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Holidays of Love
Fangscreen
Summer bites.
What could be more pathetic than a vampire trapped on a tropical island? Jareth Hale despises everything about his exile to Samaná from the tourists’ necks slathered in sunscreen to the blaring sun overhead. He’ll do anything to return to his vampire castle in the forest until he falls onto Laiken, a sun-kissed beach himbo.
Laiken is sweeter than spun sugar and hotter than Adonis in a Jacuzzi. He’s perfect…except for one tiny thing. He is a vampire hunter—possibly. Jareth isn’t certain. Despite his vampire leader and ex telling him to stay away, Jareth believes flushing out this nest of hunters will earn him back his castle. And, if it keeps him in the orbit of the adorable, golden-skinned Laiken, then all the better.
Unbeknownst to him, Laiken is hiding a secret that will change everything in Jareth’s undeath. All Jareth thought he wanted and deserved was solitude, but Laiken’s opening his eyes to a whole new world. Can an old vampire open his heart and coffin in time to catch this impossible love?
What could be more pathetic than a vampire trapped on a tropical island? Jareth Hale despises everything about his exile to Samaná from the tourists’ necks slathered in sunscreen to the blaring sun overhead. He’ll do anything to return to his vampire castle in the forest until he falls onto Laiken, a sun-kissed beach himbo.
Laiken is sweeter than spun sugar and hotter than Adonis in a Jacuzzi. He’s perfect…except for one tiny thing. He is a vampire hunter—possibly. Jareth isn’t certain. Despite his vampire leader and ex telling him to stay away, Jareth believes flushing out this nest of hunters will earn him back his castle. And, if it keeps him in the orbit of the adorable, golden-skinned Laiken, then all the better.
Unbeknownst to him, Laiken is hiding a secret that will change everything in Jareth’s undeath. All Jareth thought he wanted and deserved was solitude, but Laiken’s opening his eyes to a whole new world. Can an old vampire open his heart and coffin in time to catch this impossible love?
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2022
4 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Mint
48 books2,204 followersEllen Mint adores the adorkable heroes who charm with their shy smiles and heroines that pack a punch. She recently won the Top Ten Handmaid's Challenge on Wattpad where hers was chosen by Margaret Atwood. Her books, Undercover Siren and Fever are available at Amazon as well as a short story in the Lucky Between The Sheets anthology. Married, she lives in Nebraska with her dog named after Granny Weatherwax. Her hobbies include gaming, painting, and halloween prop making. The basement is full of skeletons because they ran out of room in the closets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
July 18, 2022
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - some books are just here for a good time, and Fangscreen is one of them.
Jareth and Laiken's story is sweet, spicy, and a whole lotta silly. Jareth is your textbook old-fashioned vampire - stuffy outfits, fanciful vocabulary, and not a glittery patch of skin in sight. Laiken, on the other hand, is a charming, sun-kissed Adonis with a heart as golden as his skin.
While the plot is fairly predictable, a few delightful little surprises are thrown in that make the story quirky and unique. I'm not gonna lie; there was totally a major plot point that I did not at all see coming, and it made the narrative so much more fun (especially the spicer scenes).
Though, there were a couple of things that I didn't quite like as much. For one, I love that their relationship is super sweet, but it sometimes verged on being cheesy or even a little cringey. Like, second-hand embarrassment cringey. Another thing would be Jareth's extensive verbiage. I did like that he sounded like a traditional Victorian-esque vampire in my head, and it made his dry, sardonic humor funny as hell, but there were moments where I felt like the author was trying a little too hard. It just felt like there was a complexity to some of the sentences that wasn't really needed, and it ended up making the scenes confusing. Luckily, that didn't mess too much with the overall story, but I think it could have been cleaned up a bit to provide more flow to their conversations.
Overall, though, I had a wonderful time reading this - it was such a cute and lighthearted story, and I'd be happy to read another book by this author!
Thank you, BookSirens, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Jareth and Laiken's story is sweet, spicy, and a whole lotta silly. Jareth is your textbook old-fashioned vampire - stuffy outfits, fanciful vocabulary, and not a glittery patch of skin in sight. Laiken, on the other hand, is a charming, sun-kissed Adonis with a heart as golden as his skin.
While the plot is fairly predictable, a few delightful little surprises are thrown in that make the story quirky and unique. I'm not gonna lie; there was totally a major plot point that I did not at all see coming, and it made the narrative so much more fun (especially the spicer scenes).
Though, there were a couple of things that I didn't quite like as much. For one, I love that their relationship is super sweet, but it sometimes verged on being cheesy or even a little cringey. Like, second-hand embarrassment cringey. Another thing would be Jareth's extensive verbiage. I did like that he sounded like a traditional Victorian-esque vampire in my head, and it made his dry, sardonic humor funny as hell, but there were moments where I felt like the author was trying a little too hard. It just felt like there was a complexity to some of the sentences that wasn't really needed, and it ended up making the scenes confusing. Luckily, that didn't mess too much with the overall story, but I think it could have been cleaned up a bit to provide more flow to their conversations.
Overall, though, I had a wonderful time reading this - it was such a cute and lighthearted story, and I'd be happy to read another book by this author!
Thank you, BookSirens, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 27, 2022
This is a lighthearted story about a moody, grumpy, socially awkward vampire stuck on a sunny island and a himbo dude he meets there. It is a silly, fun, all-vibes-no-thoughts book that really surprised me with how much I enjoyed it.
This story is told from a single POV, the one of Jareth, the vampire MC. His voice is very particular and uses a lot of overtly flowery prose, kind of a parody of how you'd imagine a Victorian-era vampire would talk. It was a little jarring at first but I got used to it quickly, and the dry humor of it made for a lot of fun quotes. This book was honestly funny without trying too hard.
