Like Twilight, But Without All The Vampires

March 24, 2009 8:55 AM

Help me keep her reading filter: My wife is tearing through the Twilight series right now, and I'd love to keep her swamped in books once she finishes. But the vampire-ness of the series is the least interesting part to her.

According to her:

"I like the suspense of the whole thing. Mystery. The way even a kiss is super intense. The vampire werewolf thing works in these books but I dont know if it would always work. I like wanting to know what happens next."

I've found a lot of vampire-centric "What Should I Read After Twilight" lists on the internet, but I want you to tell me about some great books that have the same feel as Twilight, minus the bloodsuckers.

posted by ekstasis23 to media & arts (47 comments total)

The Harry Potter books are the most exciting, as far as "wanting to know what happens next," though chances are she's read them.
posted by KateHasQuestions at 8:59 AM on March 24 [2 favorites]

I've not read the Twilight books, but -- in my opinion -- Neil Gaiman's novel American Gods is an excellent read and definitely has elements of mystery, suspense, and fantasy.
posted by LittleKnitting at 9:10 AM on March 24 [2 favorites]

"The Sword of Truth" series by Terry Goodkind. I say this because my wife loved the Twilight series and she loves this series. Maybe there's a connection. The first book is called, "Wizard's First Rule." It has plenty of twists and turns.
posted by octojon at 9:11 AM on March 24

Lord of the Rings?

Wizard of Earthsea?

or, slightly leftfield; Shogun.
Absolutely page-turning, engrossing and set in a strange, far off world.
posted by BadMiker at 9:11 AM on March 24

Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series has plenty of twists and turns.
posted by orange swan at 9:17 AM on March 24 [4 favorites]

Great suggestions, everyone...keep 'em coming! I should have added that she very rarely reads, so if you're thinking "oh, she's probably already read XYZ" it's very likely that she hasn't, so go ahead and throw those out too.

I'm a HUGE reader, so I'm really excited to see her getting into it, and I want to keep her going. Thanks!
posted by ekstasis23 at 9:19 AM on March 24

Elizabeth Haydon's Symphony of Ages series. The first three are fantastic; the latter three are kind of 'eh', and luckily they're not really vital to the storyline.
posted by alynnk at 9:23 AM on March 24

Ya know, if what she liked about Twilight was the "buzz" it gave her, then I have to say that in terms of its affect, as well as in regard to its structure and content, Twilight reminds me of nothign so much as a YA version of a paranormal romance novel. (And I mean to flatter Twilight with that comparison. I read certain romance novelists pretty regularly.) Maybe she should look into that subgenre. Kresley Cole and JR Ward for paranormal, Lisa Kleypas for historicals and contemps. These three authors write prose that is similar in its accessibility and pacing to that of Twilight.

Or, if it's really not the paranormal aspect that gets her, but the mystery/suspense + super intense romantic moments + heightened emotions generally, she might want to try romantic suspense, a subgenre of romance; basically think: "action film meets romantic drama." Can't recommend much there, but a lot of people like Linda Howard.

I second the suggestion of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. "Through a Glass Darkly" by Karleen Koen is also fun, if she gets into the robust costume drama epics.

Back as a teen, I had my own Twilight-ish experience when reading a quartet by LJ Smith called "The Vampire Diaries" -- the earlier instantiation of human-female-teenager-falls-for-vampire-high-school-student-who-withholds-his-love-for-fear-of-hurting-her. I think it's just been re-released. There's also a non-paranormal historical series getting a good deal of buzz (I didn't like it much, but I am alone in that, apparently) called "The Luxe." Megan Whalen Turner wrote a fantastic trilogy that starts with "The Thief." All of these might afford something like the Twilight experience.
posted by artemisia at 9:35 AM on March 24 [5 favorites]

Memoirs of a Geisha has this kind of suspenseful, sweet love story. I agree with Shogun, as well.
posted by misha at 9:38 AM on March 24

Dude, LittleKnitting beat me to it! Frankly anything by Neil Gaiman is amazing, but American Gods is especially good. Fantasy, edge of your seat, well written, etc.
posted by gwenlister at 9:39 AM on March 24

