There’s a lot of vampires these days, but only a few really great ones. Here’s a rundown of some of the vampires i love best. Maybe a few will be yours too.

Jean Claude from Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake Series — Jean Claude is maybe my favorite vamp of all time. Beautiful, cool, ruthless but also loyal and loving, he’s a fabulous creation. He’s also bisexual which makes for some interesting three-ways in the later books. Even though there’s no sex in the early Anita Blake books (tons in the later ones), Jean Claude gets the most airtime in those and the books are well plotted and written. If you’re not a fan yet, give him a try.
Asher from the Hamilton Anita Blake series — Asher was Jean Claude’s beloved historically, before Jean Claude meets Anita. The most beautiful vampire of all, half his face and part of his body were destroyed by holy water during the Inquisition. Though a bit whiney sometimes, Asher is tortured, complex and sexy.
Zsadist from J. W. Ward’s Lover Awakened and the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series — The most tortured vampire of all, Zsadist is the best drawn character in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Scarred, cold and dangerous, he (like all the brothers) is redeemed by the love of a good woman. I talk more about Zsadist and the series in my June post called Get Yourself Some Love.

Kade from Rosalie Stanton’s Possession — Kade is a charming badass that doesn’t have to try hard to be cool. In this novella you get to see him in a lot of sexy situations and you never get bored with him. Yummy.
Donte from Z. A. Maxfield’s Notturno — An ancient vampire who charms and beguiles, Donte shows the meaning of undying love. While the human lover in the book is an even greater creation, Donte is still among my favorite biters. I talk more about Notturno in my July post called Ancient Vampire.
Edward in Stephenie Meyers Twilight Series — And no rundown of vamps is complete without Edward. Even more compelling in the books than he is in the movie, Edward wins everyone to his team. He’s just delicious. (There’s more in the July post Vampire Love.)
There are more, of course, like Eric in the Sookie Stackhouse books, but this will wet the appetite — for Trueblood. The drink, not the show. Bottoms up.