Did you ever read the All For the Game series and say to yourself, "Neil's backstory is super interesting; I wonder what it would be like in a supernatural setting?" If so, this book is for you. CUTTING YOUR TEETH follows a young man trying to escape from his dangerous father, vampires, werewolves, and, of course, romance. When Ezra's life on the run is met with a violent encounter, the mysterious Killian saves his life. Ezra must learn to adjust to his new life with his dog, Piper, and Killian's best friend. As Ezra begins to unravel the sinister family mystery that sits in his blood, he and Killian have to decide if they can fight together to survive, or if they've been doomed from the start.

I am obsessed with this series and already need book two in my hands. Caylan has made likable characters jump from the page, given them complicated motivations, and the dog doesn't die. What more do you need??

4.25 stars

Published: 3/31/23
**ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
#CuttingYourTeeth #NetGalley

Basics
Genres: urban fantasy, MM romance, LGBT
Setting: Seattle then Portland
Themes: fate, loyalty, death/life, blood ties
Vibes: aching, longing, haunting

Characters
Ezra (MC): an underground fighter running from his past, a Scorpio ♏️
Killian: an underground fighter/vampire who saves Ezra after he's attacked, an Aries ♈️
Marigold: Killian's close friend and confidant
Piper: Ezra's sweet baby angel Irish wolfhound

Pros
+ Ezra has sunflower blossoms tattooed down his back 🌻
+ LGBT rep: bi/pan, m/m, f/f
+ paranormal: vampires, ghosts, werewolf
+ small found family
+ short road trip
+ love the short chapters, seems like I'm flying reading this
+ dysfunctional, abusive ex-family. I am going to LOVE watching their brutal comeuppance.
+ losing his "baby teeth" (cool concept!)
+ I freaking LOVE when a found family defends their own, no matter what methods they need to use. Like count me in, I'll get the shovel.
+ the big bad is FUCKING AWESOME 👌
+ final battle is epic as well. Let's fuckin gooooooooooooo!
+ possession tattoos (yesyesyes)
+ book 2 will have: expanded found family, road trip, paranormal creatures and features, generational curse, possessions, queer goodness, big baby angel dogs

Cons
- there are quite a few chapters (5) after the final battle which deflates the vibe. Wish it had been condensed to 1-2 final chapters max.
- ends on a HFN, which is fine, but I wish I knew that this was a series going in

Comp Recs
+ Cemetery Boys - Aiden Thomas
+ Fragile Remedy - Maria Ingrande Mora
+ Drawing Blood - Poppy Z Brite

TW: underground fighting, blood, human trafficking (past), cartel (past), guns, violence, death, abusive family, gore, possession

I absolutely love stories about people who are either disconnected by choice or by chance. It's fun to watch the strife of having to watch people start over, and while the main character isn't starting from square one, he still has a lot to rebuild despite wanting to drop out of town again in the first chapter.

Cutting Your Teeth by Caylan MacRae is a fast-paced novel about vampirism, abusive family structures, and found family. It's a riveting read filled with excellent descriptions, an enthralling storyline, and characters you can't help but like (I love Marigold, particularly). It's a story I would recommend others to read.

And while I do recommend it, there are some elements that I didn't particularly like. The first thing is that I didn't see a point in Ada being an active character in the story. I don't think she's well-fleshed out enough for her to be more than an inciting incident for Ezra to bolt. She pops up twice and while she does draw Ezra out to then be kidnapped by Franca, the author could've gone about it another way. I do understand that this is part of a series and this issue may be addressed in future novels, but as of right now, Ada just kind of seems...there.

Another thing that kind of overwhelmed me and made it difficult to read at times was how, in the end, everything was happening all at once all of the time. I feel like we could've been introduced to Franca and the vampire coven earlier. Honestly, I feel like we could've had Franca be a villain in a later installment. Having Franca, Ulises, and Izel all be there at once made reading a bit cloudy. I understand how they're all connected and I like that! However, it made reading a little hazy (in my opinion).

Thirdly, and this is just a little tweak, I think there should be some sort of differentiation in Ezra's chapters versus Killian's, even if it's just putting their name right under the chapter title.

