What do you think?
Rate this book
Defanged
To save the only life he's ever known, a tween vampire has to destroy it first in Defanged, a new speculative middle grade from author H.E. Edgmon.
Lux Priddy is a regular 12-year-old: he goes to school, hangs out with his best friend, Emma, and loves to pet every dog he sees. Except for one little thing - Lux is a vampire. And even though vampires came out of the coffin and into the public eye before he was even born, not everyone is happy about it. So when a group called Vampirism Sucks develops a cure, most people are thrilled. Lux? Not so much.
Humans might think his life is miserable, but he’s never known anything else. And he doesn’t think he even wants to be human. After all, what makes being a human better than being a vampire? After an epic escape out the window of a Vampirism Sucks facility, Lux finds himself in a secret underground vampire city - one filled with "bad" vampires, the kind his parents have always warned him about. But even though he's been taught to fear them, the people of Nox Urbus are the only ones that seem to understand him. And when the so-called cure stops being optional, Lux is forced to make a choice: go back home and submit to the treatment, or stand up and fight a corrupt system for the right to be himself.
Lux Priddy is a regular 12-year-old: he goes to school, hangs out with his best friend, Emma, and loves to pet every dog he sees. Except for one little thing - Lux is a vampire. And even though vampires came out of the coffin and into the public eye before he was even born, not everyone is happy about it. So when a group called Vampirism Sucks develops a cure, most people are thrilled. Lux? Not so much.
Humans might think his life is miserable, but he’s never known anything else. And he doesn’t think he even wants to be human. After all, what makes being a human better than being a vampire? After an epic escape out the window of a Vampirism Sucks facility, Lux finds himself in a secret underground vampire city - one filled with "bad" vampires, the kind his parents have always warned him about. But even though he's been taught to fear them, the people of Nox Urbus are the only ones that seem to understand him. And when the so-called cure stops being optional, Lux is forced to make a choice: go back home and submit to the treatment, or stand up and fight a corrupt system for the right to be himself.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 2025
7 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
H.E. Edgmon
14 books862 followersH.E. Edgmon (he/they) is a high school and college dropout, a militant queer, and an author of books both irreverent and radicalizing. His stories will always center the perspective of Indigenous people, trans people, and survivors of trauma. At present, he’s probably biting off more than he can chew, emulating the aesthetic of Dwayne from The Lost Boys (1987), and living out the found family trope in Brooklyn. Online, he can most often be found on Twitter @heedgmon.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 22, 2025
Readers meet Lux, a vampire, on his twelfth birthnight, just before he is taken to a clinic to be defanged, a procedure that will start him on the path to being human, able to walk about during the day and be part of the world around him in ways that the mainstream society deems acceptable. At the last possible moment, Lux listens to his body's overwhelming unease with the thought of not being a vampire any longer. He escapes the facility and finds his bumbling way to a literal underground society where he hopes he can figure out who he wants to be--like his older brother who was defanged, like his mother who is a warm and giving vampire, like his best friend Emma, but definitely not like his father, who is overbearing and fault-finding. Along the way, Lux makes new friends and overcomes his fear to do the right thing for other vampires and for other creatures as well. The plot is an interesting retelling of marginalized people around the country and the characters are well-developed and believable.
August 22, 2025
Huge thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!!
Defanged was an adorable and heartfelt story about a boy who is scared of everything and who just maybe can be brave sometimes. This is also a story about the lengths of protecting your people and realizing no one is born wrong for how they look or how they are.
I thought the author handle the topic of vampirism and they hatred the vampires face really well. With the way our society is today and the rampant racism that is plaguing society books like this need to be told. It handled the topic with grace and a way that would make it easier children to digest.
I also adored Lux. As an autistic adult who didn’t know I was autistic until I was older I felt so many of the things that Lux feels. The confusion of trying to understand people and to read their emotions to getting anxious and overwhelmed to the point that sometimes I couldn’t stop talking even tho I should’ve.
