Review: Fang Fiction
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Genre: Fiction | Publication Date: 10/1/2024 | Pages: 400 | Month read: October 2024
What made me pick this up?
As a historical Twilight fan (meaning that I feverishly read every book in the series throughout high school and attended two of the five midnight movie premieres — so you know I’m serious), this book sounded right up my alley and perfect for fall.
GoodReads synopsis: She’s out for adventure. He’s out for blood.
The world of your favorite fantasy novels is real, and you’re invited to visit. The only catch? It’s filled with thirsty vampires. Devour this page-turning romance from the bestselling author of One to Watch.
Tess Rosenbloom is no stranger to the dark. An assault survivor and grad school dropout, she spends her nights managing a chic Brooklyn hotel and her days curled up with her favorite vampire novels, Blood Feud. Tess even dabbles in online conspiracies that Blood Feud is real—it’s fun to hunt for clues! But deep down, Tess doesn’t believe vampires actually exist…
Until one walks through her door.
It turns out Blood Feud is real, and the sexy villain of the novels is trapped. Eager to escape her life, Tess agrees to help rescue him, and soon she’s in a fantasia of lavish palaces and enchanted forests, on a secret island where the sun never shines and she’s surrounded by deadly vampires—and against her better judgment, she’s falling in love with one of them. (And unbeknownst to Tess, her estranged best friend is having a sapphic affair with a beautiful vampire of her own back in New York.)
Visiting the world of your favorite story is any fan’s dream, but will Tess be able to outrun the demons of her past (and vampires of her present) before it becomes a nightmare? In this darkly glamorous rom-com, Tess will find out whether it’s worth risking her neck—and her heart—for a chance to reclaim her future.
My Thoughts
If you were a Twilight fan at any point in your life, this book will likely feel a little nostalgic and somewhat like a modern spin-off to the series. I generally don’t read fantasy anymore but found the magical elements to be approachable and uncomplicated.
The main story line was fun, and the subplots and fandom/mixed media elements added some complexity and interest; however, I found the tone to be clunky and confusing — at times the book felt lighthearted and campy, then shifted to serious, then romantic. At a few different points, I was questioning how I was supposed to feel or what genre this book was trying to fit into.
It’s been a couple of weeks since I finished this book and I will say, I’m glad that I waited to write this review because I’m finding that the fun high isn’t quite sticking as more time passes. If I were to rate this after reading the last page, I’d have given it a 4 out of 5 but now am leaning more towards a 3.
Don’t get me wrong — this was enjoyable to read, and I consistently found myself wanting to pick it back up to see what would happen! Upon reflection though, I didn’t find any of the romance convincing and the story itself feels forgettable. I didn’t feel the visceral emotional reactions I remember when reading Twilight (which could very well have been due to teenage hormones, haha!) and I certainly haven’t felt differently as time goes on.
Overall, would I recommend? I think so! This is a fresh urban fantasy story that’s fun while it lasts, and I’d recommend it if you’re looking for an easy palate cleanser or for a dose of vampire action.
My rating: ★★★
Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org
