Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

This was such a fun novel and absolutely a love letter to fandom. I love how Stayman-London took the stale "revelation" that vampires exist and made it centered in the fanfic world of fans. I love how Tess was so game for everything in Blood Feud novels being true and just rolling with it. Is this a wish come true? Is this a horrible idea? Can't it be both?

I was surprised at how fast Tess was all in on the Isle, Callum, and this entire world but then again, the book sets up the possibility that its all real pretty quickly. I appreciated how Tess's SA was dealt with, especially in how it affected her relationship with her roommate/best friend Joni.

Really, this book was hard to put down once I got into it and it's such a great second novel from Stayman-London! I can't wait to read her next book!

2.5 stars, rounded up! Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC of this title.

This one was just… a really weird ride.

A book about a famous vampire series come to life, complete with romance and body diversity SHOULD have been perfectly my speed! I was sad that this one just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

One of the biggest downfalls for me is that I just did NOT feel a spark anywhere in the main romantic couple’s interactions. Everything felt very forced. All of a sudden, they were apparently attracted to each other, but all interactions and words exchanged felt stilted and forced. I was left just wanting to get back to overall plot since I was so disinterested in the romance (and I am a romance reader, I need to love the romance!)

There was also just over all too much going on. The plot felt disconnected. The magic felt somehow both WAY too limitless (you can “glamour” REAL food and items from absolutely nothing, think it and you can have it!) and yet also so useless (all that previous stuff, but can’t find a way over the bridge?)

There was a council, but NO context or explanation of this council was given, how any of that connects to the vampire world, there are apparently witches and other supernatural things but again, NO further context given.

The concept for a cool story was there, but it felt way too grand to be in a romcom type book. It would’ve been better suited as an urban romantasy, with more details and depth given to the charters, plot, and world building.

And the SA storyline felt like way too much to be given any justice with just how bonkers everything else was in this story. Time and place, and a paranormal romcom was neither.

On a positive note, there were times I genuinely laughed at the dialogue. The author is witty, and the a voice was THERE, it just didn’t land for me. I seem to be in the minority though compared to a lot of the reviews I’ve seen, which I am glad for!

What a completely unexpected read! It takes a lot to surprise and engage me, having read a ton of paranormal romance, but this book really surprised me at every turn. While this book might not be for everyone, I loved the meta qualities and was ok with the darker elements.

Tess is somewhat naive when we meet her, new to grad school, making friends, and generally optimistic about life. Her love of a vampire series, Blood Feud, ties her to a larger fandom that ultimately becomes where she hides after a terrible thing happens. It turns out, however, that the vampires this series is based on are real and one of them needs her help getting back “home.” Of course, the books end up being unreliable narrators and Tess goes on a wild adventure directly into the pages of her favorite book.

I was completely addicted to this book from the start. Even with the darker tones sometimes expressed, it felt gritty and real and I loved it. The characters were fully formed and fun! Even the universe had neat unexpected lore thrown in. The outcome of the overall mystery was a surprise to me, which is always great, but it was the characters that I was rooting for. I’m not sure what I expected at the start, but this book won me over 100% by the finish!

Stayman-London has written a uniquely brilliant vampire paranormal romance tackling bodily autonomy, connection, and control. Tess dropped out of grad school after she was sexually assaulted. Now she works the hotel night shift, reading her favorite fictional series—one proven to be nonfiction when one of the book’s vampires, Olivia, walks into her hotel and asks her to help save her twin brother. As a human, Tess can help the vampires trapped in an alternate version of New York, but they aren’t anything like their characters…and she can’t help but fall for the man she was sent to save. Back in New York, her former best friend is falling for Olivia as they attempt to solve the problem from their end. Ultimately, the four will have to bite into some uncomfortable truths if they want to make it out alive.

I really enjoyed One to Watch when I read it a couple years ago, so I was glad to go back to Kate Stayman-London. Fang Fiction didn’t really work for me, but I expect it will for plenty of readers. I loved the fan fiction element, but I didn’t care so much about the real life vampire thing.

I love Buffy and tolerate Twilight, so this book sounded like it would be a lot of fun to read. And it was, for the most part. It's the kind of book you read for the characters and the humor, not for the plot. The story was tied up nearly and I don't know if there are any plans for a sequel, but I wouldn't mind returning to this universe. It's definitely an entertaining one.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

This was a fun book! Loved the concept of the vampires from your favorite series are real and you get sucked (hahah get it) into their drama! This is for all the girlies that cried when Buffy was over, still read Twilight fanfiction, and wish that the Vampire Diaries never ended! I thought it was going to be a light-hearted book and overall it was very funny and pretty light-hearted but there was definitely a depth there with a Tess' tragic past. The book also includes wonderful experts from Blood Feuds (the series Tess loves), snippets from a podcast that discusses the series, a curated book playlist, gossip websites, and SO many pop culture references. It was cringey at times but I also felt like it was made for me and anyone who loves fandom culture!