Overall I really enjoyed this and I’m becoming such a fan of this authors work. I can’t wait to read more of the middle grade books and this is definitely a book I’ll be purchasing so my own daughter can read it when she’s older.
Defanged was an adorable and heartfelt story about a boy who is scared of everything and who just maybe can be brave sometimes. This is also a story about the lengths of protecting your people and realizing no one is born wrong for how they look or how they are.
I thought the author handle the topic of vampirism and they hatred the vampires face really well. With the way our society is today and the rampant racism that is plaguing society books like this need to be told. It handled the topic with grace and a way that would make it easier children to digest.
I also adored Lux. As an autistic adult who didn’t know I was autistic until I was older I felt so many of the things that Lux feels. The confusion of trying to understand people and to read their emotions to getting anxious and overwhelmed to the point that sometimes I couldn’t stop talking even tho I should’ve.
Overall I really enjoyed this and I’m becoming such a fan of this authors work. I can’t wait to read more of the middle grade books and this is definitely a book I’ll be purchasing so my own daughter can read it when she’s older.
May 31, 2025
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
That was a really good story. I liked the world and the characters. It was quite a fast read and I liked all the subjects it broached in more or less subtle ways. It was such an interesting take on vampires and I enjoyed that a lot too. I really flew through this and I kind of wished there were more, the ending felt a little too rushed, especially compared to the rest of the book. It got quite slow for a bit but the ending was a lot, too fast, I think. Overall, this was still really good and I can't wait to read more H.E. Edgmon middle grades!
That was a really good story. I liked the world and the characters. It was quite a fast read and I liked all the subjects it broached in more or less subtle ways. It was such an interesting take on vampires and I enjoyed that a lot too. I really flew through this and I kind of wished there were more, the ending felt a little too rushed, especially compared to the rest of the book. It got quite slow for a bit but the ending was a lot, too fast, I think. Overall, this was still really good and I can't wait to read more H.E. Edgmon middle grades!
February 8, 2025
MY LOVE FOR THIS BOOK IS SO STRONG.
From vampires to the way it depicted the chaos that is an anxious, autistic brain, everything this book does is done with so much love. It's about finding what you want to call your own, from what makes you to the people you surround yourself with to what you want your life to look like. And on top of that, it's got a gaggle of neurodivergent kids, a mysterious underground vampire city, and so many dogs. My love for it so immense.
From vampires to the way it depicted the chaos that is an anxious, autistic brain, everything this book does is done with so much love. It's about finding what you want to call your own, from what makes you to the people you surround yourself with to what you want your life to look like. And on top of that, it's got a gaggle of neurodivergent kids, a mysterious underground vampire city, and so many dogs. My love for it so immense.
May 3, 2025
What worked:
This book offers an interesting take on vampire stories. Vampires walk the streets with humans, but they’re expected to be defanged when they reach the age of twelve. It’s not a law yet, but there’s a debate in the courts trying to guarantee their rights. The book becomes a civil rights story as Lux, the main character, tries to figure out if he really wants to be defanged. His parents take him to the Vampirism Sucks clinic for the procedure, but he thinks his father won’t like him no matter what he does. His best friend tells him about a secret location where vampires can live among themselves, but Lux still isn’t sure what he wants to do even after arriving there.
Nox Urbus is the underground city of vampires, and Lux must trudge through dark, smelly sewage to find it. He’s expecting murderous monsters full of bloodlust, so he’s apprehensive about his decision to go there. One of the first vampires he meets is a huge man covered in tattoos named Dog, which reinforces Nox’s grizzly expectations. Nox shares a room with two other young vampires, and these characters provide their own curiosities. Nox is wary when he’s around Cowboy, because there’s a mean, dangerous version and one that’s more normal. Nox can’t figure out Finnie because of her hairy knuckles and remarkable agility. The story will eventually reveal the hidden truths behind these characters, which adds to the mystery of Vampirism Sucks. VS is the real villain in the book.
