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A Love Like Sharp Teeth
After the questionable death of his neighbours, elderly notary Wilhelm Anwalt waits for the moon and the undead to rise. As he does, he commits to paper the memories of his youth and early marriage in the shadows of the Bavarian mountains, and his first experience with a monster that would haunt him for the rest of his days: vampir.
- GenresHorror
Unknown Binding
First published March 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 7, 2026
5/5 stars
What a beautiful, horrifying little novella. A Love Like Sharp Teeth features the letter written by Wilhelm Anwalt in 1532. A plague is destroying his small German town and Wilhelm alone knows what is truly behind it. He writes of his life and love with his wife, and details how they have faced this creature before, a vampir that haunts them still.
The writing stood out here: it was beautiful, haunting and vivid. The vampir is a spindly, grotesque monster, which I LOVE TO SEE!! Let vampires be ugly again! Big fan!!!
This one is only a short novella yet so, so good. Definitely recommend to anybody who wants a gothic horror reminiscent of the classics, while also being unputdownable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an ARC! Releases March 6th, 2026!
What a beautiful, horrifying little novella. A Love Like Sharp Teeth features the letter written by Wilhelm Anwalt in 1532. A plague is destroying his small German town and Wilhelm alone knows what is truly behind it. He writes of his life and love with his wife, and details how they have faced this creature before, a vampir that haunts them still.
The writing stood out here: it was beautiful, haunting and vivid. The vampir is a spindly, grotesque monster, which I LOVE TO SEE!! Let vampires be ugly again! Big fan!!!
This one is only a short novella yet so, so good. Definitely recommend to anybody who wants a gothic horror reminiscent of the classics, while also being unputdownable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an ARC! Releases March 6th, 2026!
March 6, 2026
I am speechless after reading Hannah Birss A Love Like Sharp Teeth. Seriously, my heart and brain stalled and I had full body chills after turning the last page.
In A Love Like Sharp Teeth, Wilhelm Anwalt writes a letter to his fellow townsfolk detailing his experience with a vampir as young man and explains how that experience affects each of them now.
This novella reminded me of Dracula, but a thousand times better. Because I couldn't put this down, but my bookmark in Dracula has been stuck twenty-five percent in for almost a year now. Dark, moody, and atmospheric, Birss transports us to a German village with, rightfully, severe superstitions. I was right there alongside Wilhelm, among the fog and the trees, hearing the church bells toll in the distance. I did not want the story to end. I would have stayed in this world and explored every decrepit, crumbling home for answers.
Of course, the story ended perfectly and left me with those full body chills. Do yourself a favor and pick up A Love Like Sharp Teeth. You won't put it down, and when you too turn that last page, you'll feel for a while.
I owe a massive thank you to the author and Netgalley for an early reader copy. All opinions are my own.
In A Love Like Sharp Teeth, Wilhelm Anwalt writes a letter to his fellow townsfolk detailing his experience with a vampir as young man and explains how that experience affects each of them now.
This novella reminded me of Dracula, but a thousand times better. Because I couldn't put this down, but my bookmark in Dracula has been stuck twenty-five percent in for almost a year now. Dark, moody, and atmospheric, Birss transports us to a German village with, rightfully, severe superstitions. I was right there alongside Wilhelm, among the fog and the trees, hearing the church bells toll in the distance. I did not want the story to end. I would have stayed in this world and explored every decrepit, crumbling home for answers.
Of course, the story ended perfectly and left me with those full body chills. Do yourself a favor and pick up A Love Like Sharp Teeth. You won't put it down, and when you too turn that last page, you'll feel for a while.
I owe a massive thank you to the author and Netgalley for an early reader copy. All opinions are my own.
March 12, 2026
*I received this arc through netgalley*
(this review will be posted to Amazon, Fable, and Netgalley)
Thank you to the author and Victoria Editing for allowing me to read this book.
I really enjoyed this short story told from the main character in a letter format. I mean 74 pages of rich detail so much so that I could clearly see the scenes in my head is always a treat! The story quietly pulled me into its embrace and mesmerized me just as a vampir would to its prey. To me, the way this reads is refreshing and I applaud the choice to write in this way.
A quote I love:
"For someone who had been so dedicated to logic and to study, to come face to face with the arcane was practically an invitation to insanity, for what is reason in the face of madness? Having seen it before my very eyes, I had no choice but to accept the existence of the supernatural."
(this review will be posted to Amazon, Fable, and Netgalley)
Thank you to the author and Victoria Editing for allowing me to read this book.
