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Fangs Like Me
Heavily revised edition available through NineStar Press.
Lane, a newborn vampire, still feels the pain of betrayal. Two years ago, a faithless boyfriend took his life, and now, Lane’s Maker has also left him behind. The pain of separation burns strong when all Lane wants are arms to hold him and enough warm blood to satisfy his voracious appetite. At a shifter party, Lane is drawn to a hunky Alpha werewolf who tries to console him.
Parker is more than a thoughtless hookup. Since his family disowned him for finding boys just as hot as girls, all he wants is someone to love and look after. The sweet little vamp calls to his protective instincts, but he sure is jumpy. Cuddling with boys is new and delicious, but when this boy also wants him as a food source, things get complicated.
Vampires and shifters aren’t supposed to get along, and Parker’s rough dominance triggers bad memories for Lane. But Parker’s wolf wants Lane, and he knows he can give Lane what he needs. Can Lane learn to navigate his past and give the thing growing between them a chance? Or will the very real possibilities of heartache, abandonment, and even death, keep them apart?
Lane, a newborn vampire, still feels the pain of betrayal. Two years ago, a faithless boyfriend took his life, and now, Lane’s Maker has also left him behind. The pain of separation burns strong when all Lane wants are arms to hold him and enough warm blood to satisfy his voracious appetite. At a shifter party, Lane is drawn to a hunky Alpha werewolf who tries to console him.
Parker is more than a thoughtless hookup. Since his family disowned him for finding boys just as hot as girls, all he wants is someone to love and look after. The sweet little vamp calls to his protective instincts, but he sure is jumpy. Cuddling with boys is new and delicious, but when this boy also wants him as a food source, things get complicated.
Vampires and shifters aren’t supposed to get along, and Parker’s rough dominance triggers bad memories for Lane. But Parker’s wolf wants Lane, and he knows he can give Lane what he needs. Can Lane learn to navigate his past and give the thing growing between them a chance? Or will the very real possibilities of heartache, abandonment, and even death, keep them apart?
150 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 2016
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128 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 23, 2016
I don't know how to describe this book so that it will find its readership. It's not m/m, because the m/m genre comes with certain built-in tropes and expectations that this books does not intend to adhere to. It's kind of... Slacker Realism? But Slacker Realism that just happens to be with a vampire and a werewolf. Who are both guys. And there's knotting, claiming, biting, and cum, but it's character-driven knotting, claiming, biting, and cum, with informed consent, and participants who can change their mind at the last second, because that's their right, and offer a cuddle instead.
It's like an indie film, in a book. It reminded me of the Richard Linklater films Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. There are external events, but the story is driven by Parker and Lane and their attempt to mesh their broken edges together to find a fit, and their doubts that they'll be able to.
I mean, saying that, Lane is a masochistic vampire into BDSM whose limits are dismemberment and decapitation, and Parker is a "probably all the way gay" werewolf who craves someone to spend his rut with, but that description implies a degree of cracky, smutty, shallowness that simply isn't what you'll find in this book.
So, yeah, I might be struggling to categorize it, but I liked it, and part of that is because it has an unfamiliar, fresh flavor. It took me until about 30% to get the hang of the characters and start to grok them, but persevering really paid off for me. I will be buying the next book from this author, for sure.
3.5 stars rounded up.
It's like an indie film, in a book. It reminded me of the Richard Linklater films Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. There are external events, but the story is driven by Parker and Lane and their attempt to mesh their broken edges together to find a fit, and their doubts that they'll be able to.
I mean, saying that, Lane is a masochistic vampire into BDSM whose limits are dismemberment and decapitation, and Parker is a "probably all the way gay" werewolf who craves someone to spend his rut with, but that description implies a degree of cracky, smutty, shallowness that simply isn't what you'll find in this book.
So, yeah, I might be struggling to categorize it, but I liked it, and part of that is because it has an unfamiliar, fresh flavor. It took me until about 30% to get the hang of the characters and start to grok them, but persevering really paid off for me. I will be buying the next book from this author, for sure.
3.5 stars rounded up.
April 4, 2016
Dnf at 94%
It started out pretty good. I liked the whole millennial spin on the shifter and vamp trope at first, but gradually Lane started to get on my nerves and then Parker did too, with all his conflicted Alpha-ness. All the sex got on my nerves and so did the amount of it. This paragraph at 94%:
illustrates the exact reason why I dislike m/m werewolf novels. And the whole thing about using sex and BDSM to fix him, and the knotting and all the blood (extra gross, tbh) and blah. Not my thing. Not my thing at all.
I should have known.
It started out pretty good. I liked the whole millennial spin on the shifter and vamp trope at first, but gradually Lane started to get on my nerves and then Parker did too, with all his conflicted Alpha-ness. All the sex got on my nerves and so did the amount of it. This paragraph at 94%:
illustrates the exact reason why I dislike m/m werewolf novels. And the whole thing about using sex and BDSM to fix him, and the knotting and all the blood (extra gross, tbh) and blah. Not my thing. Not my thing at all.
I should have known.
March 31, 2016
This was such a surprising book, I kind of knew what I was getting into because Emma sold in the vampire/ shifter/ slacker theme..and yes it's that - and more.
Lane, the recently turned vampire is desperate to belong, he wants his maker to love him, but Theo is pretty much never there is distant. Parker, an alpha wolf shifter, is also gentle and wants to take care...of pretty much everybody. So while they both have what the other needs being a vampire and a shifter presents issues as does Lanes need for pain, and Parkers desire to protect and nurture.
It is not all claiming and insta, although there IS claiming and knotting.
The desire to belong is sometimes more pronounced when the family/ group you 'belong' to by birth or circumstance are close and tight, and you just don't fit in.
I actually found this a very romantic book.
Lane, the recently turned vampire is desperate to belong, he wants his maker to love him, but Theo is pretty much never there is distant. Parker, an alpha wolf shifter, is also gentle and wants to take care...of pretty much everybody. So while they both have what the other needs being a vampire and a shifter presents issues as does Lanes need for pain, and Parkers desire to protect and nurture.