Lux loves all animals, excluding rats, but he has a harder time dealing with humans. He can’t understand inferences and nonverbal signals, so he struggles to communicate appropriately. He’s apt to miss the meaning of facial expressions and blurt a comment that may be insensitive or inappropriate. He fears things he doesn’t know, so traveling to Nox Urbus is a huge change for him. He doesn’t understand bravery, but readers will notice he’s forced to show signs of it when things worsen. Young readers may appreciate his problems when interacting with other characters, because his thought processes are explained while trying to figure them out.
What didn’t work as well:
Readers might not be satisfied with the plot’s resolution. The plot reaches a climax but then immediately moves to the epilogue. It feels like there’s more story to tell, and readers might expect a sequel to answer lingering questions.
The final verdict:
Young readers enjoy stories with unusual creatures, and this book gives the vampires common emotions mixed with the drama of VS. The plot includes small twists that build to an exciting climax. I recommend you give this book a shot.
This book offers an interesting take on vampire stories. Vampires walk the streets with humans, but they’re expected to be defanged when they reach the age of twelve. It’s not a law yet, but there’s a debate in the courts trying to guarantee their rights. The book becomes a civil rights story as Lux, the main character, tries to figure out if he really wants to be defanged. His parents take him to the Vampirism Sucks clinic for the procedure, but he thinks his father won’t like him no matter what he does. His best friend tells him about a secret location where vampires can live among themselves, but Lux still isn’t sure what he wants to do even after arriving there.
Nox Urbus is the underground city of vampires, and Lux must trudge through dark, smelly sewage to find it. He’s expecting murderous monsters full of bloodlust, so he’s apprehensive about his decision to go there. One of the first vampires he meets is a huge man covered in tattoos named Dog, which reinforces Nox’s grizzly expectations. Nox shares a room with two other young vampires, and these characters provide their own curiosities. Nox is wary when he’s around Cowboy, because there’s a mean, dangerous version and one that’s more normal. Nox can’t figure out Finnie because of her hairy knuckles and remarkable agility. The story will eventually reveal the hidden truths behind these characters, which adds to the mystery of Vampirism Sucks. VS is the real villain in the book.
Lux loves all animals, excluding rats, but he has a harder time dealing with humans. He can’t understand inferences and nonverbal signals, so he struggles to communicate appropriately. He’s apt to miss the meaning of facial expressions and blurt a comment that may be insensitive or inappropriate. He fears things he doesn’t know, so traveling to Nox Urbus is a huge change for him. He doesn’t understand bravery, but readers will notice he’s forced to show signs of it when things worsen. Young readers may appreciate his problems when interacting with other characters, because his thought processes are explained while trying to figure them out.
What didn’t work as well:
Readers might not be satisfied with the plot’s resolution. The plot reaches a climax but then immediately moves to the epilogue. It feels like there’s more story to tell, and readers might expect a sequel to answer lingering questions.
The final verdict:
Young readers enjoy stories with unusual creatures, and this book gives the vampires common emotions mixed with the drama of VS. The plot includes small twists that build to an exciting climax. I recommend you give this book a shot.
Read
September 19, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Defanged by H.E. Edgmon is a third person-POV Middle Grade urban fantasy. Lux is the vampire son in a family that has strong anti-vampire beliefs. Because of this, he is supposed to go through the defanging process when he turns twelve, making him human in an irreversible procedure that is supposed to completely eradicate vampirism in a few generations. When it’s time for the procedure to start, Lux runs away and starts to uncover an even bigger conspiracy.
A major theme is eugenics with the defanging process serving as a strong allegory for the kind of surgeries that are often utilized to limit procreation as if the fangs are removed, the person who is defanged shouldn’t be able to have a vampire child. That the procedure can only be done on tweens and not adults does make it more twisted but in a way that is horrifying for adults and helps it feel more relatable and understandable for children. It’s not subtle with the text pointing out very clearly that this is an act of eugenics, which helps to open the door to children asking guardians and educators about this topic and for places to get more indepth information.