I really enjoyed this short story told from the main character in a letter format. I mean 74 pages of rich detail so much so that I could clearly see the scenes in my head is always a treat! The story quietly pulled me into its embrace and mesmerized me just as a vampir would to its prey. To me, the way this reads is refreshing and I applaud the choice to write in this way.
A quote I love:
"For someone who had been so dedicated to logic and to study, to come face to face with the arcane was practically an invitation to insanity, for what is reason in the face of madness? Having seen it before my very eyes, I had no choice but to accept the existence of the supernatural."
March 3, 2026
WOW !!! This was brilliant! It reads like Dracula, Frankenstein, Carmilla and all my other favourite classic horrors. Short, sweet, and oh so creepy. Truly a spectacular piece of writing.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing for allowing me to read and review this work.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Love Like Sharp Teeth by Hannah Birss
4.25 rounded down to 4🔮 orbs
Est. Pub. Date: March 6, 2026
ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op
Into the forest of emotional turmoil….
💡 Orbs Prologue: I live within Wilhelm Anwalt. Dear reader, I see your brow furrow in wonder. How, Orb, could you live inside a human being? In the truest sense of magic, I have nested myself, like a wren, within the emotional framework of Wilhelm, a man hailing from the Berchtesgaden Alps in Bavaria. Wrapped by his rapidly increasing geriatric-like bones, an outpouring of emotions remains to be rediscovered. A soft phlegm stumbles his speech as my work rises to the surface. Talk of times long past, I remain his body's constant. Like a conductor, the pains orchestrated by my pulling of the human switches, the breath quickens, the heart rate accelerates, and sweat drips from the brow in remembrance of times long buried. I am in his conscience, never quite forgotten, but among a pot of torturous soup. I am his emotions, turning internal thermostat knobs while releasing a chain reaction of hormones to fend off what would cause him harm. In this retelling of a story, I will attempt to put you, the reader, in the driver’s seat, to relive a harrowing experience and decide whether we did what was best…
🧐 A small glimpse: Discovering the deceased bodies must never get easier. In 1532, disease was decimating the European population. As the death tolls rise, Wilhelm wonders if the newest victims have fallen to an illness or something all too familiar to him, a vampir. The signs are all there, and Wilhelm, once a staunch disbeliever, has become intimately involved in fighting against these phantoms of the night. Oh, he believes! Henne, his adoring wife whom Wilhelm dotes upon, suffers at the hands of one of these fanged beasts. The town is under siege, with time being of the essence. With his best friend Karl, author Hannah Birss does the unthinkable and has readers tag along with Wilhelm on a hunt to kill a vampir, and exact revenge for a town swimming in chaos and blood.
👍 Orbs Pros: Eloquence personified! Hannah Birss writes in such a majestic style that I am, quite frankly, envious. In a world wrought with death and decay, the words flow in a beauteous manner. Different! I might be new to the party, but my depictions of vampires are pale-skinned coffin-dwellers with fangs. The grotesque descriptions offered by Birss put a more folkloric spin on it, challenging my mind to bend my imagination at these newfound atrocities. A superb palate cleanser! This novella remained a small, concise play with words that brought atmosphere in spades. Scavenging through the wastelands of humanity, undying love and romance reign supreme, even through a fog of death. That cover! Oh my, that is tasty in all its ravenous splendor!
👎 Orbs Cons: I struggle to attempt to conjure many drawbacks. Again, length might be bothersome for some, or perhaps you are tired of the vampire trope. Which I have good news! There are vampirs in this one, with a fresh new look to blow your mind with.
Highly Recommended! I was impressed with Birss's prose. The story does an exceptional, horrifying job of creating a tense atmosphere of mere mortals fighting against an undead looking to satiate its bloodthirsty appetite. Highly recommended for those lovers of the vampire persuasion with a bit of a twist of lemon.
💡 Orbs Epilogue: Long, long ago…on a fateful night, Wilhelm’s wife gestured playfully by the fire. In the stark contrast of the world around them, the serenity and bond they had created forced me to flood Wilhelm with overwhelming contentment and happiness. Unfettered love, with every heartbeat in unison with one another… until it wasn’t. Henne Anwalt lies bleeding, with an open window blowing the cold breeze upon her nightgown. As Wilhelm’s disbelief festers in his mind, I go to work. Grasping the blood-soaked chains, I pull down a floating elevator. I rapidly exchanged its contents and filled the space with rage and retribution before a momentous ascent back up to Wilhelm’s receptors. Within seconds, the blind fury mocks the tenderness he experienced only moments before. Some might call it foolish, hunting a vampir, but what should we do? Allow our beautiful bride to suffer at the hands of a monster or fight till death? Tracking the forest for clues, a stream is parted by a bridge, the moment has shown itself, and we are here. I step on the adrenaline pedal, and Wilhelm responds with the strength of ten warriors. The salivating maw of the undead waits, and one must ask, have we miscalculated this frightful endeavor?
