Christopher Pike, best known for his The Last Vampire (1994) series (later rebranded as Thirst), was an early pioneer of vampy gothic horror. From fabulous fangs to deep philosophical questions about life and death, his novels continue to hold a special place in the hearts of fans across generations. Stay out of the sunlight, and read on for his most beloved works, and other vampiric gems from the ‘90s and early 2000s.
Trigger Warning: These novels explore themes of trauma, mental health, violence, slavery, illness, and death, which may be difficult for some readers; please exercise personal care while reading.
The Last Vampire (1994) by Christopher Pike
Starting with The Last Vampire, this gothic thriller predates later icons of the vampire genre. The novel follows vampire Alisa Perne (also known as Sita), secretly living in modern-day America. As much as she tries to escape centuries of loss and survival, Alisa finds herself pulled back into her dangerous past when her secret is uncovered. All the while, she begins to fall for Ray, a human. What could possibly go wrong?
It’s a novel full of passion and darkness, raising timeless questions of human existence. Add this one to your TBR if you love anything broody, romantic, and slightly terrifying. Christopher Pike’s edgy writing style will grip you from the first page to the very last.
The Silver Kiss (1990) by Annette Curtis Klauser
Continuing the theme of vampy romance, Klauser’s The Silver Kiss delivers a vampiric love connection like no other. Protagonist Zoe is a lonely teenager, coping with the devastation of her mother’s long-term illness. Somewhere along the way, she encounters Simon, a brooding vampire haunted by grief. The pair begin to bond, stirring love and death all at once.
It’s a forerunner to Bella and Edward’s bittersweet connection in Twilight, so fans of the series will certainly love the melancholy and romance in The Silver Kiss. If you’re looking for a novel with a vampire pairing you can root for, look no further than Klauser.
Thirsty (1997) by M.T. Anderson
Thirsty, anyone? M.T. Anderson’s novel traces the life of an ordinary teen, Chris, living in Massachusetts, who one day begins to turn into a vampire. Slowly, he begins to experience the terrifying, and not to mention, painful, changes associated with vampirism. And sadly, he begins to find himself alienated from his human family and friends.
What’s unique about the novel is that it’s an exploration of adolescence through the lens of a vampire transformation. It’s a poignant novel that will have you thinking about it long after you close the page. Fans have described it as a story that will “stay with you.”
In the Forests of the Night (1999) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Written when Atwater-Rhodes was just thirteen years old, In the Forests of the Night became a cult hit amongst YA readers. The novel is gothic and lyrical, written in a fast-paced style that’s guaranteed to grip its reader from start to finish.
The plot centers on Riskia, a powerful three-hundred-year-old vampire who lives in solitude. One day, she discovers a black rose, changing the course of her present and dredging up a past she’s tried so hard to evade. In the Forests of the Night is a moody teen thriller, exploring themes of vampiric power, control, and revenge.
Black Blood (1994) by Christopher Pike
Black Blood is the sequel to Christopher Pike’s iconic The Last Vampire, continuing the story of Alisa. Still one of the last surviving vampires, Alisa and her human companion, Ray, investigate a new thread of murders that hint that other vampires may actually exist.
The sequel is thrilling from the get-go, featuring daring vampire showdowns and a whole coffin’s worth of danger. Grab your copy of Black Blood and gear up for the gothic drama you won’t want to miss.
The Night Wanderer (2007) by Drew Hayden Taylor
It was published just after the early 2000s, but it’s too outstanding not to include. The Night Wanderer is a genre-bending treasure that follows the journey of Tiffany, a sixteen-year-old girl grappling with family changes and cultural tensions. As she navigates her day-to-day existence, her life unexpectedly intersects with Pierre, an Ojibwe man turned vampire, now returning home.
The Night Wanderer is one of the first Indigenous vampire novels, reframing the gothic through the Native experience. It brings together the eerie pull of vampire lore with the weight of colonial history, identity, and survival, creating a story that’s thought-provoking and haunting. Taylor’s novel offers readers a new perspective on the genre, so it’s definitely worth reading this trailblazer in YA vampire fiction.
The Gilda Stories (1991) by Jewelle Gomez
Another one you won’t want to miss out on is Gomez’s vampy, electrifying The Gilda Stories. Spanning two centuries, it follows Gilda, a formerly enslaved girl who transforms into a vampire and builds a new life through chosen family and resilience.
Instead of leaning into fear, Gomez reimagines vampirism as an act of survival and transformation, centering Black, queer, feminist perspectives that were long overlooked in the genre. It’s truly captivating, as powerful for readers today as it was when it was first published.
So, close the curtains and sink your teeth (or fangs!) into one of Christopher Pike’s novels — and maybe one, two, or even all of these other recs. You’ll be transported back a couple of decades to those worn paperbacks, late-night reading sessions by torchlight, and, most importantly, the deliciously eerie world of 90s and early 2000s vampire fiction.
Want more of Christopher Pike? Learn about him and his novels here.
Find these books, and more, on our Vampire and Werewolf Books to Sink Your Teeth Into shelf on Bookshop.org.
