Jessica Rules the Dark Side

Eccoci finalmente con il tanto atteso secondo romanzo di Beth Fantaskey, dopo il successo di “Promessi Vampiri”, l’autrice ci porta a trovare i nostri beniamini alla loro festa di matrimonio e, successivamente, al castello per seguirli nell’arduo compito di riportare la “Legge” fra i continui scontri fra Dragomir e Vladescu. Diventare re e regina non è neanche lontanamente facile come aveva sperato Antanasia!

La prima parte del romanzo, come già detto, ci racconterà del momento “rosa” di Lucius e Jessica: il matrimonio. Molti noi avranno già avuto il piacere di leggerlo, grazie al racconto messo online dall’autrice e, di conseguenza, dalla casa editrice, ma averlo rilegato ed allegato al romanzo vero e proprio è show more tutta un’altra questione. Bella sorpresa e sicuramente apprezzata da tutti.

L’atmosfera romantica e da “lieto fine” viene, però, ben presto messa in secondo piano e l’autrice, nella seconda parte del romanzo, ci mostra chiaramente il fatidico “altro lato della medaglia”. Per quanto bello e romantico, passare da normalissima ragazza americana a regina dei vampiri non è assolutamente semplice e la povera Jessica-Antanasia si ritroverà ben presto a scontrarsi con un mondo ben più complesso, crudo e ostile. Essere principessa e futura regina le impone di essere forte e di non mostrarsi debole in nessun caso e, per una ragazza che fino a qualche tempo prima era perfino vegetariana, non è affatto semplice.

Lucius, da parte sua, comprende le difficoltà di Jessica e cerca di aiutarla ma la ragazza dovrà affrontare il suo percorso di crescita da sola, soprattutto scegliendo al meglio le persone di cui circondarsi.

La differenza fra imparare a fare la regina ed imparare ad essere una regina sarà cruciale ed al centro del romanzo di Beth Fantaskey che, prediligendo a quanto pare la terapia d’urto, farà in modo che per Jessica sia inevitabile imparare a volare da sola e alla svelta.

Un omicidio verrà commesso al castello e, come nei più ovvi dei cliché, l’arma del delitto sembra riportare inequivocabilmente a Lucius, il futuro re, che per non perdere la fiducia nella “legge” che lui stesso sta cercando di riportare nella vita dei vampiri, si ritroverà ad essere allontanato da Jessica.

A questo punto, per la futura regina, non ci sarà più tempo per tentennare nelle sue insicurezze e, fra una lezione di rumeno e una ricerca fra le lapidi del cimitero dei Vladescu, la sua ascesa al potere sarà difficile ma inarrestabile.

Un secondo romanzo ricco di suspense, di mistero e perfettamente in stile young adult. Come nel precedente episodio di Promessi Vampiri, il forte del libro non è tanto il “cosa racconta” – è infatti piuttosto semplice arrivare ad intuire chi sia il cattivo della situazione – piuttosto, il “come” ci viene narrato dall’autrice.

Questa riesce, infatti, ad emozionare il lettore evidenziando con dovizia l’evoluzione interiore della protagonista, facendola passare dalla semplice Jessica alla regina Antanasia. Il tutto senza annoiare il lettore con lunghi monologhi interiori o tediose turbe mentali della giovane teenager.

Non possiamo dimenticare che, a contribuire alla dinamicità del romanzo, hanno contribuito senza dubbio Mindy (l’amica del cuore di Jessica) e Raniero, il cugino vampiro e decisamente svampito di Lucius che conosceremo durante il matrimonio.

La loro storia è decisamente carina, interessante e perfetta per alleggerire le problematiche di Jessica e Lucius senza, però, rubare loro la scena. Senza dimenticare che entrambi contribuiranno in maniera essenziale alla soluzione del mistero, aiutando così Jessica a scagionare suo marito.

