(This post will double as a review for both Last Sacrifice and the fifth book in the series, Spirit Bound.  As with past reviews of this series, this post won’t provide spoilers to anyone who’s read the first four books, but it will for those who haven’t…)

You can read reviews of earlier books (and plot set up) elsewhere on this blog (Vampire Academy and Frostbite, Shadow Kiss and Blood Promise).

First up, a quick look at Spirit Bound, which picks up after Rose’s violent Russian adventure.

A lot happens in this book, with the myriad of plot threads starting to draw together, setting up for some major action in the final book – on a number of fronts. There’s further development in Mead’s detailed mythology, as well as some serious progression in the story of arcs of key characters.

The main plot here is Rose’s continued fight to save Dimitri, even though she’s now with Adrian. She comes up with a crazy plan that also involves Lissa, Eddie and her nemesis, Victor Dashkov. But even when Rose’s plan comes to fruition, the result is not quite what she expects.

Meanwhile, there are major rumblings at the Moroi Court, with paranoid royals wanting to drop the guardian age of service to 15. Spirit Bound ends with a classic cliffhanger, with the Queen murdered and Rose arrested on suspicion of being the killer.

It’s a testament to Mead’s ability to write likable characters and build realistic storylines that she can create a believable love triangle. Yes, even I – the great hater of love triangles – thought this one worked. To the point that (at the end of this book, at least) I would have accepted either choice by Rose.

That changes through the course of Last Sacrifice…

The final novel has two main storylines: Rose’s hunt for an illegitimate Dragomir – whose existence will give Lissa a voice in the Royal Court – and Lissa’s attempts to clear Rose’s name.

This novel is as much Dimitri’s story as it is Rose’s. He helps break Rose out of prison, and goes on the run with her – at first because Lissa asks him to, and then because he recognises he has a chance for redemption (and seriously, who doesn’t love a good redemption story?).

Looking back across all six books, there’s been real character growth for just about every key character, which is one of the things that sets this series apart from others in the YA paranormal genre.

Rose’s relationships with Dimitri and Adrian are complex, and not everything gets tied up with a neat bow. Which works out quite well, given Mead has a new series coming out later this year featuring some of those characters whose issues are yet to be resolved.

All the big questions set up in the series are answered, but there are plenty of others – involving peripheral characters and issues – that give scope for many more stories in this world Mead has created.

Vampire Academy is the first in the homonymous series.  Rose and Lissa are the best of friends, they are inseparable. They live one for the other. Literally. Lissa is Vasilisa Dragomir, a Moroi, vampire royalty who can use magic. Rose is Rosemarie Hathaway, a dhampir, a hybrid, half human half vampire, whose purpose in life is to be eventually Lissa’ s guardian. This is the way of life for Moroi and dhampirs, but the two girls have a special bond. Rose can enter in Lissa’ s mind and feel and see anything she feels and sees. After having successfully lived for two years in the human world, hiding from a mysterious entity who threats Lissa’s life, they are tracked down and brought back to ST. Vladimir’s Academy by Dimitri Belikow, a Russian dhampir guard sent by the school. Once back at the Academy, the two girls  have to deal with teenager’s drama, and life and death problems. While Lissa is sent back to her classes, Rose has to put up with special training under Dimitri’s supervision. Soon Rose discovers that the reason why Lissa is becoming moody and unstable is because she uses the healing power which is almost unheard of among vampires. With the help of Dimitri, Rose manages to save Lissa from her ill uncle, who wants to use his niece to heal and reign as the new vampire king.