Many thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
4.25 rounded down to 4🔮 orbs
Est. Pub. Date: March 6, 2026
ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op
Into the forest of emotional turmoil….
💡 Orbs Prologue: I live within Wilhelm Anwalt. Dear reader, I see your brow furrow in wonder. How, Orb, could you live inside a human being? In the truest sense of magic, I have nested myself, like a wren, within the emotional framework of Wilhelm, a man hailing from the Berchtesgaden Alps in Bavaria. Wrapped by his rapidly increasing geriatric-like bones, an outpouring of emotions remains to be rediscovered. A soft phlegm stumbles his speech as my work rises to the surface. Talk of times long past, I remain his body's constant. Like a conductor, the pains orchestrated by my pulling of the human switches, the breath quickens, the heart rate accelerates, and sweat drips from the brow in remembrance of times long buried. I am in his conscience, never quite forgotten, but among a pot of torturous soup. I am his emotions, turning internal thermostat knobs while releasing a chain reaction of hormones to fend off what would cause him harm. In this retelling of a story, I will attempt to put you, the reader, in the driver’s seat, to relive a harrowing experience and decide whether we did what was best…
🧐 A small glimpse: Discovering the deceased bodies must never get easier. In 1532, disease was decimating the European population. As the death tolls rise, Wilhelm wonders if the newest victims have fallen to an illness or something all too familiar to him, a vampir. The signs are all there, and Wilhelm, once a staunch disbeliever, has become intimately involved in fighting against these phantoms of the night. Oh, he believes! Henne, his adoring wife whom Wilhelm dotes upon, suffers at the hands of one of these fanged beasts. The town is under siege, with time being of the essence. With his best friend Karl, author Hannah Birss does the unthinkable and has readers tag along with Wilhelm on a hunt to kill a vampir, and exact revenge for a town swimming in chaos and blood.
👍 Orbs Pros: Eloquence personified! Hannah Birss writes in such a majestic style that I am, quite frankly, envious. In a world wrought with death and decay, the words flow in a beauteous manner. Different! I might be new to the party, but my depictions of vampires are pale-skinned coffin-dwellers with fangs. The grotesque descriptions offered by Birss put a more folkloric spin on it, challenging my mind to bend my imagination at these newfound atrocities. A superb palate cleanser! This novella remained a small, concise play with words that brought atmosphere in spades. Scavenging through the wastelands of humanity, undying love and romance reign supreme, even through a fog of death. That cover! Oh my, that is tasty in all its ravenous splendor!
👎 Orbs Cons: I struggle to attempt to conjure many drawbacks. Again, length might be bothersome for some, or perhaps you are tired of the vampire trope. Which I have good news! There are vampirs in this one, with a fresh new look to blow your mind with.
Highly Recommended! I was impressed with Birss's prose. The story does an exceptional, horrifying job of creating a tense atmosphere of mere mortals fighting against an undead looking to satiate its bloodthirsty appetite. Highly recommended for those lovers of the vampire persuasion with a bit of a twist of lemon.
💡 Orbs Epilogue: Long, long ago…on a fateful night, Wilhelm’s wife gestured playfully by the fire. In the stark contrast of the world around them, the serenity and bond they had created forced me to flood Wilhelm with overwhelming contentment and happiness. Unfettered love, with every heartbeat in unison with one another… until it wasn’t. Henne Anwalt lies bleeding, with an open window blowing the cold breeze upon her nightgown. As Wilhelm’s disbelief festers in his mind, I go to work. Grasping the blood-soaked chains, I pull down a floating elevator. I rapidly exchanged its contents and filled the space with rage and retribution before a momentous ascent back up to Wilhelm’s receptors. Within seconds, the blind fury mocks the tenderness he experienced only moments before. Some might call it foolish, hunting a vampir, but what should we do? Allow our beautiful bride to suffer at the hands of a monster or fight till death? Tracking the forest for clues, a stream is parted by a bridge, the moment has shown itself, and we are here. I step on the adrenaline pedal, and Wilhelm responds with the strength of ten warriors. The salivating maw of the undead waits, and one must ask, have we miscalculated this frightful endeavor?
