May 2010

So, it’s been well over a month since my last post, DISGRACEFUL I know, especially as I’ve been reading some brilliant books (unfortunately the majority of which are still in manuscript form so it’ll be a while before I review them). However, those of you that follow my twitter will know that I’ve been very busy with both work, having teeth pulled out and of course with my new found love (and now severe addiction) of Dexter – I’m on season three now, and while it’s not a patch on the first two seasons it’s certainly keeping me entertained. Plus, there’s the added bonus of seeing the beautiful Julie Benz on the screen again. Her character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel was one of the main reasons why I love vampire fiction so much.

BTVS was the first vampire television show I watched and to say I was addicted is an understatement as the next seven years of my life after seeing the pilot was spent devouring vampire television shows and fiction, writing fanfiction (cringe!) and my own original vampiric tales (cringe again!). I know that a lot of readers will perhaps turn their noses up at this, thinking that everyone needs to read the entire collection of Anne Rice as a pre-requiste for further vampire fiction, but that came later for me. I started off reading the Buffy spin off novels and then began to delve into the YA shelves of my local bookshop for other fangtastic treats!

Here are some of my paranormal favourites (yes, the Twilight series makes an appearance);

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Okay… so I read the buffy books with Sarah Michelle Gellar slapped on the cover, and not these delicious new editions coming out later this year, but I had to share this jacket with you! Perhaps a whole new host of fans will be introduced into the glorious world of vampiric fiction through these books, or perhaps as these do not look like they tie in with a series maybe people will see that the characterisation and story-telling is right up there with the big guns of the Young Adult section.

The books follows the adventures of Buffy, a teenge girl who is the chosen one, the one girl in all the world chosen by the powers that be to fight the vampires and demons of the world. She and her group of misfit friends learn about life, love and slaying through these books and to me – the Twilight phenomenan came directly from Buffy – so read these books!

Eclipse – Twilight Series – Stephenie Meyer

Eclipse was by far, my favourite of the Twilight Saga. I loved how it delved into the history of vampires, particularly Jasper’s, who was a character I didn’t know a lot about and really came into his own in this book. I love the triangle stuck in a tent – so perfectly angsty!! Eclipse had all of the action, romance and tension you could want in a book – it’s just a shame that Breaking Dawn didn’t live up to the promise of Eclipse.

Generation Dead – Dan Waters

So Generation Dead doesn’t have vampires… it’s got ZOMBIES!!! What I love about this book is the backstory… how suddenly teenagers were not staying dead. Instead of it being a secret and the zombies go into hiding like in many stories, in Generation Dead, the zombies try to be intregated back into society. Phoebe, the resident gothic misfit at her high school falls in love with a Zombie, much to the disgust of the rest of the school including her best friend, boy next door Adam.

I love zombie fiction, and I love how the subject is dealt with in Dan’s books. Definitely one to read if you like a bit of paranormal romance.

The House of Night Series – P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

I’m currently reading UNTAMED in this series, and while sometimes the characters and their indessant need to use ‘teenage language’ and references is starting to get on my nerves, I must say that the series as a whole has got me gripped! It’s an interesting take on vampires and I like how the book as a magical element to it. Zoey gets Marked and is sent to the House of Night, a school for fledglings to learn about the vampire world before they may the change.

Whilst not technically young adult, I would also like to highlight the Sookie Stackhouse series (now also a TV series, TRUE BLOOD) These are great, fun reads that again, look at the intregation of the undead into the living world.

Here are some books that I haven’t read yet, but am looking forward to…