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shhchar's review against another edition
4.0
I have to say, this has become one of my favorite books. I can't pinpoint exactly how/when this happened, but I just could never put this book down! I went through love-hate relationships with all the characters, but in the end I just loved them all over again.
If you are a lover of consistency, this may not be the book for you. I found myself willing Jessica to be stronger sometimes (she was a rather Bella-type character) and for Lucius to get a grip on things. The developement in all the characters was slight. For a few chapters there was no real change at all, which was rather boring.
Again, these things normally turn me off a book, in this case it kept me reading. Personal opinion, I suppose.
If you are a lover of consistency, this may not be the book for you. I found myself willing Jessica to be stronger sometimes (she was a rather Bella-type character) and for Lucius to get a grip on things. The developement in all the characters was slight. For a few chapters there was no real change at all, which was rather boring.
Again, these things normally turn me off a book, in this case it kept me reading. Personal opinion, I suppose.
stephxsu's review against another edition
5.0
Debut author Beth Fantaskey explodes onto the heavily populated YA vampire lit world with her amazing book, JESSICA’S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE, which is sure to convert Twilight fans into having a new favorite vampire and vampire-novel heroine. Or if it doesn’t do that, then at least it will leave you smiling, biting your nails, and reading far into the night.
In rural Pennsylvania, math nerd Jessica Packwood is about to enter her senior year of high school, determined to have a good time, potentially date Jake Zinn, a nice and handsome boy in her grade, and win some more math competitions. But her carefully imagined plan goes down the drain with the arrival of Lucius Vladescu, a hot but arrogant student from Romania who is under the unfortunate delusion that he is a vampire prince destined to marry Jessica, who is apparently a vampire princess from a rival vampire family. Their marriage would end a centuries-long war between the two families and ensure peace for all their vampire relatives.
Jessica, who loves scientific facts, is understandably confused, scared of her reluctant attraction to Lucius and unable to believe the “parlor tricks” that he performs: a flash of fangs here, a miraculous recovery from a serious injury there. But just as she begins to finally believe—in Lucius, in herself—Lucius suddenly begins to court Faith Crosse, the evil-souled reigning cheerleader-slash-prom-queen of Woodrow Wilson High, and Jessica finds herself struggling to win him back, and not just for the sake of her own heart. For if she doesn’t, both vampire families, not to mention Lucius, could end up being destroyed.
Wow! It is almost unfortunate that this book has such an unwieldy and frothy, though eye-catching, title, because I did not realize the extent of what I was in for when I started reading. Jessica and Lucius are two of the best main characters that I have read about in a long time: they are fully three-dimensional and undergo incredible growth through the 350-some pages. Lucius’ intensity and arrogance makes me simultaneously laugh and be attracted to him at the same time, and some of my favorite chapters were those that consisted of Lucius’ letters to his uncle back in Romania. The relationship that develops between Jessica and Lucius seems totally natural, the growing love not forced. The plot goes beyond a typical Twilight spinoff (which all current YA vampire novels are inevitably being compared to), and reaches its awe-inspiring conclusion wonderfully.
Action, love, mortal danger, family, humor—JESSICA’S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE has everything. I am wholeheartedly a fan, and you will be too.
In rural Pennsylvania, math nerd Jessica Packwood is about to enter her senior year of high school, determined to have a good time, potentially date Jake Zinn, a nice and handsome boy in her grade, and win some more math competitions. But her carefully imagined plan goes down the drain with the arrival of Lucius Vladescu, a hot but arrogant student from Romania who is under the unfortunate delusion that he is a vampire prince destined to marry Jessica, who is apparently a vampire princess from a rival vampire family. Their marriage would end a centuries-long war between the two families and ensure peace for all their vampire relatives.
Jessica, who loves scientific facts, is understandably confused, scared of her reluctant attraction to Lucius and unable to believe the “parlor tricks” that he performs: a flash of fangs here, a miraculous recovery from a serious injury there. But just as she begins to finally believe—in Lucius, in herself—Lucius suddenly begins to court Faith Crosse, the evil-souled reigning cheerleader-slash-prom-queen of Woodrow Wilson High, and Jessica finds herself struggling to win him back, and not just for the sake of her own heart. For if she doesn’t, both vampire families, not to mention Lucius, could end up being destroyed.
Wow! It is almost unfortunate that this book has such an unwieldy and frothy, though eye-catching, title, because I did not realize the extent of what I was in for when I started reading. Jessica and Lucius are two of the best main characters that I have read about in a long time: they are fully three-dimensional and undergo incredible growth through the 350-some pages. Lucius’ intensity and arrogance makes me simultaneously laugh and be attracted to him at the same time, and some of my favorite chapters were those that consisted of Lucius’ letters to his uncle back in Romania. The relationship that develops between Jessica and Lucius seems totally natural, the growing love not forced. The plot goes beyond a typical Twilight spinoff (which all current YA vampire novels are inevitably being compared to), and reaches its awe-inspiring conclusion wonderfully.