Many thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
March 6, 2026
What a beautiful Gothic love horror story.
Written in classic gothic style and I loved every minute of it.
Everything is written descriptively but not overly wordy, in a style reminiscent of Victorian written gothic horrors like Dracula and such.
Dark, moody, atmospheric, descriptive, whist making you feel the care and love. But also delivering in the descriptions that share the horrors, feeling, sorrow of all within the story.
I read this in one sitting, it's short but impactful.
The shortness it's it's only down side. Only because I was enjoying the writing so much I just didn't want it to end. However I do have a soft spot for traditional Gothic style writing, so I could be a bit bias.
Just a quick note, the vampire is not you trope vampire of modern times but more of the historical type.
I would recommend this book to classic vampire lovers or those that love classic gothic style writing.
The horror is not shock gore or anything of the type. The horror is the aspect of the vampire.
Thank you to the publisher and the author for letting me read this ARC. I really enjoyed it.
Written in classic gothic style and I loved every minute of it.
Everything is written descriptively but not overly wordy, in a style reminiscent of Victorian written gothic horrors like Dracula and such.
Dark, moody, atmospheric, descriptive, whist making you feel the care and love. But also delivering in the descriptions that share the horrors, feeling, sorrow of all within the story.
I read this in one sitting, it's short but impactful.
The shortness it's it's only down side. Only because I was enjoying the writing so much I just didn't want it to end. However I do have a soft spot for traditional Gothic style writing, so I could be a bit bias.
Just a quick note, the vampire is not you trope vampire of modern times but more of the historical type.
I would recommend this book to classic vampire lovers or those that love classic gothic style writing.
The horror is not shock gore or anything of the type. The horror is the aspect of the vampire.
Thank you to the publisher and the author for letting me read this ARC. I really enjoyed it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5
dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
When one loves with a love like sharp teeth, how does one turn it around on the object of his affection?
A short read that packs a lot of punch within its pages. Written similarly like Dracula, but instead of the story told through a series of letters, the entire book is one confessional letter from our main character Wilhelm, who grapples between his ardent love and his own morality.
The prose and eloquence was exactly what I expected in a book with vampires (and honestly what Dracula lacked during my first read). The writing also evolved along with Wilhelm's journey - but despite it all, the undercurrent of ardent love for his wife was present throughout the entire book.
A pleasant read and I hope to read longer books from the author soon.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing me this ARC via NetGalley. This does not in any shape or form influence my review on this book.
dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
When one loves with a love like sharp teeth, how does one turn it around on the object of his affection?
A short read that packs a lot of punch within its pages. Written similarly like Dracula, but instead of the story told through a series of letters, the entire book is one confessional letter from our main character Wilhelm, who grapples between his ardent love and his own morality.
The prose and eloquence was exactly what I expected in a book with vampires (and honestly what Dracula lacked during my first read). The writing also evolved along with Wilhelm's journey - but despite it all, the undercurrent of ardent love for his wife was present throughout the entire book.
A pleasant read and I hope to read longer books from the author soon.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing me this ARC via NetGalley. This does not in any shape or form influence my review on this book.
March 7, 2026
A beautiful vampire novella! Chilling and noteworthy, "A Love Like Sharp Teeth" By Hannah Birss is something you can sink your teeth into, No pun intended; well, maybe.
Obviously, I wanted to give this novella a shot when I found out that it was a vampire story. I'm partial to those. However, this is a book anyone will probably enjoy. If you like gothic novels with a hint of suspense, this is definitely worth your time and money. The fact that you can finish it in one sitting doesn't hurt, either.
If you are looking for something surprising, with a hint of Mary Shelly and a sprinkle of Stoker, then this has your name on it. Hanna Birss is a wonderful writer. I caught myself smiling and at times creeped out, while reading it. Exactly what I look for when I pick up a horror story.
Obviously, I wanted to give this novella a shot when I found out that it was a vampire story. I'm partial to those. However, this is a book anyone will probably enjoy. If you like gothic novels with a hint of suspense, this is definitely worth your time and money. The fact that you can finish it in one sitting doesn't hurt, either.
If you are looking for something surprising, with a hint of Mary Shelly and a sprinkle of Stoker, then this has your name on it. Hanna Birss is a wonderful writer. I caught myself smiling and at times creeped out, while reading it. Exactly what I look for when I pick up a horror story.
