Fang Fiction Summary, Characters and Themes

Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London is a delightful blend of fantasy, romance, and emotional depth. It follows Tess Rosenbloom, a fan of the vampire series Blood Feud, as she navigates trauma, friendship, and empowerment. 

When Tess discovers the world of her favorite novels is real, she embarks on an extraordinary adventure filled with intrigue, danger, and self-discovery. Interweaving fandom culture with themes of healing and resilience, this novel is a love letter to those who find solace and strength in stories. It’s a darkly glamorous and heartfelt journey that celebrates the power of imagination, connection, and reclaiming one’s life.

Summary

Tess Rosenbloom is a fan of gothic and supernatural literature, particularly the vampire series Blood Feud, which has become a global phenomenon. Once an ambitious PhD student at Columbia University, Tess’s life was derailed by a traumatic encounter at a Valentine’s Day party.

Struggling with panic attacks and insomnia, she dropped out and severed ties with her best friend, Joni Chaudhari. Years later, Tess works as a night manager at a Brooklyn hotel, seeking solace in Blood Feud fandom and writing essays about the series’ potential links to reality.

Her quiet life takes a turn when Joni invites her to a Blood Feud-themed party. Hoping to reconnect with her past, Tess attends, only to be confronted by Rick, the man who assaulted her.

This encounter reignites her determination to confront her fears. That same night, Tess encounters a mysterious woman at her hotel who seems oddly familiar. The woman is Octavia Yoo—one of the vampires from Blood Feud.

Tess discovers that the novels are based on real vampires exiled to a magical island. Octavia and her brother Callum have escaped their imprisonment and need Tess’s help, inspired by her viral essay.

Skeptical but intrigued, Tess agrees, plunging into the vampires’ dangerous world.

As she helps them evade magical forces seeking their return, Tess learns more about their struggles and sees parallels with her own life. Octavia’s loneliness and Callum’s recklessness mirror Tess’s feelings of isolation and pain. Tess begins to find strength in her new role as an ally to these characters she once idolized.

Meanwhile, Tess reconnects with Joni, who grows suspicious of her behavior. When Joni uncovers Tess’s secret, it forces Tess to confront her past and share her trauma.

This vulnerability rekindles their friendship and empowers Tess to address the lingering pain caused by Rick. With the vampires’ help, Tess gathers evidence to expose Rick, reclaiming her agency and helping protect others.

The stakes rise as Octavia and Callum face escalating threats from their past rivals and the forces hunting them.

Tess uses her knowledge of their fictional counterparts to mediate conflicts and guide them through the human world. Along the way, her bond with Octavia deepens, with Octavia becoming a mentor and symbol of resilience.

In the climactic showdown, Tess devises a daring plan to secure the vampires’ freedom.

This act of courage cements her transformation from a passive fan to an active participant in her own life.

As the vampires find safety, Tess decides to return to Columbia, not to escape her trauma but to embrace her future. She rebuilds her friendship with Joni and begins envisioning new possibilities for herself.

Fang Fiction celebrates the power of fandom, friendship, and storytelling, showing how imagination and connection can inspire healing and transformation. It’s a tale of resilience, love, and the courage to reclaim your narrative.

Characters

Tess Rosenbloom

Tess Rosenbloom is a complex and deeply relatable character, shaped by her past and defined by her journey of self-discovery. Initially, Tess is introduced as a hopeful and ambitious PhD student, eager to dive into academic life, but she struggles with social anxiety and feeling out of place.

Her passion for gothic and supernatural literature, particularly the vampire series Blood Feud, offers her a safe escape from the harsh realities of her life. Tess’s traumatic experience, which causes her to drop out of Columbia, is a pivotal moment that shapes much of her character development.

Despite her emotional scars, Tess is a resilient woman who slowly finds her way back to herself through her connection to fandom and the people she meets along the way. Her involvement in the vampire world and reconnection with friends like Joni push Tess to confront her trauma, reclaim her strength, and ultimately embrace a future that she had once feared.

The arc of Tess is one of healing, empowerment, and transformation, from a passive observer of life to someone actively shaping her own destiny.

Joni Chaudhari

Joni Chaudhari is Tess’s close friend and the person who brings her back into the world of Blood Feud fandom after years of estrangement. Initially, Joni appears to be thriving, finishing her dissertation and living a seemingly perfect life.

