Customer Reviews

Got Fangs?

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Fran is in Europe with her mother. But unlike what most mother-daughter teams would be doing, Fran is tagging along with her mother who is a witch in a traveling psychic faire. Fran does not feel that this is good or normal. To make it worse, Fran can read people if she touches them. Something her mother thinks she should use at the faire but which Fran is uncomfortable with. Then a sexy motorcycle rider shows up. He is the younger brother of one of Fran's few friends. He is also a very old vampire. While longevity goes with either sex, only the males can be true vampire. And if that wasn't enough, the vampire tells fran that she is his beloved and only she can lift his curse.

Now Fran has a vampire follower who almost worships her, a talent she hates, a mystery of who is robbing the faire, and everything is just confused. So Fran tries to hold off the vampire, agrees to use her talent to try and find the thief, and befriends a very special horse. Sounds simple enough until she finds herself fighting for her life against demons.

The relationship between Fran and Benedikt (the vampire) develops but it is obvious there will be more stories involving these two. The mystery was good and the action was acceptable. Katie Maxwell has created a very interesting world where demons, vampires, psychics and magic all exist. Her take on the vampire is new and fresh. This is not just a vampire teen romance. Check it out.

YA is not my choice of reading, being long past YA days. However, I find adults reading Maxwell's YA by the carload so I am not alone. Why? They are just that funny! Surprising, Katie Maxwell (who also write an amazingly number of novels each year as Katie Macalister) recalls the "inner teen" and is able to write to teens without talking down to them. The results are YA books that entertains everyone.

This time she has taken her Darks Ones theme (very popular under the Macalister name - A Girl's Guide to Vampires; Sex and the Single Vampire; Sex, Vampires and Lies for Dorchester Publishing)and now gives the teen a version of the Dark Ones aimed at them.

It's a howling good time that everyone will love!

We all know Nancy Drew- the eternally cute, pretty, perky, teen aged Wonder Woman detective who is so perfect we'd gladly let her solve her own murder. Fran is none of that, but she is gifted. The problem is, she'd like to return the gift. Having touch telepathy makes her life one of constant exposure to others' emotions. Working in a traveling carnival with psychics, an Elvis impersonating demonologist, an Immortal and other assortedly gifted people makes her craving for normal intensify. When a new guy rides into her life, she can find the blessing in the lack of normal. If her life was that mundane- Ben would never look twice at her, he's hot and she's not, at least in her opinion. However, since he's a Dark One and she's his Beloved, he only has eyes for her. Unfortunately, his love is a bit overprotective when she gets involved in an investigation into thefts that threaten everyone's livlihoods and she overhears a mental plot to kill Ben.

**** The concept of a Dark One (vampire) and his beloved was introduced in Ms. Maxwell's less young adult novels written as Katie MacAlister, and it translates well into her young adult work. Fran and Ben's love story promises to develop into something very interesting as time passes. Ben will probably appeal more to the Spike loving fans than the Angel lovers since he's the fun kind of vamp- not a brooder who thinks happiness is poison. Underneath the fun and mystery is a very healthy message for girls- you don't have to be perfect to be wonderful. ****

Francesca (Fran) is currently touring Germany with a Goth Faire, courtesy of her mother, who is a witch. After her father had what she kindly refers to as a midlife crisis, Fran was sent to stay with her mom--who is finally living her dream, living with people who are just like herself, seeing the world, and having fun. Unfortunately, the Faire has caused Fran to feel like even more of a freak than she did back home--not only is she six feet tall with dark hair and pale skin, but she's been cursed (blessed?) with the ability to read thoughts and feelings in other people just by touching them.

After buying a horse on a spur-of-the-moment trip away from the Faire grounds, her mother ropes her into a mission--Fran can keep the horse if she gets a job with the Faire to pay for his feed and vet bills, and if she helps the Faire owners, Absinthe and Peter, find out who's been stealing from the nightly take. She sets off to become an apprentice of Imogen, who reads palms and runes, as her job, and embarks on a Nancy Drew-ish mission to casually touch each individual who's had access to the safe.

During all of this she runs into (literally), Benedickt Czerny, who is Imogen's brother and who also happens to be a Moravian Dark One--a vampire. Added to that, Ben informs Fran that she's his Beloved, the one woman destined to redeem his soul. As she's reeling with all this implies, her investigation leads her to think that evil is in the camp, that someone has not only been stealing money but is planning on killing Ben.

As Fran and Ben begin a relationship, Fran begins to see that she's not a freak and an outsider, but someone who just might have more in common with the people of the Faire than she ever thought.

Katie Maxwell has written a funny and entertaining vampire story that's perfect for all ages. The mystery into the thefts and who wants to harm Ben is perfectly woven, and the last chapter definitely leaves it open for more stories starring the Dark One and his Beloved. An overall excellent read!

Sixteen-year-old Francesca (Fran) Getti has never wanted anything more than to have a normal life, and to simply blend in with other kids her age, that way no one could ever figure out just how much of a freak she is. Unfortunately, that's too much to ask for, since she has now been dragged off to the middle of Hungary by her mother - a witch - to join a traveling band of magicians, psychics, and other oddities, called GothFaire. If this weren't enough, Fran is now forced to be the "normal" one amongst a bunch of freaks; while at the same time try to face her fate as a psychometrist - someone who need only touch something to know strange facts. Things are looking down, until Fran meets a Moravian Dark One - a.k.a. a vampire - named Benedikt, who insists that Fran is the key to redeeming his soul. Throw in an immortal friend who remembers what Mozart was like, a mysterious horse with a strange past, and a demonologist who thinks he's Elvis, and you can see why Fran has absolutely no chance of fitting in. Ever.

I have been a fan of Katie Maxwell since the release of THE YEAR MY LIFE WENT DOWN THE LOO, yet her amazing writing still amazes me. Each book she writes is just as good, if not better, than her previous one, and GOT FANGS? is no exception. Fran is a hilarious character, whose hectic life, and demented mother and friends, will drag readers into this novel, and not let them out until the very last page. Whether you're a fan of Katie Maxwell's or not, GOT FANGS? is a book that can't be missed!

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Fran just wants to be a typical teenager. Unfortunately this is impossible since her mother has decided to take Fran away from her school and friends so that they can join a traveling carnival of psychics, mediums and magicians that can do real magic. Even more distressing to Fran is her secret ability which gives her way more in common with the carnival workers than she likes. However, someone is stealing from the fair and might just shut it down. Just as Fran begins to think she might get her wish to go home she meets Ben, a very hunky vampire with a very personal interest in Fran. Ben, combined with Fran's surprising new pet horse, Tesla, are now making Fran second guess her desire to be anywhere but where she is. But, can Fran find the thief before the fair is shut down for good?

I can't believe that Got Fangs? has escaped my vampire obsessive notice for this long. With a mixture of adventure, mystery and romance I found I really enjoyed this story very much. I found the characters to be interesting and well written and Katie Maxwell certainly makes a wonderful addition to my list of favorite young adult vampire genre authors.

Fran has always wanted a "normal" life, but when your mom is a witch, that's just not going to happen. Especially if said witch has dragged you out of school for the year and has you traveling Europe with her-- her and the GothFaire, that is. By the way, a GothFaire is a traveling group of witches, magicians, psychics, and other what are commonly refered to as weirdos. But when Benedikt joins GothFaire, Fran thinks things might be looking up, because he is completely hot. Hot enough to overlook the fact that he is a vampire, and she is supposed to redeem his soul. Despite all that, it's nice to have someone not think she's a freak, for a change, even if she is the most normal one with the Faire. And his kissing isn't half-bad either. Katie Maxwell employs her usual humor to something not usually thought of as humorous: vampires, and the result is magical.

Fran is a teen girl who finds herself in small parts of europe with her mom and a band of people who are ,to say the lest, a little strange. then a very hot vampire shows up who seems to think that Fran and him belong together. this is a great new series by Katie Maxwell. just as good as the Emily books but not as funny. but there is more romance here.

A HOT YOUNG WRITER, GREAT ACTION, AND WONDERFUL CHARACTER IMAGINERY. THANK YOU

This book is just dazzling! Katie Maxwell has written this book in a very contemporary way and it is sure to make you laugh. Some parts are pretty funny, some pretty serious, and some are pleasant and entertaining.

In my opinion, all the best scenes in this book are when Fran, the main character, and Ben, vampire boyfriend, are together whether they're arguing, having a nice chat, or when they're having some serious romance. Even when they talk telepathically, it's nice reading their romance.

One thing I enjoyed about this book is Maxwell's ability to create a unique vampire world as her own. There's much information regarding this world of vampires that makes the book very interesting. Lots of the character are gifted with some sort of power whether they're a witch, mind-reader, magician, demonologist, or can just make a good friend. The characters are very funny and enjoyable. My favorite character is Ben.

You'll have lots of fun reading this book! the audience most required for this young adult and this is a quick-reader and doesn't take forever to read. Pick it up in your spare time, and it's one you won't regret!