It is not all claiming and insta, although there IS claiming and knotting.
The desire to belong is sometimes more pronounced when the family/ group you 'belong' to by birth or circumstance are close and tight, and you just don't fit in.
I actually found this a very romantic book.
March 21, 2017
I know I'll re-read this about 100x.
Also, this is just really different and quirky and off-beat and cute and you should try this right now.
Also, this is just really different and quirky and off-beat and cute and you should try this right now.
April 4, 2016
*stares into camera like I'm on The Office*
oh my god
really
really????
Okay, so. So, so, so. It's got potential, sure. But god, so much of it pains me so much. It should be relatable to me and my generation, but it's just...it tips over into the "technology is ruining everything and millennials are the worst thing ever" tone that Baby Boomers take re: millennials, and I don't find it any more endearing the other way around. I honestly got so much second-hand embarrassment so much of the time, like jfc #Not All Millennials lmao
The word "babyvamps" pains me so much.
I feel like this is kind of a study in #Not Your Average Emo.
On the note of it being kind of awful:
This...reads like subpar fanfic. Like, there's bad fanfic, and there's fanfic that's so bad it's good, and there's subpar fanfic. And this reads like that. ...actually, it really does. It reads like there are a bunch of missing referentials.
No, you know what, it kind of reads like serialized ff.net fanfic, the kind where the author doesn't really have a plan and just sort of comes up with it as they go, and like, each chap ends with "Please R&R, tell me what you want to see in this!"
It becomes a series of retcon after recton for no real purpose. Like, I'm probably not one to talk since I write my school papers like this: forge ahead, don't look it over, turn it in when I finish because I probably only have a few minutes/hours to spare. But like. This is published. For money.
I mean, even considering all that, it's not entirely awful? But then it becomes kind of really awful again. I dunno, maybe it's because it's so pointed? Like so pointedly a "lmao fuck Baby Boomers" thing, and I'm sitting here like "have some subtlety." Ofc not that Theo is the greatest of people, and he's def a Baby Boomer type in the way he's written, but it's just so pointed that I'm kind of pained. I dunno, maybe other people like that.
I mean I enjoyed it at first, but it most likely WAS sleep-deprivation goggles after all, since it seemed to be a lot less sexy (as a story, but also the supposedly sexy scenes) in the light of day than when I read the sample at...3am?
There's just something patently ridiculous about the whole thing, but in a way that doesn't seem intentional. Like, it feels like the author was 100% serious about it, but it reads so unintentionally comedic and ludicrous. I dunno.
So yeah, I think instincts about the blurb were not incorrect, and Lance really IS like your average Not Like Other Girls.
I wouldn't say no if someone gave me the second one as a gift, but Idk if I'd seek it out and pay actual money for it on my own.
(okay, but that blurb for the second installment tho. Like. are you actually serious or are you pulling my leg. Asking for a friend)
-----
(from before I read it/when I was reading the sample)
the blurb says Lance is Not Like Other Girls, but .A narwhal tells me this is character-driven knotting, claiming, biting, and cum, with informed consent" which intrigues me greatly
//
Okay so I'm reading the sample, and lmao this is honestly so at odds with my conception of GR stuff because it's so clearly written by someone younger and it just feels like, for all that M/M is like, a "fringe" genre (from the mainstream), the majority of the authors are still older, and carry with them their, I dunno, older voice? Like this one is so painfully millennial in some ways/places that it almost reads like satire. Maybe I am just not used to it and this is cognitive dissonance throwing it into sharp relief?
I mean, I don't feel like I get this from most of the fanfic I read. It just somehow feels like there's so many pointed attempts to "modernize" the setting that I think it dates itself in the sense that I don't know if this'll have staying power. Which, I guess maybe that doesn't have to be a concern for every author, trying to achieve some sort of "classic" quality re: staying power. But yeah, it was just an interesting/random observation ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I mean, even with all that, Lane does feel relatable somehow, in some oddly visceral way that I don't know if I've gotten before in other characters in M/M stuff. (I COULD declare that there hasn't ever been, but that would be something akin to availability bias or whatever.)
But yeah, okay, comments I typed as I read:
The writing begins rather clunky, rather My Immortal-y in places, but I've got my sleep-deprived-goggles on (like beer goggles but with 100% less alcohol and 10000% more exhaustion) and it sucked me in soon enough. And now I'm "aw, babe :(" bc Lane is such a sad and I want to pet him.
lmao the jabs at Baby Boomers aaayyy *high fives the twenty-something author*
okay but that aside, do you ever just read something that is so millennial it like breaks immersion?
like, my god, this reads like satire
"Lane had been consciously pissed about society's insistence that he keep his emotions locked up since his first Gender Studies class, so he just didn't need it."
Also something about this just. reads so white. Like it's such a white millennial to bald-facedly declare this kind of shit like it's some sort of borderline condescending revelation. Which is me getting snide with my phrasing, but honestly, it was like the equivalent of watching a PTA mom declaim the virtues of quinoa. Like the kind of shit you hear about but don't really think you're going to be faced with because these kind of people couldn't possibly actually exist, right? But then they do and you're left agape.
I mean there are still parts I find relatable, but I feel like I can def tell the author is white sometimes.
Okay but lmao I totally feel this though.
LMAO LANE IS SUCH A BABY FEMINIST it's cute but also kind of painful in some ways tbh
All right so I've reached the end of the sample now, and it is v late so I guess I am to bed.
oh my god
really
really????
Okay, so. So, so, so. It's got potential, sure. But god, so much of it pains me so much. It should be relatable to me and my generation, but it's just...it tips over into the "technology is ruining everything and millennials are the worst thing ever" tone that Baby Boomers take re: millennials, and I don't find it any more endearing the other way around. I honestly got so much second-hand embarrassment so much of the time, like jfc #Not All Millennials lmao
The word "babyvamps" pains me so much.
