A Brief History of the Female Vampire by LT Getty, author of Dreams of Mariposa

Do you think you know it all about vampires? Test your knowledge with this brief look at the history of the female vampire, given to us by author LT Getty. Then check out an excerpt from her book Dreams of Mariposa before you download a copy for yourself. Check out the rest of the tour to learn even more! And best of luck entering the giveaway!

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A Brief History of The Female Vampire

Dracula is perhaps the most well known or iconic vampire in media, but the idea of female vampires occurring not only in Stoker’s work as his trio of vampire brides is not unique. Though not the first novel to feature a vampire, (that belongs to Polidori’s The Vampyre, 1816) the female Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu was published more than two decades prior, in 1872 as compared to Stoker’s Dracula’s publication being 1897. Historically speaking, these novels came much later than the history and legends of female vampires. If we go beyond the word ‘vampire’ and look for common traits, such as beings that drank blood and were uniquely female, we see an interesting collection of stories that usually centered around demonic shapeshifters. 

Vampires as well as other creatures that drink blood can be found in many cultures throughout the world, and this is by no means a comprehensive list. 

Perhaps the most prominent figure in history would be the succubus, a beautiful demon who would seduce and sometimes even rape men, with her male counterpart being the Incubus. Stories of night terrors and night hags exist to this day.
We can find more specific cultural references to monsters who drank human blood, and oftentimes were always female. The Jewish legend of the Estries, is about a female shapeshifter that only fed on the blood but could walk on holy ground. In ancient Greece there were no shortage of monsters classical heroes had to vanquish. One was said to be the Empusa, a female shape-shifter said to possess a single leg of copper. They were thought be controlled by the goddess Hectate and seduced and then fed upon young men. Ancient Babylonians had tales of the mythical Lilitu, creatures that were thought to pray on pregnant women, and were especially fond of their newborn babies.

We don’t have to go into ancient legends to find inspiration to what would eventually become the early gothic works, our own history is often enough. While it’s common knowledge that many attribute Vlad the Impaler as the primary source, many cite Elizabeth of Bathorymight as one of the inspirations of for Dracula. Bathory’s notoriety comes from reasonable evidence she might be history’s most prolific serial killer, with her and several accomplices luring 10-14 year old girls to her castle for desire of work, then torturing them. Though it remains possible that there was political motivation to make accusations towards Bathory, more than 300 witnesses were called and she was accused of killing and torturing over 600 girls, with some of the more horrific accounts citing she chose to bathe in their blood to retain a youthful complexion. The number was never confirmed. The reality was she was found guilty and was only not executed because of her social standing and familial power. While some historians say she was placed under strict house arrest, it was said she was bricked inside a room in her castle. There is often no way of telling fact from fiction, and no doubt some of Bathory’s actions have grown into more legend than historical fact, however history will likely always remember Bathoryas as a real monster.

I intentionally chose to focus on the past in this post, but please don’t feel obligated to do the same. What are some of your favorite legends of vampire like creatures? Do you have any favorite female vampires that come to mind?

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_literature
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_B%C3%A1thory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estries
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empusa

Every decade, Marie must leave her home and everything she loves to start anew. She can’t risk the locals learning the truth of her immortality, much less her vampiric need of feeding off fear. Fortunately for Marie, fear comes easily and she spends her endless days mourning the loss of her beloved.

When she is summoned to the leaders of the masquerade, she is persuaded to assist them in uncovering a mystery of powers possibly more ancient then their own order.

As a rare daywalker of exquisite beauty, there is no society Marie cannot infiltrate. Having spent the last few centuries growing into her abilities, she expects to learn of the old powers, and return to her lonely eternity of mourning.

She doesn’t expect to fall in love.

Read an excerpt:

I could smell the inside of the building as being more than simply old and in need of a maid. It smelled of old earth and iron. I sensed nothing out of the ordinary, which told me the devious one likely had means of cloaking. Curious, as most old houses at least had hints of hauntings.

He led me past a set of stairs and into what was probably once a receiving parlor, but he had many dusty tomes and tall bookshelves, and a ladder besides to get to the highest levels. One could not easily get to the furniture, which was draped in ugly fabric. Boxes and crates littered the floor. The cad hadn’t the sense to tidy up and make an effort when he knew he was having a lady visitor.

“How many of your kind are there in town?” Septimus asked. “More than a dozen?”

I laughed, looking up at the ghostly pale portraits. He had strange tastes in art, preferring a more stylized appropriation than realistic or idealized beauty. I saw a reference to ancient gods, destroying towns and descending upon mortal women to force upon them their demi-god offspring. Half-naked women in chains being molested was his true artistic preference, it seemed. I should have brought Rosa. Even if he only dabbled in finger-paints, she needed only half an excuse to show skin, and perhaps I could have rooted around and discovered what he was up to without his condescension.

“As…we like to keep to ourselves and go without detection, it is more like half that.” I didn’t bore him of the needs of the lesser of my kin. “Have you had many run-ins with my kind?”

“I was curious about how you go about feeding without being detected.” He turned his back on me and lit the fire almost too easily.

Buy Links:

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About LT Getty

L.T. Getty is a science fiction and fantasy writer who hails from the Canadian Prairies. When she’s not writing, you can likely find her driving an ambulance and dreaming about travel.

Blog: https://ltgetty.wordpress.com/

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479207.L_T_Getty
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48991028-dreams-of-mariposa

L.T. Getty will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway