Vampires are and always will be my one true love and I am LIVING for this paranormal resurgence we are having in books recently! When Kate Stayman-London announced that she was releasing a paranormal romance I went CRAZY!! especially when I found out the title (like, hello?!! fanfic/fandom girlies stand up!!!)

Fair to say, I was extremely excited to get my hands on this ARC and had a lot of expectations. IYou can expect hilarious pop culture references (podcasts, texts, emails galore) and DRAMA, POC MCs, plus size rep, SA rep, and many more!!

This book was an entertaining read but the plot was too fast paced for my liking. It felt like there were too many moving parts and nothing got as fleshed out as they could (pun intended). The romance between the two main couples felt a bit too insta-lovey which is not really a trope I enjoy but I do think it went well with the drama of it all.

Overall a solid read! Definitely for those that enjoy over-the-top and dramatic plot lines over slow-burn.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the ARC! I'm off to find my Callum Yoo now <3



Fantastical

I am genuinely fuming about how much I do not like this book.

Overall the writing is mediocre, it reads like a typical cheesy harlequin romance which part of me thinks is intentional. Very tell don’t show, very immature narrative style in a lot of ways. I was willing to look past it, but the plot itself is driving me insane.

I very deeply do not like that the plot completely hinges around the main character being drugged and raped, then abruptly abandoning her entire life because of it. This book is marketed as a fun, silly rom-com and the writing is on a low enough level that I had to turn my brain down to try and enjoy it, but I’m somehow also expected to navigate a very serious and not remotely fun topic looming over the character’s head for the entire book. Even if the subject is handled with care, it frankly ruined any enjoyment of the story.

Part of me wants to understand that stories about healing from assault matter, but a bigger part of me is tired of women *constantly* dealing with sexual assault in all types of media. It’s a book about how vampires are secretly real, why is rape such a predominant part of the story? Couldn’t there be SOME other reason that Tess left college? I can’t think of a SINGLE rom com that deals with this subject matter, since they’re, ya know, COMEDIES.

If the synopsis had been more clear I never would have requested an early copy. I hate to be such a hater when the author clearly had good intentions, but I’m not sorry that the rape ruined my good time 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thank you to NetGalley and RandomHouse Publishing Group for the ARC!

For anyone with a millennial love of Twilight, Vampire Diaries and anything fan fiction based- this is definitely a read for you!

The characters were engaging, filled the desire many of us have to be apart of our favorite tv/movie/book series and overall a great twist on a vampire romance. Though, there were definitely some slow points/lulls that took me awhile to get through this book and the constant jumping between varying POVs/transcripts was difficult to track.

I think this is a fun read, very different from many other books/romance stories and a nostalgic idea to allow us to follow our dreams of jumping into our favorite fictional worlds.

This book was for the fandom/fanfic girlies and I LOVED IT. I devoured this book in one sitting I genuinely couldn’t put it down. Tess was such a lovable and relatable main character with such a strong and empowering arc. I loved her relationship with Callum and their growth. The world building and the book within a book of Blood Feud was so creative and well done.

Thank you Netgallery and Random House Publishing for this eArc.
I devoured this book, I could not put it down. This book is full of references to the pop culture. It is perfect for the annoying girls (I’m an annoying girl).
It had been a while since I found a book that fascinate me the way Fang Fiction did. The book has a perfect pace, it is not slow at all. I fell in love with all the characters, I really liked the story, and it handles serious topics like SA appropriately and with trigger warnings. I really recommend you to read it.

A huge thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this arc of Fang Fiction in exchange for an honest review.

I have to be honest I didn’t have a lot of expectations going into this book. Mainly because this was my first time reading anything by Kate Stayman-London. I can tell you guys now I really enjoyed Kate Stayman-London storytelling in Fang Fiction and I will definitely be checking out more of her books.

But even with that said I still had some gripes with this book. I think my main overall gripe with the book was how it was formatted. The book jumps between multiple character POVs, to transcripts from Blood Fued novels, then jumps to podcasts or email chains. It was a lot to try to comprehend especially right at the beginning. It got so bad I had a hard time figure out who was our main character and what was their story going to be. I got the hang of it once Tess reached the Isle. And thank goodness I did because the book pacing wise took off from there.