I feel like this is kind of a study in #Not Your Average Emo.
On the note of it being kind of awful:
This...reads like subpar fanfic. Like, there's bad fanfic, and there's fanfic that's so bad it's good, and there's subpar fanfic. And this reads like that. ...actually, it really does. It reads like there are a bunch of missing referentials.
No, you know what, it kind of reads like serialized ff.net fanfic, the kind where the author doesn't really have a plan and just sort of comes up with it as they go, and like, each chap ends with "Please R&R, tell me what you want to see in this!"
It becomes a series of retcon after recton for no real purpose. Like, I'm probably not one to talk since I write my school papers like this: forge ahead, don't look it over, turn it in when I finish because I probably only have a few minutes/hours to spare. But like. This is published. For money.
I mean, even considering all that, it's not entirely awful? But then it becomes kind of really awful again. I dunno, maybe it's because it's so pointed? Like so pointedly a "lmao fuck Baby Boomers" thing, and I'm sitting here like "have some subtlety." Ofc not that Theo is the greatest of people, and he's def a Baby Boomer type in the way he's written, but it's just so pointed that I'm kind of pained. I dunno, maybe other people like that.
I mean I enjoyed it at first, but it most likely WAS sleep-deprivation goggles after all, since it seemed to be a lot less sexy (as a story, but also the supposedly sexy scenes) in the light of day than when I read the sample at...3am?
There's just something patently ridiculous about the whole thing, but in a way that doesn't seem intentional. Like, it feels like the author was 100% serious about it, but it reads so unintentionally comedic and ludicrous. I dunno.
So yeah, I think instincts about the blurb were not incorrect, and Lance really IS like your average Not Like Other Girls.
I wouldn't say no if someone gave me the second one as a gift, but Idk if I'd seek it out and pay actual money for it on my own.
(okay, but that blurb for the second installment tho. Like. are you actually serious or are you pulling my leg. Asking for a friend)
-----
(from before I read it/when I was reading the sample)
the blurb says Lance is Not Like Other Girls, but .A narwhal tells me this is character-driven knotting, claiming, biting, and cum, with informed consent" which intrigues me greatly
//
Okay so I'm reading the sample, and lmao this is honestly so at odds with my conception of GR stuff because it's so clearly written by someone younger and it just feels like, for all that M/M is like, a "fringe" genre (from the mainstream), the majority of the authors are still older, and carry with them their, I dunno, older voice? Like this one is so painfully millennial in some ways/places that it almost reads like satire. Maybe I am just not used to it and this is cognitive dissonance throwing it into sharp relief?
I mean, I don't feel like I get this from most of the fanfic I read. It just somehow feels like there's so many pointed attempts to "modernize" the setting that I think it dates itself in the sense that I don't know if this'll have staying power. Which, I guess maybe that doesn't have to be a concern for every author, trying to achieve some sort of "classic" quality re: staying power. But yeah, it was just an interesting/random observation ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I mean, even with all that, Lane does feel relatable somehow, in some oddly visceral way that I don't know if I've gotten before in other characters in M/M stuff. (I COULD declare that there hasn't ever been, but that would be something akin to availability bias or whatever.)
But yeah, okay, comments I typed as I read:
The writing begins rather clunky, rather My Immortal-y in places, but I've got my sleep-deprived-goggles on (like beer goggles but with 100% less alcohol and 10000% more exhaustion) and it sucked me in soon enough. And now I'm "aw, babe :(" bc Lane is such a sad and I want to pet him.
lmao the jabs at Baby Boomers aaayyy *high fives the twenty-something author*
okay but that aside, do you ever just read something that is so millennial it like breaks immersion?
like, my god, this reads like satire
"Lane had been consciously pissed about society's insistence that he keep his emotions locked up since his first Gender Studies class, so he just didn't need it."
Also something about this just. reads so white. Like it's such a white millennial to bald-facedly declare this kind of shit like it's some sort of borderline condescending revelation. Which is me getting snide with my phrasing, but honestly, it was like the equivalent of watching a PTA mom declaim the virtues of quinoa. Like the kind of shit you hear about but don't really think you're going to be faced with because these kind of people couldn't possibly actually exist, right? But then they do and you're left agape.
I mean there are still parts I find relatable, but I feel like I can def tell the author is white sometimes.
Okay but lmao I totally feel this though.
LMAO LANE IS SUCH A BABY FEMINIST it's cute but also kind of painful in some ways tbh
All right so I've reached the end of the sample now, and it is v late so I guess I am to bed.
April 24, 2023
I’ve only previously read newer work from this author, published under her new pen name. Those books, I believe, has been revised. If this is any indication of what to expect from this older pen name, I won’t be reading any more of them.
The story is all over the place, but also doesn’t really go anywhere or have any depth. The whole shifter party thing was weird. It just felt like I was reading about a college drinking party, with knotting.
The story is all over the place, but also doesn’t really go anywhere or have any depth. The whole shifter party thing was weird. It just felt like I was reading about a college drinking party, with knotting.
July 31, 2016
This book... Was a weird one.
The premise interested me because it has a wolf shifter and a vampire and I was curious as to how that would work out.
My main issue here was that I failed to connect with either MCs.
Lane was broken, admittedly but was for more than 90% of the book childish and frankly difficult to read about. He was closed of, cold and mostly just a pain. I wonder why Parker stuck with him.
Parker was better in that score but reading about his actions and reactions to Lane confused the hell out of me also.
The last part of the book felt rushed as they said their "I love you's" . In my opinion and from what I'd read, they needed a more time( a couple of years at least ) to get to that stage.
The character I connected with was Erika and even she appeared in the book just a handful of times.
All in all a bit of a disappointing read.
The premise interested me because it has a wolf shifter and a vampire and I was curious as to how that would work out.
My main issue here was that I failed to connect with either MCs.
