Undead and Unwary by MaryJanice Davidson, 303 pages

I have to say that I love this author. Betsy is just a fun, irreverent character who rings so true to me. My only drawback with this book was the love scene at the very end seemed a little forced and kind of pulled me out of the book. But other than that, this was a great read, and I can't wait to see what happens next to Betsy and the rest of her family.

The New Deadwardians by Dan Abnett & I.N.J. Culbard, 176 pages

This graphic novel explores England after the death of Prince Consort Albert, when zombies rose and rolled over the country in a wave of death. To combat the tide, scientists came up with the ability to turn humans into vampires, making them basically invisible to zombies. It has been reserved generally for the upper class, leaving the common man to toil away, facing death from zombies and bites from those vampires who can't or won't control their urges. Because of the changes in society, there remains only one murder detective at Scotland Yard, George Suttle, and he is called in to investigate the death of a fellow vampire, who has died under mysterious circumstances. Suttle soon finds himself ensconced in a deeper mystery than he ever expected, one that may have ramifications far beyond a simple murder.

This was an interesting take on vampires and zombies, combining the two with the Anglophile mania sweeping the US at the moment. The artwork and storyline were really intriguing, and I will be looking for the next book.

VWars edited by Jonathan Maberry, 406 pages

This was a fantastic new take on the vampire story. What if vampirism was caused by a virus awakening dormant dna? What if there were different types of vampires throughout the world based on your genetic makeup, explaining the variety of vampires throughout history and around the world? I especially enjoyed how there was a variety of writers, but the story itself stayed very coherent. This is probably one of the most outstanding vampire books I've ever read.

Jane Vows Vengeance by Michael Thomas Ford, 275 pages

Jane Fairfax was known as Jane Austen, that was before she was turned into a vampire by Lord Byron years ago. Now she owns a little bookstore in New York, and is finally getting married to her fiance, Walter. But dealing with the wedding preparations are enough to drive even a vampire author crazy. So when Walter suggests that they get married on a tour of houses in Europe, Jane jumps at the chance. But a husband from her past, a holy grail of vampire lore, and a murder all conspire to keep Jane from getting her happily ever after.
"Jane Vows Vengeance" is the newest book in what is a fabulous series by Michael Thomas Ford, combining Jane Austen, vampires, and comedic intrigue in wonderfully written novels. One of the highlights of the book is Jane's total lack of mastery over her vampire skills, while Lord Byron proves just as captivating and charming as a vampire as he was as a poet. Fans of revamped classics and vampire novels will want to pick up this books, it's a read you'll sink your fangs into.

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris, 342 pages

I've read all the Sookie Stackhouse books many times, and enjoyed them all. I was stuck in the van for 20 minutes waiting for someone and this was the only book I could find in the van so I started re-reading. After that point I was 50 pages in so I went ahead and finished it. If you like vampire books with sex appeal and lots of humor, this is a series you don't want to miss.

Anno-Dracula by Kim Newman, 359 pages

Imagine a world where Dracula wasn't vanquished by Van Hesling and his compatriots, but instead not only won but married Queen Victoria, ushering in a world where vampires not only walk among "warms" but rule England. Then throw in Jack the Ripper killing vampire streetwalkers and you've got a great twist on a vampire story.

Circus of the Damned -The Ingenue by Laurell K. Hamilton, 117 pages

I've read all the Anita Blake books at least once, and the graphic novels are a fresh new look at the same stories. The artwork is superb and really brings new life to the stories. While I wouldn't recommend just jumping into the the books with this book, they are a treat for vampire fans. It will be interesting to see how the graphic novels handle the storyline when it becomes more sexually explicit down the line.

Baited Blood by Sue Ann Jaffarian, 320 pages

Murdered vampires, each having been branded, keep turning up. Madison must help the Vampire Council figure out who's behind this, or else someone she cares about could turn up staked next. This author also writes the Odelia Gray plus-size mysteries that I'm a fan of, and this vampire books are enjoyable also.

Vampires, The Recent Undead edited by Paula Guran, 430 pages

This is a collection of vampire short stories previously published between 2000 and 2010. These are written by some outstanding authors such as Charlaine Harris, Charles De Lint, Kelley Armstrong and one of my favorite vampire authors of all time, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. These are varied vampires, some dark and sexy, others more metaphysical and then ones that are truer to the original fiends that populated early folklore. This is a great read for fans of vampire literature.

Undead and Undermined by Mary Janice Davidson, 279 pages

Betsy, Queen of the Vampires, has just returned from hell with her half sister, the Anti-Christ. It turns out she's now in an altered time line and must work to prevent the horrible future she visited where she is a horribly evil dictator that has destroyed the world. But will the cost of changing the future be more than Betsy be willing to pay?
I love this series, it's funny and well-written, but Mary Janice Davidson has taken a very dark turn with this and the previous book in what she says will be a trilogy within the series. I really hope it turns out well, it's kind of sad and scary the twist is has taken. But it's still a great read.

