Vampires are a surprisingly old supernatural figure, but it was Bram Stroker’s book “Dracula” that was published in 1897 that really became the first major vampire novel. The genre of vampire writing is also popular right up to the modern day- you only have to look at the incredible popularity of the Twilight series to see this for yourself. However if you are interested in reading vampire books, there are plenty of great books in between these two extremes- here is a list of great vampire books that are worth a read.

Dracula- Bram Stoker

“Dracula” by Bram Stoker is probably the best known of all vampire novels and made the Count Dracula a household name. The story starts with an English solicitor named Jonathan Harker, who has been sent to Count Dracula’s castle in Transylvania to oversee legal proceedings. However Dracula effectively keeps him prisoner, only keeping him alive as long as his legal work is not finished and his tales of London continue. Jonathan escapes, but Dracula is evidently causing terror in London, so a trio of men, including Harker and Professor van Helsing attempt to track him down and kill him.

I Am Legend- Richard Matheson

The main character is a man named Robert Neville, who appears to be the only survivor of an epidemic that is very similar to vampirism. Neville believes he is the only man to be immune, so dedicates his time to researching and hoping to cure the disease that wiped out mankind. Every night Neville has to face a horde of attacking vampires, and spends the day repairing his defences. However he eventually meets a woman, Ruth, who does not appear to be infected. However Neville is rightfully suspicious and it eventually dawns on him that he is the last of humankind, a legend of a near extinct race.

Fevre Dream- George RR Martin

The novel focuses on an ugly but skilled steamboat captain, Abner Marsh and is set in 1857. He is contacted by a man named Joshua York, a wealthy New York businessman. They become business partners, and Joshua constructs a beautiful steamboat named the Fevre Dream. However it soon becomes apparent that Joshua and his friends have unusual habits such as rarely venturing out in daylight.

Twilight- Stephenie Meyer

“Twilight” is the first book in the Twilight series, a series that has now become an international phenomenon. The story focuses around a Bella Swann, who moves from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks in Washington. However she sits to a boy named Edward Cullen in class who seems completely repulsed by her, yet his negativity softens, and he prevents Bella from being run over by a van with his just his bare hands. Bella is suspicious and Edward eventually admits that he is form a family of vampires that have chosen to drink animal blood instead of preying on humans.