My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Jessica #2
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books January 10, 2012
Pages: 309
Synopsis:
It’s one thing to find out you’re a vampire princess. It’s a whole other thing to actually rule. Newly married Jessica Packwood is having a hard enough time feeling regal with her husband, Lucius, at her side. But when evidence in the murder of a powerful elder points to Lucius, sending him into solitary confinement, Jessica is suddenly on her own. Determined to clear her husband’s name, Jessica launches into a full-scale investigation, but hallucinations and nightmares of betrayal keep getting in her way. Jessica knows that with no blood to drink, Lucius’s time is running out. Can she figure out who the real killer is—and whom she can trust—before it’s too late?
My thoughts:
**Some spoilers**
I really liked Jessica Rules the Dark Side. I remember reading the first book, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side and really liking it but I didn’t remember all the details. So, when I started reading the sequel, a lot of what happened in the first book came rushing back to me. I have to say, in the beginning, it was kind of dull because Jess was all whiny and wimpy. I was like just get your head out of your butt and get your act together and be strong. That’s when it became better though when Jess finally did just that. Here is my character overview/review:
Jessica Packwood aka Antanasia Dragomir
Like I said before, in the beginning Jess was kind of bleh. But, then she was alright and found herself. I like when she became all tough and everything (go strong female protagonists!). I liked Jess a lot in the first book and the middle and end of the sequel.
Melinda Stankowicz aka Mindy (or Mindy Sue as Raniero calls her)
I like Mindy. She’s really funny and smart. She knows who the culprit is when Jess or Raniero or anyone else didn’t (well, granted I knew who it was too but whatever). I also liked that she got her happily ever after at the end. Go Mindy!
Raniero Lovatu aka Ronnie (as Mindy calls him)
At first I didn’t know what to think of Raniero. I mean he’s a taco shirt wearing pacifist surfer vampire. But, then we get to know him better as the book goes on and he’s actually a damned vampire who killed lots of people. I like Raniero enough. He was funny at times. I kind of missed Lucius though.
Lucius Vladescu aka Lukey (as Mindy calls him)
Lukey wasn’t in this book a lot ‘cause, you know, he was locked up from being accused of murdering a vampire. But, we did get to see a lot of email/note messages between him and Raniero so that was cool.
Overall, good book. I would definitely read it if you read Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side.
Favorite Quotes:
“A queen has few friends, my birth mother had tried to warn me in her journal. If she has many, she is almost surely doing something wrong.”--Jess
“It’s all about perception, I told myself. Mine—and theirs.--Jess
“You will not address me as if I’m not even here—unless you want to join Lucius in the dungeons. And then we’ll see how long you last without blood, because you are two hundred years older and nowhere near as strong as my husband.”--Jess
“I might not have transferred to a new school, but it was still like I’d joined the world’s oldest, grayest, least peppy cheerleading squad, and I was sick of being stuck in a castle like a prisoner myself with the whole lousy bunch of them.”--Jess
“It is never wise to express doubt in front of an armed and dangerous vampire, especially if it causes you to bow your head like a sacrifice—and drop your own weapon.”--Raniero
“The Buddha himself says, ‘Life is suffering.’ Pain cannot be avoided, only fully faced and accepted. A moment of discomfort is nothing to me.”--Raniero and Jess
I don’t think Buddha would approve of my deliberately stabbing you.”
“I wish to be Princess Antanasia Dragomir Vladescu, ruler of the world’s most venerable vampire clans.--Jess
Without hesitating, Raniero place his hand on the table, and I drove the stake into his flesh with every ounce of strength I possessed.”
“I, like, wanted to hurt. And I got what I wanted.”--Mindy
“If we only have daughters, I will be the happiest vampire alive,” he whispers. “For I have come to learn—from you—that a princess can be as powerful as a prince!”--Lucius
“Holy crap. I was about knocked over for two reasons. Jess had totally won round one. And there were guys there who’d been alive in 1622?”--Mindy
“I was gonna raise a little hell in a place that already seemed pretty darn close to there, if you asked me.”--Mindy
.png)
