Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

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24 reviews

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46%

4 stars

54%

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2 stars

1 star

Overall rating

4.3

Plot

4.5(24)

Characters

4.3(3)

Writing Style

4.0(3)

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24 results - showing 11 - 20

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Delightful

August 20, 2009 (Updated: July 15, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Reader reviewed by Yan

First things first I have to point out that I love Luciuss character. He had depth, volume, and area! Granted, I just made two of those things up&but really! He actually developed, a lot! I love his original attitude. He had the whole haughty European sex vibe going on; I know Im hot and sexy, so back off commoners, youre breathing my air type of presence. Even after he sheds his arrogance, his character still remains amazing. Jessica, however, fell flat at some points.

The love that grew between them also nicely developed. In the beginning they both couldnt stand each other, and day by day it blossomed until they actually tolerated each other. And of course, fall in love.

The alternating points of views were a nice touch. It gave a deeper connection and a better understanding to their motives. I love how Lucius point of view was through letters to his uncle. It was just plain laugh out loud funny. But within the letters, it gave the true plotline and conflict. Which I have to say was creative and original.

Speaking of original, I thought that there were some vampire characteristics that were unique. The trait that only female vampires can only become full vampires by getting a male vampire to bite you was something that I have never read before. Apparently, never reading a vampire book in your life helps. A lot actually.

The ending, however, left more to be desired. There were some open-ended questions left to me. What happened back in the United States? Her friends? Her parents? Those type of questions.

Overall: Jessicas Guide to Dating on the Dark Side was a funny yet dark tale of love. It was a magnificent read from start to finish!

Guest

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A light comical read, but then turns dark and serious

August 04, 2009 (Updated: July 15, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Reader reviewed by Sensitivemuse

I expected a light read - even a comical one. It was for the first half. You see light bantering between Lucius and Jessica (also known as Antanasia). Jessica finds him annoying and overbearing whereas Lucius does whatever he can to convince Jessica that she's his betrothed and a vampire princess. Suddenly Jessica finds her world turned upside down. Alas I will leave my summary there or I'd give it all away. Through the second half of the novel, it's not so light and happy anymore. The story starts getting darker and more serious. The ending, well you may call it predictable, you might not. I liked it and it made the entire story a rather satisfying read.

I found it odd how I found Jessica so annoying in the first half, and then in the last half Lucius took her place. Perhaps it was meant to be that way? you just wanted to smack both them upside the head and make them see reason it was so frustrating! (but frustrating in a good way). As characters, I like Lucius the most (who wouldn't?) he oozes charm and probably could have easily swept me off my feet and we would have done a rendition of that Red Bull commercial (you know, the one with the vampire). He may have been aggrevating at first as he's as stubborn and has to have his own way but it's all about the vampire charm. He just flips it on like a switch and you're instantly sept away. It was hard to like Jessica at first. I'm not really sure why, I just didn't warm up to her like I did with Lucius. I think it was just the way she acted in the beginning of the book. She was almost like a spoiled child and her constant repeated denial just seemed to get on my nerves. When she was faced with a real bad dilemma, I sort of felt she had brought that on herself. However as you start feeling generally annoyed at Lucius and liking Jessica more, she acts more mature and more accepting of who she is. You just see Jessica "growing up" through the plot.

Overall a good read. It's a short one, so it's something that could be read in a week or so. The plot was good and it flowed perfectly. No loose ends though! I could whine and cry out for a sequel, but I'm not so sure. Somehow this one ends up being perfect as a stand alone novel.

Guest

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A Delicious Story

July 23, 2009 (Updated: July 15, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Reader reviewed by Megan Howell

The undead can really screw up your senior year . . .
Marrying a
vampire definitely doesn't fit into Jessica Packwood's senior year
"get-a-life" plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange
student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a
Romanian vampire princess by birth--and he's her long-lost fiance.
Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen
Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a
dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European
vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on
Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince,
stop a global vampire war--and save Lucius's soul from eternal
destruction.

