Blood Promise - Richelle Mead (#4 - Vampire Academy)

“I know how devastated you must be to miss me, but leave a message, and I'll try to ease your agony.”  -Adrian Ivashkov

Title: Blood Promise

Author: Richelle Mead

Genres: YA, fantasy

Rate: ☆☆☆☆

Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same. 

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters ... Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved? 

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

I have been rendered speechless by Blood Promise. My screaming, squealing, shouting and sobbing has finally come to an end, along with this book. This book was undoubtedly going to be about Rose and Dimitri and I wasn't too excited for it, but I was prepared. Or I thought I was. Nothing could've prepared me for this book, and by the end of it my voice was hoarse. I also lost a whole night's worth of sleep over it because my mind was still racing about the book. 

I wasn't too keen on Lissa and Rose being apart as Rose is halfway across the world from the life she left behind and you may not think that we'll see much of St. Vladimir, but thanks to Rose and Lissa's special bond, we see plenty and oh boy does it build up to be more than anyone could've ever predicted. Lissa is nearly going off the rails, needing Rose now more than ever, and drinking and partying with Avery isn't helping. However, the 'bond' was a poor asset and a complete cheat. 

The first two-thirds of the book was excruciatingly, wanting-to-pull-my-hair-out slow, and a palpable page filler. There are unseen/unread memories of Rose and Dimitri, her on the road with her new Alchemist buddy, a potential threat maybe in the name of Abe, and her wasting time at the Belikov's house. We also meet another bonded pair, Oksana and Mark, and discover a few new things about spirit magic as well. There's a completely different set of characters, and what their true purpose is, I don't know. But gradually, the pace picked up.

She finds who she's looking for (which is Dimitri, and may I add that he was a whole lot more interesting in this book than all the previous books combined) and things get more and more intense and exciting. and then you're sitting on the edge of your chair, anticipating for what is to come and then
----
It ends.

Just when you think everything's over, Mead throws in some crazy ass, jaw-dropping cliffhanger that makes reading all that eye rolling, face palming, hair pulling stuff totally worth it.

It was a DRAG for the first half, although some of the content was actually pretty interesting, and THEN the second half is where the good stuff happens. Applause to Mead again, but only for the second half, and definitely for the ending.

-C E L I N E 

Shadow Kiss - Richelle Mead (#3 - Vampire Academy)

"Don't worry, little dhampir. You might be surrounded by clouds, but you'll always be like sunshine to me."

Title: Shadow Kiss

Author: Richelle Mead

Genres: YA, fantasy

Rate: ☆☆☆☆☆

It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She's having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all... might be seeing ghosts.

As Rose questions her sanity, new complications arise. Lissa has begun experimenting with her magic once more, their enemy Victor Dashkov might be set free, and Rose's forbidden relationship with Dimitri is starting to heat up again. But when a deadly threat no one saw coming changes their entire world, Rose must put her own life on the line - and choose between the two people she loves most.

W O W O W O W. I thought Frostbite was good, but Shadow Kiss takes it to a whole other level.

I cannot begin to explain how gripping and exhilarating this book was. It wasn't only the plot that made me squeal like a three-year-old, but the characters and their relationships as well, and the enthralling events and pretty much everything else. The mix of politics, action, romance, flirtatiousness, and thrills were the perfect balance.

Rose will always be Rose, but she is developing a lot as a character and as she is getting older and on the verge of being an actual guardian, she's being more responsible, listening and obeying to the instructions that she's been given, and applying her knowledge and abilities best where they are needed. But, she is keeping SO MUCH from Lissa which is infuriating as Lissa tells her everything. Backing that up, this is the book that Lissa finally knows about her feelings towards Dimitri. BOOK 3. arghhh.

To those of you who are eagerly awaiting more Rose and Dimitri moments, your wait will finally be over! But, I can't find what so many  people are swooning over; I find Dimitri's character absolutely bland and uninteresting. Sure, he may be hot and strong but, then what?

I love Adrian. I think Adrian and Rose have better chemistry than Rose and Dimitri but I know their soulmates, and destined to be, and blah, blah, blah. Some moments, we see that he is quite the opposite of his reputation - he's kind, and caring but nevertheless, outgoing, funny, and eccentric. We also get to see more of Christian and those who weren't particularly fond of him before, they might sway in favour of him after reading Shadow Kiss. There are plenty of moments with Christian and Rose working together, kicking ass, and humouring the readers.

There's a humongous cliffhanger, and by humongous, I mean fricking HUMONGOUS. But, Adrian...;)

-C E L I N E

Frostbite - Richelle Mead (#2 - Vampire Academy)

"There's nothing worse than waiting and not knowing what'll happen to you. Your own imagination can be crueler than any captor."

Title: Frostbite

Author: Richelle Mead

Genres: Young adult, fantasy
Rate: ☆☆☆☆

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose... 

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory. 

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

(Vampire Academy the movie kinda sucked, but as a fan of the book, I liked it.)

After a Strigoi attack on a royal family, everyone is on their toes. People like Tasha Ozera want to use magic as an offensive weapon and want to fight side by side with Dhampirs against the Strigoi. But, the other royals, the ones that think they are ultimately more superior want to hold on to their traditional rules... How long will that last?

Rose is growing up! I was kind of upset as I thought there'd be no more of the wild and impulsive Rose, but that is not the case! She is still an indomitable spirit, still reckless, still unpredictable, but still loyal and passionately protectively over the ones she cares about. Her fierceness would put Tyra Banks' to shame. 

Lissa and Christian are as strong as ever, and then some. I love that Lissa doesn't care that most people dislike Christian even though she is one of the most popular royal. Lissa is now also using her spirit magic when she finds another person who has spirit magic as well. This other person is a guy, and Christian becomes crazily jealous of how much time they are spending together.

And then...

We are introduced to infamous Adrian Ivashkov...mmm...

This is actually one of the love triangles that I am all in for! Even though I know she'll probably end up with Dimitri, I realllylylylylyly ship Rose and Adrian. Despite Adrian's trouble making, hard partying reputation, Rose is drawn to him; he has a magnetic pull. He is charismatic and a fun, really fun character to read about! 

Dimitri will always have a place in Rose's heart, but he's so responsible and rational up to a point where I just want to strangle him and tell him to do whatever the hell he wants, ie. Roza. The tension between them is surreal, but undoubtedly the hottest tension ever.

Then...there is Mason. As joking, as flirty and as reckless as Rose, Mason is exactly like Rose, and he has feelings for her. When she hurts him, he does something stupid that could put Rose's and his friends' lives in danger.

I know that was really long^ but I am utterly in love with this book series and I am still slapping myself for not picking this up earlier. I only gave this a 4/5 because of how much Rose holds back from Lissa because after all, she knows everything and more about Lissa but not the other way round and as a best friend, I thought she should've opened up to Lissa more.

-C E L I N E

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