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Toothsucker
In a cyberpunk future, an alarming disease strikes, dissolving the bones of those with cybernetic enhancements. Petya, a refugee, sells himself to a company experimenting with a potential cure and instead finds himself with a strange new implant… and a vampiric hunger for teeth.
Petya only wanted a short trial with easy money, and now he’s at the mercy of a company hell-bent on market control, even if it means turning him into their personal pharmaceutical assassin.
They’re out for political power, and Petya is out for an escape and teeth.
Petya only wanted a short trial with easy money, and now he’s at the mercy of a company hell-bent on market control, even if it means turning him into their personal pharmaceutical assassin.
They’re out for political power, and Petya is out for an escape and teeth.
316 pages, Paperback
Published April 30, 2025
37 people are currently reading
798 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
May 3, 2025
I can't say I ever thought about how teeth would taste like, but after reading this book...thoughts are being thunk.
I'm kidding, I DO NOT want to try crunching on teeth, but I appreciate the details we got. Like how the Bite changes your own so you won't break them as you take, well, a bite out of someone else's.
It's also a nice twist on the vampire lore, instead of craving blood, they crave teeth!! If it gets bad enough, they go feral. So you can imagine how hard it was for Petya to teach their new recruit some discipline when it came to his newly awakened cravings.
I adored their dynamic, they worked well together, and the way Petya kept calling Devóne a kid was adorable.
The addition of Naoma to the team was kinda unexpected, but very welcome. I'm obsessed with her, she is the moment. I'm seated for more romance crumbs, by the way. Was it a bit fast? Yes. Do I care? No.
I often praise Kaden's creativity in my reviews, that's because he deserves it. I don't know how he comes up with all the little tidbits that make the world work, but I can always count on him to deliver something unique.
If you've read his other books, you can recognise his style, but that's where the similarities end, this is a completely different world and story, and I can't wait to experience even more of it.
The real-world parallels are evident in Toothsucker, it's not too far out of the realm of possibility that we're heading in that direction. But on the other hand, we don't have music-producing dolphin cyborgs (yet) now, do we? Why do I kinda want them to exist though...
Also, that Paladins reference...I love when authors mention their other books inside of a book, especially when the scene they're mentioned in is this funny. Someone please tell Boyband I'm the "freak" who loved the books, thank you.
Now for the obligatory Slavic person commentary ahem ahem:
- Okrepinate, I found the name fitting because in my language "okrepiti (se)" means to drink/eat your fill of something after which you feel a lot better and have the will to go on.
- Davor as a fake name. Do I even have to say it...The Serb in me approves.
- Petya, whose name reminded me of Petya (Peter) and the Wolf (the children's story), I love that the main character is called Petya, okay.
- Medislavia, which I'm assuming is supposed to be like a union of Slavic countries, I can't help but think that, if it did happen in the future, it would fall apart in no time because we'd be at each others' throats, plus Medislavia isn't painted in the best light here sooo...
Which brings me to the whole point of this book, the refugees. Petya is a refugee, and his story mirrors those of real life refugees, from Russia and Ukraine. Here in Serbia, we have a lot of refugees from both countries, luckily, they didn't have to go through what Petya did to find safety.
This world isn't kind to refugees, no matter where they come from, so the least we can do is be human and help them in any way we can. So I'm echoing Kaden's words from the acknowledgements - please consider donating to a charity that supports refugees, if you can.
And while you're at it, READ TOOTHSUCKER, not only because it'll be unlike anything you've read before, but because Mr Love is donating all of his release day proceeds to refugees who need it.
4.5
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I'm kidding, I DO NOT want to try crunching on teeth, but I appreciate the details we got. Like how the Bite changes your own so you won't break them as you take, well, a bite out of someone else's.
It's also a nice twist on the vampire lore, instead of craving blood, they crave teeth!! If it gets bad enough, they go feral. So you can imagine how hard it was for Petya to teach their new recruit some discipline when it came to his newly awakened cravings.
I adored their dynamic, they worked well together, and the way Petya kept calling Devóne a kid was adorable.
The addition of Naoma to the team was kinda unexpected, but very welcome. I'm obsessed with her, she is the moment. I'm seated for more romance crumbs, by the way. Was it a bit fast? Yes. Do I care? No.
I often praise Kaden's creativity in my reviews, that's because he deserves it. I don't know how he comes up with all the little tidbits that make the world work, but I can always count on him to deliver something unique.
If you've read his other books, you can recognise his style, but that's where the similarities end, this is a completely different world and story, and I can't wait to experience even more of it.
The real-world parallels are evident in Toothsucker, it's not too far out of the realm of possibility that we're heading in that direction. But on the other hand, we don't have music-producing dolphin cyborgs (yet) now, do we? Why do I kinda want them to exist though...
Also, that Paladins reference...I love when authors mention their other books inside of a book, especially when the scene they're mentioned in is this funny. Someone please tell Boyband I'm the "freak" who loved the books, thank you.
Now for the obligatory Slavic person commentary ahem ahem:
- Okrepinate, I found the name fitting because in my language "okrepiti (se)" means to drink/eat your fill of something after which you feel a lot better and have the will to go on.
- Davor as a fake name. Do I even have to say it...The Serb in me approves.
- Petya, whose name reminded me of Petya (Peter) and the Wolf (the children's story), I love that the main character is called Petya, okay.
- Medislavia, which I'm assuming is supposed to be like a union of Slavic countries, I can't help but think that, if it did happen in the future, it would fall apart in no time because we'd be at each others' throats, plus Medislavia isn't painted in the best light here sooo...
Which brings me to the whole point of this book, the refugees. Petya is a refugee, and his story mirrors those of real life refugees, from Russia and Ukraine. Here in Serbia, we have a lot of refugees from both countries, luckily, they didn't have to go through what Petya did to find safety.
This world isn't kind to refugees, no matter where they come from, so the least we can do is be human and help them in any way we can. So I'm echoing Kaden's words from the acknowledgements - please consider donating to a charity that supports refugees, if you can.
And while you're at it, READ TOOTHSUCKER, not only because it'll be unlike anything you've read before, but because Mr Love is donating all of his release day proceeds to refugees who need it.
4.5
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
March 24, 2025
Teeth-eating vampires, talking cyborg dolphins, jelly fiends, glowing skeletons, neurospace, a neo-capitalocractic nation.🦷
I never expected to become addicted to eating teeth when I immigrated to the Republic.
I need this to find its audience because this is so genre blending and unique and also bizarre and relevant and relatable and… it has a lot of potential as you can tell.
In a cyberpunk future, Petya is a refugee who consents to experimentation to make money. This ends up giving him heightened abilities (yay), but also a hunger for teeth. If only the cure was as simple as calcium in milk…
Petya and a new impulsive orphaned recruit is sent to infiltrate the ruling parties and destroy them from within.
Even when you are tempted to escape our somber reality, don’t lose touch with it.
- I fully bought into the idea that consumerism is turned against us and weaponised to an extent.
- The idea that politics and capitalism are so intertwined that ruling parties are basically stock market contingent? Brilliant!
- I supported the cristicms against AI and art.
- I loved the idea of nostalgia being a new type of drug.
However, as you may be able to tell I think it sometimes felt too preachy to me. The humour was spot on at times, but other times made me cringe.
I think this was intentional considering this behaviour was common with one particular character, yet it still gave me the ick (‘daddy’, nicknames, flirting). At the same time, she was one of my favourite characters. Go figure.
Kaden is always so inventive with his stories and I am in awe (and also slightly terrified) of his mind. I do not want to see his search history.
There were references to his other epic fantasy series Paladins of the Harvest which felt like a cheeky wink to those who have read that.
Arc gifted by the author (p.s he gives great recommendations on TikTok and YouTube!).
Bookstagram
I never expected to become addicted to eating teeth when I immigrated to the Republic.
I need this to find its audience because this is so genre blending and unique and also bizarre and relevant and relatable and… it has a lot of potential as you can tell.
In a cyberpunk future, Petya is a refugee who consents to experimentation to make money. This ends up giving him heightened abilities (yay), but also a hunger for teeth. If only the cure was as simple as calcium in milk…
Petya and a new impulsive orphaned recruit is sent to infiltrate the ruling parties and destroy them from within.
Even when you are tempted to escape our somber reality, don’t lose touch with it.
- I fully bought into the idea that consumerism is turned against us and weaponised to an extent.
- The idea that politics and capitalism are so intertwined that ruling parties are basically stock market contingent? Brilliant!
- I supported the cristicms against AI and art.
- I loved the idea of nostalgia being a new type of drug.
However, as you may be able to tell I think it sometimes felt too preachy to me. The humour was spot on at times, but other times made me cringe.
I think this was intentional considering this behaviour was common with one particular character, yet it still gave me the ick (‘daddy’, nicknames, flirting). At the same time, she was one of my favourite characters. Go figure.
Kaden is always so inventive with his stories and I am in awe (and also slightly terrified) of his mind. I do not want to see his search history.
There were references to his other epic fantasy series Paladins of the Harvest which felt like a cheeky wink to those who have read that.
Arc gifted by the author (p.s he gives great recommendations on TikTok and YouTube!).
Bookstagram
January 15, 2026
it turns out tooth eating vampires aren’t for me. the characters felt very one dimensional even though there was easily observable attempt to make them more rounded. Petya, the main character, was very inconsistent in his character. from one chapter to the next, occasionally one paragraph to the next, he would do a 180° on who he is, how he spoke, and what he believed it. this made it difficult for me to ever connect with him. other characters also were flat. the dialogue was used as a method for giving the characters their personality, but since it was stilted, I couldn’t find any emotional connection to them.
the plot and concept were interesting, but the constant info dumping were unenjoyable and pulled you from the story. the concept was there, but the execution was lacking. i liked the cyberpunk world with a bone eating disease running rampant and the tooth eating ‘vampires’ but wish we got to spend more time in the cyberpunk world instead of just the politics that are fluctuating with every chapter.
i ended with a lot more questions than i started with. i realize there is going to be more to this world but certain questions should have been answered in the first book. there were a lot of plot holes and plot developments that lead you down a one way street with a dead end, you turn around and there isn’t a way back out. there was too much show and tell for me to be fully immersed. while i know so many others have enjoyed this, it just was not the book for me.
the plot and concept were interesting, but the constant info dumping were unenjoyable and pulled you from the story. the concept was there, but the execution was lacking. i liked the cyberpunk world with a bone eating disease running rampant and the tooth eating ‘vampires’ but wish we got to spend more time in the cyberpunk world instead of just the politics that are fluctuating with every chapter.
i ended with a lot more questions than i started with. i realize there is going to be more to this world but certain questions should have been answered in the first book. there were a lot of plot holes and plot developments that lead you down a one way street with a dead end, you turn around and there isn’t a way back out. there was too much show and tell for me to be fully immersed. while i know so many others have enjoyed this, it just was not the book for me.
