Return to the World of Twilight: Midnight Sun is Almost Here!

Let’s just be honest here…we all have our countdown clocks set for August 4th, and for good reason. Midnight Sun is almost here, and for many nothing but the Volturi could keep us away from this new retelling that’s been twelve years in the making. Whether you call it a guilty pleasure (or not), the Twilight series is seriously addictive, and it’s clear that its legions of fans are ready to revisit the enchanting and sparkly world of Edward and Bella.
All this talk of Twilight has us reminiscing about those golden years of YA paranormal romance, when everywhere you looked it was vampires, werewolves and even zombies splashed across the covers—often in a love triangle, and always very glamourous. Twilight brought about a new kind of gothic love story, and soon enough, series like Vampire Academy, House of Night and Blue Bloods were filling up the bookshelves of teens (and adults) everywhere. Even older series like The Vampire Diaries that originally published in the early 90s made a big comeback, complete with its own wildly popular TV series based on the books. And while Twilight fever may have mellowed in recent years, we have a hunch it’s going to come back in full force with the release of Midnight Sun. So, we’re calling out two new series you’re going to want to indulge in, either while you wait—or after the hunger takes hold.
The Crave Series:

Before we even get into the plot, just look at that cover. We were instantly reminded of that deep red apple and all the feels that come with starting a series you just know will be your next obsession. Here we meet Grace after her parents have been killed in a terrible car accident, and she is whisked away to live with her uncle in Alaska and a prep school where things are not quite as they seem. Enter Jaxon Vega, the closed off, brooding boy of her dreams who also happens to save her from several near-death experiences—seem familiar? Full of dangerous love and towering castles, this atmospheric world of vampires, werewolves, witches and shapeshifters will make you swoon. Universal Studios has already snatched up the film rights, and the second book in the series, Crush is out this fall.
The Damned Series:

Again, just look at that cover! This one takes us back to 19th century New Orleans where vampires roam in plain sight. Celine, a dressmaker from Paris is quickly swept up in the lavish underworld of the city and catches the eye of the sultry Sébastien Saint Germain. Celine will soon realize she’s entangled in an ancient feud of the night, one that fuels this thrilling mystery straight through to its spectacular cliffhanger ending. Entertainment Weekly writes that this new series “returns the vampire novel to popular form, evoking the style of Anne Rice and breathing fresh life into the genre.” This decadent series is also in its early stages with book two, The Damned arriving this summer, on July 7th.
 
So, whether you’re looking to brush up on the classics, or dive into something new, we’re calling it now and declaring that vampires are officially back—and we are here for it.