Bloodthirsty...

Fiction You Can Sink Your Teeth Into…

I was bitten by the vampire bug early. Ever since the tender age of thirteen, I’ve been obsessed with the undead rulers of the night, Vampires. Whatever trope an author embraces; stake through the heart, the must have invitation; the hot mesmerizing, undying love…I’m there for it!

Long before vampires took over our screens, they took over our bookshelves. These creatures of the night have haunted our imaginations for millennia, entering our literary consciousness in the 1800’s. Ever since Dracula was published to massive acclaim, vampire mania has waxed and waned, but it’s never died out entirely. Sinking their teeth into popular culture, raking in millions of dollars across properties like True Blood, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and Twilight. But why do we keep coming back to these creatures and their violent delights? It feels emblematic of a paradox in our culture. They have long surpassed the depiction as merely the embodiment of ancient evil, now more commonly characterized as charismatic tragic heroes, representing the quintessential outsider. Being consistently redefined and reimagined. In these stories, we see our own loneliness and our own monstrosity, and ultimately our own humanity, too.

Don’t get me wrong, I fear the reaper. Yet I am drawn in by the allure of the Vampire. They surpass many other folklore monsters and continue to spark our imaginations, not to mention our libidos. The seduction of never growing old or weak, of not being afraid of death…is irresistible.

So, if you are prepared to be seduced beyond your wildest imagination…the wait is over. Come in.

Monstrous Hearts…

King Sorrow – Joe Hill

Arthur is a reader and a dreamer, but his burgeoning romance with Gwen is shattered when a local drug dealer and her partner con him into one of the worst crimes he can imagine: stealing rare books from the library. Trapped and desperate, Arthur turns to his closest friends for comfort and help. Together they dream up a wild scheme to free Arthur from the cruel trap in which he finds himself. Wealthy, irrepressible Colin suggests using the Crane journal, bound in the skin of its author, to summon a fantastical creature to do their bidding. But this creature demands a sacrifice, one that feeds its hunger. And likely not just one. I have waited a long time for a new book from this author and he has delivered a monster of a book.

When The Wolf Comes Home – Nat Cassidy

One night, Jess, a struggling actress, finds a five-year-old runaway hiding in the bushes outside her apartment. After a violent, bloody encounter with the boy's father, they find themselves running for their lives. As they attempt to evade the boy's increasingly desperate father, Jess slowly comes to a horrifying understanding of the terror left in their wake; the boy can turn his every fear into a reality. The kind of great, big horror book we got back in the ‘80’s, that was maniacal in its joy in terrorizing readers! Sign. Me. Up.

Old Soul – Susan Barker

The woman never goes by the same name. She never stays in the same place too long. She never ages. She never dies. But those around her do. When two grieving strangers meet by chance in Osaka airport they uncover a disturbing connection. Jake's best friend and Mariko's twin brother each died, 6,000 miles apart, in brutal and unfathomable circumstances. Each encountered a mesmerising and beguiling woman in the days before their deaths. A book that will sneak into your dreams and haunt you long past the turn of the last page.

Strange Beasts – Susan J. Morris

At the dawn of the twentieth century in Paris, Samantha Harker, daughter of Dracula’s killer, works as a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. But no one realizes how abnormal she is. Sam is a channel into the minds of monsters: a power that could help her solve gruesome deaths or have her thrown into an asylum. Sam finds herself assigned to a case with Dr. Helena Moriarty, daughter of the criminal mastermind and famed nemesis of Sherlock Holmes and a notorious detective whom no one wants to work with because of her previous partners’ mysterious murder. Ranging from the elite clubs of Paris to the dark underbelly of the catacombs, their investigation sweeps them into a race to stop a Beast from its killing rampage and pitts them against men, monsters, and even each other. Love a fresh mashup of an old classic, in this case we get two for the price of one!