Oh, and if she does like the paranormal suspense, Chelsea Quin Yarbro's St. Germain series, especially the Palace, would fit the bill.
posted by misha at 9:39 AM on March 24

Robin McKinley's Sunshine is Twilight with good writing.
posted by orange swan at 9:42 AM on March 24 [5 favorites]

seconding diana gabaldon!
posted by pipti at 9:47 AM on March 24

Peter F Hamilton - Commonwealth or Nights Dawn series.
George RR Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire series.
posted by iamabot at 9:52 AM on March 24

I highly recommend the entire His Dark Materials trilogy. As Wikipedia says, that's three fantasy novels by Philip Pullman comprising Northern Lights (1995, published as The Golden Compass in North America), The Subtle Knife (1997) and The Amber Spyglass (2000).

Mystery, suspense, a female heroine, the supernatural, conflict... and wonderful!

Here's more information for you (but please don't let your wife read this before she reads the books): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Dark_Materials

Also, I totally liked reading the Twilight Saga, for what it's worth.
posted by val5a at 10:01 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]

The Company series by Kage Baker, which begins with In the Garden of Iden. Love story + historical fiction + time travel + massive conspiracy!
posted by Joh at 10:01 AM on March 24

You'll get a bunch of good recommendations here. But just tread carefully - you might not want to inundate her with a bunch of books. She knows she's not a big reader, and that you are; make sure the books are an enjoyable next step or possibility, and not another thing to manage or feel guilty about not getting to. She probably picked up Twilight because it seemed fun -- don't take the fun away by getting too worked up it now. It's awesome that you're supportive and want to find her something she likes - just don't make it a Big Thing because that's the fastest way to turn some folks off.
posted by barnone at 10:19 AM on March 24 [2 favorites]

I think she'll want bodice-ripping romances rather than supernatural stuff.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:21 AM on March 24

She should try Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife. It's super-intense-romance and pretty compelling, what with the whole time-travel aspect (lots of foreshadowing about important events=lots to look forward to.)

I haven't read Twilight, but several of my friends who have like both books.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 10:26 AM on March 24 [7 favorites]

I've already recommended this in several other threads, but I'd suggest The Time Traveler's Wife. The first 10 or 20 pages are confusing. But once you get what's happening, it's a page-turner, and a uniquely poignant love story.
posted by marsha56 at 10:33 AM on March 24

A lot of these suggestions seem to be quite the opposite of Twilight. I can read anything, read constantly, etc. LOTR puts me to sleep. Not fast paced at all, too much trudging. I would recommend Marian Keyes. She's chick lit, but smarter and funny. Start with The Other Side of the Story or Sushi for Beginners. You want page turners.
posted by artychoke at 10:54 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]

I would second the barnone about treading carefully and not overwhelming her with recommendations. I would also third (?) the Diana Gabaldon Outlander series as well as Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series.

And honestly, most trashy romance novels (which I was REALLY into for the longest time) have some sort of mystery to them (like Amanda Quick, Nora Roberts, etc) so there's usually some sort of suspense in addition the 'will they or won't they?' The Amanda Quick novels are really light, easy reading too, they go really fast and they're pretty entertaining.
posted by trinkatot at 10:57 AM on March 24

I am nthing the Outlander series--there's several of them, and they're huge. Good plot, Jamie makes for a dashing heroine, great twists and turns.

Also seconding the earlier suggestion of George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series (A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, in that order, I think). The names are really lame, but they're decent fantasy and the "chapters" are the story told from different perspectives. Sometimes a character is in a life-threatening situation and I'll rip through the pages to see if he made it or not! The plot's quite good, with incest, treachery, romance, seduction, treason, you name it.
posted by Dukat at 11:01 AM on March 24

The Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris. They do involve vampires, but they are basically mass market fiction fusions of the supernatural, mystery, and romance genres. The characters are extremely relatable, the writing is accessible, the stories are fast paced, and they are pretty funny, too.

The HBO series True Blood is based on these books, but even if she's seen that, the first season only addresses the first of I think eight books, and show is different enough from the book that she should still get significant fun out of reading them.
posted by jennyb at 11:05 AM on March 24 [3 favorites]

If she's not interested that much by the vampire aspect, maybe it's the constrained, creeping romance she really responds to?

In which case I think not a bodice-ripper, but a more old-fashioned romance with a coolly distant man? Jane Eyre and Rebecca, for a start? His Dark Materials is slow-building, and a very idealized and "pure" love story.
posted by Tufa at 11:07 AM on March 24

Also, even though I've never read the Twilight books, I understand there are some similarities between the plots (human woman, man vampire love interest, (spoiler alert but only until about 3/4 through the first book), shape shifting additional love interest) but Sookie Stackhouse came first, and seems to take herself far less seriously, so she gets my vote.
posted by jennyb at 11:08 AM on March 24

Seconding Sunshine by Robin McKinley, which was awesome and much less geared towards teenagers than Twilight. Special nod here for a book about vampires that doesn't go out of its way to romanticize them. Actually, I haven't read anything by Robin McKinley that I didn't enjoy, so that might be something to explore.

Adding, though these both have much more overt sexuality:
Jacqueline Carey's series that starts with Kushiel's Dart
Anne Bishop's The Black Jewels trilogy

Neither of those series really have vampires, though there are entities somewhat like them in Anne Bishop's books. The writing in the Kushiel books is vastly superior to that in the Black Jewels or Twilight, but the subject matter may be a bit more questionable to some (the main character is a submissive/masochistic courtesan). The Kushiel books do tend to revolve around a lot of political intrigue though, which could satisfy the mystery requirement, and the major romantic entanglement is fabulously fraught with tension.

I would probably say that The Black Jewels trilogy is more like Twilight overall, but I find the Kushiel series to be much more satisfying.
posted by ashirys at 11:10 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]

I also suggest The Time Traveler's Wife, but first, she should read the whole Harry Potter series. They are great books to read if you're not that "into" reading yet, cause they're easy to read and get you hooked pretty easily (lots of action, suspense, drama, and laughs)...make you want to hop on to the next and the next and the next, and when you're done with them, surely you want to look for something more to fill the space that's left.

Also, a lot of MeFis consider them a joke, but the Dan Brown books (Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons) are also easy to read and a lot of fun if you don't take them seriously.

(My suggestions take into consideration that it's easier to get hooked on books if you start out with easier literature before jumping on to something more complicated.)
posted by CrazyLemonade at 11:17 AM on March 24

Nthing Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series once more.

If she just wants a fun read, try Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. A bit of mystery and hysterically funny. She might also like Nora Roberts writing as JD Robb - the lengthy series is a cop/murder mystery set in the future. Smart woman cop, plus her multimillionare husband set in the future. Good bodice ripping sizzle, too.
posted by sarajane at 11:18 AM on March 24

I agree with CrazyLemonade. For example, I think that if she's a non-reader who likes Twilight there's a good chance she'll hate A Song of Ice and Fire. I would stay away from that series until she's enjoyed a bunch of the other, lighter recommendations here. Ice and Fire is long and you can't really get connected to individual characters because of the constant PoV-yanking-around, and people get killed off all the time. That's the kind of thing that may keep a lifelong reader reading, yes, but is probably just going to upset and disappoint someone who isn't much of a reader. (I have read enough excerpts of Twilight to know that I hate it, but I have enough friends that like it to know what's likeable about it, I think, especially for non-readers.)

Of the suggestions so far, I would recommend Charlaine Harris, Diana Galbadon, Nora Roberts, the Harry Potter books, and maybe Robin McKinley. Marjorie Liu's Dirk and Steele books would also be worth a shot (paranormal romance that's several cuts above average quality, apparently; I haven't had a chance to read them yet but friends say they're better than you'd think). Mysteries in general are fun and easy to read, such as the series by Sujata Massey starting with The Salaryman's Wife (the series mostly takes place in California and Japan and always includes some degree of sexiness).

I keep thinking I've read someone like Dan Brown but better in the past, without being so literary as to be daunting to someone just coming off of Stephanie Meyer, but I can't think of the author or book ...