Lane was broken, admittedly but was for more than 90% of the book childish and frankly difficult to read about. He was closed of, cold and mostly just a pain. I wonder why Parker stuck with him.
Parker was better in that score but reading about his actions and reactions to Lane confused the hell out of me also.
The last part of the book felt rushed as they said their "I love you's" . In my opinion and from what I'd read, they needed a more time( a couple of years at least ) to get to that stage.
The character I connected with was Erika and even she appeared in the book just a handful of times.
All in all a bit of a disappointing read.
March 24, 2016
Hm, 2.5 or 3.5? Was all into the first half but felt cheated by the 2nd. I'm a fan of those stories nonchalantly mixing paranormal society into the human one. So reading the prompt I couldn't do anything than like to get this story because it had everything in it to spike my curiosity in the best way and for the first half of the book it fulfilled that promise quiet fine and I enjoyed the interaction of all the characters but that changed at the end of the first part. Now I failed to see the connection between the characters and I couldn't understand their motivation any longer. The easily world building became spongy and I felt there were a lot of loose ends waiting for an explanation that never came.
September 9, 2018
Full review available at: https://optimumm.blog/2018/05/31/revi...
Fangs Like Me is the first book that I have read by Lyssa Dering. I liked the writing and the flow of the book. The characters were unique and had unique abilities—like for the vampires, blood replaces all bodily fluids, like sweat, tears, and well you get the idea.
I thought some parts of the book could have been explored a little bit more to round out the story—like his relationship with Erica and Theo. I also wasn’t a fan of the fact that the story just ends at the end. There is an epilogue at the end, but it just makes the book feel like it’s the first book in a new series. But I would have figured that if the author was going to write another book about this couple or this world that she would have done it by now since it’s been over a year since this book was written. And that makes me a little bit sad because up until the end, the book was great.
I liked Lane. He’s a newborn vampire that is still learning how to control his thirst and feed safely. He’s been left in the care of his den mates while his maker, Theo, attends a yearlong summit meeting in Switzerland. Lane is struggling with abandonment issues which is understandable. Two years ago, his faithless boyfriend took his life and now Lane’s maker has also left him behind. All Lane wants are arms to hold him and enough warm blood to satisfy his voracious appetite. Trying to fill the hole that’s been left by the absence of his master, Lane goes to a shifter party and is drawn to a hunky Alpha werewolf who tries to console him.
I also liked Parker. He’s an alpha werewolf that wants to be more than a thoughtless hookup. Since his family disowned him for finding boys just as hot as girls, all he wants is to find someone to love and look after. While at a shifter party, he meets a sweet little vamp that calls to his protective instincts and that he thinks might be his mate. But he’s a little on the jumpy side, and Parker has his work cut out trying to convince Lane to give a relationship between them a chance. Cuddling with boys is new and delicious, but Parker isn’t too sure when Lane also wants to use him as a food source—things are about to get complicated.
However, vampires and shifters aren’t supposed to get along, and Parker’s rough dominance triggers bad memories for Lane. But Parker’s wolf wants Lane, and he knows that he can give Lane what he needs. Can Lane learn to navigate his past and give the thing growing between them a chance? Or will the very real possibilities of heartache, abandonment, and even death, keep them apart?
The book is worth reading to find out the answers even if the end still leaves something to be desired.
***The ARC was provided by NineStar Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
Fangs Like Me is the first book that I have read by Lyssa Dering. I liked the writing and the flow of the book. The characters were unique and had unique abilities—like for the vampires, blood replaces all bodily fluids, like sweat, tears, and well you get the idea.
I thought some parts of the book could have been explored a little bit more to round out the story—like his relationship with Erica and Theo. I also wasn’t a fan of the fact that the story just ends at the end. There is an epilogue at the end, but it just makes the book feel like it’s the first book in a new series. But I would have figured that if the author was going to write another book about this couple or this world that she would have done it by now since it’s been over a year since this book was written. And that makes me a little bit sad because up until the end, the book was great.
I liked Lane. He’s a newborn vampire that is still learning how to control his thirst and feed safely. He’s been left in the care of his den mates while his maker, Theo, attends a yearlong summit meeting in Switzerland. Lane is struggling with abandonment issues which is understandable. Two years ago, his faithless boyfriend took his life and now Lane’s maker has also left him behind. All Lane wants are arms to hold him and enough warm blood to satisfy his voracious appetite. Trying to fill the hole that’s been left by the absence of his master, Lane goes to a shifter party and is drawn to a hunky Alpha werewolf who tries to console him.
I also liked Parker. He’s an alpha werewolf that wants to be more than a thoughtless hookup. Since his family disowned him for finding boys just as hot as girls, all he wants is to find someone to love and look after. While at a shifter party, he meets a sweet little vamp that calls to his protective instincts and that he thinks might be his mate. But he’s a little on the jumpy side, and Parker has his work cut out trying to convince Lane to give a relationship between them a chance. Cuddling with boys is new and delicious, but Parker isn’t too sure when Lane also wants to use him as a food source—things are about to get complicated.
However, vampires and shifters aren’t supposed to get along, and Parker’s rough dominance triggers bad memories for Lane. But Parker’s wolf wants Lane, and he knows that he can give Lane what he needs. Can Lane learn to navigate his past and give the thing growing between them a chance? Or will the very real possibilities of heartache, abandonment, and even death, keep them apart?
The book is worth reading to find out the answers even if the end still leaves something to be desired.
***The ARC was provided by NineStar Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
Read
March 25, 20173.5 stars rounded up
https://justlovereviews.com/2017/03/2...
Well, that was different.
I’m not sure I’ve come across two more anxiety-ridden paranormal creatures than Lane and Parker. And to be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about that either.
Both Lane and Parker do have very good reasons for being a bit traumatized. Lane is a ‘babyvamp’ who hasn’t quite shaken off the trauma of trusting the wrong vampire. When he meets shifter, Parker, he realizes his memories are closer to the surface than he thought.
