Hi everyone!

I don't normally read paranormal or fantasy, so I'm going to ask for opinions and suggestions. I am just so bored right now with my books, and nothing lately seems to catch my attention for long, so I am going to step outside the box and try something new. !  I see so many people talking about vampire series, using vampire type avatars that I'm starting to feel like I'm missing out on something here.  I didn't realize there were so many series out there.  I am familiar with Sookie Stackhouse, and True Blood.  DH watches it religiously, so I've seen an episode here and there and think I might like it.  I would actually like to rent it from Netflix and watch it from the beginning, I hate coming into a show halfway through it.  Or, maybe I will just start on the books.  Aside from that series, what is your favorite vampire series?   I don't know much about the paranormal genre, so feel free to enlighten me..........

Thanks,

Gina

Gina,

The thing I like about paranormal the stories can go outside with characters, locations and things they can do. There is a lot of junk out there but some really good systems. Paranaorm can be straight urban fantasy type often main character chasing the bad guys, paranormal romance - tend be light and fluffy fun reads, paranormal mysteries - a mystery with some type of characteristic categories, paranormal erotica paranormal characters in very sexual story lines. There is slew of YA paranormal out there

Some of my favorites

Paranormal/urban fantasy

• Patricia Briggs - Mercy Thompson series
• Karen Marie Moning - Fever series
• Kim Harrison - Dark Hallows (can't quite remember series title)
• Chloe Niell - Chicagoland Vampires

Paranormal mysteries

• Juliet Blackwell - Witch craft mysteries
• Shirley Damsgaard - Abby and Ophialia
• Mary Stanford - Beauford Angels

Paranormal romance

• Dakata Cassidy - Accidently series
• Gerry Bartlett - Real Vampire series
• J.R. Ward - Black Dagger brotherhood this may under several catogories

Paranormal Erotica - I don't read much of it so someone else will have to give you list.

Give one of these authors a try and see if you like them.

I second the Fever Series!

Barrons!!!! *sigh*

Thanks, Alice, for breaking it down for me.  I guess I should clarify more what I'm looking for so that others might have an idea how to steer me in the right direction.  I'm not that interested in the witchcraft type series or books that are predominately romance.  Not that I mind some romance, but I don't want it to strictly be a romance type series.  I lean more toward mystery and suspense and a little romance to balance things out. 

Any suggestions for something like that?

edited to add: When you suggest a series you like would you mind listing the first book in the series or specifying if it is a stand alone? Thanks!

Just checked out Dark Fever......it sounds really good!!  Checking out more.........please keep suggestioms coming......this is interesting :)

Patty Briggs series about Mercy, the VW mechanic. 

Gail Carriger's Soulless. 

The Fae Fever series, but check that you or your library has the rest of the series. 

Harry Dresden by Jim Butcher.

Ok my turn :)

You can NOT base Sookie Stackhouse books on the True Blood tv series!!! I HIGHLY recommend you read the books before you start watching the HBO series.  The books are SO much better :)  It is easy to get sucked in because the first few books are not that long are make for easy reads.  Mainly good ol vampires and werewolves...although there is some witchcraft that comes into play later from some characters.

Mercy Thompson was an awesome 6 book series that I couldn't put down and read in a week.  There are vampires, werewolves and fey to name a few.  The main character is a kick ass VW mechanic named Mercedes :)  She has to deal with a lot of events going on and there is an element of mystery to them. 

Emily suggested The Dresden series and while i have not started it, my ENTIRE family (brothers and sisters) are obsessed with it! They say great humor and action. 

Good luck!

Some of my favorite paranormal series are:

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - categorized as young adult I believe, but great series!

Stormwalker series by Allyson James (First book is Stormwalker)

Dark Swan series by Richelle Mead (magic & fae),( first book is Storm Born)

Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill (first book is Some Girls Bite)

I am only on the 3rd book of the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning, but highly recommend this one too!

Ok, Amanda, I will read the Sookie books before renting the shows. True, the books are usually always better.  I heard that the show is VERY different than the book, is that true?

I'm gonna show my ignorance here and ask what a fae is.  I'm thinking maybe a fairy or something?  IDK......

I was at the library today and looked for the first Karen Marie Moning book, but of course, it was checked out :( 

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, can't wait to look them up and see what they're all about!!  If you think of any other paranormal type that was good, pls pass that along too. 

Sounds like you might like some of these authors:

Jennifer Estep Elemental Assasin series - Spider's Bite (Bk 1)

Ilona Andrews Kate Daniel series - Magic Bite's (Bk 1)

Jeaniene Frost Night Huntress series - Halfway to the Grave (Bk 1)

Devon Monk Allie Beckstom series - Magic to the Bone (Bk1)

Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series - Skinwalker (Bk1)

 

This year was the first year I read a fae book.  I wasn't sure what I was getting into, but the Fever books by Karen Marie Moning are really great!  I couldn't put them down.  Pretty much anything she writes is really good, I liked her Highlander series too (oh...but you want to stay away from romance).

I like the Vicky Nelson books by Tanya Huff.  This was another vampire book series that was turned into a TV show Blood Ties, but the series wasn't as popular as the Sookie Stackhouse series and was cancelled.  Still I think they are really clever. 

I liked the Stackhouse books too, but True Blood is way better than anything my imagination can come up with.  It's like watching and reading two totally different things.  I'm not a big Eric fan as everyone seems to be, but I live for Sunday nights now. 

I would also recommend the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton.  I really got into that series too.

I just started reading the Mercy books on Sunday.  Not bad, so far...

whew, for a moment i thought no one had mentioned these, but i see Emily & Amanda did.  i second the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher, which starts with Storm Front.  Harry is the only Wizard in the phone book in modern day Chicago, and he does a lot of investigating both for private clients and consulting for the PD squad that gets all the 'weird' cases.

i really like that series, and am looking forward to getting the new one from my library in the next few days.  it's the only paranormal series DH reads, he usually reads regular sf&f.  i also have to pass them along to mom, who reads mostly mysteries, one of the few she borrows - the others are anything by Rachel Caine and Patricia Briggs.

they also made a short-lived TV series out of it.  they might be a little more faithful to the books than True Blood, but not entirely.

I like the Vicki Nelson books by Tanya Huff.

ooh, this is an old favorite series of mine.  first one is Blood Price.

Jim Butcher-Dresden Series

Simon R. Green-Nightside Series, Secret History Series, Hawk & Fisher Series

Moning-Fever Series

-RD

OMG! I just downloaded a sample of Darkfever to my Kindle and read the first 2 chapters......I'm hooked!!  In fact, I rushed to  PBS to look for a copy, and to my horror, there weren't any!!!  I had already checked my local library.  Soooo, I don't think I can wait, I'm going to have to bite the bullet and pay the 7.99 and read it on Kindle!!  There were 450 reviews on Amazon and it had a 4 star rating!  You guys hooked me up good....thank you!!  Haven't had a chance to check out the other series mentioned here, but I can't wait to do that! OH, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Darkfever is set in GA!!  I love her writing style, too, such an easy flow.  I've got to run out for awhile, but I will check back in later............... have a great day!!

I recommend reading all these series in order. They build on one another. Welcome to a new genre. Ellen runs some awesome paranormal swaps too as I know you are getting into the swaps too.

Alice

Just curious....are all these books WL books??  I've yet to find one posted!!   :(

I thing most of them are WL.  But, they are also extremely popular and some of the lines move quickly.  I know the Sookie Stackhouse books (at least some of the mass market books) go on and off the WL--so try looking for them.

Also, a word of warning with the Moning books--make sure you have the next in the series ready to be read (in your hands or house) before finishing the first...she loves cliff-hanger endings.

eta:  Gina, THESE Charlaine Harris books are currently available...and the first several listed are from the Stackhouse series.

Hey Gina.

Don't get used to Mac living in Georgia if you are reading the fever books.  Most of it takes place in Ireland.

I'm afraid I have to disagree about Karen Marie Moning....I can't stand her books.  I'm also not fond of Kim Harrison and I really dislike Laurell Hamilton.

