When people had mentioned how difficult his freshman year would be, he had no idea how right they would be. Of course, they didn’t have a vindictive, evil monster coming back from the dead and chasing after them, or a slayer who just happened to be one of his best friends.

It’s the little things that get you in trouble.

The last time we read about Vlad, he had survived some of the most unimaginable situations. For one thing, he had taken Meredith to the Freedom Feast Dance. But when the opportunity came to kiss her goodnight, he just walked away. She probably thought he was the dumbest guy in the world, and he would agree wholeheartedly. He also discovered that Mr. Otis wasn’t just a substitute teacher possibly in disguise to kill him, but his uncle! Who knew? So his dad’s brother turned out to be one of the coolest vampires and someone who cared about him. Of course, there were the continuing problems with Bill and Tom, menacing school bullies who always managed to humiliate him. And then there was that sticky situation where he had to kill D’Ablo, the president of an Elysian council and a very powerful vampire. Vlad was definitely ready and eager for his freshman year of high school; after all, it couldn’t possibly be as bad as eighth grade.

Uncle Otis is away; his only communications are letters and sometimes a telepathic tingle. Apparently, Otis has gotten into some trouble after the D’Ablo incident and probably even more so because of his association with his half-vampire, half-human nephew. Still, there are so many things Vlad wants to learn about his vampire side.  Reading his dad’s journals and the Encyclopedia Vampyrica are not enough. He has been working on his telepathic skills and learning the Elysian code (vampire language) per his uncle’s instructions, but he needs more guidance. 

His best friend Henry is now his “drudge” --- a kind of slave to Vlad if he chooses to use his powers over him. Henry has a cool cousin visiting named Joss, who, as it turns out, is great to play video games with and handy in his stand against Bill and Tom. Joss is smart, good-looking, popular with the girls, and turning into a very good friend.

Vlad now carries a special brotherhood tattoo on his wrist like his father and uncle. Unfortunately, when he rubs it at a Halloween party one night, misfit Eddie Poe sees Vlad’s eyes turn purple. From that moment Eddie becomes Vlad’s shadow, following him around, taking pictures and trying to prove that Vlad is a monster. At first Vlad laughs it off, but Eddie proves to be a persistent pest and definitely a dangerous troublemaker. It’s possible to handle this kind of stuff, but what about the slayer who is now supposed to be in Bathory? Let’s see, there’s Bill and Tom, annoying Eddie, and now a vampire slayer. What next?

When his uncle invites him to Siberia over the break, Vlad is thrilled to get away. It is also an opportunity to be with his uncle and study under Vikas, the oldest known vampire and once a close friend to Vlad’s father. Siberia is everything and more for Vlad, as it is here he begins to understand some of his vampiric powers, use his telepathy, and gain insight into that word he has heard tossed around --- the Pravus. There is even speculation that Vlad just might be the Pravus:

The prophecy stated that a great and powerful vampire would one day come into our midst. One that laws would be broken to create. One who would be born of a human mother. He would have no sensitivity to sunlight, he would be able to manipulate the minds of most living creatures, and, it said, that he could not be killed by any means known to vampire or humankind…

If any of this is true --- and Vlad prays it is not --- his life is definitely in terrible danger. If he can be killed, he is not the chosen one. But if he is killed, ouch! That’s it! Oh, this is getting more fun by the minute.

The worst possible situation awaits him when he returns to Bathory. Uncle Otis is missing, Vlad is bitten by a vampire, D’Ablo is stalking him again (didn’t Vlad kill this guy?), and he finds out the hard way who the slayer is. I can’t even begin to tell what else happens. Minions, you will just not believe it. On to the next book, and be ready for anything!