Reckoning

Bloodline #2

by Kate Cary

Thinking she was forever clear of her connection to Transylvania and the world of Count Dracula, Mary Seward is fearful when she has reoccurring nightmares at her home in England, thus when a strange virus makes her father ill and a strange man appears at her home, Mary knows she must face her fears in order to end these horrors once and for all.

Genres: Vampires, Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror, Historical Fiction, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

Kate Cary is a writer of fiction for children and young adults.

She is one of three writers of a best-selling series of middle grade books called WARRIORS, published by Working Partners through HarperCollins, under the pseudonym Erin Hunter.

She is the writer of the BLOODLINE series of novels.

Reviews

[Daniel Partridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and I am sad that it is as open ended as it is. Really would have enjoyed a closing book as this feels like it should have been a trilogy

[Jacob Lewis]

Name:Sebastin Lewis

Book title: Bloodline Reckoning

Personal Response
I think this book is a lot more entertaining than the first one. I think there will be another book to the series because there is a lot of problems and mysteries that still need to be solved. I wonder if John will become good or if he will stay bad and continue to hurt people.

Plot Summary
Mary saved a baby from Dracula and she gave it to a foster family. She was scared that the vampires would come after her so she avoided the dark as much as she could. Quincy was determined to hunt down Mary and kill her. Her father got a virus that weekend him. Her greatest fear came true and Quincy was in England. Instead of killing her, he said he loved her and wanted her help to become good. Mary helps Quincy become a good person.

Characterization
Mary was always alone and wanted nothing to do with anyone else. She started to go out and see new people and started to become more social. She used to feel hatred for Quincy then her hatred faded away and she started to get feelings for him. She was scared and afraid in the beginning and towards the end, she felt strong and fearless.

Recommendations
I would recommend this book from the ages 14 and up. There are some bloody and inappropriate parts for younger readers to read. Anyone who enjoys bloody books should read this.

[hanna of rivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5⭐️

I NEED CLOSURE!! Why is this an open ending and not a happy ever after????

I enjoyed some parts of this book that were very interesting and necessary for the characters’ development, but it was too slow paced and then too rushed by the end of the story…

On second thoughts, maybe there was a third book planned but that was never written??

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though its been two years since Mary fled Castle Dracula for her life, she is still haunted by the images she saw and the monster that was once her fiancé. She hides away at home, using her father’s frail condition as a reason to stay at home and refrain from socializing. Her father suspects her fear and encourages Mary to move on and not dwell on the evil that exists in the world.

At a party held by the adoptive parents of the baby she saved at Castle Dracula she meets Lord Bathory, a man with a quite demeanor. Mary finds herself immensely enjoying his company and frequents dinners with him. But she never forgets the evil that may be lurking.

When he father’s condition worsens and he becomes pale and listless, she suspects a vampire is to blame. The appearance of Quincy Harker only confirms her fears. Quincy confesses to Mary that he is trying to change his evil ways. But is he telling the truth or is he toying with her like a cat would a mouse?

Reckoning was a overall an entertaining sequel to Bloodline, although I have to admit that I liked Bloodline better! Mary was one of my favorite characters from the first book, so I was happy to see that the second story consisted mostly of her story. I also liked the look into Quincy’s history, he is obviously a very complex character and I enjoyed the small insight! The plot was steady, but there wasn’t anything that really grabbed my like in the first book. At first I didn’t understand Quincy’s motives, but by the end of the book, it made more sense to me. However, I never saw the twist at the end of the story! The ending made the story worth the read! Another complaint, I would have liked having seen how John was handling his new vampiric ways..... perhaps in the next one! If you are a vampire fan, I think you would enjoy Reckoning, but read Bloodline first.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

After finishing the sequel, I thought, 'that was okay, I think I'll read the other one now'. So I bought it, read it, and finished it in about three hours because I'm a really fast reader. I had noticed from the first book that Cary likes to keep her characters to a minimum, therefore I quickly realised what was going on. I have to say, this book was a lot more sexual than the first - the whole Quincey and Rebecca thing was mildly creepy. I mean, she just appeared out of nowhere and they started making out and lusting after each other. Then she just left and he was pissed off, but what can you expect? What else do you do when you're a vampire whore?