I second the recommendations on Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series and Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vamps.  Those are both great.  I would also recommend:

Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series (werewolves) (1st is Kitty and the Midnight Hour)

Jeanne C. Stein's Anna Strong series (vampires) (1st is The Becoming)

Seanan McGuire's October Daye series (fae) (1st is Rosemary and Rue)

Lisa Shearin's Raine Benares series (witches, elves, goblins, etc.) (1st is Armed and Magical)

Linda Robertson's Circle series (witches, vampires, etc.) (1st is Vicious Circle)

Eileen Wilks' Lupi series (werewolves) (1st is Tempting Danger)

Cat Adams' Blood Song series (vampires) (1st is Blood Song)

Victoria Laurie's Psychic Eye (1st is Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye) and Ghostbusters series (1st is What's a Ghoul to Do)

Rachel Vincent's Shifter series (werewolves) (1st is Stray)

Maria Lima's Blood Lines series (mixed supernatural) (1st is Matters of the Blood)

Dianne Sylvan's Shadow World series (vampires) (1st is Shadowflame)

Jeri Smith-Ready's WVMP series (vampires) (1st is Wicked Game)

You might also be interested in some of these Young Adult paranormal series:

P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast - House of Night (vampires) (1st is Marked)

Lili St. Crow - Strange Angels (vampires and werewolves) (1st is Strange Angels)

Richelle Mead - Vampire Academy (1st is Vampire Academy)

Rachel Vincent - Soul Screamers (banshees) (1st is My Soul to Save)

Cassandra Clare - Mortal Instruments (1st is City of Bones)

Rachel Caine - Morganville Vampires (1st is Glass Houses)

Jenna Black - Faeriewalker (1st is Glimmerglass)

Great authors...found some suggestions for my self..I would just like to add that my all time favorite "series" has to be Christine Feehan's Dark series...I think there are something like 21 books out now...I also really like her Game Series too..lots of action and strong characters.

Wow, thanks Susan, and EVERYONE for all the recommendations!  I'm enjoying checking out all this new "material."  I'm finding it quite interesting and intriguing.

Yesterday I decided to buy the Darkfever book from B&N  instead of my Kindle; that way I can at least get a credit out of it when I'm done.  It's going to be hard to decide which book to read next with all these suggestions!  It's great, thank you everyone!! 

Are there any stand alone books that you really enjoyed?

I just recently finished two young adult paranormals which were marvelous.  The first was Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon, and now I see there will be a sequel to that one, don't know whether it will be a full blown series or not.  It's about a girl whose parents die and her grandfather places her in a boarding school.  I know there are a lot of YA books that start out like that, but this story takes some completely unexpected turns.

The second one totally bowled me over.  I rarely give books 5 stars but I thought this one deserved it.  It's called Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz.  The story is based on reincarnation and it was one of the most romantic books I've ever read.

I'm at a loss to talk about either one of them without spoilers.  But if you read them, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Choosing a favorite series is hard because there are so many good ones out there.  If I had to pick, I'd say it would be a tie between the October Daye series (Seanan McGuire) and the Blood Lines series (Maria Lima), partly because they are very different from the other paranormals that are out there and also because they are so well written.  And I love the Strange Angels series (Lili St. Crow) for the same reasons.  The last book in that series is coming out in October.

Hope this helps.

Oooh Susan Spellbound looks amazing! Ive never heard of it before. I had to add it to my extended WL!! Thanks for the rec!

If you like historical mysteries, take a look at Barbara Hambly's vampire series, set in turn-of-the-century London. The first two books are "Those Who Hunt the Night" and "Travelling with the Dead", both are available on PBS. There's a third one coming out soon, but the books are set several years apart (as I remember) so you don't have to read the whole series at once:

http://www.paperbackswap.com/James-Asher-Vampire-Series/tag/233085

I'm not a fan of vampire fiction myself (especially the romance stuff) but Hambly does a really good job of writing well rounded characters who break the usual tropes and also has a knack for excellent descriptions.