Honestly, if you grew up in the mid-2000s and spent any amount of time in a Borders or Waldenbooks, you probably remember that striking cover art. A pale girl with raven hair, heavy eyeliner, and a vibe that screamed "I listen to My Chemical Romance on repeat." That was Raven Madison. Long before the sparkly vampires of Twilight took over every shelf in America, Ellen Schreiber was carving out a very specific, very moody niche with the vampire kisses series books.
It’s easy to dismiss these stories as "just another" teen paranormal romance. But that would be a mistake. Looking back from 2026, the series feels like a time capsule of a very specific subculture. It wasn't about the world-ending stakes of The Vampire Diaries or the high-budget brooding of Edward Cullen. Instead, it was about a girl in a boring town called Dullsville who just really, really wanted to find someone who understood her love for the macabre.
What Actually Happens in Dullsville
The story kicks off with Raven, our protagonist, who is basically the only Goth in her judgmental suburban town. She’s obsessed with vampires. When a mysterious family moves into the creepy old Mansion on Benson Hill, she’s convinced her dreams have come true. Enter Alexander Sterling. He’s handsome, he’s artistic, and—spoilers for a book that came out decades ago—he’s a vampire.
What makes the vampire kisses series books stand out isn't just the romance. It's the tone. Schreiber wrote these with a sort of breezy, fast-paced energy that made them incredibly addictive. They weren't heavy tomes. You could burn through The Beginning or Kissing Coffins in a single afternoon.
The Evolution of Raven and Alexander
As the series progresses through nine novels—and even a manga spin-off—the relationship matures, though it stays firmly rooted in that "us against the world" mentality. We see Raven navigate more than just her crush. She deals with Alexander’s rival, Jagger, and his sister Luna. She deals with the threat of being turned into a vampire herself, which is something she desperately wants but Alexander resists because he wants her to have a "normal" life.
It’s a classic trope. Yet, it worked because Raven wasn't a passive lead. She was proactive, often getting herself into trouble because she was too curious for her own good.
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Why We Are Still Talking About These Books
You might wonder why a series that ended over a decade ago still has a cult following. It's the aesthetic. We’ve seen a massive "2014 Tumblr" and "Y2K Goth" resurgence lately. People are nostalgic for the simplicity of the early 2000s paranormal boom.
- The World Building: It’s small-scale. You feel the claustrophobia of Dullsville.
- The Fashion: Schreiber’s descriptions of PVC boots, velvet corsets, and black parasols were basically a mood board for a whole generation of alternative kids.
- The Accessibility: These weren't "gatekeepy" books. They were fun, romantic, and slightly spooky.
There’s a certain charm in the way the vampire kisses series books handled the supernatural. It wasn't about complex magic systems or ancient wars between species. It was about the social awkwardness of being a vampire in a town where everyone notices everything. Alexander trying to hide his identity while Raven tries to flaunt her "vampire girlfriend" status created a weirdly relatable tension.
Addressing the Critics
Not everyone loved them. Critics at the time often pointed out that the plots were thin or that the dialogue was a bit cheesy. They weren't wrong. If you’re looking for Interview with the Vampire levels of philosophy, you’re in the wrong place.
However, judging these books by those standards misses the point entirely. They were written for teenage girls who felt like outsiders. They provided a space where being "weird" was the thing that made you desirable. In a pre-social media era, seeing a character like Raven get the guy without changing who she was? That was powerful stuff.
The Manga and the Expansion
Interestingly, the series branched out into a three-volume manga titled Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives. This was a smart move. The art style by Rem matched the "spooky-cute" vibe of the covers perfectly. It introduced new characters and gave fans a visual look at the Mansion on Benson Hill that the prose could only hint at.
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The Full Bibliography for the Completionists
If you’re looking to dive back in, you need to know the order. It’s a long journey, but it’s a consistent one.
- Vampire Kisses (2003)
- Kissing Coffins (2005)
- Vampireville (2006)
- Dance with a Vampire (2007)
- The Coffin Club (2008)
- Royal Blood (2009)
- Love Bites (2010)
- Underworld (2011)
- Immortal Hearts (2012)
Don’t forget the manga trilogy if you want the full experience. Honestly, reading them back-to-back shows just how much the "paranormal romance" genre shifted during those years. The earlier books feel more grounded in suburban reality, while the later ones lean harder into the supernatural lore of Alexander’s family and the "Underworld."
Real-World Impact on the Genre
Ellen Schreiber didn’t just write a series; she helped bridge the gap between the 90s horror of R.L. Stine’s Fear Street and the massive YA explosion of the late 2000s. She proved there was a market for "Goth-lite" romance.
We see echoes of Raven Madison in modern characters today. The "alternative girl" who isn't a villain or a sidekick, but the hero of her own story. That was a shift. It paved the way for more diverse expressions of "dark" characters in teen fiction.
Common Misconceptions
People often think this series is just a Twilight clone. Fact check: the first vampire kisses series books came out in 2003. Twilight didn't hit shelves until 2005. If anything, Schreiber was ahead of the curve. She tapped into the post-Buffy vacuum before anyone else really knew how big the vampire craze was going to get.
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Another misconception is that the books are "dark." They really aren't. They’re "spooky-sweet." There’s very little actual gore, and the stakes—while high for the characters—usually revolve around relationships and identity rather than mass casualties. It’s a cozy read for a rainy October night.
How to Enjoy the Series Today
Finding these books now can be a bit of a treasure hunt. While digital copies are readily available, many fans hunt down the original hardcovers for the iconic cover art. Collectors specifically look for the early editions that haven't been "modernized" with new graphic design.
If you're a new reader, start with the first book and don't take it too seriously. Let yourself get swept up in the 2005-era melodrama.
Final Thoughts on Dullsville and Beyond
The vampire kisses series books are a reminder of a time when YA fiction was finding its footing. They are unapologetically weird, deeply romantic, and stylistically distinct. Whether you're a former Goth kid looking for a nostalgia hit or a new reader curious about the history of the vampire genre, Raven and Alexander’s story offers a unique glimpse into a subculture that never really went away.
To get the most out of your re-read or first-time journey, consider these steps:
- Track down the physical copies: The tactile experience of those matte-finish covers with the glossy accents is part of the charm.
- Listen to a "2000s Goth" playlist: Think Evanescence, HIM, and The 609. It sets the mood perfectly.
- Check out the Manga: Even if you aren't a big comic reader, the visual interpretation of Raven’s world is worth seeing.
- Join a fan community: There are still active groups on platforms like Goodreads and Tumblr where people discuss the "what ifs" of the series finale.
The legacy of Raven Madison lives on in every teen who feels like they don't fit in. That’s the real magic of the series. It isn't the fangs; it's the feeling of finally being seen.