roberts what else can I say?!
And bill72? Like… like Bill from Tru Blood? Like… like vampires? *snicker*
RfP said on 11.03.08 at 11:10 PM • [link]
I agree that the MJD books are unusual in the way the heroine’s drawn. There are many variations on how vampires are created, but it’s less easy to come up with unusual relationships—particularly between vampire and human lover.
Lyra said on 11.03.08 at 11:28 PM • [link]
Fourth for McKinley’s Sunshine and a second for Butcher’s Dresden Files (though in a 10+ book series, I’ll point out that the most vamp-heavy books are 3 and 6). Book 6 (Blood Rites) specially has some interesting thoughts on romance and vampires.
I’d be curious to see how Twilight fits in, especially how it is touted as a “fresh reinvention” of the vampire myth while its plot doesn’t really subvert the genre.
Jennifer C said on 11.03.08 at 11:32 PM • [link]
Oh, this is amazing. I knew there were books I was missing! The list of books I had before this was as follows:
Dead Until Dark Charlene Harris
Dark Prince Christine Feehan (and perhaps one of the more modern ones just to keep it current, considering there’s a ten year difference between her last book and the most current one.
Valley of Silence Nora Roberts
Dark Lover J R Ward
No Rest for the Wicked Kresley Cole (perhaps also her story in Playing Easy to Get, depending on which I can get my hands on)
Night Pleasures Sherrilyn Kenyon
Twilight Stephanie Mayer (I rather reluctantly put this one on the list because I have so many personal problems with this book… but it DOES prove my point. Especially if you take into account the whole story arc. I’m not sure I’ll use it, but I’m aware of the story)
So you guys have already added a lot!
(And how could I have forgotten Sunshine?)
*grins* Though my professor is then going to ask how I’m going to keep my focus narrow… considering that there’s so much to talk about.
Any other suggestions?
Lita said on 11.03.08 at 11:48 PM • [link]
(Writing this for the second time, because IE crapped out on me, AGAIN!)
In addition to CQY’s Saint-Germain series, I’d recommend the following two series that provide a historical romance twist on the vampire genre.
1 - Kathryn Smith’s Brotherhood of the Blood Series: Four books set in late Victorian Europe, about a group of Knights Templar who drank not from the Holy Grail, but from Judas’ cup (made from the blood of the demon Lilith) and were turned into vampires. I’ve really enjoyed the series - each of the vampires are different people, not the same basic character with a different name and eye color (unlike some other series, J.R. Ward - BDB *cough cough*) who have handled their vampireness in different ways. The romance is well written - the female leads are extremely strong and believable (the character in the first book of the series had cancer - a life sentence in the late 1900’s).
2 - Susan Squires - The Companion Series. The vampires in these books are either born with, or become infected by a blood symbiote that gives the host extraordinary powers. The concept is very interesting, but the series is very uneven. I’d say that the next to last book was the best of the bunch. The last book, which was better than some of the earlier ones - and had interesting characters, concepts and a good romance, suffered for two reasons. It strained even my ability to willingly suspend disbelief when the female lead (now a matron in early 19th century Rome, and mother to the hero of the prior book), who was at one time a friend of Leonardo Da Vinci, uses the time machine he invented (which she just happened to discover) to go back to Rome in the time of Caligula.
Kathryn Smith’s and Susan Squires’ books have been released within days of each other for the past few years, and I often get them confused in my mental catalog.
I recommend both series as unique takes on the vampire romance genre.
RfP said on 11.03.08 at 11:59 PM • [link]
Speaking of next-gen/less old-school vampire stories:
Tate Hallaway’s Garnet Lacey series has a younger, breezier style more like Marta Acosta or Mary Janice Davidson.
Keri Arthur’s Riley Jensen series depicts the vampire love-interest as ancient and therefore stuffy and old-fashioned. That’s par for a Feehan-style vamp romance, but what’s unusual is that Riley doesn’t knuckle under to his expectations. Whereas a Feehan heroine would kick but then accept his straight-laced dominance, Riley keeps ho’ing it up with her fellow party-animals (literally: they’re weres), even if vamp guy disapproves.
Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake books are all kinds of screwed up, but they also have that kind of vibe. The heroine starts dating a vamp with her eyes open romantically (though squinting against reality in other ways) and there’s none of the Feehan-style cleaving-unto.
RfP said on 11.04.08 at 12:08 AM • [link]
^ To amplify the “next-gen” idea, I think there are distinct old-school and new-school groups of paranormal romances, both clearly analogous to larger trends in romance.
The old-school vamp romances are mainly in the Christine Feehan mold of big strong male vamp tortured by his own nature, and special-but-helpless woman (though occasionally admitting a “feisty” little woman).
The new-school group are largely two sorts: the urban fantasy style of kick-ass heroine (or heroine with her own special powers, like the Karen Chance books), or the chick-lit style of insouciant heroine who takes to vamping without too much angst.
MaryKate said on 11.04.08 at 12:15 AM • [link]
Colleen Gleason’s Gardella Chronicles does have a slightly different mythology. Her vamps descend from Judas Iscariot. Although once she sets the mythology, she doesn’t do a ton of exposition on it. But it is historical, which is different, and her heroine is kick ass, which is refreshing.
This is one of my favorite series of books.
Mary Beth Miller said on 11.04.08 at 12:15 AM • [link]
How about Kim Harrison’s vampires? Her vampires have yet another hierarchy- the vampires that are “born” that way are about the vampires that are “made.”
lucinda betts said on 11.04.08 at 12:15 AM • [link]
Be sure to check out Sharon Page and Devyn Quinn. Very erotic vampires. Page just had the cover of RT.
Mary Beth Miller said on 11.04.08 at 12:16 AM • [link]
Excuse me-
the vampires that are “born” that way are ABOVE the vampires that are “made”
mjw said on 11.04.08 at 12:17 AM • [link]
That set off the reminder bells: Prince of Dreams by Susan Krinard, about a vampire who feeds on life force as people dream.
kittyfischer said on 11.04.08 at 12:34 AM • [link]
What a great idea. For a more traditional type of vampire romance, I’d recommend The Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith. Mainly because I’m obsessed with those books.
Kimberly B. said on 11.04.08 at 12:54 AM • [link]
I’d like to put in a good word for Jeri Smith-Ready’s Wicked Game, which if not a romance is arguably romance adjacent. Her vampires suffer from OCD, and are psychologically frozen at the time of the time of their being turned. While they are immortal, in their unchanging nature lie the seeds of their demise. Plus it’s just a great book!
DS said on 11.04.08 at 12:56 AM • [link]
YA, but I have been reading Rachel Caine’s Morganville Vampire series. It’s about a town in Texas with a University. The town was founded by a vampire to give her people protection. One of the characters is a resident who is caught between states.
And I can’t remember the name of the book but there was a book from the early 90’s set in Hawaii. The hero was a vampire, it was definitely a romance, and there was a strong suggestion of Highlander.
Nancy Gideon also wrote a series of Vampire books. The last one I read was a disappointment because the villain kept coming up with all sorts of complicate, nefarious plans when he could have gotten to his goals easier by mundane means. The villain was not a vampire.
Jill Sorenson said on 11.04.08 at 01:08 AM • [link]
I love Lara Adrian. Kiss of Midnight is one of my favorite romance novels ever. It’s just brilliantly executed, IMO. I also like Ward, Lover Eternal my fave of the BDB.
Laura Vivanco said on 11.04.08 at 01:25 AM • [link]
One review that caught my interest recently was for a female vamp that didn’t have superpowers - just an amplified aura that aroused protective instincts. That seemed like a departure from the classic super strength, hearing, telepathic abilities. Sorry I don’t remember the title!
Jenica, I think that might be Barb Hendee’s Blood Memories. I remembered reading the review at Dear Author and it sounds like the book you’re describing.
JaneyD said on 11.04.08 at 01:37 AM • [link]
P.N. Elrod’s Vampire Files series is different from the pack! He’s a vampire PI and his first case is to solve his own murder.
They’re more urban fantasy than romance, but the hero is totally in love with his lady and the love scenes are ... *ahem* ...inspiring.
Ignore the covers. Her publisher did her no favors with those. The insides are worth it.
Elrod has a more romantic historical series with Jonathan Barrett: Gentleman Vampire. Can’t think how Jennifer missed two of the titles, “Death and the Maiden” and “Dance of Death” since she used them in that essay.
