A New Kind of Vampire for a New Century…——————————————————-All myths have a kernel of truth. The truth is: vampires are real. They’ve always been here, but only came out of hiding in the last century. They are not what Hollywood would have you believe. They are not what is written in lore or whispered by the superstitious. They look and act like humans. They … look and act like humans. They live and love and die like humans. Puberty is just a bit more stressful for those with the recessive gene. And while some teenagers worry about high school, others dread their next set of teeth.
Vampires are real, but in a social climate still struggling to accept that truth, do teeth alone make them monsters?
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I was not sure what to expect when I got this book. It is a fresh take on old folklore. Vampires have come out of hiding and struggle to be accepted by society. But someone is sabotaging the public’s perception of them. Owen has a vivid imagination and masterfully tells us this new tale. Her descriptors make the reader feel as if we were there in the story seeing events unfold. I have been very impressed with her writing as I read more of Kelli Owen’s books. I look forward to reading more!
TEETH is brilliant! Toss out every vampire tale you have ever read, and the V-word along with them. What we have here is a complete rewrite of a millennia-old mythos that is both well-conceived and well executed. The story could not be more timely.
We can all agree that adolescence is a harrowing time upon which we can all look back as something we wouldn’t want to experience again. Even those of us who might view that transition from childhood to adulthood through rose-colored glasses will concede it wasn’t always the best of times. It is a time of peer pressure and sexual discovery. Imagine wondering about your species along with everything else.
TEETH is a study of modern society with its many concerns on display through a paranormal lens. I hesitate to use the word paranormal when normalcy is still up for grabs. And, in all of this, there is a murder mystery!
The bottom line is that TEETH is both brilliant and unique in its telling and universal in its meaning. It is one of those books whose social import is a natural part of the story yet stands front and center throughout. I can’t recommend it enough.
Teeth by Kelli Owen is a masterwork addition to the horror subgenre of vampirism. The story is woven from two interconnected plots that illustrate timelessly relevant sociological and psychological issues and horrors. Owen’s expert characterization and storytelling will enthrall you as her story bleeds your heart and mind.
Before I continue, I feel the need to point out, with all due respect to other reviewers, that bigotry and prejudice are NOT the only issues this novel illustrates. I don’t want readers to avoid this story thinking it is one big political statement. Neither do I want readers to see only that when they read it. There is much more to this story than that plight of both historic and modern societies. This is a big picture story told by a literary black belt. And, as with all great works, it can be enjoyed purely for entertainment value if you choose to tune out the sociological relevance. The story stands on its merit both as a relevant literary piece and as an entertaining read.
To continue, Owen’s expert characterization is, in my opinion, a vital part of her expert storytelling. The characters in Teeth are representative of real people and real types of people without being the expected stereotypes. They have individual personalities and just enough backstory to keep their words and actions believable, if sometimes infuriating. They are clearly products of their life experiences, as real people are. They are engaging, believable, and entertaining. And Kelli Owen does this without overwriting, which is why I say she is expert level.
In addition to Teeth being a profound literary mirror of sociological plight with incredibly engaging characters, it is a good story. It is a compelling and fun read. Owen seems to have collected different ancient lore of a similar bent and melded them into a singular historic theme. It’s brilliant and brilliantly done. To be clear, this is a horror novel. It has disturbing and horrifying sequences and subject matter. It does not fall under the urban fantasy vampire story heading even though it deviates from the Nosferatu style of vampirism. This unique piece is wholly Kelli Owen and completely shelf-worthy for the discerning reader.
Lamians. That’s what vampires are called now. They have rights just like regular people under the Stoker Treaty, so you’d better get used to it. This is part of the premise of Kelli Owen’s TEETH, and it sucked me right in! (See what I did there? Perhaps I should move on…)
As we already know, just because laws are there doesn’t mean they’ll be followed. We only have to look at the civil rights movement to see that. Once coming of age is reached and the new, Lamian teeth come out, they’re as difficult to hide as skin color. Unlike skin color though, those new teeth signify a lot of differences-we are NOT all the same. Lamians have special powers-they may be able to read our thoughts for one, and who’s comfortable with that? TEETH does a terrific job of addressing the types of sociopolitical issues of today under the guise of vampirism.
Set in a small town, bigotry, ignorance and prejudice play a large role here. Lamians are hated as well as admired. They are ousted from popular social circles and in others they may be worshiped. A young woman just getting her teeth and worrying about being expelled from her social clique at school has feelings just as valid as the young man who wants to pay the dentist for implants because he needs to be accepted into a Lamian group. Looking at issues from all sides, Owen does a great job of slipping in current political commentary and I enjoyed that. Oh, and she also slips in a serial killer, but I’ll leave you to discover that on your own!
Another aspect of this story that I enjoyed was the Lamplight Foundation. This is a Lamian organization designed to help Lamians learn more about their history, their future, their abilities and many other things. I found myself wanting to know more about them, how they came about and especially more about the leader of their local branch, Maximillian. Perhaps we will get that in a future book? I certainly hope so.
Just when I think I’m sick to death of vampires, an author comes along and puts their own spin on the old myths. So… relax-there’s no sparkling here. There’s no whiny regrets here as there is with Lestat and Louis, either. What we DO have is a clever way to address fear, bigotry and prejudice, and how they are used in our current political climate. And that way is all dressed up and disguised in the bloody gore of torn out throats and other body parts. Come on, how much fun is that? It’s a LOT of fun! Trust me on this. Recommended!
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2OrZdoK
*I was given an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This is it.*