Vampire Academy is a fast read, it is well written, and most importantly its world is regulated by specific rules that limits the characters in their interaction. The Moroi are vampires who need dhampirs to defend themselves against the Strigoi. While the Moroi are vampires who feed from humans, but don’t kill them, the Strigoi are vampires who have killed humans. The Moroi are alive and use magical powers; the Strigoi are dead and have lost their connection with earth’s magic. Dhampirs are stronger than Moroi, but can’t procreate without their help. The two races need to stay united against the dead vampires. Rose and Lissa live in a heavily structured society and they break rules at every turn. Rose allows Lissa to feed from her, and falls in love with Dimitri, seven years older than her and dhampir. Lissa uses compulsion on other Moroi to do her bidding, and help cleaning Rose’s reputation.

As I wrote in another occasion, it is a pleasure when a literary universe is so well crafted that is believable. When Rose lets Lissa feed from her, the reader’s sentiments are a mix of disgust and fascination. When she gradually falls in love with Dimitri, it is evident that their union is doomed by society. Dhampirs as a species need Moroi to survive, and a damphir love story is taboo. Equally fascinating are the byproducts of such society. Rose is called a blood-whore, a dhampir woman who allows vampires to feed from her during sex. Young Moroi males find dhampir girls exotic and desirable compared to the thin and ethereal vampire girls, but never marry them. It’s interesting that the aspect of feeding is treated as something necessary, but somehow demeaning. Therefore humans exist at the fringe of the vampires’ world. Although treated gently, humans are no more than blood containers.

Vampire Academy is a good example that it is possible to infuse new energy in a genre that is not original anymore. Even in the overcrowded young adults paranormal romance category.  

However, a promise of a Spin-off series has come from the author meaning we will be kept updated about these characters after all, even so if just briefly.

Summary
Rose in prison, contemplating the charges brought against her and occasionally using the bond to slip into Lissa’s mind to view goings-on at Court.

During Queen Tatiana’s funeral, statues outside the church suddenly blow up, causing chaos, and acting as a distraction for the guardians. Rose is soon after broken out of prison by Mikhail, Eddie, Adrian, Abe, and Dimitri.

Dimitri takes Rose out of Court and they drive for hours until they reach Sydney, who is also aiding in the escape. They continue traveling until reaching West Virginia, where Rose discovers she is to be kept in a motel until her friends back at Court can clear her name. However, she insists on leaving and helping out, but after Dimitri halts her escape, Rose convinces him and Sydney to look for Lissa’s half-sibling. For safety, Sydney takes them to the Keepers, a strange group of Moroi, dhampirs, and humans.

Later, they find out the sole person who holds the information needed to find Lissa’s sibling: Sonya Karp, who was once teacher at St. Vladimir’s but is now a Strigoi. The Dashkov brothers invade Rose’s dreams and they later meet up with her at Sonya’s house in Kentucky, where Robert changes her back into a Moroi by staking her with a silver stake infused with spirit. After recovering from the initial shock of being restored, Sonya leads them to Jillian Mastrano’s house in Michigan, who is revealed to be the illegitimate child of Eric Dragomir. Not long after they arrive, Guardians raid the Mastrano house, forcing them to scatter and flee again and creating the opportunity for Victor and Robert to kidnap Jill.

Using her spirit abilities, Sonya is able to locate where the brothers are hiding Jill and relays the information onto Rose. Upon questioning, Sonya also reveals to Rose that her and Dimitri’s auras shine extraordinarily bright when they are around each other, which shows they are in love. This further confuses Rose about Dimitri’s true feelings for her.

Back at Court, Lissa, Christian and Adrian try looking for Tatiana’s murderer, and discover unsettling information about the Queen, her lover Ambrose and Adrian’s own mother, Daniella. While at Court, Lissa is in the running for Queen, despite being ineligible as the result of being without a quorum. The process involves taking a series of tests to prove she is worthy of the throne, and after she passes, there is a huge debate among the Moroi about whether she can actually be queen.

