Books like 'Touching Darkness'
Readers who enjoyed Touching Darkness by Scott Westerfeld also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
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Dark Days by Derek Landy
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsMeet Skulduggery Pleasant: detective, sorcerer, warrior.Oh yes. And dead.Skulduggery Pleasant is gone, sucked into a parallel dimension overrun by the Faceless Ones. If his bones haven’t already been turned to dust, chances are he’s insane, driven out of his mind by the horror of the ancient gods. There is no official, Sanctuary-approved rescue mission. There is no official plan to save him...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age dark friendship low-fantasy magic paranormal action-adventure -
![The Faceless Ones by Derek Landy]()
The Faceless Ones by Derek Landy
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsThe third bone-breaking, belly-busting adventure in the series that puts the “funny” back in, um, funny series...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age dark friendship low-fantasy magic paranormal action-adventure -
![Twelfth Grade Kills by Heather Brewer, Z Brewer]()
Twelfth Grade Kills by Heather Brewer, Z Brewer
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsIt all comes down to this.Vlad’s running out of time. The Elysian Council has given him weeks to live, and that’s if the Slayer Society doesn’t kill him – along with all the citizens of Bathory – first...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school low-fantasy magic paranormal teens action-adventure -
![The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik]()
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 72 ratingsA budding dark sorceress determined not to use her formidable powers uncovers yet more secrets about the workings of her world in the stunning sequel to A Deadly Education, the start of Naomi Novik’s groundbreaking crossover series...Categorized as:
coming-of-age dark friendship high-school low-fantasy magic paranormal action-adventure -
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![Resurrection by Derek Landy]()
Resurrection by Derek Landy
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe skeleton detective is coming back to life...again! It's the tenth, triumphant novel in the Skulduggery Pleasant series, and it will rearrange your world.Skulduggery and Valkyrie are back in the tenth instalment in the best-selling Skulduggery Pleasant series - an incredible and unexpected treat for the legions of fans around the world...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age dark friendship low-fantasy magic paranormal action-adventure -
![Only Ashes Remain by Rebecca Schaeffer]()
Only Ashes Remain by Rebecca Schaeffer
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsAfter escaping her kidnappers and destroying the black market where she was held captive, all Nita wants is to find a way to live her life without looking over her shoulder. But with a video of her ability to self-heal all over the dark web, Nita knows she’s still a prime target on the black market.There’s only one way to keep herself safe...Categorized as:
dark dystopia friendship magic magical-realism paranormal action-adventure anti-hero -
![The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater]()
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 75 ratingsThe fourth and final installment in the spellbinding series from the irrepressible, #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater.All her life, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love's death...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school low-fantasy magic magical-realism paranormal north-america -
![When Villains Rise by Rebecca Schaeffer]()
When Villains Rise by Rebecca Schaeffer
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsDexter meets Victoria Schwab in this dark and compelling fantasy about a girl who is determined to take down the black market once and for all in the conclusion to the trilogy that started with the critically acclaimed Not Even Bones.Nita finally has Fabricio, the boy who betrayed her to the black market, within her grasp...Categorized as:
coming-of-age dark dystopia friendship magic paranormal super-powered action-adventure -
![The End of the World by Derek Landy]()
The End of the World by Derek Landy
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsSkulduggery and Valkyrie are back, in an exclusive World Book Day novelette, set after the momentous events of Death Bringer…Hey, punks! Skulduggery and Valkyrie are about to make your day…15-year-old Ryan is running away from home, looking for escape and adventure. But unfortunately, sometimes people DO get what they wish for...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age dark low-fantasy magic paranormal super-powered action-adventure -
![Eleventh Grade Burns by Heather Brewer, Z Brewer]()
Eleventh Grade Burns by Heather Brewer, Z Brewer
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsThings have taken a darker turn for the half-human teenager with an appetite for blood. Joss, a vampire slayer and Vlad's former friend, has moved back to Bathory. A mysterious and powerful new vampire, Dorian, appears with a shocking secret and an overwhelming desire to drink Vlad's blood. And Vlad's arch enemy, D'Ablo, has a sinister plan to eliminate Vlad once and for all... -
![The Unbound by Victoria E. Schwab]()
The Unbound by Victoria E. Schwab
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsEach body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.Last summer, Mackenzie Bishop, a Keeper tasked with stopping violent Histories from escaping the Archive, almost lost her life to one. Now, as she starts her junior year at Hyde School, she’s struggling to get her life back...Categorized as:
dystopia friendship high-school low-fantasy magic magical-realism paranormal action-adventure -
![Lord of the Shadows by Darren Shan]()
Lord of the Shadows by Darren Shan
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsBook 11 of The Saga Of Darren Shan. Darren's going home. Back to where everything started. The town's changed a lot in the years that he's been away -- but then, so has Darren... -
