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Fang Girl
Things That Are Destroying Jane Greene’s Undead Social Life Before It Can Even Begin:
1) A twelve-year-old brother who’s convinced she’s a zombie.
2) Parents who are begging her to turn them into vampires.
3) The pet goldfish she accidentally turns instead.
4) Weird superpowers that let her rip the heads off of every other vampire she meets.(Sounds cool, but it doesn't win you many friends.)
5) A psychotic vampire creator who’s using her to carry out a plan for world domination.
And finally:
6) A seriously ripped vampire hunter who either wants to stake her or make out with her. Not sure which.
Being an undead, eternally pasty fifteen-year-old isn't quite the sexy, brooding, angst-fest Jane always imagined...
Helen Keeble’s riotous debut novel combines the humor of Vladimir Tod with Ally Carter’s spot-on teen voice. With a one-of-a-kind vampire mythology and an irresistibly relatable undead heroine, this uproarious page-turner will leave readers bloodthirsty for more.
1) A twelve-year-old brother who’s convinced she’s a zombie.
2) Parents who are begging her to turn them into vampires.
3) The pet goldfish she accidentally turns instead.
4) Weird superpowers that let her rip the heads off of every other vampire she meets.(Sounds cool, but it doesn't win you many friends.)
5) A psychotic vampire creator who’s using her to carry out a plan for world domination.
And finally:
6) A seriously ripped vampire hunter who either wants to stake her or make out with her. Not sure which.
Being an undead, eternally pasty fifteen-year-old isn't quite the sexy, brooding, angst-fest Jane always imagined...
Helen Keeble’s riotous debut novel combines the humor of Vladimir Tod with Ally Carter’s spot-on teen voice. With a one-of-a-kind vampire mythology and an irresistibly relatable undead heroine, this uproarious page-turner will leave readers bloodthirsty for more.
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2012
45 people are currently reading
2582 people want to read
About the author
Helen Keeble
5 books104 followersHelen Keeble is not, and never has been, a vampire. She has however been a teenager. She grew up partly in America and partly in England, which has left her with an unidentifiable accent and a fondness for peanut butter crackers washed down with a nice cup of tea. She now lives in West Sussex, England, with her husband, daughter, two cats, and a variable number of fish. To the best of her knowledge, none of the fish are undead.
Her first novel, a YA vampire comedy called FANG GIRL, is out 11th Sept 2012, from HarperTeen.
She also has another YA paranormal comedy novel (provisionally titled NO ANGEL) scheduled for Sept 2013.
Her first novel, a YA vampire comedy called FANG GIRL, is out 11th Sept 2012, from HarperTeen.
She also has another YA paranormal comedy novel (provisionally titled NO ANGEL) scheduled for Sept 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
September 11, 2012
A ridiculously funny vampire comedy, Fang Girl brings us a fun read with a surprising lot to offer - aside from the humor, we've got a witty protagonist and a entertaining plot which has a good amount of substance for such a frivolous novel.
When Jane wakes up and realizes she's in a coffin, has super speeds, and fangs, her mediocre life is no more. 15 year old Jane is a surprisingly compelling character; her charm and wit throughout her ordeal is constantly entertaining, brimming with laugh-out-loud quotables, while her innocence and insecurities convey her teenage years perfectly. Additionally, Jane's family has a big role in this story which is much appreciated. Though kookie at times, the parents become instantly likeable if only for their immediately support for Jane's... predicament. Their characters really enrich this novel. They would do anything to help their daughter and I adored the way they handled all the sudden, bizarre situations they're thrown in. Jane also has a brother who is an absolute darling with his enthusiasm for these antique beings. We meet a slew of secondary characters along the way as well who have a satisfying amount of development and great charisma. For a novel that is so humor-based, I wasn't expecting to see such strong character presence.
Ridiculous in an almost vampire parody style, Fang Girl is a perfectly gratifying read that is amusing to no end. This book is never to be taken as a serious vampire novel, it's a comedy through and through. Sure there is an intriguing plot-line with turns that completely caught me off guard, but in the end, it's meant to be comical. Nevertheless, I was quite pleased with how interesting the story itself truly was. Too often in a comedy do we see plots shoved aside, becoming secondary to the humor. In Fang Girl, however, the plot is exciting as well as diverting, with a touch of romance to spice things up. I especially enjoyed how blunt some plot developments were. One page you're all happy and dandy, and the next you have to take a picture of the page to text to your friend who previously read the book because you accidentally mailed it to them *deep breath* to ask if this really just happened. True story! It's not all unpredictable, and some of it may be cheesy, but it's the good kind of cheesy that makes you snort unattractively, which is always cool!
Fang Girl is the perfect book for the beach, a plane ride, to hide behind your math textbook; it's effortless and extremely high in entertainment value. If you're looking for a fun, refreshing novel, I would recommend this one in a heartbeat!
--
An advance copy was provided by the author for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
When Jane wakes up and realizes she's in a coffin, has super speeds, and fangs, her mediocre life is no more. 15 year old Jane is a surprisingly compelling character; her charm and wit throughout her ordeal is constantly entertaining, brimming with laugh-out-loud quotables, while her innocence and insecurities convey her teenage years perfectly. Additionally, Jane's family has a big role in this story which is much appreciated. Though kookie at times, the parents become instantly likeable if only for their immediately support for Jane's... predicament. Their characters really enrich this novel. They would do anything to help their daughter and I adored the way they handled all the sudden, bizarre situations they're thrown in. Jane also has a brother who is an absolute darling with his enthusiasm for these antique beings. We meet a slew of secondary characters along the way as well who have a satisfying amount of development and great charisma. For a novel that is so humor-based, I wasn't expecting to see such strong character presence.
Ridiculous in an almost vampire parody style, Fang Girl is a perfectly gratifying read that is amusing to no end. This book is never to be taken as a serious vampire novel, it's a comedy through and through. Sure there is an intriguing plot-line with turns that completely caught me off guard, but in the end, it's meant to be comical. Nevertheless, I was quite pleased with how interesting the story itself truly was. Too often in a comedy do we see plots shoved aside, becoming secondary to the humor. In Fang Girl, however, the plot is exciting as well as diverting, with a touch of romance to spice things up. I especially enjoyed how blunt some plot developments were. One page you're all happy and dandy, and the next you have to take a picture of the page to text to your friend who previously read the book because you accidentally mailed it to them *deep breath* to ask if this really just happened. True story! It's not all unpredictable, and some of it may be cheesy, but it's the good kind of cheesy that makes you snort unattractively, which is always cool!
Fang Girl is the perfect book for the beach, a plane ride, to hide behind your math textbook; it's effortless and extremely high in entertainment value. If you're looking for a fun, refreshing novel, I would recommend this one in a heartbeat!
--
An advance copy was provided by the author for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
October 19, 2012
I may be biased... :)
May 6, 2013
Fang Girl is precisely what I hoped it would be: a light, hilarious read, the perfect snack to break up the depressing fare I generally read.
Vampires have been done to death, in just about every way possible. You would think it wouldn't be possible to put a fun, new spin on them anymore, without totally going insane with the mythology. Well, Keeble shows that there's still room for innovation. Her vampire mythos is definitely my favorite aspect of the novel. They've got some awesome powers, like being able to see through the eyes of other vampires in their bloodline, and some serious flaws, like being incredibly OCD. Keeble does a great job of balancing humor and an actual, convincing plot.
Reading Fang Girl, I couldn't help but think of another parody of vampire fiction I read, The Reformed Vampire Support Group. That one came out first, but unlike Jinks' novel, Keeble's is actually funny. Where TRVSG thought detailed description of guinea pig meals were the height of humor, Keeble leaves the guinea pigs alive and has vampires running around like demented Cinderellas, picking up paper clips from the road instead of lentils from the ashes.