Hungerstone – Kat Dunn

It’s the height of the industrial revolution and Lenore’s marriage to steel magnate Henry begun has begun to sour. When Henry’s is tasked with hosting a hunting party, a shocking carriage accident brings the mysterious Carmilla into their lives. Carmilla, who is weak and pale during the day but vibrant at night. Carmilla, who stirs up something deep within Lenore. And before long, girls from the local villages fall sick, consumed by a terrible hunger . . . and as the day of the hunt draws closer, Lenore begins to unravel. What would she do to quell her hunger? What wouldn’t she do?

Fifth House Of The Heart – Ben Tripp

Sax, a vainglorious and well-established antiques dealer, has made a fortune over many years by scouring the globe for the finest lost objects in the world. Only Sax knows the true secret to his success: at certain points of his life, he’s killed vampires for their priceless hordes of treasure. Now his past actions are quite literally coming back to haunt him, and the lives of those he holds most dear are in danger. To counter this unnatural threat, a cowardly but cunning Sax must travel across Europe in pursuit of incalculable evil, and immeasurable wealth, with a ragtag team of mercenaries and vampire killers to hunt a terrifying, ageless monster…one who is hunting Sax in turn. If you like your vampire fiction sharp of wit as well as teeth, this delivers!

Once Was Willem – M.R. Carey

Set eleven hundred years after the death of Christ, Willem rises from the dead to defeat an evil force threatening humanity. By the time you finish the tale he tells you will know the truth of the path of our origin and inevitable end. You won’t thank him. A gorgeously written fable full of dread and wonder, magic and monsters and one of the nastiest characters you are ever likely to meet. Absolutely enthralling!

The Strain – Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan

A battle of mammoth proportions begins as the vampiric virus that has infected New York begins to spill out into the streets. Eph, who is joined by Abraham and a motley crew of fighters, must now find a way to stop the contagion and save his city, a city that includes his wife and son, before it is too late. Brilliant and bloody, you are in for an epic battle. The pace is relentless and the violence unrelenting. A piece of advice, don’t read this on a plane.

A Steeping Of Blood – Hafsah Faizal

Arthie has had her tea. Now she’s out for blood. She is a collector of secrets and at night her tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse. After a deadly night that leaves the city in shambles and the press slaughtered, the pubic calls for justice and vampires are in danger. Still reeling from the bloodshed, Arthie has no time to mourn, she must reassemble her scattered crew and fight.

You’re So Vein…

Direct Descendant – Tanya Huff

Generations ago, the founders of the idyllic town of Lake Argen made a deal with a dark force. In exchange for their service, the town will stay prosperous and deter outsiders. And for generations, it’s worked out great. Until a visitor goes missing, and his wealthy family sends a private investigator to find him, and everything goes sideways. Now, Cassidy, town baker and part-time servant of the dark force (it’s a family business) must contend with the rising army of darkness, a very frustrated town, and a cute PI who she might just be falling for…and who might just be falling for her. And if they can survive their own home-grown apocalypse, they might even just find happiness together.

Fang Fiction – Kate Stayman-London

Tess is no stranger to the dark. An assault survivor and grad school dropout, Tess spends her nights managing a chic Brooklyn hotel and her days reading her favorite vampire novels, Blood Feud. She even dabbles in online conspiracies claiming Blood Feud is real, it’s just harmless fun. But deep down, Tess doesn’t believe vampires actually exist . . . until one walks through her door. It turns out that the uber sexy villain of the show is trapped, and only Tess can rescue him. Visiting the world of your favourite show is any fan’s dream, as long as it never becomes a nightmare! A campy, bloody good time!

Strange New World– Vivian Shaw

After narrowly avoiding the end of the world, the leaders of Heaven and Hell are struggling to collaborate according to the terms of their new treaty, especially because angels and demons are, quite literally, allergic to each other. Seeking a solution, those in power decide to see if the allergy persists on Earth by sending an angel and demon on a research trip, first stop: New York City. And what better chaperone than Dr. Greta Helsing, who happens to owe Hell a few favors of her own? A witty and delightful spin on a classic!

