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Fang Fiction
She’s out for adventure. He’s out for blood.
The world of your favorite fantasy novels is real, and you’re invited to visit. The only catch? It’s filled with thirsty vampires. Devour this page-turning romance from the bestselling author of One to Watch.
Tess Rosenbloom is no stranger to the dark. A grad school dropout and chronic insomniac, she spends her nights managing a chic Brooklyn hotel and her days curled up with her favorite vampire novels, Blood Feud. Tess even dabbles in online conspiracies that Blood Feud is real—it’s fun to hunt for clues! But deep down, Tess doesn’t believe vampires actually exist…
Until one walks through her door.
It turns out Blood Feud is real, and the sexy villain of the novels is trapped. Eager to escape her life, Tess agrees to help rescue him, and soon she’s in a fantasia of lavish palaces and enchanted forests, on a secret island where the sun never shines and she’s surrounded by deadly vampires—and against her better judgment, she’s falling in love with one of them. (And unbeknownst to Tess, her estranged best friend is having a sapphic affair with a beautiful vampire of her own back in New York.)
Visiting the world of your favorite story is any fan’s dream, but will Tess be able to outrun the demons of her past (and vampires of her present) before it becomes a nightmare? In this darkly glamorous rom-com, Tess will find out whether it’s worth risking her neck—and her heart—for a chance to reclaim her future.
The world of your favorite fantasy novels is real, and you’re invited to visit. The only catch? It’s filled with thirsty vampires. Devour this page-turning romance from the bestselling author of One to Watch.
Tess Rosenbloom is no stranger to the dark. A grad school dropout and chronic insomniac, she spends her nights managing a chic Brooklyn hotel and her days curled up with her favorite vampire novels, Blood Feud. Tess even dabbles in online conspiracies that Blood Feud is real—it’s fun to hunt for clues! But deep down, Tess doesn’t believe vampires actually exist…
Until one walks through her door.
It turns out Blood Feud is real, and the sexy villain of the novels is trapped. Eager to escape her life, Tess agrees to help rescue him, and soon she’s in a fantasia of lavish palaces and enchanted forests, on a secret island where the sun never shines and she’s surrounded by deadly vampires—and against her better judgment, she’s falling in love with one of them. (And unbeknownst to Tess, her estranged best friend is having a sapphic affair with a beautiful vampire of her own back in New York.)
Visiting the world of your favorite story is any fan’s dream, but will Tess be able to outrun the demons of her past (and vampires of her present) before it becomes a nightmare? In this darkly glamorous rom-com, Tess will find out whether it’s worth risking her neck—and her heart—for a chance to reclaim her future.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2024
430 people are currently reading
42993 people want to read
About the author
Kate Stayman-London
3 books2,522 followersHi! Thanks so much for coming to my GoodReads page. You can also find me on Insta (@katestaymanlondon) and TikTok (@authorkatestaymanlondon) if you're into that sort of thing. Official bio below, happy reading! xx
Kate Stayman-London is a novelist, screenwriter, political strategist, and bisexual double Libra. Her bestselling debut, One to Watch, was named a best book of the year by Time, NPR, Marie Claire, Mashable, and more. Kate has written for political icons including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Cher; she is also a television writer-producer and proud WGA captain. When not writing, Kate enjoys fabulous trips with friends, rewatching Buffy, and fighting for reproductive justice––as well as justice for Speak Now, Evermore, and Reputation. She lives in Los Angeles.
Kate Stayman-London is a novelist, screenwriter, political strategist, and bisexual double Libra. Her bestselling debut, One to Watch, was named a best book of the year by Time, NPR, Marie Claire, Mashable, and more. Kate has written for political icons including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Cher; she is also a television writer-producer and proud WGA captain. When not writing, Kate enjoys fabulous trips with friends, rewatching Buffy, and fighting for reproductive justice––as well as justice for Speak Now, Evermore, and Reputation. She lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,000 reviews
October 14, 2024
2.5 stars
Ahh, I wanted to love this so bad. I was a big fan of this authors debut novel when I read it a few years ago, and I’ve been in my self-proclaimed *vampire era* in this last year and I thought I was going to love this! But I just didn’t connect with it the way I was hoping to. I LOVED the beginning, I was convinced it would be a new favorite, but I found so much of this story to be so boring, and I didn’t really feel any chemistry with the romance. I love the concept of this book, I love the idea of vampires that are written about in a popular book series being real, but the execution of this story wasn’t my favorite.
I also didn’t like that the tone felt all over the place, at times it was so serious when talking about our protagonist’s past, she is a survivor of sexual assault and it gets brought up constantly anytime she has any romantic scenes, but then in the next scene the tone of the book feels more silly and campy and kind of cheesy? It just didn’t really work for me. Some scenes kind of read like fanfiction for other vampire franchises, and some of the mixed media elements of this book got annoying after a while. I don’t think this book needs to be 400 pages long, it really started to drag after a while. 😭 And the ending wasn’t very satisfying either.
Ahh, I wanted to love this so bad. I was a big fan of this authors debut novel when I read it a few years ago, and I’ve been in my self-proclaimed *vampire era* in this last year and I thought I was going to love this! But I just didn’t connect with it the way I was hoping to. I LOVED the beginning, I was convinced it would be a new favorite, but I found so much of this story to be so boring, and I didn’t really feel any chemistry with the romance. I love the concept of this book, I love the idea of vampires that are written about in a popular book series being real, but the execution of this story wasn’t my favorite.
I also didn’t like that the tone felt all over the place, at times it was so serious when talking about our protagonist’s past, she is a survivor of sexual assault and it gets brought up constantly anytime she has any romantic scenes, but then in the next scene the tone of the book feels more silly and campy and kind of cheesy? It just didn’t really work for me. Some scenes kind of read like fanfiction for other vampire franchises, and some of the mixed media elements of this book got annoying after a while. I don’t think this book needs to be 400 pages long, it really started to drag after a while. 😭 And the ending wasn’t very satisfying either.
May 31, 2024
I am genuinely fuming about how much I do not like this book.
Overall the writing is mediocre, it reads like a typical cheesy harlequin romance which part of me thinks is intentional. Very tell don’t show, very immature narrative style in a lot of ways. I was willing to look past it, but the plot itself is driving me insane.
I very deeply do not like that the plot completely hinges around the main character being drugged and raped, then abruptly abandoning her entire life because of it. This book is marketed as a fun, silly rom-com and the writing is on a low enough level that I had to turn my brain down to try and enjoy it, but I’m somehow also expected to navigate a very serious and not remotely fun topic looming over the character’s head for the entire book. Even if the subject is handled with care, it frankly ruined any enjoyment of the story.
