Book Review: Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Series: Vampire Academy (#3)
Published: November 13, 2008
Publisher: Razorbill
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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.

Review ~

I had started reading this right after I had finished Frostbite, and man, I was amazed. I'm currently wondering whether or not the whole series would be as amazing as the previous two novels. I'm just "Wowed"...I can't get enough of Richelle Mead's writing. It has the power to do amazing things.

"People who are crazy rarely question whether they're crazy," he said wisely.

Oh my god, like seriously. The writing is easy to follow and read. The action and attacks are interesting to read. Oh dear...the attacks, especially, are the parts I loved to read. I mean, they're training to become a guardian and they have a "field" test for about 6 weeks, I believe, and wow. I'm surprised that Mead uses the guardians and Strigoi, just makes everything 10x more interesting! Especially the fake fight with Dimitri. Hearts~ <3

Also, the characters, they developed, not much, but you could see the change in them. Very intriguing to read about Lissa and Rose and the fact that they started getting into "spirit", that was interesting. Again, like I've said in the previous two reviews, Rose is still the Kick Ass Heroine that I look forward to seeing develop more and more throughout the whole series. She's someone who'll be there for you...er...Lissa, whenever she/you need her, and she'll never ditch you, no matter what! I love that about her so much.

"I want you to have a wonderful life, but I can't expect a perfect one. No one can. But what I think is interesting here is how you respond and cope when you have to reconcile these contradictory pieces of your life - when having one thing means you can't have another."

This book was also very unpredictable. Aside from the fact about Rose taking away Lissa's bad spirit influence(that was easy to put together in your mind once you have the pieces, so it was obvious). Anyways, apart from that, I loved the surprise and suspense writing, it was simply pure and amazing. Yes, the ending...sad and heartbreaking, and because I've heard after the 3rd book, things start going downhill and I'm hoping it doesn't. I'm enjoying this series too much for it to stop being this good!

Also, I loved the action in this book. It's one of the factors that really build this story and make it seem alive and real. And Moroi fighting against Strigoi is unheard of, but Mead writes it so it's something you always hear, but it's still impossible. Do you get that? I don't really understand what I just said, but wow, Mead never fails to impress me while writing she's writing, what I say is her best factors, suspense and action scenes.

"No shit," he said. "Didn't know I had that much power." He peered around, body rigid and tense, "Are there more?"

Again, this immediately went to my "Best Loved" shelf on goodreads. So far, I just love this series, it's one of my top favorites! Dimitri... Everyone loves Adrian from the Bloodlines series, but seriously? I've read the Bloodlines series, and I'm totally, STILL rooting, and forever will be rooting for Dimitri Belikov. The most amazing guy out of every fictional book I've ever read(except for Daemon Black..they're tied for my #1 spot!)

Book Review: Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Series: Vampire Academy (#1)
Published: March 10, 2008
Publisher: Razorbill
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Supernatural/Paranormal
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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...

Review ~

Omg, you don't know how it feels to read this. The way Richelle Mead writes is just amazing. I love it and I can't get enough of it. I think, but I don't hope, that this is going to be the best book in this series.

Everyone has light around them, except for you. You have shadows. You take them from Lissa.

Ah. Yes. Do you remember Rose? The main character of Vampire Academy? She's still a kick-ass heroine. She does make irrational decisions in this book, but you can watch her develop and grow. It's very interesting to read about her life, from her point of view, and when she gets jealous? She doesn't show it, she wasn't annoying, as any other jealous girl would be. And Lissa and Christian? Oh, their relationship. I love it. Christian is just good for Lissa and Lissa is good for Christian. Yea, some people may not ship them, but I ship them 100%. Like seriously? They're adorable together, well... maybe I shouldn't say "adorable", but, they're just fit for each other.

Something that sucked was that I could predict the near death of someone towards the end of the book. Very obvious after he barged in trying to protect the one he loved. Aside from that, I couldn't predict much, everything was basically unpredictable. Also, we meet Adrian in this book. For the love of candy, I am in love with him. I'm pretty sure if they get in a relationship, it won't last, because she has Dimitri...And, seriously? NO LOVE TRIANGLES PLEASE. 

“By the way, my name's Rose Hathaway. I'm seventeen years old, training to protect and kill vampires, in love with a completely unsuitable guy, and have a best friend whose weird magic could drive her crazy.
Hey, no one said high school was easy.”

Remember? We meet Janine Hathaway, and if it isn't already obvious enough from Janine's last name, she's Rose's mother. Yea, their relationship isn't all that friendly, nor is it really cold. It's just, they're strangers who love to fight. Remember? Rose's mother/Janine and Rose gets into physical fights and verbal arguments a lot. The way Mead writes this part is very....emotional. I really felt a pain in my chest even though I've never experienced my mother hating me/leaving me. And then, when her mother pulls Rose into her arms, I cried of joy. It's very emotional, you experience feelings you've never experienced in reading this book.

“You can't force love, I realized. It's there or it isn't. If it's not there, you've got to be able to admit it. If it is there, you've got to do whatever it takes to protect the ones you love.”

This, again, went immediately to my "Best Loved" shelf. I just love it so much! The feelings you get when reading this novel is simply fantastic! Obviously, going to read the next book, Shadow Kiss, soon!

Book Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Series: Vampire Academy (#1)
Published: August 16th, 2007
Publisher: Razorbill
Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Supernatural, Young Adult
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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.

Review ~

Wow. This book exceeded my expectations. I didn't expect it to be so good, and it was good. It was amazing. I love Rose, Dimitri, Lissa and the way the whole story was written. To start with, the beginning wasn't even as slow as I thought it would be like in most books.

Suddenly, she screamed and threw it down. Book and shoes spilled out. So did a dead dove.

Let's talk about Rose first. She's beautifully written, and like everyone says, is a KICK ASS heroine. I love her for who she is. She's smart and fierce and won't back down from protecting Lissa. Now that's who I'm looking for when it comes to female heroines. She's also a fast learner, which I love her for. Yes, she may have a little self control, I love her random outrages, although some of her arguments have no sense, it's still funny to read, yet "cool"(That's the best I could describe it)

No. If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of her. I'll throw myself in front of you.

And Dimitri. Perfect boyfriend. Well, perfect guy. He's a guardian, a guardian who takes his duty seriously. He won't love, poor guy, or else it'll ruin his guardian job. He's just amazing. Strong and polite, he'll be there for you through hard times...that is...if you don't piss him off.

And the plot is like no other. Seriously. I can't think of another book I've read that's just like this, except for the Bloodlines series. Lissa uses compulsion to escape the academy, an academy that's heavily guarded with magic and wards. Ever heard of that? Didn't think so. It has a unique story line, it's one where it'll either fail or succeed depending on how the author writes it, and this author, wrote it well.

"Rose. Roza. Open your eyes." I'd never hear his voice sound so strained, so frantic. "Don't go to sleep on me. Not yet."

Yes, this immediately went on my 'Best Loved' shelf on goodreads. It's typically an another amazingly written YA supernatural book, but, I just felt like it deserved to be on my shelf. I don't know how else to describe it. After reading this first book, you'll just have a hungry feeling to read the next.