Never mind the risk to his heart. Never mind the risk of getting close to another guy with fangs, which would inevitably bring everything back. How he’d trusted the wrong vampire. How he’d gotten to that lovely, dizzy place the came with feeding. But Adrian hadn’t stopped when he was supposed to. He’d taken all of Lane’s blood.
Parker too is dealing with his own demons, having left his pack behind when it was clear that his sexuality was a problem, especially to his father who expected Parker to have pack of his own one day.
Parker’s dad was almost always disappointed about something, but Parker not being “man enough” to take on the breeding mantle and start up a pack of his own was the gravest offense. [Parker] told him he couldn’t see himself breeding in the first place. Couldn’t see himself with a woman, even. Couldn’t see himself with a wolf.
So yeah, they both have their reasons for being a bit angsty about things. It’s just that…Lane is just so extra about everything. He reads as very emotionally immature and I’m not sure if that’s because of all of his big FEELINGS or that’s the way the author wrote him but, gods, at times he can get a little tiring.
Added in to all the angst, Lane’s maker, Theo, is away from home and Lane is feeling emotionally vulnerable, the separation causing havoc with their sire/sired bond. As Lane is still a new vampire, his need for Theo’s physical presence is strong, but Theo only sparingly provides the kind of intimacy Lane craves. This results in Lane being even more needy, which causes him to be more emotional, which causes me to want to tell him to put his big girl pants on. Urgh.
Aside from that, though, I kinda dug this book. Yeah, I know – I’m just as surprised as you are. The idea of a vampire and a shifter making a go of things is actually kind of intriguing. The whole ‘knotting’ aspect of shifter sex always freaks me out a little, but it totally makes sense here, especially if your partner is a vampire who can heal the extra, er, stretching, quickly and easily.
This book won’t appeal to everyone. Aside from the aforementioned knotting and the general emo-ness, there are elements of BDSM, biting and the whole wolf ‘claiming’ thing. But if some of those things work for you, I suggest giving this book a shot. It’s got a different kind of vibe than a lot of books I’ve read, but that alone might make this book worth reading.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review
https://justlovereviews.com/2017/03/2...
Well, that was different.
I’m not sure I’ve come across two more anxiety-ridden paranormal creatures than Lane and Parker. And to be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about that either.
Both Lane and Parker do have very good reasons for being a bit traumatized. Lane is a ‘babyvamp’ who hasn’t quite shaken off the trauma of trusting the wrong vampire. When he meets shifter, Parker, he realizes his memories are closer to the surface than he thought.
Never mind the risk to his heart. Never mind the risk of getting close to another guy with fangs, which would inevitably bring everything back. How he’d trusted the wrong vampire. How he’d gotten to that lovely, dizzy place the came with feeding. But Adrian hadn’t stopped when he was supposed to. He’d taken all of Lane’s blood.
Parker too is dealing with his own demons, having left his pack behind when it was clear that his sexuality was a problem, especially to his father who expected Parker to have pack of his own one day.
Parker’s dad was almost always disappointed about something, but Parker not being “man enough” to take on the breeding mantle and start up a pack of his own was the gravest offense. [Parker] told him he couldn’t see himself breeding in the first place. Couldn’t see himself with a woman, even. Couldn’t see himself with a wolf.
So yeah, they both have their reasons for being a bit angsty about things. It’s just that…Lane is just so extra about everything. He reads as very emotionally immature and I’m not sure if that’s because of all of his big FEELINGS or that’s the way the author wrote him but, gods, at times he can get a little tiring.
Added in to all the angst, Lane’s maker, Theo, is away from home and Lane is feeling emotionally vulnerable, the separation causing havoc with their sire/sired bond. As Lane is still a new vampire, his need for Theo’s physical presence is strong, but Theo only sparingly provides the kind of intimacy Lane craves. This results in Lane being even more needy, which causes him to be more emotional, which causes me to want to tell him to put his big girl pants on. Urgh.
Aside from that, though, I kinda dug this book. Yeah, I know – I’m just as surprised as you are. The idea of a vampire and a shifter making a go of things is actually kind of intriguing. The whole ‘knotting’ aspect of shifter sex always freaks me out a little, but it totally makes sense here, especially if your partner is a vampire who can heal the extra, er, stretching, quickly and easily.
This book won’t appeal to everyone. Aside from the aforementioned knotting and the general emo-ness, there are elements of BDSM, biting and the whole wolf ‘claiming’ thing. But if some of those things work for you, I suggest giving this book a shot. It’s got a different kind of vibe than a lot of books I’ve read, but that alone might make this book worth reading.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review
April 7, 2017
For a short work, this story had an incredible scope. Our protagonist, Lane, is a baby vamp, freshly killed and turned two years ago. He’s trained and protected by his vampire family, who become a bit nervous when he starts hanging out with shifters at parties. Still dealing with posttraumatic stress disorder from being killed by a past boyfriend, Lane is struggling with any type of violence, abandonment, bloodlust, and all kinds of domination, and shifters have been known to be a rowdy bunch. Lane’s maker leaves for a conference across seas, and it’s sort of a perfect storm when Lane stumbles upon Parker, a wolf shifter, and the two hit it off.
Parker is dealing with his own issues. Though packs are supposed to be tight-knit, Parker was ostracized for being bisexual, something that shouldn’t have make his family turn away from him, but did. When he meets Lane, it’s almost the last thing he needed. On top of that, he can’t help but be slightly forceful and growly around him, now that he and his wolf know who he wants as his mate.
Though there was romance, I wouldn’t call this story a Romance. There’s a hefty amount of vampire and shifter history that goes into this piece, and it seems as if paranormal culture has been experiencing some troubles in their world and could do with an update. The majority of Lane’s issues have less to do with Parker and more to do with Lane’s unresolved posttraumatic stress and the fact that he doesn’t feel loved or cared for by his maker, which is another symptom of those larger vampire cultural issues.
