Are you looking for the best vampire books? Discover books about vampires for adults and our favorite vampire book series.
Who doesn’t love a good vampire book? Since TUL featured our favorite witches, it was time to bow down to a new monster in town: the vamp.
Find famous vampire book series like Sookie Stackhouse and Anita Blake. We’ll also share bloodlust-worthy vampire romance novels sure to put you in the mood.
We promise to mention vampire classics like Stoker’s Dracula and Rice’s Interview With The Vampire.
While most of these bloodsuckers drain their humans in vampire books for adults, you’ll find a few extra YA vampire series too.
Below uncover the best vampire books that we have read, are on our TBR list, and that bloggers, librarians, readers, and authors would sink their fangs into.
Please let us know your top vampire book recommendations in the comments too. We know this ‘best vampire books’ reading list is still pretty darn subjective.
We read a lot, but we can always read more. Let’s get started!
You might also enjoy these vampire comics and graphic novels.
Don’t forget that you can read many of these books about vampires here:
- Audible Plus: From Amazon, listen to Amazon Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks. They add new titles every week.
- Book of the Month: Get the month’s hottest new and upcoming titles from Book of the Month. You might snag an early release or debut author. Along with selecting a book a month, find terrific add-ons, both trendy and lesser-known titles.
- Amazon Prime Video – Stream thousands of ad-free movies and TV series on demand with Prime Video.
Classic & Popular Adult Vampire Books
Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
Vampire Horror Book Set In New England
Published in 1975
Most junk food thriller seekers will tell you that Stephen King writes some of the best vampire books for adults, one of which is Salem’s Lot.
The creepy old Marten House is the subject of endless rumors and gossip.
When only one curious boy returns from a reckless jaunt to the mansion, Ben Mears knows that something is up.
And where there is darkness, there are fangs. Read more about its 2023 movie adaptation too! Amazon | Goodreads
If you love horror books but do not have a lot of time to read, grab one of these horror novellas.
Even More Vampire Books By Stephen King
- Wolves of the Calla (Dark Tower Book 5) by Stephen King
- Song of Susannah (Dark Tower Book 6) by Stephen King
Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
Vampire Historical Fiction Set In Mississippi
Published in 1982
From the author of Game of Thrones, meet Abner Marsh, a steamboat captain. Marsh’s business is struggling, especially in 1857 when an icy winter depletes his fleet.
Enter the extremely pale Joshua York who is ready to invest in a new steamboat with Marsh. Joshua York is one strange fellow with odd hours and eating habits.
For part of the novel, readers aren’t sure if York is a vampire or a vampire hunter.
One of the lesser-known adult vampire books on this reading list, encounter a man who is willing to risk anything for immortality. Amazon | Goodreads
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Classic Vampire Book Set In Transylvania (old Romania) & England
Published In 1897
Personally, Dracula is one of our favorite vampire classics and one of the most well-known vampire books for adults.
If you love Gothic and Victorian literature, watch as Jonathan Harker slowly realizes that something is wrong in the Count’s castle.
Zombied-out women roam the halls. When Harker witnesses a batty transformation, his suspicions are clearly justified. Dracula heads to London to drink from the city’s beauties.
Death and Dracula are like wine and cheese. Can Dracula be stopped?
Find even more books set at castles. Amazon | Goodreads
Read more about the real Bran Castle on Wandering Crystal’s website.
Save Your Favorite Vampire Book Series & Novels For Later
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Science Fiction Set In New York
Published in 1954
Did you ever notice that a plethora of vampire books for adults take place in New York? Having lived close by, we totally get it.
Most readers know I Am Legend, a post-apocalyptic, viral tale. If you are looking for books about vampires, picture The Walking Dead of bloodsuckers.
Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth. Everyone else is craving blood like we need a glass of wine after a hard day of work.
Neville is a vampire hunter during the day, trying to find a cure for this Darkseeker virus. Who will survive the vampire apocalypse? Amazon | Goodreads
Love spooky books? Head over to our creepy books reading list next.
Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice
Classic Vampire Book Series & Suspense Novel Set In New Orleans
Published in 1976
One of the most famous classic adult vampire books includes Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice. This is also a widely known vampire book series.
If you like Gothic horror, try Rice’s debut novel about the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac who is telling his vamp origin story to a reporter.
