Earlier, we reported on the casting for Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series being turned into film (and Chelsea Mueller assured us “it's going to be okay.”)

In addition to the three leads—Rose, Lissa, and Dimitri—the producers have announced more cast members, including the parts of Mia, Mason, Jesse, and Karp. Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace) has already been cast as Kirova.

Here's Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters' description:

St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school–it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's–the very place where they're most in danger. Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi–the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires–make Lissa one of them forever.

Mia will be played by Sami Gayle (Blue Bloods), Cameron Monaghan (Shameless) will be Mason Ashford, Ashley Charles is Jesse Zeklos and Claire Foy (White Heat) will play Karp.

Interestingly, the producers have decided not to feature Eddie Castillo in this film, since it's only later in the series that Eddie's actions and role become important. The producers commented, “Basically, it is difficult to find a charismatic, high-caliber actor to play an unfortunately but necessarily reduced role. We all felt it best for the first film and the Eddie Castile character himself to wait for Frostbite, where Eddie's role is more full-bodied so we could find a more special actor. Apologies for any pain this decision may cause…”

Filming begins in two weeks, with a scheduled release date of on Feb. 14, 2014.

Vampire books have ensnared readers for years. Sometimes we think they’re sexy, other times we think they’re scary, but the creature of the night mythos follows a familiar trope.

If you think you might be burned out on vampires, maybe it’s time to try a vampire book done in a fresh way. Authors are changing the game with vampires, modifying the worlds they live in, the ways they can be killed and how they interact with their own kind.

What if vampires thought humans were extinct?

Andrew Fukuda plays with this idea in his book The Hunt. In his world, the few remaining humans have to pretend to be vampires. They go to school and work with vampires and force themselves to fake it. They hide all emotions, conceal goosebumps, never laugh and even fake the vampires’ reaction to something humorous—scratching at their wrist.

[Just be careful how hard you scratch...]

They may be covered in blood, but the men are still hot (and in the case of Bill, a little bit crazy) in the Season 6 True Blood trailer.

When we last left Bon Temps, Bill had just gone crazy and been killed/possessed/reincarnated by Lillith and everyone was screaming and running for their lives as they tried to escape the compound. While the world seems to be caving in on everyone as Louisiana declares war on vampires, and the vamps face off against each other, there still seems to be time for some lovin'. What couples are you looking forward to seeing in Season 6—we have Tara/Pam, Alcide/Rikki, Eric/Sookie, and will we see more of Jessica/Jason?

What are you looking forward to in Season 6? Don't miss the premiere on June 16!

See all of our True Blood coverage on our feature page—including trailers, recaps, and news!

While we were having some renewed hope for Season 6 of True Blood we've been dealt a potentially fatal blow—as has one of the major characters of the show!

A rumor has been going around today that a major True Blood character will be killed off in Season 6. Last we saw, Billith was about to go on a killing spree so the death blow may be dealt in that very first episode—or not... In an Entertainment Weekly article Joe Mangienello who plays Alcide, teased that there will be new faces added to the show, but don't count on anyone being safe:

“We're getting to the point in the season now where people are starting to die. The table reads are starting to get smaller, and I'm sure they will continue to do that.”

Other rumors have circulated that Eric, played by Alexander Skarsgard, will meet the true death. Would this be a deal breaker for you? If nothing else, we're ready to get the tissues out for Season 6!

What do you think of this gossip? Is there anyone you'd be “okay with” dying? Would you stop watching the show if they killed off a character?

Check out all our other True Blood coverage before the premiere of Season 6 June 16.

We recap True Blood episodes each season here at Heroes & Heartbreakers. It’s the perfect fit for us. It’s based on great novels. There are alpha males everywhere. The sex is worth talking about, even if it’s just for “Did you see that?” comments. And every one of us who watches that show has a hero to root for (and some fans of the books are chanting Quinn’s name right now).

However, we can admit the show goes off the rails. There’s plenty of WTFery. So, if you’re not sure about watching Season 6, which will premiere on HBO in June, allow us to give you 20 solid reasons to watch True Blood.

1. Alexander Skarsgard

(Image credit: Tobias Lundkvist / credit info via Askarsgard.com)

ASkars is the Swedish model and actor who smolders on screen as Eric Northman. We dedicated a whole post to scenes in which you see this man naked, because hot damn. He likes being naked in real life, too, and his character brags about his hours-and-hours of sexual prowess. Plus, he fits our romance hero need for the ultra tall.

2. Alexander Skarsgard’s Booty

For serious, folks. Do you want to miss your chance at seeing more of that ass?

[+ 12 more reasons, in case you're not already convinced...]

Each month, we ask our bloggers to share the best thing they’ve read (or things, plural, if our bloggers declare a tie ’cause they just can’t choose). It doesn’t have to be a new book, as evidenced below; just something that made the month sparkle a bit more.

