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Nightlord: Sunset has taken a new look and twist on vampires.

What are your thoughts about vampire stories? Are they old and redundant? Or are there other angles that authors can take these timeless creatures?

Have you read vampire book(s) that you thought of as unique and/or refreshing? Can you share?

Definitely depends on the vampire story. I've read Dracula as well as books like Twilight, and I have to say if it's well-written and interesting, I'll give any of them a shot. Dracula is old school for sure, but still good. I read all of the Twilight series because of how much everyone else seemed to like it, and I found myself extremely disappointed. Anne Rice's books are good and more true to the vampire nature, but I find her books harder to read for my enjoyment. A new take on vampires that I enjoyed were the Vampire Academy books by Richelle Mead. It was definitely interesting and different. Personally, I like my vampires closer to their nature, but I don't like them to be completely mindless blood-sucking monsters either.

I used to read a lot of vampires tales. Now I don't read that many vampires books, as I have grown tired of the genre. I will read such books only if the premise sounds fresh and intriguing. I read and liked books such as "Twilight", "The Passage" and others. I find this story very original and I love the new take on vampires.

I love Vampire stories....cut my teeth on Bramstoker,, devoured Anne Rice...tried twilight series and did not like them so kind of gave it a break. However, I am loving Knightlord: Sunset...introducing different species of Vampires, loving it...Vampire with a code of ethics...love it...I really am enjoying this book...just enough humor and sarcasm to take off the dark edge...I am about half way through and it is really hard not to write spoilers...great book Garon Whited.

Lestat began my love of vampires, and I've read a lot in the genre, though mainly paranormal romance and urban fantasy.
Nalini Singh created one of the more "out-there" vampire mythologies. Angels create vampires. In her world, angels aren't Devine, and are just a superior race of beings.

Twilight was very genre bending, and I find it sad that people can't just appreciate that

I do believe that there are ways the myth can be tweaked and twisted. Authors do it all the time, even when they're not the main focus of a series. Kim Harrison's Hollows series, or Jim Butcher's Dresden Files.
And even done traditionally, given an intriguing story, they can be worth reading.

I'm actually reading Carmilla right now. I'm enjoying the different classic interpretations of the vampire

hsimone wrote:Nightlord: Sunset has taken a new look and twist on vampires.

What are your thoughts about vampire stories? Are they old and redundant? Or are there other angles that authors can take these timeless creatures?

Have you read vampire book(s) that you thought of as unique and/or refreshing? Can you share?

I have read many books that include vampire lore and for the most part I am always intrigued and entertained. Some of my favorites include the Carpathian Novels by Christine Feehan and the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. I am not sure exactly what it is that so fascinates readers about vampires. Is it the possibility of immortality or powers beyond those capable of humans? In the BDB series, the aspect of vampires fighting for existence against another race of undead, the lessers, makes for interesting reading. The bonding, the troubles that vampires have reproducing, the need to feed...the list goes on. Vampires as fictional characters are timeless and I believe the genre will continue to draw readers in droves. As to Nightlord: Sunset , Eric makes for a funny and quirky vampire in training. I look forward to seeing how the story progresses. The abilities to send out feelers or tendrils of awareness is a unique twist and the siphoning off of life essence an interesting way to feed. I have only finished about a third of the story and look forward to more adventures.

Oh no! I hope they're not viewed as redundant; I love them, and there are so many different ways you can write about them. This story was unique in my opinion.

I'm not sure vampires will ever fall into the redundant file, at least not for a significant portion of readers (or watchers). They tick a lot of boxes. Immortality, imperviousness, the personification of the darker side of human nature. Whether the protagonist is the vampire or the victim, I believe it provides something to the psyche, even if we're unaware of it.
Otherwise, I don't think it would be nearly as universal as it is.

Gravy wrote:I'm not sure vampires will ever fall into the redundant file, at least not for a significant portion of readers (or watchers). They tick a lot of boxes. Immortality, imperviousness, the personification of the darker side of human nature. Whether the protagonist is the vampire or the victim, I believe it provides something to the psyche, even if we're unaware of it.
Otherwise, I don't think it would be nearly as universal as it is.

That's good to hear! Book-3 in my series is a vampire tale! Lol!

I guess it would depend on the author and how they depict the vampire. I think that the best author for this has been Anne Rice. I did like the TruBlood ones though too!

I've always enjoyed vampire novels, but it really depends on the author and the type of vampire story. I loved the Twilight series, but couldn't get into the novels by Anne Rice. I really enjoy "A Shade of Vampire" by Bella Forrest. I tend to gravitate towards the ones with romance in them and not the traditional blood-sucking, creature of the night theme. "Nightlord" has been a unique one that I've enjoyed also. I'm glad it was Book of the Month so I'd give it a try?

There is something about vampires that just captures everyone's imagination. They never grow old, they have their waves of popularity but it never ends. As others have mentioned, I also loved Bram Stoker and Anne Rice but Twilight made me grit my teeth and vow never to read another vampire book again.
That was until Nightlord. When it was the book of the day, I tried to download the sample but I something have problems with me being in the UK, the offers are different so I just went ahead and download the whole book as it was ridiculously cheap.
I started it this morning and I can't put it down. It's a very different approach and I love the level-headed, scientific approach that's happening at the moment. I'm not sure where it's going though!

L.A. Banks served this genre best, hands down! The Vampire Huntress Series.

I think that out of all supernatural creatures, vampires are the first to come to mind. Because their lore is not set in stone (and authors are not afraid to add their own lore as well) I'm reluctant to read vampire novels because I'm not sure exactly what make it a "vampire" novel. Many vampires in YA novels nowadays are more superhuman than bloodthirsty living dead. I prefer scary, dangerous monsters over handsome superhumans any day.

I have read a lot of different vampire stories, mainly in the young adult genre (which may be why I have issue), and I really feel that they are overdone, too similar to one another, and too cliche. The books and series I have read about vampires have almost all focused too much on the love and romantic relationships in the books. It almost felt like I was just reading the same book over and over. I think they could be great, if they found a new focus rather than romance.