The characters are all properly quirky, and likable, even most of the evil ones. Jane herself is awesome, very smart and always trying to make the best out of every situation. However, I feel like the secondary characters really stole the show. Jane's family are delightful and incredibly supportive (*cough* unlike most YA families *cough*), totally excepting their daughter, vampire or no. Plus, they're all hilarious, especially the mom with a penchant for research and Zack, her brother, and his obsession with all things steampunk. Speaking of the mom's research, there's Jane's childe vampire, Brains, a goldfish turned in one of Mum's experiments. Brains is as awesome as he sounds. I also love Sarah, who's sweet and helpless on the outside, but a badass, evil genius on the inside. If this were a movie, she would be Chloe Moretz, which is just how intense she is.
Just so you know, the stress on romance in the blurb with the sixth point about the ripped vampire hunter? It's seriously exaggerated. While he does exist and does have cheese grater abs, there's really not much romance in this book. Fang Girl has enough hints at it to appease those who like a couple to ship, but little enough actually romantic drama to keep those sick of all the romance in YA very happy. Really, all there is to the romance is a couple of comments on the kids being attracted to one another and some jokes. I'm glad about that, because the book would have needed to be longer to really sell the romance.
Keeble has a real talent for humorous writing, and I'm so excited to see what she'll do as gets even more practiced with it. I'm very excited to check out her second book, No Angel, which comes out later this year.
Vampires have been done to death, in just about every way possible. You would think it wouldn't be possible to put a fun, new spin on them anymore, without totally going insane with the mythology. Well, Keeble shows that there's still room for innovation. Her vampire mythos is definitely my favorite aspect of the novel. They've got some awesome powers, like being able to see through the eyes of other vampires in their bloodline, and some serious flaws, like being incredibly OCD. Keeble does a great job of balancing humor and an actual, convincing plot.
Reading Fang Girl, I couldn't help but think of another parody of vampire fiction I read, The Reformed Vampire Support Group. That one came out first, but unlike Jinks' novel, Keeble's is actually funny. Where TRVSG thought detailed description of guinea pig meals were the height of humor, Keeble leaves the guinea pigs alive and has vampires running around like demented Cinderellas, picking up paper clips from the road instead of lentils from the ashes.
The characters are all properly quirky, and likable, even most of the evil ones. Jane herself is awesome, very smart and always trying to make the best out of every situation. However, I feel like the secondary characters really stole the show. Jane's family are delightful and incredibly supportive (*cough* unlike most YA families *cough*), totally excepting their daughter, vampire or no. Plus, they're all hilarious, especially the mom with a penchant for research and Zack, her brother, and his obsession with all things steampunk. Speaking of the mom's research, there's Jane's childe vampire, Brains, a goldfish turned in one of Mum's experiments. Brains is as awesome as he sounds. I also love Sarah, who's sweet and helpless on the outside, but a badass, evil genius on the inside. If this were a movie, she would be Chloe Moretz, which is just how intense she is.
Just so you know, the stress on romance in the blurb with the sixth point about the ripped vampire hunter? It's seriously exaggerated. While he does exist and does have cheese grater abs, there's really not much romance in this book. Fang Girl has enough hints at it to appease those who like a couple to ship, but little enough actually romantic drama to keep those sick of all the romance in YA very happy. Really, all there is to the romance is a couple of comments on the kids being attracted to one another and some jokes. I'm glad about that, because the book would have needed to be longer to really sell the romance.
Keeble has a real talent for humorous writing, and I'm so excited to see what she'll do as gets even more practiced with it. I'm very excited to check out her second book, No Angel, which comes out later this year.
February 2, 2015
In all my books, movies and TV shows, I'd never heard of something becoming undead through being hit by a vampire's car. Not even in fanfic.
LOLOLOLOL
I'm really getting into vampire parodies these days and most of them are actually pretty well-written and, most importantly, don't take themselves seriously at all. Fang Girl is no exception! The characters are a delight, the parents of the newly undead main character are actually involved (and they kick butt), and the plot is interesting enough for the length of the book. Move aside, Twilight, angst-filled contemplations aren't just for you.
I mean, do you not want to read a book with a vampire goldfish in it? Don't you?!
I fidgeted with my lip gloss, looking down. There was no way that I could tell Mum that I already knew exactly who Ebon was. It was obvious.
Three words:
My.
Soul.
Mate.
All the signs pointed to it. He was the first vampire I’d ever met. He’d saved me from certain death, kind of. He had unlikely hair, an exotic history, an unbelievably sexy accent, and, for God’s sake, leather trousers. It was inevitable. I was going to go down there and fall madly in love.
This sucked.
[...] I totally did not need to add eternal love to my towering stack of problems. Sure, it was likely to all come out okay in the end, but there were bound to be misunderstandings and fights and long brooding fits punctuated by fiery glances. And I’d probably find myself gazing longingly at him when I should be scanning the treetops for paper-clip-wielding maniacs.
June 23, 2012
You can read all of my reviews at Alluring Reads.
Helen Keeble is onto something here, with Fang Girl she has created a hilarious, unique story that put a fresh twist on the old vampire. In Keebles world vampires move at the speed of light, could care less about crucifixes and have strong OCD tendencies. I laughed out loud way too many times to count and I came to care about a lot of the characters. We meet Xanthe Jane Green as she wakes up 6 feet under ground and comes to realise that she is slowly being dug out of her grave by her sire. When her sire is run off by, presumably, a vampire hunter Jane is left to her own devices as a newborn vampire who has absolutely no idea what is going on.
Xanthe (or Jane as she would rather be referred) was a hilarious, relateable character. She was thrust into the life of the undead and abandoned by the one person who was supposed to show her the way. She was the perfect 15 year old, sassy & painfully clumsy girl and I totally got her. Of course a 15 year olds first intuition is to go home and she does just that. Once she is home I fell in love with her family. We have supportive parents (VERY supportive) and a quick witted, steampunk obsessed little brother. There was a very unique family dynamic created as soon as Jane headed home and it was morbid yet so very sweet. There are so many quotable passages in this novel and I would love to throw some in here, but I did read an ARC so I am trying to refrain. All in all I loved her family!
There are a lot of secondary characters thrown into the mix; the godfather of the vampires Hokan, his minion Ebon, Janes sire Lily among others. I thought they were all very well developed in their own way and grew to like/despise them throughout the story. There were so many people in this who could have been the bad guy and my perspective on that changed throughout the novel, mainly because Jane flip flopped quite a bit. I will say that she was a little too quick to trust, but hey, as I stated before she was a 15 year old girl!
This was the perfect mix of paranormal elements and comedy, I went into this one expecting a lot and I was not let down in the slightest. Keeble took a paranormal entity that I have read so much about and spiced it up just enough to make it feel brand new. It was the perfect change of pace for me in a sea of dark paranormal and gritty contemporary novels. I got exactly what I wanted out of this one and it comes highly recommended from me.
Helen Keeble is onto something here, with Fang Girl she has created a hilarious, unique story that put a fresh twist on the old vampire. In Keebles world vampires move at the speed of light, could care less about crucifixes and have strong OCD tendencies. I laughed out loud way too many times to count and I came to care about a lot of the characters. We meet Xanthe Jane Green as she wakes up 6 feet under ground and comes to realise that she is slowly being dug out of her grave by her sire. When her sire is run off by, presumably, a vampire hunter Jane is left to her own devices as a newborn vampire who has absolutely no idea what is going on.