The first few chapters are a little slow, but the pace does pick up a lot. Even then, I was charmed from the beginning, which surprised me, because I've been having difficulty getting into books recently. I think a big part of the charm of this book is that it's not pretending to be anything more than it is. Of course, the romance is super fluffy and borderline cheesy, but it really fits the book's overall tone. The supernatural lore was fun without becoming heavy-handed. The plot even had a few twists and turns I couldn't predict!
I received a free copy of this book and am providing my honest review voluntarily.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
This story is told from a single POV, the one of Jareth, the vampire MC. His voice is very particular and uses a lot of overtly flowery prose, kind of a parody of how you'd imagine a Victorian-era vampire would talk. It was a little jarring at first but I got used to it quickly, and the dry humor of it made for a lot of fun quotes. This book was honestly funny without trying too hard.
The first few chapters are a little slow, but the pace does pick up a lot. Even then, I was charmed from the beginning, which surprised me, because I've been having difficulty getting into books recently. I think a big part of the charm of this book is that it's not pretending to be anything more than it is. Of course, the romance is super fluffy and borderline cheesy, but it really fits the book's overall tone. The supernatural lore was fun without becoming heavy-handed. The plot even had a few twists and turns I couldn't predict!
I received a free copy of this book and am providing my honest review voluntarily.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
July 17, 2022
3.5 stars. Jareth is exiled to a tropical island, sounds great yes? No! Not for a vampire, the sun is deadly for him.
No one, not even a dragon, was more protective of their land than a vampire.
And there is Laiken, trespassing! Jareth is impressed by his beauty, and can’t get him out of his mind.
Laiken has a secret, and that was a surprising one!
Their two worlds entwined. A sweet romance blooms. Jareth loves Laiken, when danger threatens them, a decision is easily made.
It was a sweet but chaotic story, my mind couldn’t handle it at times. I even lost the clue here and there, luckily I could follow the big storyline.
The characters were great, a grumpy vampire and Laiken being sweet quite the opposite.
There are some hilarious acts, I grinned and snorted.
Overall a nicely written, super silly fantasy story with Jareth the vampire and his sweet beautiful Laiken.
No one, not even a dragon, was more protective of their land than a vampire.
And there is Laiken, trespassing! Jareth is impressed by his beauty, and can’t get him out of his mind.
Laiken has a secret, and that was a surprising one!
Their two worlds entwined. A sweet romance blooms. Jareth loves Laiken, when danger threatens them, a decision is easily made.
It was a sweet but chaotic story, my mind couldn’t handle it at times. I even lost the clue here and there, luckily I could follow the big storyline.
The characters were great, a grumpy vampire and Laiken being sweet quite the opposite.
There are some hilarious acts, I grinned and snorted.
Overall a nicely written, super silly fantasy story with Jareth the vampire and his sweet beautiful Laiken.
July 11, 2022
Rating: 2.5/5.0
Everyone will need some sunscreen with this delightfully steamy rom-com. Is it a rom-com, though?
Read full review in the 2022 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Everyone will need some sunscreen with this delightfully steamy rom-com. Is it a rom-com, though?
Read full review in the 2022 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine.
May 19, 2022
Though I’m not an expert on the genre, I’ve read enough to know that Vampires and Tropical Islands don’t exactly go together. The truth is that it’s the last place I’d expect to find one. That was until I read an advanced copy of ‘Fangscreen’ by Ellen Mint.
Jareth Hale isn’t your typical vampire. Exiled from his castle in the Carpathian Mountains because of a bet that he lost, he’s struggling with the island’s tropical environment. Also, he’s never been too thrilled with the idea of draining the blood of innocent victims. Making things worse, when he does attempt to feed, his victim’s skin is usually saturated with sunscreen and the taste of coconut.
His mood appreciably lightens when he sees Laiken for the first time. The sight of Laiken is sweeter than spun sugar and hotter than Adonis in a Jacuzzi. He’s perfect…except for one tiny thing.
Unfortunately for Jareth that one thing is that his Adonis may in fact be a vampire hunter. Despite this, he does things to the old vampire, that Jareth hadn’t thought possible. As a way of seeing more of him, Jareth decides to throw a party, all the while ignoring the possibility that the man, he desires may in fact want to kill him.
It took me a couple of chapters to get into the book, but I’m glad that I didn’t give up. ‘Fangscreen,’ though the plot sounds absurd, really delivers. The characters are good, and I love Jareth’s on-line interactions with his vampire support group.
Though Fangscreen is at heart a romance, the story’s told in a fresh and novel way that sets it apart from more traditional romcoms. Even if the reader’s not into vampires I’d still recommend this book.
Fangscreen is due for release on the 19th of July.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Jareth Hale isn’t your typical vampire. Exiled from his castle in the Carpathian Mountains because of a bet that he lost, he’s struggling with the island’s tropical environment. Also, he’s never been too thrilled with the idea of draining the blood of innocent victims. Making things worse, when he does attempt to feed, his victim’s skin is usually saturated with sunscreen and the taste of coconut.
His mood appreciably lightens when he sees Laiken for the first time. The sight of Laiken is sweeter than spun sugar and hotter than Adonis in a Jacuzzi. He’s perfect…except for one tiny thing.
Unfortunately for Jareth that one thing is that his Adonis may in fact be a vampire hunter. Despite this, he does things to the old vampire, that Jareth hadn’t thought possible. As a way of seeing more of him, Jareth decides to throw a party, all the while ignoring the possibility that the man, he desires may in fact want to kill him.
