Marked, By P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast

Cast, P. & Cast. K. (2007). Marked (House of Night, Book 1) Vol. 1. (1st ed.). New York, New York: St. Martin's Griffin, A Division of Macmillan.

Zoey is marked.

In P.C. Casts new Vampire series, she pens it along with her teenage daughter Kirsten. Marked is marked by the fact that it has actual input from a teen. As a result the series sets itself in a league of its own. Vampires in this narrative are normal until puberty at which point they become selected, by chance, as a candidate for the change. If a teen is selected a group is set out to find them and mark them. The mark is a crescent moon on the forehead (which seasoned fantasy readers will recognize from The Mists of Avalon, and therefore connect the goddess references). Upon receiving their mark, soon to be, but not fully changed vampires get sent to a special school for the training of the undead. The scary part is, if you body doesn’t accept the change you die. And, a special sign has marked Zoey. One that is rare for a vampire so young.

Speckled with less then clean language and some sexual encounters, the book should be for the older teen. Four more books follow it: Chosen, Betrayed, Untamed, and Hunted (due this month, March 2009).




You simply must visit the House of Night's Website. It's Beautiful and a fan of the series will be in internet heaven:

http://www.houseofnightseries.com/

Thirsty, By M.T. ANderson

Anderson, M. (2008). Thirsty. (3rd ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.

National book award finalist author of Feed, Anderson republishes his 1997 highly acclaimed vampire story, Thirsty. Set in Massachusetts, Thirsty conjures up images of the witch trails with its persecution of vampires. But, when Chris finds he is cursed with the plight he enters a deal with Chet to try and fight the forces of dark and in turn save himself from the fate of vampirism and the lynch style stake through the chest pursuits that are occurring in his town. Among the cast of characters is Lolli, a vampire siren who pulls Chris in the other direction. Boys and girls will enjoy this tale and welcome it’s republishing in a literary world flooded by the Twilight market.

The Last Days, By Scott Westerfeld

Westerfeld, S. (2006). The Last Days. New York, New York: Razorbill.

The Last Days is the sequel to the highly acclaimed and apocalyptic vampire story started in Peeps. Set against the same parasite-ridden streets in New York, Westerfeld gives a group of five teens that form a rock band whose musical triumphs escalade while the dark happenings of the peep problems do too. As a Fender Stratocaster is being thrown to its doom out of a window, Moz and Pearl, strangers until this moment, work together to save it. From here readers will rock their way through this hardcore, parasite positive end of days as the band with its vampire lead singer create a playlist for the end of days. Maybe rock and roll will save the world as it does so many teenagers everyday. Or maybe it will bring it on.
A gritty ode to rock and the way it can be a catalyst for teens to express their discomfort and rage, each chapter is named after bands. This book reads better if you have read Peeps first.

Dead Is The New Black, By Marlene Perez

Perez, M. (2008). Dead is the New Black Vol. 1. (1st ed.). New York, New York: Harcourt Paperbacks.

The cheerleader in Daisy’s high school (not to mention her ex-best friend) is setting a trend, but instead of her usual sun tanned glow, she is sporting a pale-skinned, kiss of death look, cleavage, and stiletto heals.
Although this novel’s main characters (two sisters) aren’t vampires, she does however hold a psychic power that tunes her into the other side of things. And when bodies start turning up the sisters start tuning into what could be causing it. Is it a vampire? Is it Daisy? With her mother a psychic working for the police station, the sisters find themselves trying to figure out what has their mom stumped.
Humor abounds in this modern commentary of all things trendy. From cheerleading squads to zombified-trend setting, readers will be confused (in all the right ways) by the plot until the very last page.

Queen of the Damned, By Anne Rice

Rice, A. (1988). The Queen of the Damned, The Vampire Chronicles Vol. 3. New York: Ballantine Books, A division of Random House.

Undead aficionados will find Anne Rice delivers historical accuracy, rich characters, and a greater depth of philosophical thought then other vampire tales (YA and adult combined). Anne Rice’s style appeals to the vampire fan as well as the history fan.
In Queen of the Damned, Lestat uses his mental superiority (much to the disdain of frustrated vampires everywhere) and his rock star status to face off with the Queen of the Undead herself and in the process draws out vampires all around the world. Will Lestat align himself with the Queen or destroy her? Or will he be destroyed in the process? In the third book of The Vampire Chronicles, Rice delivers a deeper look into her vampire lineage.

Advanced violence makes this a book for the more sophisticated teen.