Rose, Dimitri, and Sonya quickly find Victor and Robert and fight them to get Jill back. Rose battles with Victor, and in a spirit- induced rage, she inadvertently kills him. She becomes distraught as the group heads to a hotel to recover. In one of the rooms, Dimitri attempts to comfort her and tells her not to blame herself. He admits he loves her and regrets losing her, but refuses to take another man’s girlfriend. Rose tells him she only belongs to herself, and she chooses Dimitri. The two embrace and have sex again, and Rose makes the decision to break up with Adrian when she sees him in person and not in one of his spirit dreams. She tells Dimitri after they make love that in order for them to have a relationship, he must first forgive himself for the guilt he carries over his time as a Strigoi. That evening, the four leave to meet up with Mikhail near Court; Adrian comes along and witnesses a kiss between Dimitri and Rose. More pressing matters are at hand as they head back to Court, Mikhail and Rose having just gotten information from Sydney and the Alchemists confirming who the killer is.

Back at Court and in front of the Council and assembled Moroi, Rose presents Jill as part of the Dragomir bloodline, arguing that this enables Lissa to become Queen. Then she reveals to everyone that Tasha is the one who killed the queen, as she hated Tatiana’s policies about dhampirs and Moroi. Rose also silently notices that Tasha has longed for Dimitri the entire time, which is why Tasha framed Rose for the murder. As guardians attempt to take in Tasha, she grabs a gun and holds Mia hostage. Lissa hurries forward in an attempt to compel her to stop, but Tasha makes a rash decision, shooting at Lissa. Rose jumps in front of Lissa and takes the bullet in her chest. Her final glimpse is of Lissa and Dimitri standing over her as she blacks out. A few days later, she awakens in a palace room with Dimitri by her side. He joyfully tells her that they have both received full pardons and their guardian statuses again—she is one of Lissa’s guardians and he is Christian’s guardian. Both are finally able to be open about their relationship. When Lissa visits Rose, she realizes they are no longer bonded. They speculate that because Rose was at the brink of death and healed herself without the help of spirit, the bond was negated.

Lissa tells her she won the royal election, thanks to Jill being part of the Dragomir bloodline and making her eligible for the throne. Adrian visits Rose and confronts her on why their relationship failed; Adrian blames it on Rose’s constant yearning for Dimitri, but Rose tells him it’s both that and the fact that they are so different and he depends on her too much, saying that she is his anchor to life. Rose spends the remainder of her convalescence healing and being with Dimitri.

The series ends with Lissa’s coronation. As she is crowned the new queen, Lissa shares a humorous look with Rose in the crowd. Rose, embracing Dimitri and feeling happier than ever with his love and Lissa’s triumph, tells him she thinks that the future will be good.

watch fan made trailer here:

Last Sacrifice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Sacrifice

Vampire Academy Series on the web:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_Academy
http://www.richellemead.com/books/vampireacademy.htm
http://www.vampireacademybooks.com/
http://vampire-academy.com/

November is flying by and that means the end of the semester will be here in a month or less. Ultimately, lots of exams and papers that need to be written. Methinks, however, I will write about that particular topic in another post…perhaps on summing up Fall 2010 semester at large.  I think I’ll post something for the very end of the year as well. But I digress. Without further ado–may I present Richelle Mead’s Shadow Kiss.

“Suddenly, the burn of that black magic vanished from the bond, along with that sickening sensation. Something hit me like a blast of wind in the face, and I staggered backward I shuddered as a weird sensation twisted my stomach. It was like sparks, like a coil of electricity burning within me” (340).

Probably my favorite out of the series thus far. There was so much action in this particular novel–I can only imagine the coming action in the next novels-I am so excited! I guess you want an example of this action, yes? I figured–you shouldn’t want so many spoilers, my dear readers. But guess what–the above is as much as you’re getting. Anyway, Mead has done a wonderful job with Shadow Kiss as far as her descriptions and the plot is, as usual, fantastic!

