The End of Percy Jackson

This week, I finally got my hands on "The Tower of Nero" by Rick Riordan. This book brought to conclusion the "Trials of Apollo" series and also the story of Percy Jackson in general. I read it in a couple of days, and I even took a break from school work a whole day just to complete it. Let me tell you... this book wrecked me. 

Before we go into how it emotionally destroyed me, let me give you a quick introduction to it. As I previously stated, "The Tower of Nero" is the last of a series, which is the third in the Percy Jackson story. In the "Trials of Apollo" the mentioned god is turned into a human by his father Zeus, as a punishment for something he did in the previous series. Now Apollo has taken the form of a mortal, with no powers or immortality, and he is made the slave of a little daughter of Demeter called Meg (who is the cutest thing to ever grace a book). 

Credits to Cookie Creation from Tumblr. 

Not only is Apollo a mortal slave, but he must also stop Python, a giant snake of ancient times who has taken control over Apollo's oracles, and with that it could control the very future itself. Not only that, but three ancient, evil Roman emperors are back: Nero, Caligula and and Commodus. They all have one intention: rule over all and kill Apollo. The latter must then rely on demigods, the ones he used for his own benefit in the past, to survive and get his godhood back. Apollo must also learn to be more human, feel compassion and empathy for once in his life, strive without the help of his godly family, and come face to face with the harm he has done as a divinity. 

Nero is a disgusting prick. 

The first time Apollo slayed Python. 

Now, as for "The Tower of Nero" itself, here's a quick review divided between the things I liked and the things I didn't. 

Things I liked: 

First of all, I really liked the writing style. I believe Rick Riordan is a masterful storyteller, and he knows exactly how to make you feel excitement, sadness, joy and desperation all in a couple of pages. The story flowed naturally, and there wasn't a single moment where the story lost its fast pace. The moments of personal reflection and internal monologues were not forced, the action sequences were amazing and so well written, and the emotional moments were (although short and simple) sad enough to shed a tear or two. 

These are the rest of the books in the series. 

Second, the characters were EVERYTHING! They are truly the heart and soul of this book and the rest of the series. Apollo has some major character growth in this series, but this book really cemented his development and the irrevocable truth that Riordan is an expert at character development. You can see how Apollo came from being a selfish, narcissistic and shallow god to someone with real feelings; he became considerate with others, he showed remorse for his mistakes, and he learned how to stay away from his toxic family. He learned to put some healthy boundaries between him and many relatives, which was great to read. 

Apollo really grew as a person. 
And he's smoking hot, which has nothing to do 
with him being the sun god. 

There was also Meg, the daughter of Demeter I previously mentioned. She was raised by the emperor Nero, who was very abusive towards her. During the series, we have Meg struggling with her feelings for Nero, and with her loyalty towards him. There are many signs of PTSD in her, and also the guilt often inflicted in victims by their abusers. In the last book we finally see Meg coming into her own, separating herself from Nero forever and realizing one important truth: it's never the victim's fault. 

Meg was a whole mood during these books.

This character aspect of the book brings me to the third thing I liked, which was the closure moments. You can see how much Riordan is going to miss his literary children, as he carefully places characters from the past in this last novel. Most major characters made a comeback one way or another, and it felt very natural for me; it didn't come off as forced. The book ends giving a proper ending to everyone, with most of the characters ending in a very good place with a hopeful future. Some wounds will never heal for them, such as losing one significant demigod (I won't spoil who it is), and the characters address this. They will never stop mourning their friend, but the best way to honor a loved one's memory is by not giving up, and by being the hero your friend always believed you were. 

Now, the things I didn't like: 

The book was filled with lots of humor, which is the case with all of Riordan's books. And that humor is typically great, but I feel like it was overdone in this series, and "The Tower of Nero" was no exception. There were some moments where I believe humor was not to be used, or at least not used so much; some moments required more seriousness in my opinion. For example, during the final battle against Nero, the latter punches a wrong button (long story) and instead of destroying everyone, some television screens come down from the ceiling. The characters have to fight each other while listening to Fox news. I really didn't like this, because I feel that it took away all the seriousness and danger this moment represented. 

Apollo as a human. He was known as 
Lester. 

Another thing I also didn't like was the final scene with Meg. Yes, it brought closure, but I was expecting more. The scene was over too quickly for me, and it didn't leave me the bittersweet feeling I was expecting. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad. After all, Meg ends in a very good place. But still, I was definitely expecting more. 