Teeth-Vampire Tales edited by Ellen Datlow & Terry Windling, 252 pages

This is collection of vampire short stories by established and new authors with it being a young adult vampire tale that had to be smart and unusual. This was really well-done. One of the best things with this book was the introduction. It talked about the vampires throughout history, and their introduction in literature, and the evolution of vampires. It listed a few books that I'm going to track down and read. One of the most interesting facts I learned is that there is an African tribe that believed you could tell a vampire by the glow they emit at night from their armpits and anuses. REALLY?!?

Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton, 320 pages

Anita Blake is on the trail of the Harlequin, the professional killers of the vampire council for hundreds of years, a force so scary that even speaking their name insures your death. They serve the Mother of All Darkness, the original vampire, believed to be dead. She is without a body but plans on taking over Anita's. Anita teams up with Edward to try to track these powerful monsters, but the odds aren't in their favor. Who will survive the coming showdown?
I've been reading the Anita Blake series since the mid 1990s and have really enjoyed. But the series has taken a turn to a more sexually explicit storyline that I didn't always enjoy as much. This book has less sex and much more of the original Anita Blake feel that hooked me in the beginning. I won't go into details to keep from giving away the plot, but this book left me thinking she was close to ending this series.

The President's Vampire by Christopher Farnsworth, 335 pages

Nathaniel Cade has been the president's vampire since Lincoln's assassination. Him and his handler, Zachary, are responsible for fighting some of the darkest, most horrible creatures and battles. Right now they are facing snake creatures that have been created by what could be a secret government agency. Which dark creature will survive?
This was an odd book, vampire mixed with government conspiracies. I don't think I'll pick up any other books in this series but this is a good book for those manly, vampire fans out there.

Dead Reckoning By Chalaine Harris, 325 pages

Sookie Stackhouse is just trying to recover from the insane twists and turns her life has taken but the calm is just a momentary quiet before everything in life starts to go crazy again. Her vampire lover Eric is keeping something from her, someone has firebombed the bar she works out, and an enemy from the past has reappeared. All in all, Sookie's life is back to normal.
This was a great book to read to just enjoy a fun dose of what I call mind candy. I have enjoyed this series from book one, I watch the tv show (new season next month, yippee) and I'm even collecting the comic books. Charlaine Harris is a great author with multiple series, now I just need to get her to come to the Joplin Public Library.

Narcissus in Chains by Laurell K. Hamilton, 424 pages

Richard no longer wants Anita to be lupa of his werewolves, a new leader for the wereleopards is in town, and Anita finds herself overwhelmed by the ardeur, a thirst that must be fed by blood or lust. All in all, another normal time for Anita.
This is the book that took this series from a fun and dark vampire/werewolf series to an almost sexually disturbing series, but I still read the books. Now, I'm just creeped out when I see my mother-in-law reading them.

Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer by Van Jensen and Dusty Higgins, 128 pages

When I heard that there was a graphic novel with Pinocchio as a vampire slayer, my first thought was that he must tell lies and use his wooden nose as a stake. That is exactly what he does. His father/creator Geppetto has been killed by dark, blood-thirsty creatures and Pinocchio is determined to kill them all as revenge.
This is a great idea, but isn't the most high-brow book ever. It's a little disjointed in places but still a fun and odd read. Now I just have to get my hands on the sequel.

Blue Moon by Laurell K. Hamilton, 418 pages

Anita Blake gets a call that her former fiance, Richard, has been arrested in Tennessee on charges of rape. Knowing that there is no way Richard could have done it and the full moon is only days away, Anita races to Tennessee to help find a way to clear Richard. It quickly becomes apparent that Richard has been framed to remove him from the scene. But what do the locals not want them to find out, so badly that they are willing to kill for it.
It has been years since I'd read this book in the Anita Blake series, so I had pretty much forgotten everything it. It was a treat to enjoy it again for what seemed like the first time. This book had werewolves, wereleopards, vampires, and even a demon. If you like dark and delicious vampire books, this is the series for you.

Burnt Offerings by Laurell K. Hamilton, 392 pages

The vampire council has shown up to decide if Jean-Claude deserves punishment for killing council member "Earthmover." It's up to Richard, Jean-Claude and Anita to work together to save not only themselves but all the vampires and lycanthropes in St. Louis. But Richard's anger towards Anita and Jean-Claude for their relationship threatens to pull them all apart when they need to pull together more than ever.
This is probably the book in the series where the Anita Blake series started to get weird sexually. But the vampires, werewolves and zombies make it worth reading.

The Killing Dance by Laurell K. Hamilton, 287 pages

Anita Blake is back, dating both werewolf Richard and vampire Jean-Claude. As if her life wasn't complicated enough, she finds out that there is a hit out on her, with a deadline of 24 hours. Bounty hunter and professional killer Edward has shown up to help protect Anita. All of this muscle behind still might not be enough to keep her alive.
Every book reminds me of why I enjoy this series so much, especially the early books. I love vampires, werewolves, and anything creepy with a good story line, and Laurell K. Hamilton always delivers!

Bloody Bones by Laurell K. Hamilton, 328 pages

This Anita Blake book features vampires, zombies and faeries, including one really disturbing boggle. This book was the first book that Anita admits that she lusts after Jean-Claude and Jean-Claude that he loves Anita. This was one of the darkest books so far, but each book does get darker and more disturbing.