I genuinely enjoyed this book so deeply. Yes, it played heavily on my teenage Twilight-lover heartstrings. But it also leaned into some fantastic tropes and tied together a story of trauma with an escapist story about vampires in the healing journey we all want to have. The silly, sultry, adult Twilight/Vampire Diaries rewrite we all want/need in our lives.

I absolutely LOVED Kate Stayman-London's first novel, One to Watch, so I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read her new book. Fang Fiction is a fun read full of romance and paranormal shenanigans--the main character, Tess, is still recovering years after being sexually assaulted. She left her pursuit of her PhD to work at a fancy hotel in the meantime while maintaining her obsession with a book series called Blood Feud. Turns out that the fictional island from Blood Feud is real and the characters of the story, who happen to be vampires, need help from Tess, so she is spirited away to the island where she is forced to work with the villain of the story, Callum, to free them all from their evil leader.

I thought this was a good read, if not a little forgettable. I think the story was in some ways a little too "much" while also having me a bit confused about the worldbuilding in the world of Blood Feud--no matter how much I read, I just could not picture the island! I also struggled to connect to the vampire characters and felt that Callum ultimately fell flat as a romantic lead. He just felt like an empty character. Tess, however, was a complex character that I was fully rooting for.

I think this book has huge potential for success--it has a great formula for an entertaining read and it's extremely clever. Though it fell a little flat for me, I still enjoyed reading it and would recommend it. I am looking forward to what Stayman-London writes next!

I struggled to get into this one, perhaps because the fantasy side of the novel was less my thing than my usual genre. Stayman-London has the best way with words and knows how to make romance feel realistic (even with these more fantastic elements). Overall I think this is a book that was less for me but could be a great hit with my audience.

Fang Fiction follows Tess, a young woman still reeling after a horrible experience left her unable to continue her PhD program. Her obsession with the book series Blood Feud, about a group of vampires trapped on a magical island, suddenly throws her life upside down once again when she finds out everything in the books is true - sort of.

I truly loved this book. A perfect blend of achingly-real-world problems and fun, sparkly (not literally) vampire drama. The issue of sexual violence was so delicately handled and made Tess’ journey so powerful to read about. And Callum?? I’m swooning.

I hope Kate Stayman-London writes 100 more fantasy romances!

Fang Fiction by Kate London is a playful, meta take on the vampire genre, blending humor and satire with a dash of paranormal romance. The protagonist, an aspiring writer, gets caught up in a vampire world much like the stories she loves—and hilarity ensues. It’s light, fun, and filled with pop culture references that poke fun at popular vampire tropes. While it doesn’t take itself too seriously, it still manages to deliver a charming and quirky story. It’s perfect if you’re in the mood for something entertaining and not too deep, though it might feel a bit predictable at times.

This was such a cute concept - a little silly, a little sassy, overall a good time. Will be checking out this author when they release more books!

I thought this one would be right up my alley based on the premise, but I don't know that I enjoy rom-com mixed with fantasy. Was expecting more paranormal romance than rom-com. I don't love pop culture references galore, or podcast-style writing. Was a little too on-the-nose for me.

I loved this book and devoured it in two sittings! This was such a fun read, and I thought Stayman-London did a spectacular job of incorporating some heavy themes with the lighthearted vampire world and lore. Highly recommend!

This was a cute read.
This book is about two best friends who are part of a vampire book fandom. The They had been estranged for years due to a tragic incident. The friend was attacked by a fellow a graduate student and date raped. The blood feud book was her only way of being able to cope. When they come to life it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be.

The book was a good read. Tess’s character did grow throughout the book. It covered some deep topics for a light read. Things I didn’t expect when I picked up the book.

There is one thing I vividly remember from my 7th- 9th grade years: the Twilight Mania. Like almost everyone else in the reading world, I binged the entire Twilight series in a week and went to every midnight premiere of all the movies (it helped that I worked at my small-town movie theater and got in free every single time. I was obsessed and was Team Jacob "until the day I die." Jokes on me: The older I get, the more I am Team Edward.

I went through a paranormal romance phase afterward -- does anyone remember The Summoning series?? -- but soon, paranormal romance trickled out of mainstream media, and I leaned more toward fantasy and contemporary romance.

Fast forward to today, paranormal romance is beginning to make a slow comeback. That's not to say paranormal romance has not been around, but I have noticed it becoming more popular again. Another new addition is Fang Fiction, a paranormal romance between a human and a vampire written by Kate Stayman-London. I had read Stayman-London's debut romance, One to Watch, a few years ago. One to Watch was a contemporary romance following the first plus-sized woman on a dating show. So, imagine my surprise when I learned her sophomore novel was a VAMPIRE ROMANCE.

I wasn't sure what to expect since I am completely unfamiliar with most paranormal romance tropes, and my most recent experience was with Bride. However, Fang Fiction was a pleasant surprise, and I enjoyed most of the story. I read this book back in October when it was first released. I posted a mini-review on my Instagram, as I typically do, but I never found the time to write down a complete review of my thoughts.

The story follows Tess, our main protagonist. After a traumatic event, Tess dropped out of college and now works the night shift at a fancy hotel. She has always found comfort in her favorite romance novels, the Blood Fued series. Suddenly, one of the main characters of Blood Fued drops into Tess's life, pulling her into a plot to help save the vampires in her favorite books.

PROS
- I loved Tess as our main character. Her character had so much depth, and it felt like her journey was necessary. One of the overall themes is how books (or other forms of fandom/media) can help a person cope with and recover from trauma, and Tess was our main example of how that can happen. I think most people have found comfort in something they love during hard times (insert footage of me binge-watching the Scream movies multiple times during grad school), making it much easier to relate to Tess's story. Kate Stayman-London does a brilliant job of taking a very real person and placing them in a fantasy setting. 
- A fun rom-com - If you enter this book expecting a serious, dark vampire romance, you will be highly disappointed. Fang Fiction is cheesy, and it knows it. I think that even when the book takes itself seriously (with the topic of sexual assault, depression, and anxiety), it doesn't do it in other areas. If it did, it wouldn't have worked as well. I am unsure if this is typical of vampire romances (although I get the impression that it isn't), but I think this book would be great for introducing people to the vampire romance genre.
- The setting of the Isle - There are two worlds in this story: the real world and the Isle, where vampires were exiled years ago. Tess is convinced to go to the Isle to help save the vampires, and I love every second she is there. The setting helped develop the story of the vampires without making it feel like we needed to get an entire recap of their history.
- The excerpts of Blood Feud—The author included excerpts from Blood Feud between some of the chapters to help move the story along. I honestly would love it if Kate Stayman-London decided to release more of these chapters or even an entire book.
- This one is more of a pro AND con: I loved the side romance between Tess's best friend and another vampire. However, it would have worked even better as a separate novel. I sometimes found myself more interested in their romance, and I didn't get enough of them to satisfy that need.

CONS
- For the most part, the topic of sexual assault was handled with care. Kate Stayman-London starts the book with an author's note, letting readers know of the topic ahead of time (which I think more authors should do!!) and explaining how she wanted to ensure she handled the topic with respect and care. As I said, for the most part, I think she was successful in doing so. She shows how something traumatic leads to long-term effects and harm. While I understand the author's overall purpose in having Tess grow as a person and overcome her fears, I did not love how this part was resolved. When it comes to SA in literature, I do not think it is realistic when someone "gets over" their trauma because of something good that happened to them. Moving on from trauma does not happen overnight, but how Tess acted by the end of the novel made it seem like she was completely "healed." Maybe I took this wrong, but from reading other reviews, I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. 

- The world-building was very confusing. There were a lot of parts that didn't make sense if you thought too hard about it, but honestly, I wasn't expecting a mind-blowing world-building in a romance like I would in a fantasy. It didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book, so I would still read this one if that doesn't bother you.

This wasn't the most ground-breaking romance to hit the market. But, even with the predictable plot and the okay world-building, I do think that Fang Fiction did enough to stand out. The story was fun enough to keep my interest, and I felt the nostalgia of loving a book character to the point of obsession. I will continue recommending this one for anyone wanting to dip their toes into a paranormal romance while still enjoying a more comedic story.

If you are a vampire fan at all, I definitely think you will enjoy this! I thought the plot was unique and, even with some heavier topics throughout, it was an overall fun and easy read! I connected with and loved all of our main characters, but especially enjoyed Octavia and Joni, and their chemistry! I would also definitely love to read more about Flora and the Bar Between! I also really enjoyed how the author worked in elements of some chapters from Blood Feud, as well as podcast and website snippets, really playing into the fandom aspect of the feudies.

This book does deal with sexual assault, I definitely encourage people to check the trigger warnings, but I felt the author handled the topic well and it was heartwarming to experience Tess's recovery and see her find her strength and happiness again!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC! Loved Kate Stayman-London's first novel and was excited to see another book by her release! I especially love her heroines, which feel real and relevant. This brought me back to a True Blood vibe and I loved that too!

Ultimately, though, the plot and characters felt a little contrived for me to ever fully immerse myself in this fantasy novel. Will be looking forward to her next novel!

I loved this authors previous romance novel so I was super excited to see this one coming out. Vampires aren’t usually my thing, but she managed to reach even me through the characters and plot. I was so pleasantly surprised and thought the premise was very unique.