It took me a couple of chapters to get into the book, but I’m glad that I didn’t give up. ‘Fangscreen,’ though the plot sounds absurd, really delivers. The characters are good, and I love Jareth’s on-line interactions with his vampire support group.
Though Fangscreen is at heart a romance, the story’s told in a fresh and novel way that sets it apart from more traditional romcoms. Even if the reader’s not into vampires I’d still recommend this book.
Fangscreen is due for release on the 19th of July.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 19, 2022
Fangscreen is the fifth book in the Holidays of Love series. This is a stand alone story and the first book I have read from Ellen Mint.
Jareth Hale has been exiled from his castle in the Carpathian Mountains. Now trapped in a tropical island due to the bet he lost, he's been struggling with his existence. Enter Laiken, a manic pixie dream boy whose looks rivals that of Adonis and is sweeter than spun sugar, cheerful and bright as the sun that blazes over the island and unfortunately might be one of Jareth's worst nightmare - a vampire hunter. But things have their way of going in a direction one least expect and for Jareth, destiny seemed intent on doing that just for him.
This story turned out to be a delightful read - one of those books that's just here for a good time and Fangscreen delivered on that front. Jareth and his friends were a very interesting bunch. They're also definitely the old school type of vampires - affected by the sun, will be killed by a stake through the heart and they like. Jareth's brooding and very much a tortured soul due to his past. Throughout the story, he was able to find resolution to the things that has him doubting himself and got a new leash on life when he met Laiken.
Laiken on the other hand turned out to be quite a likeable character. He was adorable, naïve in some ways and surprisingly insightful in some aspects. He's the total opposite of Jareth with his optimism, charm and positive outlook in life. He turned out to be one of the highlights of the book for me.
The stylistic choice for Jareth's voice and the slow pacing on the early chapters made it a bit difficult to really get into the book, but eventually I was won over by the plot, the characters and the improved pacing later on.
If you're looking for a funny, romantic read with a dash of vampires thrown in the mix, I do recommend giving this book a try.
This would be 3.5 stars out of 5 stars for me.
I received an ARC of this book via GRR and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
Jareth Hale has been exiled from his castle in the Carpathian Mountains. Now trapped in a tropical island due to the bet he lost, he's been struggling with his existence. Enter Laiken, a manic pixie dream boy whose looks rivals that of Adonis and is sweeter than spun sugar, cheerful and bright as the sun that blazes over the island and unfortunately might be one of Jareth's worst nightmare - a vampire hunter. But things have their way of going in a direction one least expect and for Jareth, destiny seemed intent on doing that just for him.
This story turned out to be a delightful read - one of those books that's just here for a good time and Fangscreen delivered on that front. Jareth and his friends were a very interesting bunch. They're also definitely the old school type of vampires - affected by the sun, will be killed by a stake through the heart and they like. Jareth's brooding and very much a tortured soul due to his past. Throughout the story, he was able to find resolution to the things that has him doubting himself and got a new leash on life when he met Laiken.
Laiken on the other hand turned out to be quite a likeable character. He was adorable, naïve in some ways and surprisingly insightful in some aspects. He's the total opposite of Jareth with his optimism, charm and positive outlook in life. He turned out to be one of the highlights of the book for me.
The stylistic choice for Jareth's voice and the slow pacing on the early chapters made it a bit difficult to really get into the book, but eventually I was won over by the plot, the characters and the improved pacing later on.
If you're looking for a funny, romantic read with a dash of vampires thrown in the mix, I do recommend giving this book a try.
This would be 3.5 stars out of 5 stars for me.
I received an ARC of this book via GRR and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
July 10, 2022
I didn't expect much from this book and it sure delivered! Fairly lighthearted and silly - I mean, it's a romance between a vampire living in a beach house and some guy he meets while chasing partyers off his property. I also can't tell if I just didn't have the attention span to read a book from a vampire's fancy point of view or if the book was confusingly written but there were some parts where I just did not understand what was happening but skimming those and moving on didn't detract from the overall book. Anyway! A solid 3 star silly paranormal beach read for the undead. Oh, and most importantly, there is actually vampire sunscreen in the book so the title is accurate to the contents! SPF 2000 sunscreen for vampires!
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
April 7, 2022
I love reading a book where there is one surprise after another and we have to figure out what on earth is going on with the characters. Fangscreen, by Ellen Mint is one of those books. Creating a parody of old-school vampire lore where vampires exist as creatures who turn into bats and sleep in coffins, the author has penned a really sweet, warm-and-fuzzy story of rom-com love... with cell phones and chat cams.
Ms. Mint gives us bits and pieces of the plot as we read from one chapter to the next. A romance is slowly building between the two main protagonists, but who are they really? Why is one so self-loathing and the other has the naiveté of a child? The author builds the characters in such a way that our hearts go out to them as they seek what we all want, to be loved. There is some great snark, some non-gratuitous sexy time, some angst, some intense moments of drama, and a very satisfying amount of warm fuzziness with an HEA. This is a delightful story that deserves its own series but I am content with just this one.
Ms. Mint gives us bits and pieces of the plot as we read from one chapter to the next. A romance is slowly building between the two main protagonists, but who are they really? Why is one so self-loathing and the other has the naiveté of a child? The author builds the characters in such a way that our hearts go out to them as they seek what we all want, to be loved. There is some great snark, some non-gratuitous sexy time, some angst, some intense moments of drama, and a very satisfying amount of warm fuzziness with an HEA. This is a delightful story that deserves its own series but I am content with just this one.
July 26, 2022
3.5⭐️ This was a lighthearted & fast read perfect for summer. Jareth & Laiken's story was sweet & adorable.
Jareth is a Victorian vampire who was exiled from his land & he ended up moving to a tropical island & there, where he meets the charming golden skin Laiken.