I would classify this more as an urban fantasy rather than a paranormal or contemporary fantasy. Urban fantasy often has a grittiness and darkness to it that doesn't really lean horror like paranormal does and that was what I saw in this book. Technically urban fantasy falls under contemporary fantasy, so this can be called a contemporary fantasy, but that texture to the voice does create a different experience. The setting of a modern city with sewers and secret societies plays a large part in the story which connects it even further to the subgenre.
One of the things that is really cool is that Lux’s two closest friends are girls, Emma, who is his childhood friend and a vampire who plans on staying a vampire forever, and Fennec, a young girl he meets in the secret supernatural society later. While the two girls do not like each other at first, Lux is not going to choose between them and he does call them out if they are doing something to harm the other. I really like this because not only does it show a male tween lead having female friends, but it shows a male female lead who doesn’t dismiss what they do and say and call it ‘drama’ or ‘must be that time of the month.’ It’s a great example for young boys to take in.
Content warning for parental abuse and eugenics
I would recommend this to young fans of grittier stories and readers of Middle Grade who like to see heavy topics discussed in fantasy contexts
Defanged by H.E. Edgmon is a third person-POV Middle Grade urban fantasy. Lux is the vampire son in a family that has strong anti-vampire beliefs. Because of this, he is supposed to go through the defanging process when he turns twelve, making him human in an irreversible procedure that is supposed to completely eradicate vampirism in a few generations. When it’s time for the procedure to start, Lux runs away and starts to uncover an even bigger conspiracy.
A major theme is eugenics with the defanging process serving as a strong allegory for the kind of surgeries that are often utilized to limit procreation as if the fangs are removed, the person who is defanged shouldn’t be able to have a vampire child. That the procedure can only be done on tweens and not adults does make it more twisted but in a way that is horrifying for adults and helps it feel more relatable and understandable for children. It’s not subtle with the text pointing out very clearly that this is an act of eugenics, which helps to open the door to children asking guardians and educators about this topic and for places to get more indepth information.
I would classify this more as an urban fantasy rather than a paranormal or contemporary fantasy. Urban fantasy often has a grittiness and darkness to it that doesn't really lean horror like paranormal does and that was what I saw in this book. Technically urban fantasy falls under contemporary fantasy, so this can be called a contemporary fantasy, but that texture to the voice does create a different experience. The setting of a modern city with sewers and secret societies plays a large part in the story which connects it even further to the subgenre.
One of the things that is really cool is that Lux’s two closest friends are girls, Emma, who is his childhood friend and a vampire who plans on staying a vampire forever, and Fennec, a young girl he meets in the secret supernatural society later. While the two girls do not like each other at first, Lux is not going to choose between them and he does call them out if they are doing something to harm the other. I really like this because not only does it show a male tween lead having female friends, but it shows a male female lead who doesn’t dismiss what they do and say and call it ‘drama’ or ‘must be that time of the month.’ It’s a great example for young boys to take in.
Content warning for parental abuse and eugenics
I would recommend this to young fans of grittier stories and readers of Middle Grade who like to see heavy topics discussed in fantasy contexts
August 21, 2025
In an alternate version of Earth, vampires coexist with humans in a situation that is as unbalanced as it is dangerous. Lux is turning twelve, which means that it is time for him to be defanged, a procedure that will remove his vampiric qualities and allow him to walk in the daylight among regular humans. But when his best friend informs him of a secret underground vampire sanctuary called Nox Urbus, Lux begins to question his rule-following tendencies. And when Lux runs away from the clinic in search of the fabled town, he discovers that there is more to the world and to his own history than he ever realized. This curious middle grade novel is told in the third person from Lux’s perspective, which allows readers to look inside of Lux’s mind without actually being in it. Exhibiting autistic tendencies, Lux is often scrutinizing the world around him, noticing details that often derail his thoughts and words. While he recognizes the frustration and frequent unkindness present in others in his proximity, however, Lux is very focused on learning what he can to determine what is the right path to take. Profound questions of the role of government and the power of one group of people over another are explored in this novel, though the divide is between humans and the supernatural as opposed to other types of differences. As Lux queries his surroundings, so too are readers inspired to consider their own lived experiences and observations. Though the narrative feels verbose and stagnant at times, it focuses on Lux’s thoughts above all else, offering readers a glimpse into the mind of a neurodivergent youth. Built on the author’s own understanding of autism, this carefully crafted story is a unique addition to library collections for middle grade readers.