The novel has received mixed reviews, but TUL’s readers say it is a must. Explore more bestselling books from the 70s. Amazon | Goodreads
More In The Vampire Chronicle Series:
- The Vampire Lestat (Book 2 ) by Anne Rice
- The Queen Of The Damned (Book 3) by Anne Rice
- The Tale Of The Body Thief (Book 4) by Anne Rice
- Memnoch The Devil (Book 5) by Anne Rice
Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler
Vampire Horror
Published in 2005
One of The Uncorked Librarian’s regular book list contributors, Dagney, notes that Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler is one of those overlooked vampire books that she loves.
Creepy and suspenseful, Fledgling follows the story of Shori, a 53-year-old woman living inside the body of a young African American girl.
Shori awakens in a cave having no idea who she is or how she arrived there – but she now requires blood… Amazon | Goodreads
The Southern Book Club’s Guide To Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
Southern Vampire Horror Set In South Carolina
Published in 2020
One of the most talked-about vampire books of 2020, don’t miss The Southern Book Club’s Guide To Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix.
A Best Book from POPSUGAR, Indie Next, LibraryReads, Goodreads, and Amazon, you might also recognize the title from bookstagram.
This vampire novel is creepy AF and may be triggering with domestic abuse, suicide, violence, and sexual assault.
If you read The Southern Book Club’s Guide To Slaying Vampires before bed like us, you might have some gruesome nightmares too.
Patricia Campbell’s Southern life appears pretty mediocre, especially in a town where everyone’s husbands see them as skittish, hysterical, and weak housewives. It’s frustrating, to say the least.
The only thing holding Patricia’s life together is her true crime book club.
When members of the community start disappearing, all clues lead to the new guy in town. “Patricia has reason to believe James Harris is more of a Bundy than a Brad Pitt.”
Unfortunately, proving that James is a vampire is pretty difficult, especially when he’s bringing all of their families great wealth.
This vamp is cocky and never sated, though, which might be his downfall. Not all of the women will come out alive, but can Patricia save her family?
For vampire books set in the South, The Southern Book Club’s Guide To Slaying Vampires has gore with a shot of feminism.
It’s a great friendship novel as well as a notable book about books and book clubs. Amazon | Goodreads
Best Indie Vampire Books
Undead As A Doornail by William F. Aicher
Vampire Thriller, Suspense, & Mystery Set In Paris | Part Of A Monster Series
Published in 2019
Author William F. Aicher is at it again and this time with an indie vampire book for adults. If you love monster stories, you’ll want to check out Phoenix Bones: International Monster Hunter.
While this is not solely a vampire book series, Undead As A Doornail introduces monster lovers to Phoenix Bones and an evil vamp underworld.
Descend into the catacombs of Paris as Phoenix searches for a missing girl, smacking right into a deadly rave party…we mean lair.
Gruesome and hilarious, Phoenix is our kindred spirit: He loves his booze and has a potty mouth. Plus, he easily pukes over gross things just like us. Amazon | Goodreads | Read the full review→
Metallic Red by Jennifer Ann Shore
India YA Vampire Fiction
Published in 2020
As part of a newer indie YA vampire book series, Jennifer Ann Shore’s latest, Metallic Red, is both endearing and hilarious.
Unlike some of the adult vampire books on this reading list, this YA novel is for people who love feminism, junk food, and high school nostalgia.
Mina is half-vampire and half-human with a powerful vampire family. While Mina is destined to take over as the Queen of Appalachia, she also wants to experience a traditional senior year in high school.
We know; Mina is not thinking straight…
Mina questions how and if she can successfully merge her two worlds together without accidentally devouring her hottie boyfriend.
All of this is happening while a vamp is murdering humans. Read more on our titles with colors book list. Amazon | Goodreads
Best Vampire Book Series For Adults – Romance Included
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Vampire Book Series Set In Louisiana
Published In 2001
One of the best book series about vampires includes Sookie Stackhouse.
We devoured all of the series when we lived in Indonesia. Although Harris concluded the book series, you can also watch True Blood on HBO.
We promise that you’ll find lots of paranormal vampire and monster romance.
Vampire seekers should start with the first book in this series, Dead Until Dark, and read these vampire novels in order.
Harris builds a strong vampire world filled with shapeshifters, mind readers, werewolves, and vampires.