Credits to the artist!

The true heartbreaking thing of it all for me was realizing that this is the end. There will be no more books in the Percy Jackson world. This was the last year I waited for a new installment in the story, and the last time I will be reading about Percy and his friends. And of course I can go back and reread the books whenever I want, and revisit this world time after time. But it will never be the same. 

I cried a lot while reading "The Tower of Nero", mostly during the final scenes, the ones that brought closure to the characters. It felt as if I was saying goodbye to my friends, to people I deeply love. I started reading these books in my senior year of high school; I was 16 when I started "The Lightning Thief", and it shook me to the core. The Percy Jackson world was with me throughout college, and during my first years of adulthood. I became a teacher and the books were still coming out, including the two companion series- "The Kane Chronicles" based on Egyptian mythology, and "Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard" based on Norse mythology. 

I've been with this story for basically ten years already. Ten years is a lot of time! I've grown with these books, and I've learned so many things from them. They made me feel welcome and accepted, I laughed and cried with them, I came out of the closet thanks to them, and they gave me a safe home when everything around me was falling to pieces. No matter how long I live, where I go, what other books I might read: Percy Jackson will always stay with me.   

And now... what? What does the future hold? "The Tower of Nero" ended in such a way that it's open for the story to continue, but I'm not sure Rick Riordan will go back to it. Maybe he will focus on other stories, other mythologies, new characters. But I don't believe he will return to Percy Jackson. Whatever comes now from him, I'll be here for it. Meanwhile, I'll learn to go on. I may being overdramatic, but it really feels as if I lost a friend. I'll continue reading other books, falling in love with new others, but none of them will be like Percy. 

Credits to Nowhere Little Girl from Tumblr. 

An imaginary toast for: 

Percy- son of Poseidon 

Annabeth- daughter of Athena

Grover- a satyr 

Clarisse- daughter of Ares

Thalia- daughter of Zeus 

Piper and Silena- daughters of Aphrodite 

Nico- son of Hades 

Frank- son of Mars 

Leo and Beckendorf- sons of Hephaestus 

Meg- daughter of Demeter 

Hazel- daughter of Pluto 

Will- son of Apollo 

Reyna- Puerto Rican daughter of Bellona 

Connor and Travis- sons of Hermes

Rachel- oracle of Apollo 

Lou Ellen- daughter of Hecate 

Calypso- a former minor goddess

and Jason- son of Jupiter 

Thank you guys, for being my friends and family when I felt more alone than ever. 

P.S. I need some books on Asian and Celtic mythologies, please. 

I Read a Book so Sad it Made Me Smile

Recently, I decided to give a try to a children's book. This isn't my favorite type of literature, but I said, "Why not?" If I don't like it, then I don't have to continue with the rest of the series, since this particular book has several sequels. The book I am talking about is "The Bad Beginning", the first installment in "A Series of Unfortunate Events". 

It's a very short book, having 162 pages or so. You can read it one sitting, if you have time, and it's not complicated to understand. I must clarify: don't think that just because it's a children's book it's going to be "dumb" or boring. Quite the contrary! Even though I'm a twenty-something adult and I generally prefer more mature literature, I still enjoyed the novel. Children will probably enjoy it more than I did, but still. It was a pretty cool read. 

Now, I know of some friends who know nothing about this series and its world, and haven't seen the series' adaptations. So, what is it about? 

"A Series of Unfortunate Events" is a series of thirteen books narrated by fictional Lemony Snicket; he's the narrator, not the author. The books tell the misadventures of the three Baudelaire orphans: Violet, Klaus and Sunny. Once belonging to a wealthy, happy family, it all comes to an end when their parents die in a fire that consumes their house and belongings. According to their parents' will, the children must love with their closest relative, which is (supposedly) Count Olaf. 

The Count is a horribly cruel man, who treats the children like slaves. He is verbally, emotionally, and physically abusive with them; needless to say, the children suffer a lot under his tutelage. The Count is after the Baudelaire's fortune, but then he learns that the children won't inherit the money until Violet (the eldest) comes of age. Therefore, Count Olaf starts planning on ways he can have the children's wealth, even if it means murdering them. 

