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Blood and Shadows: The Weight of Fangs
In a world where the lines between predator and prey have blurred beyond recognition, Luna and Harry are caught in the crossfire of a brutal new breed of monsters—engineered killers born from twisted science, faster and deadlier than anything the legends warned about. As cities fall silent and extinction looms, they must navigate a shattered world where survival means fighting not just for life, but for the very soul of humanity.
This is no typical vampire tale. Here, ancient power clashes with ruthless technology, and hunters become weapons in a war they never signed up for. With every step, Luna and Harry uncover dark secrets, deadly enemies, and the price of control—and the only way forward is through fire and blood.
Fast-paced, relentless, and unflinching, this thriller tears through the shadows of myth and reinvents what it means to fight monsters. Get ready for a fight where the stakes are apocalyptic—and the hunters might be the hunted.
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This book contains deep and unique lore, an alternate look into Vampire mythos, blended with modern age science and mystery. The main focus being the Journey of Luna, an orphaned hunter discovering her past, present and future.
This is no typical vampire tale. Here, ancient power clashes with ruthless technology, and hunters become weapons in a war they never signed up for. With every step, Luna and Harry uncover dark secrets, deadly enemies, and the price of control—and the only way forward is through fire and blood.
Fast-paced, relentless, and unflinching, this thriller tears through the shadows of myth and reinvents what it means to fight monsters. Get ready for a fight where the stakes are apocalyptic—and the hunters might be the hunted.
---
This book contains deep and unique lore, an alternate look into Vampire mythos, blended with modern age science and mystery. The main focus being the Journey of Luna, an orphaned hunter discovering her past, present and future.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2025
6 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Alexander S. Li-Timmins
2 books9 followersAlexander S Li-Timmins is a 1992 born author and software developer, balancing the busy—but rewarding—life of marriage and parenthood. When not coding or writing, he can usually be found immersed in horror novels, action-packed thrillers, or rolling dice in late-night D&D campaigns.
He has a particular fondness for gritty storytelling across books, movies, and video games. Warhammer keeps his imagination sharp, and he enjoys exploring worlds where the stakes are high, heroes are flawed, and nothing comes easily.
For Alex, writing is where all of these passions converge — blending the suspense of horror, the adrenaline of action, the strategy of games, and a touch of dark creativity.
He has a particular fondness for gritty storytelling across books, movies, and video games. Warhammer keeps his imagination sharp, and he enjoys exploring worlds where the stakes are high, heroes are flawed, and nothing comes easily.
For Alex, writing is where all of these passions converge — blending the suspense of horror, the adrenaline of action, the strategy of games, and a touch of dark creativity.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 23, 2025
I was lucky enough to be apart of the ARC team for this, so thank you Alex and Beth at Wings & Words for the opportunity. Please note that this review is in my own words, I was not paid.
Blood and Shadows: The Weight of Fangs is an action packed tale featuring vampires! If you are wanting spice and romance then you will not find it here but you will find classic, old vibe vampires, action and suspense. This was a fast paced read, that kept on giving, following Luna and Harry on their mission to save humanity from a brutal new breed of monsters.
For me I found that it skipped too much, leaving me feeling as though I was missing half of the story. Following on from this I feel as though the author was trying to fit in as much action/fighting (which felt a little repetitive at times) in which in turn felt as if there where three books in one.
I loved Alex's writing and style, especially the nod to the more classic/old school vampires rather than the modern ones. The lack of romance didn't bother me at all, it wasn't needed. The relationship between the characters was great as is! I truly enjoyed this book and I will definitely jump to read book two!
Blood and Shadows: The Weight of Fangs is an action packed tale featuring vampires! If you are wanting spice and romance then you will not find it here but you will find classic, old vibe vampires, action and suspense. This was a fast paced read, that kept on giving, following Luna and Harry on their mission to save humanity from a brutal new breed of monsters.
For me I found that it skipped too much, leaving me feeling as though I was missing half of the story. Following on from this I feel as though the author was trying to fit in as much action/fighting (which felt a little repetitive at times) in which in turn felt as if there where three books in one.
I loved Alex's writing and style, especially the nod to the more classic/old school vampires rather than the modern ones. The lack of romance didn't bother me at all, it wasn't needed. The relationship between the characters was great as is! I truly enjoyed this book and I will definitely jump to read book two!
September 9, 2025
A Dark and Fresh Take on Vampires
I really enjoyed the story of Luna and Larry. This book pulled me in right away with its mix of ancient vampire lore and modern science. The world feels gritty and dangerous, yet full of mystery. Luna’s journey kept me hooked because she is strong, determined, and vulnerable in ways that make her easy to root for.
The action scenes are sharp and intense, and the atmosphere stays dark and suspenseful throughout. What stood out most to me was how the author reimagined vampires. It is not the same old story we have all seen before, but something original that adds new weight to the myth.
If you are looking for a vampire story that blends science, horror, and humanity with fast pacing, this one is worth reading.
I really enjoyed the story of Luna and Larry. This book pulled me in right away with its mix of ancient vampire lore and modern science. The world feels gritty and dangerous, yet full of mystery. Luna’s journey kept me hooked because she is strong, determined, and vulnerable in ways that make her easy to root for.
The action scenes are sharp and intense, and the atmosphere stays dark and suspenseful throughout. What stood out most to me was how the author reimagined vampires. It is not the same old story we have all seen before, but something original that adds new weight to the myth.
If you are looking for a vampire story that blends science, horror, and humanity with fast pacing, this one is worth reading.
November 8, 2025
The prologue immerses you right into the action, introducing Luna & her brief meeting with a small group of ferals.
