Vampires have been making a comeback for a while now, and personally, I think there’s a ton of deliciously dark, romantasy vampire books out there worth devouring at the moment.
I read quite a few of them throughout 2025, so if you’re looking for some good recommendations, here’s a few to add to your 2026 TBR.
We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark
Starting off strong, here’s a book that’s recently been taking over the book community that is worth ALL the hype. We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark is a slow burn romantasy set in a Roman-inspired world ruled by merciless vampires. It’s got gladiator vibes, vengeful gods, and a seriously kick-ass protagonist.
On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn
This is probably the other vampire romantasy series that’s been blowing up lately, and honestly, I see the appeal. Set in a school full of high blood vampires, a half-fae is captured and betrothed by a Draco inspired bully vampire and forced to compete to survive. The protagonist in this one is fiery, questions everything and stands up for herself, which made me love this book.
The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin
I’ve always been a big fan of Shelby Mahurin since I loved her Serpent & Dove series, and I feel that she does enemies-to-lovers very well. The Scarlet Veil is her spinoff series featuring a character from the Serpent & Dove books, who is the protagonist of this romantic duology. Célie stands out as a character for her soft-spoken nature, which evolves throughout the book as she determines to prove herself as a Chasseur, gets tangled in the events of the love interest, Michal, and overcome her fears and PTSD from the events in the Serpent & Dove series.
Blood Magic by Pagan Alexandria
Yes, this is my book and yes, of course I recommend it. Set on a dark academia university campus, it follows a vampire hunter who is forced to find a nonexistent cure before her enemy—now a newly turned vampire—murders everyone she’s ever known and loved.
What people have said they love about this series is the softer protagonist who gradually finds her fire, the love interest for his obsessive, protective personality, the tension and spice levels, and the way the mystery of the book unravels into a plot twist no-one has been able to see coming.
P.S: Want to read a sample of Blood Magic? Click here to get the first 3 chapters for free when you join my mailing list!
Bride of Brutal Hearts by Kate Stevens
This book won’t be for everyone, but if you love a good ‘why choose’ romance, this one’s right up your alley. In terms of the vibes, I would even say this is similar to Rain of Shadows and Endings by Melissa K. Roehrich. Bride of Brutal Hearts follows Nessa who, after being chosen by two vicious vampire kings for the vampires’ harvest, gets ensnared in an overwhelming bond between both of them. This is a dark fantasy villain romance where the love interests are genuinely villains, so if that sounds like something you’d enjoy, go pick this one up!