I hadn’t paid much attention to how long (or short) this work was when I picked it up, so I was incredibly jarred when the end snuck up on me, and with the blurb asking, “Can Lane learn to navigate his past and give the thing growing between them a chance?” I guess I was expecting some sort of romantic resolution. Instead, I got an incredibly touching and poignant scene, which made me reevaluate the burning question and what this story was truly about. That isn’t bad, necessarily, but more of a friendly heads up for those of you who may have been interested in an easy Paranormal Romance, which this isn’t.
There’s a lot to unpack in this novella, and at the very least it was unique and gave me pause. I say it’s perfect for anyone who loves something other than your typical shifter story, such as myself. Give it a go and let me know what you think.
Reviewed by Ben for The Novel Approach Reviews
Parker is dealing with his own issues. Though packs are supposed to be tight-knit, Parker was ostracized for being bisexual, something that shouldn’t have make his family turn away from him, but did. When he meets Lane, it’s almost the last thing he needed. On top of that, he can’t help but be slightly forceful and growly around him, now that he and his wolf know who he wants as his mate.
Though there was romance, I wouldn’t call this story a Romance. There’s a hefty amount of vampire and shifter history that goes into this piece, and it seems as if paranormal culture has been experiencing some troubles in their world and could do with an update. The majority of Lane’s issues have less to do with Parker and more to do with Lane’s unresolved posttraumatic stress and the fact that he doesn’t feel loved or cared for by his maker, which is another symptom of those larger vampire cultural issues.
I hadn’t paid much attention to how long (or short) this work was when I picked it up, so I was incredibly jarred when the end snuck up on me, and with the blurb asking, “Can Lane learn to navigate his past and give the thing growing between them a chance?” I guess I was expecting some sort of romantic resolution. Instead, I got an incredibly touching and poignant scene, which made me reevaluate the burning question and what this story was truly about. That isn’t bad, necessarily, but more of a friendly heads up for those of you who may have been interested in an easy Paranormal Romance, which this isn’t.
There’s a lot to unpack in this novella, and at the very least it was unique and gave me pause. I say it’s perfect for anyone who loves something other than your typical shifter story, such as myself. Give it a go and let me know what you think.
Reviewed by Ben for The Novel Approach Reviews
May 15, 2016
★★★☆☆½ ~ 3.5 Stars
Interesting take on werewolf/vampire tale. The most distracting part though was that it needed more editing so I was correcting in my mind.
Interesting take on werewolf/vampire tale. The most distracting part though was that it needed more editing so I was correcting in my mind.
March 16, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
Hot vampire? Check! Sexy wolf shifter? Check! Interspecies romance that makes my heart pound? Check and check! When I saw the blurb for Fangs Like Me, I jumped all over it, and although there were some parts I had issues with, I wasn’t disappointed.
I felt so bad for Lane. Not only did he have to deal with being “killed” by his ex, but he had to cope with being a new vampire and all that comes along with it…learning to feed being a big one. He worshipped Theo, his maker, and is devastated when Theo leaves him for a year. It wasn’t a romantic love, but it was a powerful love, and Lane was suffering the agony of abandonment. He has his denmates and his friend Heather, but he feels completely alone.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
Hot vampire? Check! Sexy wolf shifter? Check! Interspecies romance that makes my heart pound? Check and check! When I saw the blurb for Fangs Like Me, I jumped all over it, and although there were some parts I had issues with, I wasn’t disappointed.
I felt so bad for Lane. Not only did he have to deal with being “killed” by his ex, but he had to cope with being a new vampire and all that comes along with it…learning to feed being a big one. He worshipped Theo, his maker, and is devastated when Theo leaves him for a year. It wasn’t a romantic love, but it was a powerful love, and Lane was suffering the agony of abandonment. He has his denmates and his friend Heather, but he feels completely alone.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
August 29, 2024
Esse livro me deixou muito desconfortável porque ele é muito unilateral, o coitado do Parker ama sozinho. O Lane ama o Theo e continua apaixonado por ele até fim, nada no livro indica o contrário, ele só sabe que não tem chances com o Theo então ele fica com o Parker, horrível. Morri de pena o tempo todo, não sei se a autora realmente queria contar essa história ou ela perdeu a mão e não soube voltar atrás porque não importou quantas vezes o Lane falou que amava o Parker as únicas vezes que amor foi realmente descrito no livro da parte dele foi quando ele estava pensando nos sentimentos dele pelo Theo. Achei mais triste do que se eles tivessem terminado separados. Se foi a intenção da autora: 5 estrelas, mas vai levar 1 porque eu DUVIDO que era a intenção.
May 11, 2017
I absolutely adore the fact that we have two young characters. Especially the fact that Lane is a newbie vampire. Not a centuries old wise one with all the answers. He's young and makes mistakes.
Parker is an alpha werewolf who was thrown out of his pack for breaking off the relationship with his chosen mate.
Two misfits find each other at a shifter party and then the story begins....
You can see my full review on my website: http://christinasbookshelf.net/2017/0...
Parker is an alpha werewolf who was thrown out of his pack for breaking off the relationship with his chosen mate.
Two misfits find each other at a shifter party and then the story begins....
You can see my full review on my website: http://christinasbookshelf.net/2017/0...
January 25, 2018
I really enjoyed this book and I wish it had been longer and/or had a sequel. Vampire/Shifter is win/win. For me, it was the perfect combination of vulnerable hurt guy and sweet but possessive dominating Alpha type. For a book that has a lot of "hurt/comfort" (my favorite theme) to it, they make a perfect match. I loved how intense but gentle Parker was with Lane, and Lane's relationship with Theo added an interesting element to the story.
Plus, let's admit it, it's nice to read a shifter book with knotting and do a good job with it! This is erotica/romance after all...
Plus, let's admit it, it's nice to read a shifter book with knotting and do a good job with it! This is erotica/romance after all...
