DNF at 75% because I just couldn't anymore...

I was so excited to get this e-ARC because I gave "One to Watch" an easy 5-star rating. The synopsis is everything I want in a book too. Basically True Blood coming to life.

Sooooo the execution was not great and I am in shock right now. The first 30% while our MC was still in NY was AMAZING. Again, easy 5-stars. We had a complicated back story, a really interesting friendship dynamic, and a campy "OMG book characters are coming to life and talking to me" plot. And that 30% mark is where the entire book falls apart.

1. The romances (yes both of them) are actually so badly written that I couldn't believe it. "One to Watch" had such lovely romances and they were deep and dynamic. Fang Fiction's romances were insta-love nightmares with cheesy lines, cringe-worthy sex (although I did appreciate it wasn't graphic), and zero chemistry. Tess and Callum had no chemistry and Callum was obsessed with her almost immediately. Joni and Olivia were somewhat better until they went from 0 to 100 in one scene. It was crazy. Also Olivia was a HORRIBLE romantic interest. She was toxic and so selfish when it came to her needs versus Joni that nothing really made up for it after a certain point.

2. It was a huge mistake putting Tess into this fantasy world instead of dealing with her issues in NY. I was so much more invested in the friendship between Joni and Tess instead of the romances. Once Tess left NY, it was like reading a totally different book and it draaaaagged.

3. The villains were literal cartoon characters that took themselves too seriously. This book in general took itself too seriously for the overall plot being what it was. It's like this book didn't know what it wanted to be.

4. This just needed to simplify. Olivia and Callum should have come to NY and they all should have worked together to get the rest of the vampires out against the witches. Simple. Clean. Interesting.

This started out well enough and with a pretty cool premise.

What if the vampires in your books are actually real?? Tess is pulled into the very real world of the vampires from her favorite book series, Blood Feud.

While the premise is super fun and interesting the writing left a lot to be desired. It skips around from podcast dialogues, chapters from the fake book, even a Buzzfeed quiz. So much going on and no spark to it. Things were happening but I felt completely disconnected.

Overall an interesting premise with poor execution.

This book was so much fun! As a reader who also dives deep into certain fandoms (hello avid fan fiction reader, right here!), I loved seeing the deep dives that Blood Feud's fans went into on their podcasts, Reddit pages, and even the fun Buzzfeed quiz/articles that were added into the book to get the reader excited as well. I don't know about you, but I was a Twilight obsessed teen and even watched Buffy on repeat as a pre-teen, so this was a perfect love letter to vampire pop culture fandoms.

I definitely got pulled into the story quick, thanks to the fun adventure that the author takes us along on to discover more about vampires, witches, and portal realms. I just loved these characters, both main and side, and I was invested in what was going to happen to everyone. I did get a bit worried a few times that the story was going to not get wrapped up nicely, but it did! =]

I'd love to thank Random House Publishing Group for the Netgalley eARC of this book.

I'll also be sharing my review to my instagram (@what.courtreads) on release day, October 1, 2024

I thought the premise of this book sounded fun. Who doesn’t love a story about finding out your favorite fictional characters are real. I felt a little confused at the beginning with it jumping back and forth between the two parties. I enjoyed this book, but felt like it was missing or lacking at some parts.

Thanks NetGalley and Random House for the arc!!
4.5 ✨

I loved this story so much. It’s for the Buffy and Twilight lovers, the girls, gays and theys. A bit of the writing and scenes were a bit cheesy but if you can recognize them for what they’re worth it’s easy to get past. I adored all the extra content from the author ESPECIALLY the annotated playlist (my fav part of reading a book is finding a playlist to read it to) this does deal with some heavy content but I feel was navigated well and does include a content warning on the first pages. Overall a very fun book and I’m going to miss the characters! I feel like the reveal of the author could’ve been a bit more of a buildup or better reveal and there’s a few other things I would’ve loved background on but maybe that’s just because I wanted to read more of this story!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to find out that the characters from your favorite fantasy book are actually real? That’s what Tess experiences in Fang Fiction and spoiler (not really), her fantasy crush is kind of an ass. Good thing the “villains” are pretty awesome instead. I really enjoyed how the author incorporated the fan experience via snippets of texts, blogs, podcasts, etc. into the mix of the book to get that experience. I think Kate did a good job of handling the assault elements with care as well. I think my least favorite parts where with Joni and Octavia in their less healthy periods (like the tantrum of “fine, I’ll see you when I see you”) but that may just be me. Overall, I’d recommend if you like vampire fantasy and have wondered what it would be like for your favorite fantasy world to come to life.