There’s some good, smokin’ hawt love scenes in the Barrett books. Barrett’s a man of his times and really enjoys being with women! And the nookie really IS part of the story arc.
Jean K said on 11.04.08 at 01:40 AM • [link]
Michele Hauf has a master list of all things vampire:
http://www.michelerhauf.com/vamplist.html
You may find some interesting entries on this list that are off the beaten path.
I really enjoy Charlaine Harris’ world-building, myself. She has great details in her books.
Tanya Huff’s Victory Nelson/Blood Ties series is another world I enjoy. It’s closer to the post-Ann Rice classical vampire world, but there’s enough detail and characterization to make it really enjoyable. Plus, she’s capable of capturing creepy at the Stephen King level, which is a nostalgia thing for me.
Finally, there’s the Ariane Dempsey series by Jemiah Jefferson. There are romantic elements in this series, but it does move closer to straight up horror.
Lara said on 11.04.08 at 01:41 AM • [link]
If you can find it, I highly recommend Nancy Baker’s Kiss of the Vampire/The Night Inside. The vampire mythos is average, but the vampire himself—a Russian aristocrat—makes all the classic tropes new. And the heroine, Ardeth, is awesome, and there’s some government conspiracy, and some deep thoughts on how much of the changeover to vampirism is affected by the circumstances of the change, and…yay. Go read it.
ms bookjunkie said on 11.04.08 at 01:49 AM • [link]
Traditional
Linda Lael Miller: Forever and the Night, For All Eternity, Time Without End, Tonight and Always (Have read a couple about 15 years ago, from what I can remember there was a pretty traditional take on vamps. Oh, they can time travel back up to the time of their deaths/their lifetime(?).)
Nora Roberts: Circle trilogy
Different
Laurell K Hamilton: Anita Blake series -not really romance (continuing story, various & varied love interests, no HEA, some HFN), cross-genre, difficult to classify. Twist: vampires legal citizens of US
MaryJanice Davidson: Undead series -different voice (as mentioned above), IMO chick lit-y more than romance
C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp: the Thrall trilogy: Touch of Evil, Touch of Madness, Touch of Darkness (mentioned above, totally different take)
Sherrilyn Kenyon: Dark-Hunter series -bad ‘vamps’ take souls not blood, good ‘vamps’ don’t take blood either, except for some exceptions (and those not from humans but specific individials)
Angela Knight: Mageverse series -Merlin was an alien who made Arthur & knights into one kind of vamp to battle another kind of alien vamp
Kresley Cole: Immortals After Dark series: books with vamps as main characters: The Warlord Wants Forever (in Playing Easy to Get), A Hunger Like No Other, No Rest For the Wicked, Dark Needs at Night’s Edge
Wryhag said on 11.04.08 at 01:56 AM • [link]
And let us not forget that gay and Jewish vampires exist . . . in ebookland.
Jennifer said on 11.04.08 at 01:56 AM • [link]
Obligatory link to Our Vampires Are Different here…
Melissandre said on 11.04.08 at 02:06 AM • [link]
Aha! I have something new to add! I’m so excited!
I enjoy reading Lynn Viehl’s Darkyn series. The vampires in her series are former Knights Templar; they do not know how they became vampires (they call themselves Darkyn) and haven’t been able to turn any new vampires in 500 years. Viehl does a pretty good job of world building. Because the vampires were all knights, they have a very strict society with rules and hierarchy. In the first book, a physician is turned, and she tries to find the medical reason for her mutation. She theorizes that the Darkyn were exposed to multiple diseases, both from the Middle East and plague-ravaged Europe, and that those diseases mutated together to create vampirism. She herself was innoculated for those diseases to give medical care in Africa, and so was able to be turned when bitten.
I have been a huge fan of vampire novels for over 14 years, and I agree with RfP’s assessment of the genre. Vampire romances originally had a “woe is me, who will share in my eternal night?” theme to them that is missing lately. It’s not a romance, but Interview With the Vampire should probably be mentioned. This was really the first book to cast the vampire as the protagonist instead of the antagonist. The rest is history.
