Twilight really did the trick on all of us. Even after 18 years of publication, it still influences modern literature and creates a new direction for young adult vampire books fiction. Books about vampires and werewolves encouraged a deeper dive into supernatural romances. Later, the list was expanded with Fae, Warlocks, gods, goddesses, and more. Let’s stay with those blood-suckers and deeply dive into the best YA vampire books where these night creatures roam.
Vampire Academy Series By Richelle Mead
Immortal vampires are arrogant enough. Now imagine if they had royals among them.
The Vampire Academy book series features a society of vampires, with their social hierarchy, royal families, and Academy, where they groom the new generation.
Envision Lissa Dragomir: a Moroi (Basically a good Vampire) princess with the power to tap into the earth’s magic, constantly chased by the deadly Strigoi (The Bad Vamp Guys). By her side is Rose Hathaway, Lissa’s best friend, her Dhampir protector, part human and part vampire. Their fleeting freedom is cut short as they’re pulled back into St. Vladimir’s Academy in Montana, a sanctuary for vampire aristocracy and their future guardians.
High school does tend to suck the life out of you, but imagine if the threat was real. Bitches are of higher caliber, and hot, obnoxious guys are even more dangerous in a place filled with teenage vampires. In an environment like that, you must have a good friend to rely on, and Lissa and Rose are a perfect example of that. I love the healthy friendship they have. Of course, there are ups and downs, but in the end, they are always there for each other.
“Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies.”
Richelle Mead, Vampire Academy
Rose’s romance with an older man and a teacher adds forbidden appeal to the vampire series. Another forbidden love thread is with Lissa and Christian Ozera. Christian is a royal, too, but since his parents committed an unforgivable sin, he became an outcast in the vampire society. His and Lissa’s relationship is frowned upon, and at some point, even Rose distrusts him, but he soon proves himself.
This book is a real roller-coaster, which will keep you on your toes, making it one of the best teen books about vampires.
The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare
City of Bones is the first book in The Mortal Instruments series and the first book featuring the Shadow world. Cassandra Clare’s Shadow World fans are well-acquainted with the vampire characters portrayed in the series. The author’s modern-day universe is populated by Mundanes, whom supernatural beings refer to as humans, Nephilim – half-angel, half-human warriors who fight against demons – and Downworlders, a paranormal underground community consisting of fairies, vampires, werewolves, and warlocks.
Contrary to popular depictions, Cassandra’s vampires are cunning, vicious, formidable, and dangerous creatures.
I love exploring the Shadow World universe, especially the vampire hideout known as Hotel Dumort. Previously known as Hotel Dumont, it was a glamorous place. However, the events of 1920-es left it deserted and free for newly arrived Lady Camille Belcourt and her vampire clan to take over. The hotel had since decayed and become ruined, almost as dead as its new residents. They renamed the hotel “Hotel Dumort” to translate to “Hotel of the Dead” in French, making it a humorous name for a vampire’s domicile.
Lady Camille Belcourt and Raphael Santiago are my two favorite characters from the series. Lady Camille is a complex and intriguing character who has made appearances in other Shadow World books. We meet her in The Infernal Devices trilogy, where the origins of the famous Lightwood necklace.
She is also a former lover of Magnus Bane and one of the villains in The Mortal Instruments series.
“You left me. You made a pet out of me, and then you left me. If love were food, I would have starved on the bones you gave me.”
Magnus Bane
- Cassandra Clare, City of Fallen Angels
Raphael starts as a villain but eventually switches sides, becoming a robust and influential leader, a Christian vampire from a religious Latina family. He has played a significant part in The Mortal Instruments books, being a side character who often influences the plot. Raphael was the one who turned Simon Lewis into a vampire and played a significant part in the finale of the series. He was also a close friend of Magnus Bane, and we see him appear in The Bane Chronicles. His backstory is emotional and captivating, making him one of the most compelling characters in the series.
“He had never felt entirely comfortable around Raphael. Raphael seemed to him like Loki or some other trickster God, sometimes working for good and sometimes for evil, but always in his own interests.”
- ― Cassandra Clare, City of Heavenly Fire
But the most important Vampire in the series is Simon Lewis. He had no business getting involved in the Shadow World, but as Clary’s best friend, he was dragged into this madness. No one suspected he was bitten when the vampires kidnaped him, but we slowly see his transformation. That leads to events that will embed Simon very tightly in the Shadow world, resulting in his character development and new, exciting plotlines and relationships in the books.
“Isabelle!” Simon called.