However, as the story unfolds, we see that her seemingly flawless exterior masks deeper emotional layers. She had been affected by Tess’s sudden disappearance, and the strained friendship between them becomes a crucial part of the narrative.

Joni’s role in the story evolves as she becomes a catalyst for Tess’s healing journey, but also as a figure through whom Tess can face her past. Joni’s connection with Tess is reawakened, and they begin to rebuild their bond through honest communication and mutual support.

Joni is also grappling with her own complex relationships, including a sapphic affair with a vampire, which adds another dimension to her character. She helps Tess confront her fears and empowers her to take control of her life.

Rick

Rick, the antagonist of Tess’s past, represents the lingering trauma that Tess cannot escape. A fellow student at Columbia, Rick is the source of Tess’s trauma, having assaulted her during a Valentine’s Day party.

His actions lead to Tess’s subsequent panic attacks, insomnia, and withdrawal from the academic world. Although Rick is largely absent from much of the narrative, his influence looms large over Tess’s emotional journey.

The confrontation between Tess and Rick is a pivotal moment in the story, where Tess finds the courage to face him, aided by the vampires. Rick’s role is less about being a traditional villain and more about symbolizing the deep psychological scars that Tess must confront to move forward.

His presence serves as a reminder of the pain Tess must overcome to reclaim control over her life and future.

Octavia Yoo

Octavia Yoo, a vampire character from Blood Feud, is one of the central figures in the fantastical realm Tess is drawn into. She is initially presented as a mysterious, radiant figure with an ethereal quality, embodying the allure and danger of the vampire world.

However, as the story progresses, Octavia becomes more than just a character from a beloved series; she becomes a mentor and confidante to Tess. Octavia’s story is intertwined with Tess’s own journey of healing.

Both are trapped by their pasts—Octavia by her exile to the Isle of vampires and Tess by her trauma. Their bond grows as Octavia helps Tess find strength and resilience, teaching her the value of self-worth and the possibility of redemption.

Octavia’s character offers Tess not only a sense of camaraderie but also a reflection of her own potential for change, growth, and empowerment.

Callum Yoo

Callum Yoo, Octavia’s twin brother, adds an additional layer of complexity to the narrative. He is depicted as charismatic but reckless, with a tendency to act without thinking, creating tension in his relationships with other vampires and with Tess.

Callum’s energy contrasts sharply with his sister Octavia’s more contemplative demeanor. As Tess becomes more involved in the world of the vampires, she finds herself navigating not only her own emotional landscape but also the intense and often volatile dynamics between the vampires.

Callum’s impulsive nature and unresolved romantic entanglements mirror the chaotic emotions Tess must grapple with in her own life. Through Callum, Tess learns about the consequences of living in the shadows of one’s past and the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions.

His relationship with his sister and their shared experiences underscore the central themes of redemption and self-discovery in the novel.

Themes

The Power of Fandom and Escapism in Healing from Trauma

The theme of fandom and its role in helping individuals cope with personal trauma is central to Fang Fiction. Tess Rosenbloom, the protagonist, uses her obsession with the vampire series Blood Feud as a means of escape from her troubled reality.

As a survivor of a traumatic assault and an academic dropout, Tess’s love for the fictional world becomes her sanctuary, providing both solace and a sense of belonging. The novels offer a safe space where she can immerse herself, even as the world around her becomes increasingly difficult to navigate.

Tess’s involvement in the Blood Feud fandom, where she gains some recognition for her conspiracy theories and writing, becomes a form of empowerment. Through the fictional stories, she can explore different aspects of her identity, which in turn helps her process her past and its emotional repercussions.

In this way, fandom acts as a form of emotional escape but also a stepping stone for her eventual healing and self-discovery.

Confronting and Reclaiming Agency Over One’s Traumatic Past

Tess’s journey to heal from the trauma she endured at Columbia is a powerful thread running through the novel. She starts the story as someone who is still very much affected by her assault and the social alienation that followed.

Her trauma is not just physical but emotional, and the novel delves deep into the psychological aftereffects, such as panic attacks, insomnia, and fear of facing her abuser. As the plot progresses, Tess finds herself pushed into circumstances where she must confront not only the haunting memories but also the physical presence of Rick, her assailant.

