The Reckoning by Kate Cary (Young Adult)

February 2011, Egmont

320 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Young Adult, paranormal

Dracula, stalker mentality, lots of gore, lots of suspense, some violence, tissues will be needed, don't read this at night or on your own, not for the faint hearted,

Summary from Egmont

The original vampire romance: go back to where the bloodlust began!

Mary Seward thought she had escaped the darkness of Transylvania. But now, back in England, she has terrible nightmares, fears the darkness, and sees vampires everywhere. When a strange virus weakens her father, Mary suspects that there's a far more sinister force at work.

Then Mary's worst nightmare comes true: Quincey Harker, heir to Dracula's bloodline, appears in England. He declares his eternal love for her and claims he has renounced his evil heritage.

But is he telling the truth? Can his lust for blood be so easily forsaken?

The first temptation is never the strongest...

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Mary....to say she's brave is an understatement. Although I really didn't get her compassion towards Quincey - he's evil! She needs her head seeing to...but it is in keeping with her compassionate nature.

How evil/nasty is the enemy? Um, hello - evil vampire acting as a stalker = supremely evil. As are the hidden vampires - didn't see them coming at all! 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? Oh yes, I really didn't see most of the twists coming. There were lots of 'What????' and 'You're kidding!' from me. (Mary is such an idiot!!! She's mostly highly intelligent but I really wanted to bop her on the head and get her to see straight, especially at the end).

One of my favourite parts was...Mary's time with her father - their father-daughter bond was really strong. Equally fun was when Mary prepared her arsenal - she's very keyed up on protection from vampires. 

This second book was a fun read, and I wasn't as scared by it as the first. Some parts were rather gory and had me looking green, but I was more prepared for it, which helped lessen the blow. I happily give it 10/10, even with Mary not thinking straight some of the time. 

Suggested read

Definitely check out the chilling first book (which was so scary I nearly didn't finish it), Bloodline