Without further ado, here’s the installment for April 2013 (and if you’ve missed any, be sure to check out past recs via the related posts section at the bottom of the post):

Leigh Davis

I have a ying and yang approach to reading. While sometimes I do find books that make me laugh, and tug on my heartstrings, it can be rare. So I alternate between the two.  Reminiscent of an I Love Lucy episode, with it hilarious farcical comedy, Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella, is full of merriment and amusement. Of course there are true gems of living interspersed too, like believing in yourself, and the truism that one person can make a difference. Still when I think back over my reading for April, I remember my delight in reading a truly funny book. (Read Leigh's First Look post on Wedding Night.)

Emily Giffin succeeded in writing the perfect blend of bittersweet, mixed with hope and renewal in her paperback release of Where We Belong.  She doesn’t sugarcoat the awkwardness, and discomfort after the heroine, Marian Caldwell opens the door one night to find the eighteen-year-old daughter she gave up for adoption waiting there.  Deep in uncharted waters both Marian and her daughter attempt to forge new relationships and define old ones.  The characters and the scenarios stayed with me long after I closed the book.

[The rest of the best...]

Seemingly ages ago, author and Star Trek guru Jacqueline Lichtenberg wrote about alien vampires in her books Those of My Blood (1988) and Dreamspy (1989). Given their mix of science fiction, fantasy, and romance, the stories are among the forerunners of paranormal romance.

Fast forward to 2012: Nina Croft’s Break Out (Entangled Publishing) hits the virtual shelves. Break Out features a supernatural-based vampire hero in a futuristic setting. It’s a lighthearted action-adventure space opera romp about a space pirate vampire who joins forces with the heroine to rescue her brother from the maximum security prison of a powerful corporation.

As a vampire living in the far future, Rico has emotional baggage, but he’s not highly angst-driven. Given his history, he’s a Friend of Old Earth, so there are quite a few Old Earth references. At one point he plays poker with actual cards—no holographic card deck for him!

In terms of mythology and the cultural mindset toward vampires, Rico is still a mythical being in that world. He’s a known space pirate, but people like Skylar, the heroine, have only heard whispers about his true nature. On the other hand, his crew knows exactly what he is. He bares his fangs a time or two and has glowing eyes. The fact that he seems only mildly concerned about hiding his true nature raises the question about how humans from a technologically advanced culture would react to an ancient vampire in their midst. Would they even fear him?

[That's a good question...]

I came to romance as an adult reader, and realized that what attracted me were things I had always sought out in my other genre reading, whether fantasy, science fiction, or mystery: interesting characters who had problems they could solve with the help of others. In romance, the main romantic couple are generally the interesting characters, and they help each other to solve the problem, whether it be a search for meaning in life, a need for safety, or escape from being rich and rakish. In fantasy, there may be a couple of main characters, or there may be a larger group with more complex interrelationships.

The books and authors described here should provide a starting place for romance readers who’ve wanted to try fantasy on for size; if we’re lucky, those who are fantasy readers already might find something new they’d like to read.

[Prepare to add to your TBR pile!]

*****Beware Lover at Last Spoilers*****

At an event today in Cincinnati, Ohio, J.R. Ward revealed that the next book in her Black Dagger Brotherhood series will be titled The King, and will focus on Wrath and Beth, who will be trying for a baby.

The King will be out in 2014. More details as we get them, of course.

What do you think? Surprised, excited, disappointed?

If you’re a long-time Black Dagger Brotherhood fan, you know every book lays the groundwork for the next.

While immersed in the heady, angsty romance of Qhuinn and Blaylock in Lover at Last, I wasn’t thinking about whose story might come next. Instead I was wanting them to get out of their own way to make it work. (Read our spoiler-filled discussion post, if you want the details.) However, the second I hit the last page, my mind started churning scenarios.

What would happen in the next book and would the next love story be the one I wanted most?

On my ultimate wishlist would be Xcor and Layla’s story. There is a huge emotional upheaval quotient here. By being with Xcor, Layla would be betraying everyone she knows and loves. Could the traitor turn things around for his Chosen? It’s hard to say. I expect their journey requires losses, compromises, and epic sacrifices. As much as I can’t wait for that story, I doubt J.R. Ward is ready to tell it.

[Whose story could she be ready to tell?...]

More and more frequently, authors give their readers a little treat by writing a short story between novels so that a minor secondary character in their series can get a little HEA. They are a gift to us from the author and I know I should simply accept this present and say thank you.

Yet there is a delicate art to writing a story that has just the right combination of well-written, enjoyable characters that can engage us for a short period of time. From time to time I have read a short story that is so enjoyable that I find myself actually angry when it ends abruptly because there was just so much further the author could have taken us, yet they leave the story half told or with so many unanswered questions.

[But not always!...]

Here you have it: A complete play-by-play of all of the events in J.R. Ward's Lover at Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood #11), out today. This review is made up ENTIRELY of SPOILERS and is intended only as a place for fans to gather and discuss the book AFTER reading it, so if you have yet to finish, steer clear of anything after the jump. Go finish the book, then come back. (There's a non-spoiler-y First Look of Lover at Last here to whet your appetite, plus a Qhuay timeline!)

MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW THE JUMP.

SPOILERS SO MAJOR THEY WILL RUIN THE BOOK FOR YOU IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

[Ready to discuss allllll the Lover at Last things?!...]

EDITOR'S NOTE: This here is a NON-SPOILERY post! To talk spoilers (as in, any major events or developments in Lover at Last), visit our Lover at Last SPOILERS POST!

J.R. Ward
Lover at Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood #11)
Penguin / March 26, 2013 / $27.95 print, $14.99 digital 

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: it seems Qhuinn has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young. It’s hard for Blay to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. And Qhuinn needs to come to terms with some dark things before he can move forward…

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.

It wouldn’t be a J.R. Ward Black Dagger Brotherhood novel without name brands and pop culture, and Lover at Last doesn't disappoint. From John Matthew and Qhuinn discussing how the Antichrist is surely coming due to the fact that Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber are on the radio to Mr. C talking about Channing Tatum looking “hot as fuck,” through these references we get glimpses into what makes the BDB books so enjoyable.

[Channing Tatum's hotness IS oft discussed these days...]

Find your future faves with this delightfully convenient shopping list of romance novels coming out in April. We’ve divided them up by subgenre to make it easier for those who’ve got a very specific obsession and there are some great books to look forward to—from marriages of convenience and cowboy menage to shifters (and not just werewolves!) and friends to lovers. Don’t forget to take this printable version with you when it’s time to shop!

Heroes and Heartbreakers April 2013 Shopping List!

Paranormal/Urban Fantasy/SfR

[Check out the complete list!...]

Larissa Ione has just revealed the cover of Bound by Night on her Facebook page. This book is not set in the Demonica world, and in fact, begins a whole new series (with vampires!). Bound by Night will be out September 24. Here's the first part of the blurb, click to Larissa's Facebook page to see the rest...

A WOMAN OUT FOR BLOOD...
Nicole Martin was only eight years old when the vampire slaves rose up in rebellion and killed her family. Now she devotes her life to finding a vaccine against vampirism, hoping to wipe out her memories—along with every bloodsucker on the planet. But there’s one thing she cannot destroy: her searing, undeniable attraction for the one man she should hate and fear the most . . .

Jeaniene Frost
Twice Tempted
Avon / March 26, 2013 / $7.99 print, $6.64 digital

Dating the Prince of Darkness has its challenges...

Leila's psychic abilities have been failing her, and now she isn't sure what the future holds. If that weren't enough, her lover, Vlad, has been acting distant. Though Leila is a mere mortal, she's also a modern woman who refuses to accept the cold shoulder treatment forever–especially from the darkly handsome vampire who still won't admit that he loves her.

Like choosing between eternal love and a loveless eternity...

Soon circumstances send Leila back to the carnival circuit, where tragedy strikes. And when she finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who may be closer than she realizes, Leila must decide who to trust– the fiery vampire who arouses her passions like no other or the tortured knight who longs to be more than a friend? With danger stalking her every step of the way, all it takes is one wrong move to damn her for eternity.

As romance readers we ask a lot of the hero. Some days we want him to be charming, other days the brutish alpha. He should be caring, but also the bad boy. He should be a leader, but also be willing to follow the heroine because she is his world.

They are unrealistic expectations in our world, but often are acceptable in between the covers of our favorite books. What makes Jeaniene Frost's Twice Tempted so brilliant is that the heroine Leila wants a real relationship with Vlad—as in The Impaler—and she wishes things could work like she fantasizes about.

[Don't we all...]

In a 2-part discussion (Part 1 is here), Kate Nagy and Rachel Hyland talk their differing levels of interest in J.R. Ward's forthcoming Black Dagger Brotherhood novel, Lover at Last, which will focus on the relationship between Qhuinn and Blaylock (Qhuay).

Look, I get it. I get why my esteemed colleague Kate Nagy has some reservations–to put it mildly–about the imminent J. R. Ward manlove-fest that will be Lover at Last. Every time (and, oh, there have been times, trust me) that she refers to the couple as “Blah” and “Qwhine,” or calls Blaylock an “emo ghey nightwalker,” I can’t help but chuckle, because that’s really very clever and she’s not entirely wrong.

Unlike Kate, however, I like that about them. Where Kate sees annoyingly asinine reasons having kept the youngsters apart lo, these many books so far, I see a deeper truth, extending far beyond Qhuinn and Blay and the BDB, and even beyond the romance genre as a whole: the difficulty of accepting who you are, of being someone you never thought you’d be, because all you want is to be “normal.”

Take this passage, from 2010’s Lover Mine:

Just as Blay was who he was, Qhuinn was the same: Even though he wished he could be out and with the... male...he loved, he couldn’t make himself go there.

But by God, he was going to stop running from his cowardice. He had to own his shit—even if it made him hate himself to the core. Because maybe if he did, he’d stop trying to distract himself with sex and drinking, and figure out what he did want.

Apart from Blay, that was.

[Time to figure it out, Qhuinn...]