After the children's stay with Count Olaf, and fouling his devious plan to marry Violet and get her fortune, the Baudelaire's move from one relative to another, from place to place, escaping from Count Olaf and his minions. The children face countless hardships and tragedies throughout the novels, and they barely escape with their lives from every danger that comes in their way. 

As for the book itself, there were many things I liked, and I wasn't really expecting to like so many things about it. First of all, the characters. They are truly the heart of the book, including both heroes and villains. The children especially capture your heart from the very first page, as you can't help but feel sorry for them, give them a huge hug and a safe place to stay. 

Violet is the eldest Baudelaire and fourteen at the beginning of the series; by the end of the books, she's sixteen. Violet is distinguished by being a natural leader, a caring person, and also kind, polite and resourceful. She can be headstrong and gets frustrated with adults, and she will always put her siblings first. She's an inventor since a young age, and she's capable of creating many useful things that help her and her siblings escape from danger. 

Klaus is the middle child, and shares a close relationship with Violet. Like his elder sister, he's very protective of Sunny. He is twelve years old by the beginning of the series, and fourteen at the end. Klaus is alike his sister in politeness and kindness; he's also resourceful and strong. He is a very observant boy, who questions everything and everyone, and can be quite spirited. Klaus is an avid reader from a young age, and he read almost every single one of the books that used to exist in his former house; his book knowledge saves the three of them multiple times. 

Sunny is the youngest of the Baudelaire orphans, being around one year old by the start of the series and three around the end. Even though she's only a baby, she is as polite as her siblings, and does a lot of things that a normal can't do, such as: swordfight, being a secretary, and climbing with her own teeth. The latter is her most distinguishing feature; by the beginning of the books, Sunny has only four teeth which are so sharp that can cut through rock. Her siblings have been aided by this biting ability more than once. 

Then of course, there's Count Olaf himself. A devious man full of malice, greed, bad manners and a serious case of disorganization in his house. The Count is the series main villain, and he's always persecuting the Baudelaire orphans to murder them and take their wealth. He uses multiple disguises to hunt the kids, and he murders anyone who comes between him and the children, including their tutors.

 Now that I've talked about the characters, another thing I enjoyed with the book was the language and how it was used. The book is written in a very simple way, so children can understand it. Nevertheless, it's engaging and fun, and it successfully transmits the gloomy atmosphere of the story. But what I liked the most about the language was the vocabulary words. The author uses several words that might not be understood the first time you read them, so he provides a definition of such word and an example within the story. For example: when the children are informed of their parents' death, the informer uses the word "perished". The author makes a quick pause on which he explains what perished means, and writes an example using the book's situation at hand. This particular element for me is fascinating, and very helpful for all readers. 

The third element that I liked from the book was the setting. The world of the Baudelaire children is set in a timeless place. The book has drawings, which represent different types of clothes, objects and architecture from different eras. The story might take place in the 40's, 50's, 90's or 2020 for all we know. This for me is a brilliant thing, as the books never grow old, they are never stuck in one place in history. The setting also has a very gloomy, depressing atmosphere which I adore; the drawings that accompany the story reinforce this gloomy aspect. 

The last thing I liked about the story were the ideas present in it. Yes, the book and its sequels can be quite depressing at times. They have a big amount of darkness in them, and they are not to be taken lightly. I mean, we're talking about a group of siblings who are being continuously hunted by a man who wants to murder them. The children are tortured in many ways, they never find solace, their tutors are murdered one by one, most adults don't believe or help them, they have no place to go, and the only people they can really count on is themselves. But this last idea is what the makes the story so special. 

As I said, the story can be very sad. But it also has some beautiful aspects. One of them is the theme of hope. No matter what happens, the Baudelaire children give each other hope when they need it most, believing that someday they will escape from their trauma and survive despite de darkness that surrounds them. Resilience is also a very big theme in the story; the children use their unique, individual talents to defeat the villains and strive under the circumstances. They never give up easily, and are always ready to fight their monsters. And last but not least, the biggest theme of all is family love.

The Baudelaire kids love each other deeply, They uplift their spirits, give each other a reason to go on, and no matter how cruel the world might be, they don't let that cruelty shape or destroy them. It shows us that family will always be there, that our siblings are people we can count on if we trust them, and that home will always be the brightest place in the world. But where is hope when your house is burned to the ground and your parents die with it? Easy: home is where the heart is. Wherever the orphans may be, as long as they have each other, they will always be home. 