Queen of the Damned was made into a movie in 2002 by combining both the Vampire Lestat & Queen of the Damned. Titled: Queen of the Damned. Note: It is not a complete translation given the combination of two novels.

The Vampire Lestat

Rice, A. (1985). The Vampire Lestat, The Vampire Chronicles Vol. 2. New York: Ballantine Books, A division of Random House.

Readers may be shocked to learn that Anne Rice based her follow up sequel to Interview with the Vampire on the antagonist in the aforementioned work. Now the protagonist, Rice delivers a beloved Lestat. A pagan hero of sorts, Lestat, awakened in to the sound of Rock and Roll in the 20th Century but quickly retraces the history of Lestat from mortal days as talented violin player whose immortality was forced upon him by a suicidal blood drinker to his fledgling days as a new vampire. The Vampire Lestat begins what will become a series that pushes the boundaries of the basic vampirism themes into that of a philosophical and religious nature.

No author has quite affected the vampire genre like Anne Rice since Bram Stoker. The Vampire Lestat is also available in Graphic Novel form.

I read and reread these novels so many years ago, I doubt I would have even read Twilight or any other Vampire novel had it not been for Rice's novels. She will always be one of my favorite authors.

The New Annotated Dracula, By Bram Stoker, Edited By Leslie Klinger, Introduction By Neil Gaiman

Stoker, B. (2008). The New Annotated Dracula (1st ed.). In (L. Klinger, J. Byrne, Editors and N. Gaiman, Introd.). New York: W.W. Norton & Co.

The Original Dracula was published in1897 after years of research, Bram, short for Abraham, Stoker wrote the infamous novel that gave birth to a truly immortal legend. Klinger annotates the classic horror novel in the historical facts that Stoker based his research on. With side-by-side annotations that are created by Klinger with the actual Stoker manuscript, readers can see the metamorphosis from Stoker to publisher. They can also understand the context of which the modern day shrouds. Beautiful and informative illustrations and scholarly additions make this version of Dracula a shelf jewel as well a special way to either re-read Dracula or experience it for the first time! This version begs for time and patience in its exploration. Neil Gaiman writes the introduction.

Love. Love. Love this edition.

Cirque du Freak #1 Living Nightmare, By Darren Shan

Shan, D. (2004). Cirque Du Freak #1: A Living Nightmare: Book 1 in the Saga of Darren Shan Vol. 1. New York, New York: Little, Brown Young Readers.


In the tradition of Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine, this is another Vampire adventure that can appeal to both boys and girls. More gruesome and bizarre then a vampire love story, this saga is lined with the freakish nature of a circus sideshow and the loyalty of friendship and identity. The series’ main character (named after the author), after sneaking into a freak-show, becomes fascinated with a sideshow vampire’s spider and tries to steal it. Though successful at first, it becomes clear that Shan has made a terrible mistake that lands him in a position that may cost him his mortality. And it may just land him in an eternity-long place he could never imagine, with a clan of vampires.


J.K Rowling has been vocal in her approval of the series and those with a taste for the weird, macabre, and bloodthirsty will likely devour the paperbacks like a Vampaneze: until it is all gone.

The flyer from Cirque du Freak as drawn in a Manga Interpretation:

Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Ninth Grade slays, By Heather Brewer

Brewer, H. (2009). The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Ninth Grade Slays. New York, New York: Speak, A Imprint of The Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Now a freshman in high school, the Chronicles of Vlad continue. Brewer offers a quirky way into the mind of this half vampire teen-who still keeps his true identity in hiding save two people who help him get along-who is faced with not only learning to control and improve his powers but also how to control (or just survive) the ninth grade. He deals with the kiss he missed, the hunter who after him, and a Vampire 101 trip to Siberia with his uncle to hone his powers. Brewer’s witty and accurate portrayal of the “sucky” parts of being a teen intertwined with the fantastic fantasy of vampirism created a literary world for Vlad that is finally a book that both boys and girls can enjoy the life out of. Both vulnerable and funny, The Chronicles of Vlad is a fantastic antidote if you are looking for a vampire novel that doesn’t plea to be Twilight. It is no wonder why Brewer has collected quite a dedicated following. The Third installment, Tenth Grade Bleeds is due in July of 2009.