Susan D said on 11.04.08 at 02:30 AM • [link]
*delurks*
While not strictly a romance, (though the MC pays the bills as a romance writer and does develop a romantic relationship with one of the vampires) “Children of the Night” by Mercedes Lackey has some interesting takes on vampires. There’s one fairly traditional vampire (Andre), one Japanese (?) soul-eater type of vampire, and several rock band members turned “psi-vamps” that feed first off of the positive energy released by their audiences, then later off of negative emotions.
CotN is #2 in her Diana Tregarde Investigations series, and IMHO, the best of the bunch. I don’t remember if #1 and #3 have any vampire-ish stuff in them.
*relurks*
Wendy said on 11.04.08 at 02:48 AM • [link]
MaryJanice Davidson’s series is great, Undead and…(fill in the blank)!!! The main character is not your ordinary Vampire while the rest of the vamps in the story are. The series is very funny too.
Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series is very interesting.
There is a couple of great YA authors who have created a new form of vampire. All the vamps in these books do not become vampires by being bitten, it is either in their blood or they get chosen.
Rachelle Mead
PC Cast and her daughter (forgot her name, something Cast. lol)
Melissa De La Cruz Blueblood, series is very cool.
There are just so many authors out their it’s really amazing.
Tae said on 11.04.08 at 02:49 AM • [link]
Lynn Viehl’s Darkyn series
All the vampires used to be Templar Knights and they all think they were punished by God for the Crusades. They turned sometime during the Crusades and think it’s a kind of curse. A female doctor, who gets turned, thinks it’s a virus of some kind and working on looking for a cure.
It’s very difficult for new vampires to be turned, especially women.
I love the series and hope she keeps writing.
Elizabeth Wadsworth said on 11.04.08 at 02:53 AM • [link]
I’m a bit late to this thread, but I wanted to give a third to PN Elrod’s Vampire Files, whose vampire PI Jack Fleming is refreshingly un-angsty and in a (gasp!) monogamous relationship with his nightclub singer girlfriend.
There’s also the Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman, which feature a lovely vampire named Promise as a secondary character and love interest for the protagonist’s brother. Promise is rather unique in that she subsumes her craving for blood by taking massive doses of iron and other supplements. She can also walk abroad in daylight if she’s well covered, and can use a crossbow and kick ass.
And I’m terribly fond of Jim Butcher and Sherrilyn Kenyon too.
Marta Acosta said on 11.04.08 at 02:58 AM • [link]
Oh, I should probably have suggested that Jennifer go to my paranormal entertainment blog, Vampire Wire, http://www.vampirewire.blogspot.com where, I have daily updates to vampire and paranormal entertainment stories.
Elizabeth said on 11.04.08 at 02:58 AM • [link]
Ok I have to agree with Marita Joss Whedon is my Master now but i would argue that the vamps in Buffy are actually quite traditional, apart from Angel and Spike they are all monsters who have no redeeming features (apart from their ability to snark on demand).
I’m glad people are agreeing with Sunshine I wasn’t to sure it would count (I’m glad it does, Mckinley is one of my favorite authors whichever genre is being discussed).
sandra said on 11.04.08 at 03:21 AM • [link]
I just don’t “get” vampire romances. A vampire is a walking corpse that sucks blood, and if you get involved with him, you have a choice between turning into a wrinkled old hag while he stays young and hot, or becoming a walking corpse yourself and sucking blood for eternity, which is a Looong time. What’s “romantic” about THAT?
Tibbles said on 11.04.08 at 03:45 AM • [link]
I would like to suggest an anthology that has four shorts. One is werewolf so it doesn’t count but the other three are vamp. The book is called “Hot Blooded” and has Christine Feehan, Maggie Shayne (werewolf), Emma Holly, and Angela Knight. All pretty good for shorties. Usually not anthology fan, but since I was collecting the whole Feehan Carpathian, I figured I needed the whole kit and kaboodle so to speak and glad I did.
Timba said on 11.04.08 at 03:59 AM • [link]
Jeannine Frost’s “Halfway to the Grave” is one of the better vampire novels I’ve read in a good while.
Las Vegas Vicki said on 11.04.08 at 04:34 AM • [link]
Pop Culture/Vegas Culture Vampires-Erin McCarthy’s books.