Xanthe (or Jane as she would rather be referred) was a hilarious, relateable character. She was thrust into the life of the undead and abandoned by the one person who was supposed to show her the way. She was the perfect 15 year old, sassy & painfully clumsy girl and I totally got her. Of course a 15 year olds first intuition is to go home and she does just that. Once she is home I fell in love with her family. We have supportive parents (VERY supportive) and a quick witted, steampunk obsessed little brother. There was a very unique family dynamic created as soon as Jane headed home and it was morbid yet so very sweet. There are so many quotable passages in this novel and I would love to throw some in here, but I did read an ARC so I am trying to refrain. All in all I loved her family!
There are a lot of secondary characters thrown into the mix; the godfather of the vampires Hokan, his minion Ebon, Janes sire Lily among others. I thought they were all very well developed in their own way and grew to like/despise them throughout the story. There were so many people in this who could have been the bad guy and my perspective on that changed throughout the novel, mainly because Jane flip flopped quite a bit. I will say that she was a little too quick to trust, but hey, as I stated before she was a 15 year old girl!
This was the perfect mix of paranormal elements and comedy, I went into this one expecting a lot and I was not let down in the slightest. Keeble took a paranormal entity that I have read so much about and spiced it up just enough to make it feel brand new. It was the perfect change of pace for me in a sea of dark paranormal and gritty contemporary novels. I got exactly what I wanted out of this one and it comes highly recommended from me.
December 8, 2014
Personally I think Keeble is amazing when portraying teenage girl's life and she handles fandom so very well. The book is funny in a satirical way and slaps all vampire lovers in the face - in the best way of course! Keeble is fantastic on giving us insights to vampire related things we hardly ever think of, though she does have some inconsistencies from time to time (how can vampires blush if they do not have blood circulation etc.). Her vampires have a wonderfully odd tendency too (read the book and find out)!
The plot in itself works really well and I changed the villain's identity in my head multiple times. So, we have a really well written mystery here, which is refreshing and enlightens us with new genre related aspects. Sadly so, the depicting of minor characters is somewhat lacking and thus I give the book four stars. Still, it is totally worth the read and you cannot help but to like the main character.
The plot in itself works really well and I changed the villain's identity in my head multiple times. So, we have a really well written mystery here, which is refreshing and enlightens us with new genre related aspects. Sadly so, the depicting of minor characters is somewhat lacking and thus I give the book four stars. Still, it is totally worth the read and you cannot help but to like the main character.
September 29, 2013
Comedy and vampires, its a dream come true. I laughed throughout the whole book.
October 23, 2012
You know a book is going to be funny when the tagline is, "You know something is seriously wrong when you wake up in a coffin...." I was cracking up over that line for a good hour or so. The rest of the book is even better. I started this book kind of late, thinking to get a head start on it. Bad idea. (I mean, good idea. What better time to read a story about the undead than the time they're awake and out for blood?)
Jane is a surprisingly compelling heroine. I was expecting a fangirling, silly vampire-obsessed girl, but she's pretty intelligent. Yes, she dissolves into a sobbing mess when she's reunited with her family. Given that she woke up in a coffin and was soon deserted by her sire, I think she has the right to regress into a little kid. She also doesn't blindly trust dashing saviors. She tells them to meet her parents. I love that smartypants. While she may be having some fun with her new vampiric abilities, she also knows how to trust in the wisdom of her elders, but she also doesn't blindly follow them. She knows better than to turn her parents into vampires (I mean, who really wants to have your parents nagging at you for centures, kind and caring as they may be?) She also doesn't fall head-over-heels in love with the ripped vampire hunter (in fact, there isn't really as much going there romance-wise as you'd think from the synopsis.) There's potential for a romantic development, but they recognize each other as enemies and are just beginning to trust in each other towards the end of the book.
I'd also like to give special note of the attentive, supportive family that Jane has. They take their daughter's transformation pretty well given the circumstances. Afterwards, they devote much time to researching vampires and figuring out how to care for Jane's new needs. Rarely is the family given so much focus in YA books nowadays. It's typically all about hiding things to protect them. Here, Jane needs her family--for their emotional support, to protect her, and as mentors. She trusts them enough to know that they'll take care of her and, though she wouldn't want them to do so, she also knows that they'd be willing to sacrifice themselves for her if necessary. Jane has such a wonderful support system within her family, and it was wonderful to see.
There are so many things in here that cracked me up. I haven't been in as much danger of ROFLOLing since The Boy Recession. My absolute favorite? The vampire goldfish. Seriously. Funny. And adorable. Helen Keeble has a gift for delivering seriously true, but seriously funny lines that poke fun at vampires. (And some pretty funny incidents come about through the goldfish.) While I may love me a good vamp book, I do see their inherent flaws as well, and I'm not afraid of laughing at some of these. I am someone who likes to poke fun at things I love, all in good humor, so I appreciate a book that can pull off some good satire.
This is a book that I can safely recommend to middle school students. There is a lot of humor, which will hold the attention of younger readers, and there isn't anything I wouldn't want them seeing. In fact, if they're already vampire-obsessed, bordering on psychotic, this might tune them down a few notches. (Or maybe crank it up if they really swing that way. You never know.) Jane is a smart girl despite being slightly vampire-obsessed. (She does believe in soulmates; she just has a hard time figuring out how to recognize one....) However, she makes the right decisions and doesn't blindly trust anyone, even her own parents, who for all their good intentions do suggest some silly ideas, except under powerful vampiric suggestion. And even then, she'll fight to maintain her free spirit, so it all balances out.
I recommend this to those who love a good satire and humor. I do not recommend this is you are super in love with vampires and would be offended by jokes made at their expense!
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog Imaginary Reads.
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Jane is a surprisingly compelling heroine. I was expecting a fangirling, silly vampire-obsessed girl, but she's pretty intelligent. Yes, she dissolves into a sobbing mess when she's reunited with her family. Given that she woke up in a coffin and was soon deserted by her sire, I think she has the right to regress into a little kid. She also doesn't blindly trust dashing saviors. She tells them to meet her parents. I love that smartypants. While she may be having some fun with her new vampiric abilities, she also knows how to trust in the wisdom of her elders, but she also doesn't blindly follow them. She knows better than to turn her parents into vampires (I mean, who really wants to have your parents nagging at you for centures, kind and caring as they may be?) She also doesn't fall head-over-heels in love with the ripped vampire hunter (in fact, there isn't really as much going there romance-wise as you'd think from the synopsis.) There's potential for a romantic development, but they recognize each other as enemies and are just beginning to trust in each other towards the end of the book.
I'd also like to give special note of the attentive, supportive family that Jane has. They take their daughter's transformation pretty well given the circumstances. Afterwards, they devote much time to researching vampires and figuring out how to care for Jane's new needs. Rarely is the family given so much focus in YA books nowadays. It's typically all about hiding things to protect them. Here, Jane needs her family--for their emotional support, to protect her, and as mentors. She trusts them enough to know that they'll take care of her and, though she wouldn't want them to do so, she also knows that they'd be willing to sacrifice themselves for her if necessary. Jane has such a wonderful support system within her family, and it was wonderful to see.
There are so many things in here that cracked me up. I haven't been in as much danger of ROFLOLing since The Boy Recession. My absolute favorite? The vampire goldfish. Seriously. Funny. And adorable. Helen Keeble has a gift for delivering seriously true, but seriously funny lines that poke fun at vampires. (And some pretty funny incidents come about through the goldfish.) While I may love me a good vamp book, I do see their inherent flaws as well, and I'm not afraid of laughing at some of these. I am someone who likes to poke fun at things I love, all in good humor, so I appreciate a book that can pull off some good satire.
