Halloween is upon us! For the next few weeks, I’ve decided to highlight my most recent favorite scary tales, and this week I’m looking at vampire stories!
I find my favorite vampire tales are gritty, complex and violent, and I especially love stories that bring something new to the table. These are all books I’ve read in the past two years or so (click on the titles to read my reviews):
The Suicide Motor Club by Christopher Buehlman. This was one of my FAVORITE books last year, and in fact, it remains in my top favorite books ever. This is a gritty, violent and yes, funny story about a group of vampires and the men who are hunting them. But it’s not as cut and dried as that. If you are squeamish at all when it comes to car crashes, you may not enjoy this. But if you love characters who aren’t sure which side they’re on, then you’ll love this book.
The Fifth House of the Heart by Ben Tripp. Tripp’s story about a septuagenarian antiques dealer who makes his fortune by pillaging treasures from vampires blew me away. Now is a great time of year to read this if you haven’t. And if you love fantastic characters, this book has one of my all time favorites!
Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Want another unique take on the vampire mythos? Then look no further than this dark and dangerous tale that takes place in Mexico City. Moreno-Garcia’s vampires are violent, but they also have some unexpected human qualities to them. Don’t miss this book!
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire. On the surface, this is not strictly a vampire story, and yet there is a very important story line that involves a creepy, controlling vampire and the young girl who is influenced by him. This is one of my favorite novella series, and if you like non-conventional vampire stories, then you NEED to read this.
The Truants by Lee Markham. This book was one of the bleakest and most violent vampire stories I’ve read recently, but I can’t deny its originality. Markham’s vampires are “turned” when they are stabbed with a knife that is covered in the blood of a very old vampire, and as the knife is passed from hand to hand, the number of victims keeps growing. Not for the squeamish, this story is so well written and loaded with atmosphere.
And there you have it. I’d love to know if you’ve read any of these vampire tales. Leave me your recommendations in the comments!
Down Among the Sticks and Bones is probably one I’ll try, I’ve heard good things and it sounds like a fun series. I like that they’re novellas too (I think they are, anyway?). Sometimes a shorter read is a nice change!
Greg recently posted…Top Ten Books With Autumn Covers/ Themes
Yes, they are pretty short! And such a strange and magical series (but sad and scary too)
I haven’t read any of these yet but they are all of on my tbr!
Two recent favorites for me when it comes to vampires is Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw and The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda.
I enjoyed Strange Practice as well
One of my all time favorite vampire stories is Sunshine by Robin McKinley.
Me too!! If I were listing older books that would be on my list for sure
So I love three of these 5 so I better just pick up the other two. I trust your judgement that well and since we both loved Certain Dark Things and The Suicide Motor Club, I don’t think you’d steer me wrong!
Barb (boxermommyreads) recently posted…TTT – Book Covers That Scream Fall!
I haven’t read any of these, there goes my TBR! π
The Suicide Motor Club is still looking at me from the “wanted” list (and baring its fangs in disappointment, I guess…), and I remember how your review of The Truants piqued my interest: with Halloween getting near, I should celebrate with one or both of them π
Thanks for reminding me!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…Short Story Review: CRYSTAL HOLLOWAY AND THE FORGOTTEN PASSAGE, by Seanan McGuire
I guess I haven’t been paying enough attention – I’ve read so many reviews for Down Among the Sticks and Bones and this is the first time I’ve heard about the allusions to vampires or vampiric themes! Or maybe McGuire is just so good with being subtle about it! As for my vampire story recommendations, definitely Generation V by M.L. Brennan! π
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum recently posted…Book Review: Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill
I don’t think my review even mentions the vampires, now that I think about it!
“If you are squeamish at all when it comes to car crashes, you may not enjoy this.”
Like The World According to Garp-level car crashes?
I really want to read Certain Dark Things.
LOL!! No not THAT type of squeamish
I definitely want to read the Suicide Motor Club.
Lynn π
After having recently finished reading The Beautiful Ones, Certain Dark Things is calling to me… Thank you for sharing your vamp selection.
I didn’t even know some of these were vampire books?! I also recently posted about vampire books, but I didn’t have any of these on my list (though The Truants is on my tbr because it sounds so unique!). Suicide Motor Club also sounds amazing, and I’ll be adding that to my tbr as well. Thanks for the recs!
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight recently posted…Book Recs: 10 Lesser-Known Books about Vampires
The Fifth House of the Heart sounds like a really fun spin on a vampire story. I’m intrigued!
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