The plot was interesting & I'll admit part of it I didn't see it coming. I don't want to spoil it to anyone but keep an eye on Laiken. You'll be surprised (at least I was😆)
Overall I really enjoyed it. It was silly, fun & cute to follow.
Ellen Mint is a new author to me & I'll look forward to reading more from her❤️.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book through BookSirens.
Jareth is a Victorian vampire who was exiled from his land & he ended up moving to a tropical island & there, where he meets the charming golden skin Laiken.
The plot was interesting & I'll admit part of it I didn't see it coming. I don't want to spoil it to anyone but keep an eye on Laiken. You'll be surprised (at least I was😆)
Overall I really enjoyed it. It was silly, fun & cute to follow.
Ellen Mint is a new author to me & I'll look forward to reading more from her❤️.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book through BookSirens.
July 8, 2022
Unusual but interesting storytelling. Didn't quite hit the comedy for me but the romance was super cute and Laiken a surprise highlight. I loved every page he was on with his simple joy and how much he cared for Jareth.
Jareth was a great mc and I loved the way all the vampire tropes were used to be a parody
Jareth was a great mc and I loved the way all the vampire tropes were used to be a parody
July 15, 2022
A vampire stuck on a tropical island? Sounds like the beginning of a joke. Instead it’s the result of a bet and Jareth Hale is forced to abandon his castle in the Carpathian Mountains for a tropical island. There, he meets mysterious and sexy Laiken. He’s also dealing with the possible return of hunters and Laiken is hiding something from him. This was a fun story, a cute rom-com with a few twists and turns to keep it interesting.
July 19, 2022
Fangscreen is a fun read. Jareth and Laiken’s story was sweet and steamy. Jareth is an old-fashioned vampire, kind of stuffy. Laiken is like sunshine, charming. Their story is quirky for lack of a better word, silly! Overall, a fun read, although the story was somewhat chaotic to me. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4
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July 7, 2022"Everyone will need some sunscreen with this delightfully steamy rom-com!"
Check out my full review at InD'tale Magazine:https://issuu.com/indtalemagazine/doc...
Check out my full review at InD'tale Magazine:https://issuu.com/indtalemagazine/doc...
July 20, 2022
ok, this was a very difficult read for me . i think it was meant to be fun and sweet, but I had real troubles connecting with Jared
on one hand it was sometimes a bit painful as he is a very old vampire, and I understand his inclination to not want to change but nevertheless ...
on the other hand his shy side was really sweet and sometimes hilarious.
Laiken was equally difficult for me as he seemed not only naive but sometimes a bit dumb - or maybe just oblivious.
all in all, is the story sometimes a bit difficult to follow and more of a romcom - so this will be a hit-and-miss book I think. either you love it or not.
an ARC was provided by GRR and I am happy to give my honest opinion
on one hand it was sometimes a bit painful as he is a very old vampire, and I understand his inclination to not want to change but nevertheless ...
on the other hand his shy side was really sweet and sometimes hilarious.
Laiken was equally difficult for me as he seemed not only naive but sometimes a bit dumb - or maybe just oblivious.
all in all, is the story sometimes a bit difficult to follow and more of a romcom - so this will be a hit-and-miss book I think. either you love it or not.
an ARC was provided by GRR and I am happy to give my honest opinion
September 27, 2022
I laughed out loud while I was reading FANGSCREEN. The interactions between the pale, formal, traditionally morose vampire and the sunny, smiling, very tanned and fit beach-dude, make for a very interesting “opposites attract” read. And when they do work things out enough to spend some time together, that’s when the author’s trademark steaminess makes for a very hot read—even if you’re not on an island paradise!
Jareth Hale has been alive for centuries, living in his Carpathian castle, lord of all he surveys. Unfortunately, as in his mortal life, he lacks self-esteem. He gets sent, ostensibly for his own good, to an island paradise to stay until it’s “safe” for him to return. As a vampire, he finds it hard to endure being on an island that’s hot and sunny for very long days—especially when the house he’s been given to live in is too small for his coffin to fit in any room. He has to park it out by the pool. Even hunting is difficult, when the riotous crowds on the beaches are drinking and carousing at all hours of the day and night. Picking one from the crowd to feed on leads to the horrific discovery of how terrible sunscreen tastes!
But he gains a new appreciation when he meets a group that includes Laiken, a blond, well-muscled young man with a naivety that astounds the world-weary vampire. Lake likes everyone—including the broody, pale young man who talks in flowery language that went out of fashion centuries ago. But Lake has a secret similar to Jareth’s. I loved Lake! His character is so sweet and loving that it’s hard to imagine anyone being immune to his charm. Jareth certainly isn’t. But will the 3 other vampires that are in nightly contact with Jareth allow him this chance for happiness?
*I received a copy of this book for an honest review, and gave it 4 1/2 stars-GR lacks 1/2 stars.
Fiona, Romance Junkies.
Jareth Hale has been alive for centuries, living in his Carpathian castle, lord of all he surveys. Unfortunately, as in his mortal life, he lacks self-esteem. He gets sent, ostensibly for his own good, to an island paradise to stay until it’s “safe” for him to return. As a vampire, he finds it hard to endure being on an island that’s hot and sunny for very long days—especially when the house he’s been given to live in is too small for his coffin to fit in any room. He has to park it out by the pool. Even hunting is difficult, when the riotous crowds on the beaches are drinking and carousing at all hours of the day and night. Picking one from the crowd to feed on leads to the horrific discovery of how terrible sunscreen tastes!
