Vampires
Rule! by Marie Lavender
As I so often like to hashtag my posts related to
the paranormal, I’ll start off with a simple, yet apropos statement. Vampires
rule!
There’s just something about the undead that appeals
to some of us. Fans of paranormal fiction and urban fantasy, as well as its
authors, are behind me in this declaration. Even paranormal film lovers can understand. But, what is it about these fanged
alphas or chicks who can kick some serious butt that draw us in?
Is it the
taboo of the blood craving?
Is it the dead sexy vibe these characters exude?
Why do we keep reading about vampires, keep yearning for more?
I’d like to
think the stories are compelling enough that they stand on their own, that readers
follow the series they love. So, perhaps that’s a part of it.
But, maybe it’s also the allure of the unknown, or
the idea that – and what paranormal reader hasn’t wondered – vampires could
exist in the world. Fantasy lovers become fascinated by these other worlds
built by the authors. Fiction is an escape from reality, in a sense.
But, why
couldn’t the paranormal be real? We often question real life miracles. If
someone wakes up after a long coma or goes into sudden remission from cancer,
we look for explanations instead of accepting it at face value. Some may call
it a miracle, but there will be a few waiting for the other shoe to drop. Why?
Why can’t we go on a little faith?
I think we need faith with paranormal fiction. Our
minds have to be open enough to the world unfolding before us, so much that we
can become invested in the plot and the characters, just like we were fighting
alongside them. The same rules apply to general fiction, but with
paranormal/urban fantasy, there is a world created within our world, a world a
part of yet somewhat separate from the world we currently know. We root for our
favorite characters as if we’d root for a sports’ team. And if you can find an
author who can make the journey seamless, it’s even better. As a reader, I love
getting invested in my favorite paranormal romance/urban fantasy novels. J.R.
Ward thrills me with her Black Dagger Brotherhood novels.
Chloe Neill makes the
quirky Merit a refreshing take on the female badass in the Chicagoland Vampires Series.
And P.C. Cast makes you
start to wonder if Zoey Redbird will ever be done with Neferet’s antics.
The
list goes on, of course. Pick your favorite series, and they all will lure you
in with the possibility that the world inside it feels real enough to keep
reading.
No matter what sort of paranormal books I read, from
ghosts to witches to demons to shapeshifters, I always come back to vampires.
The teeth and the craving for blood, even the heightened sense of hearing or
increased speed, isn’t what sells it for me exactly. It’s the way I come to care
about the characters. That’s what fascinates me about the genre.
And that’s
what made me start writing vampire stories. The characters had something to
say, and I wanted to tell the story. It doesn’t hurt to have a sexy alpha now
and then either, as long as he has some redeeming qualities and doesn’t drive
the heroine out of her mind. Well, too much, anyway.
All in all, though…I just have to say it again.
Vampires rule!
At least for me, anyway.
So, what's your take on the paranormal genre? Why does it appeal to you? Feel free to leave a comment on the blog, and we can launch a great discussion. Or, meet me on Twitter, message @marielavender1 and use the hashtag #vampiresrule to continue this conversation.
Hope to talk soon! Now go get your daily dose of vampire. ;)
Like mother, like daughter..., 