Luna’s introduction with Harry is brilliant. It was like the humour was written to be unintentionally funny, & the fact he’s so nonchalant with her made it more so.
Harry relaying his history was fascinating. Being a history nerd, I loved the references. The ‘Jesus’ one had me in stitches - ‘Kind man. Bit strange. Had a habit of saying your name before you did.’ I really enjoyed the touch on his origins & why he is who he is. It is very obvious lots of research has been done into the real world history of the Mayan culture to make it as believable as a fantasy style book about ancient vampires can be.
I really loved the way becoming a vampire was explored - the hunger, the strength, the uncertainty. This is vampires done perfectly & properly. It also gives an almost sci-fi vibe in some areas of the story.
Harry gives me like a handler type of vibes for Luna; like Giles was for Buffy but way more badass, & the ferals remind me of the more mindless Strigoi in The Strain.
Reading Luna’s development was really interesting, to see how her new found abilities affected her in different ways as she travelled & hunted. The more Luna travels, the more apocalyptic of a feel you get; like the world is crumbling around her.
This books feels like a nod to Michael Crichton but with a modern fantasy edge, which I really love, with the elements of science & experimentation, the themes of human greed & the human superiority complex; thinking they can control the uncontrollable. I thought this book was fantastic.
Luna’s introduction with Harry is brilliant. It was like the humour was written to be unintentionally funny, & the fact he’s so nonchalant with her made it more so.
Harry relaying his history was fascinating. Being a history nerd, I loved the references. The ‘Jesus’ one had me in stitches - ‘Kind man. Bit strange. Had a habit of saying your name before you did.’ I really enjoyed the touch on his origins & why he is who he is. It is very obvious lots of research has been done into the real world history of the Mayan culture to make it as believable as a fantasy style book about ancient vampires can be.
I really loved the way becoming a vampire was explored - the hunger, the strength, the uncertainty. This is vampires done perfectly & properly. It also gives an almost sci-fi vibe in some areas of the story.
Harry gives me like a handler type of vibes for Luna; like Giles was for Buffy but way more badass, & the ferals remind me of the more mindless Strigoi in The Strain.
Reading Luna’s development was really interesting, to see how her new found abilities affected her in different ways as she travelled & hunted. The more Luna travels, the more apocalyptic of a feel you get; like the world is crumbling around her.
This books feels like a nod to Michael Crichton but with a modern fantasy edge, which I really love, with the elements of science & experimentation, the themes of human greed & the human superiority complex; thinking they can control the uncontrollable. I thought this book was fantastic.
October 4, 2025
First of all, this is every blood enthusiast's dream come true. Action and gore. What else would you expect from this theme besides noir aesthetics and plot twists? Luna is a fighter-with-mentor who moves like a military unit, and it's cool seeing this badass fighter carrying ancient baggage but not wasting time wallowing in feelings. It's mystery action (as the author classified).
The characters are distinctive and well-defined.
I'm looking forward to seeing the military aspect on a larger scale. Maybe later, in the sequel, and that's what we expect from a mystery action, right? However, the action scenes are already cinematic, though it's not always clear whether Luna is using martial arts, her vampire skills, or just her weapon abilities
The characters are distinctive and well-defined.
I'm looking forward to seeing the military aspect on a larger scale. Maybe later, in the sequel, and that's what we expect from a mystery action, right? However, the action scenes are already cinematic, though it's not always clear whether Luna is using martial arts, her vampire skills, or just her weapon abilities
November 30, 2025
3.75☆
We follow Luna, a hunter, as she tries to rid the world of feral vampires. After encountering a group of less crazed, more organized vampires, she meets, Harry. Harry is unlike anyone she's ever met. He trains her to better fight this new breed of vampire and then sets her loose.
While following the leads fed to her by Harry, Luna discovers the vampires and hybrid monsters are being scienfically engineered to kill and destroy civilization as they know it. But why? By who? Luna must unravel the purpose behind the fast approaching apocalypse.
There is a point after Luna leaves Harry where I get confused by how the world beyond is so far disintegrated, but that does eventually get uncovered. I wish that bit of knowledge had been discovered earlier in the story. It would have erased my confusion.
This is a great, not your typical, vampire thriller with a Mayan origin story. It has lots of energy and it's fast-paced.
We follow Luna, a hunter, as she tries to rid the world of feral vampires. After encountering a group of less crazed, more organized vampires, she meets, Harry. Harry is unlike anyone she's ever met. He trains her to better fight this new breed of vampire and then sets her loose.
While following the leads fed to her by Harry, Luna discovers the vampires and hybrid monsters are being scienfically engineered to kill and destroy civilization as they know it. But why? By who? Luna must unravel the purpose behind the fast approaching apocalypse.
There is a point after Luna leaves Harry where I get confused by how the world beyond is so far disintegrated, but that does eventually get uncovered. I wish that bit of knowledge had been discovered earlier in the story. It would have erased my confusion.
This is a great, not your typical, vampire thriller with a Mayan origin story. It has lots of energy and it's fast-paced.
December 5, 2025
I loved reading this book I found it very easy to get in to the story line and loved how the characters was written and the twilight quote from the film and how Harry became a vampire with his sister , I liked Luna character her up bringing to current life events and other characters in the story line it was well written by the author and I’m looking forward to hopefully another book 2 I liked the history information including gives it more depth in to the characters lives definitely recommend reading this book
September 18, 2025
The book poses an interesting opening question: How much do fangs weigh?
Unfortunately for me, the subtitle was figurative and referred to the psychological burden of being a conscientious fanged creature. This is, admittedly, a much better premise for a story than a scholarly study on the literal expected mass of fangs. I am confident this will please other readers with different expectations.