But he gains a new appreciation when he meets a group that includes Laiken, a blond, well-muscled young man with a naivety that astounds the world-weary vampire. Lake likes everyone—including the broody, pale young man who talks in flowery language that went out of fashion centuries ago. But Lake has a secret similar to Jareth’s. I loved Lake! His character is so sweet and loving that it’s hard to imagine anyone being immune to his charm. Jareth certainly isn’t. But will the 3 other vampires that are in nightly contact with Jareth allow him this chance for happiness?
*I received a copy of this book for an honest review, and gave it 4 1/2 stars-GR lacks 1/2 stars.
Fiona, Romance Junkies.
May 15, 2022
This book is like a weird mixture between Hotel Transylvania, Swiss Army Man, and The Sorrows of Young Werther. With MM protagonists. ( I would add another movie to this mix, but this would be a big spoiler.)
And there is gaslighting - I won't say anything more, but I think it deserved a trigger warning.
🌙 The Dracula (I'm sorry, Jareth) is very sad. A tortured soul, really. Everything is painful, he hates his life, and everything that he tries to do turns out to be a comedic failure. He is a book version of Vlad from Hotel Transylvania; instead of a daughter in love with a human, he has strong feelings towards men.
Laiken is sun incorporated, but with weird quirks towards darkness and turpism. He is a good Chad, with not a lot of brain cells, but a big heart.
They are a weird pair.
🌙 The plot is pretty basic. There are two, maybe three sudden changes of pace and direction that we, as an audience, expected - but in the end, it falls in classical tropes. Only one thing surprised me (and I mean REALLY surprised), and one thing made me angry (REALLY angry, but at the situation, not the book itself).
🌙 The feels in this book were... I can't say positive. Yes, the story is pretty funny, the characters are written and explained well, and it's easy to feel angry or sorry for them. At the same time, I couldn't exactly connect with them - maybe because of the comedic story, or maybe because of pretty disturbing descriptions of our narrator (and one of the MCs).
⭐ The writing itself was good. Disturbing, definitely, sometimes a little bit weirdly paced, but good nonetheless.
🌙 So, about this turpism... I understand why the author went with the "classic" type of vampire, who is more dead, than anything else. It does add a lot of humorous subtones, and it could be seen even as refreshing after all the new-shiny-sparkly-almost-humans. However, there is a limit of descriptions of a lifeless body and explanations of how it works (no blood flow, no fluids other than blood) after which the reader starts asking questions. And not good ones, no. The creepy ones, for example: so is the sperm also bloody?
...
Sometimes, just sometimes, less is actually more.
It's a story that has some very good ideas and some very bad ideas. It's a different story, but also a well-known story. It's not MY type of story, nor these are not my type of vampires, but it is worth checking. Even if only for the first big reveal, which changes... everything that a reader can expect from that type of book.
I received an ARC of this book from the Gay Romance Reviews, and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
And there is gaslighting - I won't say anything more, but I think it deserved a trigger warning.
🌙 The Dracula (I'm sorry, Jareth) is very sad. A tortured soul, really. Everything is painful, he hates his life, and everything that he tries to do turns out to be a comedic failure. He is a book version of Vlad from Hotel Transylvania; instead of a daughter in love with a human, he has strong feelings towards men.
Laiken is sun incorporated, but with weird quirks towards darkness and turpism. He is a good Chad, with not a lot of brain cells, but a big heart.
They are a weird pair.
🌙 The plot is pretty basic. There are two, maybe three sudden changes of pace and direction that we, as an audience, expected - but in the end, it falls in classical tropes. Only one thing surprised me (and I mean REALLY surprised), and one thing made me angry (REALLY angry, but at the situation, not the book itself).
🌙 The feels in this book were... I can't say positive. Yes, the story is pretty funny, the characters are written and explained well, and it's easy to feel angry or sorry for them. At the same time, I couldn't exactly connect with them - maybe because of the comedic story, or maybe because of pretty disturbing descriptions of our narrator (and one of the MCs).
⭐ The writing itself was good. Disturbing, definitely, sometimes a little bit weirdly paced, but good nonetheless.
🌙 So, about this turpism... I understand why the author went with the "classic" type of vampire, who is more dead, than anything else. It does add a lot of humorous subtones, and it could be seen even as refreshing after all the new-shiny-sparkly-almost-humans. However, there is a limit of descriptions of a lifeless body and explanations of how it works (no blood flow, no fluids other than blood) after which the reader starts asking questions. And not good ones, no. The creepy ones, for example: so is the sperm also bloody?
...
Sometimes, just sometimes, less is actually more.
It's a story that has some very good ideas and some very bad ideas. It's a different story, but also a well-known story. It's not MY type of story, nor these are not my type of vampires, but it is worth checking. Even if only for the first big reveal, which changes... everything that a reader can expect from that type of book.
I received an ARC of this book from the Gay Romance Reviews, and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
July 17, 2022
Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews and Ellen Mint for a review copy of this book
Fangscreen caught my attention because it was about vampires and this one didn’t disappoint. For starters I loved how the vampire tropes were being presented in a little bit of a campy way. It plays with the tropes of vampires in a way that felt fresh and not just rehashing the same things over and over. This might be because Jareth is exiled to a tropical island as a result of losing a bet, but either way I loved it.
I really liked Jareth as a character. He is moody and sad, pining over the vampire that turned him who treats him badly, and doesn’t have much of a life. He’s not the charming vampire that a lot of books would make you expect. He’s a bit awkward and doesn’t want to talk to any of the sunscreen covered tourists. I also really liked the discussion of toxic relationships. Vampire books often has these relationships that have a lot of power dynamics, and toxic dynamics. Jareth’s relationship with his sire is toxic and complicated and he’s struggling with it, whether he realizes it’s toxic or not.