This is a book that I can safely recommend to middle school students. There is a lot of humor, which will hold the attention of younger readers, and there isn't anything I wouldn't want them seeing. In fact, if they're already vampire-obsessed, bordering on psychotic, this might tune them down a few notches. (Or maybe crank it up if they really swing that way. You never know.) Jane is a smart girl despite being slightly vampire-obsessed. (She does believe in soulmates; she just has a hard time figuring out how to recognize one....) However, she makes the right decisions and doesn't blindly trust anyone, even her own parents, who for all their good intentions do suggest some silly ideas, except under powerful vampiric suggestion. And even then, she'll fight to maintain her free spirit, so it all balances out.
I recommend this to those who love a good satire and humor. I do not recommend this is you are super in love with vampires and would be offended by jokes made at their expense!
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog Imaginary Reads.
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October 10, 2012
There is only one word acronym to describe Fang Girl – “LOL.” One needs a fabulous sense of humor to read this one, and if you’re a Twilight-fan - wait no…scratch that - if you’re a YA slash paranormal romance fan, you can’t take yourself too seriously or you will seriously hate this book. Did I hate it? Absolutely not. It cracked me the f up.
Xanthe Jane Greene (Janie) loves all things vampires. She thinks vampires are sexy, has a Dracula ringtone, and spends her time hanging out at Fang-Girls.net (I won’t lie – I actually googled to see if that was real – it wasn’t,unfortunately thankfully). Not to mention her piles and piles of vampire fiction. But she never thought vampires were real. And then she wakes up in a coffin. Dead.
Like I said before, if you take your vampire fiction-love seriously and get offended when people make fun of your reading choices, don’t read this book. Just don’t. Fang Girl pokes fun at every major YA/PNR franchise, like Twilight and Vampire Academy. It is satire to the nth degree. And it was hysterical. I found myself literally LULZing on every page, because Keeble puts Janie in the most asinine situations and really makes them so unbelievable, you can’t help but laugh because you know that’s the entire point of the story. None of it is real, DUH!
Keeble was also incredible in delivering one-liners with a dry sort of sarcasm only found in satire that really just made me laugh. Here are some examples:
The plot in Fang Girl isn’t a superbly strong one but it doesn't really need to be: Janie has been turned by one vampire, but is being chased by another and is also unkillable. Her parents take her vampism rather well, begging to be turned, while her brother would rather be a zombie. Vampires may or may not be OCD, and your best weapon against them may or may not be paperclips and poppy seeds flung everywhere. There may also be a vampire fish involved. No no, you guys, stay with me. None of this matters. Fang Girl isn’t meant to be the next greatest literary novel. Oh no. Fang Girl is meant to bring you laughter, make fun of yourself and give you a nice sense of the ridiculous. It has crossed the WTF line by so much, the line is a speck on the horizon. And I liked that about it.
You could also play a drinking game with Fang Girl: one shot for every time you read the word “vampiric.” I may try it.
Sometimes I need a good belly laugh and Fang Girl gave it to me in spades. I highly recommend you read it for nothing else if not the comedy!
Xanthe Jane Greene (Janie) loves all things vampires. She thinks vampires are sexy, has a Dracula ringtone, and spends her time hanging out at Fang-Girls.net (I won’t lie – I actually googled to see if that was real – it wasn’t,
Like I said before, if you take your vampire fiction-love seriously and get offended when people make fun of your reading choices, don’t read this book. Just don’t. Fang Girl pokes fun at every major YA/PNR franchise, like Twilight and Vampire Academy. It is satire to the nth degree. And it was hysterical. I found myself literally LULZing on every page, because Keeble puts Janie in the most asinine situations and really makes them so unbelievable, you can’t help but laugh because you know that’s the entire point of the story. None of it is real, DUH!
Keeble was also incredible in delivering one-liners with a dry sort of sarcasm only found in satire that really just made me laugh. Here are some examples:
“Die, foul fiend,” he snarled, charging once more.
“Foul fiend?” I said, nearly getting clipped by the blade due to disbelief. I rolled to pick up a few more paperclips. “Did you actually just say that, like, non-ironically?”
Anyone looking at my teeth wouldn’t immediately think “vampire,” just “typically awful British dentistry.”
Crap. Three years of braces down the drain.
My stalker didn’t move. He was so utterly still, I would never have seen him if it hadn’t been for that one slight, startled jerk of his head. He stayed motionless as my fingers walked along the line of my books, motionless as I drew one out…
And then he did move, because my hardcover copy of Breaking Dawn whacked him full in the face, with all my vampiric strength propelling it.
The plot in Fang Girl isn’t a superbly strong one but it doesn't really need to be: Janie has been turned by one vampire, but is being chased by another and is also unkillable. Her parents take her vampism rather well, begging to be turned, while her brother would rather be a zombie. Vampires may or may not be OCD, and your best weapon against them may or may not be paperclips and poppy seeds flung everywhere. There may also be a vampire fish involved. No no, you guys, stay with me. None of this matters. Fang Girl isn’t meant to be the next greatest literary novel. Oh no. Fang Girl is meant to bring you laughter, make fun of yourself and give you a nice sense of the ridiculous. It has crossed the WTF line by so much, the line is a speck on the horizon. And I liked that about it.
You could also play a drinking game with Fang Girl: one shot for every time you read the word “vampiric.” I may try it.
Sometimes I need a good belly laugh and Fang Girl gave it to me in spades. I highly recommend you read it for nothing else if not the comedy!
September 8, 2012
Xanthe Jane Greene had always been big vampire fan, writing fan fiction on Fang-Girls.net and reading all the popular fiction about vampires out there. However, she never actually wanted to become one! Especially when becoming a vampire is not as fun as all the books she's read. Now Jane has to deal with parents who want to become vampires too to accompany her for eternity, an Elder vampire intent on killing her and her sire, a Victorian vampire guy who's trying really hard to romance her, and a ripped vampire hunter who is way too much a distraction when he's trying to stake her.
In her YA debut Helen Keeble's use of vampire lore is not only hilarious but genius! She takes the vampire myth to a whole new level of hilarity, especially their desire to clean and organize. Jane gets firsthand experience on how severe OCD can get you killed. I really loved how her whole family took in the fact that their daughter had risen from the dead. Jane's Mom is very proactive about the whole thing, and goes into research mode to help her daughter be a good vampire. Her Dad is very supportive too, cooking a lot of different meals to see what she likes. Her brother Zack is just hilarious, and takes everything in stride.
And their pet goldfish is my hero.
Jane is sure her family is quite crazy. Luckily Ebon de Sanguine comes along. He's a Victorian vampire with a suave attitude who can't quite contain his excitement around modern stuff. Though he seems very interested in helping her, and romancing her, there's just something not right about him. Then Van, the totally ripped vampire hunter, comes along! Just what Jane needed, another distraction. The two will form an unlikely alliance when Jane's family is taken hostage by the Elder vampire who's searching for her.
Fun, witty, and completely hilarious, Fang Girl had me laughing at every turn of Jane's new vampiric life. This is not just a simple satire on popular vampire conventions, but an original and fun take on old vampire lore. It's four months only five days until the release of Fang Girl, and I'm already begging for another Jane adventure!
*I won the ARC from the author*
In her YA debut Helen Keeble's use of vampire lore is not only hilarious but genius! She takes the vampire myth to a whole new level of hilarity, especially their desire to clean and organize. Jane gets firsthand experience on how severe OCD can get you killed. I really loved how her whole family took in the fact that their daughter had risen from the dead. Jane's Mom is very proactive about the whole thing, and goes into research mode to help her daughter be a good vampire. Her Dad is very supportive too, cooking a lot of different meals to see what she likes. Her brother Zack is just hilarious, and takes everything in stride.
