The latest and greatest trend in books right now is paranormal fiction. It's not for everyone, but many readers are hungry for all things supernatural. This subject has been hot for some time now, thanks in large part to the
Twilight and
Sookie Stackhouse series'. Bella, Edward, Jacob, Sookie, Bill Compton and True Blood are all virtually household names at this point. Most likely you've at least heard of them, if not read all the books, watched every movie/episode and Googled your way to every fan site available. If you can't wait for the next Sookie book or True Blood episode and don't know what to read now that the Twilight saga has come to a close, sink your teeth into one of these popular works of vampire fiction:
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Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton (Adult Fiction) - Vampire hunter and detective Anita Blake lives in a world where most people think the undead are just humans with fangs - but she knows better AND she carries a captivating secret of her own.
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Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward (Adult Fiction) - A war rages in Caldwell, New York between vampires and their slayers. A secret band of vampire brothers, called the Black Dagger Brotherhood, solemnly defend their race and dare to find love in a dangerous world.
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The Hollows series by Kim Harrison (Adult Fiction) - Bounty hunter and witch Rachel Morgan works to keep Cincinnati, and herself, safe from supernatural lawbreakers.
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House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast (YA Fiction) - 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's life is forever altered when she is "Marked" by a vampyre tracker and starts to "Change" into an actual vampyre. As if that weren't enough, she must leave her family and friends to live at the House of Night - a boarding school for young vampyres.
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Insatiable by Meg Cabot (Adult Fiction) - Sparks fly in a romantic triangle between psychic TV writer Meena Harper, Romanian history professor/vampire Lucien Antonescu and vampire hunter Alaric Wulf, all while a vampire war brews in NYC.
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Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine (YA Fiction) - When 16-year-old Claire Danvers starts college early, due to advanced placement, she soon has worse problems than making friends and adjusting to new courses. Along with her school, Texas Prairie University, Morganville is also home to vampires and vampire hunters. Claire must band together with three unique friends to survive.
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Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead (YA Fiction) - Best friends Rose (half-human/half-vampire) and Lissa (mortal vampire princess) must defend themselves against the dangerous enemies out to get them, along with navigating peer pressure, gossip and new relationships at school.
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The Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith (YA Fiction) - This series was the inspiration for the popular CW show of the same name. A dangerous love triangle ensues when popular high schooler Elena meets handsome, but dangerous, vampire brothers Stefan and Damon.
Have you read any of these? Do you have a favorite vampire book/series?
Vampires not your thing? Not to worry, there's another trend blazing up the bestseller charts right now. Scandinavian crime fiction is hotter than ever here in the states, and abroad. If you don't know the girl with the dragon tattoo , chances are you soon will. She's Lisbeth Salander who, along with Mikael Blomkvist, is the complicated star of Stieg Larsson's Millenium Trilogy. This wildly popular series (with support from the publications of some consistently first-rate Scandinavian authors) is leading the movement to put Scandinavian crime fiction on the map and in your hands. Check out some of the most popular authors in this genre and start your international love affair today.