Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon, my Darlings. For today’s blog post, I will be sharing some of my recommendations for media to consume to have a very Vampire Autumn Season! This list will be a combination of different forms of media, so I will break it down into sections for books, movies, and television. Without further ado, let’s look at some of my favorite Vampire media to consume in Autumn, or any time of year, really!
BOOKS
Dracula by Bram Stoker
~Of course, I had to begin this recommendation list with the most iconic Vampire novel of all time. It is the classic story of Count Dracula leaving Transylvania and wreaking havoc in London, as we all know and love, and it has been adapted countless times!
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
~One of my favorite Vampire books of all time! If you have never read this one, it is a short read, and it gives us one of the most iconic female Vampire characters ever in the titular Carmilla.
The Vampyre by John Polidori
~This is the earliest book on this list. This Vampire character, Lord Ruthven, is iconically based on the infamous Lord Byron!
The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
~Lestat is amazing, and one of my favorite Vampire characters, so this one had to be on the list! As this is a long series, you can start with Interview with the Vampire and keep reading, which will give you plenty of Vampire content all season long.
Thirst Series by Christopher Pike
~This was originally published in the 90s as The Last Vampire Series, and later continued after being republished as Thirst. I really enjoy this series, as the main Vampire, Sita, has such a long history. She is over 5000 years old, making the lore of this series intriguing! There are also many flashbacks to different time periods, which is always fun in a Vampire series.
The Vampire Diaries Novels (1-7) by L.J. Smith
~Okay, so, this is a major nostalgia choice for me, as I first read these books back when the television series was in its first season. I really do still love the first seven novels (but honestly, just skip the ones after, as the ghost writer did not do them justice, in my opinion)! It is the story of Elena Gilbert and the two Vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore.
The Sookie Stackhouse Novels by Charlaine Harris
~I really do enjoy the novels that would go on to inspire True Blood, and much like The Vampire Diaries books, they are their own thing. This means that you can enjoy them without knowing how it ends, as the series deviated so much from the source material!
The All Souls Series by Deborah Harkness
~I really adore these books, and the series is still ongoing, so I would recommend starting by reading the first trilogy (which is a complete story arc). The television series adaptation (A Discovery of Witches) is also very good, but nothing beats the novels in giving us the amazing love story between a Vampire and a Witch!
Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (and its sequel) by Beth Fantaskey
~This is my obscure choice in the book category, although Thirst may also be reasonably obscure. This is a very cute little duology, although there is also a short ebook that can be read in between the two novels. It is the story of a teenage girl, Jessica, who finds out that she is destined to marry a Vampire, as she was a Vampire Princess by birth and never knew it!
FILMS
Nosferatu (2024)
~Honestly, you can choose any version of Nosferatu, and it would have its place on this list. I simply added my favorite version! The Robert Eggers remake just blew me away last year, and I have already watched it multiple times. It is the ideal atmospheric watch!
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
~If you want your Vampires heavy on the Gothic and the Romance, this is your ideal pick!
Horror of Dracula (1958)
~This is the original Christopher Lee Hammer Horror film, where he starred as Dracula. Enough said as to why it is on the list!
Dracula (1931)
~Of course, Bela Lugosi had to be here! If you have never seen this one, it is a must-watch!
Dracula’s Daughter (1936)
~I have always had a soft spot for this Dracula sequel. I really love how sympathetic our titular Vampire is!
Lips of Blood aka Lèvres de sang (1975)
~This is my favorite of Jean Rollin’s Vampire films that I have seen so far. It is so romantic and sexy, as well as beautifully costumed and shot. It has a major hazy and dreamy vibe!
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
~Yes, I adore this film. While Lestat is always fun to watch, the major reason to watch this one is Kirsten Dunst’s performance as Claudia!
The Vampire Lovers (or the whole Karnstein Trilogy) (1970)
~This is a Hammer Horror adaptation of Carmilla, and Ingrid Pitt does a truly phenomenal job at portraying our beloved Vampire! There are two sequel films, which are also both great fun, and the trilogy would be ideal for a Hammer Horror Vampire marathon.
Fright Night (1985)
~In many ways, this is a love letter to Hammer Vampire films, and it also has a truly iconic Vampire in Jerry Dandrige!
The Lost Boys (1987)
~This one is the Rock’ n’ Roll 80s Vampire classic! This film is so iconic that I do not think I need to say anything else.
Dark Shadows (2012)
~I know many deride this Tim Burton film, but I have always had fun with it. It is a fun and campy comedic film about the Vampire Barnabas Collins!
What We Do In The Shadows (2014)
~The original New Zealand film about a group of Vampires being followed by a documentary crew is full of chaotic laughs!
Bitten (2008)
~So, here is my major obscure choice. This is a Vampire comedy horror about a man, played by Jason Mewes, who works as a paramedic. One night, he finds a woman he thinks is a drug addict, and takes her home. The truth is much wilder!
TELEVISION
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
~I grew up with this 90s classic. It has some of the best Vampire characters around, and a great lead character in Buffy!
Angel (1999)
~The spin-off of Buffy, following the Vampire with a Soul, Angel, as he fights supernatural crime in L.A., enough said!
The Vampire Diaries (2009)
~This, and the one below, are my favorite Vampire television shows ever. I have been literally watching it since premiere night, and it does not get old for me! It’s classic, a girl and two Vampire brothers, but it is the extended cast that makes this one awesome.
The Originals (2013)
~The spin-off of TVD, it follows the Original family, giving a much more epic and mature tone!
True Blood (2008)
~Southern fried Vampire antics, what’s not to love?
Interview with the Vampire (2022)
~I really do enjoy this new take on the Anne Rice novels. Plus, it has my favorite Lestat portrayal ever! We even get an amazing focus on the Lestat and Louis romance, which is always a favorite thing to see.
What We Do In the Shadows (2019)
~Okay, so, I love the show more than the film, there I said it. Nadja Doll is my favorite character, and I regret nothing!
Dark Shadows (1966 & 1991)
~Either way you go, the 60s or the short-lived 90s reboot, this is a fun, campy ride!
Moonlight (2007)
~Now, we are in the obscure category. This one is a single-season show that is about a Vampire private investigator and his complicated life and loves!
Blood Ties (2007)
~This is a Canadian series, also short-lived, that is about a detective who meets a Vampire, and he helps her solve cases. This one gets bonus points for our lead Vampire literally being Henry Fitzroy, the bastard son of Henry VIII!
Forever Knight (1992)
~Yes, this is also a Canadian Vampire detective show, what can I say, it was a thing back in the day. This one follows Nick Knight, an 800-year-old Vampire. I always adored this one for all of the flashbacks to Nick’s past, which made it super fun to see all of his antics in his very long life!
~There you have it, a very long list of Vampire recommendations. I hope you have enjoyed this list. What are your favorite Vampire books, movies, and shows? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is one of Victoria Frances’ Vampire artworks. I found the art on http://dreadfuldreary.blogspot.com/2011/06/art-of-victoria-frances.html.
LINK TO AVALONIAN ROSE FAERY MYSTERIES PATREON: patreon.com/AvalonianRoseFaeryMysteries