Vampires 101
Exsanguination and Sexual Relations
Vampires 101
Disclaimer: I took “Biopolitics and the Vampire Aesthetics, 1716-2016” in college so I am pretty much an expert. Welcome to my Ted Talk.
As we approach Halloween, I want to explore the original monster heartthrob - the vampire. Evolving from a bloated corpse to a Byronic hero, the vampire has undergone quite the transformation. Vampire romance is now a subgenre in its own right, with a canon that includes some of the most popular books of the 21st century. Vampires serve many functions as a literary device, and each one deserves its own newsletter. Consider this Vampire 101: your introductory course on the origins of vampire lore and its evolution in literature. Once we cover the basics, we will move on to electives such as ‘Reclaiming the Lesbian Vampire Trope’ and ‘Is My Fated-Mate a Vampire?’ But first - the basics.
Grim Origins
Paul Barber, the author of Vampires, Burial, and Death: Folklore and Reality, adopts a scientific lens to explore the origins of the modern vampire myth. I had the privilege of attending one of his talks years ago, where he presented compelling arguments about how these legends emerged during the tumultuous time of the bubonic plague.
Barber explains that as the plague ravaged populations, people died at such an alarming rate that they were often buried in shallower graves than usual. This hasty burial practice led to a chilling phenomenon: as the corpses decomposed and bloated, they would occasionally break through the surface of the earth, creating the illusion of reanimation. I promise we’re going to get to the sexy vampires soon!
But not yet… the natural process of dehydration could result in the elongation of teeth and nails, which contributed to the perception that these corpses were grotesquely transformed, further fueling the vampire mythos. Interestingly, Barber notes that early vampire lore often included the ability to transform into wolves opposed to the modern association with bats. This likely stemmed from the fact that wolves would scavenge on the bodies left unburied or improperly buried, intertwining the two creatures in the minds of the living.
Additionally, the association of garlic with warding off vampires is more than mere superstition; garlic is a potent natural antibiotic. Its use in folklore likely reflects a historical understanding of its ability to combat not only diseases but also the fear surrounding them. In essence, Barber’s analysis suggests that the modern vampire legend is deeply rooted in the harsh realities of disease and death, but if I teach you anything - it’s never count a creature out when it comes to romance novels.
From Grotesque to Gothic
Despite entering the Age of Enlightenment, belief in vampires surged in Central Europe during the early 18th century. Fear of vampire attacks escalated to such an extent that entire villages succumbed to what was termed ‘vampire hysteria.’ In response, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria dispatched her personal physician to investigate these claims. Concluding that they were only products of provincial superstition, the Empress prohibited vampire hunting and grave desecration, effectively quelling the panic. Yet, while some viewed this as a dangerous epidemic of rural delusion, others recognized the potential for a new cultural icon.
During the rainy summer of 1816, a group of five friends found themselves cooped up in a villa on Lake Geneva, unable to enjoy the outdoors due to the inclement weather. This was no ordinary gathering; among the friends were Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, accompanied by her future husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and her stepsister, Claire Clairmont, along with the infamous Lord Byron and his personal physician, John Polidori. Adding to the intrigue, both Lord Byron and Percy Shelley had abandoned their wives in England and were conducting affairs. Percy Shelley with Mary, and Lord Byron with both Claire and John. So what did these slutty literary minds get up to, you ask?
Faced with boredom and fueled by laudanum, they decided to host a gothic story-writing competition. During this game, Mary drafted her now-famous Frankenstein while Byron fiddled with a short story inspired by vampire lore, later titled A Fragment. Years later, having been dismissed as both a lover and a physician by Lord Byron, Polidori chose to continue Byron’s unfinished tale. He published The Vampyre in 1819, a work that was part gothic romance and part breakup track. This short story is often credited with establishing the vampire romance genre.
From Goth to Glimmer
Once vampire romance entered the mainstream, it spread like wildfire. The 21st century witnessed its own wave of vampire hysteria with Twilight. While its "cool" status has ebbed and flowed over the years, it remains undeniably one of the most beloved subgenres of romance. But what is it about vampires that is so captivating?
By their very nature, vampires embody duality. They are both dead and alive, human and animal, timeless yet ancient. This conflicting nature allows them to inhabit almost any space the author envisions. They can be the sophisticated aristocrat from a bygone era, the primitive beast battling its instincts, or the 200-year-old teenager stuck repeating junior year for the 70th time. As long as the author follows a few key rules—vampires are immortal and drink blood—they can take any form.
Through some form of supernatural evolution, vampires have become the perfect predators, luring their prey with otherworldly beauty and hypnotic charm. Yet beneath this shimmering facade lies their true nature—a monster driven by primal instincts: hunger, lust, and aggression. These base traits can be intensely erotic on the page but are probably best left there. The vampire simultaneously projects an ethereal temptation as well as raw virility. [Whether or not Vampires are virile is discussed further here.]
Moreover, there is an inherent sensuality to the vampire. Vampires perform an act of intimate penetration to share life-sustaining fluids… you don’t need an English degree to decipher that one. This act, at once predatory and intimate, evokes both fear and attraction, emphasizing the dichotomy at the heart of their allure.
Ultimately, the reason that vampires have consumed the human imagination is because they serve as avatars of sexuality. Like sexuality itself, vampires can take on different forms, adapting to each person’s unique desires and fears. If you can imagine it, a vampire can embody it. And if you write it, romance readers will come.
In that vein, sink your teeth into these exciting new vampire releases to find the perfect vampire hero to suit your taste.
Bride
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is once again an outcast. Her days of hiding among Humans are over as she’s called to honor a historic peace alliance between Vampyres and their enemies, the Weres. Reluctantly, she surrenders herself to the exchange. The ruthless Alpha, Lowe Moreland, rules his pack with authority and justice, but unlike the Vampyre Council, with emotion. He doesn’t trust Misery, and if only he knew how right he was…
Fang Fiction
Tess Rosenbloom, an assault survivor and grad school dropout, spends her nights managing a Brooklyn hotel and her days reading her favorite vampire series, Blood Feud. Though she enjoys dabbling in online conspiracies that claim Blood Feud is real, she doesn’t truly believe in vampires—until one walks into her hotel. The villain of Blood Feud is trapped, and only Tess can help. Desperate for escape, she agrees, soon finding herself on a secret island of deadly vampires—and falling in love with one of them.
My Roommate is a Vampire
Cassie Greenberg loves being an artist, but it doesn’t pay the bills. Facing eviction, she’s thrilled to find a ridiculously cheap apartment in a charming Chicago neighborhood. There must be a catch—and there is. Her new roommate, Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, is far from ordinary. He sleeps all day, is out all night, and speaks like a character from a Regency romance. He also leaves her sweet notes, supports her art, and isn’t bad to look at shirtless. But when Cassie discovers bags of blood in the fridge, Frederick has to confess the truth…
My Vampire Plus One
Amelia Collins is a successful woman, though her family doesn’t consider her “successfully single.” Tired of the constant questions, she decides to bring a fake date to the next family wedding. Enter Reginald Cleaves, a charming but odd choice—perfect for discouraging tough questions. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s handsome. For centuries-old vampire Reggie, pretending to be her date (and human) is an ideal cover. But as their fauxmance unfolds, Amelia realizes Reggie is far more loyal and caring than she expected, and a real relationship with him suddenly seems fang-tastic.