March 9, 2026
Thank you to Hannah Birss, Victory Editing and NetGalley for this free advanced copy of A Love Like Sharp Teeth. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
Such a wonderfully dark and ominous short story. The inspiration from Dracula was clear, without it ever feeling like a retelling or adaptation.
The quality of the writing made this a tale of its own merit. The first person narrative, via the medium of letters, made me feel fully immersed in events.
It was ultimately the story of what one man will do in the name of love, and how love can in some exceptional circumstances hinder you from doing what needs to be done.
It all builds to what feels like an inevitable and harrowing conclusion. The ending is not neatly tied up, which I know some readers don't like, but it felt like the right thing for the author to do.
Such a wonderfully dark and ominous short story. The inspiration from Dracula was clear, without it ever feeling like a retelling or adaptation.
The quality of the writing made this a tale of its own merit. The first person narrative, via the medium of letters, made me feel fully immersed in events.
It was ultimately the story of what one man will do in the name of love, and how love can in some exceptional circumstances hinder you from doing what needs to be done.
It all builds to what feels like an inevitable and harrowing conclusion. The ending is not neatly tied up, which I know some readers don't like, but it felt like the right thing for the author to do.
March 11, 2026
A captivating, haunting gothic tale that blends grotesque vampires and how far we would go for our loved ones. I simply could not put down this novella. It was told from via a long letter by Wilhem, detailing his experience in his hometown with a vampire many decades ago and how it still haunting him today. Birss did a fantastic job at leading us into the Bavarian mountains of the 1500s, with the perfect atmospheric and dark descriptions of classic horror novels without bogging down the story without overzealous prose. Definitely more of a creepy, suspenseful, moody horror novel than a body/gore horror, but there are graphic elements. As it was getting to the end, I kept wishing it would go on because I truly loved it so much, but it was perfect as is.
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
March 6, 2026
Hannah Birss does it again with another top read.
Cast as a confessional letter by a notary who suspects his town has been afflicted by a vampire, A Love Like Sharp Teeth is a beautifully written novella from an author at once at home in darkest horror and nimble fairy stories - although it's easy to forget how close the line is between the two.
Sitting confidently alongside the gothic tradition that birthed Carmilla, Dracula, Frankenstein, and Poe, this novella is satisfyingly complete but still leaves you wanting more. I particularly liked how the vampire - vampir, here, much as it's vampyre in Polidori's novella, recalling a period before the term was locked down - has an actual wild, unknowable quality. It's not a quest to find a count or other afflicted noble, but a return to the idea that monsters come to town without warning, offering no reason for their actions.
I look forward to reading more of the author's work.
Note: I received an ARC from Netgalley
Cast as a confessional letter by a notary who suspects his town has been afflicted by a vampire, A Love Like Sharp Teeth is a beautifully written novella from an author at once at home in darkest horror and nimble fairy stories - although it's easy to forget how close the line is between the two.
Sitting confidently alongside the gothic tradition that birthed Carmilla, Dracula, Frankenstein, and Poe, this novella is satisfyingly complete but still leaves you wanting more. I particularly liked how the vampire - vampir, here, much as it's vampyre in Polidori's novella, recalling a period before the term was locked down - has an actual wild, unknowable quality. It's not a quest to find a count or other afflicted noble, but a return to the idea that monsters come to town without warning, offering no reason for their actions.
I look forward to reading more of the author's work.
Note: I received an ARC from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was short, sweet, and to the point. It's perfect for fans of classic vampire horror, and wasn't any longer than it needed to be. It isn't really trying to do anything new with the genre but I still was a little surprised by the ending, and the atmosphere was excellent. The relationship between the main character and his wife (i.e. a love like sharp teeth) seemed a bit one-dimentional at first but I liked how it developed by the end. Overall a great read, and a great addition to a Halloween reading list. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
March 8, 2026
I really enjoyed this! Hannah Birss writes in a way that is so pleasing to my brain! Having previously read her “A Slightly Stranger Point of View” short story collection, I was so excited to find this new story and I was not disappointed in the slightest!
This vampire novella was chilling, dark, and moody. All great attributes that had me immersed in the story! There was just something about this book that I can’t quite put into words that made it so enjoyable. There are plenty of vampire stories out there and this one is firmly in the “must read” category!
I will continue to seek out whatever Hannah writes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
This vampire novella was chilling, dark, and moody. All great attributes that had me immersed in the story! There was just something about this book that I can’t quite put into words that made it so enjoyable. There are plenty of vampire stories out there and this one is firmly in the “must read” category!
I will continue to seek out whatever Hannah writes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews