Scan barcode
gg1213's review against another edition
3.0
Watch my 2011 review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kV1O4b-tok
misscellanea's review against another edition
5.0
Honestly, this is teen vampire love done right.
I've read tons of Katie Macalister's books and I adore them. And in my time I read lots of angsty teenage paranormals. And in my head I just didn't see how to connect the two. By now, the thought of long dead men falling for sixteen year old girls gives me the heebie jeebies. And Macalister writes such sexy sexiness of sextopia, and how would THAT fit in with young adult land?
She made it all work though. A sexy Dark One who tries his best not to pressure her. A heroine goofy enough to be 16, but with plenty of self respect and independence. Make outs that go a little far, and some shared thoughts that make me really want to take a shower are the perfect sexiness for this age group. Not that I wasn't reading the good stuff at sixteen, I just don't want to read about a sixteen year old doing the good stuff.
Wonderfully done! And then the character development and growing up done between these and In the Company of Vampires is really well done and a lot like some other very stubborn self righteously independent teenagers I know who grew and became independent somewhat less stubborn learned to pick their battles women I know.
I've read tons of Katie Macalister's books and I adore them. And in my time I read lots of angsty teenage paranormals. And in my head I just didn't see how to connect the two. By now, the thought of long dead men falling for sixteen year old girls gives me the heebie jeebies. And Macalister writes such sexy sexiness of sextopia, and how would THAT fit in with young adult land?
She made it all work though. A sexy Dark One who tries his best not to pressure her. A heroine goofy enough to be 16, but with plenty of self respect and independence. Make outs that go a little far, and some shared thoughts that make me really want to take a shower are the perfect sexiness for this age group. Not that I wasn't reading the good stuff at sixteen, I just don't want to read about a sixteen year old doing the good stuff.
Wonderfully done! And then the character development and growing up done between these and In the Company of Vampires is really well done and a lot like some other very stubborn self righteously independent teenagers I know who grew and became independent somewhat less stubborn learned to pick their battles women I know.
fictionalkate's review against another edition
4.0
I’m a Katie MacAlister fan – her Dark Ones series is one of the first adult paranormal romance series I ever read. So when I found out that she had written a young adult novel set in the same world as her Dark Ones series, I was thrilled.
After being forced to accompany her mother to a European travelling psychic festival for a year, Fran is less than impressed. Until she comes face to face with Ben – a Moravian Dark One, also know as a vampire, who claims that she is his Beloved and the only one who can save his soul. A little bit insane perhaps but who is Fran to talk – she has her own odd little quirk and can tell the history of an item just by touching it.
From vampires and magical horses to demons and ghosts – this book really does cover a large range of the supernatural spectrum. The best part? Humour is involved at every turn. I was reading this book a few weeks ago when I was on a road trip with my sister… she didn’t appreciate my breaking out into laughter and giggles when she was trying to drive. Maybe I should have gotten an audio book so she could have enjoyed the story along with me.
This book is two smaller books (Got Fangs? and Circus of the Damned) in the same collection. The first one did a great job at setting the scene – Fran meeting Ben, introducing the rest of the Faire workers and having a bit of a mystery to tie it all together. But the second book was the one that made my day. I loved it. Fran was really coming into her own with regards to her abilities and her relationship with Ben was starting to move forward.
But what made me enjoy the book even more was the new characters – the Norse Warrior ghosts whom Fran accidentally summoned and was now responsible for their safe passage to Valhalla. They made me smile so hard I thought my face might crack in two. These are characters who consider nothing wrong with pillaging a local McDonalds so they can acquire Big Macs and then sacrifice the burgers in honour of the god, Loki.
I thought Fran was a fantastic heroine – sulky and sullen at the start but she begins to blossom into a strong and capable young woman. And Ben – gorgeous and wise… but also with faults that only make me like him more. I also liked their relationship with each other. Whilst there is incredible instant attraction between the two leads, there’s none of that instalove that I can’t stand. Their relationship grows as the book progresses.
MacAlister has managed to perfectly capture the funny and romantic vibes of her other series and perfectly tuned into the teen voice.
Note: I’ve read the third Fran and Ben story (In the Company of Vampires - Dark Ones #8) and really adore where MacAlister takes these characters as they grow a little older and see how their happily ever after really ends. It’s a little more adult and does contain sex and strong language so I’m not really recommending it if you’re a younger reader but I personally loved the third book in the series.
After being forced to accompany her mother to a European travelling psychic festival for a year, Fran is less than impressed. Until she comes face to face with Ben – a Moravian Dark One, also know as a vampire, who claims that she is his Beloved and the only one who can save his soul. A little bit insane perhaps but who is Fran to talk – she has her own odd little quirk and can tell the history of an item just by touching it.
From vampires and magical horses to demons and ghosts – this book really does cover a large range of the supernatural spectrum. The best part? Humour is involved at every turn. I was reading this book a few weeks ago when I was on a road trip with my sister… she didn’t appreciate my breaking out into laughter and giggles when she was trying to drive. Maybe I should have gotten an audio book so she could have enjoyed the story along with me.
This book is two smaller books (Got Fangs? and Circus of the Damned) in the same collection. The first one did a great job at setting the scene – Fran meeting Ben, introducing the rest of the Faire workers and having a bit of a mystery to tie it all together. But the second book was the one that made my day. I loved it. Fran was really coming into her own with regards to her abilities and her relationship with Ben was starting to move forward.
But what made me enjoy the book even more was the new characters – the Norse Warrior ghosts whom Fran accidentally summoned and was now responsible for their safe passage to Valhalla. They made me smile so hard I thought my face might crack in two. These are characters who consider nothing wrong with pillaging a local McDonalds so they can acquire Big Macs and then sacrifice the burgers in honour of the god, Loki.