Coming SOON:

Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Eight Grade Bites, By Heather Brewer

Brewer, H. (2007). The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites. New York, New York: Speak, A Imprint of The Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Meet Vladimir, or as everyone calls him, Vlad. In the eighth grade, the chronicles begin here: Vlad is a year away from high school and already in a state of confusion. He is a half vampire who lost his parents three years ago to an accident. His father was a vampire and his mother was not. Vlad is nowhere near normal. He manages to make it through the day by stashing a bags of blood bank blood in his backpack and slathering the suntan lotion on. His teenage angst is doubled between bullies at school and the fact that other vampires aren’t really partial to him either.

Readers are in for treat, but they should be ready for the Brewer to color outside the traditional vampire lines. The book is consistently funny and a good choice for both disinclined readers and vampire fans combined.

Breaking Dawn, By Stephenie Meyer

Meyer, S. (2008). Breaking Dawn (1st ed.). New York, New York: Little, Brown.

At last the immortal fate of Bella comes to a head with Breaking Dawn. Bella weds her true love, the Vampire Edward. They set off on a life together in hopes of happily ever after. Mrs. Bella has her immortal plan but Mr. Edward does not want to willingly sacrifice her mortality. As they embark on their future, a danger beyond conception threatens to destroy everything they’ve finally acquired.

Meyer steps outside her conventional writing style with Breaking Dawn. Not for the faint of heart, Breaking Dawn will break the top off of the subtle nature of the first three books in the saga. Some violence and mild sexual nature takes place but as with self-proclaimed fan-pires, they can handle it!

The Girl’s Guide to Vampires, By Barb Karg

Karg, B. (2009). The Girl’s Guide to Vampires: All You Need To Know About the Orginal Bad Boys (1st ed.). Cincinnati, Ohio: Adams Media.


This is vampire in the “non-fiction” if such a thing existed. Barb Karg author of an extended list of “Everything” titles. She even penned the adult version of The Everything Vampire Book for adult audiences. (The adult version doesn’t differ much in anything but length and input from three other authors. Its intellectual value is about the same level for both.)
In this funny, togue-in-check nod to dating a vampire, Ms. Karg also puts forth a well-versed literary list of Vampires, as well as films and histories, such as Vlad the Impaler. It is a fun read and doesn’t try to hard to be something it’s not. Karg effortlessly glides between history and humor while validating the genre as an entity of its own. In the end the book is surprisingly more interesting then it lets on.

"The good news is: He’s tall, dark, and handsome.
The bad news is: He’s a bloodsucking creature of the night. Not to mention arrogant, predatory, and immortal."

Bloodsucking Fiends, By Christopher Moore

LOVE BITES!

No seriously, it really does bite.

Bloodsucking Fiends By Christopher Moore

Attention! I am about to review a title that is one of my favorite romps of all time. It's funny as hell, and no it's not YA, but if you can stomach a little crass, tongue in cheek dig in because this the red velvet cake of satirical vampire rants.

Jody, is in her mid 20's with a series of bad relationships under her belt when she hits satan's lottery and is turned into a newborn gorgeous vampire. The vamp who made her leaves a fat bundle of cash with her and with that she sets off into her new life. Or un-life in this case. But she needs someone who can do her bidding in the daylight. Enter C. Thomas Flood. No, you are not reading it wrong. It's hysterical. And as accurate a literary name as you could get for this young boy who left Incontinence, Indiana to come to San Francisco to be the next Jack Kerouac (personally, with a name like that he might one to stick to dollar a page erotica, but at any rate...) While working a night job at a supermarket, Jody vamps her way into his life, and turns it upside down and inside out.

From turkey bowling in the supermarket, to raunchy un-dead love-making; From failed date-o-holic to rockin' hot vamp, Bloodsucking Fiends is a ride that will have you flying through the pages at a preternatural pace!

Warning: Terribly lewd & Hysterically bad launguage ensues; References to drugs and the drinking of blood follows; Undead & living, outright sexual gambols prickle their way through the book. SO don't say I didn't warn you...

Now, if you can handle THAT, which I believe you can (because you are smart enough to read into the implications of Moore's insanely funny, bizarre, & sometimes freaky style), then you will be in for a big treat. Bloodsucking Fiends is and always will be one of my favorite books ever.

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Quote from Bloodsucking Fiends,

"This is horrible."
"What is it?" Tommy insisted.
"I just realized-I'm always going to be a pudgette. I have jeans I'll never get into. I am always going to need to loose five pounds."
"So what, every woman I've ever known thought she needed to loose five pounds."
"But they have a chance, they have hope. I'm doomed."
"You could go on a liquid diet," Tommy said.
"Very funny." She pinched her hip to confirm her observations. "Five pounds. If only he'd waited another week to attack. I was on a yogurt and grapefruit diet. I would have made it. I'd be thin forever." She realized she was obsessing and turned to Tommy. "How's your neck by the way?"