Southern Book Club’s Guide To Slaying Vampires – Grady Hendrix

A clever blend of the disaffected housewife trope with a terrifying vampire tale. Touted as a mash-up of Fried Green Tomatoes and Dracula, this book exudes Southern charm even as it dishes out thrills and chills enough to satisfy the appetite of any horror aficionado. A group of women start a book club, focusing on true crime, to try and battle the constraints of lives where they come last. A stranger suddenly appears in town and things start to change in some very troublesome ways. Although these furtively feisty women start to suspect something foul, the stranger manages to insinuate himself into their lives by stroking the pathetically flaccid egos of their husbands. Cheeky and bloody!

Masters Of Death – Olivie Blake

When Viola hires Fox to deal with a ghost-infested mansion, she expects a competent medium. But unbeknownst to Viola, Fox is not a medium at all. He's a fraud, and the godson of death. As the mystery of the mansion unfolds, Viola and Fox are drawn into an unlikely quest that neither wants nor expects. They'll need the help of a demonic personal trainer, a steadfast reaper, and an angel with her own secrets. Turns out that an inconvenient dead body and a lost love are intrinsically linked to this coalition of unwilling allies. And soon they will find themselves tangled up in a devious game. Think Good Omens!

Bloodsucking Fiends – Christopher Moore

Jody never asked to become a vampire. But when she wakes up under a dumpster with a badly burned arm, an aching back, superhuman strength, and a distinct thirst, she realizes the decision has been made for her. Making the transition from the nine-to-five grind to an eternity of nocturnal prowling’s is going to take some doing and that's where Tommy fits in. A would-be Kerouac from Incontinence, Indiana, Tommy is biding his time night-clerking. But all that changes when a beautiful undead redhead walks through the door...and proceeds to rock Tommy's life, and afterlife, in ways he never thought possible.

Vampires At Sea – Lindsay Merbaum

Immortal beloveds Rebekah and Hugh are on vacation! Against a backdrop of ongoing war, this pair of chic vampires from San Francisco set off on a decadent Cruise, eager to relax, join an orgy, and feast upon their fellow passengers' desires and sorrows. When Hugh becomes enchanted by an alluring-and possibly magical-nonbinary social media influencer named Heaven, Rebekah's reality capsizes, and her true nature is unleashed. A smutty and hilarious snack of a read!

Already Dead – Charlie Huston

Those stories you hear. The ones about things that only come out at night. Things that feed on blood, feed on us? Got news for you: they’re true. Only it’s not like the movies or old man Stoker’s storybook. It’s worse. Especially if you happen to be one of them. Just ask Joe Pitt. From the Battery to the Bronx, Manhattan is crawling with Vampires. Joe is one of them, and he’s not happy about it. Yeah, he gets to be stronger and faster than you, and he’s tough as nails and hard to kill. But spending his nights trying to score a pint of blood to feed the Virus that’s eating at him isn’t his idea of a good time. This book breaks all the rules!

Bless Your Heart – Lindy Ryan

It’s 1999 in Southeast Texas and the Evans women, owners of the only funeral parlor in town, are keeping steady with…normal business. The dead die, you bury them. End of story. Or not. When the town gossip is brought in for a regular burial and rises from the dead instead, looks like trouble has found them. Again. A book with bite, in all of the best ways!

From The Ashes…

Bury Our Bones In The Midnight Soil – V.E. Schawb

Across three eras were three young women. Their bodies planted in the same soil; their stories tangled up in the roots. One grows high, one grows deep, and one grows wild. And all of them growth teeth. A book that spans centuries, continents and cultures, cast with characters that are sexy, flawed, dangerous and absolutely vicious. Be warned reader, this will leave you hungry for more…

Lucy Undying – Kiersten White

Stories are hauntings, aren’t they? Like ghosts we carry with us everywhere. The main narrator of this tale intends to haunt the reader into their dreams. Does she succeed? Well, that’s for me to know and you to find out…As you are by now aware, I love a good reimagining. And when you allow a character sidelined in the original work to take center stage? Count me in. Told from three perspectives and across three timelines, this is a rich story for anyone who wishes that they could discover Dracula anew. You have Iris, a young heiress on the run from the clutches of her family. A family that might be a cult, or a vampire clan. Who’s to say. And of course you have Lucy, discovered through her diary entries and more fascinating than you may be prepared for. Finally, you have an unnamed vampire telling her story to her psychiatrist. A psychiatrist whose reactions appear to be equally horrified and amused.