In definitiva, abbiamo di fronte un romanzo young adult sicuramente più “solido”, strutturalmente parlando, e dai toni più seri e leggermente cupi. I temi trattati sono diversi e di vario spessore (crescita, amicizia, morte, politica, fiducia, amore, maturità, responsabilità…), ma allo stesso tempo è possibile “staccare” grazie al tono diretto, semplice ed a volte scherzoso che l’autrice mantiene per tutta la durata del romanzo. Le battute di Mindy sono senza dubbio essenziali per alleggerire e riequilibrare il romanzo con le parti più cupe.

Finale leggermente aperto che lascia sperare in un seguito ma che, in caso contrario, soddisfa perfettamente il lettore. Complimenti alla nostra Beth Fantaskey! show less

Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey is one of my favourite books in a series that ended FAR TOO SOON!!

When I initially picked up this series I became furious - there was only two books in the series and then POOF it was gone, just like that! I was addicted, I needed more and Beth hadn't provided the literature to fill that need. With a book and sweet and cute as this one, it was highly upsetting.

The Romanian vampire universe that Beth built within these two books was thrilling. We follow Jessica and her vampire husband (who has been accused of murder, by the way) in a magical adventure. There's romance, drama, danger, thrills and everything you want in a YA, vampire novel.

This book does let you down though - it's the final in show more a two book series that could have been so much more. It could have been the next Vampire Academy, in my eyes. Why go so far and waste the effort to create such a beautiful universe to end it after two? Our characters still had room to grow, since their character development was quite small, and there were so many loose ends that weren't tied up in the end. When there's so many mysteries entwined in this series, it was incredibly frustrating to know the books just stopped here.

Jessica is related to the audience - she doesn't fit in, she's strong willed and headstrong and is willing to save her friends. She's not overly dramatic in my eyes, especially in a YA adult novel, but she's still an excellent lead. Mixed in with a fast paced story, and an excellent story line makes for a truly great recommended read from me!

Five out of five stars. show less

"Jessica's Guide to Dating On the Dark Side" was one of my first YA paranormal novels that I read as an adult. It sort of led the way for my newest passion. Now I devour about sixty or so book in this genre a year. So the follow up (a couple of years in the making by the way) had a lot to live up to.

The book takes up shortly after Jessica (Anastasia now) has married Lucius. She is officially a princess and Lucius a Prince. Anastasia is very uncomfortable in her new position as a ruler. She is squeamish when handing down verdicts of destruction even when the condemned vampire deserves the sentence. She is mocked by her people and only Lucius seems to believe that she can be strong enough to rule their lands. Then an Elder is murdered and show more the last time he was seen he was publicly threatened by Lucius. All evidence seems to point at Lucius and Anastasia has to pull herself together and prove that he is innocent of the crime before he slips into a coma-like sleep and becomes nearly impossible to awaken. Even if he does awaken, he would likely be mentally ruined.

I found I liked the secondary plot even more than the Lucius/Anastasia one. Anastasia's best friend Mindy has come to stay at the castle when her life crumbles back home. She has failed in school and failed in her recent attempt at a relationship with Ronnie, Lucius's friend and the only vampire beach bum in the world. But Ronnie has secrets too and circumstances soon lead to him returing to the castle as well. But who is Ronnie really? Does the peace loving vampire really have a violent and crazy past?

The two plot lines weave seamlessly. Each chapter has a heading letting the reader know who is currently narrating the chapter. Fantaskey's writing is beautiful and yet no-nonsense. Her story easily grips the reader's interest. The story never looses speed, the plotting is well paced. I really enjoyed all the characters as well. I did have a few complaints. I easily figured out who the guilty party was before I was halfway through with the book. Maybe we readers are supposed to know and maybe not but I hoped for some kind of twist there. Also we never really find out why one person involved acted the way they did. I wanted an explanation. I also didn't feel the connection to Anastasia as I did in the first book, when she was Jessica. Her meekness and insecurity is surely to be expected of her character. Who wouldn't be the same way when thrown into these circumstances. She finally gets things together by the end of the book but I really wanted her to toughen up throughout the book.