,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,

Bloodsucking Fiends has a sequel entitled You Suck. Both are published by Simon & Schuster, New York.

Vamped, By Lucienne Diver

Coming Soon!

May, 1, 2009

Teaser from Amazon:

Product Description
"Vamped is a total delight! Diver delivers a delightful cast of undead characters and a fresh, fast take on the vampire mythos. Next installment, please!"
—Rachel Caine, New York Times bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires series


Top Five Perks of the Vamp Life

1. Eternal youth and beauty rocks!
2. Free clothes. Hey, might as well embrace the dark side.
3. Going vamp turns geeks, like my new boyfriend Bobby, into studs.
4. No need to breathe, except when a dramatic sigh or a heaving chest is called for.
5. Superhuman powers, like I can totally spot a hot Versace skirt a mile away—literally!

Top Five Drags of Vamping Out

1. No reflection! Oh well, I'll just have to sire my own entourage to confirm my hotness.
2. An all-liquid diet and no tanning options.
3. This vampy queen Mellisande who's taken an interest in my boyfriend.
4. Pointy-stick phobia.
5. Getting locked up by skanky Mellisande, who's transforming the entire high school into her own personal vampire army. The nerve!

About the Author

Lucienne Diver is a literary agent by day and a writer by night. A graduate of SUNY, Potsdam, New York, she is the author of the novel Playing Nice, and her fiction, The Problem with Piskies, has been serialized in Quantum Gothic magazine. The author lives in Florida. Find out more by visiting www.luciennediver.com.

Vampire Academy, By Richelle Mead

Mead, R. (2007). Vampire Academy Vol. 1. (1st ed.). New York, New York: Razorbill.

In Vampire Academy, Mead create new world of vampirism. Rose is the half-vampire, half-mortal best friend and protector of the Orphaned Lissa, a Vampire Princess. Hoping to leave their Vampire Academy and live out on their own, the book begins as the two try to escape an ambush. But the ambush isn’t the immortal vampire enemies the Academy trains it’s to defend them selves from. It’s the Academy and they have come to take them back. Mead writes to a teen audience that can handle the intricacies of teenage life. Sex and Cursing abound, but don’t overshadow the deeper issues that many teenagers feel: abandonment, insecurity, forbidden romance, and social rankings. Only in the Vampire Academy, we get the added sense of royalty & reverie. Mead’s Vampire Academy is the first in a series. The following titles are titled, Frostbite and Shadow’s Kiss. The Vampire Academy is published in New York, by Razorbill Publishing.

Vampire Diaires by L.J. Smith

Smith, L. (1991). Vampire Diaries Vol. 1. New York, New York: HarperPaperback.

Before there was Team Edward or Team Jacob there was Team Damon and Team Stefan. The Vampire Diaries, Volume I: The Awakening, was released in 1991 and it was the first in a series to come. Smith writes a story that centers around Elena, the girl wants the gorgeous Stefan to want HER (and in the past, everybody wants Elena). When he doesn’t return her affections, Elena pushes harder. Although his secret may not be what she expected. And when she begins to be threatened by a dark follower the plot thickens when it turns out to be Damon, the brother of Stefan. Despite it’s birthday, don’t be fooled. So you decide…Team Stefan or Team Damon.

Night World, By L.J. SMith

Smith, L.J. (2008). Night World No. 1: Secret Vampire; Daughters of Darkness; Spellbinder Vol. 1. New York, New York: Simon Pulse.

Like the ravenously popular True Blood series currently winning Emmy’s & garnering a following (based on an Adult romance series by Charlaine Harris), This long beloved series is currently sold and under development to become a T.V. Series (whether or not the pilot will get picked up is yet to be determined). See Smith’s website for full details. It follows the society of Vampires & other creatures of the night. Originally published in the early 90’s Smith’s series has currently been republished in volumes containing three novels at a time. In Vol. 1, the first story, Secret Vampire, deals with a human character with cancer: facing mortality, love, & the laws of the Night World. The stories to follow, in Vol. 1, deal with other creatures in the Night World.

Nightworld’s Website: http://www.nightworld.net/

Blue Bloods, Melissa De La Cruz

De La Cruz, M. (2006). Blue Bloods Vol. 1. New York, New York: Hyperion.