As soon as Becky was introduced I put 2 and 2 together and worked out that Becky is a shortened form of Rebecca, and considering how few active characters there actually are in these books, it was obviously the same person.

When I heard Lord Xavier Bathory's name, I knew he was evil. Any good vampire freak knows about the Countess Elizabetta Bathory, a.k.a the Vampire Countess, who killed her serving girls to bathe in their blood in the hopes of making herself younger. So it was blatantly obvious he was evil the minute his name came up. Oh, and his first name is Xavier and all the vampires (except John and Rebecca) have retarded names so that just added to his obviousness.

Mary just plain annoyed me in this book. She suddenly went from actually possible pro-feminish female protagonist to whining baby. And why the hell was it necessary for her to fall in love with Quincey? I mean, sure, they're main characters and everything but that shouldn't guarantee that they become romantically involved with each other.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

And so we return to the Bloodline universe. This book is, I believe, more tolerable than the first, though likely that is mostly because the absurd premises and unprepossessing writing style are already familiar at this point and thus no longer serve to disappoint. Also, this book has moved away from the direct imitation of Dracula's plot that plagued the first book, though I fear that is no more creative than its predecessor.

In this book, most of our characters from the first book are out of the way, whether they were killed off or simply aren't playing a major role this time around. We're left with Mary Seward and Quincey Harker, and trace the parallel plotlines of Mary being wooed by a new suitor (though do not fear, whatever misguided fans of the first book may exist, this doesn't mean that John's gone forever!) and of Quincey's journey away from Castle Dracula, including frequent flashbacks to his early adulthood, including his transformation into a vampire. The plotlines, both of them, become quite easily guessed for those familiar with the genre, and the book pales into tiresome, forgettable mediocrity, without even most of the out of character hilarity of the first book. However, it did make me wonder what the childhood and adolescence of a supposed child of Jonathan and Mina Harker, raised in Castle Dracula, would in all likeliehood be like with respect to the emotional reality of the situation and, well, the actual personalities of the characters. And new story ideas are always good, aren't they?

[Domagoja · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE RECKONING is the second novel in the BLOODLINE series. The second book has the same format as the first. There is journal entries and letters and such. There is the same characters and new character (not gonna metion since i hate spoiling...) But the difference between the two books is that I liked the second one better.
I like the plot (it made me wondered and think), you can predict about a lot of stuff (oddvious stuff), and i like the blood and romance in there ;D
I know it might not be the type of book you might pick since of the new "vampires" and their "sparkles" and their "nice" nature. This is actually a REAL, MANLY(can i call it that with the vampires these days...yes :)) and this is wat real vampires are like.
Also, i hate the ending, it seems like it's a cliffy and i wanna know if *spoil blah-blah-blah* And i hope there will be one :)

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book but it ends on a cliffhanger...and the author has stated they won't be writing another one of this series

[Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response
I personally liked this book because of all the action in it. Also because Mary tries to help Quincy beat his inner demon (Dracula). She also kept the book being written out in a journal.

Plot Summary
Mary is back in Purfleet when she is confronted by Quincy Harker, a vampire who took away her fiance. When he shows up he asks for help to defeat the vampire in him and promises to not drink any human blood. But at the sanitarium, a wounded soldier hospital where Mary works, when some soldiers start to show signs of blood loss she automatically assumes Quincy is feasting on them. Her father had died from fleeing a vampire named Becky who Mary asked to watch her father. After she kills one of the soldiers who was turned into a vampire she flees to Lord Balthazar's house. Only to discover he is a vampire.