I thought Fran was a fantastic heroine – sulky and sullen at the start but she begins to blossom into a strong and capable young woman. And Ben – gorgeous and wise… but also with faults that only make me like him more. I also liked their relationship with each other. Whilst there is incredible instant attraction between the two leads, there’s none of that instalove that I can’t stand. Their relationship grows as the book progresses.
MacAlister has managed to perfectly capture the funny and romantic vibes of her other series and perfectly tuned into the teen voice.
Note: I’ve read the third Fran and Ben story (In the Company of Vampires - Dark Ones #8) and really adore where MacAlister takes these characters as they grow a little older and see how their happily ever after really ends. It’s a little more adult and does contain sex and strong language so I’m not really recommending it if you’re a younger reader but I personally loved the third book in the series.
snarkymotherreader's review against another edition
5.0
Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend by Katie MacAlister (writing as Katie Maxwell) is an anthology featuring two young adult novels in the Dark Ones series: Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned. These books are the “before” to Katie’s newest release, In the Company of Vampires.
Got Fangs? (4/5)
Fran is a psychometrist – she can see things when she touches people and objects. In the normal world, she feels like a freak. That all changes when she moves to Europe with her mom and travels with a troupe of psychics, magicians, and mediums. Meeting the handsome Benedikt furthers her journey into being a normal teenager—he’s not only taller than Fran, which isn’t a small feat, but he basically worships the ground she walks on. So what if he survives on blood and claims Fran is his Beloved. And so what if Fran’s definition of “normal” is slowly morphing to include the existence of vampires and eternal love. For once in her life, Fran isn’t the odd woman out.
Reading a young adult version of Katie’s normally hot-and-heavy writing wasn’t as strange as I’d feared. The focus was more on Fran dealing with her abilities and finding her place in the world and Ben’s life without worrying about when she was going to make hot monkey love. I think the underlying message about women and girls who aren’t “classically” beautiful deserving love and happiness is admirable. Adding in a little variety to the stick-thin figures in fiction, especially young adult fiction, isn’t only needed, it’s appreciated.
The scene at the end of Got Fangs? about made me bawl my eyes out. It’s almost the only action scene in the entire book, so don’t expect back-to-back fight scenes. The book focuses more on character development, leading into the events of Circus of the Darned.
Circus of the Darned (5/5)
Viking ghosts, vengeful Norse gods, and one steamy shower scene comprise my love for Circus of the Darned. Where Got Fangs? introduced us to Fran and Ben’s world, Circus of the Darned threw us right into the middle of it. Fran deals with the hardships of dating a Dark One and realizes the possibilities inherent in her psychometry. The feel of Circus of the Darned is much more grown-up than Got Fangs? It isn’t an all-out adult book but it’s teetering on the edge.
Had In the Company of Vampires not been released, I would probably not be as happy with the ending of Circus of the Darned. There’s so much going on—Fran has to find a way to send back the Viking ghosts, discover what secrets Ben is hiding from her, and who is stealing money from the GothFaire—and not all of it gets resolved. I mean, it’s satisfactory in as much as Fran and Ben resolve their immediate conflicts, but there are still so many unanswered questions! I suggest buying In the Company of Vampires as the same time as this anthology. You’ll want to crack it open as soon as you’re done!
Got Fangs? (4/5)
Fran is a psychometrist – she can see things when she touches people and objects. In the normal world, she feels like a freak. That all changes when she moves to Europe with her mom and travels with a troupe of psychics, magicians, and mediums. Meeting the handsome Benedikt furthers her journey into being a normal teenager—he’s not only taller than Fran, which isn’t a small feat, but he basically worships the ground she walks on. So what if he survives on blood and claims Fran is his Beloved. And so what if Fran’s definition of “normal” is slowly morphing to include the existence of vampires and eternal love. For once in her life, Fran isn’t the odd woman out.
Reading a young adult version of Katie’s normally hot-and-heavy writing wasn’t as strange as I’d feared. The focus was more on Fran dealing with her abilities and finding her place in the world and Ben’s life without worrying about when she was going to make hot monkey love. I think the underlying message about women and girls who aren’t “classically” beautiful deserving love and happiness is admirable. Adding in a little variety to the stick-thin figures in fiction, especially young adult fiction, isn’t only needed, it’s appreciated.
The scene at the end of Got Fangs? about made me bawl my eyes out. It’s almost the only action scene in the entire book, so don’t expect back-to-back fight scenes. The book focuses more on character development, leading into the events of Circus of the Darned.
Circus of the Darned (5/5)
Viking ghosts, vengeful Norse gods, and one steamy shower scene comprise my love for Circus of the Darned. Where Got Fangs? introduced us to Fran and Ben’s world, Circus of the Darned threw us right into the middle of it. Fran deals with the hardships of dating a Dark One and realizes the possibilities inherent in her psychometry. The feel of Circus of the Darned is much more grown-up than Got Fangs? It isn’t an all-out adult book but it’s teetering on the edge.
Had In the Company of Vampires not been released, I would probably not be as happy with the ending of Circus of the Darned. There’s so much going on—Fran has to find a way to send back the Viking ghosts, discover what secrets Ben is hiding from her, and who is stealing money from the GothFaire—and not all of it gets resolved. I mean, it’s satisfactory in as much as Fran and Ben resolve their immediate conflicts, but there are still so many unanswered questions! I suggest buying In the Company of Vampires as the same time as this anthology. You’ll want to crack it open as soon as you’re done!
wombat_88's review
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
More...