February 23, 2019
Same as my review for Babyvamp (below) but even more so, really liked all the negotiation about how their conflicting worlds (vamp & shifter) could work together. Hugely satisfying.
(Rich, interesting world and characters, subtle and nuanced, kept drawing me in - how will they let down their guard safely with such dangerous emotions and in such a dangerous world? Relieved and satisfied at how they worked things out.)
(Rich, interesting world and characters, subtle and nuanced, kept drawing me in - how will they let down their guard safely with such dangerous emotions and in such a dangerous world? Relieved and satisfied at how they worked things out.)
May 19, 2017
It's a teenagery romance with one bratty, attention-starved/seeking baby vampire and one nice but possessive alpha werewolf. Although the sex was definitely mature and kinky (knotting, biting, blood drinking).
May 26, 2017
First book by this author, really enjoyed the characteristics given to the vampires. Would be interested to see if author would do a book on Theo or even Erica since the changes that are happening post Parker and Lane's relationship.
December 4, 2017
2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Fangs Like Me Lyssa Dering
1) I totally bought the relationship between Lane & Parker, (Vampire & Wolf). The story, as a whole, was okay, but not full of the fire as I expected. The ending, not so much. It seemed like there was so much more to it.
1) I totally bought the relationship between Lane & Parker, (Vampire & Wolf). The story, as a whole, was okay, but not full of the fire as I expected. The ending, not so much. It seemed like there was so much more to it.
July 4, 2017
Not for me. Plot could have been a lot tighter and the characters were too weak. With some work, this could be a great read.
October 19, 2018
3.75 *
December 10, 2019
3.5 stars.
March 20, 2017
Vampires live forever and shifters don't. So it's not a HEA?
April 9, 2016
Rounded up from 3.5.
It's taken me a bit to digest this one. There were parts I liked and parts that didn't really work for me, but overall, it was a good story that stood out. Let's work through this:
1. The characters. I preferred Lane the vampire over Parker the werewolf and I liked both of them better in the second part of the story. The first few chapters, I couldn't really figure out Lane's deal. He was so hot and cold. He's suffered a trauma and still not figured out the whole new born vampire thing, so once I understood his PTSD I better understood where he was coming from. I felt like he was a stronger character, but his voice did sound a little immature at times. Possibly that's on purpose. Parker didn't feel as fleshed out, but I liked him once the two characters actually got together.
2. The plot. There isn't much of one. This is more of a character study. Which was totally fine by me. The relationship between the two of them is strong enough to carry the story.
3. World building. This was the weakest part of the book for me. Lots of questions that remained unanswered. Are humans aware of these supernatural creatures? Maybe it said somewhere, but I didn't catch it if it did. Which seems strange, because the story is crawling with shifters and vamps. They have parties all the time. There's no real discussion of how the two... species? races? whatever... interact aside from a few individual characters proclaiming their prejudice or lack thereof. There's some discussion about the vampire social dynamics, but largely leaves shifter society unexplained. I would have liked that to be more explored. It remains unclear to me how exactly the supernatural society functions, aside the from the 20-somethings partying a lot. Also, there's pretty much only 20-somethings and then older authority figures that for the most part are a total drag. Nothing else.
4. Theo - I loved Theo. His relationship with Lane was one of my favorite parts. I'm excited to see that the next book in the series is about him.
5. Other supporting vampires - Again, for me this could have been more developed. I wish it had been more clearly explained how a vampire nest is organized. I love vampires, and I wanted more of them. I really liked Erica.
6. Other supporting shifters - You know, there weren't a ton of supporting characters in this book, but I'm sorry to say that I nonetheless had a difficult time differentiating between the shifters. There was a cat shifter and a mouse shifter and two shifters that were constantly having sex, but I couldn't really tell them apart.
7. Which leads me to.... the cat and mouse incident. Whoa. That just... didn't work for me.
8. The sex. Be aware that there are some elements that might be considered dub con. Shifters, in their rut/heat lose their human awareness, so while Lane does consent, he's physically incapable of stopping Parker from hurting him. And yes, Parker the werewolf goes into rut. There's knotting. The author writes a good sex scene, that's for sure.
9. The dialogue. Excellent. The author does a great job of making the MCs feel and speak like real people.
10. Pacing. Excellent. Not rushed at all. This story unfolds very organically, giving the characters plenty of time to develop their connect to each other. There's no forced insta-love here - these two guys genuinely build a relationship from scratch.
This review might be a little nit-picky. I really did enjoy the book. This is a story about two imperfect people falling in love and I will for sure read it again. And I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
It's taken me a bit to digest this one. There were parts I liked and parts that didn't really work for me, but overall, it was a good story that stood out. Let's work through this:
1. The characters. I preferred Lane the vampire over Parker the werewolf and I liked both of them better in the second part of the story. The first few chapters, I couldn't really figure out Lane's deal. He was so hot and cold. He's suffered a trauma and still not figured out the whole new born vampire thing, so once I understood his PTSD I better understood where he was coming from. I felt like he was a stronger character, but his voice did sound a little immature at times. Possibly that's on purpose. Parker didn't feel as fleshed out, but I liked him once the two characters actually got together.
2. The plot. There isn't much of one. This is more of a character study. Which was totally fine by me. The relationship between the two of them is strong enough to carry the story.
3. World building. This was the weakest part of the book for me. Lots of questions that remained unanswered. Are humans aware of these supernatural creatures? Maybe it said somewhere, but I didn't catch it if it did. Which seems strange, because the story is crawling with shifters and vamps. They have parties all the time. There's no real discussion of how the two... species? races? whatever... interact aside from a few individual characters proclaiming their prejudice or lack thereof. There's some discussion about the vampire social dynamics, but largely leaves shifter society unexplained. I would have liked that to be more explored. It remains unclear to me how exactly the supernatural society functions, aside the from the 20-somethings partying a lot. Also, there's pretty much only 20-somethings and then older authority figures that for the most part are a total drag. Nothing else.
