  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 05/01/2011 Anyone who thought Alex Van Helsing’s adventures were finished with Vampire Rising (2010) doesn’t know much about bloodsuckers. The underground vampire academy is preparing for the arrival of Ultravox—a vamp with special powers of voice. An opening motorcycle chase leads to monstrous worms, which lead to the fiery destruction of Alex’s school, which leads to meeting a mysterious new girl, Vienna. It’s fairly boilerplate but certainly exciting, and the conclusion—set at a debutante ball aboard a cruise ship—makes it clear Alex will live to fight again. - Copyright 2011 Booklist. School Library Journal - 09/01/2011 Gr 7 Up—Alex Van Helsing not only has a legendary name but also possesses a rare gift that has been absent from past generations. His ability to sense vampires has led to his recruitment by a secret organization of vampire hunters. The Polidorium is on high alert, aware that an assassin called Ultravox is on his way to the vampire stronghold-Scholomance. Alex's special talents are needed to capture Ultravox and reveal his plans but events quickly spin out of control, putting the teen in terrible danger. The situation becomes more complicated when the students at his school begin behaving in a bizarre and hypnotic manner. As he did in Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising (HarperCollins, 2010), Henderson continues to spin a James Bond-type of action adventure story with a supernatural twist. It's an entertaining read that is full of suspense and intrigue, although the ending does seem a bit rushed. Still, fans will eat it up and look forward to the next chapter is this exciting series.—Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY - Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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