And their pet goldfish is my hero.
Jane is sure her family is quite crazy. Luckily Ebon de Sanguine comes along. He's a Victorian vampire with a suave attitude who can't quite contain his excitement around modern stuff. Though he seems very interested in helping her, and romancing her, there's just something not right about him. Then Van, the totally ripped vampire hunter, comes along! Just what Jane needed, another distraction. The two will form an unlikely alliance when Jane's family is taken hostage by the Elder vampire who's searching for her.
Fun, witty, and completely hilarious, Fang Girl had me laughing at every turn of Jane's new vampiric life. This is not just a simple satire on popular vampire conventions, but an original and fun take on old vampire lore. It's four months only five days until the release of Fang Girl, and I'm already begging for another Jane adventure!
*I won the ARC from the author*
February 9, 2013
Something around 3.5 stars from me,
this is really a new and funny twist on the classic teenager-turned-into-vamp- story.
I liked Xanthe very much, she's witty & brave and I also enjoyed how she leads us through the surprisingly substantial plot.
With that I mean that I didn't expect to find here much action or even intelligent twists in the story, but it really was well thought out..
Really refreshing was also, that we don't have here an natural- beauty, shy, lovely girl who taps slowly in her newfound powers incl a queue of guys who are after her, which she's of course not aware of.
But a kick-ass girl who loves vampires, has a superdeveloped knowledge based on pertinent YA- literature and adapts quickly.
For example (13% in):
She solemnly swears to herself to not fall in love with a vampire hunter, a werewolf, anyone evil (no matter how hot) or anyone of a species vampire elders do not approve of.
At the latest here I was definitely hooked and wanted to see how this would turn out =)
Don't expect the next twilight here, but a really funny and entertaining (bit satirical) version of a good ol' story.
this is really a new and funny twist on the classic teenager-turned-into-vamp- story.
I liked Xanthe very much, she's witty & brave and I also enjoyed how she leads us through the surprisingly substantial plot.
With that I mean that I didn't expect to find here much action or even intelligent twists in the story, but it really was well thought out..
Really refreshing was also, that we don't have here an natural- beauty, shy, lovely girl who taps slowly in her newfound powers incl a queue of guys who are after her, which she's of course not aware of.
But a kick-ass girl who loves vampires, has a superdeveloped knowledge based on pertinent YA- literature and adapts quickly.
For example (13% in):
She solemnly swears to herself to not fall in love with a vampire hunter, a werewolf, anyone evil (no matter how hot) or anyone of a species vampire elders do not approve of.
At the latest here I was definitely hooked and wanted to see how this would turn out =)
Don't expect the next twilight here, but a really funny and entertaining (bit satirical) version of a good ol' story.
December 9, 2012
Fang Girl is pretty much like utterly awesome crackfic - even better, in some ways, as it takes a lot to pull off good crackfic with a setting and characters unfamiliar to the reader.
Definitely one of the funniest books I've read this year. It sort of felt like it started to run out of steam towards the end (or perhaps it was just that there was actually a plot, too, and that plot necessitated a few more serious moments, which didn't mesh with the funny quite perfectly), but overall, it was an extremely enjoyable read.
Recommended to anyone who's ever been in fandom (any fandom!) and likes some unabashed silliness now and again. (Recommended to anyone who's never been in fandom, too, but I do think it's a bonus.)
Definitely one of the funniest books I've read this year. It sort of felt like it started to run out of steam towards the end (or perhaps it was just that there was actually a plot, too, and that plot necessitated a few more serious moments, which didn't mesh with the funny quite perfectly), but overall, it was an extremely enjoyable read.
Recommended to anyone who's ever been in fandom (any fandom!) and likes some unabashed silliness now and again. (Recommended to anyone who's never been in fandom, too, but I do think it's a bonus.)
April 21, 2016
At first this book was interesting but later became boring.
I liked its humor and some characters (MC's family is insane, best thing about this book) but all in all it didn't touch me. I've expected something else.
But if you're looking for hilarious and light book, this book would do it for you.
6 out of 10.
I liked its humor and some characters (MC's family is insane, best thing about this book) but all in all it didn't touch me. I've expected something else.
But if you're looking for hilarious and light book, this book would do it for you.
6 out of 10.
September 3, 2016
3.75(Woulda been four but some parts were boring)
In the past month, I've read three or so vampire spoof novels. I need more. SO MANY MORE. They are the best because not only do they satiate my thirst for vampire non-melodrama, they also give me a respite from ALL THINGS melodramatic in books.
In the past month, I've read three or so vampire spoof novels. I need more. SO MANY MORE. They are the best because not only do they satiate my thirst for vampire non-melodrama, they also give me a respite from ALL THINGS melodramatic in books.
June 23, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It was funny and cute great summer reading. I hope there will be more in the future!
December 23, 2020
Not bad, but not as captivating as I wanted it to be. Still a fun read and the ending made me happy - and laughed!
September 14, 2012
How to start reviewing this book?
Easy. By saying it was a great and funny read!
I laughed for most of the time, especially for the first half.
Jane (or Xanthe if you like better) is a huge fan of everything vampire, starting with vampire books and ending with Buffy. Which made me like her immediately.
She's also witty and brave. A real heroine. With that funny side that you can't not like.
This book is simply too hilarious! I couldn't refrain myself from laughing.
The only flaw is that there's not enough romance in it as I would have liked. But I'm expecting some more in the next book. At least, by the way this book ended, I think there will be a sequel. Hopefully soon.
Jane's parents are probably even more hilarious than Jane herself. They're really something. Craked me up all the time.
Her brother Zack is a really cute boy.
Van, the vampire hunter, is a nice character and although I could't find myself really liking him at first, I got to like him in the end. He's a really nice guy when he's not trying to kill Jane.
Ebon... is a character I don't like very much. From the biginning. Not that he's bad, but still... not an interesting character. For me at least.
Lily... well, I can't say much. She's one of the villains in the book.
And I knew it from the start that she was no good.
All in all. Nice characters. My favorites are Jane and her parents. And then Van.
SPOILER!
Here are some quotes/scenes/phrases I liked:
Easy. By saying it was a great and funny read!
I laughed for most of the time, especially for the first half.
Jane (or Xanthe if you like better) is a huge fan of everything vampire, starting with vampire books and ending with Buffy. Which made me like her immediately.
She's also witty and brave. A real heroine. With that funny side that you can't not like.
This book is simply too hilarious! I couldn't refrain myself from laughing.
The only flaw is that there's not enough romance in it as I would have liked. But I'm expecting some more in the next book. At least, by the way this book ended, I think there will be a sequel. Hopefully soon.
Jane's parents are probably even more hilarious than Jane herself. They're really something. Craked me up all the time.
Her brother Zack is a really cute boy.
Van, the vampire hunter, is a nice character and although I could't find myself really liking him at first, I got to like him in the end. He's a really nice guy when he's not trying to kill Jane.
Ebon... is a character I don't like very much. From the biginning. Not that he's bad, but still... not an interesting character. For me at least.
Lily... well, I can't say much. She's one of the villains in the book.
And I knew it from the start that she was no good.
All in all. Nice characters. My favorites are Jane and her parents. And then Van.
SPOILER!
Here are some quotes/scenes/phrases I liked:
August 30, 2014
You know those story's that you come across sometimes and you think, if there ever was a possibility (which is unlikely) this book could be real? This is one of those times in a really strange way, your probably thinking... What is she going on about? But in all the world, a great place for a vampire to hide, is IKEA. Why is that I hear you ask, because it is loud, massive and there are loads of rooms you could hide in. Also a never-ending supply of customers to feed from.