The story centers around Luna, a hunter of feral creatures, and Harry, a millennia-old creature who sees himself as someone who keeps the moral compass of humanity from tipping completely towards cruelty by surgically removing what he considers dangerous influential people. It is, as you might expect, a heavy burden, as human beings really seem to enjoy being cruel to one another.
The easiest comparison is Blade, the vampire hunter granted the strength of vampires and struggles to keep his inhuman cravings in check. There are dangerous supernatural creatures out there who could harm regular folk if they are not controlled. However, Harry implies his focus is less on the supernatural and more on the far more perilous sociopathic humans. After all, a feral vampire harming individuals pales in comparison to a sociopath in power manipulating an entire civilization.
As Harry puts it, he does what he does “[b]ecause every few decades, someone thinks the world belongs to them. And every few centuries, I get tired of watching it burn.”
This causes a forgivable bit of dissonance early in the story since it suggests the primary impetus may be undermining bad humans. This proves just colorful and interesting background as there is an early implication that there are more dangerous and cogent vampires waiting in the shadows with whom they will contend. The story felt as though it fishtailed for a bit as it built from one main threat to the next, from ferals, to humans, to stronger vampires, which led to some re-reading to make certain I had everything straight.
Harry takes it upon himself to train Luna, though she seemed a perfectly competent warrior to that point, at least when punching at her own weight.
Soon after Luna is granted a tremendous power. This occurs immediately after her training is complete, which would never have been sufficient to allow her to survive long against the true threats that concerned Harry, and ironically renders her training largely unnecessary. Here the story begins to take on a bit more gravitas, because now Luna is aware of a greater evil in the world and not only needs to contend with it, but also her newfound strength, the price of that strength, and the willpower to resist the temptations that pluck at everyone who finds themselves in power: the urge to use it against the weak to satisfy her own needs.
Harry and Luna’s problem here is obvious. They both have a conscience. It’s the sort of obstacle that always seems to make life difficult for moral people and why sociopaths with power gleefully throw them away and live unburdened by the weight of their fangs, unbothered by who they hurt in the process, and feeling no compulsion to ease the suffering of anyone but themselves. There are quite too many people in the world who do not seem to feel the weight of their fangs.
Interestingly, one of the biggest plot lines is resolved fairly early on. I admit to being a bit shocked with how quickly this happened considering I’d expected it to serve as the climax of the entire book. Surprise! Completely different climaxes! Fortunately, Li-Timmons continues his story with unrelenting vigor and reveals a much larger plot that dovetails nicely with the ideas of vampires and human beings both being problematic.
As you hope for in every exploration of the supernatural trope, Li-Timmins offers some new tweaks to the old story. The source of vampires, for example, is not a Transylvanian count cursed by god, but a South American demigod granted to the Mayans to aid them in battle. The craving for and purpose of blood is also neatly explained as fuel for activity.
Is it a perfect story? I suppose not. But there are very few stories that stand up to a really good squeeze without some juice leaking out. What’s important is this is an entertaining and thoughtful story, and that’s the biggest reason we read.
Unfortunately for me, the subtitle was figurative and referred to the psychological burden of being a conscientious fanged creature. This is, admittedly, a much better premise for a story than a scholarly study on the literal expected mass of fangs. I am confident this will please other readers with different expectations.
The story centers around Luna, a hunter of feral creatures, and Harry, a millennia-old creature who sees himself as someone who keeps the moral compass of humanity from tipping completely towards cruelty by surgically removing what he considers dangerous influential people. It is, as you might expect, a heavy burden, as human beings really seem to enjoy being cruel to one another.
The easiest comparison is Blade, the vampire hunter granted the strength of vampires and struggles to keep his inhuman cravings in check. There are dangerous supernatural creatures out there who could harm regular folk if they are not controlled. However, Harry implies his focus is less on the supernatural and more on the far more perilous sociopathic humans. After all, a feral vampire harming individuals pales in comparison to a sociopath in power manipulating an entire civilization.
As Harry puts it, he does what he does “[b]ecause every few decades, someone thinks the world belongs to them. And every few centuries, I get tired of watching it burn.”
This causes a forgivable bit of dissonance early in the story since it suggests the primary impetus may be undermining bad humans. This proves just colorful and interesting background as there is an early implication that there are more dangerous and cogent vampires waiting in the shadows with whom they will contend. The story felt as though it fishtailed for a bit as it built from one main threat to the next, from ferals, to humans, to stronger vampires, which led to some re-reading to make certain I had everything straight.
Harry takes it upon himself to train Luna, though she seemed a perfectly competent warrior to that point, at least when punching at her own weight.
Soon after Luna is granted a tremendous power. This occurs immediately after her training is complete, which would never have been sufficient to allow her to survive long against the true threats that concerned Harry, and ironically renders her training largely unnecessary. Here the story begins to take on a bit more gravitas, because now Luna is aware of a greater evil in the world and not only needs to contend with it, but also her newfound strength, the price of that strength, and the willpower to resist the temptations that pluck at everyone who finds themselves in power: the urge to use it against the weak to satisfy her own needs.
Harry and Luna’s problem here is obvious. They both have a conscience. It’s the sort of obstacle that always seems to make life difficult for moral people and why sociopaths with power gleefully throw them away and live unburdened by the weight of their fangs, unbothered by who they hurt in the process, and feeling no compulsion to ease the suffering of anyone but themselves. There are quite too many people in the world who do not seem to feel the weight of their fangs.
Interestingly, one of the biggest plot lines is resolved fairly early on. I admit to being a bit shocked with how quickly this happened considering I’d expected it to serve as the climax of the entire book. Surprise! Completely different climaxes! Fortunately, Li-Timmons continues his story with unrelenting vigor and reveals a much larger plot that dovetails nicely with the ideas of vampires and human beings both being problematic.