January 15, 2026
Grabbed this on my quest to read something by every author I will be sharing the page with in The Book of Spores anthology. And while I have already read some, what a place to start this with this one!
While I like the title a lot, I do think Tootheater would have been more apt. Equally cool too (maybe?). Regardless, this was a really unique blend of fantasy and scifi, giving us a far-flung cyberpunk version of our world that felt like an amped up Blade Runner with its neon-drenched districts. Our group, referred to as the imps, have had a hypothalamic implant—referred to as Bites—added to their neurospaces. This update allows them heightened agility, strength, even intelligence and more, they just have to feed the hunger before it’s drained. The thing is…the cost of that hunger is teeth. Human teeth. And as you can imagine, not many are willing to part with their teeth willingly. The way they lust for them, as well as the buildup to feeding frenzy, is very vampiric in nature. While untraditional, it still follows some of the tropes and adds another layer to how unique this book is.
While we didn’t get too many glimpses into the actual world, the author did a good job explaining how things have become the way they are. Companies, with their ever-growing profits, and civilians’ ever-growing reliance on their products, have realized that they’re the ones with the actual power and resources. This shift has led to deeper subliminal product placement, furthering needs and desires, and even presidencies built upon the backs of the leading companies. Regardless of where you stand (left or right) it’s not that farfetched of an idea when our president is a literal celebrity and companies like Amazon have moved into even pharmaceuticals. While this doesn’t imbue any personal beliefs from the author, this does feel like an extrapolation of a possible future we are seeing now. That, and the change in countries from future wars, kept this book on the side of believable. And it kept it fresh in my mind as an idea that is both science fiction and real.
On the further side of scifi, this book features the existence of physical light. Which color you can buy will decide where you place in the light districts, finding its way into streetlights, advertisements, and even the color of your clothes. The weaponized light felt almost like Star Wars’ vibroblades and the light guns felt like a deep dive in explanation to the commonplace “blaster” we’ve had in books for years. Without saying too much and spoiling it, this also goes into a more spiritual existence to this physical light, which added another layer of uniqueness for me, but you’ll have to read to find out for yourself…
This book is 1st person, and our POV comes from Petya, a character hailing from one of the warring countries. He wants to make things better for refugees from his country, and on his journey to do so, things get much worse at the hands of those that installed the Bite. The author has crafted a well done and meaningful lead. He struggles throughout the book with opening up to the others. Not just in fear of rejection, but due to his disgust with himself over needing to eat teeth. The deaths they cause, as well as the lack of control they exhibit, turns our main from morally grey into much more of a tortured soul. I also think the POV with inner thoughts helped to keep the ball rolling in terms of plot. He is shown as a true friend, a brotherly protector, and even a possible lover, all things that layer him as a character and more than a monster—the exact thing I love about vampire stories.
An intriguing and enLIGHTening first entry into the series. I am looking forward to book two in the future.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-tooths...
While I like the title a lot, I do think Tootheater would have been more apt. Equally cool too (maybe?). Regardless, this was a really unique blend of fantasy and scifi, giving us a far-flung cyberpunk version of our world that felt like an amped up Blade Runner with its neon-drenched districts. Our group, referred to as the imps, have had a hypothalamic implant—referred to as Bites—added to their neurospaces. This update allows them heightened agility, strength, even intelligence and more, they just have to feed the hunger before it’s drained. The thing is…the cost of that hunger is teeth. Human teeth. And as you can imagine, not many are willing to part with their teeth willingly. The way they lust for them, as well as the buildup to feeding frenzy, is very vampiric in nature. While untraditional, it still follows some of the tropes and adds another layer to how unique this book is.
While we didn’t get too many glimpses into the actual world, the author did a good job explaining how things have become the way they are. Companies, with their ever-growing profits, and civilians’ ever-growing reliance on their products, have realized that they’re the ones with the actual power and resources. This shift has led to deeper subliminal product placement, furthering needs and desires, and even presidencies built upon the backs of the leading companies. Regardless of where you stand (left or right) it’s not that farfetched of an idea when our president is a literal celebrity and companies like Amazon have moved into even pharmaceuticals. While this doesn’t imbue any personal beliefs from the author, this does feel like an extrapolation of a possible future we are seeing now. That, and the change in countries from future wars, kept this book on the side of believable. And it kept it fresh in my mind as an idea that is both science fiction and real.
On the further side of scifi, this book features the existence of physical light. Which color you can buy will decide where you place in the light districts, finding its way into streetlights, advertisements, and even the color of your clothes. The weaponized light felt almost like Star Wars’ vibroblades and the light guns felt like a deep dive in explanation to the commonplace “blaster” we’ve had in books for years. Without saying too much and spoiling it, this also goes into a more spiritual existence to this physical light, which added another layer of uniqueness for me, but you’ll have to read to find out for yourself…
This book is 1st person, and our POV comes from Petya, a character hailing from one of the warring countries. He wants to make things better for refugees from his country, and on his journey to do so, things get much worse at the hands of those that installed the Bite. The author has crafted a well done and meaningful lead. He struggles throughout the book with opening up to the others. Not just in fear of rejection, but due to his disgust with himself over needing to eat teeth. The deaths they cause, as well as the lack of control they exhibit, turns our main from morally grey into much more of a tortured soul. I also think the POV with inner thoughts helped to keep the ball rolling in terms of plot. He is shown as a true friend, a brotherly protector, and even a possible lover, all things that layer him as a character and more than a monster—the exact thing I love about vampire stories.
An intriguing and enLIGHTening first entry into the series. I am looking forward to book two in the future.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-tooths...
March 14, 2025
The worldbuilding just blew my mind!! The capitalistic futuristic system Kaden created is a perfect hyperbole for what is happening in the world right now and it makes you rethink what the society is heading towards 🤯 The best book by Kaden Love yet!
June 15, 2025
Cyberpunk is a genre that I often feel I should enjoy more than I do, fotunately that is not the case with Toothsucker!
Starting with a fascinating riff on the idea of vampires but created through body modification, and some truly inspired world building concepts, especially around light itself, which is often one of nothing more than a purely visual aspects of the genre, but here is reworked into something far more than being a mere cosmetic part of the world, and you already have a world that hooked me.
Add into that a solid story of corporate espionage/assassination and corruption paired with a multi-layered main character who has a genuine, fully realised character ark, and a strong primary supporting cast, not to mention some pretty graphic action moments that made me feel mildly uncomfortable at times (in a good way), and you are left with one of my favorite Cyberpunk style reads so far.
Also worth mentioning, this is a book 1 which I did not realise until i was near the end of the book, which is a testament to the writing, as this felt like a fully realised story in it's own right, but does leave off in a natural jumping off point for what comes next, and I am stoked to see what comes next!
Starting with a fascinating riff on the idea of vampires but created through body modification, and some truly inspired world building concepts, especially around light itself, which is often one of nothing more than a purely visual aspects of the genre, but here is reworked into something far more than being a mere cosmetic part of the world, and you already have a world that hooked me.
Add into that a solid story of corporate espionage/assassination and corruption paired with a multi-layered main character who has a genuine, fully realised character ark, and a strong primary supporting cast, not to mention some pretty graphic action moments that made me feel mildly uncomfortable at times (in a good way), and you are left with one of my favorite Cyberpunk style reads so far.
Also worth mentioning, this is a book 1 which I did not realise until i was near the end of the book, which is a testament to the writing, as this felt like a fully realised story in it's own right, but does leave off in a natural jumping off point for what comes next, and I am stoked to see what comes next!
September 30, 2025
1.5. Toothsucker has an amazing, awesome premise it so terribly fails to deliver on. Teeth eating vampires? Cyberpunk? Plague? Sign me up. But god, it hardly even feels “cyberpunk.”
Petya, the main character, is insufferable. I believe he is supposed to be a play on the brooding deep dark past character trope, but he SUCKS. He’s so annoying! I don’t give a shit about his past! I appreciate the author’s dedication in the book about refugee stories, but it literally is so emotionless.
Speaking of emotions, let’s talk about the fact that this book had none. It tries so hard to TELL you what to feel. Within seconds, deep dark past “i hate everybody” is calling Devon his little brother. Gang, you’ve know him for five minutes and I have no attachment to him. I have no attachment to anybody in this book because every character is so exceedingly flat. Everyone is the same, really, other than Ralia, and she’s just sexual harassment with a shiny bow on it.
The worldbuilding is terrible. Nothing makes any sense because almost nothing is fully described. There is little to no imagery in the whole book. I don’t know how literally anything looks and every action sequence is so confusing for this reason. A simple question of “why does eating teeth act as fuel for the Bites?” is literally never answered. And if it is, I can’t remember it because instead of repeating information that might be difficult to understand, I’m explained the same term over and over again like I’m five years old.
Don’t even get me started on the romance. It’s so flat and passionless. Every character relationship is flat, but this one is so flat it’s like a piece of paper.
Now, I usually don’t comment on format and editing in self-published books. However, Love claims to have an editor in his afterword and that was actually insane to me. This book is so poorly edited it’s crazy. The writing is extremely clunky and repetitive. Dialogue is not always indented. Lines are italicized that are not supposed to be and vice versa. Dialogue is not always closed with a quotation mark. Words are spelled wrong/the wrong word is used. I was just going to comment on the egregious, juvenile writing that has absolutely no substance and is so empty of emotion, but knowing this book has an editor is crazy. Even the table of contents is messed up.
To say it all, I was severely disappointed. I was really looking forward to Toothsucker and it was just terrible.
Petya, the main character, is insufferable. I believe he is supposed to be a play on the brooding deep dark past character trope, but he SUCKS. He’s so annoying! I don’t give a shit about his past! I appreciate the author’s dedication in the book about refugee stories, but it literally is so emotionless.
