Vampires are one of the hottest topics for authors right now, thanks to Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series. But how do you pick out the most interesting, original, terrifying, romantic or horrific indie vampire books? Here’s our selection of five of the best.
My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking
Our view: Like Twilight but… with a little more angst. Amanda Hocking is without doubt the queen of the indie vampire world, her My Blood Approves series having become a huge hit. And there’s good reason for her success: these are breezy, angst-filled books written by an author who really understands her audience. Okay, there’s nothing too shocking or original here, and the vampires themselves might seem a little bland depending on your taste. But it’s hard not to become involved in the protagonist’s drama as she finds herself initiated into a dark world that she never knew existed.
Another view: Review at Wordsbysooz.
Get it at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Our rating: 4 stars (JW) and 3 stars (CA).
Dark Season by Amy Cross
Our view: Like Twilight but… with more horror, and a much more interesting vampire. When a vampire named Patrick saves her from a brutal mugging, Sophie Hart discovers that she’s part of an ancient prophecy. From a fairly standard opening (which perhaps owes a debt to TV’s Beauty and the Beast from the 80s), Dark Season shifts up a gear to become a genuinely fast-paced and extremely imaginative take on the vampire myth. Sophie is an occasionally frustrating character, though very realistic; but it’s Patrick who makes Dark Season so compelling, with the Gothos section a particular standout.
Get it at: Amazon.
Our rating: 4½ stars (CA).
The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter by Jennifer Malone Wright
Our view: Like Twilight but… with more revenge. Fourteen-year-old Chloe witnesses her mother’s death at the hands of a vampire, and she almost meets the same fate before being saved by a group of vampire hunters. Discovering that she is from a family of vampire hunters, Chloe agrees to join their crusade so that she can avenge her mother’s death. Spread out over a series of fairly short novels, Chloe’s story is driven by the central need for revenge, creating a powerful dynamic that keeps the plot moving fast until a slightly predictable but nevertheless very powerful twist.
Another view: @jennichad217′s review at Pure Textuality.
Get it at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Our rating: 4 stars (CA).
The Darkness Beneath by Mick Davidson
Our view: Like Twilight but… about a female vampire desperately seeking a mate in London. Atmospheric and dark, this is a novel that really puts the horror back in the vampire novel. At the heart of the book is the sense of the vampire as a very real thing, as something that really could be out there in the dark shadows of London. There are no easy answers for the reader in this extremely powerful tale.
Get it at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Our rating: 4 stars (CA).
The Vampire’s Warden by S.J. Wright
Our view: Like Twilight but… with a little more tortured romance. Sarah is a vampire warden, although it’s a job she definitely doesn’t want. There are some confusing moments in the narrative, but overall The Vampire’s Warden is a very interesting spin on the vampire myth, and Sarah is a believable and memorable protagonist who keeps the narrative moving.
Get it at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Our rating: 3½ stars.
Check out SPI: The Case of The Dark Shadow by T.J. Bonham. It’s a tweenish book about a group of friends who become ghost hunters. Loved it! The characters are very likeable
Posted by Wanda | September 25, 2012, 12:40 am