To be ‘shadow kissed’ means to have been to the other side and come back; a second chance at life and forever bonded with whomever brought you back. Rose is shadow kissed and that is why she is bonded to  Lissa Dragomir, a spirit user (keep in mind spirit is highly rare). It is one of the five elements the Moroi use as magic: Fire, Earth, Wind, Water, and Spirit. Adrian Ivashkov is actually another spirit user and fire belongs to Christian Ozera. Speaking of Christian, I really want him to become less insecure–he is such a sweet guy and Lissa loves him. That and he helps Rose kick some serious Strigoi ass. Sweet!!

I’ve come to the conclusion that Adrian is going to be another Mason. Sad day. Good guys who love Rose, but she doesn’t or didn’t want them. Not saying that Belikov isn’t *cough*wasn’t*cough* a good guy, but she can’t be exclusive with him and the really places burden on her shoulders that she shouldn’t have. However, if there is one thing I believe to  be true–just because someone is good to you does not mean you will be happy. I’m hoping that Rose will be able to find someone who can be her equal in most, if not all facets of their lives. Or, I should say that Mead will hopefully write the story in that way.

So, anyway–lots of laughs, action, and a perfect amount of romance… and heartbreak. I leave you to read and discover what happens. I’m still rooting for Dimitri Belikov and Rose–but there’s a lot that needs to happen in order for that to happen. If you’ve read the books, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about…

I loved Shadow Kiss! Completely fantastic and it is because it was so good I read it in one day–I want to say six hours. I’m giving Richelle Mead’s Shadow Kiss a 4/4.5 out of 5. Impressive and truly pulls you into their world.

“Unique and mesmerizing… this little gem is sure to be a hit… Readers will bite on this series for some time to come.”
–VOYA

“It had taken me several moments to grasp what she was talking about. Then it occurred to me that in decapitating two Strigoi, I’d earned two molnija tattoos. My first ones. The realization had stunned me. All my life, in considering my future career as a guardian, I’d looked forward to the marks. I’d seen them as badges of honor. But now? Mainly they were going to be reminders of something I wanted to forget” (Pg. 312).

In the sequel to Vampire Academy, our favorite dhampir is back and we meet her mother, Janine Hathaway. I won’t pretend to have immediately liked her character, but the more I read, the more I understood her. While part of me is going, “Yes! I understand the mind of a parent!” While at the same time, my mind is screaming at me, “What the hell!” In any case, based on Rose’s words in Vampire Academy, I’d assumed that her mother would not be in the picture at all. The way it had been worded made me think “working mom who puts her career before her child.” However, reading this novel made all the difference. So, that being said, you will like Janine.

Speaking of people you will like, I would like to bring up someone you will love. I would know, I fall in love with fictional characters–but that’s another blog, another time. Anyway! Guardian Dimitri Belikov. There is so much going on with him and Rose in Frostbite–intense as hell. I mean, you add another woman into the mix–not cool Belikov, not cool. Buuut, things are working out and reaaally going well. Things are amping up! I mean, stuff happened with Mason–he might have been what she needed, but he was not what she wanted.

Btw–RIP Mason. That’s all I’m saying.

Now, I’m very happy for Lissa and Christian. Interesting new character by the name of Adrian. Bad boy in every sense of the word–almost–he has a heart of gold. There are other characters that have been developed a great deal and I am really enjoying seeing them transform into the kind of character that is endearing. Granted, there are some that just need to go away. Permanently. Got to meet some Strigoi–they are nasty pieces of work.

So, overall, I really liked Frostbite. Richelle Mead is consistent in how she writes and she writes well. I am looking forward to reading the next novel and finding out where all this leads. Content was great, plot was fantastic, and of course, I love the characters. I am giving Frostbite a 3.5/4 out of 5.

“In a world that seems saturated with vampire books, Richelle Mead has created characters and a world that is both unique and believable.”– TeensReadToo.com

Five hours. Total time it took to read Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy. Incredibly quick read, but an incredibly good book. I could not put it down. Okay,  I put it down a couple of times so I could move around. This might sound familiar, but I have never read a novel like it. It is different from what I have read and definitely different than the Blue Bloods series. I’m not going to lie–I love the idea that Montana (of all places) has a hidden area where vampire teens and their companions go to school.