The complaints are minor and the positives are plenty. It doesn't quite live up to the first book but it shouldn't have to. "Jessica Rules The Dark Side" is a strong book all on its own. Paranormal fans will enjoy this story. Upon finishing the book I couldn't help but hope we would one day see a third book. Perhaps one in which Anastasia and Lucius introduce their first child? show less

This is the second book in a trilogy and I recommend strongly that you do not try to read this as a standalone book. To understand what is going on in Jessica Rules... I truly think you need to read Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side plus I think you will really enjoy the first book!

Now that Jessica is married she is trying to settle down in the castle in Romania and before she can find her niche, her husband is accused of murdering one of the Elder Vampires. Jessica hasn't made a very good Princess up until now, but her anger eventually gets the best of her and she learns what she has to do to become the regal Princess we always knew she could be. Thankfully in Jessica's time of need Mindy and her hair salon on wheels enters show more the picture and plays a big part in helping Jessica to become the strong young woman and Monarch we knew she could be.

This book has an excellent mystery going on and while I admit that I did suspect someone right off the bat, it really floored me when a secondary suspect comes into the picture. This was an excellent way to misdirect on the part of the author.

The secondary story that follows Lucius's best friend Raniero and Jessica's best friend is priceless. I would love to see a series or at least one standalone book devoted to them. I mean a surfer Vamp? How funny is that?!

This book has well fleshed out characters a great story line, is romantic but not overly-saccharine sweet and I loved the way the narrative played between each character. With each chapter (and they are very short chapters) written in a different persons point of view, it kept the story fresh for me. show less

I loved Jessica's Rules for Dating on the Dark Side and this one exceeded my expectations. I think I almost liked it more than the first one. I am always worried about a the second in the series and if it will live up to the first. Don't worry, it has everything the first one has and more! There are some serious page turning moments as Jessica must learn to act princessly (I know, not a word, but princely is a word, so why not princess-ly), and save her new husband from certain death. She manages it all just in the nick of time with the help of Mindy, her BFF and stylist extraordinaire. I think Mindy needs some more feature time since her slow wit is becoming quicker and more refined.

I didn't get to see much of Lucius and his snarky show more comments, but Mindy and Raniero helped spice things up again. Raniero's emails to Lucius are bitingly funny (pun intended) and his adoring words to Mindy are something special. Every girl wishes she can get notes like his. I think there is more to tell in the Mindy and Raniero story or at least I hope so. Now I can't wait to see Jessica kick some butt in a new adventure since in this one she really comes into her own. show less

I enjoyed the first book in this series. This book I liked and hated at the same time. Jessica was driving me up a wall with not being able to figure out who did the crimes or become a ruler when she needed to step up. I found myself wanting to yell at the book at times because it was so frustrating to have a main character struggle so stupidly over stepping up to take responsibility. Overall the ending was pretty good, but I had the whole book ending figured out before I was even half way through it.

Jessica Rules the Dark Side is Beth Fantaskey’s follow-up to her wonderful novel Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side from 2009. In that book, Jessica Packwood learned that her life of 4H and mathematics was about to take an unexpected turn when hot vampire prince Lucius Vladescu showed up to inform her she was really a vampire princess and his betrothed. It turned out to be an extremely funny read (highlighted by Lucius’s letters home to his uncle in Romania), and I was very happy when Jessica Rules the Dark Side came out earlier this year so I could find out what happened to the young couple. Turns out, marriage to a vampire prince has not been good for Jessica.

