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Quick answer: If you finished Anne Rice's The Queen of the Damned, try Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, Dracula, Carmilla, 'Salem's Lot and The Historian. All are gothic, seductive and rich with vampire lore.
The Queen of the Damned (1988) is the third Vampire Chronicles book, in which Lestat's rock music wakes Akasha, the first vampire. It mixes ancient history, myth and rock-and-roll gothic. Readers who love it want more vampires who are ancient, philosophical and tragic. These 15 books include Rice's own chronicles, classic vampire literature and modern takes.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interview with the Vampire | Anne Rice | Adult | readers who want the beginning |
| The Vampire Lestat | Anne Rice | Adult | series readers |
| The Tale of the Body Thief | Anne Rice | Adult | readers who want a tighter story |
| Pandora | Anne Rice | Adult | readers who like ancient history |
| Dracula | Bram Stoker | Adult | readers who want the source |
| Carmilla | Sheridan Le Fanu | Adult | readers who want a short classic |
| 'Salem's Lot | Stephen King | Adult | readers who like small-town horror |
| The Historian | Elizabeth Kostova | Adult | readers who like history and travel |
| The Passage | Justin Cronin | Adult | readers who want a big story |
| Let the Right One In | John Ajvide Lindqvist | Adult | readers who like quiet horror |
| Fledgling | Octavia E. Butler | Adult | readers who want a new take |
| Sunshine | Robin McKinley | Adult | readers who like cozy gothic |
| I Am Legend | Richard Matheson | Adult | readers who like sci-fi horror |
| Dead Until Dark | Charlaine Harris | Adult | readers who want light fun |
| Twilight | Stephenie Meyer | Teen/Adult | readers who want romance |
1. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
Louis tells a reporter his story of becoming a vampire with Lestat. The first book in the series, and the one that changed vampire fiction.
Best for: readers who want the beginning.
2. The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
Lestat tells his own story, from 18th-century France to a rock star in modern times. Flamboyant and fast.
Best for: series readers.
3. The Tale of the Body Thief by Anne Rice
Lestat trades bodies with a mortal and finds that being human is difficult. A stand-alone story in the series.
Best for: readers who want a tighter story.
4. Pandora by Anne Rice
The ancient vampire Pandora tells her life from ancient Rome. Part of the New Tales of the Vampires.
Best for: readers who like ancient history.
5. Dracula by Bram Stoker
Jonathan Harker visits Count Dracula's castle, and the vampire comes to England. The original and still gripping.
Best for: readers who want the source.
6. Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu
A young woman befriends a mysterious girl who is a vampire. A short, atmospheric novella that predates Dracula.
Best for: readers who want a short classic.
7. 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King
A writer returns to a small Maine town where vampires have arrived. Slow, scary and full of dread.
Best for: readers who like small-town horror.
8. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
A young woman finds a letter and follows a trail through history to Dracula. Long and atmospheric.
Best for: readers who like history and travel.
9. The Passage by Justin Cronin
A government experiment creates vampire-like creatures, and a girl named Amy changes the world. A huge, sweeping apocalypse.
Best for: readers who want a big story.
10. Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Oskar, a bullied boy, befriends Eli, a strange girl who lives next door. Dark, violent and moving.
Best for: readers who like quiet horror.
11. Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler
A young-looking girl wakes with no memory and discovers she is a vampire. Smart and unusual.
Best for: readers who want a new take.
12. Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Rae, a baker, is kidnapped by vampires and forms a strange bond. Warm, quirky and dark.
Best for: readers who like cozy gothic.
13. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Robert Neville is the last man on Earth in a world of vampires. Short and chilling.
Best for: readers who like sci-fi horror.
14. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress in Louisiana, meets a vampire. The first Southern Vampire book, fun and flirty.
Best for: readers who want light fun.
15. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Bella falls in love with Edward Cullen, a vampire. A hugely popular teen romance.
Best for: readers who want romance.
How to Choose
To continue with Rice, read The Vampire Lestat and The Tale of the Body Thief. For classic vampires, go to Dracula or Carmilla. For something modern, try The Passage or Let the Right One In. For lighter reading, pick Dead Until Dark or Sunshine. Anne Rice's books contain sex and violence, so they are for adult readers. If you are new to the series, start with Interview with the Vampire.
Related: 15 Books Like Red Queen You’ll Love: Powers, Betrayal and Royal Intrigue · What Age Is Red Queen Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read the Vampire Chronicles in order?
It helps. The core order is Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat and The Queen of the Damned.
Is the movie faithful?
The 2002 film condenses the book heavily and changes the plot, so the novel is far richer.
Is The Queen of the Damned scary?
It is more epic and gothic than scary, with violence and ancient myths.
Which vampire book should I read after Rice?
Dracula is the best classic, and 'Salem's Lot is the best modern scare.