Fang Fiction

DNF @ 9% / Prologue + Chapter 1

idk I just couldn't get into it. I was expecting rom-com, but tried to temper my expectations when I read reviews and the author's note. She's dealing with PTSD and some major trauma because of her rape. So, I tried and didn't understand why the podcast scene to start chapter one was so long – okay maybe it's letting us know about the movie becoming a thing and how people believe vampires are real, but then at the party Tess goes on to explain in even more detail how vampires might be real which... I ended up skimming over. And that is probably the problem for me – I couldn't get into the writing style and how it was just boring for me.
But also, after the podcast bit, THEN we get a scene from the Blood Feud book, AND FINALLY start the book, so I was already a little frustrated that we went from the prologue where “something happened” which we know was prolly the rape into podcasters laughing over the book becoming a movie, then a book sex scene lead up, then to finally our main character. I was just frustrated by then and completely taken out of the story. Now, end of chapter 1 things are pretty emotional and fraught and chapter two starts off with another book excerpt. Not just a page or two either like these are pretty effing long, so I'm completely taken out of our main characters misery.

So, I'm already skimming and decided just to stop. Obviously, this just isn't for me.

What a fun little story! I think I like vampire romances which makes me feel like my mom.

Falls apart after a promising beginning. The central romance (M/F) has little genuine chemistry and the MMC's character development is all over the place. The final act includes a pretty big deus ex machina and one of my pet peeves - evil, bloodthirsty villains who kill with impunity but for some reason let the MCs live (so they can brag about their nefarious plans). And yet Fang Fiction held my attention for an entire day, which is no small feat less than a week post-US election. I was amused by the premise that a blockbuster paranormal trilogy with a rabid fan base turns out to be real. As a long-time epistolary novel enthusiast, I had to bump up my rating at least half a star for the inclusion of podcast transcripts, voicemail recordings, texts and memes. And though I wasn't invested in a HEA for Tess and the vampire who loved her, the sweet, funny secondary romance (F/F) was a suitable consolation prize.

I don't know that I would be interested in another book by this author, but Fang Fiction was the distraction I needed this week.

CW: The FMC is a sexual assault survivor, and the plot shows her healing from the trauma and eventually ensuring that her rapist is punished. However, taking a woman who has been made to feel helpless by a man and plopping her down in the middle of a world of powerful, vicious vampires who want to hurt and/or kill her could be triggering for some readers. It doesn't help that the book's tone swings wildly between snarky humor and intense emotion.

Overall a decent book but I think there could have been more depth to the relationship building.

This was such a treat!! The portal fantasy and online vampire fandom aspects were soo fun and I appreciated the care with which Tess's traumatic backstory was written. Strong recommend for fans of other fang fiction.