![Sons of Destiny by Darren Shan]()
Sons of Destiny by Darren Shan
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsThe stunning finale to the "New York Times" bestselling series brings Darren face-to-face with his archenemy, Steve Leopard. One of them will die. The other will become the Lord of the Shadows and destroy the world... -
![Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine, Cynthia Holloway]()
Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine, Cynthia Holloway
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 42 ratingsA new chapter in the New York Times bestselling Morganville Vampires saga. Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends... -
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![The Neil Gaiman Reader: Selected Fiction by Neil Gaiman, Marlon James]()
The Neil Gaiman Reader: Selected Fiction by Neil Gaiman, Marlon James
Rated: 4.49 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAn outstanding array—52 pieces in all—of selected fiction from the multiple-award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman, curated by his readers around the world, and introduced with a foreword by Booker Prize-winning author Marlon JamesSpanning Gaiman’s career to date, The Neil Gaiman Reader: Selected Fiction is a captivating collection from one of the world’s most beloved...Categorized as:
dark low-fantasy magic magical-realism paranormal 21st-century action-adventure anthologies -
![Tenth Grade Bleeds by Heather Brewer, Z Brewer]()
Tenth Grade Bleeds by Heather Brewer, Z Brewer
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsIn Tenth Grade Bleeds, it's another sucky year at Bathory High for Vladimir Tod. The evil vampire D'Ablo is hunting for the ritual that could steal Vlad's powers. His best friend Henry doesn't want to be his drudge anymore. And as if all that weren't enough, it's getting harder for Vlad to resist feeding on the people around him... -
![The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong]()
The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 67 ratingsIf you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl - someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I’m as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment - not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school magic paranormal super-powered teens action-adventure -
![Deadly Little Lessons by Laurie Faria Stolarz]()
Deadly Little Lessons by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsCamelia Hammond's trying junior year of high school is finally over...but her troubles aren't. After she discovers a painful truth about her family, she escapes to a summer arts program in Rhode Island. Determined to put family - and boyfriend - drama behind her, she throws herself into her artwork.At the arts school, she gets caught up in the case of Sasha Beckerman, a local girl who is missing...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship high-school magic paranormal super-powered action-adventure book -
![In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire]()
In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 41 ratingsThis fourth entry and prequel tells the story of Lundy, a very serious young girl who would rather study and dream than become a respectable housewife and live up to the expectations of the world around her. As well she should.When she finds a doorway to a world founded on logic and reason, riddles and lies, she thinks she's found her paradise...Categorized as:
coming-of-age dark friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism paranormal action-adventure -
![The Lake of Souls by Darren Shan]()
The Lake of Souls by Darren Shan
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 38 ratings"If you step through after Harkat, you might never come back. Is your friend worth such an enormous risk?"Darren and Harkat face monstrous obstacles on their desperate quest to the Lake of Souls. Will they survive the savage journey? And what awaits them in the murky waters of the dead? Be careful what you fish for.. -
![The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin]()
The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 49 ratingsMara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told.There is.She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.She should.She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.She will now.Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.Retribution has arrived...Categorized as:
dark dystopia friendship high-school magic paranormal super-powered action-adventure -
![The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman]()
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 85 ratingsNobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a perfectly normal boy. Well, he would be perfectly normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the world of the dead...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age dark magic magical-realism paranormal action-adventure audiobook -
![The Girl Who Could Not Dream by Sarah Beth Durst]()
The Girl Who Could Not Dream by Sarah Beth Durst
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsSophie loves the hidden shop below her parents' bookstore, where dreams are secretly bought and sold. When the dream shop is robbed and her parents go missing, Sophie must unravel the truth to save them. Together with her best friend—a wisecracking and fanatically loyal monster named Monster—she must decide whom to trust with her family’s carefully guarded secrets...Categorized as:
children friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism paranormal action-adventure animals -
![Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready]()
Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to...Categorized as:
dystopia high-school magic paranormal super-powered action-adventure angels audiobook -
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![Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire]()
Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsWelcome to the Whitethorn Institute. The first step is always admitting you need help, and you've already taken that step by requesting a transfer into our company.There is another school for children who fall through doors and fall back out again. It isn't as friendly as Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children. And it isn't as safe... -
![The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting]()
The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsIN THE END, ALL THAT'S LEFT IS AN ECHO.Before, Violet's morbid ability to sense the dead led her to uncover dark murders and long-buried secrets in her small town. Now that she's working with a special investigative team, Violet hopes she can help even more people - whether by saving a life or catching a killer... -
![Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier]()
Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsMysterious doors with lizard-head knobs. Talking stone statues. A crazy girl with a hatchet. Yes, Liv's dreams have been pretty weird lately. Especially the one where she's in a graveyard at night, watching four boys conduct dark magic rituals.The strangest part is that Liv recognizes the boys in her dream...Categorized as:
friendship high-school low-fantasy magic magical-realism paranormal action-adventure audiobook -
![Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan]()
Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 50 ratingsCirque du Freak is the saga of a young boy whose visit to a mysterious freak show leads him on a journey into a dark world of vampires. Filled with grotesque creatures, murderous vampires, and a petrifying ending, Cirque du Freak will chill, thrill, and leave readers begging for more... -
![Necropolis by Anthony Horowitz]()
Necropolis by Anthony Horowitz
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsHong Kong has been taken over by the Old Ones and has become Necropolis, City of the Dead. Once in, there is no way out… Evil has been unleashed on the world and only five children – with special powers – can save it... -
![Ninth Grade Slays by Heather Brewer, Z Brewer]()
Ninth Grade Slays by Heather Brewer, Z Brewer
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsHigh school totally bites when you’re half human, half vampire. Freshman year sucks for Vlad Tod. Bullies still harass him. The photographer from the school newspaper is tailing him. And failing his studies could be deadly... -
![Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko]()
Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsThe third book in the bestselling Russian trilogy that is part fantasy, part vampire story, and part detective story, tells of an ancient race of humans who have supernatural powers and swear allegiance to either the Dark or the Light. In Twilight Watch, they face their greatest threat yet...Categorized as:
dark low-fantasy magic magical-realism paranormal super-powered 21st-century action-adventure -
![The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories by Maggie Stiefvater, Brenna Yovanoff]()
The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories by Maggie Stiefvater, Brenna Yovanoff
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFrom acclaimed YA authors Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, and Brenna Yovanoff comes The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories.- A vampire locked in a cage in the basement, for good luck.- Bad guys, clever girls, and the various reasons why the guys have to stop breathing.- A world where fires never go out (with references to vanilla ice cream)... -
![Crushed by Eliza Crewe]()
Crushed by Eliza Crewe
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMeda's back. This time she has a friend. The battle is over; the choice has been made. Meda Melange has officially hung up her monstrous mantle and planted her feet firmly on the holy and righteous path of a Crusader-in-training. Or, at least, she’s willing to give it a shot. It helps that the Crusaders are the only thing standing between her and the demon hordes who want her dead... -
![Scorch by Gina Damico]()
Scorch by Gina Damico
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsSixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby is a teenage grim reaper with the bizarre ability to damn souls. That makes her pretty scary, even to fellow Grims. But after inadvertently transferring her ability to Zara, a murderous outlaw, Lex is a pariah in Croak, the little town she calls home.To escape the townspeople’s wrath, she and her friends embark on a wild road trip to DeMyse...Categorized as:
coming-of-age dystopia friendship low-fantasy magic paranormal action-adventure alpha-mc -
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![Dead Voices by Katherine Arden, Катрин Арден]()
Dead Voices by Katherine Arden, Катрин Арден
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsBestselling author Katherine Arden returns with another creepy, spine-tingling adventure in this follow-up to the critically acclaimed Small Spaces.Having survived sinister scarecrows and the malevolent smiling man in Small Spaces, newly minted best friends Ollie, Coco, and Brian are ready to spend a relaxing winter break skiing together with their parents at Mount Hemlock Resort...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age dark friendship magic magical-realism north-america paranormal -
![Night's Child by Cate Tiernan]()
Night's Child by Cate Tiernan
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsMorgan's saga continues in this double-length, stand alone SWEEP book. Moira's Story will shoot readers forward through time, where we will meet Morgan's daughter-raised as a blood witch-and follow her adventures as the progeny of one of the most powerful blood witches the Seven Great Clans have ever known...Categorized as:
coming-of-age dark friendship high-school magic paranormal 21st-century action-adventure -
![Middlegame by Seanan McGuire]()
Middlegame by Seanan McGuire
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 41 ratingsNew York Times bestselling and Alex, Nebula, and Hugo-Award-winning author Seanan McGuire introduces readers to a world of amoral alchemy, shadowy organizations, and impossible cities in this standalone fantasy.Meet Roger. Skilled with words, languages come easily to him. He instinctively understands how the world works through the power of story.Meet Dodger, his twin... -
![Vita Nostra by Marina Dyachenko, Sergey Dyachenko]()
Vita Nostra by Marina Dyachenko, Sergey Dyachenko
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsThe definitive English language translation of the internationally bestselling Ukrainian novel—a brilliant dark fantasy with "the potential to be a modern classic" (Lev Grossman), combining psychological suspense, enchantment, and terror that makes us consider human existence in a fresh and provocative way.Our life is brief . .Categorized as:
coming-of-age dark dystopia high-school magic magical-realism paranormal 21st-century -
![Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting]()
Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsThe missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found. Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life...Categorized as:
friendship high-school magic north-america paranormal super-powered usa action-adventure -
![Evil Star by Anthony Horowitz]()
Evil Star by Anthony Horowitz
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsMatt thought his troubles were over when he closed Raven's Gate . . . but in fact they were just beginning. His fate -- and the fate of the world -- is tied to four other kids across the globe. The second is a street kid in Peru. He and Matt have never met; they don't even speak the same language. But destiny is going to throw them together as the evil threat of the Old Ones grows . .Categorized as:
children dystopia high-school low-fantasy magic paranormal super-powered action-adventure -
![Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz]()
Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsLast fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, a new boy at school who had a very mysterious gift – psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry and experiencing strange brushes with premonition... -
![The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman]()
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Rated: 4.01 of 5 stars · 85 ratingsSussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age dark friendship magic magical-realism paranormal 21st-century -
![The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts]()
The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsKatie, who has supernatural powers, attempts to start a new life in another town with her mother. The attempt succeeds until Mr. Cooper asks Katie too many questions...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism paranormal super-powered -
![Deadly Little Games by Laurie Faria Stolarz]()
Deadly Little Games by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsHigh school juniors Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: They both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to see the future through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control. Camelia's gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn't yet comprehend... -
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![Department Nineteen by Will Hill]()
Department Nineteen by Will Hill
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsJamie Carpenter's life will never be the same. His father is dead, his mother is missing, and he was just rescued by an enormous man named Frankenstein. Jamie is brought to Department 19, where he is pulled into a secret organization responsible for policing the supernatural, founded more than a century ago by Abraham Van Helsing and the other survivors of Dracula... -
![Demon Road by Derek Landy]()
Demon Road by Derek Landy
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe mind-blowing new supernatural thriller from bestselling author DEREK LANDY, creator of international sensation Skulduggery Pleasant.Full of Landy’s trademark wit, action and razor-sharp dialogue, DEMON ROAD kicks off with a shocking opener and never lets up the pace in an epic road-trip across the supernatural landscape of America...Categorized as:
children dark low-fantasy magic magical-realism paranormal action-adventure audiobook -
![Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting]()
Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsViolet thought she’d made peace with her unique ability to sense the echoes of the dead and the imprints that cling to their killers…that is until she acquired an imprint of her own. Forced to carry a reminder of the horrible events of her kidnapping, Violet is more determined than ever to lead a normal life... -
![The Secrets of Winterhouse by Ben Guterson]()
The Secrets of Winterhouse by Ben Guterson
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBookish puzzles, phantom mysteries, and evil curses await as Elizabeth returns to Winterhouse in The Secrets of Winterhouse, the second book in Ben Guterson's magical series.Back at the Winterhouse hotel for another holiday season, Elizabeth and Freddy dig deeper into the mystery surrounding Riley S...Categorized as:
children friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism paranormal 21st-century action-adventure -
![Rogue by Gina Damico]()
Rogue by Gina Damico
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLex is a teenage Grim Reaper with the power to Damn souls, and it’s getting out of control. She’s a fugitive, on the run from the maniacal new mayor of Croak and the townspeople who want to see her pay the price for her misdeeds. Uncle Mort rounds up the Junior Grims to flee Croak once again, but this time they’re joined by Grotton, the most powerful Grim of all time...Categorized as:
coming-of-age dark low-fantasy magic magical-realism paranormal action-adventure alpha-mc -
![The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine]()
The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine
Rated: 4.02 of 5 stars · 50 ratingsClaire Danvers has her share of challenges---like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains, dealing with the homicidal girls in her dorm, and above all, finding out that her college town is overrun with vampires...
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