Jessica Rules the Dark Side

Gr 8 Up—In Beth Fantaskey's lackluster sequel (2012) to Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (2008, both Houghton Harcourt), newlyweds Jessica and Lucius have returned to Romania to begin their lives together as rulers of the Vladescu and Dragomir vampire clans. Being a princess isn't easy for Jessica. Thrust into a culture rife with violence, distrust, and treachery, she struggles to assume her new role, relying upon others for everything from ordering food in Romanian to helping her navigate the imposing castle she now calls home. Lucius is too preoccupied with clan politics to notice how stressed his wife has become, so Jessica feels even more isolated and overwhelmed. Things go from bad to worse when Lucius is accused of destroying an Elder and is incarcerated for the crime. With the help of her best friend and Lucius's cousin, Jessica gradually finds the strength to save her husband and become a formidable ruler. Unfortunately, this improvement comes much too late; the meekness that defines her character for the majority of the book makes it difficult to see her any other way. Although narrator Katherine Kellgren's flawless Romanian lends authenticity to the tale, her throaty, overly affected voice makes Jessica sound much older and more melodramatic than the character calls for.—Audrey Sumser, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Mayfield, OH