Vampires were at one time one of the most popular romance heroes, especially in Young Adult fiction; now, however, they appear to have gone back into the coffin. What attributed to their meteoric rise through authors such as Christine Feehan and Stephanie Meyer? In this episode, librarians Jen and Jackie review these two authors and their popular series, "Dark" (Feehan), and "Twilight" (Meyer). Were you a Twihard like Jackie? Or do you prefer your vampires with a little more grit, like Jen? Sparkle on, romance nerds!

 

TW: rape discussion; issues of consent; forced pregnancy; language usage; teen romance

 

Books read/mentioned:

• "Twilight" series by Stephanie Meyer
• "Dark" series by Christine Feehan
• Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer
• Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James
• "Sookie Stackhouse" series by Charlaine Harris
• "Fallen" series by Lauren Kate

Articles/notes:

• Christine Feehan's notes on "Dark Prince"
• "Interview with the Queen of Paranormal Romance, Christine Feehan" by Princess Weekes (2019)
• "Interview with Christine Feehan" by David Accomazzo (Boulder Weekly, 2009)
• "Twilight's potentially dangerous influence on society" by Jacklyn O'Brien (2014)
• "How to domesticate a vampire: gender, blood relations and sexuality in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight" by Pramod Nayar (2010)- available through GALE resources

Podcasts:

• "Fiction for Young Adults: Romance and Vampires" LaTrobe University, 2012 (Available through Apple Podcasts)

Terms and definitions:

• Alpha-hole- an overbearing, "extra" hero who goes above and beyond to be a...not nice hero. They go "above and beyond being arrogant and possessive" (Mandi, 2013), and often have a redemption plot where the heroine changes them
• Cultural citizenship-  this is "bonding and community building, and a reflection on that bonding, that pop culture provides us" (O'Brien, 2014)- aka, when you bond with another peer over a piece of pop culture.