When we pick up the story, Jessica is flailing under her show more responsibilities as princess to the Vladescu and Dragomir vampire clans. Lucius is trying to help her the best he can, but growing up as a vegan pacifist has really not prepared Jessica for a leadership role in her vicious blood-sucking family. She contacts her best friend, Mindy, and asks her to come for a visit so she can see a friendly face. Mindy is initially reluctant but, after failing out of community college due to a lack of focus, decides the change of scenery might be beneficial – especially since the vampire she cannot stop daydreaming about has no interest in returning to his home in the Carpathian mountains. It seems Mindy met Lucius’s best man and cousin, Raniero Vladescu Lovatu at the wedding, a whirlwind romance occurred, and then she broke up with him when she learned he was more into surfing than success. Since he has no desire to leave his beaches for the Carpathians, Mindy thinks she can finally get him out of head by going to the one place he won’t. But when Lucius is accused of destroying his uncle Claudiu, Jessica will need all the help she can get to prove his innocence – and Lucius calls Raniero home to support her.

As noted earlier, Lucius’s letters home were a particular joy of mine in the first book so I was happy to see Fantaskey has Lucius and Raniero exchanging e-mails in this story. It is a great way to see Lucius’s and Raniero’s points of view as the book progresses, since the rest is narrated by Jessica or Mindy. The exchanges were not as clever as the ones from the previous book, but they were enough to keep me going when I wanted to slap Jessica silly a few times.

Jessica Rules was a bit frustrating to read for about two-thirds of the book, as Jessica had lost all of the spunk and strength that she had in Jessica’s Guide to Dating. She had become a lost, frightened, and weak character since marrying Lucius, and I wasn’t exactly pleased with this development. She was such a mass of insecurity that she was losing weight because she was afraid to ask the staff for a meal. Everything I liked about Jessica was just gone. Mindy tried to help but, since Jessica ended up wallowing in her fear for most of the story, she wasn’t very effective. She finally got a kick in the pants from Raniero, and found her backbone, which is when the book really seemed to take off. The Jessica we see in the final third of the novel is the Jessica we know and love; I just wish she had made her appearance earlier so this book could really rock.

A little more of Mindy would have been nice as well. I began to wonder why Jessica even bothered to invite Mindy out, since she never spent any time with her once she was there. Mindy basically ends up kicking back, reading magazines, and trying to figure out Raniero. It’s her consumption of “Elle” and “Cosmopolitan,” however, that lead her to the possible traitor in their midst.

I missed having Lucius front-and-center for a lot of the book, but this was made up for by Raniero. The pacifist, surfer-dude vampire is eventually revealed as an extremely successful vampire assassin who has rejected his former lifestyle in favor of beaches and Buddha; his return to the Carpathian mountains, however, brings out his killer side. I liked how his character developed throughout and how he managed to pull Jessica out of her funk and back to her former glory. I also thought his interactions with Mindy were good, first as he tried to get her to realize he was the right one for her and then when he distanced himself as he brought forth more of his killer side to help Lucius. Raneiro’s character development and the return of Jessica’s strength are what managed to bump my rating from 2 stars to 3.

The revelation of the mastermind behind the death of Claudiu and the imprisonment of Lucius was not a huge surprise; I’m sure many readers will have that one figured out fairly early on like I did. The reason for the treason was a little bit of a surprise (I was thinking in a different direction), and I didn’t expect the tie-in to a violent event in Raniero’s past. For this reason, and the fact that we have a nice chunk of bonus content in the e-book concerning Lucius and Jessica’s wedding, I awarded another half star to my rating. I would have liked a more menacing villain, however; with all the evil elder vampires available, it would have added some extra oomph to the story.

Jessica Rules the Dark Side was a bit of a frustrating read at times, but once Jessica rediscovered her strength in the final third of the book it became a much more entertaining read. The new character of Raniero was a nice addition and helped move the story over some rough spots. I would have liked to see more of Mindy, especially more interactions between her and Jessica. I think Fantaskey missed some of the book’s potential by having a weak Jessica through a good portion of it; a strong Jessica, Mindy and Raniero going after a really strong villain could have bumped this story into the 4-5 star range. show less