June 23, 2025
I received a free ARC from NetGalley. I read this with my AuADHD 10yo and found so many things to love about this story and my only issue was the rushing of the ending. I was worried that the premise of Lux running away from home and being basically hunted and on his own for survival would be too tense/scary for my son but he didn’t seem phased at all. In fact he thought Nox Urbus was great and . There were plenty of small comic relief moments and I just really vibe with how Edgmon writes MC’s with chaotic brains.
As a politically aware parent I cried my eyes out at everyone’s tragic backstories, and the not only parental but government threats against Lux and vampires like him. (TW: for government kidnapping and medical/research torture.)
This was a huge, huge story to tell at a middle grade level. It felt like there weren’t enough pages left to come to any conclusion but there was one. To me it seemed way too easy, but my son loved It just wrapped up way too quickly for me, which is a problem I have felt with literally everything I’ve read by Edgmon. It didn’t feel like a triumphant conclusion, but we loved it overall.
As a politically aware parent I cried my eyes out at everyone’s tragic backstories, and the not only parental but government threats against Lux and vampires like him. (TW: for government kidnapping and medical/research torture.)
This was a huge, huge story to tell at a middle grade level. It felt like there weren’t enough pages left to come to any conclusion but there was one. To me it seemed way too easy, but my son loved It just wrapped up way too quickly for me, which is a problem I have felt with literally everything I’ve read by Edgmon. It didn’t feel like a triumphant conclusion, but we loved it overall.
September 24, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an advanced copy of Defanged by HE Edgmon to review! Edgmon is a favorite YA writer of mine, and his second foray into middle grade is just as good. I hope they continue writing in this genre in the future.
I was immediately drawn to this book by the concept, as it is definitely being used as a symbol for really any disenfranchised population (like racism, ableism, homophobia, etc.). It would be a good way to introduce these topics to a middle grade audience, especially if talking about the topic of eugenics. Edgmon breaks it down in a way that is easily accessible.
Outside of that, the characters were great, and Edgmon put a unique spin on vampires that I don’t think I’ve seen in a book before. Part of Lux’s story is realizing that other than being a vampire, he’s also different in other ways. Through learning how to stand up for himself, he is also learning to accept himself as he is. He also acquires a great support system as he journeys toward acceptance, through both friends and family.
All in all, if you like unique stories about vampires and a focus on coming of age and identity, definitely check this one out!
---
Review to come!
I was immediately drawn to this book by the concept, as it is definitely being used as a symbol for really any disenfranchised population (like racism, ableism, homophobia, etc.). It would be a good way to introduce these topics to a middle grade audience, especially if talking about the topic of eugenics. Edgmon breaks it down in a way that is easily accessible.
Outside of that, the characters were great, and Edgmon put a unique spin on vampires that I don’t think I’ve seen in a book before. Part of Lux’s story is realizing that other than being a vampire, he’s also different in other ways. Through learning how to stand up for himself, he is also learning to accept himself as he is. He also acquires a great support system as he journeys toward acceptance, through both friends and family.
All in all, if you like unique stories about vampires and a focus on coming of age and identity, definitely check this one out!
---
Review to come!
