started 'Lost Souls' by Poppy Z Brite and holy hell can you tell this author is an Anne Rice fan and I mean that in the best way.

Like- the new orleans setting? the androgynous/outright queer coded vampires? Hello, is this Miss Rice under a pen name?

Its not, but the similarities are quite striking as are the differences. for example- the vampires in this can have sex and reproduce.