Recommendation
I would recommend this to teen girls mostly because of all the vampires I read about. I would say if you were in high school you should read this book. If you wanted another book like this I would suggest other vampire books

[Percy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect carry on from Bloodline! It developed the characters of Quincey Harker and Mary Seward well and nothing about their relationship is rushed or unnatural. It is done properly and slowly and lets us get a glimpse into Mary's life and the trauma she has to live with after the events of Bloodline, and shows up more of Quincey's true nature, away from everything he is forced to be. 10/10, recommend highly to anyone who enjoyed Bloodline.

[Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written as a series of diary entries, this book should have been a pretty fast read, but I have been slow with reading in general the last 3 months so finishing even a relatively easy book like this has proven to be a challenge. I feel like reading the first book may have helped, but on its own the vampire storyline and the woman trying to change his bloodsucking ways was fairly classic. Nothing new, but the twist in the story was fairly entertaining.

[Asher Rhynerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm just starting Bloodline, but so far the book has been great. After reading book #1 this book makes everything make sense. The were quite a few blank places that were unknown at the end of the first book like Quincey's perspective of the war, and how he got John and Lily to follow him. But this book clarifies what happened. Overal great book would reccomend!

[Iris Nevers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good continuation but where is the ending? This book wasn't completely fully formed and I can see that this (and the first book) are part of a larger story, but from what I see online, there is not a Book 3.

[Mary McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one truly captured my heart. The chemistry between Quincey and Mary is so tangible yet at the same time forbidden. Kate really captures Stoker's style and tells this story with such respect for Stoker's original text.

[Sushmeet S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I still liked the first one more. But, this was still really good. Again, it stresses me out how Cary manages to cram all the action into the last like 40 pages of the book. Too bad she didn't write a 3rd book.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the setting of the book, the characters not so much. Mary was too unfocused, I saw many signs that led to the bad people but she didn't expand her sights enough. The storyline was a bit rushed at the end but the ending was nowhere near satisficing.. if it had another 100 pages and finished would've been great, but the one we got wasn't bad.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two was as good as book one. Waiting anxiously for book three!

[Kirsty McCracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is honestly such a fun sequel series. It has all of the dramatic Gothic flare and over-the-top feel as Dracula, and I love that she kept true to that.

[Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning was really rough and the writing itself needed some work. I enjoyed all the twists though.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the first book in the series, I really wish she would write another book like this.

[MagicStones · Rating 5 out of 5]

this one was way more intense that the first one!! had me on edge !! the ending kind of acted like there would be a thirdbut sadly there isn't.

[Jazmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quincey Harker is set on defeating the monster within him as he tries to sustain without feeding on human blood. Mary Seward terrified of the night due to her experiences at Castle Dracula, ventures back out into the world on her father’s wishes leaving him with a trustworthy caretaker, Becky. At a party she meets Lord Bathory whom she grows fond of. Soon, he claims to have fallen in love with her and invites her to stay at his estate. Mary grieves her father’s death as he had grown quite sick as if he’d been bitten by a vampire though he did not expose any bite marks and then broke his neck as he took a fall down stairs. At his funeral, the man responsible for the death of her dear friend Lily and the cruel fate of her fiancé John, Quincey Harker appears though he does not harm her. He later pursues Mary’s help in defeating his vampire nature, and after much persuasion of his honesty as to his mission she agrees and sits with him at night. At the sanatorium she works out the same illness that had befallen her father occurs and Mary grows distrusting of Quincey when a patient comes back as a vampire though she kills him. Mary leaves to Lord Bathory’s estate, and Quincey follows her though, pleading that it was not him who’d fed from the fallen soldiers and insists Bathory is quite dangerous. Bathory however captures Quincey and locks him up. In a dream Lily comes to her as she always does and shows her Becky and Bathory allowing her to see that Bathory is a vampire. Realizing she is quite awake and that this is no dream she goes to release Harker whom she most dearly loves as he does her. Bathory and Becky who is really Rebecca, Bathory’s sister and a vampire who seduced Quincey and finalized the process of his becoming a vampire long ago come after them and Mary learns that they were, on request from John, to destroy Quincey and Mary. Soon John arrives at the scene. Mary kills Bathory and Rebecca whom still loves Quincey lets herself be killed as she protects Quincey from death. Mary burns John with holy water. Quincey and Mary escape, and Quincey tries to carry Mary in the form of a bat to the monks that had kept him when he’d first begun to resist his bloodlust. He grows too weak to fly any more as the sun rises, and demands Mary to leave him as he will most certainly die. Later, Quincey arrives back at Purfleet strong again as he has been feeding only for the sake of regaining his power so that he may protect his beloved Mary from John.