Mead takes a different approach to vampires and their companions. The main character’s name is Rose Hathaway–half-human, half-vampire–a dhampir. Her best friend is Lissa Dragomir–a Moroi princess–Moroi being mortal vampires. In Mead’s world, there are two kinds of vampires: Moroi, good; Strigoi, evil. A dhampir’s purpose is to protect a Moroi royal. Personally, I’ve never heard of mortal vampires and vampire guardians–but I think it is fantastic!

Character development is very high in this novel–and as such, I hope so in the rest of the series. I am all for the relationships that are forming: Lissa/Christian and Rose/Dimitri. I look forward to future novels, partly for these couples, and partly because I like the plots. Lissa and Christian understand each other because they are the last in their line, everyone else has passed on. Then there is Rose and Dimitri. Hmm… Dimitri Belikov. I am not sure what is to happen with this pair, but I love them together! Don’t know why–maybe it is the older guy thing–the maturity and knowledge that younger males seem to… lack. Ahm. Anyway, the romantic relationships are not nearly as complicated in Vampire Academy as in the Blue Bloods series. Don’t get me wrong–love them both and really love the complications as an outside looking in–that’s it.

”’That’s part of it, ‘ he said. ‘But also… well, you and I will both be Lissa’s guardians someday. I need to protect her at all costs. If a pack of Strigoi come, I need to throw my body between them and her.’” (324)

I think I will introduce this series to my sister. That is, if she hasn’t already discovered them. So–I like Mead’s storytelling and characters. I’m giving Vampire Academy a 3.4/4 out of 5. I really wish I had come across this series earlier than now.

OK, now I’ve got that out of the way… what follows is look at the fourth book in Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series (past reviews here and here). If you’ve read the first three books but not this one, you won’t find any spoilers here. If you haven’t read the other books yet – and plan to – stop reading now!

Blood Promise takes Rose and the series into new and darker territory, as the dhampir goes on the hunt for Dimitri in Russia. It’s not giving too much away to say that Rose meets a long list of interesting characters with mixed motives.

The clever plot device allowing Rose to see the world through Lissa’s eyes proves very handy. It allows a change in perception, the appearance of familiar characters, and also creates another thread of tension.

Occasionally the perception shift raises some time continuity issues, but it works well to show how Lissa copes without Rose and their bond (no prizes for guessing the answer there).

What Mead does particularly well in this book is deal with the issue of addiction. Rose struggles with the ultimate temptation in Russia and doesn’t always succeed in resisting it. It’s incredibly frustrating to watch Rose – usually such a hot-headed fighter – give in to the oblivion, but it at least gives her experience a sense of truth. And makes her ultimate choice that much more meaningful.

We learn more about the nature of Strigoi, and the social attitudes of dhampir away from the walls of the heavily structured St Vlad’s campus. There’s real growth in Rose and Lissa’s relationship as well – paralleling the changing dynamic between the Moroi and their dhampir guardians.

All in all, this is a good addition to the series, setting up plenty of conflict and plot development for Spirit Bound (the second last in the series). There are so many threads at play here, I’m curious to see how Mead will pull them all together in the next two books.

Cel mai trist este că unii dintre noi refuză să se îndrăgostească din diverse motive. De obicei, ăla pe care li se pune pata, nu corespunde unor standarde, are nişte lipsuri, nu se ridică la nivelul aşteptărilor sau, din contră, este prea bun, prea mişto, prea perfect.  Sau, culmea!, prea accesibil. În concluzie, nu contează că există îndrăgosteală, unii dintre noi refuză din start orice experienţă.

Deci nu îmi plac ăştia. Nu îi suport. Şi, în general, le prevăd singurătatea veşnică. Ceea ce şi merită.