Lastly, the pacing in Ezra and Killian's romance felt...rushed and slightly out of place. I know that Ezra was attracted to him, but Killian seemed disinterested for quite a while. It's probably just verbiage around their interactions that could be tweaked slightly and it would be fine. However, if I didn't know they were supposed to be together, it would've felt like it popped out of nowhere.

Along with my critiques, I did have a few questions. These may be answered in a future addition to the series, but how can vampires smell each other's blood if they had to extract it from someone else? Also, will Ezra or Killian's boxing ever pop up again? It disappeared after the first few chapters entirely. Again, these may be addressed in future books.

Despite a couple of issues I had with it, it's a fun story that I recommend. I'm excited to watch this author prosper and will need to keep an eye out for the rest of the series!

Cutting Your Teeth follows Ezra, a young man desperately trying to outrun his past, specifically his abusive family who refuses to let him escape. After a few near death, or not so near death, experiences, he finds a sense of family that he hasn’t had sense he last saw his twin sister, Alessa. However, as secrets are revealed, he learns that everyone’s intentions were not what he had thought.

I didn’t have much of an idea of what I was getting into when starting this book. Fantasy, specifically vampire related fantasy, isn’t my normal go-to. But by the end, I was reading this book while walking to work. I couldn’t put it down, I just needed to know what was going on. There’s so much that is almost frustratingly unclear that it made me want to keep reading just to figure out the mystery of what was going on with people. At this point though I am fully sucked in and desperately awaiting the next installment.

The romance aspect was something that surprisingly didn’t start to reel me in until later in the story, but once it did I was INVESTED. I can’t wait to read more spicy gay vampire romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Everyone check out Cutting Your Teeth on March 31, 2023!!!

Thank you Net Galley for providing me with an ARC for this title.

Rating: 3.5

The story features queer vampires and in theory that's my favourite genre. Overall, the dynamic between Ezra and Killian pulled me into the story from the start, quite an interesting style of writing and setting the scene. While including vampires and supernatural it added an interesting twist to the story and the plot was unpredictable at times which made me all the more interested.

However I feel like the issues were resolved relatively fast; after the initial setting of the problem and the peak of the plot issue the resolve and ending felt rushed, and the betrayals and lies were forgotten immediately. Instead of having difficult conversations and characters coming to an understanding they were thrown to life or death situation where all the issues dissolved into nothingness. I do wish the problems and the magic system were explored further and offered a deeper look into our characters.

And what characters they were: the characters !!! Quite a diverse cast with amazing dynamics and relationships; I feel like I have met few Maribells in my life already and Killian and his big heart just made me melt.

All in all, it is an entertaining vampire story with an open ending that makes me wish for more.

When I saw I got approved for this ARC, I dropped everything and read it immediately. Cutting your teeth did not disappoint!! I loved that there wasn’t just one POV. The found family is to die for and I loved everything about this book! Definitely something to read if you like “Hell followed with us”.

There were a few times when I had to reread a part to make sense of it but thats about it. The writing is amazing, the characters are so lovely and I enjoyed reading about them.

If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would! Definitely recommend.

Ezra is on the run – leaving a path of burnt bridges in his wake, friends, family and significant others suffering in the process. But he’s tired of running – and when he meets Killian at the local underground fight club, he no longer has an option. But the one thing that he doesn’t know – is that Killian is a vampire, a charismatic creature of the night. But Ezra has his own problems, his own trauma, and a newfound life ahead of him that causes trouble and action at every turn.

I have to say, I truly came into this expecting a “glittery” vampire experience. The two main characters, Ezra and Killian, I assumed would be all over each other immediately. But that, in fact, wasn’t the case at all, which I was pleasantly surprised by. There honestly isn’t that much “romance” more than a quick kiss. However, their budding romance and hidden secrets aren’t the focus of the story at all. Some of the comments Killian makes towards Ezra are sweet, although a bit on the... aggressive side.
”I meant it when I said your problems are mine too. I’ll gut every sorry son of a bitch he sends after you.”

This book focuses mainly on the “found family” trope – something that’s popular but is also done exceedingly well in “Cutting Your Teeth”. I adored Ezra’s struggles with wanting to do what he’s done for so long – run, and never look back. Abandon his current “name” and move onwards to a new identity. But even though he struggles, he remains at Killian’s side.

