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mad_about_books's review
5.0
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.
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.
stewie's review
5.0
The book follows a variety of characters, both human and lamian, as they do their day-to-day activities. The society of Owen's universe in Teeth is almost a mirror image of the United States right now. The vampires (lamians) are a minority, and there is a political divide on how to treat them. On one side, you have a group demanding they be monitored because they are dangerous, where on the other you have people saying lamians deserve equality. This is all so very familiar.
To add to the matter, there's someone killing humans and drinking their blood, adding more fear and paranoia to many in the town Teeth takes place in. Lines are drawn, fingers are pointed, assumptions are made, and people say awful, disgusting things to the vampires whose only crime is being born. Again, this is all so very familiar.
The characters in Teeth are where Owen really delivers. They are three dimensional and believable. For example, one such character is disgustingly racist towards the lamians, and normally it would be easy to write her off as ignorant trash. But Owen crafts her as someone deeply troubled, and while you do hate the woman, you also feel sorry for her on some level. The way she acts cannot be excused, but you can understand the reasoning behind it. It's not unlike Kevin Bacon's character in The Woodsman. You want him to burn alive, but at the same time you kind of feel sorry for him and you hate yourself for doing so. That's great writing.
You can read my full review here at Horror DNA.
To add to the matter, there's someone killing humans and drinking their blood, adding more fear and paranoia to many in the town Teeth takes place in. Lines are drawn, fingers are pointed, assumptions are made, and people say awful, disgusting things to the vampires whose only crime is being born. Again, this is all so very familiar.
The characters in Teeth are where Owen really delivers. They are three dimensional and believable. For example, one such character is disgustingly racist towards the lamians, and normally it would be easy to write her off as ignorant trash. But Owen crafts her as someone deeply troubled, and while you do hate the woman, you also feel sorry for her on some level. The way she acts cannot be excused, but you can understand the reasoning behind it. It's not unlike Kevin Bacon's character in The Woodsman. You want him to burn alive, but at the same time you kind of feel sorry for him and you hate yourself for doing so. That's great writing.
You can read my full review here at Horror DNA.
lanternsjourney's review against another edition
5.0
Teeth is a well-told little vampire story with big bite. In this particular tale, vampire is a derogatory word, and the ancient race of protein deficient humans that is now out in the public eye prefer to be called lamians. My favorite part of the story was Henry's, a school janitor who is not lamian, but desperately wants to be. There are many other characters and povs that we get to experience, such as lamian teens in various stages of coming into themselves, parents lamians, one of them being a detective. We also encounter the Lamplight Foundation, a secret society that has been in charge of keeping all the correct history of lamians over the years and now serves to guide and support new lamians through this newly awakened world.
I really hope there is a sequel, as the ending is pretty open and we have only just seen the tip of the iceberg from the Lamplight Foundation and the newly lamian teens.
I really hope there is a sequel, as the ending is pretty open and we have only just seen the tip of the iceberg from the Lamplight Foundation and the newly lamian teens.
catsluvcoffee's review against another edition
4.0
Forget everything you thought you knew about vampires. Excuse me, the politically correct term is lamians. That's right. Vampire is now a derogatory term. Kelli Owens creates an entirely new twist on the vampire mythology. Lamians have an amino acid deficiency. The "change" happens in your teens, because being a teenager isn't tough enough. Canine teeth get loose and fall out, only to be replaced by shiny new ones. Being a lamian also comes with some new abilities. While they are extremely long-lived, they are not immortal.
Prejudices are alive and well in Teeth. From the mother whose parents hid her own change, even from herself, to the mother who is so deeply entrenched in bigotry that she is afraid of her own son, there is plenty of discrimination to go around. Rooted deep within this story, is another of envy and admiration, with a character who would do anything to become lamian...and does.
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
Prejudices are alive and well in Teeth. From the mother whose parents hid her own change, even from herself, to the mother who is so deeply entrenched in bigotry that she is afraid of her own son, there is plenty of discrimination to go around. Rooted deep within this story, is another of envy and admiration, with a character who would do anything to become lamian...and does.
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
thomaswjoyce's review against another edition
4.0
In Teeth, Owen has created a world where vampires (Lamians) have always existed, but that has only been common knowledge for about fifty years, the condition rooted not in superstition and magic, but genetics. When children reach puberty, some lose their canines and have slightly longer, sharper, teeth grow in in their place. Given the tumultuous relationship lamians have with humans, this can be a great source of stress for the children, some of whom have been raised by bigoted and fearful parents whose only exposure to vampires is through Hollywood movies where they are portrayed as predatory monsters.