Lightfall – Ed Crocker

For centuries, vampires freely roamed the land until the Grays came out of nowhere, wiping out half the population in a night. The survivors fled to the last vampire city of First Light, where the rules are simple. If you’re poor, you drink weak blood. If you’re nobility, you get the good stuff. And you can never, ever leave. Palace maid Sam has had enough of these rules, and she’s had enough of cleaning the bedpans of the lords who enforce them. When the son of the city’s ruler is murdered and she finds the only clue to his death, she seizes the chance to blackmail her way into a better class and better blood. Darkly delightful and awash in snarky banter!

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter – Stephen Graham Jones

A diary, written in 1912 by a Lutheran Pastor is discovered within a wall and what it unveils is a slow massacre, a chain of events that go back to hundreds of dead in the snow. Told in transcribed confessions by a Blackfoot named Good Stab, who shared the narrative of his peculiar life over a series of confessional visits, this is a bloody history of the American West that has remained untold until now. One of a vampire who haunted the fields of the Blackfeet reservation. The author brilliantly turns a very dark time into a fictionalized story. A harrowing masterpiece.

Hollow – Celina Myers

Mia isn’t even twenty-five yet, but she’s starting to wonder if her peak has already passed. She’s spent years working at her local bookstore, a job that was supposed to be temporary. As a kid, she experienced a strange sort of fame within the paranormal community thanks to her inclusion in a book that revealed Mia’s ability to talk with the dead. But that was then, and Mia’s “gift” dried up once adolescence set in. These days, she feels like she’s nobody special. Until she dies in a tragic car crash and reawakens as a vampire…

Mistress Of Lies – K.M. Enright

The daughter of a powerful but disgraced Blood Worker, Shan has spent her life perfecting her blood magic, building her network of spies, and gathering every scrap of power she could. Now, to protect her brother, she assassinates their father and takes her place at the head of the family. And that is only the start of her revenge. Samuel is a bastard with a terrible gift. When he stumbles upon the first victim of a magical serial killer, he's drawn into the world of magic and intrigue he's worked so hard to avoid, pulled deeply into the ravenous and bloodthirsty court of the vampire king. Decadent and enthralling!

Crimson Road – A.G. Slatter

Violet has had a peculiar upbringing. Training as a fighter in underground arenas, honing her skills against the worst scum, murderers and thieves her father could pit her against, she has learned to be ruthless. To kill. Until the day he dies. Violet thinks she’s free, then she learns that her father planned to send her into the Darklands, where the Leech Lords reign. Where Violet’s still-born brother was taken years ago. Violet steadfastly refuses. Until the night two assassins attempt to slaughter her, and it becomes clear: she’s going to have to clean up the mess her father made. A mesmerizing dark journey into a world of vampires and dark witches.

Empire Of The Damned – Jay Kristoff

Gabriel has saved the Holy Grail from death, but his chance to end the endless night is lost. Drawn into an uneasy alliance with the mysterious vampire Liathe, Gabriel must now deliver the Grail to ancients of the Blood Esani and learn the truth of how Daysdeath might be finally undone. A gothic bloodbath that will leave the reading reeling. An epic marvel with so much nuance it’s impossible to capture it in a few sentences.

Vengeance & Venom – Keary Taylor

She went in search of her missing friend at one of those elusive red parties. Parties are where vampires feed on willing humans, and where people vanish, never to be seen again. She went for answers. What she found was a dangerously gorgeous vampire with tattoos, piercings, and a legacy as dark as the shadows he moves in. He insists she’s way over her head. He makes a proposal: he’ll help her find her friend, but in return, I have to pretend to be his fiancée so he can infiltrate his father's inner circle. Pretending to be his fiancée turns her entire world upside down. Swoon worthy!