Part of me wants to understand that stories about healing from assault matter, but a bigger part of me is tired of women *constantly* dealing with sexual assault in all types of media. It’s a book about how vampires are secretly real, why is rape such a predominant part of the story? Couldn’t there be SOME other reason that Tess left college? I can’t think of a SINGLE rom com that deals with this subject matter, since they’re, ya know, COMEDIES.
If the synopsis had been more clear I never would have requested an early copy. I hate to be such a hater when the author clearly had good intentions, but I’m not sorry that the rape ruined my good time 🤷🏻♀️
Overall the writing is mediocre, it reads like a typical cheesy harlequin romance which part of me thinks is intentional. Very tell don’t show, very immature narrative style in a lot of ways. I was willing to look past it, but the plot itself is driving me insane.
I very deeply do not like that the plot completely hinges around the main character being drugged and raped, then abruptly abandoning her entire life because of it. This book is marketed as a fun, silly rom-com and the writing is on a low enough level that I had to turn my brain down to try and enjoy it, but I’m somehow also expected to navigate a very serious and not remotely fun topic looming over the character’s head for the entire book. Even if the subject is handled with care, it frankly ruined any enjoyment of the story.
Part of me wants to understand that stories about healing from assault matter, but a bigger part of me is tired of women *constantly* dealing with sexual assault in all types of media. It’s a book about how vampires are secretly real, why is rape such a predominant part of the story? Couldn’t there be SOME other reason that Tess left college? I can’t think of a SINGLE rom com that deals with this subject matter, since they’re, ya know, COMEDIES.
If the synopsis had been more clear I never would have requested an early copy. I hate to be such a hater when the author clearly had good intentions, but I’m not sorry that the rape ruined my good time 🤷🏻♀️
January 30, 2025
What would happen if, after years of reading Twilight, you don't only find out vampires are actually real, but the books are based on real vampires?
Wouldn't you want to know more, to talk to them, see if the books tell the truth? Wouldn't you want to have sex with Edward just for the sake of it? Or Carlisle or Rosalie, whoever suits you the most?
Well, this happened to my friend Tess and let me tell you: she almost got killed (twice), she almost ran away to start a new life somewhere else (twice), she found the confidence in herself she always lacked and decided it was enough.
Also, she got the vampire - which is kind of a bonus because I wasn't sure it’d end up like that.
So, we got vampires and plot twists, but also some pretty heavy trauma Tess has to face because… well, it’s not possible to escape from your nightmares for the rest of your life - it'd be nice, don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of ignoring the bad stuff and knock myself to sleep, or even ran away from your problems, anything not to having to deal with them, but you can't do that forever.
And this is where the main focus of the story is: Tess keeps desperately avoiding her problems until she has enough and is ready to fight back. Honestly, I loved how the whole process was described because I, too, would run away instead of standing up for myself, and it takes time to understand that the alternative is not going to kill you.
Another example of KSL’s incredible narrative skills is the way pop culture is everywhere in the story but, at the same time, there isn't enough of that.
Usually, I don't like it at all; singers or actors, songs or movies or shows, it's all the same: I cringe at the mention.
Here, on the opposite, every gossip-related information or reference to other shows was just so perfect and smooth I was constantly repeating to myself: “I understood that reference!”.
If I still haven't sold it to you I'm probably doing something wrong, but let me say this: it's a story written by a fangirl of the genre for other girls still stuck in their vampire “phase”, and I loved it for it.
↠ 4 stars
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
Wouldn't you want to know more, to talk to them, see if the books tell the truth? Wouldn't you want to have sex with Edward just for the sake of it? Or Carlisle or Rosalie, whoever suits you the most?
Well, this happened to my friend Tess and let me tell you: she almost got killed (twice), she almost ran away to start a new life somewhere else (twice), she found the confidence in herself she always lacked and decided it was enough.
Also, she got the vampire - which is kind of a bonus because I wasn't sure it’d end up like that.
So, we got vampires and plot twists, but also some pretty heavy trauma Tess has to face because… well, it’s not possible to escape from your nightmares for the rest of your life - it'd be nice, don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of ignoring the bad stuff and knock myself to sleep, or even ran away from your problems, anything not to having to deal with them, but you can't do that forever.
And this is where the main focus of the story is: Tess keeps desperately avoiding her problems until she has enough and is ready to fight back. Honestly, I loved how the whole process was described because I, too, would run away instead of standing up for myself, and it takes time to understand that the alternative is not going to kill you.
Another example of KSL’s incredible narrative skills is the way pop culture is everywhere in the story but, at the same time, there isn't enough of that.
Usually, I don't like it at all; singers or actors, songs or movies or shows, it's all the same: I cringe at the mention.
Here, on the opposite, every gossip-related information or reference to other shows was just so perfect and smooth I was constantly repeating to myself: “I understood that reference!”.
If I still haven't sold it to you I'm probably doing something wrong, but let me say this: it's a story written by a fangirl of the genre for other girls still stuck in their vampire “phase”, and I loved it for it.
↠ 4 stars
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
October 30, 2024
perfect for fans of buffy, twilight, (really any vampire media), and/or Long Live Evil
what if your favorite vampire series... was based on real vampires?
that's what happens to tess, a former PhD candidate at colombia who now manages a trendy williamsburg hotel.
and it's up to her to help the villains of the story.
“Of all those people on your message boards, your—what do you call them? Friends?”
“Mutuals.”
“That’s a stupid term, I’m not repeating it.”
#TeamFelix wants to be loved, while #TeamCallum wants to get fucked.
this was so fun and campy, with many pop culture references even outside of paranormal romance. it touches on fandom, fan fic, the general entertainment/media industry and how it treats vampires and women, and more. extremely meta and indulgent, in the best way.
also shoutout to the crazy rich asian inspo for callum and octavia, i dug it. and sapphic side relationship yayyyy!
“It’s so stupid he doesn’t sleep with men,” Hamish groused. “It’s like, hello, we’re immortal, maybe live a little?”
“You think witches don’t go to high school? Have you not seen The Craft?”
it also tackles the more serious topics of assault and trauma/ptsd. i thought this was handled with care. it's clear from early on something happened, so the reader isn't taken by surprise at any point, and it's quite deep into the story before details are revealed.
What about all the women who’ve fallen in love with schools or cities or careers, who’ve had our futures derailed because we had to make impossible choices to navigate our trauma as best we could, to keep going, to stay alive?
overall, this was a pleasant surprise read and i had a lot of fun. i think the only things i didn't like were the glamouring (it felt a bit too convenient but it ended up not having quite a big part of the story) and there was one point where i didn't feel quite as drawn in. but i thought the story wrapped up excellently!