The cover is very simple but addressed the book really well. It stood out with its plain white background and the teeth in the glass made me laugh... don't ask why. I also loved the font and colour of the title, giving it a bigger presence of vampires.
Jane, or as she is also known as JaneX, is fifteen-years-old... and caught in a precise and clever plan, ending in her becoming one of the worlds most powerful and unkillable vampires. Jane loves vampires, she has always been fascinated by them and is a proud member of 'Fang-Girls.net', however she has never in her life believed for them to be real. Until she wakes up in a coffin deep in the ground of an empty field and trying to rummage for a random ringing phone. Eventually she is unearthed, only to have her sire run for the hills. Being warned, she finally arrives at her home to an unconscious mum, flabbergasted father and a totally cool brother, who of which 'knew-this-was-going-to-happen-all-along', seriously I don't think anything will thase him. As she attempts to get her life back to normal with a mass of experiments, she is sired to a goldfish (now thats another story of which you must read to believe it!) and finds she has no heart. Instead her heart is inside a very evil and creepy twelve-year-old girl named Sarah, or as she is also known as, Superluminal. Being adopted by Jane's sire, Sarah has been preparing for a long stretch of her life to become a vampire, however due to her illness, the only way she can become a vampire is if she has a vampire heart inside her. As they attempt to capture the evil elder vampire himself (in a way, the age of the elder is one of the things you would say sarcastically, seeing as he is... lets just say, young), they must team with their most unlikely allies... the Vampire Hunters (however, they have been working with them all along.)
Jane is a very funny character. She is a go-with-the-flow sort of person who just accepts she is a vampire and just goes along with it, not whining or exclaiming her life is 'totally' over. She can also be very sarcastic and quip, and when she gets angry... she gets angry. Her family is also a very important aspect of her life and the transformation into a vampire has not changed her opinion and view on them. Her family was also very supportive of her, such as getting two bunnies for her to have for breakfast, and so as you can tell they are very unlike most families in many YA novels. She is very strong and very quick to think of new plans, alongside her new 'friend' Sarah.
Now Sarah... she has got to be one of my two favourite characters. Lets just say she stands for absolutely nothing, NOTHING. If you do something that upsets or annoys her, you are in for one verbal match. She is also very strong and seems to have a very dry sense of humour, but she also cares a lot for Lily, her sire, and due to her not having had a family, she would do anything to keep her safe and out of harms way. But she is a very, very clever girl whom of which knows what she's doing. My second favourite character is Jane's brother, Zack. He is hilarious, with a fascination for steampunk and the victorians he would go to any length to meet one, even if the closest one to him is the one who tried to kill his own sister. Not a great plan but we'll go along with it. He also creates a great relationship with the victorian, Ebon, who they both share a big love for Band Hero.
This book is EXTREMELY funny, the comments made by all characters are laugh-out-loud moments and would have everyone in the room staring at you like you are from another planet. The plot was, in ways, very believable and really hit the spot for a relaxing read. It also provided new views on vampires such as their very serious OCD, who knew the way to beat a vampire is to throw paperclips on the ground in front of them? And the way they could turn into smoke, totally awesome.
This book will really tickle you and make you want to read more of Helen Keeble's books. Her new book No Angel, is coming out in October 2013, meaning I cannot wait to devour it!
January 1, 2022
Fun, light, innovative! A refreshing and entertaining book to start 2022 xoxo
Aww man can't believe there's no sequel
Aww man can't believe there's no sequel
July 14, 2013
For more of my reviews, visit Books For YA!
Fang Girl by Helen Keeble is a paranormal comedy, packed full of fight scenes and a roller coaster twist and turns. A fast-paced and highly entertaining read that will satisfy your vampire cravings.
Xanthe Jane Greene, a vampire fanatic, woke up one night just to discover that she was an actual living vampire (well, not technically living) and was inside a coffin. The reason behind her transformation was still a mystery and the last memory she has was her car accident. She doesn't know what to do as a newborn vampire so she did what every other 15 year old teenage vampire would do: she called her parents.
Okay, this book right here is the funniest paranormal comedy that I've ever read so far and I'm going to say that this is the best in this genre until other books proved me wrong. Anyway, you wouldn't know how much fun I had while reading this book. It’s insane how Jane and I instantly clicked. Her voice throughout the story was light and relatable and I can’t help not to love her.
“Coughing and spitting, I struggled out of my grave. I did not immediately catch fire, turn to dust, or have an acrobatic blonde Buffy-wannabe put a stake through my chest. So far, my first day – night – of my unlife was off to a good start.”
Her family was also awesomely weird. Her younger brother, Zack was the most adorable steampunk fanatic that I’ve ever encountered. Nothing can fazes him, not even the news that his sister become a blood-sucking vampire. Jane’s parents were also lovable and they were really accepting over Jane’s condition (well, not immediately but still). They researched a lot of folklore about vampires to help Jane with her current state and came up with a lot of ridiculous ones. They super love Jane to the point that they even proposed that they should be turned into vampires as well so that she will never be alone.
“You can drink my blood if you want,” Zack chimed in. “I’ll even let you bite me.”
“No biting,” Mum said. “It wouldn’t be sanitary.”
“What do you think I’ve got, rabies?” I said to her with indignation then turned to Zack. “And, no!”
There were a few memorable characters here that I also wanted you to meet like Van Helsing(yeah, that’s really his name), Sarah, Ebon, and Brains, the vampire goldfish. Other than the uber awesome characters, this book also have a lot of kick-ass fight scenes, a lot of impulsive-compulsive vampires and a really complex twist and turn.
Overall, this was an amazing read. If you love vampires and laugh-out-loud comedy from beginning to end then you should definitely read this. I highly recommend this to paranormal lovers out there.
Fang Girl by Helen Keeble is a paranormal comedy, packed full of fight scenes and a roller coaster twist and turns. A fast-paced and highly entertaining read that will satisfy your vampire cravings.
Xanthe Jane Greene, a vampire fanatic, woke up one night just to discover that she was an actual living vampire (well, not technically living) and was inside a coffin. The reason behind her transformation was still a mystery and the last memory she has was her car accident. She doesn't know what to do as a newborn vampire so she did what every other 15 year old teenage vampire would do: she called her parents.
Okay, this book right here is the funniest paranormal comedy that I've ever read so far and I'm going to say that this is the best in this genre until other books proved me wrong. Anyway, you wouldn't know how much fun I had while reading this book. It’s insane how Jane and I instantly clicked. Her voice throughout the story was light and relatable and I can’t help not to love her.
“Coughing and spitting, I struggled out of my grave. I did not immediately catch fire, turn to dust, or have an acrobatic blonde Buffy-wannabe put a stake through my chest. So far, my first day – night – of my unlife was off to a good start.”
Her family was also awesomely weird. Her younger brother, Zack was the most adorable steampunk fanatic that I’ve ever encountered. Nothing can fazes him, not even the news that his sister become a blood-sucking vampire. Jane’s parents were also lovable and they were really accepting over Jane’s condition (well, not immediately but still). They researched a lot of folklore about vampires to help Jane with her current state and came up with a lot of ridiculous ones. They super love Jane to the point that they even proposed that they should be turned into vampires as well so that she will never be alone.
“You can drink my blood if you want,” Zack chimed in. “I’ll even let you bite me.”
“No biting,” Mum said. “It wouldn’t be sanitary.”
“What do you think I’ve got, rabies?” I said to her with indignation then turned to Zack. “And, no!”
There were a few memorable characters here that I also wanted you to meet like Van Helsing(yeah, that’s really his name), Sarah, Ebon, and Brains, the vampire goldfish. Other than the uber awesome characters, this book also have a lot of kick-ass fight scenes, a lot of impulsive-compulsive vampires and a really complex twist and turn.
