Judith Way

Judith’s thesis focusses on young adult (YA) vampire romance, a popular genre in publishing for the last twenty years. The contemporary sexually alluring, and sympathetic portrayal of the vampire encompasses the desire for ostensible bad boys and danger, while couched in purported romantic protection. Vampires are desirable creatures that symbolise society’s obsession with beauty and immortality, juxtaposed with fear and sexual transgressions, neatly presented in a simultaneously dangerous/protective motif. The majority of the contemporary texts in this genre have been composed by women authors, featuring girl protagonists, for an implied young female audience. However, elements of coercive control are present in these books, with girl heroes required to recognise and challenge coercively controlling partners, families and societies.