This is what Twilight should have been! Just kidding, but also what a fun read. Your favorite vampire novel.. is actually real?! You can travel through demensions to solve a problem and meet the most hot vampire man of your dreams?! AND .. its such a body positive, female empowering read. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this ARC. I had a fun time reading this modern day fantasy/vampire mashup. I am one of those readers who enjoys mixed format & multiple POVs, so that really made this book fly by. Give this a read when it releases October 01, 2024!

Thank you Random House + NetGalley for the ARC!

I really wanted to enjoy this - the concept and the themes are so interesting and fun. Realizing a vampire novel IRL? Unfortunately, this was. DNF for me - I made it 20% of the way in before I came to that conclusion. I understand that I likely need to read further to understand and empathize with Tess' trauma in more detail, but the jump from her using the Blood Feud series a coping/healing vessel to suddenly being in that world was too abrupt for me. I tried picking this up once in the summer and blamed the lack of interest I had initially on the season - but we're approaching spooky season and this just isn't doing it for me still. The delivery is flat and disengaging and I can't seem to be excited about it.

I was so excited when I read the synopsis for Fang Fiction, since I grew up loving vampires like Twilight, VPD. Unfortunately I just couldn't get into it, and didn't make it very far. I found it to be quite confusing, and I didn't really jive with the writing style. Super bummed I couldn't get into this one, and ended up DNFing. But I might try again closer to Halloween!

Aw nuts, always tough to write a middling review for something you assumed you’d love. That’s the predicament I’m having with Fang Fiction. It’s quite obvious this is a book aimed squarely at those of us that can recall the exact moment Buffy plunged her sword into Angel’s chest to close the portal to hell and save Sunnyvale (#neverforget). But this book sadly cannot thread the needle that Buffy the Vampire Slayer so expertly did: using a campy and corny premise as a backdrop to explore heavy and traumatic life events. Whereas BTVS always felt subversive in its blending of heavy and light, this just felt discordant.

I also found it supremely overstuffed with pop culture references and the interstitials didn’t add anything to story.

I’m left with the sense that while I didn’t love this book, the author and I would get along swimmingly.

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Cover thoughts: excellent, actually. It uses the faceless cartoon trend in a cheeky and original way! Love the fanged type and limited palette.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House publishing for the advanced reader copy!

Well now I can’t stop thinking about what I would do if Rhysand was real 😏

I loved this book, but I do think that the relationships between Octavia/Joni and Callum/Tess could’ve been fleshed out a little more. How are they all so in love with each other after a few days?? Although I do imagine Rhysand would fall in love with me instantaneously (obvi).

Otherwise, I REALLY enjoyed this book and am v much in my vampire era 🧛🏼‍♂️

<i>Thanks NetGalley for sending the arc in exchange for honest review</i> 🫶🏻

A unique blend of multiple-points of view and side-characters that seemed well fleshed out. I want other books from this author branching off on these other characters. I had a fun time reading this book. 4.5/5

Please read the trigger warnings and the author's note before picking this book up.

Tess is a grad school drop-out, a night manager at a new york hotel, and a avid fan of the book series "Blood Feud". While she expects other fans to read her essay on buzzfeed about how the characters in the novels might real, she doesn't expect them to pay her a visit at her job. "Fang Fiction" is a fantasy, a romance but also funny and charming. Most importantly it's a good time and I devoured it in a couple of days.

My biggest complaint with most romance books is the lack of innerworld, like the universe starts when the characters meet and ends when they get together. I could see so many more stories that can take place inside of Fang Fiction, the side characters have their charms, there's more to explore outside of the bar beyond. Even if not a full length novel, I would definetly pick up a novella, a short story, or even a few pages to learn more about anything Stayman-London has to write.