Discover an intricate world with love, murder, and tyranny. Plus, Sam makes for one cute fictional pooch in literature. Amazon | Goodreads
Read Even More In The Sookie Stackhouse Vampire Book Series:
Living Dead In Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse Book 2) By Charlaine Harris
Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse Book 3) by Charlaine Harris
Dead To The World (Sookie Stackhouse Book 4) by Charlaine Harris
Dead As A Doornail (Sookie Stackhouse Book 5) by Charlaine Harris
Don’t miss our Salem Witches reading list.
Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
Vampire Horror & Mystery | Vampire Series | Book Set In St. Louis
Published in 1993
Once we finished reading the vampire book series Sookie Stackhouse, our librarian coworkers recommended Anita Blake.
Mind you, Blake is much more graphic and erotic than the innocent and sweet Stackhouse. While we haven’t sucked down every book in the series like Stackhouse, Anita Blake is a worthy contestant.
Start with the first in the series, Guilty Pleasures, to gather up the background story. Set in St. Louis, watch Anita fall for a dangerous vampire, Jean-Claude.
As an animator, Anita can awaken and kill the dead. Jean-Claude seeks Anita’s help to solve a murder mystery. Amazon | Goodreads
More In The Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series:
The Laughing Corpse (#2) by Laurell K. Hamilton
Circus Of The Damned (#3) by Laurell K. Hamilton
The Lunatic Cafe (#4) by Laurell K. Hamilton
Bloody Bones (#5) by Laurell K. Hamilton
The Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
Vampire Romance Book Series & Thriller
Published In 2014
If you are looking for vampire books for adults, don’t miss the New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. This one is for vampire romance enthusiasts.
Wrath is the only purebred vampire left. He’s out for revenge against those who killed his parents. When one of his fighters dies, he is left with her half-breed daughter.
Wrath both intrigues and terrifies Beth Randall. Amazon | Goodreads
More In The Black Dagger Brotherhood Vampire Series:
Lover Eternal (#2) by J.R. Ward
Lover Awakened (#3) by J.R. Ward
Lover Revealed (#4) by J.R. Ward
Lover Unbound (#5) by J.R. Ward
Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Gothic Vampire Romance Book Series
Published in 2002
In need of more *hot* vampire romance books for adults? Don’t miss the Dark-Hunter Novels by Sherrilyn Kenyon.
The first book in the series, Night Pleasures is as sexually intense and suggestive as it sounds. Not all vampire romance book series will make you blush, but Kenyon has a reputation to maintain.
Find urban fantasy, deadly attraction, and a series about immortal night hunters who slay Daimons that are murdering humans. Amazon | Goodreads
More Vampire Romance Books In The Dark-Hunters Novels:
Night Embrace (Book 2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dance With The Devil (Book 3) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Kiss Of The Night (Book 4) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Night Play (Book 5) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
YA Vampire Book Series
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
YA Vampire Romance Series | Books Set In Washington State
Published in 2008
This goes without saying, but Twilight is probably the most well-known vampire book series, good or bad. Well, if you love Jacob, it’s also a fun YA werewolf book too.
You know that you’ll roll your eyes, but you still cannot resist the hype of any book that gets so much non-love yet is read all over the place in opaque book jackets.
Plus, you know you’ve seen at least one of the Twilight series movies.
In one of the cheesiest vampire books, watch as Bella falls into a love triangle over a vampire and a werewolf. Are you Team Jacob or Edward?
Who will Bella choose, and what will be the consequences?
Like Fifty Shades, you can bet that we read all three Twilight books. And, yes, read them in order. Amazon | Goodreads
More In The Twilight Saga Series:
New Moon (Book 2) by Stephenie Meyer
Eclipse (Book 3) by Stephenie Meyer
Breaking Dawn (Book 4) by Stephenie Meyer
Midnight Sun (Book 5) by Stephenie Meyer
Read even more of the best YA vampire books.
A Shade Of Vampire by Bella Forrest
YA Vampire Romance Books
Published in 2012
One of the YA vampire book series recommended by Jennifer Ann Shore, author of Metallic Red, don’t miss A Shade Of Vampire.
Described as “Twilight meets Avatar,” a pale being kidnaps Sofia Claremont, taking her to an enchanted island, The Shade.