Owen does an excellent job of using the smalltown USA setting as a smaller version of the country as a whole. And the bigotry and hatred aimed at the lamians is a mirror-image of what every minority has had to endure – and still endures – to this day. She taps into the fears and emotions of her characters to deliver an entertaining story with depth. From the vulnerable teenagers coming to terms with their new fates (while being taunted by the popular kids), to the detective hunting the killer (while enduring intolerance from within the ranks) and the boy who feels threatened by his vampire-hating mother, Owen really goes to great lengths to show every character’s viewpoint.
Her contemporary interpretation of the vampire myth is also quite unique, replacing the age-old tropes and giving them a new lease of life. Gone is the affliction to daylight and garlic. No longer are they immortal, although they do have a longer life-span. And they are able to view themselves in the mirror. All of this makes it easier for them to hide in plain sight (as they have been doing for centuries) while also allowing the author to use it to heighten the fear felt by the intolerant. Their need for blood is less about bloodlust and more to do with dietary requirements. But it also adds to the fear when the killer’s victims are found with holes in their necks and missing blood. And there is still a hint at telepathy playing a role in lamian culture.
Owen does an excellent job of using the smalltown USA setting as a smaller version of the country as a whole. And the bigotry and hatred aimed at the lamians is a mirror-image of what every minority has had to endure – and still endures – to this day. She taps into the fears and emotions of her characters to deliver an entertaining story with depth. From the vulnerable teenagers coming to terms with their new fates (while being taunted by the popular kids), to the detective hunting the killer (while enduring intolerance from within the ranks) and the boy who feels threatened by his vampire-hating mother, Owen really goes to great lengths to show every character’s viewpoint.
Her contemporary interpretation of the vampire myth is also quite unique, replacing the age-old tropes and giving them a new lease of life. Gone is the affliction to daylight and garlic. No longer are they immortal, although they do have a longer life-span. And they are able to view themselves in the mirror. All of this makes it easier for them to hide in plain sight (as they have been doing for centuries) while also allowing the author to use it to heighten the fear felt by the intolerant. Their need for blood is less about bloodlust and more to do with dietary requirements. But it also adds to the fear when the killer’s victims are found with holes in their necks and missing blood. And there is still a hint at telepathy playing a role in lamian culture.
motherhorror's review against another edition
Writing up my review for Cemetery Dance! Just know, I loved this one.
charshorrorcorner's review against another edition
4.0
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 worshipped. 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.*
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 worshipped. 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.*
exorcismofemilyreed's review against another edition
3.0
3.5⭐
This is going to be a mixed review from me. I loved some parts of Teeth, and didn't care for others. This book is different than most other vampire books I've read, but still felt reminiscent of True Blood show / Sookie Stackhouse books (except with a smaller amount of sex).
I feel that the allegory of monsters / creatures being used to represent minorities is a tired trope, and some parts of this book felt exhausting. For example, the direct comparison of using the word "vampire" instead of "lamian" was compared to using the n-word. There are ways to talk about race, sexuality, etc. in horror without featuring people as "other" or monsters.
Teeth was trying very hard to be a political vampire novel, and it fell flat for me several times. I know that it was supposed to feel relevant to today, but it just didn't feel natural at times.
I was very interested in some of the characters, and Madison was my favorite. I also would have liked more time with Max. I enjoyed the setup of seeing so many different characters' POV as lamian or human, and how they interacted with each other, and the world around them.
The ending of the book was a little abrupt, but it was left open-ended enough to continue with the story of this world. Although I struggled with some parts of the book, this was still an entertaining story.
This is going to be a mixed review from me. I loved some parts of Teeth, and didn't care for others. This book is different than most other vampire books I've read, but still felt reminiscent of True Blood show / Sookie Stackhouse books (except with a smaller amount of sex).
I feel that the allegory of monsters / creatures being used to represent minorities is a tired trope, and some parts of this book felt exhausting. For example, the direct comparison of using the word "vampire" instead of "lamian" was compared to using the n-word. There are ways to talk about race, sexuality, etc. in horror without featuring people as "other" or monsters.
Teeth was trying very hard to be a political vampire novel, and it fell flat for me several times. I know that it was supposed to feel relevant to today, but it just didn't feel natural at times.
I was very interested in some of the characters, and Madison was my favorite. I also would have liked more time with Max. I enjoyed the setup of seeing so many different characters' POV as lamian or human, and how they interacted with each other, and the world around them.
The ending of the book was a little abrupt, but it was left open-ended enough to continue with the story of this world. Although I struggled with some parts of the book, this was still an entertaining story.
teamredmon's review against another edition
5.0
I've read a lot of vampire books. This is my favorite vampire book. Full review to (hopefully if I get my life together) come.
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