If it's actually the sustained sexual tension she likes, then I don't have a clue what to recommend.
posted by wintersweet at 11:24 AM on March 24

George RR Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire series.

WTF, people? She seems to like Twilight for the mystery, suspense, and maybe romance. She's just getting into reading more. And you're going to throw her to GRRM's extremely dark, Adult, wordy dense, and increasingly ponderous and nowhere close to being finished series?

OP, don't given her ASOIAF, please. I haven't read Twilight but from everything I've heard it would seem to be the complete opposite of GRRM's work, aside from nominally fitting under the same speculative fiction umbrella.

I think a lot of YA fiction might fit. I liked Scott Westerfeld's Specials series (or the first three, haven't read the fourth). A lot of contemporary mystery books would probably work as well; fast and fun reads. Or maybe historical romance.
posted by 6550 at 11:30 AM on March 24

I tore through Twilight, and then read Cassandra Clare’s “City of Bones” and “City of Ashes” in about a day each. They are not quite as addictive as Twilight, but they come close. I also really liked Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle trilogy.

If she likes suspenseful mystery with romance packaged up as historical fiction, I highly recommend Deanna Raybourn’s “Silent in the…” (Grave, Sanctuary, Moor) series and Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily Ashton books (And Only to Deceive, A Poisoned Season, A Fatal Waltz). They are much, much better written than the teen books I just recommended.

Outlander is also fantastic, though I have gotten some lukewarm reactions from people I’ve recommended it to.
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 11:51 AM on March 24

*lol* I've read the 1st three of the Song of Ice & Fire series myself, and...no...definitely won't hoist that one on her just yet. :)

And no need to worry about me assaulting her with a stack of books, that's why I'm here. I want to work up a nice short list of stuff I can feel fairly certain she'll enjoy, and then surprise her with a few. She wants to read more, but doesn't know where to begin, and is still figuring out what it is that she likes. Thanks again, and keep it coming, I've got a lot of Amazon reviewing to do tonight thanks to you folks.
posted by ekstasis23 at 11:57 AM on March 24

Time Traveler's Wife is a good recommendation. I'd also highly recommend LJ Smith, who did everything that the Twilight books did, several decades earlier and without the Mormon subtext. She has several YA paranormal thriller/romance books that do not feature vampires, as well as some that do.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:58 AM on March 24

Oh, and I love the His Dark Materials books, but, besides the fact that they're great YA, I wouldn't recommend them for your wife, as they aren't really . . . juicy.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 12:05 PM on March 24

I also came in to suggest The Time Traveler's Wife.
posted by amarynth at 12:17 PM on March 24

She could just continue on the Stephanie Meyer Kick and read The Host. Good for that "need to know what happens next" part of your brain + the love story parts.

n'thing The Time Travelers Wife. One of my and my wife's favorite books.
posted by mincus at 1:01 PM on March 24 [1 favorite]

2nding Harry Potter, Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel series (NSFW), and LOTR - but The Hobbit first! Much easier read, and give the "what's next?!" suspense that will propel her into the rest of the series.
posted by spinturtle at 1:36 PM on March 24

Yes, Time Traveler's Wife

Also, all of Philippa Gregory's books about Tudor-era England: The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance, The Constant Princess, The Other Queen, The Virgin's Lover...lots of suspense and romance, but not in a trashy harlequin way. I'm an avid reader and cannot put Gregory's books down.
posted by messylissa at 2:24 PM on March 24 [1 favorite]

This is one of the reasons I love Mefi. I actually thought of recommending the Jacqueline Carey Kushiel books, too, and hesitated because they are sexually explicit. But I think we are all on the same track with those, because they have the erotic suspense it sounds like your wife would enjoy.