Şi i-aş localiza undeva pe la vârsta de 32, 33 de ani. Şi i-aş încadra în regnul masculin, încrengătura care nu doreşte să se adapteze la nou (om nou) şi vrea să găsească ceva care să i se potrivească perfect.

În schimb îmi plac moroii. M-au fascinat dintotdeauna.

That’s certainly the case with Rose Hathaway in Richelle Mead’s excellent Vampire Academy series. (See review for Vampire Academy and Frostbite).

A quick recap: The series is set in a meticulously imagined world of elite pacifist vampires (Moroi), their not-quite-human guardians (dhampirs) and the murderous vampires who stalk both classes of beings (Strigoi). Rose is a dhampir and the guardian of Lissa, her best friend (who’s also a member of a royal Moroi line).

They live at St Vladimir’s Academy, where Lissa is being groomed to fulfil her political potential as the last member of the Dragomir royal line, and Rose spends her days in more physical training, so she can officially become Lissa’s guardian after graduation.

Rose also happens to be in love with her dhampir mentor, Dimitri. Although he returns her affection, the structure of their society (and the fact Rose is his student) means they can’t be together. Especially because they’re both destined to guard Lissa and their role demands their Moroi always come first.

As much as she loves Lissa and looks forward to spending her life as her guardian, she begins to quietly resent the fact Lissa can have a semblance of a normal life – parties, make-up and romance, which no longer have a place in Rose’s life.

There’s even an undertone that the level of selflessness demanded of dhampirs by Moroi requires a certain amount of self abuse – fascinating subtext for this genre.

Rose fights these feelings, but they grow throughout the book and reach their logical conclusion when the unthinkable happens (which I won’t give away here), and Rose really must choose between Lissa and Dimitri. (At last, a threat on a book cover that’s more than just a marketing ploy!)

Shadow Kiss has multiple plot threads: Rose discovers her psychic bond with Lissa has a dark side; she’s visited by ghosts; and the attentions of bad boy Moroi Adrian have wider implications.

Despite all this, it doesn’t feel like a lot happens action-wise … until the last 100 pages. And then it all happens.

If you haven’t read this series, try to resist the temptation to read the back covers of later books. It will make the twists at the end of Shadow Kiss that much more forceful. Unfortunately, the version of Vampire Academy I read had the first chapter of the fifth book, Spirit Bound at the end (why??) and reading the first few pages of that completely removed the intended shock at the end of Shadow Kiss. Bad publishers!

A história ambientada no presente se passa na escola São Vladimir, um local onde os vampiros aprendem a controlar seus poderes e os “dhampir” (fruto de um cruzamento de um vampiro e humano) são treinados para protegê-los. O personagem principal é Rose Hathaway, uma damphir, que está sendo treinada para ser a guardiã de sua melhor amiga Lissa Dragomir, princesa e única herdeira da família da realeza vampira Moroi.

Rose terá que proteger a princesa dos Strigoi, terríveis vampiros imortais que precisam do sangue dos Moroi para manter sua imortalidade. (Vou parar por aqui para não contar spoilers).

A série escrita por Richelle Mead já vendeu mais de 3,5 milhões de cópias nos Estados Unidos e já foi publicada em 34 países. O sexto e último livro será lançado em dezembro.

No Brasil foram lançados apenas os dois primeiros livros.

Porque não tentar fazer algo diferente e que chame atenção do público por ser algo inovador, no lugar de tentar copiar algo que já existe. A Saga Crepúsculo não é um fenômeno só porque tem vampiros na história, fato que algumas pessoas não conseguiram entender ainda.

I’ve been walking past Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy books at my favourite book store for a while now (two years, in fact). The covers didn’t grab me, and neither – to be honest – did the synopses.

Granted, I picked the first one up in the middle of Twilight mania, and wasn’t quite ready to become so vampire-centric in my reading (a quick flick through this blog will reveal I’ve since overcome any such concerns.)

But with all the fuss over the release of Spirit Bound in recent weeks, I thought it was time to check out the first book.

