Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead (#1 - Vampire Academy)

"Lissa and I had been friends ever since kindergarten, when our teacher had paired us up together for writing lessons. Forcing five-year-olds to spell Vasilisa Dragomir and Rosemarie Hathaway was beyond cruel, and we’d—or rather, I’d—responded appropriately. I’d chucked my book at out teacher and called her a fascist bastard. I hadn’t known what those words meant, but I’d known how to hit a moving target.
Lissa and I had been inseparable ever since." 

Title: Vampire Academy

Author: Richelle Mead

Genres: Young adult, fantasy

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

I have come across this book a thousand times before but I disregarded it straightaway. The reason? Well... I judged the book by its cover. Guilty. I know, but if a book doesn't look professional, then you're not going to waste £7/£8 on it.

It just looked like a Wattpad book, and Wattpad books don't have the greatest reputation when it comes to grammar and original plots.

Anyway, I came across the movie edition book cover, and I thought it was a whole lot better and decided to give it a go. See? Book covers are ultimately the first thing that draws people in.

At first, I was so confused. I didn't know what the hell a Moroi, a Damphir or a Strigoi was, and why Lissa and a hundred other families were royal, but later on, I got it. Rose (a Damphir) is the guardian of Lissa (a Moroi), and she has taken it upon herself to run away with Lissa because she no longer thinks it's safe at their school. They have one year of freedom before they get caught and hauled back to St. Vladimir.

Rose is fierce and strong, with a hot temper and a sarcastic outlook to pretty much everything. She will do ANYTHING to keep Lissa safe. Lissa is kind, magnetic, and reserved at first. They have a 'bond' which occurred shortly after Rose miraculously survived a car accident, the same not being able to be said for the rest of Lissa's family. Rose knows what Lissa is feeling and can even sometimes get into Lissa's mind and body. 

It starts with a fast exciting pace, then slowly becomes steady, and then picks up and wins the race with a Usain Bolt sprint. The first half of the book is mostly just routine and normal vampire/Dhampir days filled with fun, all the while Richelle has been dropping small hints for the big finish. Then, the second half takes a sharp and surprising turn where everything is shocking but then comes together in the end, and is packed with even more fun, excitement and anticipation. Along with action, humour and thrills, it also includes a little romance as most YA books do. However, it is not the sole purpose of the book.

Richelle Mead has written this flawlessly.

This book was awesome, and I am vastly excited to continue the series (thank God it's finished), though I'm a little annoyed at myself for not picking this book up earlier, so I am recommending this book to you ASAP. It's nothing like the typical vampire books at all. It is original and raw. I am now going to watch the movie. :)

Rate out of 5: ☆☆☆☆☆

-C E L I N E