Defanged - by H E Edgmon

About the Book

To save the only life he's ever known, a tween vampire has to destroy it first in Defanged, a new speculative middle grade from author H.E. Edgmon.

Book Synopsis

To save the only life he's ever known, a tween vampire has to destroy it first in Defanged, a new speculative middle grade from author H.E. Edgmon.

Lux Priddy is a regular 12-year-old: he goes to school, hangs out with his best friend, Emma, and loves to pet every dog he sees. Except for one little thing - Lux is a vampire. And even though vampires came out of the coffin and into the public eye before he was even born, not everyone is happy about it. So when a group called Vampirism Sucks develops a cure, most people are thrilled. Lux? Not so much.

Humans might think his life is miserable, but he's never known anything else. And he doesn't think he even wants to be human. After all, what makes being a human better than being a vampire? After an epic escape out the window of a Vampirism Sucks facility, Lux finds himself in a secret underground vampire city - one filled with "bad" vampires, the kind his parents have always warned him about. But even though he's been taught to fear them, the people of Nox Urbus are the only ones that seem to understand him. And when the so-called cure stops being optional, Lux is forced to make a choice: go back home and submit to the treatment, or stand up and fight a corrupt system for the right to be himself.

Review Quotes

Praise for Defanged:

School Library Journal's Best Books of 2025
Chicago Public Library's Best Books of 2025

★ "Thoughtful details add realism to the vampires' world, and the affection between quirky Lux and his compatriots brings fun and hope to a story that addresses serious, all-too-relevant issues . . . A clever, perceptive read that's full of love for those who are different." --Kirkus, starred review

★ "Edgmon injects optimism throughout . . . As Lux's biological and found families overlap, they offer a reassuring sense of acceptance and belonging in the face of adversity and oppression." --Publisher's Weekly, starred review

★ "Edgmon makes deft use of the vampire as an allegory for the Other . . . suspenseful, timely, and thought-provoking." --Horn Book, starred review

"This thoughtfully crafted fantasy is rooted in social justice and relevant to many real-world situations." --Booklist

Praise for The Flicker:

★ "Edgmon's middle grade debut is a dystopian, anti-capitalist, Indigenous, gender nonconforming love letter to tweens . . . The writing is engaging, the plot is lively, and the social dynamics are believable, even when presenting lessons. Edgmon doesn't pull any punches with this book . . . Through a story with some genuinely frightening moments, Edgmon helps readers explore identity. After all, who are we after all the systems we've used to define ourselves crumble?" --School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Incisive worldbuilding surrounding the climate collapse makes this middle grade debut a simultaneously cautionary tale and dystopian adventure in which Edgmon showcases the unflagging power of community in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Edgmon's middle-grade debut skillfully blends action and emotion . . . A compelling coming-of-age story." --Kirkus

"Bound up in a gripping page-turner, the soul of The Flicker is fierce, relentless love for chosen family, the natural world, and a humanity exploited almost to the point of extinction. With unblinking honesty, this story invites readers to hope, and hope tenaciously for a better way of living." --Alder Van Otterloo, author of Cattywampus and The Beautiful Something Else

About the Author

H.E. Edgmon did not sleep for several years and is now the author of copious novels and short works for tweens, teens, and adults. Their line-up includes The Witch King duology, the Ouroboros duology, and The Flicker, and their writing has been described as "monstrously thrilling, deeply emotional" by School Library Journal. Across genres, H.E. hopes to find readers in their darkest moments and help them start a fire. In their laughably limited free time, they're likely hosting themed parties for no reason or trying to predict the future. They live in the Pacific Northwest, surrounded by chosen family and giant dogs.