The only thing I didn't like about the book was how short it was! I was surprised to see how much I wanted to go on, and now I can't wait to read the second book, following the unfortunate events that fall upon the children. 

"A Series of Unfortunate Events" has been adapted twice.. The first time was as a movie, and the second one as a Netflix series. I'm not a big fan of both works, but they do have their strengths and weaknesses.

The movie was a terrible adaptation, in the sense that it mixed three books into one movie, and the plot didn't really work. But they captured the timeless setting of the story quite well, the casting was pretty good, and the story as a whole was presented correctly: a sad tale, with tragic heroes and terrible villains. I wasn't a fan of Jim Carrey as Count Olaf, but at least he could look menacing when he needed to. The movie managed to make you feel deeply sad for the children and their situation, which is a success. 

The Netflix adaptation also has a good casting. The children in this version are better suited for their book counterparts, and I like how they act better. The setting looks gloomier, the music is good, and they follow the books a little closer. But there are two things I seriously dislike about the TV series. One of them is the tone of it all. They made the series too funny, too silly, and they dumbed down the tone. Yes, the books have an absurdist element to them, but that doesn't make them a comedy. I hate it so much when children's stories are dumbed down, which is something that Disney tends to do a lot nowadays by the way. At least the movie took the story more seriously; the series is black comedy, and it's not even good. 

The other thing I didn't like about the Netflix adaptation was the casting of Count Olaf. Here he is played by Neil Patrick Harris, and even though he looks the part, he doesn't know how to act it. His Count Olaf is completely preposterous (ridiculous) and stupid. I hate it so much when villains are portrayed that way. Count Olaf is not someone you're supposed to laugh at; he is absurd a lot of times, but that doesn't make him a comic relief. He is a monster in human skin, and Neil Patrick Harris wasn't able to capture that. I believe the fault doesn't fall completely on him, because I think the director and writers have a lot to do with that. But still... his portrayal makes me cringe more than it makes me cheer. Also, why is he practically the center of the series? Yes, he's the main villain, but the protagonists are the Baudelaire orphans, not him. 

In conclusion, I really liked this first book. I think I will continue reading the series, as I'm very intrigued by it. It's the first time a children's book gets me excited to read more, even when I was a kid. I don't plan on continuing watching the Netflix series though. I don't like wasting my time on things I know I'm not going to like. I'd rather read the books, and no let the adaptation ruin the experience for me. 

If you are interested in books about: orphans, horrible villains, bad actors, giant snakes, wide windows, ladies obsessed with grammar, mysterious societies, incompetent adults, miserable mills, an austere academy, an inventor, a reader and a biter- then these books are for you. But fair warning: there is no happy ending, and very few happy things in between. If you're like me, this is exactly the type of story you're looking for. 

P.S. I wish I could adopt the Baudelaire children. Those three deserve a break. 

Christmas 2020: Tears, Friendship and Hope

These past few weeks, I've been having the same thought over and over: how is Christmas going to be like this year? Will it be terribly sad, or will we be able to adapt? Families won't be able to come together for Christmas as they used to, nor will friends- at least not the responsible ones. Will the virus go through a new phase? Considering that a lot of people are fed up with it and will probably meet in large groups, this seems likely. So, I wonder: what is there to expect from Christmas 2020? 

I know of a lot of people who are expecting nothing good from this Christmas. Many think it will be just plain sad and depressing, since they won't be seeing their families. Others think that considering all that has happened this year, there's nothing to celebrate for, that there's nothing good awaiting for us on Christmas. I can't say I blame them. 

From a personal point of view, I wasn't looking forward celebrating the holiday this year. What for, I used to ask. My job has been taking a serious toll on my mental health, to the point where I'm considering going back to my psychologist. I feel my depression growing worse by the day, and I might be developing anxiety. My mom has been very supportive every day, but other relatives have been exhausting to deal with. My classes have been extremely hard, and I'm talking about the courses I'm studying; my time to rest and disconnect has been cut terribly short, my assignments are getting longer and harder, and I'm not getting enough sleep. My house has been running through a lot of problems, I'm struggling with some finances, and everything just seems to be getting out of my control- and that is terrifying for me. 