Ok, Gossip Girl fans, I have a vampire book just for you. Those Mahanttan elites are just too perfect right? Well in De La Cruz’s Blue Bloods, the story’s main character Schuyler Van Alen doesn’t fit in. But on her 15th birthday everything changes. She can see a myriad of blue veins in her arms and she finds that although she thought she didn’t fit in, she has more in common with the wealthy elite then she ever knew. De La Cruz broaches teen subject matter’s such as anorexia and social classes in a new, fantatic way. Though somewhat risqué, for language, drugs, & sexuality, De La Cruz manages to “suck” you in anyway. This is the OMFG (reference: Gossip Girl’s Advertising Scheme) of Vampire books!

Peeps, By Scott Westerfeld

Westerfeld, S. (2005). Peeps. New York, New York: Razorbill

Westerfeld, author of the acclaimed Uglies Series, has taken on the vampire genre and literally turned it on its head. Instead of a traditional tale in the likes of Bram Stoker or Anne Rice, Westerfeld has given us a new take on the bloodsucker with this biological adventure.

Cal has been infected by a parasite that changes your biological state. When you are parasite positive, or a “peep” you begin to change. You have an repulsion to light, impossibly high levels of strength, and of course, you crave blood. Worst of all, the disease can be passed on much, much easier then a bite to the neck. And instead of joining the Peeps, he’s tracking them down. A must read for Vampire and Westerfeld fans alike!

Dandelion Librarian says:

Wish Granted.

Eclipse, By Stephenie Meyer

Meyer, S. (2007). Eclipse. New York, New York: Little, Brown.

Book 3 in the Twilight Saga, Meyers continues the story of the star-crossed love of Edward and Bella, and the triangle that was formed with Jacob, Bella’s best friend. Faced with impending attacks by outside non-vegetarian vampires, Jacob & Edward clash for Bella’s affection, but join forces to protect her. The ongoing fate of Bella choice to become part of the Cullen family of undead creates further tension in the love triangle.
Meyer doesn’t fail to deliver buddy icon worthy love lives, and the dilemma of where Jacob fits in created a teen craze of Team Jacob & Team Edward, Not to mention extended itself to the rest of the community. (Can anybody say Team anything without thinking of Meyer these days?) Fans of Meyer’s first two books will no doubt adore the third installment.

Dandelion Librarian Says: Wish Granted.

New Moon, By Stephenie Meyer

Meyer, S. (2006). New Moon. New York, New York: Little, Brown.

Meyer’s saga continues in the second installment of the Twilight series. After Edward leaves Bella, she is faced with an overcoming zombie-like depression. In a desperate attempt to challenge her mortality and in the hopes of provoking the lost, protective voice of Edwards, Bella reconnects with her childhood pal Jacob. Jacob, more reckless then Edward, falls hard for Bella while Bella still mourns the loss of Edward. With Jacob as her new best friend, Bella begins to feel happy again. Jacob wants more and he has some secrets of his own. Unfortunately for Jacob, Edward may not be gone forever unless he has anything to do with it.
The most depressing of the four novels, New Moon is a stunning break from the first book. However, Jacob is enduring in a monstrous way, and Edward retains your affections. While bella, she just keeps falling down.

Dandelion Librarian Says:

Wish Granted.

Twilight, By Stephenie Meyer

when she begins to be threatened by a dark follower the plot thickens when it turns out to be Damon, the brother of Stefan. Despite it’s birthday, don’t be fooled. So you decide…Team Stefan or Team Damon.

Twilight, Book 1 in the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyers

Meyer, S. (2005). Twilight. New York, New York: Little, Brown.

The fame of Twilight has gotten by few people in today’s literary world. Stephenie Meyer penned the first book, Twilight, in her beloved Twilight Saga quartet, from the idea of a dream she had the night before. With her baby on her lap, she wrote the story of Bella Swan, a clumsy self-sacrificing teen, who leaves her newlywed mother (to let her travel with her baseball player husband), to go live with her father, Charlie Swan. She leaves Sunny Arizona to arrive in the small town of Forks, in the rainy Pacific Northwest. Under an unabating cover of clouds, Bella meets Edward, a vegetarian vampire (meaning sans human blood), and they fall in love. I mean the grandest kind of love you can image. Evoking the chivalry of yester years, Meyers gives a new, cool name to the literary vampire as well as to reading books without sex or drugs: quite a feat in today’s society. Meyer’s writing may be weak, but her story telling is intensely (sometimes reading like a diary) personal and well done.

Dandelion Librarian Says: Wish Granted.