A selection of creepy, interesting (and lustful) books about vampires

Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho… Apologies in advance if that tune gets stuck in your head until the end of this piece. But autumn is the perfect time to read something a little dark, bloody, and vampiric. With Halloween just around the corner, why not get into the spooky spirit? So here’s a selection of vampire books – varying in their levels of creepiness and gore – to set the mood just right.

You won’t find the ever-famous Twilight series here, but there will be other stories with a touch of romance. And no, there’s no Dracula either – instead, you’ll discover other gothic tales. The best part? All of these books have been published in Ukrainian, so by reading any of them, you’ll also be supporting the local book market.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

‘The Historian’, Elizabeth Kostova

I won’t mention Dracula himself – but a book about him absolutely deserves a place here, because The Historian is something of a phenomenon. Elizabeth Kostova spent nearly a decade crafting her magnum opus, traveling across Europe for research and inspiration. The American publisher Little, Brown and Company believed in the novel so strongly that in 2004 it bought the rights for $2 million – an unprecedented amount for a debut by an unknown author.

In The Historian, folklore, myth, and historical fact intertwine seamlessly. A sixteen-year-old girl discovers an old book in her father’s library, filled with mysterious letters and references to Count Dracula. When she shows it to her father, he reveals the astonishing story of how the book came into their possession. Fascinated, the girl embarks on a journey across Europe to uncover the life of Vlad Țepeș – a.k.a. Count Dracula – and along the way, she learns shocking truths about her own lineage and its eerie connection to the infamous vampire.

‘Carmilla’, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Dracula was published in 1897, but almost twenty-six years earlier, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu had released his gothic novella Carmilla. Though brief in length, Carmilla had a notable impact on the genre. It is reasonable to assume that the work influenced Bram Stoker, even if his Dracula ultimately achieved far greater popularity.

In an Austrian village, a young woman named Laura lives a quiet, uneventful life – until the arrival of the mysterious and beautiful Carmilla. The two become close friends, and a subtle sexual tension develops between them. Over time, however, Laura begins to notice strange inconsistencies in Carmilla’s behavior. The story illustrates how evil can take on an attractive guise, making it difficult to recognize. It is also notably sensual and sapphic in tone. Carmilla’s alluring nature helped establish a literary tradition in which vampires are often portrayed as seducers.

‘Salem’s Lot’, Stephen King

This is the author’s second novel, and its title, ’Salem’s Lot, carries multiple layers of meaning. The word “Lot” can refer both to a plot of land and to fate or destiny. While, logically, ’Salem’s Lot primarily denotes the town itself, making the “plot of land” interpretation more straightforward, the novel is still a work by a master of horror, so the sense of destiny or doom is also present.

The prologue sets a grim tone, showing that the characters – a tall man and a young boy – are fleeing from something terrifying. The man is consistently seeking news about Jerusalem’s Lot, or simply ’Salem’s Lot, a small town where seemingly nothing ever happens. The author, Ben Mears, returns to his hometown after twenty-five years in search of inspiration for a new novel. His focus is the old Marsten House, which had left him with traumatic memories from his childhood. Unfortunately, in addition to inspiration, he discovers an ancient vampire in the house, one that kills and transforms the town’s residents.

‘The Sky is Burning,’ Mike Rai

If you thought no Ukrainian author would make the list, here’s a surprise: Mike Rai with his vampire urban fantasy. Police officer Vlad dies in a hospital – only to awaken in a coffin. At the cemetery, vampires await him, responsible for his transformation (as well as vampire hunters, though they belong to a different category of characters). After returning to life, Vlad becomes part of one of the vampire clans and must live by its rules, acting “for the good of the city and all Kharkiv residents.”

The book details these laws, as well as the vampire races, anatomy, conditions of existence, politics, betrayals, intrigues, experiments, and combat scenes. Even vampires from different clans vary in their abilities. In short, the world is extensive and well-developed. This is the first part of a saga, and it is engaging, making it worth considering for readers interested in the genre.

