Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Penguin, 2012. ISBN 9780143566113.
(Ages: 15+) Recommended. In the sequel to Jessica's Guide to
Dating on the Dark Side, Jessica and Lucius are married (read
about the wedding here)
and living in his castle in Romania. But life is not necessarily
'happily ever after'. Now known as Princess Antanasia, Jessica is
bewildered by the language, customs and expectations of her new
family and is increasingly worried that she will not be able to
fulfil her role as princess and future queen of the vampire clans.
After all she is still a teenager, raised by her vegetarian, animal
loving adoptive parents in Pennsylvania, that finds herself the
co-ruler of a traditional, feudal and very conservative society.
When Lucius is arrested and imprisoned for his alleged role in the
murder of his uncle, it is up to Jessica to clear his name.
Increasingly plagued and debilitated by vivid hallucinations and
dreams, and not knowing whom to trust, she enlists the aid of her
American best friend Mindy and Lucius's Italian, peace-loving surfie
cousin, Raniero, to help find the real culprit.
The story is told in alternating chapters with Jessica, Lucius,
Raniero and Mindy sharing the narrative. I particularly enjoyed
Lucius and Raniero's droll correspondence, and the intrepid Mindy
with her trusty suitcase full of styling products. The atmosphere is
supplied by huge castles, secret tunnels, forbidding pine forests,
cemeteries at midnight and the warring vampire families strident
calls for revenge.
Jessica's Guide to dating on the dark side is a very popular
book amongst our students, and I must admit I enjoyed that book very
much - a fresh twist on the vampire/romance genre. This new book
does not disappoint and is a very satisfying sequel. Whilst there
are secrets to expose and a murder mystery to unravel, this is
really a story about the importance of love and friendship,
believing in yourself and learning to appreciate people for whom
they are; all while trying to prevent the fragile peace between two
vampire families descending into a literal blood bath!
A very enjoyable read with darkness, danger and a sly sense of
humour that also hits all the right romance buttons.
Great fun for teenage girls.
Alicia Papp