Having been written in journal entries, the characters were well developed as seeing through their perspectives let me into their feelings and inner thoughts. The mysterious illness left me guessing and kept me interested, also wondrous of the true nature of Quincey. I liked the gradual change of feeling towards Quincey as it created romance in the novel. It was quite unexpected that Bathory turned out a vampire and Becky to be Rebecca. I hadn’t foreseen John’s plot at all. I was much indeed saddened by Quincey’s death, but then joyous that he did not actually die and is strong once more and still in love with Mary. The language and imagery were very good as I enjoyed the word choice of the time and the behaviors, customs of this time period.

[Cansu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The theme for “Bloodline: The Reckoning” is that everyone deserves a second chance. In this book the main character, Mary Seward loses her fiancé, John and his sister/her best friend, Lily to Quincey Harker the vampire who was to marry Lily and turn John into a vampire (which he did turn John but Lily committed suicide). After Mary escaped Dracula’s Castle away from Harker and his family, she was left alone for 2 years at least but always feared the night. That is until one day Harker returned and he told her that he changed, that he never wanted the destiny his father planned, and he only did everything to please his father. Harker told Mary that she would do anything to please her father, too and that he wasn’t a bloodsucking murderer anymore. She told him to prove it and they start to bond and this when Mary starts to trust him. Also which he is given a second chance to prove to her that he has changed.

The main character, Mary Seward was a shy and scared of her own shadow, a nurse that keeps to herself. She knew that vampires existed since (book 1, which I have a copy of) Harker has become a part of her life. This made her extremely scared of the night and shy to speak with others. Her father wanted her to be normal and go to parties, which she does and when she is returning back to her house Harker appears. When Mary is visited by the monster, Harker, who ruined her life by turning her fiancé, John into a vampire and having John’s sister, Lily go crazy and commit suicide. Toward the end her new friend Becky and her new lover (kind of) Bathory turn out to be vampires that are trying to kill her and Harker (mostly Harker). She becomes brave and strong then kill Bathory who is about to kill Harker. She then finds out John is the one who is trying to kill Harker and cause Mary pain for leaving him.

The second main character, Quincey Harker was a bloodsucking, evil, and brutal vampire who was a general that killed every in his path. He even killed his own soldiers that disobeyed him without even reconsidering (in first book). Then in this book the changed his evil ways and became more kind, not bloodsucking, and good character. He didn’t want to suck blood, kill innocent humans, and follow his father’s plan (spoiler: he killed his father in the first book in the end). He wanted to find Mary and get help from her so he could stop sucking blood. They fall in love and he tries to protect her from danger even though he doesn’t have all his strength, (Which he lacks since he stopped drinking blood.) but in the end Mary makes him suck her blood since he was dying.
(Note: This book is written in point of view way and like a bunch of journals in one book.)

I recommend this book because it is interesting and it hooks you up, also when you start reading it, you can't put it down. I love this book and want more. Mary might sometimes be annoying but this book is full of surprises and I enjoyed every moment of it. The first book however was way better. To be honest I liked evil Harker. I recommend this book to those who like vampire books, journal type, and a bit drama and romance type of books.