As you hope for in every exploration of the supernatural trope, Li-Timmins offers some new tweaks to the old story. The source of vampires, for example, is not a Transylvanian count cursed by god, but a South American demigod granted to the Mayans to aid them in battle. The craving for and purpose of blood is also neatly explained as fuel for activity.
Is it a perfect story? I suppose not. But there are very few stories that stand up to a really good squeeze without some juice leaking out. What’s important is this is an entertaining and thoughtful story, and that’s the biggest reason we read.
October 29, 2025
Blood and Shadows: The Weight of Fangs is a fresh new outlook on vampires/ancient gods.
thanks to wings and words for the read by relaunching this book
The story pulled me in right from the beginning. Which as of late due to the amount of dark romance I read, is hard to do. I enjoyed the story of our MFC Luna and our MMC Harry.
The easiest thing to compare this book to - if that is how you gage your books would be one time word - Blade of sorts...
The OG vampire hunter, granted the strength and abilities of a Vampire. And although in this book hes living a "human" life, its easy to see he is at a struggle with himself keeping his inhuman abilities and cravings constantly in check. Having survived decades by being careful.
Harry takes it upon himself to train our MFC Luna upon her discovering him. The twists and turns after this, were unexpected.
Although the story is good and I enjoyed it and could finish it. Some of it is a tad repetitive & a sense of lack of emotions. Also possible small plot holes? An example of one being - Luna retrieves the Kris from the barn, only for it to inexplicably reappear in the barn a few scenes later. Some of the writings also falls into noticeable patterns on occasion.
As per the lack of emotions mentioned. The best scene to describe the lack of emotions and their depth is Luna's being turned. Although the action within the scene is great, there is a lack of emotional depth. I mean, here's Luna being turned into something she has been fighting against her whole life and it kind of give me a sense of "oh well I guess this is me now" - where was the concern? The fear? The overwhelming emotions? Even after coming around from it? If anything deserved severe emotion within the book it was this scene.
I also feel the ending could have used more explanation and dived into a little.
I feel if this had of been addressed and a few more things more in depth it would have warranted a better rating for me.
thanks to wings and words for the read by relaunching this book
The story pulled me in right from the beginning. Which as of late due to the amount of dark romance I read, is hard to do. I enjoyed the story of our MFC Luna and our MMC Harry.
The easiest thing to compare this book to - if that is how you gage your books would be one time word - Blade of sorts...
The OG vampire hunter, granted the strength and abilities of a Vampire. And although in this book hes living a "human" life, its easy to see he is at a struggle with himself keeping his inhuman abilities and cravings constantly in check. Having survived decades by being careful.
Harry takes it upon himself to train our MFC Luna upon her discovering him. The twists and turns after this, were unexpected.
Although the story is good and I enjoyed it and could finish it. Some of it is a tad repetitive & a sense of lack of emotions. Also possible small plot holes? An example of one being - Luna retrieves the Kris from the barn, only for it to inexplicably reappear in the barn a few scenes later. Some of the writings also falls into noticeable patterns on occasion.
As per the lack of emotions mentioned. The best scene to describe the lack of emotions and their depth is Luna's being turned. Although the action within the scene is great, there is a lack of emotional depth. I mean, here's Luna being turned into something she has been fighting against her whole life and it kind of give me a sense of "oh well I guess this is me now" - where was the concern? The fear? The overwhelming emotions? Even after coming around from it? If anything deserved severe emotion within the book it was this scene.
I also feel the ending could have used more explanation and dived into a little.
I feel if this had of been addressed and a few more things more in depth it would have warranted a better rating for me.
December 2, 2025
Thank you Wings & Words and Alex S. Li-Timmins for the opportunity to ARC read this book!
I’m going to preface my review with this isn’t a genre I usually reach for, but I decided to wander off my beaten path for this one and I’m glad I did.
The prologue absolutely grabbed me and the Mayan influence woven into the origins of the story was so interesting to me. The author clearly has a great imagination and the world they’ve crafted felt intriguing right from the start.
This is very much an action-driven, vampire thriller. It moves fast and hits hard and the ingenuity of the vampire lore felt clever and refreshing. I really enjoyed the bones of the story and the inventive approach to it, there’s so much promise in the foundation.
Where it didn’t quite land for me was in pacing and emotional impact. There is a lot happening, perhaps at times too much, so some plot points felt like they could’ve had more room to unfold.
I do think this book could easily have been split in two, allowing the big ideas and turning points to breathe a bit more.
SPOILER ALERT:
When Luna is fatally wounded and Harry turns her, she adapts almost instantly. Given she’s spent years hunting vampires, that transformation felt like it should’ve carried more internal conflict. Grief, anger, fear, self deprecation. She’s spent so long hunting vampires and now she’s the thing she loathes. Instead it passed quickly and I would’ve loved to sit in that emotional fallout with her.
All that said, the core of this story is fantastic. The concept, the plot, the lore - all strong. With a touch more editing to flesh out major plot points and introduce the gritty emotion Luna must have felt, this could easily go from a good read to a great one. I’m genuinely excited to see where book two takes this world, because there’s something special in its foundations.
I’m going to preface my review with this isn’t a genre I usually reach for, but I decided to wander off my beaten path for this one and I’m glad I did.
The prologue absolutely grabbed me and the Mayan influence woven into the origins of the story was so interesting to me. The author clearly has a great imagination and the world they’ve crafted felt intriguing right from the start.
This is very much an action-driven, vampire thriller. It moves fast and hits hard and the ingenuity of the vampire lore felt clever and refreshing. I really enjoyed the bones of the story and the inventive approach to it, there’s so much promise in the foundation.
