At last, Miranda is the life of the party: all she had to do was die. Elevated and adopted by none other than the reigning King of the Mantle of Dracul, Miranda goes from high-school theater wannabe to glamorous royal fiend overnight.
Meanwhile, her reckless and adoring guardian angel, Zachary, demoted to human guise as the princess’s personal assistant, has his work cut out for him trying to save his girl’s soul and plan the Master’s fast-approaching Death Day gala.
In alternating points of view, Miranda and Zachary navigate a cut-throat eternal aristocracy as they play out a dangerous and darkly hilarious love story for the ages.
“The confessional style, alternating between Miranda and Zachary’s points of view, is intriguing as a diary—readers should be hooked by this fully formed world, up through the action-packed finale.” — Publishers Weekly
“…witty, dark love story of death and redemption…Miranda and Zachary are complex, sympathetic characters, and their hopeful ending is well earned.” — Booklist
“Suspenseful, entertaining, and enthusiastically gruesome, Smith’s latest will be lapped up by vampire fans.”
— Notes from the Hornbook
“The offer of redemption sets this tale apart from others that feed upon the current fascination with vampires and the occult that possesses preteens and teens.” Note: at at time when review columns are being trimmed, it’s so wonderful to see such thoughtful coverage devoted to YA literature in a daily newspaper. — The San Antonio Express
“Smith has built on centuries of vampire lore to create a spooky, snarky, supernatural world all her own.”
— BookPage
“The ending to the love story (because it does become one, though a twisted one) is moving and hopeful in a way you don’t expect.” — The Dallas Morning News
“The pace of this entertaining romp is quick and the action plentiful.” — Kirkus Reviews
“…suspenseful and entertaining story… This thirsty reader awaits a refill.” — The Horn Book Magazine
“Smith weaves lore from Draculian legend and story along with some other familiar cultural and literary references. Astute readers will delight in finding references to James Howe’s Bunnicula [1979] and others ranging from Johnny Cash to Joss Whedon and C. S. Lewis…” — The Goddess of YA Literature (AKA Dr. Teri Lesesne)