I also enjoyed and can second The Other Boleyn Girl (the movie sucked, though).
posted by misha at 2:40 PM on March 24

A few things that I have enjoyed that are easy reads and that totally sucked me in:

Eragon series by Christopher Paolini (also, Eragon has been made into a movie)

Laws of Magic series by Michael Pryor
(like a darker version of Harry Potter set in the 30's)

Most books by Georgette Heyer (BUT! Avoid the historical fiction ones and 'Barren Corn' - wayyyy too depressing)

Also, if she's interested in light chick lit type stuff Meg Cabot is always fun... (please don't hurt me). Best of luck! I love hearing about people getting interested in reading, I have spent many fantastic hours absorbed in a book!
posted by latch24 at 3:56 PM on March 24

Seconding Mincus. Another vote for Time Traveler's Wife (LOVED it) and Stephenie Meyer's book The Host. Can't go wrong with the same author, similar themes....
posted by mazienh at 6:43 PM on March 24

I'd strongly second 6550. Peter Hamilton and George RR Martin are dreadful suggestions (not because they are bad writers but because they don't fit the brief). It really annoys me that when these questions regularly come up lots of people just nominate their favourite SF series without thinking about the actual question.

So yes, The Time Traveller's Wife is a good idea, as are the other YA and paranormal and historical romance series that have been mentioned.
posted by ninebelow at 5:49 AM on March 25

Just thought of it last night, but Stephanie Meyer released a draft of Twilight from Edwards Perspective called Midnight Sun

She was working on it towards publishing, but it was leaked prematurely and that took the steam out of it for her.
posted by mincus at 7:49 AM on March 25

Harry Potter - yes. Sunshine and possibly others by Robin McKinley- yes. Other good YA stuff - yes.

If she's OK with the sexual tension eventually being resolved more or less explicitly, I will resoundingly echo the suggestion to try paranormal romances. Yes, a lot of them are terrible, but not ALL of them, and lots of them are fun, quick, suspenseful, romantic "beach reads".

I like JR Ward, and the various time-travel-magic "Highlander" related ones by Karen Marie Moning, and the various "_______ Game" books by Christine Feehan (though I'm not fond of her Carpathian novels).

Feel free to MeMail if you want to refine further...
posted by oblique red at 8:51 AM on March 25

For once, I know just about the perfect thing -- J. D. Robb(aka Nora Roberts)'s In Death series! It's very easy reading, and has both suspense and preternaturally intense, only-you-for-me romance. (Tough detective solving crime in the near future and failing to resist getting involved with the sexy business tycoon who always turns up somewhere in her investigation.) The first book in the series is "Naked In Death".
posted by of strange foe at 9:18 AM on March 25

As Wikipedia says, that's three fantasy novels by Philip Pullman

Um, it's also as Mr. Pullman would say, or anyone who read any of the books. Why exactly has Wikipedia become the authority on what is and isn't in the His Dark Materials trilogy? But aside from the most unexciting written depiction of a loss of virginity ever, there really isn't anything juicy in the series. So if that is important, this series is a no go.

-n^2-ing R.R. Martin. I like reading sci-fi and I can't stand to read the books for more than a chapter or two. It just isn't gripping writing. This is for people who are big on entering written fantasy worlds. It's the same reason I wouldn't recommend Robert Jordan or any of the classic sci-fi authors for that matter.

If she likes the mystery of the series, perhaps she might actually enjoy mystery books.

This one is completely out of left field, but the Alex Deleware series by Jonathan Kellerman combine mystery, intense writing, romance (Alex, the rugged psychiatrist-turned-detective is always in some sort of romantic cahoots). It's very readable, with the caveat that this is not light stuff. It's mostly sickos doing sick things, so if that doesn't appeal to her she should avoid it. The reason I'm recommending it is because it's very easily consumable fiction; I read a bunch of his books in middle school and high school and found it easy to get through them (although to be fair I also read a good amount of Jordan).

Actually, a lot of mystery books (in the thriller vein particularly) are really just puzzle + sexy protagonist + lots of sexy sex, so she might really enjoy that if she likes the romance and passion.

Also, I liked the Hobbit, because it is actually written to be interesting. When the Lord of Rings was written Tolkien let more of his real interests loose, and they are interesting to some people but not to all. When the movies started I decided to restart reading the series and soon it felt more like a punishment than recreation. I know there are people here on MeFi who read the Silmarillion for fun, but apart from perhaps the first few chapters of the Fellowship, I found it very hard going, even with a lot of fantasy reading under my belt.
posted by Deathalicious at 10:19 AM on May 12