“Ezra talks himself down from breaking Jasper’s nose and calling it a day. He could walk out right now, get on a Greyhound, and never look back, but a small flare of pride roots him to the spot.”

However, much of this story is slow burn. I expected that to a degree, as it’s the first book in the "Cursed Corpses” series. While there is plenty of action, the painfully slow reveal of secrets both Ezra and Killian have been hiding from one another detracts from the story. There were a few minor grammatical errors and misspellings, but nothing major, and nothing that took away from the story. The pacing is a healthy mix of action, a brief respite, and action again.

“’Family’ doesn’t sound like such an ugly world anymore, not when he’d found the perfect patchwork of misfits to call his home.”

However, maybe it’s because I’m not as used to the third person – most of what I’ve read is in first person – I felt overall, less engaged with the story. It didn’t feel as urgent in the moment as I would’ve liked. Moreso, I felt like I was lazily reading what either Ezra or Killian were doing.

I also wasn’t the biggest fan of the shifting viewpoints – in books where it’s done well, it’s not a problem whatsoever. However, due to the point of view it was written in sometimes I had to go back and reread – not because their names weren’t printed in bold at the top; but rather since they don’t seem to sound different in the way they’re written. It made it hard to both differentiate and immerse myself in the surrounding world.

Overall, a very decent book that I was happy to have read. 3/5 stars, only detractions being some minor pacing issues and shifting viewpoints. I look forward to the next book in the series

4.75/5 stars! First off, this cover is everything. I would buy this book just to have this creepy crawly cover on my shelf. This book was phenomenally written. It was everything I was looking for and more. Ezra was such a complex character and I am OBSESSED with Killian. The LGBTQ+ representation was perfect and the romance swept me off my feet; I just need a little bit more spice to their connection.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

I was given the opportunity to read this arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I’d like to thank the author as well as NetGalley for letting me have this opportunity.

First off I need to preface this review by saying I went in completely blind. I instantly was drawn in by the cover as well as the title “cutting your teeth”. Honestly I hadn’t heard this kind of a title in such a long time, that just gets my attention instantly! I had not realised going into this that this would be about vampires, but it did not disappoint. This was an amazing first book in the series and I am excited to see what will happen next.

I’d like to touch upon the beautifully written characters, who I adored ever so much. Even though I did find at times the writing style was slower than I would have liked. I also did find that the connection between Killian and Ezra didn’t really come across as a connection up until the end of the book. But for me that was just one small thing, I did really enjoy the mood of the book rather than it more as the spark between them.

I also would like to add while it was so good and I thoroughly enjoyed it I wouldn’t have classed this book as a “horror” as it’s tagged and more of a “fantasy”. There were darker themes but not to the point of horror that I am used to from the likes of Stephen king and Joe hill. But regardless it was still a good book to sink my teeth into…get it? Cutting your teeth.

Overall I have this book a 3.5 stars as I think it is a good start into the series and I am really looking forward to the universe that will be expanded upon. I think it was a good foundation for characters as well as the world in which it is set place. I think this book is worth a read if you enjoy a fantasy story with a romance plot. I also think the characters were likeable and I could feel connected to them in a way.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book - after all, how can you make a vampire story original with so many already out there? Well, Caylan MacRae did not disappoint in the slightest and debuted with a really captivating story!
I really liked the characters - charming, energetic and a bit irresponsible, I guess? The type of dynamic that exists between Ezra and Killian, Ezra and Mari, Killian and Mari is something I'm looking after when any trio is involved. But, what's more important, I really loved seeing Ezra finding his place in the world and love he really deserved.
The only (one teeny-tiny) thing I didn't like was the fast pacing at the start and the insta love in the romance bit. It felt a bit like there are few chapters missing in the first 1/3 story.
Other than that, it is a really great story and I'll definitely recommend it!

Cutting Your Teeth is a queer vampire coming of age story with a sprinkle of romance, a dash of found family, and a lot of angst.
I'm going to be brutally honest here and say that unfortunately this one was just shy of the mark. It had such a strong start and some really compelling characters. (Killian was swoonworthy) But the plotholes, lack of character development, under explained magic systems, and questionable characterization was so jarring at times,
Its disappointing because I really think it's ALMOST there and could have really benefited from another draft.

