Retro Friday Review: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Retro Friday is a meme hosted by Angie of Angieville and "focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc."

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Publisher: Recorded Books
Publication date: February 2009 (HC)
Length: 10 hrs, 47 min
Source: Audiobook from library
For: YA Audiobook Challenge
Series: Jessica series, Book 1

When a mysterious, dark stranger shows up on Jessica's life, claiming to be a vampire and her betrothed, Jessica is annoyed. Lucius Vladescu was not a part of her plan for the future and his annoying persistence is enough to wear anyone down. Will Jessica find a way to accept herself as a Romanian vampire princess or stay exactly where she is, a farm girl from America?

Things I Liked: 
I really enjoyed the humor in this sort-of dark look at vampire teenagers.  I loved Jessica and how realistic she was - nothing was easily believed and she had to have many instances of seeing what Lucius was to actually think it's true.  She was not a dupe and she did not take any crap from any of the guys in her life.  Watching her feelings change was very interesting.  I loved seeing just how much power she had and just how she would use it.  It was a unique and fun vampire story that I actually enjoyed.  I was especially entertained by the narrators in this audiobook.  As always, Katherine Kellgren was perfection, but Jeff Woodman as Lucius was awesome.  He had a great accent but he also managed to infuse the right amount of sarcasm, disbelief, and humor into his letters home.  A really entertaining listen.

Things I Didn't Like: 
There were a few times I remembered that I don't particularly care for vampire stories.  The ending kind of got a bit morbid and dark, but still had some humor.  Overall, though, just entertaining and I enjoyed it very much.

Read-alikes:
Though I haven't read it, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride 
A bit like Die For Me by Amy Plum

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:

s-factor: !@#
regularly, but no f-bombs

mrg-factor: XX
mostly sensuality, but a few nearly-happened scenes

v-factor:->->
well, they are vampires

Overall rating: ****

What's your favorite kind of vampire story - one that is serious or one that laughs at itself?

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