I was really looking forward to something I could hold on to. Something that I could grasp and I wouldn't feel as if I was drowning by the second. During this process, I did find some things that helped: I read my books little by little, because now I don't have as much time as I used to before; I started trying new things such as television series I never saw before, such as "Supergirl", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Titans", "The Boys" and "True Blood"; I've kept in touch with my three friends, sharing our tears, frustrations, struggles and the little hope we have left; and I've grown a little closer to my mom, because she's my rock and the one who holds me (sometimes literally) when my whole world is coming to pieces. 

To summarize it, it hasn't been easy finding a little spark day by day. But then November arrived, and I saw all the Christmas decorations everywhere. Something sparked inside me then; I didn't know what it was then, but now I know it was related to Christmas. 

I started planning something. I wanted to decorate my house this year, as I have never decorated it before. Nothing too fancy or extravagant, just something that felt nice and comfortable for me. I started looking more seriously at my expenses, so I could save some money for what I was planning. Just the idea of buying my own things for my house felt incredibly exciting. I got a small Christmas tree, some decorations (of which there will be more later), and a stuffed Grinch which I love to pieces. Today I'm actually planning on setting up the tree, which I admit makes me very happy. 

So, what is it with Christmas and this tiny spark rising inside of me? It could be the pretty lights and beautiful decorations. Maybe it's about the joyful music all around me. Perhaps it's about the gifts, but not really; I don't care much about presents for myself. No... I think this spark is just for the pure joy of Christmas itself, and the promise of happiness that comes with it. The idea that everything will turn out alright, no matter what. 

Christmas is about joy, peace, happiness, sharing and being grateful for our lives and every small blessing we have. Even though most things in this year have been pure trash, I still have some things I am grateful for: 

1- My friends, whom I love with my life. 

2- My mom, who has been there from the start and is one of the main reasons why I'm still here. 

3- The fact that my family and friends have stayed safe from the virus. 

4- I am still healthy as well. 

5- I have found ways to increase my self esteem, little by little. 

6- Despite how hard it has been, I am still here. I am still breathing. I haven't done anything to harm myself in any way. 

7- I have learned and discovered new things, which is amazing for me because I love to learn. 

8- I am looking for smarter ways to handle my finances. 

9- I got some new books! Yay!!! 

10- I am alive. 

Being grateful every day is something new to me. I'm more used to complaining and sulking, which I'm not proud of but it's the truth. But I'm trying a new perspective now, and I think it suits me. 

Back to my main point though, Christmas this year is going to be hard on us all. Everyone will be going through it in different ways, but it will certainly be difficult. Does that mean it will all be bad? I don't think so. 

Today, while I put up my tree and decorate it, while I sing (horribly) to my Christmas music playlist, I'll be thinking of everything that Christmas brings, everything that it promises. We might not be able to be physically with everyone we love this year, and that hurts a lot, but that doesn't mean that same love is not present. 

Speaking of love, I think it comes wrapped in many ways. Yesterday, I met with two of my best friends again. One of them I haven't seen since December 2019, and it felt like a full life had passed for how much I missed her. I know we shouldn't have, but that hug we shared was inevitable. Breathing suddenly became easier, smiles came more naturally, and some other sparks ignited in me. I didn't know just how I missed her till I saw her. She was my first real friend, and thanks to her I met my two other friends. I am eternally grateful for yesterday; I got to see her, hear her laugh again, share our day like we used to, and be happy together. We talk every single day, no exceptions, but I did need to see her. It's the first time since we met that we have spent so much time apart. So, if she's reading this, please know that I love you with every part of my soul, that I missed you terribly, and that I'm grateful for you every day.

I missed days like yesterday. I missed us, the three of us. I missed that love, that happiness. The three of us together felt right, perfect, as if time had never passed. I know that no matter what happens now, no matter the difficulties the three of us might go throw, we'll always stick together. Distance and time is nothing for people who love each other. 

Love, no matter how it comes, will always be stronger than hate. Hope will always be stronger than fear. Yes, I am terribly afraid of everything that is to come; the future isn't written in stone, and this year is not over yet. And who knows what might happen in 2021... Today though, I choose to focus on the blessings I have. Today I choose to feel hopeful despite the circumstances. Today I choose light over darkness once again. With friends who love me by my side, my faithful cats, my books, my mom and a Christmas tree, this holiday season won't be as depressing as I thought it would be. 