Overall, this was an amazing read. If you love vampires and laugh-out-loud comedy from beginning to end then you should definitely read this. I highly recommend this to paranormal lovers out there.
November 15, 2012
Fifteen year old Xanthe Jane Greene may have been obsessed with all things vampire - that didn't mean she wanted to be one! So imagine her surprise when she wakes up inside her coffin, with her very own set of fangs. Of course it's nothing like the movies or books she's read. Now Jane is dealing with her kind of creepy sire, Lily, some vampire hunters that are on her trail, and the fact that she's stronger than the average vampire. Oh yeah, her parents and her steampunk obsessed little brother Zack are also begging her to change them over to be with her! Unsure who to trust, Jane is only sure of one thing - being a fifteen year old vampire SUCKS. Jane is just an average girl, and I liked that about her. I was glad that she was intelligent and realized very quickly that the cons of being a vampire outweighed whatever pros there were. Her parents and little brother Zack were absolutely hilarious! I liked the confusion over who was the true villain, her sire Lily or super-ancient, child vampire Haakon and his minion, Ebon. The twist on the vampire mythology we know and love was also humorous. Vampires that are basically obsessive compulsive and can't leave things out of order? Hilarious! I especially loved when Jane goes after the hunters and they drop paperclips behind them so she'll have to stop and pick them up! Other favorites was the vampire goldfish named Brains and the whole situation with Sarah, the transplant patient who had Jane's heart. Overall, a fun book to read even for those completely sick of anything to do with vampires. It was such a well-thought out parody that I couldn't help but like it, even with my propensity to avoid books with main characters from the U.K. I usually can't handle Britishisms, which read like another language, but here the novel surpassed that personal quirk! :)
VERDICT: 4/5 Stars
**No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.**
VERDICT: 4/5 Stars
**No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.**
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2013
Jane wakes up in a coffin and realizes she is a vampire. Her sire is chased off before she can answer any questions so now Jane has to figure out where to go and what to do. She decides to call her dad and mum to come get her. The problem with that they think she is dead. When they get passed the fact she is back they do all they can to help her. her little brother thinks she is a zombie instead of a vampire. While trying to figure things out, her sire is making calls to her with not a lot of info, she also has to figure out which vampire elders are telling her the truth, why she seems different than other vamps and stay away from the vamp hunters. This is a lot for a 15 year old to deal with.
Jane is such a fun character. She knows what she is she just has to figure out why her. She at times seems a typical teen. Other times while in danger she uses her head and tries to think things thru. Her family is just amazing. They jump right in trying to find stuff for her to eat, which leads to some hysterical scenes, trying to keep her out of the sun in some funny place and even keeping an eye on her with boys around. Even being a vampire she still has rules to follow lol. You have Van and Ebon as well two guys both with different ideas for Jane and she has to figure out which to trust if either of them.
This book is not to be taken series. It is for laughs and you get a lot of them in this book. I love all the little things the author added to make the story pop. It has a great plot that keeps you from putting the book down. Lots of action and mystery that will keep those pages turning. The family will have you loving them from the start. If you are looking for a light funny vampire book pick this up. It even has a vampire fish.
Jane is such a fun character. She knows what she is she just has to figure out why her. She at times seems a typical teen. Other times while in danger she uses her head and tries to think things thru. Her family is just amazing. They jump right in trying to find stuff for her to eat, which leads to some hysterical scenes, trying to keep her out of the sun in some funny place and even keeping an eye on her with boys around. Even being a vampire she still has rules to follow lol. You have Van and Ebon as well two guys both with different ideas for Jane and she has to figure out which to trust if either of them.
This book is not to be taken series. It is for laughs and you get a lot of them in this book. I love all the little things the author added to make the story pop. It has a great plot that keeps you from putting the book down. Lots of action and mystery that will keep those pages turning. The family will have you loving them from the start. If you are looking for a light funny vampire book pick this up. It even has a vampire fish.
October 5, 2013
I'd heard great things about Helen Keeble's Fang Girl, and when I was looking for a light, fun read, it was exactly the ticket. Plus the synopsis had me very curious - a vampire goldfish and parents that want to be vampires? I was so in.
Jane Green is a girl completely obsessed with vampires, and she knows her stuff. So when she wakes up in a coffin, it's pretty much instantly that she realises she's become her own obsession, and with a few added bonuses - or perhaps complications.
I adored Jane's quirky yet close family, in particular her brother with his steampunk obsession which was a lot of fun, and her parents with their almost immediate acceptance of their daughters' undead return to their lives. I loved all the banter between the characters, but especially between Jane and her family as I didn't expect them to feature quite so prominently. What I really liked about Jane was the way she faced her considerable life change with tenacity and bravery and more than a few smart-arse lines.
Very tongue-in-cheek and bordering on a piss take without being condescending towards vampire lovers, Fang Girl is fun, humourous and brings a few unique twists on traditional vampire characteristics, including a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder which in turn makes for some unique vampire slaying techniques.
With crosses, double-crosses, shocking revelations and a whole bunch of fabulously different characters, Fang Girl was a quick but very enjoyable read and Helen Keeble definitely has a new fan in me.
If you need a fun, snarky read with some very unique characters and a few twists on vampire lore, I can highly recommend Fang Girl.
Read more of my reviews at The Aussie Zombie
Jane Green is a girl completely obsessed with vampires, and she knows her stuff. So when she wakes up in a coffin, it's pretty much instantly that she realises she's become her own obsession, and with a few added bonuses - or perhaps complications.
I adored Jane's quirky yet close family, in particular her brother with his steampunk obsession which was a lot of fun, and her parents with their almost immediate acceptance of their daughters' undead return to their lives. I loved all the banter between the characters, but especially between Jane and her family as I didn't expect them to feature quite so prominently. What I really liked about Jane was the way she faced her considerable life change with tenacity and bravery and more than a few smart-arse lines.
Very tongue-in-cheek and bordering on a piss take without being condescending towards vampire lovers, Fang Girl is fun, humourous and brings a few unique twists on traditional vampire characteristics, including a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder which in turn makes for some unique vampire slaying techniques.
With crosses, double-crosses, shocking revelations and a whole bunch of fabulously different characters, Fang Girl was a quick but very enjoyable read and Helen Keeble definitely has a new fan in me.
If you need a fun, snarky read with some very unique characters and a few twists on vampire lore, I can highly recommend Fang Girl.
Read more of my reviews at The Aussie Zombie
January 6, 2013
This was a refreshing alternative to the random vampire crud that surfaced after Twilight.
First off, the main character is a vamp. SHE'S ALREADY BEEN TURNED. So that got the Bella syndrome waaaay out of the way.
Next, since she had been such a big vamp fan before said turning, she knows all of the plot twists--
I fidgeted with my lip gloss, looking down. There was no way that I could tell Mum that I already knew exactly who Ebon was. It was obvious.
Three words:
My.
Soul.
Mate.
All the signs pointed to it. He was the first vampire I'd ever met. He'd saved me from certain death, kind of. He had unlikely hair, an exotic history, an unbelievably sexy accent, and, for God's sake, leather trousers. It was inevitable. I was going to go down there and fall madly in love.
And then her reaction to this analysis was even funnier. Totally not standard love triangle when the main character fricking ANALYZES her pre-ordained love triangle.
And lastly, because of Brains the vampire fish, I had no choice but to give this book five stars. You need to read this. It will drag you out from the depths of repetitive dystopian and vampire YA romance and grant you the pleasure of knowing steampunk vamps and undead fish.
