Beth Fantaskey

This was a fun middle grade graphic novel about changes. It’s about how people you know and love change but are still themselves in ways that counts. For our main character Mia, her best summer camp friend is now going to get to be her all the time friend because they’re moving into the same school. But things are not how Mia planning. One friendship is cracking, school is changing, and it now matters if things are cool or crazy. This is a fantastic book about growing up. About remembering to communicate and remembering that friends are what you make of them. This was well done and great for people who like books like Dork Diary.… (mais)

I've had Jessica's Guide sitting on my shelf for about a year now, maybe even longer.  The concept appealed to me at first, but then I lost interest and shelved it for a while (all those vampire YA's, just...over-saturated feeling).  I recently picked it back up again because I want to read Fantaskey's upcoming novel Jekel Loves Hyde, so I figured I should get a handle on her writing tone.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book.  It had what sounded like the hallmarks of clichedom--dark, brooding alpha male vampire, kind of useless but secretly powerful girl, dippy friend, witchy popular girl--but Fantaskey wrote them in a wholly entertaining way.  Lucius was definitely vying for creeper of the year with much of his behavior towards and for Jessica, but admittedly he was raised in a ruthless manner and taught that women are given respect by males--but men still get all the respect from everyone.  His arrogance was almost charming since for all his bluster he didn't push Jessica too far.

Jessica, who spent a small portion of the book insufferably wishy-washy about how she liked Jake but was lusting hardcore for Lucius, wised up.  His attempts to convince her of both his vampireness and her true heritage, and her attempts to rationalize weird inhuman behavior, are kind of amusing.  Later, when her mom makes some rather pointed remarks about Jessica's 'rational' heroes, I thought it was deserved and well played.  Her parents clearly supported Lucius, but they both retained a realistic expectation--they were not going to force her if she was truly against the match.

I would have liked to know more about her vampire family and have spent less time on her rejecting everything Lucius was.  The end also, when Jessica comes into her own and teaches Lucius a lesson, could have been fleshed out a little more as well.  While it does tie up practically all the loose ends, some of the character relationships and consequences were ignored for the sake of the climax of the story.  Reading the first chapter of the Sequel Story (who's title I can't type here as its a pretty big spoiler for this book)  some of those issues are resolved however.

This was definitely a darker read then I originally expected.  Somewhere along the way I got the idea that this is meant as a parody of the Twilight and Twilight-like novels.  Honestly Fantaskey's writing reminded me of L.J. Smith's, during the Night World series, with its mixture of dark comedy, harsh realities and rough courtship shenanigans.… (mais)

Having recently read Jessica's Guide, as in a few days ago, I was excited to read this new book from Fantaskey. Admittedly I'm never a fan of the original work (though I did enjoy the BBC adaptation 'Jekyl' with James Nesbitt from a few years ago), but the idea has always appealed to me. Unfortunately after finishing this book I felt...confused more than anything else.

What I liked was that despite the characters seeming like cliches (nerdy girl, violent loner, popular best friend and witchy arch-rival), none of them were just that. Jill was a nerdy girl, but she was a strong person inside--enduring her father's funeral and her mother's breakdown, growing up so quickly to make sure what was left of her family didn't get completely destroyed--these things all showed how strong she was. Tristan, as he surname would suggest, becomes a monster, but is a beautiful pianist. Becca...actually I have nothing good to say about her. And Darcy, the arch-rival, in her own condescending way she sought to keep Jill at least at a suitable level to compete with her.

Most of the characters were shades of grey, complicated and so wrapped up in trying to do something good that they can't see the bad that's inevitable. I'm not sure if its pride or merely just human fallacy, but most of the characters in the book think of the right path at the very last moment. And I love the book for the fact that nothing comes easily; not the emotions, not the answers and not even the truth.

Tristan freaked me out a little bit. Even when he was Tristan and not monster!Tristan, he was intense. So willful and driven, so hounded. I wanted to know if the 'Hyde curse' began when the men were children, or if it was at the onset of puberty honestly. How the Hyde men knew exactly was all very vague; a thought here, a voice there, terrifying dreams...There is of course more to those dreams then is let on, but I enjoyed watching as they unfolded and became more vivid to Tristan.

Jill and Tristan's relationship ran hot and cold with me. Like Jill I thought Tristan seemed like such a nice guy...and then he started talking crazy talk and I was like 'just humor the crazy boy and run away Jill' (even though I knew he wasn't lying). He came on so strongly, even when just being platonic with Jill, that I had severe doubts and reservations about her spending time with him alone. And then Jill began changing and I was worried more about Tristan then I was her...it seemed like I spent most of their relationship worried one or the other would seriously harm the other. On the other hand I was darkly amused by the implication that they could both be dark at the same time.

Jill also showed a disturbing lack of common sense in regards to Tristan. He admits to doing all sorts of violent, reprehensible things--all while he is monster!Tristan of course--and Jill will get justifiably worried, resolves to stay away from the dangerous boy...and then runs right back to him out of love. Its especially worrisome after he talks to her about his dreams. I honestly do not believe she had a shred of self-preservation.

The ending wasn't very satisfactory, I'll be honest. She pulls a similar trick she pulled in Jessica's Guide regarding Tristan at one point that had me frowning. Then also Jill seemed to be acting less like herself then usual that I had to pause and re-read the last chapter to make sure I didn't miss anything. Niggling questions ate at me--such as how a generations long 'curse' (started by a chemical reaction that morphed Jekyl's body into something completely new) could be solved by one dose of the same chemical. Was the chemical then part of their genetic make-up, thus allowing the transference from father to son, and the chemical just re-configured their genetics? Wouldn't the fact that strong emotions triggering the change kind of indicate that it had evolved? Jekyl turned into Hyde only when he ingested the chemical, and turned back the same route. Does this mean that the new 'Hyde' men released the formula into their blood during strong emotions and then it faded when they came back to their senses?

I realize it sounds like I'm overthinking things, but I shouldn't have to wonder about such an important part of the puzzle. It should have been explained, or at least shown, at some point in the narrative/novel. Its unfortunate I didn't enjoy Jekel Love Hyde as much as Jessica's Guide, but I will look forward to any further books Fantaskey puts out. At the very least she does entertain and does bring a different twist to established norms!
… (mais)