I would say that it might get overwhemling the amount of information we get each chapter (in addition to the plot theres excepts from the Blood feud books, podcast snippets, emails and texts), but I was engaged. I feel like whenever there's a mystery that I always get dead ends or straight up denial instead of anwsers. "Fang Fiction" however has so much worldbuilding along with twists and turns that I don't get frustrated when we don't get closer to the truth. I was just as content to watch them go about their days as watch the story develop.

Octavia Yoon is my favorite character here. She's so quick and selfish and a little bit mean. Out of all the vampires she has the sharpest bite and I liked seeing her relationship with Jonie. Even though we don't see them get together in a formal sense it's cute to watch Octavia soften to Jonie. I felt like Callum and Tess were a bit rushed but I really enjoyed their scenes together. They were comforting and sweet.

Thank you to Random House Publishing for the eARC via Netgalley!

Kate Stayman-London's debut was phenomenal, and this novel, which deals with multiple fictional threads, a bunch of narrators, and a whole mess of vampires is even more technically proficient. Her discussion of the aftermath of sexual assault is also nuanced and thoughtful.

This book was such a wild ride! Fang Fiction follows Tess Rosenbloom, a grad school drop out now working as a night manager at a swanky New York hotel, and the number one fan girl of the Blood Feud book series. In a strange twist of events (that I won’t quite give away), Tess learns that characters in Blood Feud (aka the vampires) are actually real. On a quest to help one of them, Octavia, Tess sets out to enter the mysterious island housing all the vampires in the world to get a message to Octavia’s twin brother, Callum. What ensues is an adventure featuring warring vampire clans, a rescue mission headed by Tess’s former best friend Joni, and characters from the book who, in real life, aren’t quite what Tess imagined.



I wasn’t sure what to expect going in to this book. It’s not quite romantasy, but not fully contemporary romance. It’s like a mix of both with the most quirky cast of characters. In all honesty, I think the characters were my very favorite part of the book, especially Sylvie and Joni.



Fang Fiction had a very unique story line. It took me a little bit to get really into it and, at times, I felt lost between both worlds. Overall, it was a fun read! This is definitely the book for the vampire lovers and those wanting to dip their toes into romantasy.



Many thanks to Netgalley and Dial Press for the ARC!

This was so fun. I really enjoy this author's book One to Watch, which I found through book of the month. I love this title and cover too. The story was fun. Nothing that will stick with me forever, but a definite fun fall read. I recommend to pick up during the halloween season.

Fang Fiction has a very readable, breezy style, and the interspersed book excerpts and social media clips help the whole thing move right along. I haven't read the author's first book, but I can see her love of fashion coming through in this one. I can see this book being a lot of fun for the right reader who wants a vampire romp, a sort of "What We Do in the Shadows" but make it rom-com.

2.5⭐️ I remember really enjoying One to Watch. This one was not for me. The overall concept was intriguing, and the resolution of conflict between the vampires was good. However, the characters (Joni and Tess) read immature at times. A little too instalove. I personally didn’t enjoy the addition of posts from buzzfeed, Snapchat, and other things like that. I understand what the intent was since in the real world the characters think it’s all just books. But it felt choppy and for me, didn’t feel necessary to the story.

Have you ever read a book and wished those characters were real? Tess and Joni found that their favorite vampire characters from the books, Blood Feud, are real. Tess is transported into the other realm where she must find Callum. While Joni helps Octavia back in the real world. Callum and Octavia are weak away from each other and something else isn’t right. The vampire that made them, Konstantin, is dead; but Felix might be hiding a secret. Tess and Joni help them and also find strength in their friendship and battle past demons. Please read the authors note for the trigger warnings if you consider reading.

Thank you to @netgalley and @thedialpress for the advanced reader copy. #netgalley #fangfiction

This book was cute! I’ve been missing vampire stories, and this one hit the spot. Tess is obsessed with the Blood Feud series, and surprise—the vampires are real! Trapped on an island with them, she embarks on an epic journey filled with fan fiction vibes, romance, and incredible world-building. The multimedia format, texts, podcast transcripts, and chapters from Blood Feud—is so much fun.

heads up! this book tackles some heavy subjects like SA, which added surprising depth. Kate created a relatable world of vampires with chemistry, banter, and twists. I mean, who wouldn’t agree if Edward Cullen asked for help saving his family?
Kate Stayman-London nailed it, and I can’t wait for book two. Vampire girlies, this one’s for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for my copy of Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London