First off, the main character is a vamp. SHE'S ALREADY BEEN TURNED. So that got the Bella syndrome waaaay out of the way.
Next, since she had been such a big vamp fan before said turning, she knows all of the plot twists--
I fidgeted with my lip gloss, looking down. There was no way that I could tell Mum that I already knew exactly who Ebon was. It was obvious.
Three words:
My.
Soul.
Mate.
All the signs pointed to it. He was the first vampire I'd ever met. He'd saved me from certain death, kind of. He had unlikely hair, an exotic history, an unbelievably sexy accent, and, for God's sake, leather trousers. It was inevitable. I was going to go down there and fall madly in love.
And then her reaction to this analysis was even funnier. Totally not standard love triangle when the main character fricking ANALYZES her pre-ordained love triangle.
And lastly, because of Brains the vampire fish, I had no choice but to give this book five stars. You need to read this. It will drag you out from the depths of repetitive dystopian and vampire YA romance and grant you the pleasure of knowing steampunk vamps and undead fish.
October 23, 2012
As an avid reader of most books having to do with mythology and folklore, I am a sucker for anything new coming out in that genre. Fang Girl was no exception of course and thank goodness there were no sparkling vampires running around. (I’m definitely an old schooler and cannot stand the incorrect sparkliness that is the Twilight series.) I loved the light hearted humor and reliability of each character. Jane, along with the rest of her family, definitely made my day. What family arguing the logics of how becoming vampires themselves is definitely the responsible parental thing to do wouldn’t make you giggle? The occasional jab at society’s current obsession (and misconceptions) with vampires and other mythical creatures definitely made me laugh out loud which ended up earning me some weird looks from the people sitting in the room with me. Although I’m not sure what I found most amusing, the vampiric goldfish or the fact that apparently vampires have set up base in the local IKEA. I loved Helen Keeble’s style of writing and would definitely love to read anything else she’s written.
July 28, 2015
This was fantastic! I went into it expecting a light, predictable and utterly unoriginal book. I ended up finishing it in one day and absolutely loving it. Jane has a unique quirk to her speech that is perfect to read. A lot of the characters keeping switching from good to bad and it's never a clean cut decision on who is right and who is wrong.
Jane made me laugh on several occasions with her analyzing what was going on as if it were a Vampire novel. (Which it was, but she doesn't know that.) The beginning was remarkably creative in how it portrayed Jane's first experiences as a vampire. In about the middle things get a little darker and the humor drops off. Well, except for the goldfish. I knew the goldfish was going to be important, I just knew it.
I could not believe the depths to which this book went to confuse and befuddle me. I was seriously annoyed that I couldn't keep up with everyone's ever changing motives and alliances. At the end it all gets cleared up but your left thinking: what just happened? If the next one is a little better and leads where I hope it does, then five stars all the way.
Jane made me laugh on several occasions with her analyzing what was going on as if it were a Vampire novel. (Which it was, but she doesn't know that.) The beginning was remarkably creative in how it portrayed Jane's first experiences as a vampire. In about the middle things get a little darker and the humor drops off. Well, except for the goldfish. I knew the goldfish was going to be important, I just knew it.
I could not believe the depths to which this book went to confuse and befuddle me. I was seriously annoyed that I couldn't keep up with everyone's ever changing motives and alliances. At the end it all gets cleared up but your left thinking: what just happened? If the next one is a little better and leads where I hope it does, then five stars all the way.
November 9, 2012
This is such a great book - I really liked it. 15 year old Xanthe (just call her Jane) has been turned and is now a vampire... What does she do? She goes home! Her parents are hilarious! Her father (Keith) has such a dry sense of humor, offering his daughter a rabbit (named Marmalade) and a guinea pig (named Toast), even a goldfish (named Brains) to feed on. Her 12 year old steampunk brother (the one responsible for having named the above creatures) is convinced she's a zombie and Jane's mother is trying to convince her to turn her parents but not her brother! Madness!
The book is well paced and I love the humor in this book - it was very hard to put down.
I love that the vampires have OCD - throw some paper clips at them and you can just run away. Love it!
The book is well paced and I love the humor in this book - it was very hard to put down.
I love that the vampires have OCD - throw some paper clips at them and you can just run away. Love it!
January 3, 2013
This was refreshing. You come into Jane's world ("Your name is Xanthe Jane, and you prefer JANE?") as she wakes up in her coffin. She's obsessed with the angst-filled world of vampire fanfics and brooding bloodsuckers already, so you don't have to deal with the whole "What? A vampire? You're crazy; things like that don't exist!" She knows, and she deals. Jane is funny and original, more attracted to the dorks than the vamps of the world.
The world building could've used some work; we don't know much about her town or her life, or even what country she's in (England, and I only know because she says, "mum" instead of, "mom".)Tthe mythology, on the other hand, is great! Vampires are highly OCD creatures. So much so that, of you're surrounded by them, throwing paper clips of assorted shapes and colors across the ground will give you more than enough time to escape.
I adored this book, and it had me laughing from the unfortunate begining to the hopeful end!
The world building could've used some work; we don't know much about her town or her life, or even what country she's in (England, and I only know because she says, "mum" instead of, "mom".)Tthe mythology, on the other hand, is great! Vampires are highly OCD creatures. So much so that, of you're surrounded by them, throwing paper clips of assorted shapes and colors across the ground will give you more than enough time to escape.
I adored this book, and it had me laughing from the unfortunate begining to the hopeful end!
December 2, 2012
Fang Girl by Helen Keeble stars Jane who wakes up and finds herself in a coffin. Now just because she was obsessed with vampires didn't mean she wanted to be one. She soon travels home to see her very shocked parents (and brother who is sure she is a zombie) who treat her change like an interesting science experiment.
I could not stop laughing throughout this book. It was a fantastic comedy. From the brother who was sure she was a zombie to her zombie goldfish and her obsession with organization I couldn't stop reading and finished the book quickly. I can't wait to read more from Hellen Keeble.
Appropriateness: This book has no adult content and the romance is light and fluffy. I would recommend this book to readers 12+
I could not stop laughing throughout this book. It was a fantastic comedy. From the brother who was sure she was a zombie to her zombie goldfish and her obsession with organization I couldn't stop reading and finished the book quickly. I can't wait to read more from Hellen Keeble.
Appropriateness: This book has no adult content and the romance is light and fluffy. I would recommend this book to readers 12+
August 27, 2014
Favourite character: the Gold fish. Like, seriously.
I loved Janie/Xanthe. She's not drooling over excessively victorian dressed 200 hundred years old vamps with a false french accent. (She's trying not to at least...) She loves vampires so there is no initial shock of 'Oh no, vampires !' and no info dump. Thank God.
I know Van kills her a few times( stakes her, burns her, wants to chop off her head etc ) but come on...
Loved the family factor.
And the humour! I need more vampire/comedy books.
The boys, because there is a subtle hint for future romance. Ebon was magnificent. Van, red headed vamp hunter, I'm sold.
Whatever you do, do not become Sarah's enemy, she's a little nasty evil genius.
I loved Janie/Xanthe. She's not drooling over excessively victorian dressed 200 hundred years old vamps with a false french accent. (She's trying not to at least...) She loves vampires so there is no initial shock of 'Oh no, vampires !' and no info dump. Thank God.
I know Van kills her a few times( stakes her, burns her, wants to chop off her head etc ) but come on...
Loved the family factor.
And the humour! I need more vampire/comedy books.
The boys, because there is a subtle hint for future romance. Ebon was magnificent. Van, red headed vamp hunter, I'm sold.
Whatever you do, do not become Sarah's enemy, she's a little nasty evil genius.
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