Speaking of emotions, let’s talk about the fact that this book had none. It tries so hard to TELL you what to feel. Within seconds, deep dark past “i hate everybody” is calling Devon his little brother. Gang, you’ve know him for five minutes and I have no attachment to him. I have no attachment to anybody in this book because every character is so exceedingly flat. Everyone is the same, really, other than Ralia, and she’s just sexual harassment with a shiny bow on it.
The worldbuilding is terrible. Nothing makes any sense because almost nothing is fully described. There is little to no imagery in the whole book. I don’t know how literally anything looks and every action sequence is so confusing for this reason. A simple question of “why does eating teeth act as fuel for the Bites?” is literally never answered. And if it is, I can’t remember it because instead of repeating information that might be difficult to understand, I’m explained the same term over and over again like I’m five years old.
Don’t even get me started on the romance. It’s so flat and passionless. Every character relationship is flat, but this one is so flat it’s like a piece of paper.
Now, I usually don’t comment on format and editing in self-published books. However, Love claims to have an editor in his afterword and that was actually insane to me. This book is so poorly edited it’s crazy. The writing is extremely clunky and repetitive. Dialogue is not always indented. Lines are italicized that are not supposed to be and vice versa. Dialogue is not always closed with a quotation mark. Words are spelled wrong/the wrong word is used. I was just going to comment on the egregious, juvenile writing that has absolutely no substance and is so empty of emotion, but knowing this book has an editor is crazy. Even the table of contents is messed up.
To say it all, I was severely disappointed. I was really looking forward to Toothsucker and it was just terrible.
April 30, 2025
I never expected to become addicted to eating teeth when I immigrated to the Republic.
For those of you who feel like there's nothing new or unique in SFF right now, let me introduce you to Kaden Love and Toothsucker. There's cyborg dolphins and vampire tooth eaters, all inside of a Cyberpunk world... and it works. Love is wildly imaginative and I love it, the world building in Toothsucker was my favorite aspect. For character readers, you'll feel at home here too as Kaden created a nice cast that really makes you empathize with the underlying immigration issues that face them.
While this is a good book and had pretty good pacing for 90%, the ending 10% takes it up to another level. I eagerly await book two.
Note: Kaden is donating 100% of his day one sales to help refugees, so support and order a copy on launch day.
7.71/10
4/5 ⭐️
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For those of you who feel like there's nothing new or unique in SFF right now, let me introduce you to Kaden Love and Toothsucker. There's cyborg dolphins and vampire tooth eaters, all inside of a Cyberpunk world... and it works. Love is wildly imaginative and I love it, the world building in Toothsucker was my favorite aspect. For character readers, you'll feel at home here too as Kaden created a nice cast that really makes you empathize with the underlying immigration issues that face them.
While this is a good book and had pretty good pacing for 90%, the ending 10% takes it up to another level. I eagerly await book two.
Note: Kaden is donating 100% of his day one sales to help refugees, so support and order a copy on launch day.
7.71/10
4/5 ⭐️
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2025
Toothsucker by Kaden Love is wild, raw, and totally original. It follows Petya, a refugee who volunteers for an experimental procedure that turns him into something no longer fully human. That transformation is horrifying, emotional, and impossible to look away from.
This book was inspired by Kaden’s real-life friends who were trying to escape Russia and lost so much during immigration. That personal weight is felt in every chapter. It’s about survival, identity, and what we give up just to keep going.
His creativity shines here as he mixes body horror with a cyberpunk world that’s so weird and cool, it’s hard not to be impressed. There is a dolphin race, a KPop-inspired movement called Neon Pop, and a color-coded system of control that reminded me a bit of Red Rising. It’s smart, layered, and totally Kaden because if you’ve read his work before, you know he doesn’t do basic. I need to know what happens next!
Overall, it is dark, it is sharp, and it hits hard. Definitely not a comfort read, but if you want something that stays with you and makes you think, Toothsucker is worth it. 👍🏻
This book was inspired by Kaden’s real-life friends who were trying to escape Russia and lost so much during immigration. That personal weight is felt in every chapter. It’s about survival, identity, and what we give up just to keep going.
His creativity shines here as he mixes body horror with a cyberpunk world that’s so weird and cool, it’s hard not to be impressed. There is a dolphin race, a KPop-inspired movement called Neon Pop, and a color-coded system of control that reminded me a bit of Red Rising. It’s smart, layered, and totally Kaden because if you’ve read his work before, you know he doesn’t do basic. I need to know what happens next!
Overall, it is dark, it is sharp, and it hits hard. Definitely not a comfort read, but if you want something that stays with you and makes you think, Toothsucker is worth it. 👍🏻
September 29, 2025
Did I read the same book as all the others? I am not trying to be harsh, but in fact charitable with my rating and review. I wanted to like this book, I was rooting for it, but it's just not ready for an audience. Even better, start from scratch. This score was not for vibes, but it was critically thought through based on characters, setting, plot, themes, emotional impact, personal enjoyment, and writing/editing. The highest scores were 1.5 for setting and writing. Every single category left me frustratedly wanting more.
The characters, even the main ones, were insufferable, weak, vile, hypocritical, waffle-y, and plain stupid. They all were caricatures of themselves with no growth to show for their flaws. The relationships weren't believable and most felt forced. I stopped caring about characters who fell off the face of the earth only to come back. The dialogue was stilted and didn't flow well, with new nicknames and lingo abruptly being used or disused. The funny lines weren't believable either. Rather, they left forced or grossly inappropriate.
The plot holes were abundant. The writing tells rather than shows so that lends itself to alright action scenes but quite poorly anything else that isn't an "I" statement. The editing still needed another few rounds just for spelling and grammar. And another few rounds for scrapping the whole thing and starting from the beginning. The world was never established properly, with new, really key, important information being offhandedly revealed continually, even late into the book.
The politics took clear inspiration from today's events and seemed to be very one-sided. The politics were all told rather than shown which made it feel preachy, especially with no dialogue or thought challenging the worldview. I'd rather read about the politics of a fantastical world that doesn't take me out of the story and back into real life.
I did appreciate the originality of SOME elements of the story, such as the teeth eating vampires and presence of the jelly fiends, glow bones, and Finians. However, literally everything besides felt phoned in, pulled from other sources or just decided upon by throwing a dart on the wall without creating reason or, more importantly, a back story as explanation.
Please hear this: I wanted to like this, but this book is not ready for an audience. I am hopeful for improvements to this author's writing in the future, and I am writing my review with that in mind, but I will not be reading the sequel.
The characters, even the main ones, were insufferable, weak, vile, hypocritical, waffle-y, and plain stupid. They all were caricatures of themselves with no growth to show for their flaws. The relationships weren't believable and most felt forced. I stopped caring about characters who fell off the face of the earth only to come back. The dialogue was stilted and didn't flow well, with new nicknames and lingo abruptly being used or disused. The funny lines weren't believable either. Rather, they left forced or grossly inappropriate.
The plot holes were abundant. The writing tells rather than shows so that lends itself to alright action scenes but quite poorly anything else that isn't an "I" statement. The editing still needed another few rounds just for spelling and grammar. And another few rounds for scrapping the whole thing and starting from the beginning. The world was never established properly, with new, really key, important information being offhandedly revealed continually, even late into the book.
The politics took clear inspiration from today's events and seemed to be very one-sided. The politics were all told rather than shown which made it feel preachy, especially with no dialogue or thought challenging the worldview. I'd rather read about the politics of a fantastical world that doesn't take me out of the story and back into real life.
I did appreciate the originality of SOME elements of the story, such as the teeth eating vampires and presence of the jelly fiends, glow bones, and Finians. However, literally everything besides felt phoned in, pulled from other sources or just decided upon by throwing a dart on the wall without creating reason or, more importantly, a back story as explanation.
Please hear this: I wanted to like this, but this book is not ready for an audience. I am hopeful for improvements to this author's writing in the future, and I am writing my review with that in mind, but I will not be reading the sequel.
March 11, 2025
By far Kaden's best book yet. I couldn't put this book down once I started. I really love the world this book painted and the characters are endearing and morally reprehensible at the same time which adds great depth to the world of Toothsucker.
A great take on a cyberpunk future with some greater fantastical elements mixed in. Teeth eating vampires, cybernetically enhanced dolphins, and light based tech all come together in an enthralling story about Petya and his band of fellow misfits. Petya has his reasons for working for Deleon but this next mission sends Petya and the newest recruit down a path that may just reveal the truth behind their master's motives. Will their enhancements be enough to help them navigate the world of the upper districts or will their need to feed on teeth be their downfall?
Ready for a memtab so I can feel what it's like to read this book again. Can't wait to see where this story goes in the future!
P.S. Be on the look out for the paladins reference
A great take on a cyberpunk future with some greater fantastical elements mixed in. Teeth eating vampires, cybernetically enhanced dolphins, and light based tech all come together in an enthralling story about Petya and his band of fellow misfits. Petya has his reasons for working for Deleon but this next mission sends Petya and the newest recruit down a path that may just reveal the truth behind their master's motives. Will their enhancements be enough to help them navigate the world of the upper districts or will their need to feed on teeth be their downfall?
Ready for a memtab so I can feel what it's like to read this book again. Can't wait to see where this story goes in the future!
P.S. Be on the look out for the paladins reference
May 31, 2025
3.7
kinda wild, kinda fun. I enjoyed the unique ideas. At only about 300 pages this was a very approachable read and I think I ended up reading half within a night, so I think that's a good sign. The pacing was great with action from the get go, and I enjoyed the mystery of Petya's future, and was constantly eager to uncover more about it.
My main issue with this book was the editing, it could have definitely used some polishing, For example "admiration for your patents" should probably be "parents".Though the further along I got with the story the less I nociced this.
I really liked the swine spirt coming out at the end, and I think this made me curious to see what a second book might offer.
kinda wild, kinda fun. I enjoyed the unique ideas. At only about 300 pages this was a very approachable read and I think I ended up reading half within a night, so I think that's a good sign. The pacing was great with action from the get go, and I enjoyed the mystery of Petya's future, and was constantly eager to uncover more about it.
My main issue with this book was the editing, it could have definitely used some polishing, For example "admiration for your patents" should probably be "parents".Though the further along I got with the story the less I nociced this.
I really liked the swine spirt coming out at the end, and I think this made me curious to see what a second book might offer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2025
4.25/5
This was surprisingly fun.