‘When the King Falls,’ Marie Niehoff

This is a duology, and its genre is somewhat difficult to pin down – it could be classified as standard romantic fantasy or perhaps dark romantic fantasy, since the world is generally, for lack of a better word, dark. Vampires hold the power in this setting. They enjoy certain privileges, and although they are not supposed to feed on humans in public, incidents do occur without any investigation or punishment. The Hawthorne family is part of a resistance movement, aiming to make Florence Hawthorne the Bloody Bride of the Vampire King, giving her a chance to kill him. However, the plan involves many variables, including some that no one initially anticipated.

When picking up a romantic fantasy, it’s important to know what to expect, especially if you haven’t read similar books before. These novels typically include 18+ scenes, moments where he is portrayed as mysterious and alluring while her “body betrays her,” clashes of personality, and frequent shifts from hatred to love. If you have a dismissive attitude toward this genre or its common tropes, it’s worth reconsidering before starting. Otherwise, it may be worth trying, particularly since the cycle is short and both parts have already been published.

‘Blood and Ash,’ Jennifer L. Armentrout

Speaking of long series, it might be somewhat unfair of me to include this one, given its length. However, I couldn’t resist, as the romantic fantasy Blood and Ash introduces an engaging world with its own gods, heroes, villains, history, and geography.

You won’t find the word “vampire” here, but there is a race whose members are strong, fast, have enhanced vision and hearing, and can bite humans and drink their blood. Jennifer Armentrout took classic vampire traits, added her own touches, and created the Atlantians. They are feared and considered monsters, but the situation is more complex, and the protagonist, Poppy, comes to understand this in the first book.

Poppy is a Maiden, chosen for an important religious ritual. She is respected, valued, and closely guarded – in other words, she has everything except freedom. However, she has learned to bend the rules carefully, and during one rebellious act, she meets a young man who later becomes her personal protector. The first volume is plot-rich, and if you enjoy romantic fantasy, Sarah J. Maas’ novels, or tropes such as “forbidden love” and “from hate to love,” Blood and Ash is likely to appeal.

‘The Serpent and the Wings of Night,’ Carissa Broadbent

More romantic fantasy for fans of the genre. The Crown of Nyaxia is an unfinished series, with one notable advantage: the books can be roughly divided into duologies. The first part again explores vampires in power. In this world, vampires are allowed to hunt humans living in designated areas. Oreya, however – a ward of the Vampire King and a human – cannot partake in this. The king rescued her as a child and has since raised and trained her.

Oreya seeks to enter a tournament to earn the right to make a wish to the goddess Nyaxia. The tournament’s conditions are reminiscent of Squid Game, but the stakes make the risk worthwhile.

Like the previous two entries, this is also romantic fantasy with 18+ content (or at least a notable scene). Beyond that, readers encounter an original world, unconventional vampire classes, political intrigue, difficult decisions, clashes of personality, friendship, betrayal, monsters, and battles. On the downside, the ending leaves you wanting the second part, which has not yet been published.

Honourable mention. ‘The Vampire Chronicles’, Anne Rice

The story of Lestat de Lioncourt is something of a timeless classic, like a little black dress, a crisp white shirt, or a large plaid market bag – enduring pieces that never go out of style.

In the first part of the series, the 200-year-old vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac recounts to reporter Daniel Malloy how he came to live as he does. He tells the story of Lestat, the vampire who turned him, his travels and wanderings, a young girl he turned who became like a daughter to him, as well as murders and acts of revenge. As mentioned, there is no Ukrainian translation available, but adaptations can be viewed. For example, the 1994 film version features Brad Pitt as Louis and Tom Cruise as Lestat, or the lavish AMC series Interview with the Vampire, which has released two seasons so far, with a continuation titled The Vampire Lestat expected in 2026.

P.S. This was a challenging text. A whole host of vampire book titles seemed to be flying around my head, each vying for attention. I tried to maintain a balance, avoiding making the list overly romantic (so titles like My Neighbor the Vampire or the Thirst series are not included) or too explicit (so Court of the Vampire Queen or The Coven were left out). I also didn’t want to add more horror, which is why The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires isn’t on the list. I’d be glad, however, if you share in the comments any other vampire books you would recommend.

Read also:

Doesn’t Bark, But Bites: A Selection of Creepy, Fascinating (and Lustful) Vampire Books