“Stop throwing clothes at me! Just because you’re a Shadowhunter and I’m a vampire doesn’t mean we can never happen. Our love is forbidden like the love of a shark and a – and a shark hunter. But that’s what makes it special.”
“Oh?” Isabelle snapped.
“Which one of us is the shark, Simon? Which one of us is the shark?”
- ― Cassandra Clare, City of Heavenly Fire
A Discovery of Witches Series by Deborah Harkness
A Discovery of Witches is a paranormal romance that will ensnarl you from the beginning. The setting is Oxford University, where a scholar, Dr. Bishop, uncovers a hidden, bewitched manuscript and gains the attention of all supernatural creatures.
The creatures in this world are divided as such: Humans, Vampires, Daemons, and Witches. And they all hate each other. So what happens when those mortal enemies fall in love?
This is a forbidden love story between a Vampire, Matthew Clairmont, and a witch, Diana Bishop. The book is full of magic, wonder, history, unique characters, a gothic vibe, and lots and lots of wine.
“His full name is Matthew Gabriel Philippe Bertrand Sebastien de Clermont. He was also a very good Sebastien, and a passable Gabriel. He hates Bertrand and will not answer to Philippe.”
― Deborah Harkness, A Discovery of Witches
At this point, he is my favorite Vampire. He gives out “Interviews with a Vampire” vibe. Being a scholar, he respects knowledge and has been hoarding it for centuries with the same enthusiasm as he did with collecting good wine.
He is tall and gloomy, with a dark heir and formal style. He is a genuine, protective, possessive gentleman with a compelling demeanor, making him my favorite vampire character.
One more amazing character, a vampire boy, is Marcus, Mathews’s son. He is charming, energetic, charismatic, and full of youthful life. He even gets his book in the series “Time’s Convert”.
Zodiac Academy by Susanne Valenti and Caroline Peckham
The astrologically magical world of the Zodiac Academy series brims with mysteries and majestic creatures for readers to uncover, ranging from dragons and werewolves to hydras, sirens, and many more. However, we shall focus on the vampires in this series for the article. While they share typical vampire characteristics such as feeding on the blood, incredible speed, heightened senses, and fangs of their order form, they also have magical powers, which recharge while feeding. Magically, the stronger the person they are feeding from, the more magical powers the vampire has.
Caleb Altair and Lance Orion are two standout vampires in this series, characters you’re bound to adore.
Caleb is a student at Zodiac Academy and one of the celestial heirs, whose parents together with Lionel Acrux and other Celestial Councilors rule Solaria after the death of the Savage King and hope that the reigns will one day be given to Caleb and other heirs. With blond curly hair, blue eyes, possessiveness, self-confidence, and bossiness, he is everything a girl might ask for!! Get ready for incredibly described scenes of the bites from Caleb. The authors did such a great job here that, at some point, I wished to experience the sensation of Caleb’s bite just as the characters did.
Lance is a Cardinal Magic teacher at Zodiac Academy with very authentic teaching manners. He used to play pitball (a Zodiac version of Quidditch), and how awesome it might be to have a super fast vampire on your team, right?! He is dark, he is possessive, he is smart, and he is a bookworm!!! (There is one scene where he confesses love for his precious books).
While the series introduces us to different vampire characters across its main eight books (soon to be 9), Caleb and Lance undoubtedly occupy the central roles. They both share the forbidden love trope and have dark spots in their past. Zodiac Academy is written from different points of view, so you will encounter many chapters from their perspective and get to know them very well. You will fall in love with both from book 1! For those keen on discovering more about Lance’s backstory, I recommend the novella “The Origins of an Academy Bully,” set four years before “The Awakening” (book 1). As the night beckons to the creatures of the shadows, so will the vampires of the Zodiac Academy series call out to you, promising astrological tales of passion, power, and magic.
Monsters of Verity duology by Victoria Schwab
I remember this book very fondly, even though I read it in 2018. I was searching for something new and fresh, and here it was, right under my nose.
The book is a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in a dystopian city divided and governed by two families. The heirs of those families, August and Kate, meet each other and form a strong friendship throughout the book.
In this world, every violent act breeds new monsters. There are three kinds of monsters, ones that consume Flesh, Blood, or Soul.
“Corsai, Corsai, tooth and claw,
Shadow and bone will eat you raw.
The Corsai are known for their hive-minded behavior. They have a strong aversion to light and usually hunt at night. They are created through non-lethal acts of violence and have an appetite for flesh and bone,
Malchai, Malchai, sharp and sly,
Smile and bite and drink you dry.”