This was a cyberpunk/tech-vampire novel set in the U.S.'s (now the Republic of Capital) ultra-capitalist future.
Cybernetic implants are mandatory, to an extent, and corporations rule. Everything.
The book makes some sharp jabs at our immigration policies, capitalism, AI, and society as a whole.
The story was fast for the most part (for me, personally, the pacing was a little rough around some of the dialogue, seriously, the monologuing at the end lol), the characters were endearing, and fun.
I had a good time with this and look forward to book 2 when it's released.
This was surprisingly fun.
This was a cyberpunk/tech-vampire novel set in the U.S.'s (now the Republic of Capital) ultra-capitalist future.
Cybernetic implants are mandatory, to an extent, and corporations rule. Everything.
The book makes some sharp jabs at our immigration policies, capitalism, AI, and society as a whole.
The story was fast for the most part (for me, personally, the pacing was a little rough around some of the dialogue, seriously, the monologuing at the end lol), the characters were endearing, and fun.
I had a good time with this and look forward to book 2 when it's released.
June 10, 2025
Another great read by Kaden - the world building and creative concepts this author comes up with is truly mind boggling. I was a little hesitant on the concept of “tooth sucking” but this book does an amazing job of illustrating the grim obsession and it sucked me in (no pun intended). My only qualm is it took me a little bit to get into at first and understand the world building but other than that it’s a quick and exciting read! Would recommend if you love red rising and a fast paced sci-fi.
October 9, 2025
This book was so much fun. I fell in love with the characters. Awesome characters and character relationships with awesome settings in the cyberpunk world. Tooth eating vampires is such a unique and fun idea as the main character fights his need to feed and balances that with his own morals and values.
April 11, 2025
Let me see those pearly whites
January 11, 2026
That was bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.
Okay.
What in the everloving fuck?
I could end my review there, but I won’t.
This world is a mix of scifi and fantasy, and I’d actually say it leans more into the scifi than fantasy, but there’s enough of the fantasy element to keep it in the contest. The backdrop is cyberpunk futuristic and I’d also describe it as a capitalistic hellscape. The government has been replaced by companies in that when electing folks, you vote for which company you want in what role. The idea being that politicians are already representing companies anyway, why not just give up the farce?
We’ve got the main character, Petya, and his cohorts, and although it’s not a long book, we do get to know the mc very well. Petya is a refugee, he was struggling when he first arrived, and so when this monster of a scientist comes to him and tells him that he can earn a lot of easy money by undergoing some experiments… he agrees. He then becomes a tooth vampire. His body is changed in such a way that he starts to crave human teeth and will become very ill and feral if he doesn’t feed every so often. His teeth have been reinforced and enhanced to the degree that they can just nom on other people’s teeth. He can’t go graverobbing, though. He needs them fresh out of a living mouth no less than an hour from “harvesting.”
Yep.
Now there’s a disease spreading throughout the world that’s affecting people with cybernetic implants and turning their bones into goo. The crazy ass scientist who has infected this group of people with tooth vampirism wants them to figure out which corporation is experimenting on the “goo” people and why.
There was a lot going on with the worldbuilding. We have figured out how to make light solid, and the different wavelengths of light translated into social status.. with the red districts being the lowest of the low class, being described as a hellscape, while the violet district is a rich persons’s district with extravegence and wealth displayed everywhere… and then all the different wavelengths in between… the green district is kind of a middle class district. It kind of brought to mind Lightbringer by Brent Weeks given the amount of focus on the different wavelengths and the different kind of things each spectrum can do — there are “indigo rounds” in guns, for example.
The teeth eating thing is a drug which they become addicted to, but also a source of power. After eating the teeth, they can store this power for later when they get into fights, or if they’re starting to crave teeth again and start becoming more feral and instict driven which can be really dangerous. It’s not the only drug in this universe, either. I really, really enjoyed the fact that nostalgia has become a literal drug in this universe that people can get hooked on. This is also why I say it leans more into the sci-fi, so much of the world-building is cyberpunk dystopia, and there’s way too much of it to try and review here or risk a super-bloated review.
There were some things in the writing style that didn’t work for me. I’ve never been a fan of fake or substitute cursing. I can sometimes enjoy a blend of real-world and in-world cursing, but exclusively in-world doesn’t usually do it for me. It was used something like 240 times in a ~300-page book, which just kind of flooded me with it while reading. To each their own, though. There are a fair number of people who like in-world curse words.
As far as the characters, the book opens with saying the MC doesn’t have much guilt anymore and that after the first 3 months or so of murdering folks for their teeth, they became numb to it. Later on in the book as they are teaching a newcomer what it means to be experimented on by this guy, and that the rest of their life they’d have to murder people to stay alive, their morality shifts again and they seem to be struggling with it. The newcomer gets over it far too quick for me, honestly. They go from being horrified to ripping the jaw off someone and eating their teeth, to almost a baseline of normality in a short period of time. I do understand that it’s an addiction, and that they need to do it, but if I had to eat people’s teeth to survive, I’d be in full-blown panic mode for a good long time, and I’d be searching for any alternative and exhausting all possibilities before just accepting that I’m now a murderer. I’d be far more likely just to tranq someone, drag em’ somewhere, pull their teeth out, and leave them alive. They did go into why certain alternatives wouldn’t work, like that animals wouldn’t work… but that also doesn’t make sense to me since animal teeth and people teeth are basically made of the same stuff. We are animals after all, classified with the great apes. But, I digress. Then we wouldn’t have tooth vampires. There needs to be a comedy scene where the MC kills a dude for the teeth, and it turns out it’s just dentures.
There is a lot of dope shit in here that I really enjoyed, and some aspects that I wasn’t really the target audience for – but all that said, I finished the book, I liked it, and it’s not a cut!
If this review sounded interesting to you, I’d definitely pick it up. There’s a lot of relevant messaging, a lot of really good ideas, very unique world building, and a bananas plot-line. I mean, honestly… have you ever read about tooth vampires before? You haven’t.
Okay.
What in the everloving fuck?
I could end my review there, but I won’t.
This world is a mix of scifi and fantasy, and I’d actually say it leans more into the scifi than fantasy, but there’s enough of the fantasy element to keep it in the contest. The backdrop is cyberpunk futuristic and I’d also describe it as a capitalistic hellscape. The government has been replaced by companies in that when electing folks, you vote for which company you want in what role. The idea being that politicians are already representing companies anyway, why not just give up the farce?
We’ve got the main character, Petya, and his cohorts, and although it’s not a long book, we do get to know the mc very well. Petya is a refugee, he was struggling when he first arrived, and so when this monster of a scientist comes to him and tells him that he can earn a lot of easy money by undergoing some experiments… he agrees. He then becomes a tooth vampire. His body is changed in such a way that he starts to crave human teeth and will become very ill and feral if he doesn’t feed every so often. His teeth have been reinforced and enhanced to the degree that they can just nom on other people’s teeth. He can’t go graverobbing, though. He needs them fresh out of a living mouth no less than an hour from “harvesting.”
Yep.
Now there’s a disease spreading throughout the world that’s affecting people with cybernetic implants and turning their bones into goo. The crazy ass scientist who has infected this group of people with tooth vampirism wants them to figure out which corporation is experimenting on the “goo” people and why.
There was a lot going on with the worldbuilding. We have figured out how to make light solid, and the different wavelengths of light translated into social status.. with the red districts being the lowest of the low class, being described as a hellscape, while the violet district is a rich persons’s district with extravegence and wealth displayed everywhere… and then all the different wavelengths in between… the green district is kind of a middle class district. It kind of brought to mind Lightbringer by Brent Weeks given the amount of focus on the different wavelengths and the different kind of things each spectrum can do — there are “indigo rounds” in guns, for example.
The teeth eating thing is a drug which they become addicted to, but also a source of power. After eating the teeth, they can store this power for later when they get into fights, or if they’re starting to crave teeth again and start becoming more feral and instict driven which can be really dangerous. It’s not the only drug in this universe, either. I really, really enjoyed the fact that nostalgia has become a literal drug in this universe that people can get hooked on. This is also why I say it leans more into the sci-fi, so much of the world-building is cyberpunk dystopia, and there’s way too much of it to try and review here or risk a super-bloated review.
There were some things in the writing style that didn’t work for me. I’ve never been a fan of fake or substitute cursing. I can sometimes enjoy a blend of real-world and in-world cursing, but exclusively in-world doesn’t usually do it for me. It was used something like 240 times in a ~300-page book, which just kind of flooded me with it while reading. To each their own, though. There are a fair number of people who like in-world curse words.
As far as the characters, the book opens with saying the MC doesn’t have much guilt anymore and that after the first 3 months or so of murdering folks for their teeth, they became numb to it. Later on in the book as they are teaching a newcomer what it means to be experimented on by this guy, and that the rest of their life they’d have to murder people to stay alive, their morality shifts again and they seem to be struggling with it. The newcomer gets over it far too quick for me, honestly. They go from being horrified to ripping the jaw off someone and eating their teeth, to almost a baseline of normality in a short period of time. I do understand that it’s an addiction, and that they need to do it, but if I had to eat people’s teeth to survive, I’d be in full-blown panic mode for a good long time, and I’d be searching for any alternative and exhausting all possibilities before just accepting that I’m now a murderer. I’d be far more likely just to tranq someone, drag em’ somewhere, pull their teeth out, and leave them alive. They did go into why certain alternatives wouldn’t work, like that animals wouldn’t work… but that also doesn’t make sense to me since animal teeth and people teeth are basically made of the same stuff. We are animals after all, classified with the great apes. But, I digress. Then we wouldn’t have tooth vampires. There needs to be a comedy scene where the MC kills a dude for the teeth, and it turns out it’s just dentures.
There is a lot of dope shit in here that I really enjoyed, and some aspects that I wasn’t really the target audience for – but all that said, I finished the book, I liked it, and it’s not a cut!
If this review sounded interesting to you, I’d definitely pick it up. There’s a lot of relevant messaging, a lot of really good ideas, very unique world building, and a bananas plot-line. I mean, honestly… have you ever read about tooth vampires before? You haven’t.