Where it didn’t quite land for me was in pacing and emotional impact. There is a lot happening, perhaps at times too much, so some plot points felt like they could’ve had more room to unfold.
I do think this book could easily have been split in two, allowing the big ideas and turning points to breathe a bit more.
SPOILER ALERT:
When Luna is fatally wounded and Harry turns her, she adapts almost instantly. Given she’s spent years hunting vampires, that transformation felt like it should’ve carried more internal conflict. Grief, anger, fear, self deprecation. She’s spent so long hunting vampires and now she’s the thing she loathes. Instead it passed quickly and I would’ve loved to sit in that emotional fallout with her.
All that said, the core of this story is fantastic. The concept, the plot, the lore - all strong. With a touch more editing to flesh out major plot points and introduce the gritty emotion Luna must have felt, this could easily go from a good read to a great one. I’m genuinely excited to see where book two takes this world, because there’s something special in its foundations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2025
For me this book gave a twist on the normal standard vampire universe, by adding Demigods into the mix. The descriptive writing is fantastic, giving the book atmosphere & tension within the dark world building, whilst the fast pace carries you along where you can hardly catch a breath!
Characters:
The main characters are Luna & Harry, both characters show their flaws, their scars as they don't just sail through the story unharmed. They get battered & broken, but both still have a steely determination.
Luna is a hunter of feral creatures who has a haunted soul, which gives her that edge making her inner-strength & resilience feel like it is drawn from a life of hard knocks & battles, like she's earnt it. She comes into contact with Harry when he decides to help her with her training.
Harry is an old creature, his morals seem to point more in the direction of saving humanity from it's downfall by removing who he believes are influential, but dangerous people, not just the supernatural.
I would of loved to hear more about the supporting characters - but maybe we have that to look forward to?
Overall:
I really enjoyed the dark tension that was as sharp as a knife from the mental & physical push & pull between predator & prey, but also the lighter relief moments with the one-liners which made me laugh (Fav quote: Inside, she thought "I'm Batman").
I loved the old legends vibe to the story, giving it more depth. The descriptive writing gave the elements of horror & supernatural that are weaved throughout the pages a lot more colour, which I enjoyed.
* Thank you to the Wings and Words community for the free ARC copy of this e-book! I'm leaving this review voluntarily*
Characters:
The main characters are Luna & Harry, both characters show their flaws, their scars as they don't just sail through the story unharmed. They get battered & broken, but both still have a steely determination.
Luna is a hunter of feral creatures who has a haunted soul, which gives her that edge making her inner-strength & resilience feel like it is drawn from a life of hard knocks & battles, like she's earnt it. She comes into contact with Harry when he decides to help her with her training.
Harry is an old creature, his morals seem to point more in the direction of saving humanity from it's downfall by removing who he believes are influential, but dangerous people, not just the supernatural.
I would of loved to hear more about the supporting characters - but maybe we have that to look forward to?
Overall:
I really enjoyed the dark tension that was as sharp as a knife from the mental & physical push & pull between predator & prey, but also the lighter relief moments with the one-liners which made me laugh (Fav quote: Inside, she thought "I'm Batman").
I loved the old legends vibe to the story, giving it more depth. The descriptive writing gave the elements of horror & supernatural that are weaved throughout the pages a lot more colour, which I enjoyed.
* Thank you to the Wings and Words community for the free ARC copy of this e-book! I'm leaving this review voluntarily*
November 17, 2025
Wow! Now I am a huge vampire fan i have a whole collection of vampire books but not one like this!
I absolutely loved the way the author created something totally fresh and new not a sparkly vampire in sight! Instead this brought in the authors own twist with ancient vampire lore with science and also God's which i think was amazing. What more could you possibly want from an action thriller vampire book??
This book is beautifully written and completely sinks it's fang into you from page 1! I was totally gripped enjoying the story that unfolded involving Luna and Harry!
I loved that the fmc Luna was strong courageous and witty. Lunas character evolves throughout. Harry the mmc was incredible i loved how in depth this character his story and his mission. I loved that he took luna under his wing as such and took it upon himself to train her. Both characters have dark stories and shadows that linger.
I really felt the authors personality shining through in these pages with humour.
The 'jesus' part had me really giggling.
Twists and turns for day that totally spun me i didn't see them happening.
Overall I really enjoyed this i absolutely devoured it and highly recommend if you like your vampire books dark, with action mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat then this is there book for you!
I can wait to see more from this author.
Thankyou to wings and words for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book. This review is totally voluntary.
I absolutely loved the way the author created something totally fresh and new not a sparkly vampire in sight! Instead this brought in the authors own twist with ancient vampire lore with science and also God's which i think was amazing. What more could you possibly want from an action thriller vampire book??
This book is beautifully written and completely sinks it's fang into you from page 1! I was totally gripped enjoying the story that unfolded involving Luna and Harry!
I loved that the fmc Luna was strong courageous and witty. Lunas character evolves throughout. Harry the mmc was incredible i loved how in depth this character his story and his mission. I loved that he took luna under his wing as such and took it upon himself to train her. Both characters have dark stories and shadows that linger.
I really felt the authors personality shining through in these pages with humour.
The 'jesus' part had me really giggling.
Twists and turns for day that totally spun me i didn't see them happening.
Overall I really enjoyed this i absolutely devoured it and highly recommend if you like your vampire books dark, with action mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat then this is there book for you!
I can wait to see more from this author.
Thankyou to wings and words for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book. This review is totally voluntary.