I am so sorry. Thank you so much to the publisher for giving me an e-ARC of this book but I didn’t realize this ENTIRE book was going to be in third-person present tense. It’s not something I can read at all, and the only books I’ve managed to read in third-person present so far is by audiobook only.

Third-person present sounds too much like script narration? To me, it just feels too much like the author directing characters where to go, what to do, what to feel, etc.

I’m so sorry because the book sounds SO good, but I will cross my fingers this becomes published in audio one day instead so I can read it.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

"Is that the price of the strange half-life he’d been given? Taking care of a monster that had hitched a ride on his way back from the grave?"

They sold me this as All for the Game + Hell Followed with Us AND THEY WERE DAMN RIGHT!
To keep it simple, I adored this book. It got me in the first pages and the plot is very nice and it has a good pace. And truth be told, ya me apetecía una de vampiros latinos.
The plot is very cool and the mistery of the Espina family is so interesting, plus the not so very explored past of Killian and the other vampires. The vampire concept is very nice and the romance is so so sweet I got cavities.I formed so many headcanons it’s insane.
But there’s one headcanon that honestly if it’s anywhere near reality I’ll pass out. And it’s that there are some hints about the nature of Ezra and Killian’s relationship that some may say it was rushed and insta love-y, but I personally felt an asexuality vibe and honestly I LOVE THAT!! That breaks with the overly sexual vampire concept we’re used to, so it’s nice that when vampires being dead can’t taste food and other carnal things, it’s logical that they’re also now immune to sexual impulses and THAT IS SO FRESH I LOVE IT. I really liked Ezra and Killian together, as friends and more, and seeing them falling in love even after a short time (that it’s still credible because Killian and Marigold are extremely charismatic) and a damaged trust but with asexual undertones it’s personally so nice to me. I swear my heart melted with every cute irish pet name killian threw in.
The plot is so cool and the side characters are very charismatic too and the horror (more like paranormality) is very nice too. The violence, constant threat and plot twists are also very good (the way I SHOUTED when the werewolves came in, insanity), and it has a cool mix of cliché tropes and original stuff.
The writing is very enthrawling as well and catches you, and the multiple POVs are nicely done too (I wanted a Marigold pov but MANIFESTING)
I really have no idea what I’m saying just that I really liked this book and these characters and cannot wait for what’s to come!
Highly highly recommended!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this one. It was a pretty textbook vampire romance with good twist and likable characters.

Ezra has been on the run from his family for years. Trading in locations and identities mean nothing to him anymore. He hasn’t had a real place to belong since he left his twin sister behind. On the night he’s going to disappear again for good he meets a man named Killian Hale who he’s up against in his boxing match.

Another story I was waiting for them to just KISS. I know why Kil didn’t want to get attached to Ezra and he’s a dummy but he’s a caring dummy so I forgive him. Honestly when they were flirting while they were boxing I couldn’t help but think that was hot. I need more of that.

My favorite character was Marigold she seemed so cool and badass. She seemed to go with the flow but also have a big heart and was trusting. I loved their little vampire community they had going. Vampire therapy group and little parties for everyone to hang out. It was super cute.

The fact this is book 1 is interesting and I’m interested to see what other adventures this little supernatural gang can get up to.

Firstly: thank you to NetGalley and to the author, Caylan MacRae, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Have you ever read a book so devastatingly good - so immersive, so gripping -, that it completely destroys your sanity? Well, that was “Cutting Your Teeth” for me.

This is a book about loneliness, about family - given and found -, about hope in all its shapes and hues, and about the things that haunt us in our nightmares. It’s violent, gory, bloody, visceral, and it creates a sense of anxiety the reader can’t escape. It’s also tender and beautiful.

“Cutting Your Teeth” tells the story of ‘Ezra’, who has been on the run for the past couple of years. From the very first line, we are aware how desperate he is. All alone, hunted down, cornered. Ezra is the type of person who never had a chance.

When we meet him he’s beaten down, tired, and ready to leave his last identity - and the life that came with it - behind.