This Christmas, be grateful for what have and you don't. Love deeply, no matter what, and remember the true meaning of this holiday. Take care of yourself, and be gentle with your own process; your mental health is important, now more than ever. Take deep breaths and take time for yourself, it's important and it's going to help you- believe me, it will. I hope this Christmas is gentle for you, and that you may find happiness in whatever form it comes. 

Have you ever struggled to find your house keys? Have you grown desperate with the search because you can't find those damn keys anywhere? Have you then realized you had them in your hands all along? Well... the same thing happens often with happiness. 

Sending everyone a huge hug, and may the holidays begin!

P.S. I'm a cold hearted b**** when I want to be, so don't be fooled by all this loving thing. 

A Vampire's Seduction

During these past weeks, I rediscovered an old passion of mine: vampires. To distract me from my job and all the stress, I've been watching "True Blood", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and the "Underworld" movies. With all of this influence, an old, forgotten passion I had for vampirism awoke again. I find myself now looking for more vampiric tales, filled with darkness, blood, seduction and danger. But why? What is it about vampires that make them so attractive to us? 

That's the question I will try to answer in today's post, and also explore different vampires. 

So, go going back to my previous question, why are vampires so attractive to many of us? I mean, they're violent, gory, dark, creatures of the night and evil. Therefore, why are we pulled towards them? 

In our world, there have been different takes on the vampire figure, and many of them have managed to make the idea of vampirism attractive enough for some us wanting to join them. But according to history, vampires are not such a modern idea. They may originate from ancient Egypt, where some people believe Egyptians summoned a demon from another world through sorcery. Ancient Greeks may also have helped with their myth of the Empusa, a female monster with one leg of copper and the other one of a donkey, with living flames for hair, and a taste for human blood. 

Empusa made by Morphicelus on DeviantArt. 

Regardless of the vampire origins, there is no doubt that the vampire is here to stay. The proof is in our pop culture elements, many of which have been influenced by vampirism. From Halloween ideas, to books, television series and movies, vampires are now more attractive than ever. 

Let's look at them, shall we? 

We have for example the vampires in Bram Stoker's "Dracula". The titular character is perhaps the world's most famous vampire of all, with a desire not only for blood, but to dominate as well. Dracula was able to turn into a wolf, a bat, a dog, or even mist and fog. He influences the actions of many people, kidnaps some others, and preys on the innocent (of course he does). His story has been adapted many times, in numerous ways and fashions. But no matter the version, he is one powerful being, made scarier by the fact that he was inspired by someone who actually existed: Vlad the Impaler. 

Dracula in his 1992 movie adaptation. 

Dracula's classic adaptation in 1931.

Dracula even appears as one of Marvel's villains.
 

This is Vlad the Impaler, one of the main inspirations for 
Dracula. 

Then there are the "Vampire Chronicles" by Anne Rice, which took the world by storm and showed the vampire more humanized than ever. Before Anne Rice's books, the world only knew the vampire as a soulless monster, a killing machine with no other purpose in this world other than murder. But Anne Rice did something with the vampire never seen before her: she gave them depth, a soul, a purpose, a history. We saw the world through the eyes of the monsters and we found out that they were more human than we thought. Yes, they're still dark and dangerous creatures, but they are so much more than that. In her books, Anne Rice's vampires also explore deep philosophical questions such as the existence of their soul and if they're damned to Hell; their morals or lack thereof, especially considering what they eat; if God really exists and if he does, then how does he feel about them; if they're actually evil because of their diet, considering we humans also kill to eat and survive; and what does an immortal life really implies, and the effects of it upon a vampire's psyche. 

The vampire family I fell in love with: 
Louis, Claudia and Lestat. 

Akasha, ancient Egyptian Queen. Mother of vampires. 
First of her kind. 

With Charlaine Harris, we moved to the south of the United States in Louisiana, with vampires more human than ever. Through the eyes of Sookie Stackhouse, we met vampires such as Bill Compton, Eric Northman and Pam Ravenscroft, who after the public outing of vampires to the human world, walked and worked among us normally. Of course Harris' books go further than just vampires, as she explores maenads, faeries, witches, shapeshifters and werewolves. But the true stars of her books were always the vampires, who posed to us a very simple but eternal premise: We just want to belong, and be treated equally. 

Sookie was so lucky. That's all I'm saying. 

Eric and Sookie, made by Clefchan in DeviantArt. 

Then "The Vampire Diaries" and "Twilight" came, and the idea of the vampire changed forever. These book series (later adapted for TV and cinema) placed the vampire in a totally new place: high-school. We may not like this idea that much, but we cannot deny the fact that both books took the vampire genre to the next level, making these creatures more accessible to young readers, and stepping up the game of pop culture. With "Twilight" and "Vampire Diaries" we see a new take of the vampire: a creature who passes off as human to survive and fit in. After all, many times teenagers have done everything in their power to fit in with others and survive in a school society that often rejects the ones who are different. Therefore, even though in my opinion these two series are not exactly the best, they do capture the reality of many teenagers, albeit in a supernatural way. 

A photo of the books because the TV adaptation wallpapers
are way too cringy. 

Again, the movies' wallpapers and pictures are
too full of cringe. 

Speaking of high-school, we also have television series such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", where the titular character began her journey in high-school and later went on to college. Buffy destroyed not only vampires but also other menacing, dark creatures such as monsters and demons. In this take on vampires, the creatures went back to being killing machines, with less supernatural powers, but surprising depth in many cases. Buffy herself fell in love with some vampires, proving that underneath all that violence, they still have a soul. 

Where was Buffy when Edward Cullen and his family
came into town? Just saying.  

The vampire has also taken the role of a warrior, with works of fiction such as "Blade" and "Underworld". The first is about a man half-human and half-vampire who hunts other vampires. Then we have Selene in "Underworld" who starts her story by fighting against werewolves, and then changes her course by fighting her own species. 

I think Blade is a very underrated hero. 

Selene was pure awesomeness. Period. 

Then we have books such as the "Vampire Academy" series by Richelle Mead, on which several vampire ideas were mixed: warriors, high-school and later college, magical powers over the elements, hunting down evil vampires, and their relationship with other beings of the supernatural world such as alchemists and witches. The "Vampire Academy" books made us relate to the vampire characters like never before; we also loved the main books' friendship with our whole hearts, and swooned at the fantastic romance. These books also went more into detail with the vampire society, regarding their politics, economy, religion and education. These books took vampires to the ultimate level of supremacy. I still prefer the "Vampire Chronicles", but Mead's vampire society was so well built that I can't help but love it. 

Rose and Lissa are friendship goals. 

So, now that we have seen vampires and their different adaptations, the question arises again: why are vampires so attractive to us? Is it because of their high level of darkness? Are we perhaps attracted to the darkness itself? And if so, why? After all, since we were children our parents have been pulling us away from all things dark, mysterious and dangerous; other parents were more liberal of course, but still. All these tales of vampires used to inflict pure horror in the hearts of people, while nowadays, people even wish to be a vampire. 

We can't deny that the vampire offers a very tempting idea: the promise of eternal life. All of us, at least in one point in our lives have wished to live forever. The vampires offer us that chance, or at least the possibility to imagine how it would be. With this immortal life there is the incredibly high sex appeal, as vampires are known to be very sexual creatures. There is the promise of violence, the feeling of danger, complete inhibition, no sin, no punishment, no human laws or rules, superhuman gifts, eternal youth, and being able to just let go. Being free enough to live out our innermost wishes, with almost no consequence. Being creatures of the night, governed by none. 

Anne Rice made me fall in love with the vampire world. 

I believe the idea of vampires appeals to us so much because of everything I previously stated. The idea of vampires allows our dark, wild side to roam free. We lose ourselves in this fantasy, thinking of how everything would be if we could only do what we wish. We live under so many rules and laws that just the possibility of being free from all of them is exciting. Yes, the vampire world is dangerous and scary most of the time. But still... the desire to be a part of it is very real. 

In conclusion, I believe vampires are a symbol of freedom, and a symbol for the sexy appeal of darkness and danger. Not everything in our lives can be all innocent, light and sweet all the time. Sometimes we need to be tempted, and what better thing than to fall into temptation from time to time? Vampires might have been perceived as monsters from the beginning, and as a dark tale to scare children in the night. But they are so much more than we believe. 

Thank you to all the authors who brought the vampires to us, but mostly Anne Rice. Thank you for everything you've done. 

P.S. This post goes dedicated to one of my best friends, Dianaryz. She made me fall for vampires from the start, and I hope she likes this post if she reads it.