Southern Vamps & Mystery genre-Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris
Humourous Vampires/regaining a soul when meets mate-Dark Ones series by Katie Macalister.
Humourous Vampires-Lyndsy Sands
Vampires are Evil and should be slain-Connie Gleason
Tinkerbon said on 11.04.08 at 04:38 AM • [link]
I want to add my vote for Lynn Viehl’s “Darkyn” series ... and am surprised that not more people have mentioned them.
IMO, excellent writing, world building, and characterizations. Unfortunately, she has recently reported on her blog that with the seventh book out in the series (“Stay The Night”, due Jan ‘09), that will be the end in that particular Darkyn series. WAHHHH!!!!!!
Gotta admit, I admire an author who goes out on a high-note of an admitted well-received series, instead of flogging it to death.
— Bonz
Noelle said on 11.04.08 at 04:39 AM • [link]
I’ve talked about these before when vampires are mentioned but no one else ever does so either I’m the only one that likes them or they aren’t well know at all which is shame. They are the only Vampire novels I think I could bring myself to read again at this point of over saturation.
Susan Sizemore’s FIRST series Law of the Blood.
http://susansizemore.com/lawsoftheblood.html
RfP said on 11.04.08 at 04:42 AM • [link]
You’re aware of The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance, right? It includes stories by a number of the authors suggested here.
“The biggest names in paranormal romance have created a fascinating array of 30 short stories of hot blood and inhuman passions that will leave you thirsting for more. Authors include Sherri Erwin, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Jenna Black, Jenna Maclaine, Raven Hart, Delilah Devlin, Keri Arthur, Kimberly Raye, Alexis Morgan, Lilith Saintcrow, C.T. Adams, Cathy Clamp, Susan Sizemore, Dina James, Colleen Gleason, Barbara Emrys, Savannah Russe, Shiloh Walker, Vicki Pettersson, Rebecca York, Rachel Vincent, Amanda Ashley, Karen Chance, and Nancy Holder. These ain’t your mother’s vampires!”
Bonnie said on 11.04.08 at 04:53 AM • [link]
Amy Lane’s Little Goddess series has sort of a different take on vampires, and a very nifty mythology to go with it it!
Danise said on 11.04.08 at 05:02 AM • [link]
Fred Saberhagen’s Dracula series… Not straight romance, but definately a blend of romantic genres.
ev said on 11.04.08 at 05:05 AM • [link]
I also second the Mary Janice Davidson and Charlaine Harris books. And the Tanya Huff, PN Elrod and Butcher.
Kathy Love has a series set in Vegas- what better place to hide? One of the vamp/heroes owns a casino. And Vamp politics run rampant through the books.
Lackey’s Children of the Night still brings me to tears. And I have all my original copies of Linda Lael Millers books. they were some of my faves of hers.
and thanks for all the new stories!!
Theresa said on 11.04.08 at 05:09 AM • [link]
I’d also like to add my voice to those recommending Sunshine by Robin McKinley and One Foot in the Grave by Jeanette Frost.
Also, if you can get your hands on it, see if you can find Gifts of Blood: The Collected Stories of Susan C. Petrey. It’s a collection of short stories, some of them romantic, that has a very different representation of vampires. The stories were collected and published after her death in 1980.
Chris said on 11.04.08 at 05:16 AM • [link]
I think I’m a second on Tanya Huff’s “Books of Blood” (vampire Henry and initially human Vicky) but I’d further add her spin-off from that, the “Smoke and…” series (vampire Henry and male companion Tony).
Hmm, Tate Hallaway’s series that starts with Tall, Dark and Dead is maybe a bit different from the norm. Or Adrian Phoenix’s A Rush of Wings. Or Lynn Viehl’s Darkyn series. Jeanne Stein’s Anna Strong series twists things a bit, after starting off very much in the strong male vampire bit.
Ellie said on 11.04.08 at 05:55 AM • [link]
Two very good series not mentioned yet are Jacquelyn Frank’s Nightwalkers and Diane Whiteside’s Texas vampires. Both have pretty traditional vampire abilities. Whiteside’s world reminds me of a mafia run organization, without the illegal activities. Frank’s elaborite world features races of supernatural beings that are just discovering their future may lie in getting rid of their racism attitutes among the nightwalker groups.
misti said on 11.04.08 at 06:52 AM • [link]
I wanted to just repeat the vote for Lynsay Sands’ “vampires” who are actually Atlanteans who need to suck blood due to an evolutionary jump aided by science/technology. Also a very well laid out mythos behind the whole thing.
