
Member Reviews

I love a romance book. I love a vampire. Combine the two and we have an incredible novel that satisfies the hole that Twilight left behind in all of us. I was intrigued by the story from the get-go and had a great time getting to know all of the characters. I was also impressed with how the author handled Tess's trauma and her subsequent recovery.

I absolutely LOVED the concept of this book! I found it to be super unique and intriguing! I also loved the back and forth between present day talking, passages from the book, text messages and podcast format. If there's vampires, I'm going to read it, and this one didn't disappoint at all. I also very much loved the ending of the book and how the main character found her voice and chose to get justice for herself!
I definitely recommend!

I was very excited for this book because I loved One to Watch -- even more so because I love a good paranormal/urban fantasy romance. Ultimately this book dragged for me, the world felt simultaneously built out intricately and not enough, and a lot of the fantasy parts felt very basic/obvious, or being told not shown.
I did like the interludes with snippets from the books/podcasts/etc, and ultimately I did really enjoy this world. I specifically loved Octavia's subplot and almost wish we could have gotten more from that. I'd be interested in another book in this universe (or even the in-world books themselves) but think there needs to be a bit more character development and less reliance on tropes.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Yall, I tried. I wanted to like this so bad. It seemed like a fun, silly goofy time. I'm not going to talk too much about the negative because I do think there is a strong audience out there for it. However, it's just not my taste anymore. I didn't enjoy the writing, the MC, the plot fell apart of me. I just overall did not enjoy this AND I am certain there is a wide audience out there for this. So, if it sounds interesting to you give it a try. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with it.

Imagine the characters and world from your favorite fandom was real. Now, imagine there are vampires and it’s up to you to save the villain of the story while also managing to somehow stay alive.
Welcome to Tess’s life.
Well, Tess’s new life. After an assault changes everything, Tess has lost the life she used to have. She’s moved out of her apartment and now works the night shift at an upscale boutique hotel. She also spends a lot of time online theorizing that vampires are real - in particular the vampires from her favorite series, Blood Feud. But then one of those very vampires shows up at her hotel - and she needs a favor.
I actually had a lot of fun reading Fang Fiction. Tess was easy to relate to - who hasn’t wished to end up in the fantasy world of their dreams? She took so much comfort in the world of Blood Feud following her assault and I really liked seeing her take back her life. The side characters were fun (both human and vampire) and even though a large portion of this book tackles serious topics, the author still manages to keep things light and the book never takes itself too seriously.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for a review copy. I’ll definitely read from this author again!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy of this book.
There were so many elements of this book that I really enjoyed - I loved the idea that the vampires from the fictional series were actually real.
The flow of the story was a little confusing - having to oscillate between a podcast, a fictional series, and a movie script all within a larger work of fiction was just a lot to keep track of, and it meant that I had to do a lot of work to keep it all straight. And because I had to spend all that time keeping the story straight, I couldn't get a good grasp on how I felt about the main characters. Maybe it's just me having this challenge, but I think it's worth noting.
I plan on rereading this so I can get a better handle on it, because I really enjoyed the premise of the book.

I honestly adored this more than I thought it would. To everyone that has ever wished that the fictional characters that they have loved, or loathed, existed? This is for you. Because I swear, it spoke to a part of me that would literally lose it if any of the fictional men or women I have loved existed. There is good LGBTQIA+ rep here in the book, throwing in my favorite question of all (Awww, why be straight when everyone is pretty?), and the nuances of Callum and Octavia are just perfect. I love the healing process for Tess and the fact that her friend still reaches out even if she doesn't know what the hell is going on or what the hell she could do. The feeling of being trapped, both literally and emotionally, is incredibly profound. A physical copy of this book is going to make it onto my bookshelves. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book to be so much fun. If you were obsessed with Twilight or anything vampire related at some point in your life then I would definitely give this book a shot. It's like a little bit of nostalgia for that time period for me.
4.5 stars rounded up. My one little gripe is that the relationship is a little bit of insta love but I don't hate it. It's what knocks down the half star.

I wanted to love this one, but I did like it. I am a big fan of the "your favorite piece of media is real and you're now in that world" trope, as specific as it sounds. I do feel her trauma and assault were used a bit heavy handed, which made it a bit difficult to fully set into the romance and enjoy their connection. I feel like they didn't have the best chemistry, either. Overall, a pretty good read!

A little fun, a little silly - this was a good quick read that was light and not too serious. Tess's love for the Blood Feud novels gives her an advantage when it turns out the series isn't entirely fiction. Her faces the kind of danger she could only have imagined, and comes out stronger on the other side. It's great for a Halloween read but also fun year round, especially for readers who can relate to falling head over heels into the lore of another world.

thanks to netgalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for a review!
this was a mixed bag. i loved Tess and watching her retake her life and autonomy back from the horrible thing that happened to her. honestly the standout plot point of the book, and i wish that it took more of a prominent role instead of the romances. the worldbuilding was a little chaotic of how the vampire world works, but i was able to get over that pretty fast and still enjoy the story.

Part fantasy, part romance, part contemporary literary fiction, and a whole lot of fun, this book is a love letter to fandom, and the particular brand of zealots that tend to fall in with vampire fiction. This is largely inspired by Buffy the Vampire Slayer (my #2 favorite TV show of all time), but it's easy to see parallels to Twilight as well.
I loved following Tess's story of growth through this book. She experiences every fangirl's dream--the characters from her favorite books are real, and they need her help. If you say you haven't had that fantasy, you are a LIAR. Or a very unimaginative person. A few years before the events of this book, Tess is used by someone that she thought she could trust--trigger warning for sexual assault in this book. Tess's life was turned upside down because of this experience, but we watch her come to terms with what happened to her and find strength in moving forward. Despite all the fantastical elements in this book, it is largely a character study. That is not my typical cup of tea, ya girl loves a fast-moving plot, but I greatly enjoyed this. I loved Tess along with all our side characters, from her fandom-obsessed best friend to the clan of vampires that sort of adopt her. Fun all around, and tackles difficult topics without ever feeling too overwhelming. I hadn't had an interest in this author's debut novel before, but now that I have enjoyed this one I think I will give it a try.

Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London is a lighthearted and chaotic dive into the world of fandom, full of pop culture references and over-the-top moments. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t take itself too seriously, making it perfect for readers looking for a fun escape.
The story reads like fan fiction in the best way—super fun and wildly entertaining. The tone jumps from cheesy to serious, which might feel inconsistent, but honestly, that’s part of the charm. This isn’t a book you go into expecting depth or a grounded narrative; it’s more about enjoying the ride. If you’re looking for something heavier or more polished, this might not be your thing, but for a fun time, it absolutely delivers.
One thing I really liked was Tess’s character arc. Her personal growth and resolution of her big issues felt believable, even amidst all the wild fan fiction antics. The romances, while a bit insta-lovey, were still sweet and added to the overall fun vibe.
If you enjoy pop culture-packed stories and don’t mind a bit of tonal whiplash, Fang Fiction is a light, enjoyable read that feels like a love letter to fandom.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for this free e-ARC that I chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

With its humor, relatable characters, and probeof the junction between fantasy and real life, Stayman-London frames an entertaining and thoughtful narrative that fans of romance and pop culture will enjoy.

This book itched all of my vampire yearnings and fantasies.
If in your teens you loved Twilight or True Blood - this is for you.
If you are a Buffy stan - this is for you.
We get to follow diehard fans of a vampire novel series become immersed in the real world of vampires. It's every vampire lovers biggest fantasy.
I loved every character, vamp and not. I loved the layers of themes and issues touched. I was never bored or losing interest in the multiple storylines. I am truly hoping we get a sequel and more from this group of characters.

I truly hoped to enjoy this book. The title and description seemed appealing, yet it fell very short for me. I really really wanted to love it but it did nothing for me. I ended up DNFing it.

This review was written in exchange for a free un-edited version of the novel.
On the surface Fang Fiction comes across as an interesting combination of a what if scenario and a general vampire romance novel. This all swiftly changes as you realize that this is a novel about the inner strength of women and the importance of being in community with the right people. The novel focuses on two independently developing relationships, neither of which over power the other. The characters of Tess, Callum, Jodi and Octavia are each given an opportunity to have standout moments.
When not focused on developing relationships the novel takes the time to discuss the journey to personal healing and empowerment after suffering a violent attack. In the prologue readers are informed that Tess, one of the FMCs was drugged and sexually assaulted by one of her fellow graduate students. It is this assault that causes the changes in Tess’s life that put her in the direct path of her future with Vampire Twin Callum.
Without giving too much away I will say this novel reminded me that sometimes those that present a perfect image are often the evillest. The novel also made sure to remind the readers that having and being in community with others doesn’t just mean they are only there for you on your good days. I really enjoyed this novel and think others will too.

Let me start off by saying the premise of this story is capital-A awesome, and between this book and other recent release Long Live Evil, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more of this world-within-a-world–type storytelling in the next few years. That being said, I don’t think this book was particularly well executed, and the jumps between timelines, characters, and worlds left me reeling (and, sadly, not in a good way).
Fang Fiction, from the same author as One to Watch (which I LOVED), follows grad student Tess as she navigates life post-assault. She’s dropped out of her program at Columbia and is working nights at a hotel because she can’t sleep anyway, and she’s avoiding her best friend. In addition to all of this, Tess is a Feudie, a fandom of people obsessed with the fictional book series Blood Feud.
Enter Octavia Yoo, who is a character from Blood Feud, but also a real-life vampire, and she’s found Tess via her online articles about the characters and universe Octavia inhabits. She’s desperate for help, so Tess agrees to enter the fictional island where the series takes place in order to set things straight for her beloved characters.
At this point, we’re met with multiple storylines: there’s Tess on the Isle with a bunch of vampires and handsome Callum, Octavia in New York City hanging out with Tess’ ex–best friend Joni, snippets of the fictional Blood Feud world (Octavia and her brother’s past is key to the story), and also flashbacks and mentions of Tess’ past before she was assaulted. The result is a stilted amalgamation of romance, fangirling, trauma, and danger. With so much going on, it’s hard to get invested in any of the characters, and just as I started to, I’d get wrenched out of that time/perspective and into a different one.
The world-building was excellent, and I’d kill to get to visit the Isle (a sort-of parallel universe Manhattan) — between the mansions and the library and the jade pools, I was hooked. Not to mention the place is crawling with handsome Spike and Angel types. I wanted much more of the story of the Isle, and the characters there were begging to be more fully formed.
So overall, I enjoyed this, but I wanted so much more from it. I much preferred it to Long Live Evil (a similar character-enters-the-fictional-world-of-their-favorite-books story that fell incredibly flat), but Fang Fiction still didn’t quite do it for me. However, owing to the writing, the world-building, and the strength of Stayman-London’s first book, I’ll still be eagerly waiting to see what she writes next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After loving One to Watch I was excited to pick this one up, but it kind of fell flat for me. I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who thinks the synopsis sounds good to them, especially lovers of teen angst and vampires.

This book was cute read for the month of October . It wasn’t usually what I’m into but the story was interesting and seems to pull me in. If you love a good conspiracy theorist and mystery , this book is definitely for you! Although, I probably wouldn’t read the book again, I’d definitely recommend to friends and family .
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review .