First published in 1976, Interview with the Vampire has since become a cult classic, perfect for fans of Gothic literature, historical fiction, and novels with supernatural shenanigans. The story unfolds like a sort of autobiography—with the eponymous brooding vampire (Louis de Pointe du Lac, a former plantation owner) narrating his life story to a young reporter.
From his brother’s untimely death and his own seduction to the dark side by a charismatic vampire called Lestat to the uneasy years of domesticity with Claudia, a child vampire, and then an ill-fated escape to Europe, the book simmers with homoerotic subtext and historical details, all rendered in atmospheric, hypnotic prose that will keep you entranced till the last page.
It is the first entry in the author’s The Vampire Chronicles, was turned into a critically acclaimed film in 1994 by Neil Jordan and has made a resurgence in popular culture thanks to AMC’s recent television adaptation that recasts the protagonist as a Black vampire struggling to make sense of his predatory existence at the turn of the century, and thus reinterpreting the source material in a novel way.
So, if you’re a fan of the book, movie or show and you’re craving some vampire fiction with a similar vibe, we’ve got you covered!
The Vampire Lestat
Interview with the Vampire is, in essence, Louis’s life story, but there’s another character that almost steals the spotlight—the aristocratic and utterly beguiling Lestat de Lioncourt who has nearly everyone fooled.
A complicated figure, Interview with the Vampire paints him more as a villain, which is why the sequel that unfolds entirely from Lestat’s point-of-view and covers events both before and after Interview with the Vampire, is such a compelling read. Both Louis and Lestat are very different characters with a penchant for unreliable narration, encouraging the reader to read between the lines.
Overall, The Vampire Lestat is a highly entertaining and engaging read, and is one of the best books in the series.
A Dowry of Blood
If you enjoyed the seductive prose and first-person narration bits in Interview with the Vampire, and you’re in the mood for something similar, you might enjoy A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson. It draws upon Bram Stoker’s Dracula and fills the gaps by imagining an alternate life for Constanta, Dracula’s first bride.
The story is told from Constanta’s perspective, brimming with tragedy, trauma and a fierce will to survive at any cost, and makes for an utterly gripping read. From sapphic yearning to poetic prose, A Dowry of Blood is darkly enjoyable and memorable.
Lost Souls
Many of the books in The Vampire Chronicles have a homoerotic subtext, especially as they were published at the height of the AIDs epidemic, and it’s quite evident that Louis and Lestat were rather toxic lovers.
So if that was your favorite bit about Interview with the Vampire, you will definitely like Poppy Z. Brite’s paranormal books where things are more explicit and exciting. Brite’s take on the vampire mythos is quite unique and Lost Souls is actually an expansion of a short story “The Seed of Lost Souls”.
Filled with sex, violence, drugs and the rage of the youth, Lost Souls stars a bunch of vampires and is one hell of a “cool” read.
Vampires of El Norte
For those who adored how vividly Anne Rice brought the settings of Interview with the Vampire alive (be it the decadence of New Orleans or the splendors of Parisian theater), Isabel Cañas’ Vampires of El Norte also unfolds in a similar spectacular backdrop—transporting readers to 1840s Mexico.
Filled with morally grey characters, a slow-burning romance, and a suspense-filled plot, accompanied by thoughtful commentary on gender, race, and class relations, Vampires of El Norte will surely please any Gothic-loving heart. A standalone novel with some teeth, this one balances tenderness and horror in an enticing fashion.
Sunshine
Of all the books on this list, Robin McKinley’s Sunshine is perhaps the most refreshing, a bit sexy and rather cozy—long before cozy fiction became a thing.
The story follows Sunshine, a young woman who works in her family’s small-town restaurant and bakes the best cinnamon rolls, who is suddenly abducted by vampires and manages to escape with her latent magic powers and a fanged ally while nursing a wound that doesn’t seem to heal.
Soon, she discovers a hidden world of supernatural exploits, even as she’s drawn to one particular vampire, Constantine whom the others want dead. The worldbuilding is top-notch, and Sunshine is a lovely narrator, although the ending will probably leave you craving for a sequel.
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