Action, love, mortal danger, family, humor—JESSICA’S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE has everything. I am wholeheartedly a fan, and you will be too.
iotunzo's review against another edition
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
christiana's review against another edition
3.0
I like that the author took vampires to a small country town and to see what would happen. It kept my interest all the way through, although I agree with Laela--it's no Twilight.
blahflahlablahx's review against another edition
5.0
Unlike any other vampire romance novel out there, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side puts a new spin on the world of vampirism. Jessica Packwood has known all her life she's been adopted as her parents never hid this family fact from her. As anthropologists, the Packwoods were studying in Romania when it was most crucial for the young Jessica to be taken out of the country as fast as possible. Jessica's birth parents wanted a better future for their daughter and begged the Packwoods to take their only child back to America to live a happy, normal life. Little did Jessica know, a normal life would be much more difficult than she imagined.
As Jessica grows to be a teenager, a mysterious but attractive young man from her past comes to barge into her life, only to reveal the absolute truth about her Romanian family lineage: Jessica's a vampire princess. She was destined to marry him, Lucius Vladescu, and they would rule, living happily ever after in Romania. Jessica is confused and taken aback as she can't truly believe she's a vampire, or even a royal vampire princess for that matter. Throughout the novel, she goes through the struggle of understanding her past and accepting it. She becomes conflicted as to whether she is falling in love with Lucius or trying to fight off his every effort to woo her.
Told by Jessica through a narrative and Lucius through letters he writes to his uncle, the undead attraction between the two teenagers rides a rollercoaster of emotions. Will Jessica be able to make the transition from a regular American teen to a Romanian vampire princess? You have to read each page and the lines in between to experience the trials and tribulations Jessica faces as she must decide to stay who she was or who she has always been destined to be.
As Jessica grows to be a teenager, a mysterious but attractive young man from her past comes to barge into her life, only to reveal the absolute truth about her Romanian family lineage: Jessica's a vampire princess. She was destined to marry him, Lucius Vladescu, and they would rule, living happily ever after in Romania. Jessica is confused and taken aback as she can't truly believe she's a vampire, or even a royal vampire princess for that matter. Throughout the novel, she goes through the struggle of understanding her past and accepting it. She becomes conflicted as to whether she is falling in love with Lucius or trying to fight off his every effort to woo her.
Told by Jessica through a narrative and Lucius through letters he writes to his uncle, the undead attraction between the two teenagers rides a rollercoaster of emotions. Will Jessica be able to make the transition from a regular American teen to a Romanian vampire princess? You have to read each page and the lines in between to experience the trials and tribulations Jessica faces as she must decide to stay who she was or who she has always been destined to be.
brunettegeekgirl's review against another edition
5.0
At first, I wasn't going to read it at all. It has been almost 4 years since it's out but I noticed that the sequel is due in January. And by reading what it was about, and finding that it actually was about vampires, I decided to read it right away!
It has 65 chapters through which I wasn't bored at all!!!
I loved every part of it, the names especially and the mention of Dracula, Bram Stoker and the Carpathians :D.
The story-line was amazing, well written. It kept always not sure what was going to happen next, which the key to great books in my opinion. The end was very good as well.
I recommend it to every vampire/Dracula fans. You won't be disappointed ;).
It has 65 chapters through which I wasn't bored at all!!!
I loved every part of it, the names especially and the mention of Dracula, Bram Stoker and the Carpathians :D.
The story-line was amazing, well written. It kept always not sure what was going to happen next, which the key to great books in my opinion. The end was very good as well.
I recommend it to every vampire/Dracula fans. You won't be disappointed ;).
hnbb's review against another edition
2.0
This book seemed to try too hard to grab the Twilight vampire book fans. There were obvious pointed phrases against it that I noticed. I kind of enjoyed it but it was annoying. It didn't make sense to me. The mythos was unjustified and threw me out of the story. How can you be born a vampire and also be able to make one? If that were possible why aren't there more and why haven't they taken over? I guess I am too logical for vampire myths. This was a miss. (Glad it was a free download.)
tayrod4594's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sly99's review against another edition
1.0
do not even think about reading this crappy book. i also asked myself why i bothered. may be the reason is so that i can warn you not to read it.
this book is so fucked up in all the right places.
1. any sane being will not wear a cloak in this day and age regardless if you are a vampire or not. i may not have sent foot in Romania, but i am betting good money that people there do not think walking around with a cloak is normal.
2. being properly dressed does not mean u have to buy the expensive branded stuff. it also does not mean u will look exceptionally pretty wearing expensive things. hello??? materialistic much???
3. no one born in this decade speaks like a retard that came from the middle ages
4. i loathed the relation between math and supernatural happenings. how can u lose arithmetic skills???? seriously. if u know how to add, will u ever forget that if u believed in irrational things??? it is just the same thing as saying those people who believe in religion are irrational. because, well, religion has not yet been proven my science.
when u are about to pick this book up, think again. then, just put it back where it came from. better yet, lock this book away. not worth it.
this book is so fucked up in all the right places.
1. any sane being will not wear a cloak in this day and age regardless if you are a vampire or not. i may not have sent foot in Romania, but i am betting good money that people there do not think walking around with a cloak is normal.
2. being properly dressed does not mean u have to buy the expensive branded stuff. it also does not mean u will look exceptionally pretty wearing expensive things. hello??? materialistic much???
3. no one born in this decade speaks like a retard that came from the middle ages
4. i loathed the relation between math and supernatural happenings. how can u lose arithmetic skills???? seriously. if u know how to add, will u ever forget that if u believed in irrational things??? it is just the same thing as saying those people who believe in religion are irrational. because, well, religion has not yet been proven my science.
when u are about to pick this book up, think again. then, just put it back where it came from. better yet, lock this book away. not worth it.