I also loved Laiken. It was very much a grumpy/sunshine situation, that I really adore. Laiken is sweet and bubbly and curious. I love that he and Jareth created this friendship about shared interests and experiences, and it eventually developed over time. I think that this book was so lovely in talking about self-acceptance, moving on, leaving toxic relationships, and making your own way in the world.
I really enjoyed this book and I think if you like a campy vampire romance this is definitely the book for you.
Fangscreen caught my attention because it was about vampires and this one didn’t disappoint. For starters I loved how the vampire tropes were being presented in a little bit of a campy way. It plays with the tropes of vampires in a way that felt fresh and not just rehashing the same things over and over. This might be because Jareth is exiled to a tropical island as a result of losing a bet, but either way I loved it.
I really liked Jareth as a character. He is moody and sad, pining over the vampire that turned him who treats him badly, and doesn’t have much of a life. He’s not the charming vampire that a lot of books would make you expect. He’s a bit awkward and doesn’t want to talk to any of the sunscreen covered tourists. I also really liked the discussion of toxic relationships. Vampire books often has these relationships that have a lot of power dynamics, and toxic dynamics. Jareth’s relationship with his sire is toxic and complicated and he’s struggling with it, whether he realizes it’s toxic or not.
I also loved Laiken. It was very much a grumpy/sunshine situation, that I really adore. Laiken is sweet and bubbly and curious. I love that he and Jareth created this friendship about shared interests and experiences, and it eventually developed over time. I think that this book was so lovely in talking about self-acceptance, moving on, leaving toxic relationships, and making your own way in the world.
I really enjoyed this book and I think if you like a campy vampire romance this is definitely the book for you.
July 17, 2022
This was an enjoyable light read, quite original, sweet, sometimes funny, and not terribly predictable. I read it in about 3 sittings & would've done it in 2, if I hadn't had to do some adulting in between. I would definitely advise not reading any reviews with spoilers, which really would spoil the fun.
The story begins en medias res and at times, it is necessary to roll with only casual hints of how the world works and Jareth's history - it's worth it and the story is better for it. The story telling style takes for granted that OF COURSE you'd know certain bits of how vampires in this world function, because one SHOULD know these things, or at least that's how Jareth would feel about it, and it is told from Jareth's point of view. One isn't left COMPLETELY in the dark though, so no worries there. It just doesn't have much in the way of info dumps that some supernatural books can have.\
I found Jareth and Laiken, as well as the "good guy" side characters very endearing, and if this were book one of a m/m series involving this specific world and these characters, either on the side or as the main, I could see myself reading more.
(This is technically in the series, "Holidays of Love," but the books don't appear to be directly related & they aren't all m/m.)
I received an ARC of this book from GRR (Gay Romance Reviews) and have given my unbiased review freely.
The story begins en medias res and at times, it is necessary to roll with only casual hints of how the world works and Jareth's history - it's worth it and the story is better for it. The story telling style takes for granted that OF COURSE you'd know certain bits of how vampires in this world function, because one SHOULD know these things, or at least that's how Jareth would feel about it, and it is told from Jareth's point of view. One isn't left COMPLETELY in the dark though, so no worries there. It just doesn't have much in the way of info dumps that some supernatural books can have.\
I found Jareth and Laiken, as well as the "good guy" side characters very endearing, and if this were book one of a m/m series involving this specific world and these characters, either on the side or as the main, I could see myself reading more.
(This is technically in the series, "Holidays of Love," but the books don't appear to be directly related & they aren't all m/m.)
I received an ARC of this book from GRR (Gay Romance Reviews) and have given my unbiased review freely.
May 15, 2022
3.5 stars.
Jareth is a broody vampire. Even more so now he is stuck on a sunny tropical island. But things start to look up when he spots the golden haired himbo Laiken (Lake). Laiken is the opposite of Jareth, he is all smiles & friendliness..... but could that be a facade to hide being a vampire hunter or at least hanging around with vampire hunters... Jareth is encouraged by his vampire pals Fern, a seemingly lovely old lady & western cowboy Mack to get out there & have some fun. Jareth is still pinning for his old love but Laiken offers a gorgeous distraction to the moody castle life he left behind.
This was such a cute, funny story with gorgeous characters. I loved Jareth trying to live his life with all that sun. He had a savage inner monologue at times when someone annoyed him, but loved him getting all flustered when Laiken was around.
I haven't read the previous books in this series & didn't feel like was missing anything. Believe this is a standalone in the series. Does need another edit.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Jareth is a broody vampire. Even more so now he is stuck on a sunny tropical island. But things start to look up when he spots the golden haired himbo Laiken (Lake). Laiken is the opposite of Jareth, he is all smiles & friendliness..... but could that be a facade to hide being a vampire hunter or at least hanging around with vampire hunters... Jareth is encouraged by his vampire pals Fern, a seemingly lovely old lady & western cowboy Mack to get out there & have some fun. Jareth is still pinning for his old love but Laiken offers a gorgeous distraction to the moody castle life he left behind.
This was such a cute, funny story with gorgeous characters. I loved Jareth trying to live his life with all that sun. He had a savage inner monologue at times when someone annoyed him, but loved him getting all flustered when Laiken was around.
I haven't read the previous books in this series & didn't feel like was missing anything. Believe this is a standalone in the series. Does need another edit.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 20, 2022
This was super cute and very funny. Jareth - a lonely, love-starved, slightly misanthropic vampire (who may also be running a little low on self-esteem) is stranded miserably in ocean-front property on a hot, sunny (read: vampire-unfriendly) tropical island paradise.