November 30, 2025
⭐ 4.5/5
Blood and Shadows: The Weight of Fangs is a fresh take on vampire fiction — fast-paced, gritty, and unapologetically rooted in old-school lore rather than the more romanticised shadow daddy trend dominating the genre. Alex S Li-Timmins throws readers straight into a dystopian world where humanity has been driven to near extinction and vampires sit firmly at the top of the food chain. It’s brutal. It’s atmospheric. And it absolutely works.
Our protagonist, Luna, is a lone vampire hunter determined to tip the balance back toward survival — one kill at a time. But everything shifts when her path collides with Harry, a vampire who challenges everything she thinks she knows. From here, the story barrels forward with the momentum of a survival-horror video game, and I say that as a huge compliment. Think Resident Evil or Silent Hill energy — quests, mentors, side missions, looming destiny — all wrapped in tension, grit and blood.
I devoured this book in under twenty-four hours. It’s addictive, punchy, cinematic. My only reason for holding back that final half-star is that Luna occasionally falls a little short emotionally, especially during certain interactions (the car scene with Harry comes to mind). A bit more depth there would have taken this from excellent to unforgettable.
Still — what a debut. I’m genuinely excited to see what Alex S Li-Timmins does next.
Thank you to Alex S Li-Timmins and Beth from the Wings and Words community for providing a copy of this book. All thoughts are entirely my own.
Blood and Shadows: The Weight of Fangs is a fresh take on vampire fiction — fast-paced, gritty, and unapologetically rooted in old-school lore rather than the more romanticised shadow daddy trend dominating the genre. Alex S Li-Timmins throws readers straight into a dystopian world where humanity has been driven to near extinction and vampires sit firmly at the top of the food chain. It’s brutal. It’s atmospheric. And it absolutely works.
Our protagonist, Luna, is a lone vampire hunter determined to tip the balance back toward survival — one kill at a time. But everything shifts when her path collides with Harry, a vampire who challenges everything she thinks she knows. From here, the story barrels forward with the momentum of a survival-horror video game, and I say that as a huge compliment. Think Resident Evil or Silent Hill energy — quests, mentors, side missions, looming destiny — all wrapped in tension, grit and blood.
I devoured this book in under twenty-four hours. It’s addictive, punchy, cinematic. My only reason for holding back that final half-star is that Luna occasionally falls a little short emotionally, especially during certain interactions (the car scene with Harry comes to mind). A bit more depth there would have taken this from excellent to unforgettable.
Still — what a debut. I’m genuinely excited to see what Alex S Li-Timmins does next.
Thank you to Alex S Li-Timmins and Beth from the Wings and Words community for providing a copy of this book. All thoughts are entirely my own.
September 13, 2025
Plenty of action; a little rough around the edges
Blood and Shadows: The Weight of Fangs is an easy-to-read, action-driven story, but it does have some rough edges.
There’s a strong female lead at its centre - Luna - and I also really liked the older (literally ancient) Harry. There’s plenty of fast-paced fighting and, eventually, some interesting backstory about how the ‘ferals’ (vampires) came to roam.
That said, the writing feels inconsistent and at times unfinished. There are quite a few typos, continuity errors, and repeated phrases. For example, Luna retrieves the Kris from the barn, only for it to inexplicably reappear in the barn a few scenes later. Some of the writing also falls into noticeable patterns, almost as if it might have been heavily drafted by AI.
The action scenes are fun, but I wished for more emotional depth.
Overall, it’s an easy read with plenty of action and a couple of fun lead characters, but the uneven writing and lack of emotional weight held it back for me.
Content warning: strong language.
Blood and Shadows: The Weight of Fangs is an easy-to-read, action-driven story, but it does have some rough edges.
There’s a strong female lead at its centre - Luna - and I also really liked the older (literally ancient) Harry. There’s plenty of fast-paced fighting and, eventually, some interesting backstory about how the ‘ferals’ (vampires) came to roam.
That said, the writing feels inconsistent and at times unfinished. There are quite a few typos, continuity errors, and repeated phrases. For example, Luna retrieves the Kris from the barn, only for it to inexplicably reappear in the barn a few scenes later. Some of the writing also falls into noticeable patterns, almost as if it might have been heavily drafted by AI.
The action scenes are fun, but I wished for more emotional depth.
Overall, it’s an easy read with plenty of action and a couple of fun lead characters, but the uneven writing and lack of emotional weight held it back for me.
Content warning: strong language.
December 3, 2025
Of Blood and Shadows by Alex S. Li-Timmons is an absolute knockout. This book takes everything you think you know about vampires, monsters, and post-apocalyptic survival — and turns it into something darker, smarter, and far more addictive.
The worldbuilding is insane. Li-Timmons blends ancient myth with brutal modern science, creating creatures that are genuinely terrifying and a world teetering on the edge of extinction. It’s fast-paced without ever feeling rushed, and every chapter raises the stakes in ways you don’t see coming.
Luna is a phenomenal protagonist — fierce, haunted, and endlessly compelling as she digs into the mysteries of her past, present, and whatever future she might be lucky enough to claim. Harry balances her perfectly, and together they navigate a world where the lines between predator and prey are shattered beyond recognition. Their journey isn’t just about survival; it’s about identity, power, and what it really means to fight for humanity when the monsters aren’t always the ones in the dark.
The lore is deep, the tension is relentless, and the writing is cinematic in the best way. This is the kind of book that keeps you turning pages long after you should’ve gone to bed. If you want a fresh, brutal reinvention of vampire mythos with heart, mystery, and apocalyptic-level stakes, Of Blood and Shadows is a must-read
The worldbuilding is insane. Li-Timmons blends ancient myth with brutal modern science, creating creatures that are genuinely terrifying and a world teetering on the edge of extinction. It’s fast-paced without ever feeling rushed, and every chapter raises the stakes in ways you don’t see coming.
