Teeth
Marcus Damada
Reviewed by Vanessa Lee
There are monsters that roam the night and a family of
them
has just come to Fairview, Virginia.
They're the Damworths and they're looking for a good time. They
start by
killing two little girls and move on to terrorizing the patrons of an
arcade.
The real fun begins when they meet Nicholas, a local boy with a deep
secret,
and one of the Damworths does something completely unexpected.
She falls in love.
What follows is a nightmarish weekend where secrets are
revealed, boundaries are pushed, and beliefs are tested. Fairview,
Virginia
will never be the same.
Damada weaves an interesting tale, full of the unexpected.
It's unclear who the hero is, or who you're supposed to root for as you
read.
Everyone – especially the monsters – is
painfully human, showing both good and bad and proving to truly be
neither.
Everyone has issues, and though it's a "Horror Fantasy" the
characterization rings amazingly true.
Teeth jumps around at the beginning introducing everyone and
hinting at secrets that aren't revealed until much later in the book.
Less
patient readers may loose interest before the first few chapters are
up, but
those who persist will be rewarded with a book that moves deliberately
slowly,
drawing out the time for the reader as well as the characters and
making the
night seem horribly long for both groups.
Teeth is a different kind of horror, a different kind
of fantasy, and features a different kind of vampire. It's very dark
and may be
too disturbing for some, for it touches on the worst parts of people's
lives
and personalities, but that's what makes it feel real, what makes it
stand out
from other recent paranormal and fantasy offerings. It feels unique
and, while
not precisely fun, it's a compelling read, one you won't want to put
down.
One thing I would have liked to see is more on the Damworths
themselves. Though they are the catalyst for most things that happen in
the
novel and they play a major role at the end, there is little actually
revealed
about them, their past, or why they're in Fairview. Hints are given
about the
society in which they operate, but there is little concrete information
and I
would have liked to see more. Perhaps it will be revealed in a future
book, for
the ending of Teeth leaves room for a sequel.
Should one appear, I for one will be interested to see how
Damada develops both the story and as a writer.