A week ago I ordered Vampire Academy from the library. Devoured it. Immediately ordered the second book (Frostbite). Devoured it. Today, I went to the aforementioned book shop and bought all five books.

The only good thing about dragging my heels for so long on this is that I now have immediate access to all five books (with a sixth due out in December, I believe), which doesn’t bode well for all the other things I need to do in my life…

So, for those of you catching on late, like me, here’s a quick overview (don’t worry, there’s no spoilers):

The series is set in a meticulously imagined world of elite pacifist vampires (Moroi), their not-quite-human guardians (dhampirs) and the murderous vampires who stalk both classes of beings (Strigoi). Rose is a dhampir and the guardian of Lissa, her best friend(who’s also a member of a royal Moroi line). The story opens with their recapture after being on the run for a year, and then explores the threats that drove them away from their home – the academy of the title – and the threats that still linger.

I know I’m forever talking about great narrative characters, but Rose is particularly unique in the world of YA. She’s tough, smart-mouthed and promiscuous, and frequently makes bad decisions. But underneath her abrasiveness and hot-headedness is a fierce protectiveness of Lissa, which anchors her erratic and impulsive life.

Things for Rose become increasingly complicated when she’s forced to train with experienced dhampir guardian Dimitri. They fight (verbally and physically), and even as she resents his discipline and focus, she craves his approval – and ultimately his affection.

The best thing about Rose is she’s real. She behaves like a conflicted teenager. She doesn’t always do the right thing, even in the face of her growing responsibilities as a guardian. Of course, her bad choices always come to back to bite her, and she’s not oblivious to the irony.

Contrasting Rose’s strength is Lissa’s fragility and vulnerability (in the first book at least). The nature of first person narrative means she’s a more distant character (although there’s a clever plot device that offers occasional glimpses into Lissa’s view), yet it’s easy to understand Rose’s desire to protect her.

Richelle Mead doesn’t shy away from tough topics in Vampire Academy, tackling self harm, bullying and teenage sex, which really gives the opening book an extra edge.

The tension increases in Frostbite with a brutal Strigoi attack on a royal Moroi family. It not only puts the vampire community on edge, it brings Rose’s estranged mother (who happens to be a legendary guardian) to the academy. The entire school heads to the snow for the academy’s annual ski trip, and with Moroi, guardians, parents, rejected lovers and competing egos thrown together, it can only lead to trouble.

For Rose, of course, not all of that trouble comes from external sources. In this second book, her biggest challenge is learning self control. She’s caught between the pull of two worlds:  that of a rebellious and reckless outsider, and that of selfless, disciplined guardian.  What makes her such a textured character, is that she also doesn’t necessarily learn her lesson the first time around.

And in Frostbite, the learning curve is steep, with much higher stakes.

So, yes, there’ll be more reviews to come as I read the rest of the series.

(And yes, I’ve also bought a copy of Succubus Blues, the first in Richelle Mead’s adult series, so I’ll get to that soon too.)

5 Star Review by Immortal Fiction

Vampire Academy has been my all time favorite series the past 2 years and this one was a wonderful read, though I have to say the 2nd & 3rd are still my favorites. I thoroughly enjoyed this book all the way through. But I must say I was unsettled, unfulfilled by the end. I felt like it was missing the final chapter or one just prior to the final chapter.
I needed more resolve between Dimitri or Adrian but I’m still not sure where things stand with either of them. I love what Richelle did with Dimitri and how his events and feelings were written in this book. But I never really felt Rose’s feelings towards anyone -except anger and pain. Not even Lissa. This was written more about thoughts and events and less about feelings, except Dimitri and Lissa’s and even Adrian’s feelings but Rose… not so much. Maybe that’s because she wasn’t sure how she felt for anyone but it seemed more because she was busy thinking or acting but not feeling. Her feelings were present but they just weren’t written in a way that ‘compelled’ me (lol) to feel them too.

