Prince Lestat by Anne Rice, 458 pages

Finally Anne Rice has returned to Lestat, after a hiatus writing books about the early Christian faith. This was a wonderful book, a return to the writing that made me fall in love with Lestat back as a teenager. This book is filled with more vampires than ever, telling us there early day stories and seeing them in the current world. I'm seriously considering buying a copy of this book to keep on my shelf along with Interview with a Vampire and The Vampire Lestat.

Anno Dracula-Johnny Alucard by Kim Newman, 441 pages

I'm a fan of vampire books but not as big a fan of revisionary fiction (where the author imagines a different history) so the Anno Dracula books aren't my favorite cup of tea. But I'll gladly read them when sent the books by Night Owl Reviews. I have to say I do prefer the early novels because I like history better in these books.

The Falstaff Vampire Files by Lynne Murray, 275 pages

I'm not a huge, huge Shakespeare fan, so I wasn't really up on who John Falstaff was, but I do know the actually person he was based on, Sir John Oldcastle (which I know because of a recent book "The Tower") so I was able to understand the time period the vampire was from. This was an odd vampire book and not my favorite.

Renfield Slave of Dracula by Barbara Hambly, 306 pages

The story of Dracula as told through Renfield's point of view. It was a very good twist on a classic vampire story. Fans of Dracula shouldn't miss this entry.

Anno Dracula: The Bloody Red Baron by Kim Newman, 587 pages

I was very excited to see a new Anno Dracula book and eagerly requested it for reading through Night Owl Reviews. All I will say here is, while interesting, it was too war-based for me to love it.

Kiss the Dead by Laurell K. Hamilton, 359 pages

I've been reading the Anita Blake books since the very beginning, and the last 4 or 5 just have been getting way too dark and sexually graphic for me to really enjoy. This one seems to have moved back a little, with not so much sex and extreme violence, making it a more enjoyable read. While I'm a big fan of these books, I hesitate to recommend them a lot, because of just how explicit the series got. If the books continue to ebb in blood and sex (with the two combined) I will be glad of it.

Zombie Island by Lori Handeland, 265 pages

William Shakespeare has figured out a way for him and his lady love to be together. He gives her a potion that simulates death, and will whisk her away from her tomb, leaving her husband, and London believing that Katherine Dymond is dead. But when the vampire playwright shows up, the tomb is empty except for moldering skeletons. Little did they expect Katherine's husband to ship her body back to the New World, falling prey to a sea storm, leaving Katherine and her husband stranded on a magical island, inhabited by a sorcerer, a sprite, and zombies galore. Will must hurry to save his love, and possibly even the throne.
This was probably the funnest retelling of The Tempest that I've ever read. Nothing makes Shakespeare better except turning him into a vampire and adding zombies galore. Lori Handeland has created a well-written new entry into the revamped genre, breathing new life into the undead playwright and his "dark lady" muse. I look forward to reading the next novel in this fantastic new series.

Vintage Vampire Stories edited by Robert Eighteen-Bisang & Richard Dalby, 318 pages

This collection features vampire stories ranging from the mid1800's to the very early part of the 1900's, many of which haven't been printed for over a century. These are the original vampires, pale and lean, ugly yet compelling, those early precursors to vampires as we know them today. Some were originally featured in The Strand, also featured is a rare copy of Bram Stoker's early manuscript pages for "Count Vampire". With these stories, you will not only find yourself in the fog-shrouded streets of London, but also the balmy olive gardens of Italy and snow-swept mountains of Spain. With vampires ranging from revenge seeking reincarnations to spirit based vampires to even a blood sucking hand, this book is a definite must read for not only vampire fans but also those who enjoy pulp fiction short stories. This novel now has a welcome place on my bookshelf.

Fledgling by Octavia Butler, 310 pages

Shori wakes up, alone and injured in a cave, with no memory of who she is. Before she knows it she is killing animals and healing her injuries, but unfortunately not her memory loss. After finding a young man and becoming attached after drinking his blood, Shori discovers that she is not the young black girl she appears to be, but is instead a fifty-three-year-old "vampire" who has been genetically altered to be able to walk in the day. Her family has been wiped out in a horrific attack that she managed to survive. Will Shori be able to protect herself and her "minions" while she tries to find out who's responsible for the attacks before they strike again?
This was an interesting update of the vampire story, weaving science and historical lore in a new twist.

