Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
By Beth Fantaskey
Harcourt, 2009. 354 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Jessica Packwood was adopted and raised by two peace loving vegans. She lives on an organic farm and attends Woodrow Wilson High School. Jessica’s world is shattered when immediately before her eighteenth birthday a handsome young Romanian named Lucius Vladescu shows up at her doorstep. Jessica’s parents neglected to tell her that her birth parents were vampire royalty. Her real name is Antanasia. Jessica has been engaged to Lucius since her birth in order to join two powerful vampire clans together. Jessica is horrified by the concept of an arranged marriage but soon learns that if she doesn’t marry there will be an epic vampire war with many innocent casualties. Jessica can’t help but be attracted to certain noble qualities that Lucius possesses. But she understandingly doesn’t want her future life mapped out for her. Lucius, on the other hand, enjoys the freedom of America a bit too much when he starts dating the local alpha cheerleader and earns the wrath of his vampire guardians.

The book title is taken from a guide Lucius gives Jessica called, “Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions.” This contrast between teenage reality and the absurd provides much of the humor in Fantaskey’s novel. However, I found the tone to be uneven. It shifted between light comedy and romance to darker violence. There is also a large amount of sensuality in the novel. It was not as light a read as the cover and title may suggest. But it was refreshing and different to read something that had some unexpected plot twists. Fantaskey definitely leaves the plot wide open so she can write a sequel.

ALC