I love books that start something new towards the end so you can’t wait for the next one to resolve it. But this book was the first one I didn’t feel like anything was resolved -not fully- throughout the book. Everything seemed to lead up to something and come close to something that never quite satisfied. What transpires near the end is a wonderful lead into the grand finale book releasing in December and I wouldn’t have wanted that any other way. But Rose seemed more alone than ever in the midst of friends, though its never brought to the readers attention so we don’t experience that as a whole.

Rose’s hurt, fear and pain weren’t that gripping and neither were her love and desire. I had hoped that at least her desire would be more gripping as a romance. I think it was there but maybe too rushed. I still give it 5 stars for awesomeness but I bought the hardcover, audio and e-book formats. But I have to voice my disappointment in the lack of fulfillment or resolve in any mystery or relationship by the end. I guess she took the concept for her final book and divided it in half to expand the original project from 5 books to 6 but it was noticeable. It says a lot about an author’s talent and skill though that with this said she still has a 5 star rating and sold me all 3 formats. way to go!

› Buy @ Amazon Immortal Fiction › Read an Excerpt

A lot of unexpected twists in this book, but that just made it even more exiting !

Summary:
After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa.
It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin.

However, Rose first has to focus on passing her trials to become a guardian and hope it will be enough for her to get assigned to Lissa.

Rose is with Adrian now, but Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he’s out there, somewhere. She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won’t rest until Rose joins him . . . forever.

Rose is working on a plan to save Dimitri, even though her information may be based on a lie and the plan may endanger her life and Lissa’s. Roses plan involves finding a man called Robert Duru, whom supposedly has saved a Strigois life and gotten them back to life again. To get to Robert, they must first free Victor Dashkov from a mental hospital where he is being held prison after he kidnapped and forced Lissa to heal him and later tried killing Rose and Lissa, as well as convincing his own daughter to turn Strigoi to save him from prison. Victor unwillingly takes them to Robert, in Las Vegas, where they learn that a Spirit user can save a Strigois life when staking them with a Spirit-Magic-Filled stake. This action can only be made by a Spirit user and it will turn him back into a Dhampir. Anyone else tries this will kill the Strigoi.

In saving Dimitris life, like she did Roses, Dimitri and Lissa also becomes shadow kissed, but when Dimitri has been turned back into a Damphir he no longer wants to see Rose. He feels terribly terribly bad at what he did to her while he was a still a Strigoi and he is so certain that he is not worthy of being forgiven that he is not even willing to see the possibility that Roses love is big enough to forgive him. Dimitri tells Rose he no longer loves her, because noone that has done what he did, ever deserves to love again.

Dimitri is held at court and there are many sceptics that don’t believe that he is fully turned into a Damphir again. Most Moroi and other Damphirs believe he is only acting as a Damphir to turn on them and kill them the moment they least expect it. A hearing is set up to find out whether he is or is no longer a Strigoi and during this period Queen Tatiana gets killed and Roses silver stake is found at the scene of crime. Rose gets arrested and is thrown in jail while she claims her innocense and tries convinving everyone that she is not the killer nor would she ever, despite her and the Queens obvious dislike of eachother, kill her.

A quest to find the new Vampire King or Queen starts and 1 member from each of the 12 Royal families are being nominated. Lissa, as the only member of her family line, is one of the 12 candidates, but she is not able to become Queen unless she has at least 1 living family member.

Rose, being in prison, learns about all this from sneaking into Lissas head through the bond and remembers something that she overheard when they were in Las Vegas with Victor Dashkov in search for Robert Duru. He mentioned that Lissas father had been keeping a secret from his family and that somewhere there may be another living member of the Dragomir line.

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Spirit Bound on the web
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_Bound

Vampire Academy Series on the web:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_Academy
http://www.richellemead.com/books/vampireacademy.htm
http://www.vampireacademybooks.com/
http://vampire-academy.com/