Fangs and Family Book Review

Review

Book 2 of Olena Nikitin’s Amber Legends series, Fangs and Family takes place in modern Poland around two years after the conclusion of the first installment, Magic and Medicine, and focuses on Adam, a morally grey vampire Seethe Master with a roguish charm, and Nina, a fierce human nurse with a troubled past. After a whirlwind weeks-long romance that developed – and ended – between the main characters towards the end of the first book, Adam is still pining over the woman who so abruptly kicked him out of her home with no explanation. Meanwhile, Nina is working hard at the clinic established by Leszek for his wife Sara (our beloved main characters from Magic and Medicine), when her junkie younger brother Pawel shows up offering her an old locket while desperately asking her for money. Used to his ways, she denies him, but is left feeling unsettled when it’s clear something is wrong and Pawel goes missing after discovering that the Prince of the Vampires, Leon Sapieha, is searching for him. Upon exhausting all her avenues, she finally asks Adam, known for being “the best tracker and hacker in the Tricity area,” for help in finding her brother. What follows is a journey of self-discovery filled with danger, trauma, and unexpected revelations as they work to recover Pawel and come to understand each other better than they had. Will they succeed? 

One of the highlights of Fangs and Family is the dynamic between Adam and Nina. Indeed, Nikitin masterfully crafts their relationship, infusing it with tension, passion, and plenty of snarky banter. While Nina’s initial reluctance to trust Adam may vex some readers (as it did me), her growth throughout the story is both natural and satisfying given what she’s been through. That said, some may find the balance of power in their relationship somewhat skewed. Despite Adam’s unwavering dedication and sacrifice for Nina, she doesn’t fully allow herself to reciprocate his feelings or even efforts. This adds an intriguing layer of complexity to their romance, though it may leave you wanting to throw hands with Nina on behalf of our deliciously sexy and endearing cinnamon roll of a leading man. 

Moreover, as much as I hate the miscreant, the characterization and background provided for the antagonist is also quite well done (ergo my visceral dislike for him). The continuation of elements of Slavic mythology and Polish culture further enrich the story with authenticity and depth, and, while the book can be read as a standalone, I absolutely adored the inclusion and scenes with characters from the first book, especially Sara and Leszek. Seeing them as a married couple, and their friendships with Nina and Adam, just makes me love the four of them even more. I was also pleasantly surprised to see a bit of growth for Pawel as well, who incited all of the events in the story to begin with. Finally, and to be fair, the book could use a final round of proofreading and review of some minor plot holes and inconsistencies (such as discrepancies in Adam’s age and the portrayal of vampire physiology), but I don’t believe these flaws are ones that most readers would even think twice about. 

Teeming with vampires, Slavic mythology, ancient artifacts, simmering tensions, and complex characters, this urban fantasy did not disappoint. If you enjoy second chance romances, delectable male main characters, forced proximity, or touch her and die tropes, this is one you won’t want to miss. 

Content warnings include coarse language, graphic sex scenes and sexual innuendo, death, gore, torture, physical and emotional violence, and nonconsenual mind control. 

Expected publication date is 15 March 2024.