Welcome to my blog.
I have been reading about Vampires and Werewolves a lot lately and regained interest in the concept of love through exchange of blood and eternal life.
I always liked the idea of someone roaming the earth for ever, even when Dracula seemed to be the incarnation of evil. I believe that the story has much more depth and I can see I'm not the only one. Two great writers have brought this story back to life with two series that I enjoyed reading and continue to enjoy talking about.
Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
In this story, vampires live amongst us. Some of them are evil and continue to survive feeding on humans. Some of them found an alternative source of nutrition in the blood of animals and can peacefully coexist with normal people. The series breaks all of the concepts and common knowledge about vampires. Meyer's vampires can walk in the sun light and although they shine like a thousand diamonds, they don't burst into flames. These vampires don't have fangs, they cannot be killed by a stake - only by breaking their bodies into pieces and burning them. In addition, they are not afraid of holly water or crucifixes, they never sleep - nope, no coffins. Meyer's vampires can have children and can fall in love.
Other magical creatures in the Twilight series are the werewolves, which can be found amongst a select group of native americans that - as legend tells - descend from real wolves. This tribe lives to protect humans from the "cold ones" by turning into werewolves. The legends of the werewolves are absolutely fantastic as well and these creatures are very much part of the story.
Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris
Harris' vampires are the typical bloodsuckers that you all know and love. The main difference with the famous legends is that these vampires can live amongst humans without killing them because of a new invention by a Japanese company called "TruBlood". This is pretty much synthetic bottled blood that can give vampires the nutrition they need to survive -- or at least that is what they advertise! In Charlaine Harris' books vampires are fighting for equal rights, they have a political structure, rules and laws that are strictly followed. These vampires are trying to mingle with society in what the author calls "mainstreaming". Some vampires continue to feed on humans without turning them. Some humans known as "fangbangers" love to be bitten at their own risk. Vampire-human relations are filled with sex and danger that attracts the most adventurous people and those that are stupid enough to fall for it. Vampires are sought for their blood because it has immense powers, it is a drug. The story portraits the complexities of human societies, discussing topics such as race, segregation, human rights, politics, sex, love, friendship, drugs, violence, etc.
In addition to vampires, the series features all sorts of supernatural creatures and it shows how wonderful yet dangerous the world of magic can be.
At the center of both sets of stories, there are women. Young women that find themselves in love with a supernatural being. These two heroines are very different. Bella is sweet, naive, goofy and in need of protection. She wants to belong to the supernatural scene and is ready to change and give up on her life for the man she loves. Sookie, on the other hand, is independent, strong, stubborn, and she does not want anyone to protect her or tell her what to do.
Both series have something in common: LOVE and ETERNITY. And this is probably the reason why I'm so attracted to these books.
I hope you can join in the discussion and enjoy the stories as much as I do.
In Love with a Vampire, Out for now...