[Samantha (A Dream of Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Reckoning' is the sequel to 'Bloodline' which I read last month. It picks up from the events of the previous book and revisits the characters of Mary Seward and Quincey Harker - the latter who was supposed to be responsible for ensuring the Dracula bloodline did not die out.

I found the story utterly gripping. I read it in one evening because once I'd picked it up I couldn't bring myself to put it down until I'd followed the story to its conclusion. I would definitely recommend that you don't start this too late in the day in case you're up all night reading!

If you haven't read 'Bloodline' then I would suggest going out and getting a copy and reading it first. 'Reckoning' does begin with a short recap of events which helped to refresh my memory about previous occurrences and events but I think you do need to have read the first book to fully understand and comprehend all the characters and their motivations.

The story is alternatively told through the eyes of Mary and Quincey. This narrative device works well and helps to establish the true feelings and emotions of the characters. It also provided different viewpoints of events which are key to the plot. Quincey Harker is now supposedly a reformed character but the question is - can Mary really trust him! I liked the fact that more of Quincey's back story was established, including how he became completely vampiric. The only problem I had was that knowing everything about him, I'm not sure if I totally bought into his later transformation. Can someone really change their outlook so radically?

I guessed one of the twists in the story quite early on but I was also completely taken by surprise by one of the latter events of the book. I didn't see it coming at all so that made it very exciting. I love the way in which everything isn't always black and white/ good or bad and you really have to think carefully about the motives of the characters and whether they can be trusted.

Overall the book was fast paced, gripping and a real page turner. I liked the way in which Kate Cary turned the events of 'Bloodline' on their head and has constructed her own version of Dracula. I'm guessing from the conclusion of the story that a third book is also planned as certain things were still left hanging. I would also hope to see more of John at some point and find out what's happened to him since his life-changing experiences in Transylvania.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by The Story Siren for TeensReadToo.com

Even though it's been two years since Mary fled Castle Dracula for her life, she is still haunted by the images she saw and the monster that was once her fiancé. She hides away, using her father's frail condition as a reason to stay at home and refrain from socializing. Her father suspects her fear and encourages Mary to move on and not dwell on the evil that exists in the world.

At a party held by the adoptive parents of the baby she saved at Castle Dracula, she meets Lord Bathory, a man with a quite demeanor. Mary finds herself immensely enjoying his company and frequents dinners with him. But she never forgets the evil that may be lurking.

When her father's condition worsens and he becomes pale and listless, she suspects a vampire is to blame. The appearance of Quincy Harker only confirms her fears. Quincy confesses to Mary that he is trying to change his evil ways. But is he telling the truth -- or is he toying with her like a cat would a mouse?

RECKONING was a great sequel to BLOODLINE, although I have to admit that I liked BLOODLINE better! Mary was one of my favorite characters from the first book, so I was happy to see that the second story consisted mostly of her story. I also liked the look into Quincy's history; he is obviously a very complex character and I enjoyed the small insight!

The plot was steady. There was constant questioning for me; I could never figure out who Mary should or shouldn't trust. I never saw the twist at the end of the story, either! My only complaint was that I would have liked to have seen how John was handling his new vampiric ways..... perhaps in the next one!

If you are a vampire fan, I would recommend RECKONING!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Seward is back in England after her ordeal in Transylvania but she still suffers from nightmares of her fiance, John Shaw and his sister Lily. Then Mary's father and several patients from the hospital that she works in falls ill with signs of a vampire bite she is clueless of who is doing it until Quincy Harker, the heir of the vampire throne meets her in the night. He says that he is trying to get rid of the evil in him but should Mary believe him or not?

I picked this book up because I read the first book and it was really good so I wanted to know whay happens to Mary and Quincy and John. This book wasn't as good as the first book at all. The beginning just explained how Quincy turned into a vampire and it was pretty dull. The ending was rushed and it didn't end very well. Where did John go? He just dissapears after Mary sprays holy water on his eye and Quincy shouldn't have been able to escape with Mary because he was so weak. I like the first book better.