But when everything feels like crashing down, Killian appears in his life. And so does Marigold, certified best girl and holder of the only braincell in the whole book.

Killian is charming, has an Irish accent, and makes Ezra feel like home. He’s also awkward, insecure, and is holding more secrets than anyone can hold.

There’s a lot to this book, and I’m really trying to avoid spoiling anything. I think the anxiety and stress it makes you feel at the pit of your stomach are vital for this story. The stakes are through the roof.

“Cut Your Teeth” is a vicious book.

I loved how the author handled the thin line of trust between characters with backgrounds that make them inherently untrusting.

There’s a big part of this story that circles around building a community, and I think that’s so important. It’s hopeful. Creating a family, a place to belong to, even when the world seems to have completely given up on you. Even when it seems there’s nothing else. I think it’s a message that will touch and impact most of it’s queer readers. It sure did with me.

Also, this book has one of the best written - most vile and repulsive - antagonists I’ve ever read. All of them, really. Each of them for very different reasons.

“Cutting Your Teeth” is everything to me. A well-deserved 5 star read. A book that left me awake and anxious at night, and delivered everything it promised.

Ezra deserves the world. A hug, safety, finally being at peace. Being loved. Having a family.

You’re going to love this book if you like: feeling emotionally distraught, never recovering from something you read, found families, great character and relationship development, the personification of sunshine and goodness (it’s Marigold), vampires, the existencial horror of having to keep on living, idiots in love. Oh, and Neil Josten.

I devoured this book. I loved everything about it. The characters, the story, the world-building. I was here for ALL of it. I wasn't ready for the book to end and I wanted to keep reading. I will be pushing this book onto everyone I know.

(This review has also been posted on Good Reads, where 5 stars were awarded)

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Caylan MacRae for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the story of Ezra, a guy who is on the run and always looking over his shoulder and what happens when fate has him collide with a mysterious person who offers to help, while bringing in a whole new world of danger full of the paranormal (and a little bot of romance).

I really enjoyed this debut novel by Caylan MacRae. I read the majority of it (about 80%) in one sitting, which as someone who doesn’t like to be stuck sitting around, is a testament to how much I enjoyed reading it and getting lost in these characters.

I’m sucker (not the bloodsucker vampire kind though) for the found family trope and get plenty of it from this. Loved the character interactions and dynamics. I thought the main cast was well written and had enough depth to them and am interested in seeing more of the side characters we briefly met, along with the world itself being built upon even more in the future.

My only minor gripe would be it felt like Ezra opened up a bit too fast / was too trusting for a guy who had been on the run and paranoid for so long but it didn’t effect my enjoyment of the book and on the plus side, it did mean important backstory stuff was revealed at a healthy pace (as I’m not a fan about vague answers that aren’t answered until the end of the book).

Overall I loved reading this and will be keeping a eye out for any future books in the series and future works by Caylan MacRae! Also thought the cover art looked really good as well.

I read this book in 3 hours flat I was so immediately engrossed in the story, I had no idea what was going to happen, but I knew I wanted to find out! The beginning felt a little off but other than that 10/10

This book was completely unexpected in a fantastic way. The plot was something I couldn't always guess, and that made the twists that much better. Ezra is a young man on the run from his family, one that's, in his own words, involved in a business you don't just leave. He's constantly moving, changing his name and trying to stay one step ahead, until he no longer can. His past catches up, and in the process, his new friend Killian turns him into a vampire. Both are hiding some big secrets, but Ezra is slowing finding his confidence in a found family that makes him feel like he may finally be able to cut ties with his family for good. I usually don't like vampire stories, but I thought this one had a good balance, the vampires were supernatural enough without going overboard. The characters were a bit hit or miss for me, the main trio had some decent characterization, but I felt like the extended cast wasn't utilized enough or in a way that made them feel important in the plot, even when they were. My biggest gripe is the romance, it moves very quickly for a book that looks like it'll at least have a sequel, and I have a hard time believing the reconciliation between the two in the end was as easy as it is. Despite that, this is a fun book and I'm looking for to the sequel.

I did not finish this book at around 15 percent in. It wasn't bad, it just felt very slow and was not the usual writing style that I am used to. I might pick it back up when it comes out but for now I will move on to something else.