September 28, 2025
👧🏻 review: I’ve read HE Edgmon’s books in the past and have thoroughly enjoyed the books. His writing has always been fantastical, thrilling, suspenseful and horror-themed vampire-ish. This book touches some realistic themes while keeping it fictional. The storyline essentially follows the neurodivergent protagonist and the situations that responded to the things happening around the world while offering vampirism to save the day!?!? I like the way the story evolved because it was entertaining, fast paced and thought provoking at some point. It is sad and happy to be able to read books about the situations that this book has offered because what this author shared his stunning stories have slowly changed how we see the world today in his fictional universe.
October 26, 2025
This book is middle grade and is a really good way to start a conversation with kids about eugenics and what that means. I'm really impressed with how H.E. Edgmon was able to take vampirism and craft it into an easy way to explain eugenics and autonomy when it comes to disabilities and race and trans people and and and and and... I'm just all around blown away.
It's intense. I suggest reading it first if you plan to have a kid in your life read it, so you can have an open discussion about what is happening in the book and how it applies to the world.
Edgmon does not pull any punches and I'm glad because kids are friggin smart. They deserve to know what's happening in the world, even if it's scary. Especially if it's scary.
It's intense. I suggest reading it first if you plan to have a kid in your life read it, so you can have an open discussion about what is happening in the book and how it applies to the world.
Edgmon does not pull any punches and I'm glad because kids are friggin smart. They deserve to know what's happening in the world, even if it's scary. Especially if it's scary.
May 23, 2025
This had some similarities to Pauley's 2008 SUCKS TO BE ME, but with a more serious commentary about populations that might be endangered because most people think they have undesirable qualities. Would it be bad if vampires ceased to exist? I wasn't completely sold that this would be a horrible thing. I understand that this is supposed to draw corollaries between vampirism and other health issues like autism, Deafness, or Down Syndrome, but I'm not sure my readers would make that leap. This author's THE FLICKER has a similar feel. I haven't had students ask for a vampire novel in a long time, and even if they did, they want something a bit more fun and less allegorical.
September 28, 2025
I know as a librarian I'm supposed to want to "teach these kids a lesson" but the very few students who pick this book up (Mine want romantic vampire books) or wanting a fun adventure will be sorely disapointed. The targeted few who are supposed to see themselves in this book, won't read it, and the ones who "need to learn a lesson" won't read it either.
I purchased the author's dystopian book for my 8th grade dystopian book unit, but the few who actually choose to read it, bring it back and request something else.
I just want students to love reading and there are better books to open up minds rather than didactic ones.
I purchased the author's dystopian book for my 8th grade dystopian book unit, but the few who actually choose to read it, bring it back and request something else.
I just want students to love reading and there are better books to open up minds rather than didactic ones.
June 3, 2025
I can see many of my upper middle grade students relating to Lux and his story. While I personally felt like the first half of the story was too slow paced and the latter too rushed, I can definitely see my students who love all books dark and dangerous reaching for this book. I would have liked more backstory into some of the characters and almost felt as if we were being set up for additional books in this same universe.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.
October 19, 2025
Lux is an autistic vampire, and he's struggling with his 12th birthday.
And then, well, things get really bad.
"He just wants to help. Most people don't want to be helped. At least not by him."
The story is, of course, allegory for what all tweens go through, but also for what those deemed "different" go through every day.
"There's nothing wrong with us, Lux. We don't need a CURE, we need to be allowed to live our lives."
A must-read for teens and parents alike.
And then, well, things get really bad.
"He just wants to help. Most people don't want to be helped. At least not by him."
The story is, of course, allegory for what all tweens go through, but also for what those deemed "different" go through every day.
"There's nothing wrong with us, Lux. We don't need a CURE, we need to be allowed to live our lives."
A must-read for teens and parents alike.
December 29, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. Its allegorical nature comparing the human attempt to eradicate vampirism and the experiences of the neurodivergent community was very well done and not didactic. I loved the kind of stream of consciousness 3rd person omniscient perspective of Lux was excellent. MC is coded as autistic but is not outwardly labelled as such and is written authentically and not stereotypically.