Ruled by a vampire, Sofia finds herself a slave invited into the royal prince’s harem. If Sofia wishes to survive, she must win over the Prince. Amazon | Goodreads
More Vampire Books In A Shade Of Vampire Book Series:
A Shade of Vampire 2: A Shade Of Blood
A Shade of Vampire 3: A Castle Of Sand
A Shade of Vampire 4: A Shadow Of Light
A Shade of Vampire 5: A Blaze Of Sun
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
YA Vampire Series Set In Montana
Published in 2007
If you like vampire book series that have hit the big screen, try Vampire Academy. St. Vladimir’s Academy is more like a mean and grownup Hogwarts that trains teenage vampires.
Half-human creatures guard and teach students. Of course, like any prep school, danger lurks in the shadows.
Watch relationships bloom amidst the usual boarding school drama and life-threatening vamps. Vampire Academy is the first in this vampire book series. Amazon | Goodreads
More Books In The Series:
Frostbite (Book 2) by Richelle Mead
Shadow Kiss (Book 3) by Richelle Mead
Blood Promise (Book 4) by Richelle Mead
Spirit Bound (Book 5) by Richelle Mead
Save Your Favorite Vampire Books For Later
What Are Your Favorite Vampire Books?
These are some of the best vampire books that we think will cure your bloodlust. Which vampire book series will you start next?
Which would you consider to be the best bloodsucker books of all time? Lastly, what qualities make a good vampire book for you? Please let us know in the comments.
If You Love These Books About Vampires, You May Also Enjoy:
Wickedly Witchy Books
Dark Academia Books To Read Now
Best Haunted House Books
Ghost Stories To Love
Scary Graphic Novels
I thought for certain I’d find Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian on your list. The erudite intellectuals in this book must grapple with the mysteries of Vlad AND navigate the Cold War. Seriously, this is a must-read!
Thanks so much for sharing your must-read vampire book.
Vampire Files by P. N. Elrod. Those are a favorite of mine after Anne Rice.
Thanks for sharing!
The Vampire: Book 1-3 by Sandrine Genier – excellent series – wish the series could gain more attention – 5 star reviews for all 3 books.
Thanks so much for sharing!
I’m a bit late coming to this article but it recently popped up on my Google feed and I took down several recommendations for later. There are two series I don’t see on here that are a complete shame but at least one other commenter mentioned one. There’s also a…third that could be considered vampire novel and technically is one but it’s not traditional and so a few might not count it. Anyway, my recommendations for vampire series:
The Noble Dead saga — Fantasy vampire story with elves and other creatures but focuses on a Dhampir. Fast paced but also has incredible character development and an epic story. Has some romance but it’s not the focus of the story. I am surprised at how few people know this series because it’s that good.
The President’s Vampire series — I know…sounds stupid at first but I gave it a shot and I am so glad I did. Very unique vampires and weaves a fun world of conspiracy theories come to life. It was written post Bush era so it makes up some history and does have a little political nonsense in it but ultimately the vampires don’t pick sides except their own. If you like audiobooks, the narrator does a fine job of voice acting. Not a romance series but wonderful character development and intrigue with some genuinely spooky moments.
Lastly, the Cold fire trilogy — This is a fantasy novel series, not a vampire series technically, but one of the main characters is a vampire but of the emotional, energy sucking type. A fantastic, original world with magic, fae, and priests, and it centers around a priest trying to save a woman he’s attracted to and ends up stuck with a vampire that is out to corrupt him.
Those are my recs, I look forward to reading some of these.
Thanks so much for sharing your favorite vampire book series and recs with great summaries/commentary. We will have to check them out! We appreciate it – and I’m sure our readers do too.
My all time favorite vampire books are the Necroscope series by Brian Lumley. It’s a series that predates my birth, but they’re still my favorite books period. It’s got psychic espionage, necromancers, and some of the most brutal, horrific vampires I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading about.
Thanks so much for sharing!
The Vampire Tapestry is still one of my all time favorite books! It’s written more like a collection of short stories, one of which is set in New Mexico (which is where I live). I took a vampire lit class in college, where I read many of the books on this list. It’s one of my favorite genres!
Hey Brook, I’ll have to check out this one. Thank you so much for the recommendation. One of my friends also took a vampire class in college — that’s so cool; I wish we had the option.