Highland Hunger by Hannah Howell, Jackie Ivie, and Michele Sinclair, 281 pages

This trilogy of supernatural Scottish romances all feature Scottish vampires finding their one true loves, that is if they can win their ladies hearts. In "Dark Embrace" by Hannah Howell has Una Dunn searching for help for herself, and her friends who are being held by an evil lord intent on taking their power for himself. Raibeart MacNachton is promises that his clan will help, but Una doesn't know if she can open her heart to trust him, much less fall in love. Jackie Ivie has written "A Knight Beyond Black" that has Lady Tira believing she will never find love, until her fiance shows up to claim her. Iain Duncan MacAvee has been betrothed to Tira for years, without her knowledge, and he's intent on claiming what is his. "The Guardian" by Michele Sinclair has Moirae and Dorian both serving as the guardian for their land. She turns to him for help learning the skills she needs, but will he instead learning the most important lesson from her?
I picked this up expecting the normal Scottish theme romance novel and was pleasantly surprised to discover the vampire twist. The stories were filled with seduction, romance and a little bit of humor, making them enjoyable, fast reads.

Bloodthirsty by Flynn Meaney, 234 pages

With all the rage about vampire and werewolf books, you'd have to be living in a cave not to know that vampires are dark, moody, and sexy as all get out to teenage girls. So what's a teen geek to do except make people think he's a vampire. Finbar has moved to New York from Indiana, and this is the perfect change for him to take advantage of his pale, white skin, use of big words, and love of books. But, being a vampire can be a real pain in the neck.
My daughter has been telling me I HAVE to read this book ever since she read it last year. I finally got around to it, and it was a good read. It wasn't badly written, funny at times, sweet, and just plain enjoyable.

Queen of Kings by Maria Dahvana Headley, 401 pages

Octavius has descended upon Egypt determined to unseat Marc Anthony and Cleopatra. Cleopatra ends up seeking help from Sekhmet, a bloodthirsty Egyptian goddess, but before she knows it, Marc Anthony is dead by his own hand, Cleopatra is deposed and changed into a creature missing her ka (soul) and harboring Sekhmet inside her. After watching her oldest son killed, Cleopatra is determined to seek revenge against Octavius. She follows the emperor back to Rome, and must face Octavius, his army and a trio of witches if she intends on gaining a bloody satisfaction.
This was an interesting retelling of the Cleopatra saga, weaving historical fact with a vampire story, to put a new interpretation on this larger than life queen. I loved how Cleopatra's love for family is the driving force behind her actions. Cleopatra was a very hands on parent, especially for a royal parent, raising children who were highly educated, before the Roman attack. The author left the ending open for a sequel, and I would definitely pick it up.

The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton, 301 pages

This is the second book in the Anita Blake series. I've read it before but felt an urge to re-read the series. Reading these early books again makes me realize how much darker and erotic the series has gotten. But I will continue to enjoy this great vampire series. If you want a great vampire read, this is a really outstanding series.

Blood Suckers: The Vampire Archives Volume 1, 394 pages

This is a collection of vampire short stories by a collection of well-known authors ranging from Bram Stoker to Stephen King. Some of the stories were really odd and some were really good. My favorite was the Stephen King story. I found myself plodding through some of them, but this is still worth reading if you like vampire stories.

Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore, 290 pages

My daughter has raved about this vampire book for ages, until my husband finally picked it up. He laughed out loud, stayed up too late reading it, and immediately started book two when he finished this. With that kind of rave, how could I not pick it up. I have always enjoyed Moore's odd sense of humor, and this was just as good as his others.
Jody never gave any thought to being a vampire because she never thought they existed. That is, until she is attacked one night and wakes up under a dumpster with a burnt hand, super human strength and a thirst for blood. Jody must figure out how to spend eternity. Tommy moved to San Francisco from Indiana determined to be the next great writer. Jody and Tommy quickly come together, but forces are determined to pull them apart. Throw in an Emperor of San Francisco and his loyal subjects, turkey bowling Animals, a bored vampire, and cops intent on solving murders, and you have one of the funniest vampire books of all time.

The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice, 491 pages

I had to reread The Vampire Lestat for a book club, and before you know it, I'm sucked into The Queen of the Damned, again, for the 4th or 5th time. The book picks up with Akasha, Queen of all Vampires, taking Lestat as her prince consort, son to her Mother Goddess. She is determined to remake the world into a woman's world, with just a handful of men saved for propagation purposes only. Just a handful of vampires are left to stand between her and this new world. As always, Anne Rice's recreation of the vampire legend is stunning, intriguing and elaborate. For anyone whose only introduction to this book was the movie, please know that the movie SUCKED big time compared to the book. Yes, sucked is the only word that fits. But this book should really only be read after reading The Vampire Lestat to do it proper justice.

The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice, 481 pages

The Vampire Lestat is one of my favorite vampires books. I've read this book probably 4-5 times as it is. I first read this book when I was 16 (it had been out for a few years already) and fell in love with Lestat instantly. He is the "damnedest creature" and proud of it. Anne Rice created a new type of vampire, dark, brooding, sexy, fun, dangerous, creatures of the dark who walk among us, no longer hiding in the shadows. This is a great sequel to Interview with a Vampire, in fact, this is a much better book than Interview.