The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires: A Novel
Hardcover | Kindle | Audiobook
By Grady Hendrix
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release date: April 7, 2020

In the 2016 horror novel My Best Friend’s Exorcism, Grady Hendrix tapped into the “satanic panic” fears of the 1980s with a story set in Charleston, SC, where a high school student must save her possessed best friend’s soul. In the author’s latest novel, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, Hendrix returns to the same Charleston neighborhood, but this time to a group of genteel housewives in the 1990s whose only source of entertainment is their monthly book club. That is until James Harris, a charismatic stranger, moves to town with big prospects for the upstanding families that seem too good to be true. And possibly it is, because there’s something strange about this new neighbor who has a condition that makes it difficult for him to be out in daylight, but only one person seems to suspect that something’s amiss.

The Vampire Combat Field Guide
A Coloring and Activity Book For Fighting the Bloodthirsty Undead
Paperback
Written by Roger Ma
Illustrations by Kurt Miller
Berkley Group | Penguin Random House
Release date: October 6, 2015

In 2012, the Institute for Undead Combat Studies published the The Vampire Combat Manual: A Guide to Fighting the Bloodthirsty Undead, a survival guide to coming face-to-face with the ever-popular supernatural beings. The manual, written by Roger Ma, begins with the history and common myths of vampires before moving on to the beings’ anatomy, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities. Then, it gets to the good stuff — how to fight a vampire: the training, weapons, strategies, and techniques. By the time you’re done, you should be able to battle alongside Buffy.

But, going up against a powerful creature like a vampire shouldn’t be done lightly. That’s why, when you’re done following the prep and training from the manual, you should brush up on what you’ve learned with its new ancillary, The Vampire Combat Field Guide: A Coloring and Activity Book For Fighting the Bloodthirsty Undead. That’s right, it’s a coloring book!!!

The Fifth House of the Heart
Paperback | Kindle
By Ben Tripp
Simon & Schuster | Gallery Books
Release date: July 28, 2015

“When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you.” – Asmodeus “Sax” Saxon-Tang

Ben Tripp‘s The Fifth House of the Heart is an intelligent new twist on the old vampire myth. It’s common knowledge that vampires are blood-feasting undead repelled by garlic who, while they can be staked to death through the heart and harmed by fire, are basically otherwise immortal. But in this tale, the science behind the supernatural creatures’ existence and vulnerabilities is revealed, while new characteristics are introduced.

Asmodeus Saxon-Tang, better known as “Sax,” is a highly sophisticated, wealthy antiques dealer. The septuagenarian has traveled the globe to acquire his rare treasures, and while it’s apparent that he’s a master in his field, what’s lesser-known is how he came upon some of his rarer acquisitions — by raiding vampire lairs. Because vampires must hide their immortality from the world, it can be difficult for them to maintain ownership of their possessions century after century, leaving these heirlooms free for the taking by a person like Sax. Since vampires typically hoard their valuable possessions — items whose value increases over time — anyone who manages to kill one, would also be able to take the hoard for themselves. Though burglarizing vampire domiciles is not Sax’s specialty, he has done it enough to be set financially for life. But, the undead don’t take too kindly to these trespasses, and with nothing but time on their hands, they can be very patient and wait to take their revenge upon thieves.

Back in May, a trailer was released for What We Do In The Shadows, a horror-comedy from Flight of the Conchords co-creator and star Jemaine Clement. That trailer for the movie, which marks Clement’s directorial debut, didn’t really seem to capture the humor present in this vampire mockumentary, which has gotten raved reviews from its film festival showings.

Now, a new trailer has been released that is more on the mark. Watch it here below.

The documentary-style comedy centers on a group of vampires roommates and their struggles and triumphs throughout the day. Clement’s Eagle vs. Shark director and co-star Taika Waititi also stars, along with Jonathan Brugh and Cori Gonzalez-Macuer.

Nosferatu Wars
Written by Steve Niles
Art and Cover by menton3
Letters by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: March 12, 2014
Cover Price: $3.99

Don’t you just love it when something great just comes together? Take Nosferatu Wars, for instance. Originally published in four parts in Dark Horse Presents #26-#29, this comic is a perfect example of a classic vampire story. And what makes it even better is the way the creators twist this tale to bring us something completely out of this world.

Centered around two vampires, Tarquin and Moira, we are given a story of unfettered bloodlust and carnage mingled with a love affair that has stretched for ages. The setting is the old world and the time is that of the Black Death. Using this horrible plague as a cover for their nightly exploits, the two undead lovers travel towards the estate of a nobleman with deadly purpose.

Upon arrival there, they are faced with seemingly overwhelming odds that quickly turn in their favor thanks to their strength and ruthlessness. Slaying much of the household, they present the lord of the manor with a proposition, one he quickly accepts. But as with all things, the devil is in the details as he soon finds out.