Luna is a phenomenal protagonist — fierce, haunted, and endlessly compelling as she digs into the mysteries of her past, present, and whatever future she might be lucky enough to claim. Harry balances her perfectly, and together they navigate a world where the lines between predator and prey are shattered beyond recognition. Their journey isn’t just about survival; it’s about identity, power, and what it really means to fight for humanity when the monsters aren’t always the ones in the dark.
The lore is deep, the tension is relentless, and the writing is cinematic in the best way. This is the kind of book that keeps you turning pages long after you should’ve gone to bed. If you want a fresh, brutal reinvention of vampire mythos with heart, mystery, and apocalyptic-level stakes, Of Blood and Shadows is a must-read
October 12, 2025
If you’re craving a dark, brutal vampire tale where the monsters aren’t just external... this is the one.
Blood and Shadow hits hard from chapter one and never lets you breathe easy again.
The author weaves horror, and myth into a war so savage you can taste the copper in your mouth.
Luna and Harry aren’t perfect, they’re scarred, hunted, and sometimes broken but their voices cut through the chaos with desperation and grit.
The lore is rich and unflinching, enough to make even the old legends feel fresh, terrifying, and wholly necessary.
What sets this apart is the tension between predator and prey isn’t just physical, it’s psychological. Every fight, every revelation, pulls you further into the pit, questioning who the real monsters are.
The pacing is relentless, the stakes apocalyptic, and the world building darkly intoxicating.
If you like your supernatural horror to sting, with characters you might hate, but still root for then this book doesn’t disappoint.
4.5 / 5 stars.
Blood and Shadow hits hard from chapter one and never lets you breathe easy again.
The author weaves horror, and myth into a war so savage you can taste the copper in your mouth.
Luna and Harry aren’t perfect, they’re scarred, hunted, and sometimes broken but their voices cut through the chaos with desperation and grit.
The lore is rich and unflinching, enough to make even the old legends feel fresh, terrifying, and wholly necessary.
What sets this apart is the tension between predator and prey isn’t just physical, it’s psychological. Every fight, every revelation, pulls you further into the pit, questioning who the real monsters are.
The pacing is relentless, the stakes apocalyptic, and the world building darkly intoxicating.
If you like your supernatural horror to sting, with characters you might hate, but still root for then this book doesn’t disappoint.
4.5 / 5 stars.
October 8, 2025
This was an action-packed thrill ride with some interesting characters and a great female protagonist as well. After reading the author's profile, it makes sense that he is a Warhammer fan. I also enjoy reading and writing about gritty heroes and anti-heroes and villains alike, so this wasn't too much of a departure from my own interests. Vampires and supernatural creatures and legends remain at the center of the human journey, for whatever reason, whether real, imagined, symbolic, or exaggerated truths from the present or past. I like the side and back stories and lore about vampiric creatures in this book, while we get a lot of blood sport and action to keep the pages turning quickly. Anyone who enjoys action, sci-fi, thrillers, or dark esoteric themes and horror will likely find something decent in this hidden gem. There are some errors or punctuation/continuity issues in a couple of places, but it isn't terrible. Overall, I recommend to most fans of the aforementioned genres.
October 18, 2025
Alexander S Li-Timmins has a beautiful writing style, full of vivd descriptions that tickle the imagination. I could clearly picture his main characters, Luna and Harry, and the post-disaster world they were living in. I was invested in their story. This isn’t your typical vampire story. It has a lot of unexpected twists and turns along the way.
I wanted to be more invested in the villains, but I felt like they were built up like insurmountable obstacles, then defeated too easily. It felt very episodic, like short episodes of a TV series having a different villain every week.
I really liked the old woman in the cabin, who was mysterious and an interesting juxtaposition to the epic warriors we’d been following. She was a fairly minor character, but very well written.
I wanted to feel the same about Abigail, but she wasn’t fleshed out as well and her friendship seemed forced rather than a natural development.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
I wanted to be more invested in the villains, but I felt like they were built up like insurmountable obstacles, then defeated too easily. It felt very episodic, like short episodes of a TV series having a different villain every week.
I really liked the old woman in the cabin, who was mysterious and an interesting juxtaposition to the epic warriors we’d been following. She was a fairly minor character, but very well written.
I wanted to feel the same about Abigail, but she wasn’t fleshed out as well and her friendship seemed forced rather than a natural development.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
September 10, 2025
Relentless, and Impossible to Put Down
Blood and Shadows: The Weight of Fangs pulled me in from the very first chapter. The atmosphere is thick with tension. Every alley, every shadow feels alive and dangerous. Luna is a protagonist who’s easy to root for; fierce, relentless, and haunted in a way that makes her strength feel hard-earned.
The writing is sharp and cinematic.
I could practically hear the clash of steel and the thunder of battle, and feel the weight of every choice the characters made. There’s a real mix of grit and poetry in the prose that makes even the bloodiest moments hit with meaning.
By the end, I felt wrung out but also exhilarated. It’s one of those reads that stays in your bones after you close the book. Perfect for fans of dark fantasy who want something fast, intense, and unforgettable.
Blood and Shadows: The Weight of Fangs pulled me in from the very first chapter. The atmosphere is thick with tension. Every alley, every shadow feels alive and dangerous. Luna is a protagonist who’s easy to root for; fierce, relentless, and haunted in a way that makes her strength feel hard-earned.
The writing is sharp and cinematic.
I could practically hear the clash of steel and the thunder of battle, and feel the weight of every choice the characters made. There’s a real mix of grit and poetry in the prose that makes even the bloodiest moments hit with meaning.
By the end, I felt wrung out but also exhilarated. It’s one of those reads that stays in your bones after you close the book. Perfect for fans of dark fantasy who want something fast, intense, and unforgettable.