April 30, 2025
Kaden Love is no stranger to eye-catching SFF ideas; his debut epic fantasy series Paladins of the Harvest, now two books in, features an intriguing organ transplant magic system. But his latest, Toothsucker, a fast-paced cyberpunk tale set in a future dystopia, takes to this to the next level, more full of wild concepts than Elon Musk’s ketamine diary. But in a pleasing sign of Kaden’s evolution as a writer, all these ideas simply serve to amaze rather than confuse and blend into a convincing cyberpunk hellscape, and among all the utterly wild neon-soaked brainstorming he still finds time to create a strong character-driven story with some very topical themes.
The story takes place in the Republic of Capital, the name of which suggests Love’s first cool idea: that political parties have been replaced by corporate entities who vie for the presidency from different sectors: entertainment, pharma, tech, etc. This is a society transformed by the discovery of the physical form of light (cool idea number two) and its districts go from one end of the spectrum (red, orange, yellow, the dangerous areas) to the middle (blue, green) and to the violent and indigo sectors, where the rich and influential live. Our protagonists are a bunch of young, lost souls who’ve been given a new hope under the tutelage of a suspicious scientist/power-broker aiming to attain power for (maybe?) good in this dystopia, and given a set of cool super powers to use on missions. The only downside? (cool idea number three coming at you): To sustain these new powers they must constantly snack on a diet of teeth, ripped right out of their victims’ mouths. Vampires, but for calcium rather than iron.
What’s so impressive about this cyberpunk tale is that these wild ideas are so effective, not falling into the trap of being chaotic but rather uniting to build a vivid world. The corporate-sector-as-government idea is cleverly done, framing the central plot around a tech virus that eats away at the bones and Big Pharma’s cure for it that various parties are scrabbling to get to first. It makes for a cool mission structure as well as we see the entertainment sector, complete with cybernetic dolphins (which are as wildly fun as they sound) and the SocStans, which are blue collar workers who became powerful once AI took all the white collar jobs, a very cool thought experiment. The ordering of the country by the spectrum of light is also endlessly fascinating; Love using the color schemes that so define the cyberpunk genre as integral world building. This is a well-thought out idea, complete with one of the most disturbing and horrific red light districts you’ll ever see.
Then of course there’s the tooth-eating. Love doesn’t skimp on this; so many scenes are frankly taken from the horror genre as unwitting victims have their jaws ripped off as our characters greedily snack on the molars (the best teeth, of course). The writing here is vivid and wickedly gruesome—there are some scenes you’ll take to your dreams I fear. And there’s so many more ideas as well, my favorites including edible tabs that provoke feelings such as nostalgia and social media adoration (would save a lot of time, sign me up).
But Love also supports this creative feast with some excellent characterization of the central protagonist, Petya, an immigrant with a complex past who’s desperate to do good even as he’s been forced to follow a mysterious stranger’s agenda and the horrific tooth-eating requirements that come with it. Some readers may struggle to empathize with him I suspect given that the victims of his violent addiction are frequently innocent, but I actually quite enjoyed the wild discordance between his self-conscious narrative and the utter moral depravity of his acts. This is the nature of addiction after all; and Love makes his self-loathing clear, a loathing that only abates when he meets Naoma, a singer beloved of the elites who appears contemptuous at first but has more going on. Their burgeoning relationship adds a compelling character arc to the second half.
Love also uses Petya’s narrative to explore meaty themes of immigration and the treatment of immigrants, which is a welcome through-line here; as well as the examination of corporate influence which is so central to a good cyberpunk story and spins out into a thrilling, twisty conspiracy thriller by the end.
Overall, I was so impressed by Love’s evolution here; this is a strong calling card for an exciting talent and a must-read for cyberpunk fans or just fans of wildly original worldbuilding. Tooth-eating vampires, a corporatist society run along the spectrum of light, and augmented dolphins; it should be mad, but it’s cyberpunk gold. Love’s neon tooth fairy hasn’t let us down.
The story takes place in the Republic of Capital, the name of which suggests Love’s first cool idea: that political parties have been replaced by corporate entities who vie for the presidency from different sectors: entertainment, pharma, tech, etc. This is a society transformed by the discovery of the physical form of light (cool idea number two) and its districts go from one end of the spectrum (red, orange, yellow, the dangerous areas) to the middle (blue, green) and to the violent and indigo sectors, where the rich and influential live. Our protagonists are a bunch of young, lost souls who’ve been given a new hope under the tutelage of a suspicious scientist/power-broker aiming to attain power for (maybe?) good in this dystopia, and given a set of cool super powers to use on missions. The only downside? (cool idea number three coming at you): To sustain these new powers they must constantly snack on a diet of teeth, ripped right out of their victims’ mouths. Vampires, but for calcium rather than iron.
What’s so impressive about this cyberpunk tale is that these wild ideas are so effective, not falling into the trap of being chaotic but rather uniting to build a vivid world. The corporate-sector-as-government idea is cleverly done, framing the central plot around a tech virus that eats away at the bones and Big Pharma’s cure for it that various parties are scrabbling to get to first. It makes for a cool mission structure as well as we see the entertainment sector, complete with cybernetic dolphins (which are as wildly fun as they sound) and the SocStans, which are blue collar workers who became powerful once AI took all the white collar jobs, a very cool thought experiment. The ordering of the country by the spectrum of light is also endlessly fascinating; Love using the color schemes that so define the cyberpunk genre as integral world building. This is a well-thought out idea, complete with one of the most disturbing and horrific red light districts you’ll ever see.
Then of course there’s the tooth-eating. Love doesn’t skimp on this; so many scenes are frankly taken from the horror genre as unwitting victims have their jaws ripped off as our characters greedily snack on the molars (the best teeth, of course). The writing here is vivid and wickedly gruesome—there are some scenes you’ll take to your dreams I fear. And there’s so many more ideas as well, my favorites including edible tabs that provoke feelings such as nostalgia and social media adoration (would save a lot of time, sign me up).
But Love also supports this creative feast with some excellent characterization of the central protagonist, Petya, an immigrant with a complex past who’s desperate to do good even as he’s been forced to follow a mysterious stranger’s agenda and the horrific tooth-eating requirements that come with it. Some readers may struggle to empathize with him I suspect given that the victims of his violent addiction are frequently innocent, but I actually quite enjoyed the wild discordance between his self-conscious narrative and the utter moral depravity of his acts. This is the nature of addiction after all; and Love makes his self-loathing clear, a loathing that only abates when he meets Naoma, a singer beloved of the elites who appears contemptuous at first but has more going on. Their burgeoning relationship adds a compelling character arc to the second half.
Love also uses Petya’s narrative to explore meaty themes of immigration and the treatment of immigrants, which is a welcome through-line here; as well as the examination of corporate influence which is so central to a good cyberpunk story and spins out into a thrilling, twisty conspiracy thriller by the end.
Overall, I was so impressed by Love’s evolution here; this is a strong calling card for an exciting talent and a must-read for cyberpunk fans or just fans of wildly original worldbuilding. Tooth-eating vampires, a corporatist society run along the spectrum of light, and augmented dolphins; it should be mad, but it’s cyberpunk gold. Love’s neon tooth fairy hasn’t let us down.
July 6, 2025
This was such a wild ride — gritty, fast-paced, and filled with originality. The concept of cyberpunk vampires alone is enough to grab attention, but the execution takes it further with emotional weight, world-building flair, and a cast of compelling characters. There were a few pacing and structure issues early on, and some parts of the writing took a moment to settle into, but overall, this book hit hard in all the right ways. I’m definitely intrigued to keep reading the series. - Final Score 8.5/10
📺 I reviewed this book as part of Reader’s Sidequest, a book club and podcast where we deep-dive indie reads, fantasy, and sci-fi. Check us out here! https://www.tiktok.com/@readers_side_...
📺 I reviewed this book as part of Reader’s Sidequest, a book club and podcast where we deep-dive indie reads, fantasy, and sci-fi. Check us out here! https://www.tiktok.com/@readers_side_...
September 29, 2025
If a plot hole and no character growth was a book, this would be that book. Unfortunately, Toothsucker by Kaden Love turned out to be a shallow and uninspired read that had potential, but fell short in every way.
The Characters: We follow Petya throughout this book, who has easily become one of the most wishy-washy, inconsistent, and hypocritical MMC I have come across. Any conviction that he has changes multiple times throughout the story, that I question if he’s ever thought out any plan in his life. Joining him is Boyband, a bland sidekick whose personality faded amongst the noise, Naoma, a pop star with nothing interesting about her and no agency of her own, and Raita, who is a caricature of the flirty female friend, but make it problematic. Sprinkle in some of the most z-rated secondary cast that is sidelined for the entire book until the very end, and you have a band of characters that the author insists is a found family by telling me that they are, rather than showing me.
The Plot: Petya has a cybernetic implant called the Bite, which gives him the insatiable urge to eat teeth. He’s convinced himself that this was forced on him, when in reality, he made a deal with the devil of this story, and refuses to face the consequences of that action. Now equipped with this, he’s tasked by his boss to discredit their competition so they can climb the social latter. The Bite is explained to be the alternative to a healthcare company’s greedy ineffective drug, but I’m wondering why we think the better alternative is killing people and eating their teeth? There are only so many teeth in the world, what happens when we run out?
The Setting: This world does not feel lived in. Not only are we not given many descriptions of what the world looks like, but we hardly move around or interact with the scenery or NPCs. Instead, Petya preaches to us via long winded expositional trauma dumps, but offers up no solutions, no plans, no alternatives, and no nuanced perspectives. No one challenges what Petya has to say about the world that we are in and its flaws, and only respond with shallow “Damn-that’s-crazy-esque” lines. No one has an alternative perspective on this life, and everything that is presented to us is taken as gospel truth. Petya’s country of origin is bad because he says it’s bad. The Healthcare system is failing because he says it’s failing. The pop music is filled with sharky consumeristic tactics because he says it is. We are told, told, told, everything by Petya, but never shown the world and given the opportunity to make the decision on our own as the audience. This world feels shallow because no one speaks or sounds like a human being. There is no debate or challenge. We are expected to listen to this string of consciousness and have nothing to say afterwards.
The Themes: We are faced with themes of Commercialism, Capitalism, Immigration Reforms, Drug Use, Healthcare Reform, Socialism, and so much more, all which Petya and the world have nothing to say about it. With a setting that closely mirrors politics happening around the world now, we aren’t using the opportunity to explore the richness of people’s perspectives. This read like Petya has never had to debate anyone who disagreed with him, or explain himself. What were the specific politics of Medislavia that had him feel the need to flee? Are there any unconscious biases that he needs to overcome having come from an oppressive government? How is the Bite a better alternative to a daily use pill, when the side effects of the Bite is violent murder? The list of questions and inconsistencies go on.
The Writing/Editing: This read as an early draft for me. Beyond the grammatical errors, there are far too many plot holes and inconsistencies that take you out of the narrative. Some information that is vital to understanding the plot is handed to us beyond the 50% mark, and becomes infuriating. What this needed was more story boarding, outline of in-world politics, and character motives/personalities before this project was completed. As it stands, this is a gathering of interesting scenes smashed haphazardly together in an incoherent manner.
I wanted to like this. The idea sounded unique and fun, but we didn’t do anything unique or novel in this world. Instead, we are given a hodgepodge of other intellectual properties and real-world politics and did nothing different with it.
The Characters: We follow Petya throughout this book, who has easily become one of the most wishy-washy, inconsistent, and hypocritical MMC I have come across. Any conviction that he has changes multiple times throughout the story, that I question if he’s ever thought out any plan in his life. Joining him is Boyband, a bland sidekick whose personality faded amongst the noise, Naoma, a pop star with nothing interesting about her and no agency of her own, and Raita, who is a caricature of the flirty female friend, but make it problematic. Sprinkle in some of the most z-rated secondary cast that is sidelined for the entire book until the very end, and you have a band of characters that the author insists is a found family by telling me that they are, rather than showing me.
The Plot: Petya has a cybernetic implant called the Bite, which gives him the insatiable urge to eat teeth. He’s convinced himself that this was forced on him, when in reality, he made a deal with the devil of this story, and refuses to face the consequences of that action. Now equipped with this, he’s tasked by his boss to discredit their competition so they can climb the social latter. The Bite is explained to be the alternative to a healthcare company’s greedy ineffective drug, but I’m wondering why we think the better alternative is killing people and eating their teeth? There are only so many teeth in the world, what happens when we run out?
The Setting: This world does not feel lived in. Not only are we not given many descriptions of what the world looks like, but we hardly move around or interact with the scenery or NPCs. Instead, Petya preaches to us via long winded expositional trauma dumps, but offers up no solutions, no plans, no alternatives, and no nuanced perspectives. No one challenges what Petya has to say about the world that we are in and its flaws, and only respond with shallow “Damn-that’s-crazy-esque” lines. No one has an alternative perspective on this life, and everything that is presented to us is taken as gospel truth. Petya’s country of origin is bad because he says it’s bad. The Healthcare system is failing because he says it’s failing. The pop music is filled with sharky consumeristic tactics because he says it is. We are told, told, told, everything by Petya, but never shown the world and given the opportunity to make the decision on our own as the audience. This world feels shallow because no one speaks or sounds like a human being. There is no debate or challenge. We are expected to listen to this string of consciousness and have nothing to say afterwards.
The Themes: We are faced with themes of Commercialism, Capitalism, Immigration Reforms, Drug Use, Healthcare Reform, Socialism, and so much more, all which Petya and the world have nothing to say about it. With a setting that closely mirrors politics happening around the world now, we aren’t using the opportunity to explore the richness of people’s perspectives. This read like Petya has never had to debate anyone who disagreed with him, or explain himself. What were the specific politics of Medislavia that had him feel the need to flee? Are there any unconscious biases that he needs to overcome having come from an oppressive government? How is the Bite a better alternative to a daily use pill, when the side effects of the Bite is violent murder? The list of questions and inconsistencies go on.
The Writing/Editing: This read as an early draft for me. Beyond the grammatical errors, there are far too many plot holes and inconsistencies that take you out of the narrative. Some information that is vital to understanding the plot is handed to us beyond the 50% mark, and becomes infuriating. What this needed was more story boarding, outline of in-world politics, and character motives/personalities before this project was completed. As it stands, this is a gathering of interesting scenes smashed haphazardly together in an incoherent manner.
I wanted to like this. The idea sounded unique and fun, but we didn’t do anything unique or novel in this world. Instead, we are given a hodgepodge of other intellectual properties and real-world politics and did nothing different with it.
March 20, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up!
I really enjoyed this book! So many unique takes on so many, idk, things(?) that I never expected! Cybernetic enhancements fueled by eating teeth, cybernetic dolphins, and a light based economic/power/technological society! Super fun to read! Not a full 5 stars because I felt as though some aspects could have been explored more fully, but aside from that a fantastic read!!
Spoilers to follow...
I really enjoyed this book and considering it from a reviewing perspective had me wanting more. Maybe it is just the epic fantasy fan in me, but I love long drawn out things that give background information to draw out the story.
Characters: I loved the main cast of characters, the romance fell a little flat for me personally as I felt there was not much of a build up and the love interest seemed very mary sue-y type of "Yeah I'm here for you babe" type of person without much else of a personality. The main crew of (let's call them) Toothsuckers was super fun, but I felt like I did not know much about their interpersonal relationships before shit hit the fan to really be emotionally invested in them, at a level that I would prefer.
World building: still not really sure what Light is. I got a really good view/grasp of how it operates and is used in society, but what it is and where it comes from I was unsure on. As for the Chinese/Asian mythology that shows up later, thay seemed to come from a little out of left field, as I personally have 0 background with that and it was not really set up before it happend. The society and different "castes" based on tiers of light was super cool! Very Red Rising esque but not derivative. Tech bone was a cool "disease" and i am excited to see where that goes.
Plot: by far my favorite aspect of the book! The twists and turns of this story kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I could not put it down! The pacing was overall great for the story being told. Again, would have preferred some more time spent on character relationships, and world building, but in terms of overall plot, this instantly grasped my attention and held it the whole time.
Overall, a fantastic book! I have already reccoemned my friends check this out pending it's official release. I cannot wait for this story to continue, and I cannot wait to see how Kaden grows as an author through his writing journey!
I really enjoyed this book! So many unique takes on so many, idk, things(?) that I never expected! Cybernetic enhancements fueled by eating teeth, cybernetic dolphins, and a light based economic/power/technological society! Super fun to read! Not a full 5 stars because I felt as though some aspects could have been explored more fully, but aside from that a fantastic read!!
Spoilers to follow...
I really enjoyed this book and considering it from a reviewing perspective had me wanting more. Maybe it is just the epic fantasy fan in me, but I love long drawn out things that give background information to draw out the story.
Characters: I loved the main cast of characters, the romance fell a little flat for me personally as I felt there was not much of a build up and the love interest seemed very mary sue-y type of "Yeah I'm here for you babe" type of person without much else of a personality. The main crew of (let's call them) Toothsuckers was super fun, but I felt like I did not know much about their interpersonal relationships before shit hit the fan to really be emotionally invested in them, at a level that I would prefer.
World building: still not really sure what Light is. I got a really good view/grasp of how it operates and is used in society, but what it is and where it comes from I was unsure on. As for the Chinese/Asian mythology that shows up later, thay seemed to come from a little out of left field, as I personally have 0 background with that and it was not really set up before it happend. The society and different "castes" based on tiers of light was super cool! Very Red Rising esque but not derivative. Tech bone was a cool "disease" and i am excited to see where that goes.
Plot: by far my favorite aspect of the book! The twists and turns of this story kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I could not put it down! The pacing was overall great for the story being told. Again, would have preferred some more time spent on character relationships, and world building, but in terms of overall plot, this instantly grasped my attention and held it the whole time.
Overall, a fantastic book! I have already reccoemned my friends check this out pending it's official release. I cannot wait for this story to continue, and I cannot wait to see how Kaden grows as an author through his writing journey!
October 4, 2025
What an absolutely wild ride!
What do cybernetic enhanced humans hungry for teeth, walking dolphins with grafted on human arms, digital drugs that make you feel socially connected, a disease that breaks humans down into sacks of jelly or glowing mindless skeletons, and an economic caste system based on the spectrum of physical light have in common?
Buckle up, Toothsucker has a story to tell, and it doesn’t tread on the surface of the bizarre, it dives in deep.
Enter the Republic of Capital. A capitalist hellscape controlled by warring factions of healthcare, entertainment, and a party of previously blue collar workers. The reader is thrown into a group of technologically enslaved vampires forced to complete missions for a maniacal overlord bent on cornering the healthcare market, and with it, the presidency. Maybe. Things are intentionally vague from the start, and only grow more confusing with the introduction of ulterior motives, outside actors, and a really unclear picture of what is actually happening in the power struggles at play. Can they figure it out, and fight for their freedom? And how many teeth will they have to eat along the way?
At its core, Toothsucker is a story about immigration, capitalism, and the dehumanization of technology. Kaden has a lot of things to say, and I’m here for it. The repeated themes are propped up by an expanding, unhinged world that is ruthless and refreshingly unique. All of which is told at an eye-watering, breakneck pace where the scenery blurs, all of reality is a question mark, and the reader gets to the end exhausted and ready for another ride.
I really enjoyed this one, and I’ll certainly be picking up book two. I also especially enjoyed several nods that Kaden makes to other seminal works throughout, things I imagine other readers familiar with the genre will smile at as well. I think there were times where the dialogue was a bit clunky, there’s a few typos and formatting errors, but honestly the ideas and complete freshness more than make up for it. I’d recommend this for anyone in need of a fast-paced novel that’s not afraid of losing a few teeth.
What do cybernetic enhanced humans hungry for teeth, walking dolphins with grafted on human arms, digital drugs that make you feel socially connected, a disease that breaks humans down into sacks of jelly or glowing mindless skeletons, and an economic caste system based on the spectrum of physical light have in common?
Buckle up, Toothsucker has a story to tell, and it doesn’t tread on the surface of the bizarre, it dives in deep.
Enter the Republic of Capital. A capitalist hellscape controlled by warring factions of healthcare, entertainment, and a party of previously blue collar workers. The reader is thrown into a group of technologically enslaved vampires forced to complete missions for a maniacal overlord bent on cornering the healthcare market, and with it, the presidency. Maybe. Things are intentionally vague from the start, and only grow more confusing with the introduction of ulterior motives, outside actors, and a really unclear picture of what is actually happening in the power struggles at play. Can they figure it out, and fight for their freedom? And how many teeth will they have to eat along the way?
At its core, Toothsucker is a story about immigration, capitalism, and the dehumanization of technology. Kaden has a lot of things to say, and I’m here for it. The repeated themes are propped up by an expanding, unhinged world that is ruthless and refreshingly unique. All of which is told at an eye-watering, breakneck pace where the scenery blurs, all of reality is a question mark, and the reader gets to the end exhausted and ready for another ride.
I really enjoyed this one, and I’ll certainly be picking up book two. I also especially enjoyed several nods that Kaden makes to other seminal works throughout, things I imagine other readers familiar with the genre will smile at as well. I think there were times where the dialogue was a bit clunky, there’s a few typos and formatting errors, but honestly the ideas and complete freshness more than make up for it. I’d recommend this for anyone in need of a fast-paced novel that’s not afraid of losing a few teeth.
December 23, 2025
First, the good. Toothsucker has some genuinely good worldbuilding elements. These are easily the strongest points of the book. The setting is clearly imagined, visually interesting, and does a lot of the work up front pulling the reader in. The concept of tooth eating 'vampires' in a world with a bone eating plague and physical light all add up to a well realized world.
Unfortunately, the rest of the execution did not live up to the setting. Characterization is inconsistent, making it difficult to stay emotionally invested and hurting the narrative momentum. Petya, the sole POV character, in particular is all over the place and it can be hard to describe him from an emotional and motivational standpoint.
The book also leans hard into a cyberpunk setting, a genre I adore, but doesn't fully explore the themes associated with cyberpunk imo. The ideas of self-ownership and autonomy are concerns in the story but it's less about identity and control and more about well, I guess we owe this guy. Can you have a cyberpunk setting without the full suite of cyberpunk themes? Sure, but labeling it cyberpunk sets up some heavy expectations that this book just doesn't meet.
The story has some moments and the action parts are handled fairly well but much of the aha! moments are pure info dump exposition. In particular, reveals late in the book are just soliloquy that feels unearned and, honestly, distracting at this point in the story. It's the climax and it's so much just saying hey, here's how the world is.
I didn't hate my time with Toothsucker and there's clear potential here. This setting in particular deserves more than it got. But for me, the gap between ambition and execution was too large to overlook. There is a solid foundation with the setting but the rest is too unevenly realized.
I do want to note that there are formatting errors like some other reviews have noted; I did not detract for that. Yes, it's noticeable, but unless it makes the text unreadable, I can let it go.
Unfortunately, the rest of the execution did not live up to the setting. Characterization is inconsistent, making it difficult to stay emotionally invested and hurting the narrative momentum. Petya, the sole POV character, in particular is all over the place and it can be hard to describe him from an emotional and motivational standpoint.
The book also leans hard into a cyberpunk setting, a genre I adore, but doesn't fully explore the themes associated with cyberpunk imo. The ideas of self-ownership and autonomy are concerns in the story but it's less about identity and control and more about well, I guess we owe this guy. Can you have a cyberpunk setting without the full suite of cyberpunk themes? Sure, but labeling it cyberpunk sets up some heavy expectations that this book just doesn't meet.
The story has some moments and the action parts are handled fairly well but much of the aha! moments are pure info dump exposition. In particular, reveals late in the book are just soliloquy that feels unearned and, honestly, distracting at this point in the story. It's the climax and it's so much just saying hey, here's how the world is.
I didn't hate my time with Toothsucker and there's clear potential here. This setting in particular deserves more than it got. But for me, the gap between ambition and execution was too large to overlook. There is a solid foundation with the setting but the rest is too unevenly realized.
I do want to note that there are formatting errors like some other reviews have noted; I did not detract for that. Yes, it's noticeable, but unless it makes the text unreadable, I can let it go.
March 25, 2025
Kaden's creativity is a thing to behold. Throughout the story, worldbuilding and character moments continued to leave me in awe. I thought to myself mutliple times 'how did he come up with that'? It led the novel to be an enjoyable ride the entire way through. There never seemed to be any moments in the story where I was wishing we'd get to the next part, so that's a plus one for pacing.
The smaller cast of characters were all developed and the technology this world implemented society wide built their backgrounds, their skills, and their character arcs. Their growth and development was seamlessly blended with all of the fun cyberpunk elements.
There were two points of personal taste I wished for different, but they in no way are a detractor to the story.
1. There weren't any/many contractions, and I found myself adding the contraction in my head to speed up my reading pace.
2. I wish I got a few more pages in the end sequence. If this was Kaden's strategy to get the reader wanting to read the sequel, then MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. The ending set up Toothsucker and our main cast of characters to be launched into the sequel. The ending was grand reveal, magic system elevation, plot twist, sequel starter, and the resolution of book one. IT WAS A LOT packed into a few pages. I had to spend some time with the ending, picking up the pieces I found along the way and put the pieces together at break neck pace. For readers who enjoy climactic endings at a break neck pace, it delivers in spade.
I had a great time with Toothsucker. It was creative. It was real. It was a bloody good time. Bring your sweet tooth.
The smaller cast of characters were all developed and the technology this world implemented society wide built their backgrounds, their skills, and their character arcs. Their growth and development was seamlessly blended with all of the fun cyberpunk elements.
There were two points of personal taste I wished for different, but they in no way are a detractor to the story.
1. There weren't any/many contractions, and I found myself adding the contraction in my head to speed up my reading pace.
2. I wish I got a few more pages in the end sequence. If this was Kaden's strategy to get the reader wanting to read the sequel, then MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. The ending set up Toothsucker and our main cast of characters to be launched into the sequel. The ending was grand reveal, magic system elevation, plot twist, sequel starter, and the resolution of book one. IT WAS A LOT packed into a few pages. I had to spend some time with the ending, picking up the pieces I found along the way and put the pieces together at break neck pace. For readers who enjoy climactic endings at a break neck pace, it delivers in spade.
I had a great time with Toothsucker. It was creative. It was real. It was a bloody good time. Bring your sweet tooth.
July 16, 2025
👤Characters
🌍Setting/World Building
📜Plot
✌🏼Vibes
👤⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌍 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📜⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✌🏼⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
4.25 ⭐️
👤 Adored Petya and Devones dynamic and Petya buddying him, taking him under his wing. I liked Naoma but didn’t find the romance that compelling and felt way too fast (I get he was crushing on her secretly as a superstar but got bit too deep fast and not enough flirty flirty or pining). Wasn’t thaaaat invested in the characters tho as individuals.
🌍 Creative AF and at first was a bit overwhelmed with the jargon and info as there’s a lot going on here with bodymods (and its repercussion) neurospace, use of light as class system/currency kinda etc, but once I got my head around it I loved it. Fantastic twist on vampire lore and honestly coulda done with a weeeee bit more unhinged tooth snacking. I loved nostalgia being like a proper commodity.
📜 Felt a little chaotic at times trying to keep up with all aspects of the world building but certainly wasn’t boring at any point. The plot was face paced pretty straightforward - scientists experimenting on humans a with disastrous effects, dystopian world and dickheads in power and different folk vying for power and fekkin each other over. Honestly thought it was gonna be a standalone until 90% in. I am interested to see how it all wraps up. Wasn’t sure how I felt about the spirit stuff at the end but still kinda interested to see how that develops in book two.
✌🏼Honestly nearly immaculate (as I said, the romance let it down for me) and loved the messages and topics covered re: refugees, consumerism, politics, AI use in art.
🥡 Fantastic cyberpunk dystopian with a a lot to… wait for it.. to sink your teeth into 😏
🌍Setting/World Building
📜Plot
✌🏼Vibes
👤⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌍 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📜⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✌🏼⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
4.25 ⭐️
👤 Adored Petya and Devones dynamic and Petya buddying him, taking him under his wing. I liked Naoma but didn’t find the romance that compelling and felt way too fast (I get he was crushing on her secretly as a superstar but got bit too deep fast and not enough flirty flirty or pining). Wasn’t thaaaat invested in the characters tho as individuals.
🌍 Creative AF and at first was a bit overwhelmed with the jargon and info as there’s a lot going on here with bodymods (and its repercussion) neurospace, use of light as class system/currency kinda etc, but once I got my head around it I loved it. Fantastic twist on vampire lore and honestly coulda done with a weeeee bit more unhinged tooth snacking. I loved nostalgia being like a proper commodity.
📜 Felt a little chaotic at times trying to keep up with all aspects of the world building but certainly wasn’t boring at any point. The plot was face paced pretty straightforward - scientists experimenting on humans a with disastrous effects, dystopian world and dickheads in power and different folk vying for power and fekkin each other over. Honestly thought it was gonna be a standalone until 90% in. I am interested to see how it all wraps up. Wasn’t sure how I felt about the spirit stuff at the end but still kinda interested to see how that develops in book two.
✌🏼Honestly nearly immaculate (as I said, the romance let it down for me) and loved the messages and topics covered re: refugees, consumerism, politics, AI use in art.
🥡 Fantastic cyberpunk dystopian with a a lot to… wait for it.. to sink your teeth into 😏
August 7, 2025
If Cyberpunk 2077, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Red Rising had a baby, Toothsucker would be the gloriously unhinged result.
This book is a colorful fever dream featuring tooth eating vampires, cyborg dolphins, a very calcium deficient society, and a K-pop idol. Yes, you read that right.
Set in a cyberpunk future where the physical form of light is both currency and so much more, we follow Petya and his band of Imps as they carry out missions for their boss, all in pursuit of political power (because what else?). I won’t say more. This is too fun to spoil.
The worldbuilding is phenomenal.
It’s got lore and history. Kaden has created a future that feels within arm’s reach, and the social commentary woven in is poignant.
Toothsucker tackles the treatment of refugees with sincerity and weigh. Set against a backdrop of war and displacement, we watch as Petya and Boyband, initially wary of each other, come to realize they aren’t enemies. They share the real enemy.
The book also explores:
• AI displacing human jobs
• Capitalism in full bloom
• Pharmaceutical corruption
• Entertainment industry rot
• Addiction
This was my first dip into cyberpunk in book form, and it did not disappoint.
The action kicks off immediately, and the cast is zegging great (I’m adding that word to my Apple dictionary ASAP). The Imps give off found-family energy, and I eat that up every time. There’s real tragedy here. Each character is carrying something. A heavy history.
If this had just a little polish in the editing department, Toothsucker would be an easy 5 stars. I thoroughly look forward to the sequel.
This book is a colorful fever dream featuring tooth eating vampires, cyborg dolphins, a very calcium deficient society, and a K-pop idol. Yes, you read that right.
Set in a cyberpunk future where the physical form of light is both currency and so much more, we follow Petya and his band of Imps as they carry out missions for their boss, all in pursuit of political power (because what else?). I won’t say more. This is too fun to spoil.
The worldbuilding is phenomenal.
It’s got lore and history. Kaden has created a future that feels within arm’s reach, and the social commentary woven in is poignant.
Toothsucker tackles the treatment of refugees with sincerity and weigh. Set against a backdrop of war and displacement, we watch as Petya and Boyband, initially wary of each other, come to realize they aren’t enemies. They share the real enemy.
The book also explores:
• AI displacing human jobs
• Capitalism in full bloom
• Pharmaceutical corruption
• Entertainment industry rot
• Addiction
This was my first dip into cyberpunk in book form, and it did not disappoint.
The action kicks off immediately, and the cast is zegging great (I’m adding that word to my Apple dictionary ASAP). The Imps give off found-family energy, and I eat that up every time. There’s real tragedy here. Each character is carrying something. A heavy history.
If this had just a little polish in the editing department, Toothsucker would be an easy 5 stars. I thoroughly look forward to the sequel.
March 30, 2025
Thank you Kaden for the ARC copy!
Tooth-eating vampires, cyborg sentient dolphins, physical light constructs.
This is just the surface of the crazy and unique world the author has crafted here and as weird as it sounds and reads it somehow works. The setting is tried and true cyberpunk but the world is so unique and fascinating.
The characters are less unique in their characterization and that’s not necessarily a bad thing when trying to visualize such a crazy world. Suffice to say the characters that you follow are ones you want to succeed even with their flaws, of which there are many. Being vampires being one of them.
I do wish we got more time to spend with our cast of characters outside of the Petya to better explain their personalities and motivations.
I really enjoyed the pacing in this book, I felt everything flowed very well from page to page and I certainly was never bored of waiting for something more interesting to happen. The story and world are bleak but that is something I enjoy if done well and it’s done well here though some of the themes in the book were a bit on the nose at times.
Finally, I’m not really the person who can accurately review romance in a story with any nuance or helpful commentary. All I can say is though it was sweet and didn’t immediately take me out of it like some books, it felt a little rushed.
Had a lot of fun with this one! I hope we see more from these characters and this world.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 rounded up to 5 because Goodread’s far too simple rating system.
Tooth-eating vampires, cyborg sentient dolphins, physical light constructs.
This is just the surface of the crazy and unique world the author has crafted here and as weird as it sounds and reads it somehow works. The setting is tried and true cyberpunk but the world is so unique and fascinating.
The characters are less unique in their characterization and that’s not necessarily a bad thing when trying to visualize such a crazy world. Suffice to say the characters that you follow are ones you want to succeed even with their flaws, of which there are many. Being vampires being one of them.
I do wish we got more time to spend with our cast of characters outside of the Petya to better explain their personalities and motivations.
I really enjoyed the pacing in this book, I felt everything flowed very well from page to page and I certainly was never bored of waiting for something more interesting to happen. The story and world are bleak but that is something I enjoy if done well and it’s done well here though some of the themes in the book were a bit on the nose at times.
Finally, I’m not really the person who can accurately review romance in a story with any nuance or helpful commentary. All I can say is though it was sweet and didn’t immediately take me out of it like some books, it felt a little rushed.
Had a lot of fun with this one! I hope we see more from these characters and this world.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 rounded up to 5 because Goodread’s far too simple rating system.
November 1, 2025
This is the ninth book in my Spooky Season for 2025. I specially saved this one for Halloween day, a great nod to the author. In the acknowledgments, Kaden tells us how his editor told him the book knocked her ****ing socks off. Ditto. Chef kiss.
This is a cyberpunk novel about tooth-eating vampires that resonates with the imagination and creativity of the author. There is a lot going on in the short 300 pages of this book. The pacing, along with cliffhangers at the chapter breaks, causes the pages to practically turn themselves.
Tooth-eating vampires? Yep. Following an ad for cavity prevention, one of the characters, “salivated and drooled at the thought of endless sets of perfect teeth for them to eat.”
In this futuristic society, cancer was cured decades ago and Alzheimer’s is a distant memory, but a new disease called Techbone exists that causes bones to degrade and is introduced by reactions to cybernetic implants.
It is a world populated with technological advancements, political intrigue, and most importantly, immigration atrocities reflecting our own times and based on the author’s own experiences.
The writing is intelligent, the dialogue is crisp, and at times reflective, “Even though life’s climaxes never repeat, it is best to hold onto the memory. Remembering the highlights of life is often the key to surviving the darkest moments.”
Thankfully we won’t have long to wait for the second book in this series as I believe it is expected early in 2026. On to Chromatic Creep. “Zeg”.
This is a cyberpunk novel about tooth-eating vampires that resonates with the imagination and creativity of the author. There is a lot going on in the short 300 pages of this book. The pacing, along with cliffhangers at the chapter breaks, causes the pages to practically turn themselves.
Tooth-eating vampires? Yep. Following an ad for cavity prevention, one of the characters, “salivated and drooled at the thought of endless sets of perfect teeth for them to eat.”
In this futuristic society, cancer was cured decades ago and Alzheimer’s is a distant memory, but a new disease called Techbone exists that causes bones to degrade and is introduced by reactions to cybernetic implants.
It is a world populated with technological advancements, political intrigue, and most importantly, immigration atrocities reflecting our own times and based on the author’s own experiences.
The writing is intelligent, the dialogue is crisp, and at times reflective, “Even though life’s climaxes never repeat, it is best to hold onto the memory. Remembering the highlights of life is often the key to surviving the darkest moments.”
Thankfully we won’t have long to wait for the second book in this series as I believe it is expected early in 2026. On to Chromatic Creep. “Zeg”.
November 30, 2025
(4/5)
Man, Kaden, dude. This was... wild. He pitched it as tooth eating vamps and we got tooth eating vamps. And it works!
Honestly, every time the imps chewed down on teeth I got so, so, so grossed out. But in a really cathartic, Stephen King disgusting kinda way. I loved that.
The world is super interesting in the way it's structured, it's history, it's problems. But at times it is a little convoluted, but by the midpoint I think I had a good grasp on it.
The characters are colorful and boisterous in the kind of way you want from a cyberpunk setting, but I hope we get more dimensions to them in book two. It felt a touch like window dressing at times for everyone other than Petya and Boyband, but that's okay for now.
The only MAJOR dig I had with this read (and it seems others noted it too), was the editing. It probably needed one more pass from an editor. And it's not that there was bloat, not at all, this thing moves a frenetic and easy pace. But it's just little grammatical and structural errors that pop up every 20 or so pages that force you to re-read a sentence. But, it seems by the third act everything was mostly cleaned up.
Kaden is a madman of ideas that, on paper, shouldn't work. But he somehow throws things into a blender and cooks up wild stories with eye-popping worlds filled with exuberant characters. He's a very unique voice in SFF right now. And I'm super excited to see what happens in Chromatic Creep (PS Thanks Kaden for the ARC, stoked to dig into it!)
Man, Kaden, dude. This was... wild. He pitched it as tooth eating vamps and we got tooth eating vamps. And it works!
Honestly, every time the imps chewed down on teeth I got so, so, so grossed out. But in a really cathartic, Stephen King disgusting kinda way. I loved that.
The world is super interesting in the way it's structured, it's history, it's problems. But at times it is a little convoluted, but by the midpoint I think I had a good grasp on it.
The characters are colorful and boisterous in the kind of way you want from a cyberpunk setting, but I hope we get more dimensions to them in book two. It felt a touch like window dressing at times for everyone other than Petya and Boyband, but that's okay for now.
The only MAJOR dig I had with this read (and it seems others noted it too), was the editing. It probably needed one more pass from an editor. And it's not that there was bloat, not at all, this thing moves a frenetic and easy pace. But it's just little grammatical and structural errors that pop up every 20 or so pages that force you to re-read a sentence. But, it seems by the third act everything was mostly cleaned up.
Kaden is a madman of ideas that, on paper, shouldn't work. But he somehow throws things into a blender and cooks up wild stories with eye-popping worlds filled with exuberant characters. He's a very unique voice in SFF right now. And I'm super excited to see what happens in Chromatic Creep (PS Thanks Kaden for the ARC, stoked to dig into it!)
November 4, 2025
Imagine if Black Mirror collided with Blade Runner and then took a sharp left turn straight into your mouth. In Toothsucker, Kaden Love reimagines vampires for the cyberpunk age - these sleek, wired predators don’t crave your blood; they crave your teeth. The healthy ones. The gleaming, well-brushed kind that signal you live above the grime. Forget biting necks - these creatures bite through enamel, dentin, and pulp, devouring the very symbols of privilege.
The story follows a gritty, neon-lit underworld where class divides are as sharp as the tools in a dentist’s tray. It’s part social commentary, part high-tech heist, and all adrenaline. The world-building is exquisite—metallic skylines pulsing with corruption, sleek tech augmentations humming beneath skin, and a desperate humanity clinging to the illusion of beauty and order. Love’s prose feels cinematic, the kind that glows like a hologram and stings like fluoride.
If I have one complaint (and it’s a medium cavity, not a root canal), it’s the romance. It veers into insta-love territory - sweet, sure, but lacking the emotional slow burn this razor-edged world deserved. Still, it doesn’t dull the bite. The originality and tension of the plot more than make up for it.
This book is weird, wild, and absolutely my kind of ride - unique, unflinching, and deliciously unsettling. Just… maybe don’t read it right before your next dental cleaning.
The story follows a gritty, neon-lit underworld where class divides are as sharp as the tools in a dentist’s tray. It’s part social commentary, part high-tech heist, and all adrenaline. The world-building is exquisite—metallic skylines pulsing with corruption, sleek tech augmentations humming beneath skin, and a desperate humanity clinging to the illusion of beauty and order. Love’s prose feels cinematic, the kind that glows like a hologram and stings like fluoride.
If I have one complaint (and it’s a medium cavity, not a root canal), it’s the romance. It veers into insta-love territory - sweet, sure, but lacking the emotional slow burn this razor-edged world deserved. Still, it doesn’t dull the bite. The originality and tension of the plot more than make up for it.
This book is weird, wild, and absolutely my kind of ride - unique, unflinching, and deliciously unsettling. Just… maybe don’t read it right before your next dental cleaning.
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