He is not having fun. Having to navigate communications with an emotionally manipulative ex, occasional Zoom calls with his small band of vampire cohorts, wanting to be left alone but finding himself crushing hard on a local, and discovering the possibility of a vampire hunter on the island. Not exactly what he wants out of his undeath.
Jareth’s romance with Laiken is sweet, sexy and fun. Both main characters are adorable. The side characters are a riot. The relationship dynamics and dialogue are hilarious. I enjoyed this a lot. I would definitely recommend this for a quick, fun summer/beach read!
4 stars out of 5
Thanks to BookSirens and the publisher for providing the free advance reading copy for a voluntary review.
He is not having fun. Having to navigate communications with an emotionally manipulative ex, occasional Zoom calls with his small band of vampire cohorts, wanting to be left alone but finding himself crushing hard on a local, and discovering the possibility of a vampire hunter on the island. Not exactly what he wants out of his undeath.
Jareth’s romance with Laiken is sweet, sexy and fun. Both main characters are adorable. The side characters are a riot. The relationship dynamics and dialogue are hilarious. I enjoyed this a lot. I would definitely recommend this for a quick, fun summer/beach read!
4 stars out of 5
Thanks to BookSirens and the publisher for providing the free advance reading copy for a voluntary review.
August 17, 2022
**2.5 Stars**
I wanted to love this but sadly that didn't happen. I bought this book because I was in need of something fun, something easy, something silly. Yes it's an easy story and it definitely is silly but I never laughed, I never even chuckled. I think I read it was a romcom and in my opinion this is far from being a romcom (apologies if I'm mistaken). Maybe it's just me, if so I'll have to put this one on my "it's me not the book" shelf.
There definitely is some good things but I had to slog through a bunch of things that didn't excite me to finally get to the really good part. I'm sad the first 60% wasn't more like the last 40%, that last bit was REALLY good!
QUICK THOUGHTS
-- Fantasy -- Vampires (YES!!!) -- a love interest that's a... well I won't say what I'll let it be a surprise (loved it) -- some sweet moments -- did make me teary (much later in the story) -- never made me laugh -- IMO not a romcom -- first part of the story was slow -- last part was really good -- more than likeable MCs... Jareth & Laiken -- satisfying ending
June 22, 2022
This exceptionally well written romance is a delightful comedic romp!
I particularly LOVED Jareth. Jareth is an old school vampire (think Christopher Lee), who has had the bad misfortune to lose a bet, and thus is banished to a tropical hell (for him, that is). Just the juxtaposition of a classic Transylvanian vampire stuck on a beach that is perpetually crawling with dumb drunks is priceless.
Of course Jareth's attitude changes when he stumbles upon Lake, who is seemingly perfect in every way. And, of course, first impressions can be deceiving.
Journeying with Jareth on his voyage of discovery was great fun. Lake, who can at times appear a bit vacuous, is still a sweet counterpoint to Jareth's sharply held conventions.
Lastly, the side characters are stupendous! The author does an excellent job of realizing and utilizing these characters to add another depth to the book's humor.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I particularly LOVED Jareth. Jareth is an old school vampire (think Christopher Lee), who has had the bad misfortune to lose a bet, and thus is banished to a tropical hell (for him, that is). Just the juxtaposition of a classic Transylvanian vampire stuck on a beach that is perpetually crawling with dumb drunks is priceless.
Of course Jareth's attitude changes when he stumbles upon Lake, who is seemingly perfect in every way. And, of course, first impressions can be deceiving.
Journeying with Jareth on his voyage of discovery was great fun. Lake, who can at times appear a bit vacuous, is still a sweet counterpoint to Jareth's sharply held conventions.
Lastly, the side characters are stupendous! The author does an excellent job of realizing and utilizing these characters to add another depth to the book's humor.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 25, 2022
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review.
This is wonderfully hilarious book Running from one mistake after another only to land here, after all you have a vampire with insomnia living on a sunny beach front with a massive crush on a merman. Its so cute, we get a peeping vamp that is just so funny when he is bat form.
Jareth is trapped, with trespassers gelling about on his property, the nerve of them and stuck inside because of the big ball of firey death in the sky! that takes a likening to Laiken. When Casimir returns will he lapse back in to the creature he lost himself to or can this place in time with the people he has grown close to save him? Was he giving Laiken power over his fate, like a repeat of history of his old self or was this time different.
Now not only just his own life in the, but everything and one hangs in the balance of defeating Casimir.
This is wonderfully hilarious book Running from one mistake after another only to land here, after all you have a vampire with insomnia living on a sunny beach front with a massive crush on a merman. Its so cute, we get a peeping vamp that is just so funny when he is bat form.
Jareth is trapped, with trespassers gelling about on his property, the nerve of them and stuck inside because of the big ball of firey death in the sky! that takes a likening to Laiken. When Casimir returns will he lapse back in to the creature he lost himself to or can this place in time with the people he has grown close to save him? Was he giving Laiken power over his fate, like a repeat of history of his old self or was this time different.
Now not only just his own life in the, but everything and one hangs in the balance of defeating Casimir.
July 5, 2022
Fangscreen is a world where anything can happen: a vampire stuck on a tropical island meets a man and falls head over heels.
Jareth Hale is a tortured soul of the undead. He loses a bet which means he's exiled to the tropics where he's struggling to adjust. His world turns upside down when he meets Laiken, whose sun-kissed skin Jareth craves to explore.
Mint's writing gives a different lens on an otherwise typical love story. I loved that even Jareth the vampire is imperfect and readers get to experience his multi-faceted growth.
Within the story we see a plethora of ideas and perspectives coming together. For me, I enjoyed the quick read, laughing at the banter of vampires on video chat.