My favorite part of the book though was Tess and Callum relationship. Watching them work together and support each other was really fun and heartwarming. I also loved Octavia and Joni. However, I think their relationship got overshadowed.

Overall, I highly recommend Fang Fiction! It was a fun fresh take on modern vampire novel.

Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London was just pure FUN to read. It's a book for the girlies -- full of pop culture references (Taylor Swift, Succession, Twilight, just to name a few) and gloriously meta. Are you in any kind of fandom? Then I want you'll love this book.

Tess Rosenbloom is a PhD candidate at Columbia University when she experiences sexual violence and drops out of the program. She is grappling with her trauma the only way she knows how -- isolating herself from others and immersing herself in the fantasy world of Blood Feud. Blood Feud is a massively popular vampire series that has a huge cult following. On night when Tess is working, someone shakes up her life by showing her that Blood Feud (and therefore vampires) are actually real. Tess is thrown into a world once thought to be purely fiction and must fight her way back to the land of the living to save her friends and ultimately, herself.

While this book is about fandoms and friendship, I want to stress that it's also very much about finding your way back to yourself after life altering trauma. While the sexual assault in Tess's story isn't explicitly laid out it is alluded to so be wary of that before reading. The author does a phenomenal job providing content warnings before the book begins.

I love how quickly the book was paced (honestly I felt at times it was moving too quickly, I wanted more meatiness around Tess' budding relationships on the Isle) and I enjoyed the writing style and how the book incorporated things like emails, texts, podcast scripts and excerpts to tell the story. It was a clever way of showing instead of telling, if that makes sense.

I got the sense that there may be more books in this universe and I'm hoping I picked up on those cues correctly, I'd love to read more of Tess' story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Kate Stayman-London's Fang Fiction is a delightful romp through the world of vampire fiction, blending the familiar tropes of the genre with a fresh, witty, and surprisingly heartfelt narrative. Tess Rosenbloom, our protagonist, is a relatable character battling insomnia and a past she'd rather forget. Her obsession with the 'Blood Feud' series, a fictional vampire saga, provides a charmingly geeky counterpoint to her mundane life. The arrival of the series' villain, a brooding and handsome vampire named Lucian, throws Tess's world into disarray. The blend of reality and fantasy is handled deftly, making the transition into Lucian's world both thrilling and believable. The author cleverly uses the familiar elements of vampire lore to create a world both fascinating and familiar, with a touch of gothic romance. Stayman-London excels at crafting genuinely funny moments, particularly through Tess's internal monologue and her interactions with the charismatic (and undeniably sexy) Lucian. The humor is sharp and never feels forced, adding a layer of lightheartedness to the darker aspects of the story. However, the novel goes beyond mere escapism. Beneath the glitz and glamour of the vampire world lies a deeper exploration of Tess's personal struggles. Her journey to confront her past and reclaim her future is both poignant and inspiring. The story also touches on themes of friendship, trust, and the power of love, adding depth and resonance to the narrative. While some readers may find the romance element a bit predictable, it's ultimately charming and serves as a driving force for Tess's growth and self-discovery. The inclusion of Tess's best friend's own sapphic relationship with a vampire adds a welcome layer of complexity and diversity to the story. Overall, this story is a captivating read that blends humor, romance, and a touch of darkness into a delightful package. It's a perfect choice for fans of vampire fiction, rom-coms, and anyone looking for a fun and engaging escape.

This was a fun read! And hello that cover is perfection. It’s definitely got some depth to it too though. Fun concept. Good execution.

A rom-com that certainly kept me guessing! I thought some of the trauma elements were a little heavy-handed, but I still thoroughly enjoyed! As someone who was always more Twilight than Buffy, I still found so much to love in Fang Fiction! Recommended!

Have you ever wanted to jump inside your favorite novel? If your answer is yes, then Fang Fiction is a must-read! I’ve always been a vampire girlie, and I shamelessly devour any and all media pertaining to them. Needless to say, I have absolutely wanted to jump into the world of several books, movies, and shows. Fang Fiction scratched that itch for me and more!

The world of our MC’s favorite novel, Blood Feud, is real, and through a series of events, she ends up tangled in the world she has read about over and over. She has to work alongside Blood Feud’s villain to try to find a way to get him and the other vampires out of the world they are trapped in and back home. But what happens when she falls in love with one of the vampires from her beloved series? And can she work through the trauma she has experienced in her past to save herself and the characters she loves (and who just happen to be real)?

This was the most fun paranormal/fantasy rom-com that I’ve read in a long time! I loved the unique take on the vampire genre! Come on, we’re all readers here and we’ve all wanted to jump into our favorite books at some point! I suddenly have the need for more books like this. I also seriously appreciated the genius way the author tied in all of the Blood Feud lore without info-dumping! Seriously, it was such a unique and fun way to go about it! The attention to detail and world-building was descriptive and beautiful. I loved the romances, and not gonna lie, I’d totally read more about these characters. Overall, this was an amazing and seriously fun read as a self-proclaimed vampire nerd!

Also, the interview with the author and the book playlist at the end were spectacular touches! Kate, you’re a mastermind. (See what I did there?)

Thank you so much NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

I loved the premise and all of the pop culture references in Fang Fiction - especially the call out to the now defunct Six Brothers Diner in NJ. I really liked the ideas and the characters of this story, however I feel they all needed a little more time being fleshed out, and the Isle/fantastic settings needed more world building. As a NYC area native, no world building was truly needed for the human world. While I understand the inclusion of the fandom aspects, the bits of podcast felt a bit unnecessary, even with the quick link they got to one of the main characters, and would have been more successful as more buzzfeed/enews articles. All in all the story was enjoyable but felt a little shallow and needed more in depth development for the character and the worlds.

This fun read is a story within a story. Buffy fans will love this dark rom-com with LGBTQ+ major characters.

The protagonist, Tess Rosenbloom, had been a PhD student until she was assaulted. She is haunted by this experience when she stumbles into a fantasy world similar to her favorite guilty pleasure vampire novels. Now, she must take control of her own story and survival, which means assessing who she can trust, mend alliances, and fight back.

This novel kept me guessing who I could trust and what was next. Though the MC has been sexually assaulted, the author handles this topic sensitively and non-graphically. She also models consent, because consent is sexy.

I recommend this read if you are looking for a story you can bite into! Solid fang fun.

Thank you to Random House and Net Galley for the ARC.

#FangFiction #NetGalley

No, because this book had no business being this good. When I first read the blurb, I was bit skeptical because I’ve read arguably too many bad vampire urban fantasies but this was such a unique take on the genre.

The slow burn romance between Callum and Tess *chef’s kiss*

The intense, you’re annoying but I’m weirdly into you romance between Octavia and Jodi *chef’s kiss*

The story of hope and healing for our FMC *chef’s kiss*

The sexy, misunderstood villain *chef’s kiss*

The lovable side characters *chef’s kiss*

The unique world-building and magic system *chef’s kiss*

The reveal of the author had me shocked but it was honestly perfect. The only slight is that the ending felt a bit rushed and anti-climatic. I wish we saw more of Tess and Jodi resolving things instead of just being told it happened.

Thank you to Kate Stayman-London, Random House Publishing Group, and NetGalley for this e-arc of Fang Fiction in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Received as an arc from Netgalley.
What happens when your favourite vampire novel is based on real vampires? This is what happens to Tess when she finds herself inside her favourite novel Blood Feud.

I found the concept of this book unique compared to other vampire stories I've read in the past. I enjoyed Tess as a character to begin with, although she seemed to lose her way midway through.

The pop culture references were appreciated, it made me curious to read Kate's first novel as it takes place in the world of reality tv.

I am such a love of vampire television and lore that I had to request this book.

What worked for me so well was Tess’s backstory and her real world relationships. I enjoyed the interactions with the vampires and the dual stories with Joni and Octavia versus Callum and Tess.

What didn’t work for me was the added stuff. The extra pieces like the podcast and chapters of the book pulled me out of the story and were extremely repetitive. There was one point where a couple chapters before they talked about how Felix was big mad about being not as favored as Callum and Octavia by Konstantin, only to have another chapter from the Blood Feud books repeat all that information.

It was just not tight with plot and consistency along with pacing. Characters were excellent, but this felt like a first draft that was pieced together rather than a final novel. It was fun and I would recommend it to people, especially if they are obsessed with vampire shows, but it just missed the mark to be my favorite.

Thank you so much Netgalley and the Publisher for a chance to read this eARC!

The minute I saw this book I knew I wanted to read it. Thank goodness it did not disappoint! It has a great, unique spin on vampires and is so much fun!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for this eArc!

This book was great! It was such a unique and different
on any vampires book I’ve read and I loved the modern world twist with the book tie in!

I do wish the relationship development with the MMC and her love interest would have a little more depth. I found myself wanting more! However, I still loved the book and I am really hoping there will be another in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House Publishing for the ARC of Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London.

I really liked the concept of the book - a young woman being able to enter the world of her favorite vampire romantasy novel for an adventure with love affairs and intrigue and life changing possibility.

Unfortunately, I really struggled with the writing style within the first few chapters - and not just parts that I think will be corrected because this is an ARC. From my reading, I was actually surprised to see Stayman-London had previously published a book that was nominated for several awards because the prose of Fang Fiction felt so immediately entry level. I was further shocked because oh my god, she is so accomplished! Writing for Obama, Malala, Anna Wintour, Hilary Clinton --- wow, wow, and wow. I don't know why for me her talents just did not translate for me in Fang Fiction. The prologue is just an info dump / complete telling not showing. I know it's trying to lead us into a time jump, but it reads in a very rote fashion, "Tess got into Columbia. Tess ate sandwiches. Tess talked about Dickens. Tess moved out."

There are also whole conversations with multiple exclamation points and question marks and exclamatory statements that are a huge pet peeve of mine - it makes it hard to take the story seriously. I saw another few reviews mention that the novel just feels like someone writing fan fiction, and I am in 100% agreement there. That's not a bad thing, there's a reason so many fan fictions have become international best sellers and global movies/tv shows/phenomena. It's just, not the flow I needed from what I thought the book would be.

Past that, which I could have pushed through, I think I'm unintentionally the wrong person to review this novel. I have worked in higher education for 15 years, including as the head of a student conduct office, which meant I dealt directly with Title IX cases like Jess's for three years. And I truly appreciate the trigger warning at the beginning of the novel, but the way parts of that are discussed with how the university handles them are not in line with national best practice and writing them this way, to my mind, is actually harmful to readers. Some of the things said by people in faculty roles are also violations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). I currently manage a PhD program of over 150 students, and the conversations around that are also far from the norm. I can't get out of my work brain for that entire integral part of the novel, and so that whole story line just completely ripped me from enjoying the novel itself. I like to be far away from my work when I read.

Because of my own bias/concerns here, I'm going to give this 3 stars, but I would give it 1 otherwise.

4 stars.

I haven't read a vampire story in a while so this one was definitely a good palate-cleanser. I would consider this a cleaner read compared to other popular rom-com books that I've read (especially off of booktok). It is still very cute. The author does an excellent job at giving both Callum and Tess and Octavia and Joni's stories equal attention while connecting everything together. I also really loved the description of the Isle and feel like it's illustrative enough for somebody to draw out.

The characters were also well-written. However, I found myself caring more about Joni and Octavia compared to the main character because their dynamic was just better, and I believe they should get their own book. I even liked the side characters like Sylvie, Flora, and Hamish. I enjoyed reading Tess's story but, her actions got sort-of 'predictable' at one point. I also wish that we had gotten to see more of Felix because I thought his character was really interesting. However, I liked that there was an air of mystery in this book that kept the reader hooked.

For me, the only real drawback was the transportation. It was a minor detail that stumped me, but I don't understand why the vampires didn't just use glamour some transportation rather than fast-walking.

This book was a humorous read that gave off mystical vibes alongside humor, romance, and a nice plot.

Also, thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending me an e-book ARC.