December 2, 2025
This book follows Luna and Harry as they’re pulled into an increasingly dark and violent vampire conflict. Their paths collide in ways that keep the story shifting and unpredictable, especially when hidden pieces of Luna’s past start coming to light. Things you don’t see coming.
The pacing is fast, the tone is a bit rough around the edges, and there’s always something driving the plot forward. It quickly becomes clear that this is a vampire story with a style of its own.
This review is voluntary.
Thank you so much Alexander and Wings & Words community for letting me be a part of the team. ❤️🌺
The pacing is fast, the tone is a bit rough around the edges, and there’s always something driving the plot forward. It quickly becomes clear that this is a vampire story with a style of its own.
This review is voluntary.
Thank you so much Alexander and Wings & Words community for letting me be a part of the team. ❤️🌺
December 8, 2025
What can i say about this book ?? Honestly had me hooked from the start the whole book is pure plot with twists interweaved into it one particular part had me sobbing my heart out alex you did not warn me enough that i'd be crying this is soo soo when i finished i was like what? That cant be the end loved this book had me so engrossed i lost track of time. Thank you to beth @wingsandwords for allowing me to be apart of your arc readers and thank you for getting us this incredible book early loved it
November 13, 2025
This book is a dark, ambitious blend of urban vampire hunting and Mayan mythology, and it’s unlike anything I’ve read in the genre. Luna, a white-haired nomad raised to believe vampires are monsters, prowls the streets hunting ferals—until her path collides with Detective H. Marlowe, a centuries-old vampire who kills when the courts fail. His dry humor - the “We don’t sparkle” jab during a Twilight scene is gold.
The story shines in its originality: vampires aren’t romanticized—they’re predators, judges, and sometimes gods. The story escalates fast: missing humans, feral hives, weapons, and whispers of gods. His dynamic with Luna evolves into something layered and compelling.
The fight scenes feel cinematic, especially when Luna faces creatures that fight like gods. Her transformation is brutal, fascinating, and sets the stage for an apocalyptic showdown.
Bottom line: If you want vampires that kill, bleed, and fight like gods, this is your book. Dark, thrilling, and unapologetically bold.
The story shines in its originality: vampires aren’t romanticized—they’re predators, judges, and sometimes gods. The story escalates fast: missing humans, feral hives, weapons, and whispers of gods. His dynamic with Luna evolves into something layered and compelling.
The fight scenes feel cinematic, especially when Luna faces creatures that fight like gods. Her transformation is brutal, fascinating, and sets the stage for an apocalyptic showdown.
Bottom line: If you want vampires that kill, bleed, and fight like gods, this is your book. Dark, thrilling, and unapologetically bold.
November 19, 2025
I received an ARC copy of this book from Wings & Words and Alex Li-Timms (thank you).
Blood and shadows Is a vampire, science fiction story and whilst I did enjoy the book I would have liked it to go a bit deeper into the characters emotional reactions to the major events that happened instead of treating them as another day at the office. That said I still recommend it and am interested to see how the story continues.
Blood and shadows Is a vampire, science fiction story and whilst I did enjoy the book I would have liked it to go a bit deeper into the characters emotional reactions to the major events that happened instead of treating them as another day at the office. That said I still recommend it and am interested to see how the story continues.
November 28, 2025
This was an interesting take on vampires, in that it’s loosely rooted in Mayan mythology. I always appreciate seeing a non-Greek/Roman or non-Christian pantheon. The pacing was a little inconsistent; it felt a bit slow in the middle and kinda rushed at the end. But I still enjoyed this, and it’s been a good addition to my vampire literature collection.
Thank you to Alex and Wings & Words for this read!
Thank you to Alex and Wings & Words for this read!
December 1, 2025
Being a humungous vampire fan, I’ve read my fair share of vampire related fiction over the years but Blood & Shadows: The Weight of Fangs just hit different.
This had far more grit than the usual undead romances that I’m used to, and I have to say, I really do rate it!
This book is an action packed sci-fi fantasy with immersive fighting which leaves you breathless.
Thank you to Alex for a physical copy and to Wings & Words for the arc!
September 26, 2025
I really like this, honestly. And I hope everyone gets a chance to read it.
While there’s plenty of fighting, what makes this stand out is truly everything it has to offer.
The true villains here aren’t just vampires but humans themselves.
It's a mix of life and death itself. The ending isn’t just "the end."
While there’s plenty of fighting, what makes this stand out is truly everything it has to offer.
The true villains here aren’t just vampires but humans themselves.
It's a mix of life and death itself. The ending isn’t just "the end."
October 23, 2025
The writer created a very nice universe of vampires, different from everything I have read.
The main character are very interesting, but I missed more secondaries characters stories. Focus was majority of time on Luna. I wish the world to be explored.
Although the history finished well, there are possibilities for a sequel.
The main character are very interesting, but I missed more secondaries characters stories. Focus was majority of time on Luna. I wish the world to be explored.
Although the history finished well, there are possibilities for a sequel.
January 12, 2026
Think Blade, Underworld vibes. The writing is atmospheric and controlled, effectively sustaining tension within a dark, immersive setting, while the pacing remains consistently strong. The central characters, Luna and Harry, are thoughtfully developed, with credible flaws and resilience that add depth to their dynamic. High action fun read.
January 10, 2026
This is not your typical vampire book. It was like reading a cinematic experience. I was hooked from the beginning and cannot wait to read the sequel and prequel.
Apocolyptic vampires and a tale of Mayan history and it was very refreshing to read, never read anything like this before!
Apocolyptic vampires and a tale of Mayan history and it was very refreshing to read, never read anything like this before!
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