This book owes its mention in this article to the Malchai creatures. They bear a strong resemblance to vampires, with their translucent skin and red eyes. They are born of murders. Their dark bones are visible through the skin and sustain themselves by feeding on blood. Unlike the Corsai, the Malchai are solitary hunters and not reliant on others. While light weakens them, they can still move in sunlight.
One important Malchai character in the book is Sloan, who serves Collumn Harker, North City’s leader and Kate’s father.
“Sunai, Sunai, eyes like coal,
Sing you a song and steal your soul.”
Last but most rare are The Sunai, born of mass devastation (such as mass homicide). They look human, and Instead of feeding on flesh and blood, they feed on the souls of sinners who have committed violent acts and created monsters.
August, one of the main characters, is a Sunai with the power to extract a sinner’s soul by playing his violin. Although his body is powerful and can withstand stabbings, it is not indestructible. August has a unique ability called “influence,” which causes individuals to confess their secrets and sins when they are close to him. He also has exceptional hearing. Some Sunai, including Leo and August, can use the power of darkness without being consumed.
The book offers a fresh perspective on the vampire legend by exploring their origins and establishing a hierarchy.
From Blood And Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
This article contains plot details and potential spoilers for the Blood and Ash series. If you have not begun reading or are not too far into the story, please refrain from reading or at least proceed cautiously.
Unlike Twilight, the Blood and Ash series adds a delightful note to the classic vampires. We see them by different names in this series. Let’s meet Atlantians and the Ascended. I will start with the latter.
Ascended, also referred to as the Vampry, need blood to survive. It is illegal to Ascend a mortal as they are created when all human blood is drained from a person and afterward is given Atlantian blood. They can easily fall into uncontrollable bloodlust. The Ascended in this book represent mainly the enemy side and are the ones Atlantians try to fight and destroy. They rule Mesadonia by lying to the locals, saying that gods choose the Ascended. The main characters of this series destroy this false belief.
“And, if you’re lucky, they’ll go for your throat, and it will be a quick death,” the Duke was saying. “Most of you will not be so fortunate. They’ll tear into your flesh and tissue, feasting on your blood while you scream for the gods you’ve lost faith in.”
“This is perhaps the least calming speech ever given after an attack,” Hawke muttered under his breath.”
On the other hand, the Atlantians are the result of love between a deity (gods’ children) and a mortal. There are different types of Atlantians, and most of them do not require blood. However, some Atlantians still need blood to replenish their energy and powers. Those are called Elemental Atlantians. They have heightened physical senses, their sight allows them to see even during the darkest hours of the night, in addition to their heightened sense of taste and sense of smell. One of the most outstanding Elemental Atlantians is Casteel Da’neer, whom you will meet in the series’ second book.
It is impossible not to fall in love with Casteel. He has dark curly hair and is teasing, charming, devious, and assertive. Simply speaking, he is everything we adore in book boys. As an elemental Atlantian, he needs blood to live, and if not taken regularly, he falls into severe uncontrollable bloodlust. He also has a power of compulsion, abling him to temporarily force his will onto another if he wishes to do so.
Therefore, if you want to start a fantasy book that revolves around bloodlust vampires (not only bloodlust), this book is the perfect series for you. It has morally dark characters, many biting scenes, and one particularly narcissistic vampire!
Twilight Saga
We had to give the honorable Mention to Twilight. After all, it inspired most of the modern teen vampire books. Twilight is so embedded in the contemporary world that it is mentioned even in other books where the generation was raised on it.
We all know Edward Cullen, a “teenage” vampire, falls in love with Bella and starts a lot of trouble. Edward is an old soul, who loves Shakespeare and Debussy, loves modest traditions of chivalry, but still has youthful mischief. We know that at some point, he went rogue, but in the end, he follows his family’s beliefs and stays away from human blood, instead living on animal blood, resulting in his and his family’s eyes being orange instead of blood red.
Cullens are a very tight-knit family with a strong loyalty towards each other. They try to co-exist peacefully with humans and have a peace treaty with werewolves. Vampires in Stephanie Mayer’s universe have one more special trait. Some have magical powers, like Edward’s mind-reading, Alison’s sight of the future, and many more.
In some sense, Stephanie Mayer did not just start the trend of teenage vampires; but the whole YA fantasy concept of girls falling in love with immortal, powerful creatures.
“And so the lion fell in love with the lamb…” he murmured. I looked away, hiding my eyes as I thrilled to the word.
“What a stupid lamb,” I sighed.
“What a sick, masochistic lion.”
― Stephenie Meyer, Twilight
Before you go…
Since you are enjoying YA vampire books, these two might also interest you:
