Familiar

by Cara Nox

After years of helping his father fight the monsters that killed his mother, Jules is ready to step out of his role of being a glorified errand boy for his dad and his vampire-hunting crew.

But when the idea is quickly shot down for the second time, Jules lets one drink to blow off steam domino into accidentally becoming a vampire’s familiar overnight.

And the biggest problem is that he can’t remember what happened.

With tensions high after his father discovers the possibility of a vampire spy in their midst, Jules scrambles to keep his mark a secret and prove himself to the entire crew by hunting down his vampire, following every clue that feels familiar.

—

This is the first in a series of read-in-any-order mystery urban fantasy books, each featuring a different cast of characters but set in the same universe, called OCCULT MISADVENTURES.

Genres: Vampires

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

Cara Nox is an urban and science fantasy writer, combining their love of magically-inclined chaotic idiots and modern/futuristic tech. They also love mysteries, thrillers, and anything that draws inspiration from stars. Cara works as a web developer by day, holds BA in Japanese Language and Literature they occasionally use to read video game announcements, and resides in Ohio with their younger sister and two black cats.

Reviews

[Talli Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC DISCLAIMER: I received an advance copy of this book for the purpose of providing a review; this does not affect my opinion of the book.

This book was so much fun to read.
With a razor-sharp narrative voice and a plot that'll give you whiplash, FAMILIAR is everything I love in a mystery—especially with vampires! If you need something fast paced to break your reading slump, you've got it right here.

Jules is a hot mess and makes for a hilarious and sympathetic protagonist. I'm truly a sucker for the "tries so hard to prove themself to their family" types of characters. I also love Saint because of course I love Saint. I have a type, ok?? And when we found out he's a vampire I was like EVEN BETTER!

This book had some of the most insane plot twists I've ever seen; my jaw literally dropped at more than one of them, and I honestly had no idea how it would all wrap up.

I beg you: don't sleep on this one!

[Jake Vanguard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Familiar is the perfect mix of modern life, hunting vampires, wanting to prove yourself to your family, and learned hatred.

There's so many plot twists and revelations, most of which were truly a surprise to me, it was a pleasure reading and learning more about the mess in Jules' life. The poor guy has some of the worst days ever, but in a twisted way, some of the best ones as well.

Of course there's Saint, the love interest: incredibly handsome, but also sweet and understanding of Jules' problems, these two just fit together perfectly. There's such a connection between them from the beginning.

Overall, all relationships Jules has are very well rounded, none of them entirely black or white - like with his dad, who truly made some questionable decisions, while still caring a lot about his son.

If you're looking for a book with a similar plot-vibe to "Silver Blood" by Talli L. Morgan or "Silver Under Nightfall" by Rin Chupeco but set in the 2020s, you've found your choice.


I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy but I'm freely leaving this review. All opinions are my own.

[Freddie The Bard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think of Buffy and Fright Night, put Underworld in the mix, and imagine a Vampire The Masquerade gaming session with a hilarious Storyteller inspired by these works.
Jules is our Storyteller: a messy, funny, incredibly relatable MC who just wants a normal life. Nox really put him through hell and I'm surprised he didn't come out of the page to fight his author at some point.

The book gets wilder as you read, and what started as an Urban Fantasy mystery quickly turns into a crazy comedy of errors that will keep you enthralled until the very last page.
Nox is a visionary and one of the most creative authors I've ever read. I've been a fan of their work since I read The Thirteenth Key and their range, talent and imagination know no bounds.

A shining 5 stars that I totally recommend for its uniqueness, surreal comedy, and incredibly good prose.

I received an ARC of this book and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

[Erinn Harper]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Familiar is a fun, fast-paced, punchy read for fans of classic urban fantasy and of main characters who are a bit of a hot mess (looking at you, Jules). The book's premise was right up my alley: a wannabe vampire hunter who ends up claimed by the enemy? So much potential drama. I had to see what misadventures ensued. Cara managed to keep me on my toes throughout the book; every time I thought I had something figured out, I'd be smacked with a twist.

I think this is what I truly appreciated about Familiar: it didn't fall into the same trope traps that similar books do. Light spoilers ahead: We suspect from the beginning that Saint is a vampire, but he doesn't play the role we expect him to. I even found myself quietly shocked later in the story when it becomes clear that Saint finally needs blood...but never actually sips on Jules. Any other vampire book with a sprinkle of romance would've included a feeding scene between the MC and LI, but Familiar evaded that trope entirely, and I have to applaud Cara for sticking to their characters rather than caving for the sake of the audience.

I do wish Jules and Saint had a bit more time to spend together before the conflict kicked off. This whole story takes place over the course of a few days. Maybe this is the aro/ace in me, but their relationship felt a bit rushed, almost veering into "love at first sight" territory, which isn't really my cuppa. It might have been more satisfying to me as a reader for their relationship to have been fleshed out over a longer period, perhaps as the result of the trials they face together. This is largely just my personal preference, however, and it doesn't ruin the story for me!

[ech0reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to the author for kindly giving me an ARC.

The narrative follows Jules, a vampire hunters son, who is desperate to prove himself to his dad. Meanwhile his dad treats him as a glorified errand boy, refusing to take him seriously. After a bad argument, Jules gets drunk and somehow ends up as a vampires' familiar. Eager to find out who his vampire is and why they gave him a familiar bite, Jules is thrown into a whirlwind chaos of betrayal, lies, and difficult relationships.

