This was a really good read. There were lots of unexpected plot twists, and the main character was actually smart (I mean, a couple of times, she runs head on into danger when she really shouldn't, but growing up a Helsing, I figure that's bound to happen). She made decisions I would have in her shoes, whereas normally, main characters are oblivious to the obvious and make really stupid choices that make me root for the antagonist. So this was refreshing and awesome.
Also, I loved the world building. A world where Bram Stoker's Dracula actually happened? SO. COOL. Turning it into more of a scifi book than fantasy? THIS IS WHAT I LIVE FOR. I loved the science of it, the tetrachromats, the Obscura, the "royal families" of the original characters in Dracula (Helsing, Stoker, Harker, Seward, to name a few). Alameda built a world that I completely believed, and it was wonderful.

There were a few loose ends at the finish of the book that I wish were tied up. It wasn't so much that she'd need to write a sequel, but there will be questions, like an itch, sitting in the back of my mind. She probably did it on purpose.

Spoiler

One thing that I struggled with, however, was the ending relationship between Micheline and her father. I'm aware that she grew up in a very physical family--she was constantly fighting ghosts, her father was constantly fighting ghosts--so I guess there would be less gravity to the fact that her father punched her in the face. But even if that was excusable (and personally, I don't find it so), what about her cameras? He turns into the friggin' Hulk and destroys every piece the one materialistic thing that she loves--even a gift from her dead little brother--and it's supposed to be all better at the end because he offered to buy her new ones? I mean, if her bathroom door wasn't so sturdy, he could have broken it, and Micheline, in the process of his rampage. Abuse is never okay. I don't care if you're a vampire hunter, or whatever, you don't punch your teenage daughter in the face. End rant.

That said, some of the stuff that she "wrapped up neatly" also kind of annoyed me, for some reason. The solutions she came up with seemed to nice, too perfect.

Spoiler

Oliver forgets maiming his girlfriend, and he's going to build her new eyes. Everything's fine! Ryder, even though he should be dead five times over, isn't (hurray!), and now he and Micheline are allowed to date, and her dad can't say anything about it! Yay! Also, the guy that she was kind of engaged to (in an unofficial arranged marriage) is totally okay with it!

Last but not least, I loved the angle on the antagonist.

Spoiler

I think I guessed for like a second that the "entity" was her mother, but for some reason, it never stuck, making it a surprise when we realize the truth. I loved that the "evil" Micheline had to conquer was someone she loved, someone who she had to defeat physically, violently, and then, finally, tenderly, with her heart bleeding and open. And Luca? I thought he was a side character, and then, suddenly, he steps out of the shadows to be revealed as the true evil mastermind. And nevermind Luca's real identity. Oh em gee. Luca came out of NOWHERE and I was taken by surprise.