I finished this book because I wanted to see what happens to John and Quincy. After I finished this book I was dissapointed because there wasn't much told from John's point of view. It doesn't tell us how he went to England but it did tell us why. The connection to the Tepes and the Bathorns family was also thrust upon me way to quickly. There wasn't even a hint that there was a connection at all.

I would recommend this book and this series to Aloka because this seems like something that she would like to read.

[Katheryn Avila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all time favorite books - so much so that I find myself thumbing through the pages every few months in search of my favorite passages and scenes. I've always enjoyed vampire stories, especially ones that tie into Dracula mythos, which this one does so perfectly, told in the same diary-entry format as the original Dracula.

It's the second (and for now, last) book in the series. I even wrote to the author because I want to see another installment! The characters are very likeable and the story of redeeming the previous book's main villain keeps the reader enthralled. I'm a sucker for redeemable villains and rooting for the misunderstood souls, and Quincy (a descendant of Dracula) is a perfect example of that kind of character. Mary, the heroine, is a brave, strong, and independent woman who does everything in her power to help her once-foe, despite everything he put her through and took away from her in the first book. The characters come together through mutual loss despite their enmity, and it's written in a way that makes what should really be an impossible scenario, believable.

Add to that the splash of romance characteristic of these types of vampire stories, and I'm drawn in immediately. Not to mention that you feel like you know the characters, as what you're reading is their diary/journal entries. I've never been a huge fan of that kind of format, but it works really well here.

Here's to maybe some day getting another sequel! Mary and Quincy's story still has so much left to tell.

[Li Yuan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion, I had mixed opinions about the second book. Compared to the first book, I would reread the first saga of Bloodline instead of Reckoning. Despite of Quincey Harker's redemption of his sins and his pasts, the mysterious side of him slowly faded as the writer had revealed three and a quarter of his origins. Some of the events involving Quincey's sire and his inhuman parents didn't seem to fit into the plot as it has overlapped with the modern contexts, instead of the Romantic period. From the previous encounter with the vampires in the castle, Mary Seward should have realised the significant signs of vampire bite. She should be characterized as a traumatized woman instead of a weary woman who carelessly cautious but ended up didn't know it was another vampire's attack. On the other hand, Harker's appearance was rather too late. Despite of the latency and delayed emotions faced by Mary Seward, it didn't give me the surprise of seeing Harker's doing in traumatizing her. The comeback didn't result to the sense of excitement and mostly ended up with Harker flying away from the window. I was hoping to see Mary was with Quincey together in the end.

[Becky Soledad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is for both Bloodline and Reckoning. While I'm not sure the premise of this book is possible given the mythology of Dracula it was still an interesting read. I enjoyed the second book much more than the first because it was more complicated and Lily was dead so she didn't annoy me with her stupidity. I understand it was a simpler time but I feel like Lily was a throwback to even simpler times. I had to keep reminding myself it was World War I and not 1819.

The characters were much more complex in the second novel as well because there wasn't as much clear cut good and evil. Mary began to see that the world isn't so black and white and grew into a complex, thinking character.

A little to racy at some points to put in a middle school library but should have no problem in a high school or public library. I find this is pretty common with a lot of vampire novels simply because of the nature of vampire myths.

Over all a good read, not something to get your brain overly active but fun and entertaining all the same.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars! Re-read!

This pains me so much because this was definitely meant to have another addition to the series which never happened leaving us on a blueballed cliffhanger. What I would do to get a third book! This is one of my favourite book series of all time and it pains me it ends so abruptly! Just amazing in every way.

———
2023 review


5/5 stars!


I think this series has been one of the best books series I have ever read. I truly do not want it to end. That is my only negative! I would of loved it to be a trilogy because it feels open ended. But I still feel satisfied with the ending. I just want more! Just perfect gothic romance and vampires and twist and turns at every corner. This is a series I will be thinking about long after I have finished it. Truly has possessed me as I could not put this book down or stop thinking about it.