Her decision to take action against him—empowered by the vampires and the support of Joni—symbolizes her gradual reclaiming of agency in her life. The novel presents the idea that healing is not linear, and that confronting painful past events can be both liberating and terrifying.

Tess’s final confrontation with Rick, alongside her recovery process, shows the importance of confronting one’s past in order to build a stronger, more empowered future.

The Complexity of Friendship, Betrayal, and Reconciliation

The theme of friendship and its complex dynamics, especially when tested by betrayal, is explored in depth throughout Fang Fiction. Tess’s relationship with Joni Chaudhari provides the emotional backbone of the story.

In their early years at Columbia, they share a deep connection, bonding over their mutual love for Blood Feud and dreams of an idealized future. However, Tess’s traumatic experience and subsequent withdrawal from her academic life sever this bond.

Their estrangement is marked by Tess’s inability to communicate her pain, creating a rift between them that appears insurmountable. When they eventually reconnect, the novel delves into the difficulty of rebuilding trust after betrayal.

Tess and Joni’s reunion is fraught with tension, but it serves as a critical moment of healing for Tess, as she finally opens up about her trauma and the real reasons behind her disappearance. The process of reconciling and rebuilding their friendship is a key aspect of Tess’s emotional growth, demonstrating the importance of vulnerability and honest communication in fostering authentic connections.

The Intersection of Fantasy and Reality in Identity Formation

In Fang Fiction, the boundaries between fantasy and reality are constantly blurred, particularly as Tess finds herself immersed in the real-world version of Blood Feud‘s universe. When the fictional vampires, Octavia and Callum, arrive in Tess’s life, she is thrust into a world that mirrors the fantastical elements of her favorite novels.

As the line between fiction and reality fades, Tess begins to see herself reflected in the struggles of the characters. For example, Octavia’s emotional isolation mirrors Tess’s own fears of abandonment, while Callum’s reckless behavior echoes Tess’s past mistakes.

The novel uses these parallels to explore how fiction influences our understanding of ourselves and the world. Tess’s journey is as much about discovering who she is in relation to the Blood Feud world as it is about understanding her role in the real world.

By immersing herself in the fantasy universe, Tess not only helps the vampires but also learns valuable life lessons about resilience, self-worth, and the importance of forging new paths. This theme reveals how stories—whether real or imagined—can serve as vehicles for self-exploration and personal transformation.

Redemption and Empowerment Through Courageous Action

The overarching theme of redemption in Fang Fiction underscores the transformative power of taking bold, courageous actions in the face of adversity. Tess’s character development is a testament to this.

At the start, she is passive, weighed down by fear and self-doubt, unable to face the challenges posed by her past trauma or her complicated relationships. But as the story progresses, Tess steps into a more active role in her life.

The involvement with the vampires becomes a catalyst for her own growth, and she learns to channel her inner strength and intelligence. Tess’s decision to confront her abuser, Rick, and her willingness to take on the responsibility of helping the vampires escape their predicament are acts of personal redemption.

These moments of courage not only bring her closer to her own healing but also highlight her transformation from a woman defined by her past to one empowered by her choices. The novel ultimately demonstrates that redemption is not about erasing the past but about confronting it, making deliberate choices, and taking ownership of one’s future.

The Role of Magical Realism in Exploring Personal Growth and Change

The magical realism element in Fang Fiction, where the fictional vampires from Tess’s favorite books come to life, plays a vital role in the exploration of personal growth and change. This theme underscores the notion that the most profound changes often occur through the interplay of fantasy and reality.

As Tess helps the vampires navigate their new lives in the human world, she not only experiences the thrill of being involved in a fantastical adventure but also learns crucial lessons about resilience, vulnerability, and self-empowerment. The supernatural elements serve as a metaphor for Tess’s internal transformation—by navigating this magical world, Tess begins to see her own life and choices through a different lens.

By the end of the novel, Tess has undergone a profound shift, no longer the passive observer of her own life but an active participant who has claimed her future. The fantastic nature of the vampires’ world forces Tess to confront the limits of her imagination and to stretch the boundaries of her personal growth.