I think the way we stay good is by standing up for each other. Finding some small way in our own lives to emulate the heroes we admire in our favorite books. It’s probably easier to turn a blind eye, to shut our mouths and move on. But don’t we owe each other something more?
an honest arc review ♡
_________________________
i'm already loving the meta vampire media vibes and set in present day nyc? always a win!
what if your favorite vampire series... was based on real vampires?
that's what happens to tess, a former PhD candidate at colombia who now manages a trendy williamsburg hotel.
and it's up to her to help the villains of the story.
“Of all those people on your message boards, your—what do you call them? Friends?”
“Mutuals.”
“That’s a stupid term, I’m not repeating it.”
#TeamFelix wants to be loved, while #TeamCallum wants to get fucked.
this was so fun and campy, with many pop culture references even outside of paranormal romance. it touches on fandom, fan fic, the general entertainment/media industry and how it treats vampires and women, and more. extremely meta and indulgent, in the best way.
also shoutout to the crazy rich asian inspo for callum and octavia, i dug it. and sapphic side relationship yayyyy!
“It’s so stupid he doesn’t sleep with men,” Hamish groused. “It’s like, hello, we’re immortal, maybe live a little?”
“You think witches don’t go to high school? Have you not seen The Craft?”
it also tackles the more serious topics of assault and trauma/ptsd. i thought this was handled with care. it's clear from early on something happened, so the reader isn't taken by surprise at any point, and it's quite deep into the story before details are revealed.
What about all the women who’ve fallen in love with schools or cities or careers, who’ve had our futures derailed because we had to make impossible choices to navigate our trauma as best we could, to keep going, to stay alive?
overall, this was a pleasant surprise read and i had a lot of fun. i think the only things i didn't like were the glamouring (it felt a bit too convenient but it ended up not having quite a big part of the story) and there was one point where i didn't feel quite as drawn in. but i thought the story wrapped up excellently!
I think the way we stay good is by standing up for each other. Finding some small way in our own lives to emulate the heroes we admire in our favorite books. It’s probably easier to turn a blind eye, to shut our mouths and move on. But don’t we owe each other something more?
an honest arc review ♡
_________________________
i'm already loving the meta vampire media vibes and set in present day nyc? always a win!
October 5, 2024
Boring! This book was a chaotic mess that couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. It isn’t a romantic story either; it just features a very teeny tiny side romance that I found unromantic, juvenile, and completely predictable.
October 7, 2024
Buddy read with desiree ✧.*˗ !
This book was such a wild ride, and I mean that in the best way possible. Fang Fiction has this quirky, fun vibe while mixing in some darker elements, and I was here for it! The plot was a little ridiculous at times (in a good way), but it worked, and I found myself laughing out loud more than I expected. The mix of humor and heartfelt moments felt like the perfect balance.
I loved the characters. They had so much personality, especially the main character, who was refreshingly relatable in her sarcasm and awkwardness. And can we talk about the romance? It wasn’t over the top but it still had me rooting for them the whole way.
We both weren't expecting to read this in one day, but we couldn't put it down. It was a very refreshing and an easy read. It did feel a bit slow in some parts, which is why I knocked off a star, but overall, it’s a solid read that’s perfect for when you’re in the mood for something light with a little bite (pun intended).
This book was such a wild ride, and I mean that in the best way possible. Fang Fiction has this quirky, fun vibe while mixing in some darker elements, and I was here for it! The plot was a little ridiculous at times (in a good way), but it worked, and I found myself laughing out loud more than I expected. The mix of humor and heartfelt moments felt like the perfect balance.
I loved the characters. They had so much personality, especially the main character, who was refreshingly relatable in her sarcasm and awkwardness. And can we talk about the romance? It wasn’t over the top but it still had me rooting for them the whole way.
We both weren't expecting to read this in one day, but we couldn't put it down. It was a very refreshing and an easy read. It did feel a bit slow in some parts, which is why I knocked off a star, but overall, it’s a solid read that’s perfect for when you’re in the mood for something light with a little bite (pun intended).
September 29, 2024
This book asks: What would happen if the fictional characters you’re obsessed with turned out to be real? The answer: self-empowerment, healing— and lots of sexy vampires. This book is a delirious heartwarming romp and I ate it up.
August 30, 2024
This reads like Twilight of Buffy fanfiction in the best way possible.
This follows Tess, grad-school dropout who discovers that the world of her favourite vampire books is a real place when she's sent to rescue the sexy villain.
Visiting the world of your favourite story is any fan's dream, but will Tess be able to outrun the demons of her past (and vampires of her present) before it becomes a nightmare?
Tess is shy, a constant reader, dreamy, romantic, and a little bit goth; attaching her literary fantasies to her latest crushes. Soooo, Tess is us.
This book was so fun!
There are excerpts from the fictional book, podcast snippets, a curated book playlist, gossip websites, etc.
Was this really cringey at times? Yes. Incredibly so.
There are so many pop culture references - Twilight, Taylor Swift, Timothee Chalemet, etc.; but it appeals to fandom culture and how we can be comforted by another world and find a community surrounding it.
“The whole idea of a 'hero' is so complicated, because heroes put other people before themselves, which is actually a very feminine quality. But heroes are usually men who wouldn't be able to pull off their heroic feats if it weren't for the support and sacrifices of women. And when a woman prioritizes herself in that way, she tends to be portrayed as a villain. So if you're a woman reader who's interested in strong female characters...”
"You tend to get stuck rooting for the villain," Octavia completed the thought.
There are also certain grimacing dialogue moments - ‘puh-lease’, ‘By the way, did I not mention I'm a big giant lesbian?’, ‘mate’ - but honestly, this just made it lean into the feeling of indulgent fanfiction even more!
This isn’t all fun, fang, and fic! It also covers a journey of recovery following a sexual assault and learning that running away and foregoing connections is not a self-loving life. This was handled with great care and you can just tell the author has such empathy and compassion to make sure everyone knows they deserve to be heard.
I would recommend this if you enjoyed Bride by Ali Hazelwood, Love Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan. Like those books, the extra star is due to pure enjoyment.
Thank you to Penguin Random house for sending me the physical arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
This follows Tess, grad-school dropout who discovers that the world of her favourite vampire books is a real place when she's sent to rescue the sexy villain.
Visiting the world of your favourite story is any fan's dream, but will Tess be able to outrun the demons of her past (and vampires of her present) before it becomes a nightmare?
Tess is shy, a constant reader, dreamy, romantic, and a little bit goth; attaching her literary fantasies to her latest crushes. Soooo, Tess is us.
This book was so fun!
There are excerpts from the fictional book, podcast snippets, a curated book playlist, gossip websites, etc.
Was this really cringey at times? Yes. Incredibly so.
There are so many pop culture references - Twilight, Taylor Swift, Timothee Chalemet, etc.; but it appeals to fandom culture and how we can be comforted by another world and find a community surrounding it.
“The whole idea of a 'hero' is so complicated, because heroes put other people before themselves, which is actually a very feminine quality. But heroes are usually men who wouldn't be able to pull off their heroic feats if it weren't for the support and sacrifices of women. And when a woman prioritizes herself in that way, she tends to be portrayed as a villain. So if you're a woman reader who's interested in strong female characters...”
"You tend to get stuck rooting for the villain," Octavia completed the thought.
There are also certain grimacing dialogue moments - ‘puh-lease’, ‘By the way, did I not mention I'm a big giant lesbian?’, ‘mate’ - but honestly, this just made it lean into the feeling of indulgent fanfiction even more!
This isn’t all fun, fang, and fic! It also covers a journey of recovery following a sexual assault and learning that running away and foregoing connections is not a self-loving life. This was handled with great care and you can just tell the author has such empathy and compassion to make sure everyone knows they deserve to be heard.
I would recommend this if you enjoyed Bride by Ali Hazelwood, Love Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan. Like those books, the extra star is due to pure enjoyment.
Thank you to Penguin Random house for sending me the physical arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
November 4, 2024
╰┈➤ 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
╰┈➤ Overall Thoughts:
I can confidently say that I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this before!! It was a really cool story and I am pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it! It reminded me of twilight in some parts, TVD is other parts, etc. I say if you’re into fantasy and vampires, this book is def for you!!
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷This book overall was
A slay
╰┈➤ Overall Thoughts:
I can confidently say that I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this before!! It was a really cool story and I am pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it! It reminded me of twilight in some parts, TVD is other parts, etc. I say if you’re into fantasy and vampires, this book is def for you!!
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷This book overall was
A slay
September 29, 2024
Who hasn't fantasized about taking the lead role in their beloved novel? I definitely did that a lot, which is why I found this book to be really intriguing.
Compared to other vampire stories I've read in the past, I thought this book's concept was different. Additionally, given Tess's experiences with trauma and the PTSD that followed, you should be aware of the book's heavy and dark side before you start reading it. At the outset of the book, the author does issue a warning. It was quite enjoyable and touching to watch them cooperate and encourage one another.
I enjoyed Tess and Callum's relationship. Although their romance seemed a little too instantaneous, I believe the plot worked nicely with it. It was delightful and endearing to watch them cooperate and encourage one another. However, I found myself caring even more about Joni and Octavia because their chemistry was so much better.
I found it entertaining to investigate the concept of the contemporary vampire. I also valued Tess's development and recovery process following her trauma. On the negative aspects of the book, it was too repetitive and the supplemental content, such as the book's chapters and podcast, took me out of the narrative.
Though it wasn't my favorite, it was still enjoyable and I would suggest it to others, especially if they are vampire show fans.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Compared to other vampire stories I've read in the past, I thought this book's concept was different. Additionally, given Tess's experiences with trauma and the PTSD that followed, you should be aware of the book's heavy and dark side before you start reading it. At the outset of the book, the author does issue a warning. It was quite enjoyable and touching to watch them cooperate and encourage one another.
I enjoyed Tess and Callum's relationship. Although their romance seemed a little too instantaneous, I believe the plot worked nicely with it. It was delightful and endearing to watch them cooperate and encourage one another. However, I found myself caring even more about Joni and Octavia because their chemistry was so much better.
I found it entertaining to investigate the concept of the contemporary vampire. I also valued Tess's development and recovery process following her trauma. On the negative aspects of the book, it was too repetitive and the supplemental content, such as the book's chapters and podcast, took me out of the narrative.
Though it wasn't my favorite, it was still enjoyable and I would suggest it to others, especially if they are vampire show fans.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 5, 2024
⛥☽ 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘴𝘩𝘭𝘺𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦ᯓᡣ𐭩
I've delved into numerous vampire related books, and while this one doesn't quite make my top favorites, it still captivated me. The story carries a heavy and dark undertone due to Tess's experiences with trauma and PTSD, something the author thoughtfully warns about at the beginning. Despite these intense themes, it was deeply touching to witness the characters support and uplift each other throughout their journey.
Tess and Callum's relationship was a joy to follow, despite its somewhat swift progression. Their romance, though quick to ignite, seamlessly fit into the plot, adding a delightful and endearing layer as they supported and uplifted each other. However, it was Joni and Octavia who truly stole the show for me. Their chemistry was palpable, making their connection even more compelling and memorable.
I truly appreciated Tess's development and recovery process following her trauma; it added depth and authenticity to the story. However, the book did have its drawbacks. At times, it felt a bit too repetitive, and while the pop culture references were good, they occasionally came off as a bit cringey. Despite these flaws, Tess's journey was compelling and heartfelt.
To conclude, I must mention how much I adore the cover of this book. I'll be eagerly awaiting the author's next release. After much deliberation between a 3 and a 4, I've decided to settle on a 4! Given that it was such an easy and enjoyable read, and I devoured it in one sitting, it certainly deserves the bump up.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
I've delved into numerous vampire related books, and while this one doesn't quite make my top favorites, it still captivated me. The story carries a heavy and dark undertone due to Tess's experiences with trauma and PTSD, something the author thoughtfully warns about at the beginning. Despite these intense themes, it was deeply touching to witness the characters support and uplift each other throughout their journey.
Tess and Callum's relationship was a joy to follow, despite its somewhat swift progression. Their romance, though quick to ignite, seamlessly fit into the plot, adding a delightful and endearing layer as they supported and uplifted each other. However, it was Joni and Octavia who truly stole the show for me. Their chemistry was palpable, making their connection even more compelling and memorable.
I truly appreciated Tess's development and recovery process following her trauma; it added depth and authenticity to the story. However, the book did have its drawbacks. At times, it felt a bit too repetitive, and while the pop culture references were good, they occasionally came off as a bit cringey. Despite these flaws, Tess's journey was compelling and heartfelt.
To conclude, I must mention how much I adore the cover of this book. I'll be eagerly awaiting the author's next release. After much deliberation between a 3 and a 4, I've decided to settle on a 4! Given that it was such an easy and enjoyable read, and I devoured it in one sitting, it certainly deserves the bump up.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
November 19, 2024
4 ⭐️ (🎧) this one is for the girls who spent their formative years reading ao3 forever wishing they could disappear into their favorite fictional worlds 🦇✨ how’s that ocd diagnosis treating you babes?
okok but seriously- this was so much fun!! ❤️🔥 I’ve apparently become a sucker (pun intended) for campy vampire romances, and this was perfect in so many ways. the theatrical audio narration, the eccentric vampire clans, & the twilight “as if you could outrun me” war flashbacks had me giggling the entire time. I really enjoyed the romance, but ultimately wish it had played a bigger role in the overall story. however, I thought the topic of SA was handled very well and really made me root for tess to get the happy ending she so deserved. whenever a plus-size girlie gets a hot vampire bf, an angel gains its wings. amen 🪽
okok but seriously- this was so much fun!! ❤️🔥 I’ve apparently become a sucker (pun intended) for campy vampire romances, and this was perfect in so many ways. the theatrical audio narration, the eccentric vampire clans, & the twilight “as if you could outrun me” war flashbacks had me giggling the entire time. I really enjoyed the romance, but ultimately wish it had played a bigger role in the overall story. however, I thought the topic of SA was handled very well and really made me root for tess to get the happy ending she so deserved. whenever a plus-size girlie gets a hot vampire bf, an angel gains its wings. amen 🪽
October 7, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
I LOVED THIS ONE! It was SO FUN & PERFECT FOR OCTOBER!!! If you grew up on twilight, Buffy, and Vampire diaries THIS IS FOR YOU!!!
Imagine this your favorite fictional vampires are real and you get to meet them?! GASP! This BOOK WAS SO CAMP!!! The way each chapter was written was so FREAKING CLEVER!! I loved that we got to read snippets of “Blood Fleud”. I’d also like to say this book was so much more than just paranormal vibes — it’s about survival, self empowerment, healing, and friendship!
💯 recommend if you want to have a fantastic time!!!
I LOVED THIS ONE! It was SO FUN & PERFECT FOR OCTOBER!!! If you grew up on twilight, Buffy, and Vampire diaries THIS IS FOR YOU!!!
Imagine this your favorite fictional vampires are real and you get to meet them?! GASP! This BOOK WAS SO CAMP!!! The way each chapter was written was so FREAKING CLEVER!! I loved that we got to read snippets of “Blood Fleud”. I’d also like to say this book was so much more than just paranormal vibes — it’s about survival, self empowerment, healing, and friendship!
💯 recommend if you want to have a fantastic time!!!
November 7, 2024
I am quite sad to say this didn't really work for me. It was fine, just fine not good or great, up until the halfway point, when my interest just sort of flopped and sagged, and my emotions gave up on it. The book is well-written in the sense that the prose is good and the dialogue interesting, but the premise here I think was a wasted premise. I think the author was trying to create a fun meta romance but the meta aspects didn't work for me, and I didn't really care about the fake world she was creating. The excerpts from the fake book series were not fun to read. That is essential in this type of book. I also didn't care at all about the love interest or the other drama that was going on. The most interesting parts of this book were very much underused: the main character's relationship with her best friend, and the best friend's lesbian romance with another vampire. Maybe a case of the story being told about the wrong character?
I do know this book suffered because I read Long Live Evil in July, and they have very similar premises (LLE did it better).
[2.5 stars, rounded up]
I do know this book suffered because I read Long Live Evil in July, and they have very similar premises (LLE did it better).
[2.5 stars, rounded up]
August 14, 2024
What in the name of Buffy did I just read?
I love romances, I love vampires, and naturally I dig a good vampire romance. I am 100% the audience for this. So please believe me when I say that this is an unholy mess, and not the sexy kind of unholiness you can expect in the best vampire romances.
Most critically, the relationships here suck. Again, not in the good way. There are two romances a-bloomin’: the central one features Jess (human) and Callum (vampire), and on the side, we have Octavia (Callum’s twin and a vampire) and Joni (Jess’s former roommate and best friend). The characters are paper-thin. It’s a problem when the defining qualities of your main duo seem to her trauma and his ethnicity/nationality. Jess and Callum do things because the plot dictates it’s time to do things, including suddenly having feelings for each other. I wasn’t sure until halfway through the book who Jess was even supposed to be falling in love with, and then all of a sudden, he is ready to die for her? The book is all tell, no show.
Plot-wise, there is simply too much going on, leaving the plot feeling underbaked. It’s predictable, so you absolutely won’t be surprised when someone comes back from the dead or a magical item appears. There’s no consistent logic to the world-building—things just happen because it’s time for something to happen.
So, underdeveloped characters, underdeveloped plot. Fine. But I deeply disliked having a sexual assault being the primary motivator for the heroine, not the way it was done here. It forms her entire personality and was used to drive the plot forward in a way that felt lazy or cliché. She loves the vampire books because they helped her through her assault. The love interests are anchored by her rehashing of the assault. She decides to fight the bad guy because she doesn't want to feel like she did when she was assaulted. The way this was written just felt regressive.
There are great vampires romances, great contemporary rom-coms, and great adventure romances out there. Read one of them instead.
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
I love romances, I love vampires, and naturally I dig a good vampire romance. I am 100% the audience for this. So please believe me when I say that this is an unholy mess, and not the sexy kind of unholiness you can expect in the best vampire romances.
Most critically, the relationships here suck. Again, not in the good way. There are two romances a-bloomin’: the central one features Jess (human) and Callum (vampire), and on the side, we have Octavia (Callum’s twin and a vampire) and Joni (Jess’s former roommate and best friend). The characters are paper-thin. It’s a problem when the defining qualities of your main duo seem to her trauma and his ethnicity/nationality. Jess and Callum do things because the plot dictates it’s time to do things, including suddenly having feelings for each other. I wasn’t sure until halfway through the book who Jess was even supposed to be falling in love with, and then all of a sudden, he is ready to die for her? The book is all tell, no show.
Plot-wise, there is simply too much going on, leaving the plot feeling underbaked. It’s predictable, so you absolutely won’t be surprised when someone comes back from the dead or a magical item appears. There’s no consistent logic to the world-building—things just happen because it’s time for something to happen.
So, underdeveloped characters, underdeveloped plot. Fine. But I deeply disliked having a sexual assault being the primary motivator for the heroine, not the way it was done here. It forms her entire personality and was used to drive the plot forward in a way that felt lazy or cliché. She loves the vampire books because they helped her through her assault. The love interests are anchored by her rehashing of the assault. She decides to fight the bad guy because she doesn't want to feel like she did when she was assaulted. The way this was written just felt regressive.
There are great vampires romances, great contemporary rom-coms, and great adventure romances out there. Read one of them instead.
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
September 12, 2025
Alors, clairement, j'ai trouvé qu'il y avait des trucs qui manquaient de profondeur, qui allaient trop vite ou qui étaient pas HYPER bien amenées. MAIS, je vais même pas essayer de vous mentir : j'ai été happée jusqu'à la toute fin mdrr. Je suis pas quelqu'un de compliqué et ça s'est prouvé ici : malgré les quelques défauts que j'ai relevé, j'ai quand même passé un bon moment de lecture et vraiment, le concept est hyper cool ! Oui, c'est prévisible, oui, c'est un peu too much mais eh, j'étais aussi là pour ça et j'ai kiffé. Voilà.
April 24, 2025
Fang Fiction depicts an alternative reality where a popular vampire book series is not entirely fictional... Tess, our protagonist, has been trying to escape her own life after a very traumatic event makes her quit her Columbia PhD program (search trigger warnings!!!), when a lost vampire finds her in a quirky Williamsburg hotel and tasks her with saving, well, all the vampires (except Felix).
Kate Stayman-London's humorous voice is addictive and made this book an incredibly enjoyable experience. My favorite aspect of this book was how the author focused so much on the importance of relationships, especially friendships, in how they contribute to healing and growing. Despite the paranormal setting of the novel, this felt relatable and resonated with me deeply.
Our main character's arc was so empowering to read. Her journey was (sadly) realistic but she found her strength towards the end, deciding to fight for herself instead of running, and to trust others again. That was beautiful. Her romance with the equally beautiful (vampire) Callum was also so fun to read, but I admit I wish there had been a little more yearning!
Jonie and Octavia's romance was slightly more engaging for me, but that could be because I truly adored Jonie so much that I just was rooting for her so much. But Jonie and Tess's relationship was still the highlight for me and highlights the importance of female friendship.
As for the world building, I feel like it was so well balanced out with the real world. Every inclusion felt intentional. Yes, it was sometimes a little funny, but it still was cohesive with the writing and the narrative we were getting so it never felt random!
Finally, the actual plot of this book felt pretty predictable. The author hit all her beats and made it a very familiar story. To me, that felt like it was done on purpose. If you are a fan of The Vampire Diaries, Twilight, Buffy, etc., you will recognise the tropes and the plot lines she is following here. So, for me I didn't mind being able to see how the plot would turn out, but if that puts you off, this might not be the book for you! Regardless, it was high-stakes and goofy, so a very entertaining read as whole.
Kate Stayman-London's humorous voice is addictive and made this book an incredibly enjoyable experience. My favorite aspect of this book was how the author focused so much on the importance of relationships, especially friendships, in how they contribute to healing and growing. Despite the paranormal setting of the novel, this felt relatable and resonated with me deeply.
Our main character's arc was so empowering to read. Her journey was (sadly) realistic but she found her strength towards the end, deciding to fight for herself instead of running, and to trust others again. That was beautiful. Her romance with the equally beautiful (vampire) Callum was also so fun to read, but I admit I wish there had been a little more yearning!
Jonie and Octavia's romance was slightly more engaging for me, but that could be because I truly adored Jonie so much that I just was rooting for her so much. But Jonie and Tess's relationship was still the highlight for me and highlights the importance of female friendship.
As for the world building, I feel like it was so well balanced out with the real world. Every inclusion felt intentional. Yes, it was sometimes a little funny, but it still was cohesive with the writing and the narrative we were getting so it never felt random!
Finally, the actual plot of this book felt pretty predictable. The author hit all her beats and made it a very familiar story. To me, that felt like it was done on purpose. If you are a fan of The Vampire Diaries, Twilight, Buffy, etc., you will recognise the tropes and the plot lines she is following here. So, for me I didn't mind being able to see how the plot would turn out, but if that puts you off, this might not be the book for you! Regardless, it was high-stakes and goofy, so a very entertaining read as whole.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
October 12, 2024dnf at 31%
the writing is so mediocre and cringe that i can feel my brain cells dying by the page
the writing is so mediocre and cringe that i can feel my brain cells dying by the page
October 7, 2024
as someone who has spent pretty much their entire life in some sort of niche, magically weird, and life changing little corners of various internet fandoms, i really really loved this one. while i'm not typically a paranormal girly, this book was so unique in so many ways and truly felt like a love letter to fandom and pop culture and romance books and all of my favorite things as well as just a masterclass in romance itself. i was blown away at kate’s ability to balance essentially three different worlds (the human world, the world of blood teud the book, and the world of the (unbeknownst to them) real-life vampires the book is based on) and all the ways in which they overlap, while keeping every single person in a very large cast of characters so distinct and vibrant and real. i keep getting particularly emotional at the care and gentleness she takes with our MC tess, an SA survivor who, throughout the course of the book, transitions from merely trying to outrun her past to actively wanting to reclaim her furture for herself. the use of fandom as the vehicle for what gets tess through her darkest days and what helps her to heal from her trauma is something that feels deeply personal to me and i'm positive many others. i know the escapism, the belonging, and the hope that fandom can provide and watching tess on this journey, working to process and heal from her trauma yes, but also being so incredibly badass and fierce and caring and protective and passionate and authentic felt profoundly beautiful. I can't stop thinking about it.
July 27, 2024
DNFed at 33%
I’ve been picking this book up and putting it down for 2 weeks now when I can typically finish a book this length in one to two days. The writing style was not for me as it came across as trying to be campy but ended up just being bad. Obviously I don’t expect a book about vampires to be realistic but the way Tess just goes with whatever is happening around her seems so far fetched ?? This snippets of books/podcasts/texts/etc at the beginning of the chapters were unnecessary (at least they were up to the point when I stopped reading, idk if they become more important later) and I started skipping them at chapter 6. Overall this book was just not my taste even though the plot sounded right up my alley.
I’ve been picking this book up and putting it down for 2 weeks now when I can typically finish a book this length in one to two days. The writing style was not for me as it came across as trying to be campy but ended up just being bad. Obviously I don’t expect a book about vampires to be realistic but the way Tess just goes with whatever is happening around her seems so far fetched ?? This snippets of books/podcasts/texts/etc at the beginning of the chapters were unnecessary (at least they were up to the point when I stopped reading, idk if they become more important later) and I started skipping them at chapter 6. Overall this book was just not my taste even though the plot sounded right up my alley.