If you still want a 'happily ever after' while entertaining ideas of how the supernatural manage love & relationships in a present day world, this book is for you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Jareth Hale is a tortured soul of the undead. He loses a bet which means he's exiled to the tropics where he's struggling to adjust. His world turns upside down when he meets Laiken, whose sun-kissed skin Jareth craves to explore.
Mint's writing gives a different lens on an otherwise typical love story. I loved that even Jareth the vampire is imperfect and readers get to experience his multi-faceted growth.
Within the story we see a plethora of ideas and perspectives coming together. For me, I enjoyed the quick read, laughing at the banter of vampires on video chat.
If you still want a 'happily ever after' while entertaining ideas of how the supernatural manage love & relationships in a present day world, this book is for you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 31, 2022
At first, the book was kind of dry. The dialogue was... interesting, to say the least. I thought the way the characters talked was a bit strange. But oh boy did it pick up suddenly. It definitely got more interesting as I got further into the book, and I just loved the main characters so much, especially Fern and Laiken. The humour and sarcasm in this book is also just perfect. One of my favourite lines was:
"Promise me you won't laugh," Laiken said.
"I am renowned for my lack of humor," I said, deathly serious.
There were a few typos within the book, but they weren't that big of a deal. There was also a plot twist that I was not expecting at all, and it was just brilliant. Such a lovely book, I'm glad it caught my eye.
I got this ebook for free from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review <3
"Promise me you won't laugh," Laiken said.
"I am renowned for my lack of humor," I said, deathly serious.
There were a few typos within the book, but they weren't that big of a deal. There was also a plot twist that I was not expecting at all, and it was just brilliant. Such a lovely book, I'm glad it caught my eye.
I got this ebook for free from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review <3
June 25, 2022
Light Witty RomCom
Fangscreen is an absolutely delightful romcom! It is light, humorous, and really hit the mark for me.
Jareth is a grumpy vampire who really just wants to be loved, though he doesn’t realize it. Forced to live on an island for two years due to losing a bet, he meets the sweet Laiken, a sunny and vibrant man who takes an interest in him.
Jareth is one of those characters who are so caught up in the story in their mind that they read their preconceptions into everything they see. He is hilarious in his inaccurate certainty and need for propriety. This type of humor really does it for me, and I found myself laughing throughout the book and experiencing little zings of appreciation for witty thoughts and remarks.
Slight CW for manipulative and controlling ex. Not much on-page but it is a factor.
Fangscreen is an absolutely delightful romcom! It is light, humorous, and really hit the mark for me.
Jareth is a grumpy vampire who really just wants to be loved, though he doesn’t realize it. Forced to live on an island for two years due to losing a bet, he meets the sweet Laiken, a sunny and vibrant man who takes an interest in him.
Jareth is one of those characters who are so caught up in the story in their mind that they read their preconceptions into everything they see. He is hilarious in his inaccurate certainty and need for propriety. This type of humor really does it for me, and I found myself laughing throughout the book and experiencing little zings of appreciation for witty thoughts and remarks.
Slight CW for manipulative and controlling ex. Not much on-page but it is a factor.
May 20, 2022
Jareth Hale is a vampire in exile on a tropical island. He stays indoors most days in seclusion. He does communicate with his fellow vampires via laptop. Mack a cowboy from the civil war, Fern an older lady who likes to knit and is actually the youngest vampire in the group. Finally Casimir who is very manipulative and was the one who turned Jareth. One day some locals were on Jareth’s property having a good time and he went out in the middle of the day to chase them out, covered from head to toe. The participants were Andre and Laiken (Lake) and several girls. Andre does not care for Jareth but Lake eventually becomes friends with the vampire. This story has got plenty of twists, turn, drama and romance. It is a fun book to read.
June 12, 2022
Sent to live on an island is not what Jareth wanted to do. For a vampire there was just too much sand, sun, and drunken visitors upsetting his self-imposed isolation. He was happy being miserable until he saw a cute, sweet boy that just fascinated him. Laiken also likes what he sees in Jareth and the two start a friendship that builds into something more. But watch out since secrets are revealed and families interfere. This was a lighthearted love story between two unlikely people. It was an easy read that brought chuckles out and the hope that something real could develop between the two. Several surprises head your way and I don’t want to give anything away. A highly enjoyable read as you bask in the afternoon sun.
August 18, 2022
This is a truly unique read. If you are looking for a light, fun summer read that is different than the normal beach read than this is the book for you! This book is an LGBTQ romance with a dash of fantasy and a whole lot of silly fun thrown in.
Laiken was a very likeable character, although somewhat clueless at times. I felt that Jareth's overly formal speech was exaggerated a little to the point of silliness. I did really enjoy some of the twists and turns of the story and didn't expect some of the directions the story went, so that was nice.
Overall this is a good read if you don't mind a steamy LGBTQ romance and not taking the story too seriously.
I was offered a free copy of this book for my honest review.
Laiken was a very likeable character, although somewhat clueless at times. I felt that Jareth's overly formal speech was exaggerated a little to the point of silliness. I did really enjoy some of the twists and turns of the story and didn't expect some of the directions the story went, so that was nice.
Overall this is a good read if you don't mind a steamy LGBTQ romance and not taking the story too seriously.
I was offered a free copy of this book for my honest review.
May 7, 2022
This book is funny. Think of it as a romantic comedy about a broody vampire stuck on a tropical island and the shenanigans that ensue when he finds that the natives are restless. I loved how Jareth starts to open up as he gets caught up investigating what he thinks are hunters on the island. He realizes that he has spent most of his in death not really “living.” I also love Fern! Everyone needs an 80 something year-old vampire grandmother. Who would have thought that a vampire would ever be able to find his home on a tropical island in the sun?! This book was very enjoyable and is worth a quick read.
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