Got Fangs? by Katie Maxwell (Book 1 of the Goth series)

Pub Date: January 2005

Fiction (Young Adult)

193 pgs.

Author Katie Maxwell had already roped young readers into thinking that vampires were enigmatic, yet charming, before the spawn of the current vampy trend of teen lit.  And that a vampire novel does not necessarily need to be either gory or romantic; it can be mysterious, magical, and passionate. Katie Maxwell has written several other adult vampire books under the name Katie MacAllister, and in this young adult series she has done her job translating her adult Dark Ones theme to teens.

Francesca Ghetti quickly realizes how different her life is from the average teen. She finds herself traveling with her mother to a psychic faire full of witches, mediums, and magicians. And although the atmosphere provided by GothFaire is quickly deemed by Fran as abnormal and freakish, she soon realizes that she harnesses powers of her own. While her mother tries to encourage Fran to use her power in conjunction with the faire, Fran feels it is wrong to do so.

Enter the vampire Benedikt, who begins to worship Fran’s psychic abilities. As Fran tries to fend off her new acquaintance, she agrees to use her skills in solving the mystery of who has been robbing the faire of its money. Fran’s life becomes even more complex when she finds herself battling against magical demons. As the relationship between Fran and Benedikt develops, Maxwell gives the reader an entertaining story filled with magic, mystery, and evil spirits.

The second book in the series is Circus of the Darned.  While Fran awaits Ben’s return to the fairgrounds, she is approached by a man named Tibolt who has asks her to guard his pendant, and she obliges. Fran soon encounters a huldra, or Viking warrior ghost, as she unknowingly runs through their sacred burial grounds. During Fran’s attempt to send the Vikings home, all manners of gods and goddesses come into play, including one that is obsessed with Fran’s horse, Telsa. Although the vampire relationship is not developed further in this plot, Maxwell has a knack at introducing us to more fabulous legends and fantastical creatures.

The third installment of the series, In the Company of Vampires, was published in 2010, and Maxwell has published it under her adult pseudonym. While the subject matter is a bit more sensual in nature, Maxwell does not lose her bearing on the oddities that the faire offers or the enchanting encounters of Fran’s life. Throughout the storyline, Maxwell tends to a humorous writing style that is full of paranormal and mythical delight.

-Noelle

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