This was a really good read. I was tense from the start; eagerly reading to see where the narrative was going next, and who the vampire spy could be. I really liked that the book lulled me into a false sense of security that I knew what was happening and who Jules' vampire was, only to pull the rug out from under me with a completely shocking revelation that I didn't see coming.

Jules was a great protagonist. I could completely empathise with him wanting to be treated seriously by his dad, whilst also deeply missing his mum. The relationship between Jules and his dad is rocky, but you can tell that they do care for one another, and that his dad shows he loves Jules, albeit in a clumsy way.

Jules and Saint's relationship was really sweet, whilst being realistically messy. They had both been through really similar situations and were hoping for a fresh start. They complimented each other really nicely and I was rooting for them the whole way through.

[Helen Whistberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining supernatural romp with a sweet romance at its center. Jules has spent most of his life trying to prove that he's worthy and ready to join the vampire hunting team his father has assembled to fight the monsters that killed his mother. But a series of momentous events, kicking off with connecting with a charismatic barista at his favorite coffee hangout, leads to a series of misadventures that border on life-threatening catastrophes for both Jules and those around him.

I really appreciated the genuinely unexpected twists and turns in the story, and I'm also a big fan of slightly bumbling protagonists who are still trying to figure out how they fit into the world. It was fun trying to deduce along with Jules who he could trust and who had a hidden agenda, and Jules's strained relationship with his father was very believable and something I think a lot of readers can relate to. There were some minor editing issues but nothing that detracted greatly from my enjoyment. Some really nice queer rep, complicated family dynamics, engaging characters, multiple hiss-able villains, and true suspense make this a treat for fans of the cozier side of urban fantasy and horror.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I want to give our main character, Jules, a BIG hug. He goes through so much. I was on the edge of my seat the entire ride. Jules is a mess, but he's funny throughout, and is completely lovable while working through all of it.

I loved seeing him interact with and react to the supernatural world and his place in it. While it's packed with plot, it's very character driven. The relationships, secrets, and drama is very compelling to read. All the characters feel like real entities with unique personalities.

This book also works through a lot of baggage, in a good way. It's a late blooming "becoming your own person and figuring out what you want" narative which is very much needed. I am grateful that it wasn't another teenage coming of age story. I could really relate to Jules in his struggle with trying to be something he's not, and not really having a voice or choice in what happens early on.

I received this arc for free, and all opinions are my own. My opinion is: Read it - it's fun! Eagerly looking forward to more in the series, and more from this author.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for (Occult Misadventures) Familiar by Cara Nox

Cara Nox is a new author for me, but when I saw it was an urban vampire mystery, I just had to give it a try. I am so glad I did. This story has the right mix of hunting vampires (which I love) with family. I just thought of Fright Night, but with some funny times mixed in. Jules has spent many years helping his father kill the creatures that killed his mother. But Jules has reached a point in his life when he no longer wants what his father wants; he wants more. He follows what his father wants; he wants what he wants in life now. Of course, his father says he will not end what they have going. All Jules wants is to go out and let off some steam, but in the end, he becomes a vampire's familiar. How could this happen? This book just kept me wondering what's going to happen next. I loved it. I want more of this world and this author.

Nicole Harvey

[Judy W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jules grows up with a father who is a vampire hunter. Their mother died by vampire and the father is out for revenge. Jules was just a child but once he becomes an adult he wants an active role with the hunting team but his father makes him a glorified housekeeper and general gopher. After a night out drinking, Jules returns with a vampire bite and the designated familiar term that he hides from everyone. He doesn't know who the vampire who bit him is and also juggling a new guy he has a crush on. The problem with this story is that Jules was an absolute wimp. He stammered and stumbled around. He always seemed on the verge of passing out either from fear or anxiety. He wasn't good hero material lets just say. The "crush" was pretty generic and the story seemed more cartoon like than it needed to be so average for me.

[blackbirds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC for an honest review!

Occult Misadventures sums up this book in all the best ways. Jules gets into so much trouble, it's a wonder he's even standing by the end. He was also very relatable in both what he was going through and his narration (although sometimes I felt he rambled, but it really fit him as a character so no big deal). While I do feel like the beginning moved incredibly fast and I wished I'd had more time with the Mason household before everything happened, I was more than okay with it because all the set pieces got in place and I got more Saint. I loved Saint. 10/10 would love more Saint.

The story felt like when I was younger and watching Buffy, honestly. I think that's why I blazed through it and liked it so much. There was just something about the story and the setting that felt so nostalgic to me.

I can't wait to read more in this series, though. We only really get a glimpse of the world and the supernatural therein, and it's already making me really want to return for however many more stories there's going to be.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a mess in the best way possible. Everything goes wrong, and Jules handles things absolutely terribly, but you can't help but love him for it and root for him anyway. The story itself is compelling, and each of the characters feels distinct and well rounded. This is such a fun paranormal romp!

I received an ARC from the author

[Jennifer Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book highly entertaining. It was a roller coaster of emotions and laugh out loud moments. It also had so many plot twists that kept me guessing and not wanting to put it down.