Amy said on 11.04.08 at 07:37 AM • [link]
I’ve read and enjoyed many of the authors listed and would like to suggest looking at Jennifer Armintrout‘s Blood Ties series.
Nancy D'Inzillo said on 11.04.08 at 08:23 AM • [link]
Wow! So many of these I have to read now. . . But, if erotic vampire fiction counts for vampire romance too, there’s a wonderful sampler of vampire mythoi in Erotica Vampirica (though it may now be out of print). It’s still one of my favorites. And I must “ditto” everyone who mentioned Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake novels, though I do believe they deteriorate after the first six.
Diane/Anonym2857 said on 11.04.08 at 08:32 AM • [link]
I admit it… I’m a complete and utter wuss where vampires and weres and other beasties/creatures of woo are concerned. Blood and gore and guts doesn’t interest me, but doesn’t faze me either—I worked in a crime lab for years around the real stuff. But a few fangs, pale flesh and glowing and/or freakish eyes (not to mention hairy palms, etc) scare the bejeebers out of me. Even the corny stuff, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the original movie), gives me the willies.
And OMG… that description above, where the vamps are like bees and the larvae and the bloodstream ... TOTALLY squicked me out the door and had me yelping in my office. I’m still shuddering hours later.
But I did catch Marta’s comments about Anne Rice last week, and was duly impressed. With her comments, anyway. Very underwhelmed w/ Rice.
Diane
wondering how the heck I’ll ever sleep tonite, what with my skin crawling and all…
Jen said on 11.04.08 at 08:35 AM • [link]
I’ll be the tenth or so person to recommend Robin McKinley’s “Sunshine”. Yum!
I also enjoyed the vampire “family” in Patricia Briggs’ Mercedes Thompson Series - though those books are mostly based on werewolves, the second book (“Blood Bound”) is all about vampires. Rumor has it the fourth book will also feature vampire retribution. Good Stuff! Dresden Files, Southern Vampire Mysteries, Anita Blake (books 1-5 mostly).
verity said on 11.04.08 at 09:11 AM • [link]
On a more scholarly note, I didn’t see a citation for Nina Auerbach’s Our Vampires, Ourselves in Jennifer’s essay - if you aren’t already familiar with it, Jennifer, it’s a postmodern, feminist reading of vampire lit from 19th c. Britain and 20th c. America. I read it just for fun, but it’s great for what you’re researching!
I will echo other Bitches in recommending McKinley’s Sunshine.
jocelynnesimone said on 11.04.08 at 09:50 AM • [link]
All of these suggestions are so great. Many of these books I have read and loved with the Charlaine Harris and Bucher books being among my favorites these days. However, I noticed that no one mentioned the L.A. Banks vampire books which start, I believe, with Minion.* They aren’t my favorite but they are different from most of the books on this list in that the herione is a black woman and the story is definitely rooted in Hip Hop music culture. I found it refreshing to read a vampire series written with such a different cultural slant.
*Of course there are a lot of great comments so I might have missed someone mentioning her books up-thread.
Jocelyn said on 11.04.08 at 10:07 AM • [link]
I’m just seconding Sunshine and Meredith Ann Pierce’s Darkangel series.
amy lane said on 11.04.08 at 10:08 AM • [link]
I think Charlaine Harris’ very Southern, very real vampires qualify her vampires as divergent—they were dark and deadly, but they were also Southern cozy characters, and she was one of the first to really do the ‘personable, everyday vampire.’ (And I’ll be the nth person to say that Robin McKinley’s Con was exceptionally original as well.)
Stephanie said on 11.04.08 at 12:57 PM • [link]
I don’t think anyone’s mentioned these so far, but they stick in my mind as some of the first vamp books I read. They’re solidly in the YA range, and I’d say they’re more traditional, in the sense of the beautiful, brooding and dangerous vamp and the characteristics of vampirism. Honestly, the details are a little fuzzy - it’s been a while since I’ve read them.
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, Demon in my View, Midnight Predator - first few are nothing special, although they fascinated me at 14. later ones really get into characterizing individual vampires and how they deal with the prospect of drinking blood for all eternity, and she builds a fairly rich vampire subculture. demon in my view deals with the concept of a vampiric pregnancy - the main character is half vamp, i think. the titles are taken from various poems - Blake’s “Tiger, Tiger” and a few Poe pieces, among others. On a semi-related note, Poe’s short stories also had a fascination with the death of young, beautiful women - The Oval Portrait, etc.
Vivian Vande Velde, Companions of the Night - one of her stronger books, I think. deals with vamps in an urban setting, and how a human girl gets caught up in their affairs. other than that, I couldn’t say.
Annette Curtis Klause, The Silver Kiss - I think maybe someone mentioned this before. similar to the one listed above, but intriguing in that her mother is facing death(cancer, if I recall), and he is on a quest for vengeance against his mother’s killer.
Pete Hautman and Brooke Williams, Sweetblood - interesting in that the protagonist theorizes a link between vampirism and diabetes. I don’t believe there are any real vamps in this, but she does have a relationship with an older man who at least poses as a vamp. also deals with the existing vampire subculture.
Leslee said on 11.04.08 at 02:26 PM • [link]
So glad to see that some other people mentioned Lynn Viehl’s Darkyn series. Her world building, characters, mythology, science, and emotion are top notch!!! I was lucky enought to win a copy of Stay the Night. It is a wonderful ending to this series. Ms. Viehl has said she will be writing more in the same world but it will not be about the Darkyn we have met already. I am sad that we will be leaving all these wonderful characters but I am excited to see what she will be giving us next.
I was also glad to see Yarbro’s Saint Germain brought up. I discovered him years ago (won’t say how long ;)) and have loved him ever since.
Laurie Breton said on 11.04.08 at 04:05 PM • [link]
Shelby Reed’s Midnight Rose. Best. Vampire. Book. Ever.
Faellie said on 11.04.08 at 04:51 PM • [link]
I can’t be the only one who is amused by the title “The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance”, can I?
Fascinating essay. Other than in the first world in the twentieth Century, a young woman always courted death when she was courted by love, through the almost inevitable subsequent pregnancy and childbirth. “Death and the maiden” just cuts out the middleman (middlebaby?), as too does becoming a vampire’s mate.
Is there a social/psychological history in the spread of anodyne romance in the twentieth century (as childbirth became safer), followed by firstly more erotic romance and then fantasy romance (to bring back that element of danger, now that unsafe reality is at a comfortable distance for most of us lucky readers)?
Lots of gay vampires in ebooks (Ellora’s Cave, Torquere, etc.), if “alternative” is what’s wanted. Written mostly by and for women, as I understand. Presumably on the principle “Girl bits? Why would I want to read about girl bits? I’ve GOT girl bits.”
Madd said on 11.04.08 at 05:49 PM • [link]
No one has mentioned the Hannah Howell/Lynsay Sands colabs about highland Scotts vampires, the MacNachtons and their cousins the MacAdies, who are trying to mate with non vamps to thin the vampire genes so that their clans can survive in the ever encroaching world.. There are:
Highland Thirst
The Eternal Highlander
My Immortal Highlander
Highland Vampire and Nature of the Beast also contain Hannah Howell’s MacNachton stories.
EmmyS said on 11.04.08 at 08:25 PM • [link]
There’s an article on the Wall Street Journal’s website today about the conventions of vampires in romance.
God said on 11.04.08 at 09:04 PM • [link]
I’m not sure anyone has mentioned these yet, but Shannon Drake did a vampire series and most of them were really good. I remember tearing through those pages. When Darkness Falls was definitely my favorite.
I just started Charlaine Harris’ books yesterday and I am loving those as well.
And you can never go wrong with a little Nora Roberts. Circle Trilogy was bomb.
JB said on 11.04.08 at 09:17 PM • [link]
I came across this NPR article about vampires in popular culture that may be of some use to your in your project:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96356392&ft=1&f=1008
mb said on 11.04.08 at 09:38 PM • [link]
Although I’m not a huge fan of mainstream vampire books, I heartily agree with the recommendations of the following authors:
- Robin McKinley’s “Sunshine” (wonderful fantasy world literature that includes vampires)
- Charlaine Harris “Sookie Stackhouse” series. (I would consider these mystery with some romance.)
- Christopher Moore’s “Blood Sucking Fiends” and “You Suck”. (His books are hilarious and totally off-the-wall.)
- Jim Butcher’s Dresden series. (Great urban fantasy. Lots of action, not much romance. Definitely vampires & etc. from a male POV.)
Here’s a weird rec that I don’t think anyone else has mentioned:
“Fat White Vampire Blues” and its sequel “Bride of the Fat White Vampire” by Andrew Fox. These books are very hard to categorize but definitely have unique characterization and use of vampires. They are mysteries set in a gritty New Orleans (I think) and funny/odd. The main protagonist is not typically sympathetic. (I have seen comparisons to “A Confederacy of Dunces” if that tells you anything.)
mb said on 11.04.08 at 09:49 PM • [link]
I always forget to include things in my posts!
I agree with recommendations for Lynsay Sands Argeneau series. I would call them cozy vampire romantic humor. They are reliable comfort read and re-reads for me.
Here’s a cute link for anyone like me who enjoys vampire-inspired humor:
http://www.kaila.pl/rpg/vampire.htm
I like to read/buy authors who incorporate vampires in intriguing, out-of-the-box, working & functioning worlds like those I’ve mentioned in this and previous post.
Authors, please note: If you have your “world” set up, then consistently break your own rules, (like LKH’s Anita series), then you have FAILED as far as keeping me as a reader/customer.
Lovecow2000 said on 11.04.08 at 11:55 PM • [link]
If it’s vampires as objects of romance then I’ve got to put forth Bones from Jeaniene Frost’s Grave series. The mythos there is fairly interesting with vampires having very few vulnerabilities, little angst and a heap of emotional honesty.
Also, Karen Chance’s latest Midnight’s Daughter furthers the exploration of vampire culture and such found in her Cassandra Palmer books. However, I think it’s a fairly traditional pov on vampires. In fact a lot of the more recent forays into vampire literature share as much with the traditions as they buck them.
Molly said on 11.05.08 at 02:00 AM • [link]
For something obscure but interesting, can I recommend The Cowboy and the Vampire: A Very Unusual Romance, by Clark Hays & Kathleen McFall? If nothing else, it does gender reversal and is the oddest combination of modern western, vampire fantasy, and romance…
Grace said on 11.05.08 at 11:40 PM • [link]
Might I suggest that the whole medieval death and maiden connection has to do with the importance of the young woman in society in regard to continuation of the species? Especially in light of the mass extictions from the plague and harsh living conditions during the Dark Ages and from the little Ice Age. Just a thought.
I’d also like to add a thanks to all of those who supplied the excellent links to some fatastic vamp/paranoraml sites.
And add my vote for Feehan’s Carpathians, which first introduced me to the genre; Kenyon’s Dark Hunter’s; Sand’s Argeneaus; and the books of Shayne and MacAlister. - Grace
mjw said on 11.06.08 at 11:05 PM • [link]
Almost forgot Dean James’ cozy mystery series about a gay American vampire who moves to a small English town. Little romance, although I’m sure Giles would have eventually worn him down, if Dean’s publisher hadn’t bailed on the series. The first book (of four) is “Posted to Death”. The series is a hoot, although James could have easily dropped the whole vampire conceit. It often seems a bit superfluous.
RfP said on 11.07.08 at 01:41 AM • [link]
Just remembered Kassandra Sims. I’ve read one of her books—The Midnight Work, I believe—and it was neither old-school nor chick-lit-silly. The heroine (Sophie?) was quick-witted and not at all dependent. Her creator, Olivier, wasn’t an alpha male, and none of the vampires displayed angst over being a blood-sucker. As I recall, the vampires’ history was grounded in the Knights Templar era.
jenjen said on 11.08.08 at 04:20 AM • [link]
Michele Bardsley’s vampire series is worth a mention here. In Michele’s first book, the heroine is a single mother raising two children when she is turned. The heroine now has to figure out how to raise her kids while learning to be a vampire.
It is a light, funny read similar too MJD’s Betsy series in feel.
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