August 31, 2024
3.5⭐️
This had all the makings for a story I would love, it just fell a bit short. I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who thinks the synopsis sounds good to them, especially lovers of teen angst and vampires.
I had a herd time connecting with the characters because POVs switched a lot and there were sections with podcast excerpts and book chapters from the main series referenced in the story. It seemed like a lot of extra things included that didn’t bring a lot to the story overall.
This book definitely has a darker and heavier side as Tess is recovering from an assault by a classmate. She grew a lot over the book and it was nice seeing her become more confident and honest with herself and her friends.
Her romance with Callum lightened things up a bit but I didn’t feel a huge connection between them. I was more invested Joni and Octavia’s relationship because they had more chemistry and it wasn’t such an insta-love situation.
This was a good read and totally different from this author’s previous book so it was cool to see her try something else!
This had all the makings for a story I would love, it just fell a bit short. I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who thinks the synopsis sounds good to them, especially lovers of teen angst and vampires.
I had a herd time connecting with the characters because POVs switched a lot and there were sections with podcast excerpts and book chapters from the main series referenced in the story. It seemed like a lot of extra things included that didn’t bring a lot to the story overall.
This book definitely has a darker and heavier side as Tess is recovering from an assault by a classmate. She grew a lot over the book and it was nice seeing her become more confident and honest with herself and her friends.
Her romance with Callum lightened things up a bit but I didn’t feel a huge connection between them. I was more invested Joni and Octavia’s relationship because they had more chemistry and it wasn’t such an insta-love situation.
This was a good read and totally different from this author’s previous book so it was cool to see her try something else!
October 15, 2024
2.5 Stars!
Content Warning: Sexual Assult
Fang Fiction was just an okay read. It's not a bad read but it's just not what I wanted.
The premise to Fang Fiction sounded super fun. Imagine if a best selling vampire series was actually based on real vampires?
I expected to have more fun reading this. I sat this book down and never really felt an urge to pick it up. It was just a disappointment.
No recommendation.
Content Warning: Sexual Assult
Fang Fiction was just an okay read. It's not a bad read but it's just not what I wanted.
The premise to Fang Fiction sounded super fun. Imagine if a best selling vampire series was actually based on real vampires?
I expected to have more fun reading this. I sat this book down and never really felt an urge to pick it up. It was just a disappointment.
No recommendation.
dnf
September 23, 2024Too cheesy and the interspersed book excerpts were very distracting.
October 28, 2024
Ok…I am giving this 4⭐️ based on being fully entertained the whole way through. I do have some qualms with it overall so take my 4⭐️ lightly 😂
The plot was so fun. I loved it. There were emails, podcasts, texts, and vampire fan fiction sprinkled all through out (oh, and new vamp lore, which I always love).
I think this book could have really gone all the way if it had been more Romantasy than Paranormal Romance…especially since the romance felt more like a subplot that didn’t really hit till nearly 70% in. But again, I was entertained! There was a lot of story! I was impressed with how much world building and back story there was honestly. I also think with this being more of a rom-com the storyline of sexual assault was unnecessary and distracting (but maybe that is just me).
And bonus points for the cutest book cover!
The plot was so fun. I loved it. There were emails, podcasts, texts, and vampire fan fiction sprinkled all through out (oh, and new vamp lore, which I always love).
I think this book could have really gone all the way if it had been more Romantasy than Paranormal Romance…especially since the romance felt more like a subplot that didn’t really hit till nearly 70% in. But again, I was entertained! There was a lot of story! I was impressed with how much world building and back story there was honestly. I also think with this being more of a rom-com the storyline of sexual assault was unnecessary and distracting (but maybe that is just me).
And bonus points for the cutest book cover!
October 24, 2024
Halloween Bingo 2024
Not nearly as much fun as I anticipated. I liked it, but it could have been so much better.
Have you ever daydreamed about visiting your favourite fictional world? If I'm having trouble getting to sleep, I imagine having a conversation with one of my favourite characters. It relaxes me enough that I'm soon out like a light. Tess not only gets to dream about it, she is sent through a portal to experience it, but what was meant to be a quick message delivery turns into something rather more complicated.
Tess's beloved book is Blood Feuds which describes the lives of vampires, banished to an alternate reality overlaying mundane Manhattan. When she gets there, everything seems familiar. She recognizes the major players and the landmarks. But does she really know them? This all seemed like a good idea when Octavia, an accidental escapee from the Island, talked her into it, but now she's one lone, tasty human among a lot of bloodsuckers. Will she find safety with Callum or with Felix?
The additional wrinkle is that Tess has trauma in her past. The author flirts a long time with the details, but any woman will recognize the situation—date rape drugs. She experiences panic attacks and leaves the university where she and the man in question both study and teach. (And in real life, it doesn't usually wrap up so positively.)
So, on the surface, this a story about Tess falling in love with a vampire, but really it is a rather thinly disguised sermon on consent and the way women are treated when they report sexual assault. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I prefer messages such as this to be less blatant. Tell me without spelling it out directly. I mean, it's a good lesson, but I want a fun novel more than I want a moral to the tale. In addition, once this point is hammered home, the rest of the plot is rather tepid and paint-by-number. Disappointingly, the vampires aren't too much different from mortals.
I read this book to fulfill The Carpathians square of my Halloween Bingo card.
Not nearly as much fun as I anticipated. I liked it, but it could have been so much better.
Have you ever daydreamed about visiting your favourite fictional world? If I'm having trouble getting to sleep, I imagine having a conversation with one of my favourite characters. It relaxes me enough that I'm soon out like a light. Tess not only gets to dream about it, she is sent through a portal to experience it, but what was meant to be a quick message delivery turns into something rather more complicated.
Tess's beloved book is Blood Feuds which describes the lives of vampires, banished to an alternate reality overlaying mundane Manhattan. When she gets there, everything seems familiar. She recognizes the major players and the landmarks. But does she really know them? This all seemed like a good idea when Octavia, an accidental escapee from the Island, talked her into it, but now she's one lone, tasty human among a lot of bloodsuckers. Will she find safety with Callum or with Felix?
The additional wrinkle is that Tess has trauma in her past. The author flirts a long time with the details, but any woman will recognize the situation—date rape drugs. She experiences panic attacks and leaves the university where she and the man in question both study and teach. (And in real life, it doesn't usually wrap up so positively.)
So, on the surface, this a story about Tess falling in love with a vampire, but really it is a rather thinly disguised sermon on consent and the way women are treated when they report sexual assault. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I prefer messages such as this to be less blatant. Tell me without spelling it out directly. I mean, it's a good lesson, but I want a fun novel more than I want a moral to the tale. In addition, once this point is hammered home, the rest of the plot is rather tepid and paint-by-number. Disappointingly, the vampires aren't too much different from mortals.