When I first finished this book I was not
impressed - at first. This was a book I had to think back on. After a
few days, I found I really did like the book. Fantaskey created an
original vampire story. Every single character in this story was
amazingly developed.

Jessica is a unique character for me.
Normally you don't find girls in vampire stories like her. Which is
something I love. Yet again, she's such a detailed character that you
feel like she's a real person by the end of the book. Her parents are
hilarious.

This book took me on an emotional roller coaster
ride. Thanks to Lucius, I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't
my book so I wouldn't throw it across my room. This book will make you
mad. So if you just like the books that are simply read for enjoyment
with almost no emotional involvement... don't pick this up. You will
get tied up into it.

Guest

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dark dating

July 15, 2009 (Updated: July 15, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Reader reviewed by Natalie

Jessica is an ordinary girl living with her adoptive parents,going to math club and doing house work. then one day an exchange student named lucius comes and tells her she's a romanian princess named Antanasia who is going to be his new wive can she survive this big change?
This book was diffrent than most books you see the chapters are diffrent mostly being one page or less, the wording is unique going from formal to normal, and the characters are somewhat relateable. The book was overall really good being diffrent and a good read!

Guest

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A bit of a let down...

June 29, 2009 (Updated: July 15, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Reader reviewed by Sara

From inside cover: Marrying a vampire definitely doesnt fit into Jessicas senior year get-a-life plan. Enter a bizarre new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu who claims Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth and hes her long-lost fiancÃ©. Hes arrogant, officious, embarrassingly protective, and well, incredibly hot. Armed with a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampires Guide to Dating, Heath, and Emotion, Jessica tries to imagine transition from an average American teenager to a glam European vampire princess. But just when things start to heat up with Lucius, a devious cheerleader sets her sights on him. Soon Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war and save Luciuss soul from eternal damnation. All of which leaves her to wonder: Wouldnt life be easier if she could just fall for a nice mortal boy?

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Jess: sometimes she was annoying, but for the most part I could understand why she was so upset about things& but I think she could have been a bit more understanding toward Lucius (it wasnt his fault after all!)

When I finished This Book I Felt: I had mixed feelings. I liked it, but there were parts I thought unnecessary and drawn out. I didnt think it had anything that required much thinking or inspired any outside thought.

Other Books To Read by this Author or theme: this is her first book

I would recommend this (to): young adult readers, specifically age 13-20ish

Guest

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vampires

June 09, 2009 (Updated: July 15, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Reader reviewed by stephanie

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this novel. The first half was excellent, the second half was just...I don't know, a mess?

What I did enjoy about Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side was the main character, Jessica, or should I call her Antanasia? She was strongly portrayed. I loved her different sides - the typical American teenager and the Romanian princess that she is by birth. I enjoyed see how she went against Lucius even though everyone else seemed to be in love with his good looks and this was the part where I felt her royal bloodline stood out the most because she can still have rational thoughts and not be distracted. I also loved her scientific and rational mind which stood in the way of beliving Lucius was, in fact, a vampire. I thought it was extremely entertaining when she kept describing Lucius as a mad man who pretended he was a vampire and liked to drink blood. And, she also thought the fangs that he had was a parlor trick...hahaha.

Lucius was funny and dark at the same time. I think he's part of the reason why I enjoyed reading the first half but the second half just wasn't for me. In the beginning, he was a funny guy and through his letters to his uncle, you could tell how humorous he actually is despite the way he is portrayed. I especially loved this PS's because they're just hilarious. However, when he realized that he's a creature of the dark, around the second half of the book, that's when things started to get dark and morbid and just generally not very interesting.

The two characters definitely changed and in some perspective, improved their personalities. Jessica became more regal and strong while Lucius managed to mellow out a bit and became more modernized.

The relationship between the two was carefully developed. It was a realistic portrayal of what real love was like.

The ending, however, was extremely rushed and I didn't feel like it concluded the book well. It left a long of lingering questions and basically, I didn't feel satisfied with it.