4. Theo - I loved Theo. His relationship with Lane was one of my favorite parts. I'm excited to see that the next book in the series is about him.
5. Other supporting vampires - Again, for me this could have been more developed. I wish it had been more clearly explained how a vampire nest is organized. I love vampires, and I wanted more of them. I really liked Erica.
6. Other supporting shifters - You know, there weren't a ton of supporting characters in this book, but I'm sorry to say that I nonetheless had a difficult time differentiating between the shifters. There was a cat shifter and a mouse shifter and two shifters that were constantly having sex, but I couldn't really tell them apart.
7. Which leads me to.... the cat and mouse incident. Whoa. That just... didn't work for me.
8. The sex. Be aware that there are some elements that might be considered dub con. Shifters, in their rut/heat lose their human awareness, so while Lane does consent, he's physically incapable of stopping Parker from hurting him. And yes, Parker the werewolf goes into rut. There's knotting. The author writes a good sex scene, that's for sure.
9. The dialogue. Excellent. The author does a great job of making the MCs feel and speak like real people.
10. Pacing. Excellent. Not rushed at all. This story unfolds very organically, giving the characters plenty of time to develop their connect to each other. There's no forced insta-love here - these two guys genuinely build a relationship from scratch.
This review might be a little nit-picky. I really did enjoy the book. This is a story about two imperfect people falling in love and I will for sure read it again. And I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 5, 2016
**Originally Posted on Kiki's Kinky Picks**
Reviewed by Brandy
I got the pleasure of plunging into a new to me authors world of Fangs Like Me by Lyssa Dering. I was in awe of her ability to build a world of darkness where the paranormal MC’s lived. There was a grittiness to her descriptions that really appealed to me.
The only thing that concerned me was that I was unable to really grasp where exactly this book took place. Because I know what Euchre is, thanks to my husband being from Michigan, I kind of figured that it took place in a city in Michigan. If the author had mentioned which city it was too fleeting for my mind to actually grasp.
I really loved the characters in this book. Parker, who is a werewolf, was a really strong character. He is an alpha wolf who came out to his parents and is living on his own and meets the vampirebaby Lane. Automatically, he is drawn to Lane and his aura of sadness. I really liked that about Parker.
Lane, was not my favorite character, but I still have a soft spot for him. The way that he found eternal life was horrifying and I am really glad that his Master found him and saved him. However, I felt Lane was overly dramatic, and extra angsty. Although, if you think about it, perhaps that’s just the way babyvamps are their first few hundreds years after being changed.
All together, this book was fun to read and had me hoping for a sequel! The world build up is fantastic and the MCs, as well as the supporting characters, were wonderfully colorful. I gave this a 4 star as a few things within the story got a bit muddled and I had to reread a few bits to figure out what was trying to come across. Ultimately, I enjoyed getting to know Lane and Parker and look forward to more from Lyssa Dering! Highly recommend to fans of the paranormal genre!
Copy provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Reviewed by Brandy
I got the pleasure of plunging into a new to me authors world of Fangs Like Me by Lyssa Dering. I was in awe of her ability to build a world of darkness where the paranormal MC’s lived. There was a grittiness to her descriptions that really appealed to me.
The only thing that concerned me was that I was unable to really grasp where exactly this book took place. Because I know what Euchre is, thanks to my husband being from Michigan, I kind of figured that it took place in a city in Michigan. If the author had mentioned which city it was too fleeting for my mind to actually grasp.
I really loved the characters in this book. Parker, who is a werewolf, was a really strong character. He is an alpha wolf who came out to his parents and is living on his own and meets the vampirebaby Lane. Automatically, he is drawn to Lane and his aura of sadness. I really liked that about Parker.
Lane, was not my favorite character, but I still have a soft spot for him. The way that he found eternal life was horrifying and I am really glad that his Master found him and saved him. However, I felt Lane was overly dramatic, and extra angsty. Although, if you think about it, perhaps that’s just the way babyvamps are their first few hundreds years after being changed.
All together, this book was fun to read and had me hoping for a sequel! The world build up is fantastic and the MCs, as well as the supporting characters, were wonderfully colorful. I gave this a 4 star as a few things within the story got a bit muddled and I had to reread a few bits to figure out what was trying to come across. Ultimately, I enjoyed getting to know Lane and Parker and look forward to more from Lyssa Dering! Highly recommend to fans of the paranormal genre!
Copy provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 19, 2017
Interesting twist
Lane and Parker had to fight against prejudices from both of their respective groups to be together. The shifters didn't trust vampires, and the vampires feared shifters.
While I thought that we got a very good insight into how Lane and Parker dealt wtih it between themselves, I didn't feel that the external, societal, pressures on the couple were as complete. It's like no one accepted them until, suddenly, everyone did with no real transistion between the two states.
My favorite part of this book had to have been the break from the standard shifter/vampire trope. The paranormal magic in this book seemed to be species specific such that Lane doesn't feel the mating bond and Parker remains mortal. Despite that, they find happiness with one another.
Lane and Parker had to fight against prejudices from both of their respective groups to be together. The shifters didn't trust vampires, and the vampires feared shifters.
While I thought that we got a very good insight into how Lane and Parker dealt wtih it between themselves, I didn't feel that the external, societal, pressures on the couple were as complete. It's like no one accepted them until, suddenly, everyone did with no real transistion between the two states.
My favorite part of this book had to have been the break from the standard shifter/vampire trope. The paranormal magic in this book seemed to be species specific such that Lane doesn't feel the mating bond and Parker remains mortal. Despite that, they find happiness with one another.
October 15, 2018
A cute vampire/werewolf romance that left me wanting more of the story. Would have like to see more interaction between Lane, a very young vampire, and Theo, his maker. Also more interaction between Heather, Lane's bast friend, and Lane. it seemed everyone was leaving Lane to find his way without a lot of communication or compassion other than Patrick so Lane was starving for love.
April 24, 2016
*2.5 stars*
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