I read this book to fulfill The Carpathians square of my Halloween Bingo card.
October 13, 2024
2.5 rounded up and oh boy, I have so many thoughts and I'm not sure how to sort them out yet. Review to come, maybe a standalone type of video on my YouTube channel. SO MANY THOUGHTS.
October 25, 2024
I liked this book, but I equally had some issues with it.
Things I liked:
❤️ There was multi media - podcast excerpts, Tumblr posts, emails, etc used to tell the story. It really made it feel like you were in the book and that Blood Feud was a real fandom people were obsessing over!
❤️ The fictional world the author created was super cool. Though it kinda reminded me of Harry Potter with the bar that connects the vampire world to the real world now that I think about it.
❤️ I liked the characters, even the supporting ones that you never really got to know a lot about. Their dialogue was funny sometimes so that kept me engaged.
❤️ I didn't guess who the fan fic/ author of the books was and I probably wouldn't have. It was nice to be surprised.
Things I didn't like:
🧛🏻♀️ The part where Tess didn't tell Joni, her best friend, about what happened to her at the party all those years ago. She just up and moved out of their apartment and cut contact?? But then at the beginning of the book, Joni had invited Tess to her birthday after all those years of no contact, randomly? Which also made no sense but anyway. I don't know, your best friend would and should understand that you just went through something traumatic and you should trust them with that information. It was just weird that they were best friends, yet Tess just ghosted her.
🧛🏻♀️ The dialogue was funny, but it was also so cheesy.
🧛🏻♀️ I didn't care about any of the romances. I feel like they weren't really necessary and I would have liked it more as just a fantasy. Not everything has to turn into a romance.
🧛🏻♀️ A lot of things were really coincidental to the point where I was like... Not again, what are the odds. Once or twice, sure, but it happened so much that I noticed it.
🧛🏻♀️ There was a bad dream every other chapter it seemed. We didn't need those random bad dreams that they kept waking up from and realizing it was only a dream. Again, once is enough. After that you can't keep doing the same thing every chapter 😭 it got annoying.
Anyways it was still a good book for the things that I liked, and that cover is too pretty. Was it my favourite though? No. But I think others could enjoy it a lot still.
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for my copy :)
Things I liked:
❤️ There was multi media - podcast excerpts, Tumblr posts, emails, etc used to tell the story. It really made it feel like you were in the book and that Blood Feud was a real fandom people were obsessing over!
❤️ The fictional world the author created was super cool. Though it kinda reminded me of Harry Potter with the bar that connects the vampire world to the real world now that I think about it.
❤️ I liked the characters, even the supporting ones that you never really got to know a lot about. Their dialogue was funny sometimes so that kept me engaged.
❤️ I didn't guess who the fan fic/ author of the books was and I probably wouldn't have. It was nice to be surprised.
Things I didn't like:
🧛🏻♀️ The part where Tess didn't tell Joni, her best friend, about what happened to her at the party all those years ago. She just up and moved out of their apartment and cut contact?? But then at the beginning of the book, Joni had invited Tess to her birthday after all those years of no contact, randomly? Which also made no sense but anyway. I don't know, your best friend would and should understand that you just went through something traumatic and you should trust them with that information. It was just weird that they were best friends, yet Tess just ghosted her.
🧛🏻♀️ The dialogue was funny, but it was also so cheesy.
🧛🏻♀️ I didn't care about any of the romances. I feel like they weren't really necessary and I would have liked it more as just a fantasy. Not everything has to turn into a romance.
🧛🏻♀️ A lot of things were really coincidental to the point where I was like... Not again, what are the odds. Once or twice, sure, but it happened so much that I noticed it.
🧛🏻♀️ There was a bad dream every other chapter it seemed. We didn't need those random bad dreams that they kept waking up from and realizing it was only a dream. Again, once is enough. After that you can't keep doing the same thing every chapter 😭 it got annoying.
Anyways it was still a good book for the things that I liked, and that cover is too pretty. Was it my favourite though? No. But I think others could enjoy it a lot still.
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for my copy :)
October 7, 2024
I found this read so fun, original, quirky, cute, funny…. I loved it! If you’re an AO3, Twilight, Buffy, conspiracy theory (only fun ones!), or romance lover, this book is RIGHT UP YOUR ALLEY! And if you’re not, you still have to read it because it’s great.
The main characters, Tess and Joni, are a delight. They are funny, warm, struggling in such a real way (be aware of SA triggers), working through friendship struggles… I love following them while they experienced their “Twilight come to life” fantasy! Them, plus the love interests and secondary friends, had such great dialogue and banter… I couldn’t put the book down!
The plot is wholly original here and it has such great additions. The chapter “starts” being podcast clips, Reddit threads, text exchanges, etc. was so fun and engaging, I loved it. A modern world with classic romance… just right!
I also want to take these Buzzfeed quiz to find out with Blood Feud lover is right for me… but if I get Felix, I’m breaking my phone.
The main characters, Tess and Joni, are a delight. They are funny, warm, struggling in such a real way (be aware of SA triggers), working through friendship struggles… I love following them while they experienced their “Twilight come to life” fantasy! Them, plus the love interests and secondary friends, had such great dialogue and banter… I couldn’t put the book down!
The plot is wholly original here and it has such great additions. The chapter “starts” being podcast clips, Reddit threads, text exchanges, etc. was so fun and engaging, I loved it. A modern world with classic romance… just right!
I also want to take these Buzzfeed quiz to find out with Blood Feud lover is right for me… but if I get Felix, I’m breaking my phone.
September 29, 2024
I am not a fantasy girlie, but this was the perfect mix of fantasy and reality. When Tess uproots her life and starts working at a hotel, she never dreams she’ll meet a vampire! The adventures that take place next were fun and really well paced. I loved all the messaging and the strong female characters. Would recommend this one 1000%. Thanks to Goodreads for the giveaway!!
November 19, 2024
3.75. Are authors actually improving? Or am I just getting nicer in my old age? Did not care for this authors first book so luckily I didn’t know it was her until I already bought and started reading. I like that she had a plus sized main lead again but it didnt feel performative like her previous book. Uses the same writing style (mixed in podcast transcripts. Quizzes. Text message chains) as her previous novel but felt it fit way better. Pacing was a little off for me (not enough in the first half…too much in the second) but overall fun quick read. You know I’m a sucker (heh) for vampires.
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