Overall, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side was an intense, funny and morbid story of vampire love.

Guest

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Vampire Love Story with a Fun and Unique Twist

May 30, 2009 (Updated: July 15, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Reader reviewed by Library Lounge Lizard

The undead can really screw up your senior year . . . Marrying
a vampire definitely doesnt fit into Jessica Packwoods senior year
get-a-life plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange
student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a
Romanian vampire princess by birthand hes her long-lost fiancÃ©. Armed
with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen
Vampires Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a
dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European
vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on
Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince,
stop a global vampire warand save Luciuss soul from eternal
destruction.

Yes,
another vampire novel! But luckily we have some creative authors out
there like Fantaskey who keep coming up with unique story lines like
this one. There is no beating around the bush here Jessica finds out
right away exactly why Lucius (I just love that name if only I were
having more kids) has come to find her...she's a vampire princess.
Yikes! That would freak any teenage girl out! I like that Jess is just
your average American girl with yes, I dare say curves and she's
definately her own person and not afraid to clean up some horse poo. Of
course we have the classic love triangle but again the author plays
this out differently than most and there are even a few twists in the
end. Fans of vampire books and romance fiction will absolutely enjoy!

Guest

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What to do if you find out you are vampire royalty!

May 21, 2009 (Updated: July 15, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Reader reviewed by kim

This is a tongue-in -cheek vampire romance about an adopted Romanian orphan with loving parents who finds out she is really vampire royalty. When Lucius Valdescu shows up in her life, initially they both do not hit it off. But their respective clans are teetering on the brink of a full scale war if they do not marry. What I loved about Jessica is that she is a multifaceted character with a fierce independance. She doesn't swoon over Lucius' good looks as soon as she sets eyes on him, nor does she pine endlessly for him after her feelings change. Lucius, in turn undergoes his own transformations. In his letters home, he is initially severe in assessing American cultural and social customs as well as Jessica's own family. But the longer he stays with the family, the more fond he grows of their loving bond. When Jessic is whisked away to Romania in search of Lucius, the novel takes a darker turn with formidable forests, jutting cliffs and howling wolves.

The only criticsm I can make about this book was the cover and title. They do not fit this book at all. There is a vampire guide in the book but it is not a manual to dating, and giving the book this title almost discredits it as being corny fluff in potential readers minds. I know I personally put off reading it for a long time because of the name. However, once you commit to it, it will surely appeal toall teen vampire fiction fans with it's haunting love story and lush Romanian backdrop.

Guest

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Sink your teeth into this great vampire novel

May 21, 2009 (Updated: July 15, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Reader reviewed by Jessica

I cant help being excited about this book. I dont know if this is now my favorite vampire novel, topping Twilight, or if it ties. With twists, turns, and monsters jumping out of every hidden corner, how could I not love this novel? Jessica is a normal American teen, or so she thinks. Lucius is a sarcastic, gentlemanly, vampire. How are these two supposed to her along? Jessica turns to her parents for help but they were just so excited to get insider information on the vampires, that they dont see the problem. I really love the cover of this book. I think its elegant looking and I love the writing used for the title. My favorite character is Lucius I love his personality. He is sarcastic and can be kind of mean but hes cute and funny and a real gentleman. Looking for more Beth Fantaskey? I couldn't find any other novels that she has written but check out her website at: http://www.bethfantaskey.com/. This novel is so great and is a pretty fast read; this romantic sarcastic book is recommended by me to everyone.

Guest

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A Vampire Debut Novel to Sink Your Teeth Into!

March 21, 2009 (Updated: July 15, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Reader reviewed by Steph Su

Debut author Beth Fantaskey
explodes onto the heavily populated YA vampire lit world with her amazing book,
JESSICAS 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
doesnt 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 believein Lucius, in herselfLucius 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 doesnt, 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.Â 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, humorJESSICAS GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE has everything. I am
wholeheartedly a fan, and you will be too.