May 13, 2025
Just like in The Witch King duology, Edgmon crafts a fascinating world and cast of characters. It’s got an awesome protagonist as well as a very timely message. This middle grade dark fantasy would have been a great book for me to read as a kid and I hope it becomes a classic for every kid who feels like Lux.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC
September 14, 2025
Got an arc from ALA
I adore HE’s work and I will always recommend their middle grade to the kid desperately craving a story that’s a little more intense, because while this book—much like the Flicker—deals with some HEAVY stuff, it’s a story kids need and I’m so glad they have it.
Maybe don’t give it to your kid who’s a cat lover, but still, very good.
I adore HE’s work and I will always recommend their middle grade to the kid desperately craving a story that’s a little more intense, because while this book—much like the Flicker—deals with some HEAVY stuff, it’s a story kids need and I’m so glad they have it.
Maybe don’t give it to your kid who’s a cat lover, but still, very good.
November 1, 2025
Perhaps this author is almost a prophet. Maybe they knew that in 2025 when this book would be birthed into the world there would be a government trying to demonize and "cure" people with autism. I understood the representation right away and both sympathized and cheered for Lux. Lux is one of the bravest MC I've seen in a book in a long time.
November 19, 2025
3.5 stars. Fun concept, well executed, my biggest issue with it is I felt the overall message was muddled and the world building could have been a little better, but I'm a world building/setting person. If you're a character driven person looking for autism coded/neurodiverse coded books, this one is for you. I'll keep it in my recommendation bank for sure.
January 18, 2026
Interesting allegory for the experience of autistic individuals, and again, a testament to how Edgmon's writing style really excels in middle grade.
I didn't vibe with this one as much as The Flicker (which was AMAZING, so tough act to follow), and I really think Maxton was an underutilized character, with how interesting his perspective could've been as someone who's been recently defanged.
I didn't vibe with this one as much as The Flicker (which was AMAZING, so tough act to follow), and I really think Maxton was an underutilized character, with how interesting his perspective could've been as someone who's been recently defanged.
February 10, 2026
Love it when books do a vampire metaphor well, and Defanged knocked it out of the park. I loved most of this book, but I do wish it had been more overtly queer and that the ending hadn’t been quite so rushed. Less important, but I kept waiting for Lux to change his name and was surprised he never did?
March 22, 2026
Lots of starred reviews but not sure how I feel about this book yet. Vampires story but with a general metaphor of society not accepting you as you are. The writing was sometime in first person and sometimes in third person. Also, thoughts were rambling but I think it was an attempt to demonstrate the mind of an autistic character. Liked the overall story and the characters.
December 31, 2025
Really good middle grade novel with autistic rep. The ending was a bit abrupt; I kind of expected it to become a dystopian survival story like Shadow Children, but I can appreciate the value of a good ending.
October 25, 2025
4.5/5⭐️
October 29, 2025
I really liked the concept, world and characters, but the pacing felt off. Slow to start and then the end was so rushed.
January 7, 2026
Lux is a fantastic character, and readers will love watching him become a brave little vampire.
February 9, 2026
I enjoyed the message in this story, it just honestly is not my taste of reading. I have readers who will like it and am happy to recommend this to them.
November 15, 2025
I do not relish leaving reviews this low. I never have, and I never will. If I don't enjoy a plot or writing style, I just don't leave a review. I only leave low reviews on books that I think have a detrimental component that will affect the target audience, and that was the case with this book.
I genuinely loved the first third to half of this book, but then Lux began to really unsettle me. Don't come at me because he's autistic--I'M autistic, and that's why I picked up this book.
What concerned me was his very, very casual approach to violence and murder. This was never addressed in the story, and it left me with an icky feeling I couldn't shake.
I genuinely loved the first third to half of this book, but then Lux began to really unsettle me. Don't come at me because he's autistic--I'M autistic, and that's why I picked up this book.
What concerned me was his very, very casual approach to violence and murder. This was never addressed in the story, and it left me with an icky feeling I couldn't shake.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews