Michelle R. (mreneerouser) -
Helpful Score: 6
I'm not a "young adult" but this book came highly recommended. I have done the Twilight series and while I liked the books, I wasn't overly impressed. I loved the Vampire Academy series. The character development was great. The author makes you connect to the characters and really care about what is happening to them. Very impressed overall.
Jennifer J. (vampsita) -
Helpful Score: 6
For those less familiar with the young adult vampire genre, this book serves as a great introduction. Or if you aren't a fan of "Twilight," sink your teeth into this fun new series from Richelle Read. Rebellious Rose just can't take high school seriously, but she does take her bond with her best friend Lissa to heart. Likable Lissa is the last left of her family, and Rose will do anything to keep her safe. Together they harbor secrets, and may even be keeping a few of their own from one another.
Helpful Score: 3
This particular series is the darkest YA Vampire books I've read. There are a number of cuss words, references to sex, hot and heavy scenes and the thing that hit me the hardest is that one of the characters cuts.
With that being said, I really like her take on the Vampires. She has two types, an immortal, evil kind and a mortal, good, magical type. There are also half bloods that serve as the good vampires protectors. I love the multiple layers of social classes that this element and more bring.
The other aspect of this book that I found wonderful is the characters are all vastly different. From the shy reserved teen struggling with depression, the ostracized kid whose parents made him that way, the headstrong rebellious one and many many more. Richelle creates a great and very realistic way in which all these different personalities (which do exist in today's society) mingle with one another.
With that being said, I really like her take on the Vampires. She has two types, an immortal, evil kind and a mortal, good, magical type. There are also half bloods that serve as the good vampires protectors. I love the multiple layers of social classes that this element and more bring.
The other aspect of this book that I found wonderful is the characters are all vastly different. From the shy reserved teen struggling with depression, the ostracized kid whose parents made him that way, the headstrong rebellious one and many many more. Richelle creates a great and very realistic way in which all these different personalities (which do exist in today's society) mingle with one another.
Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
Helpful Score: 2
This is no ordinary vampire world you're stepping into. Rose Hathaway is a dhampir, a half-vampire half-human being who is sworn to protect the lives of the Moroi, mortal vampires whose blood is especially desirable by the Strigoi, the evil immortal vampires. Rose has a unique bond with her best friend Lissa, a Moroi princess. The bond was what told her that being at Vampire Academy among the guardians and the other Moroi and dhampirs wasn't safe, and so two years ago they escaped and have been on the run ever since.
At the start of their senior year, however, Rose and Lissa get caught and it's back to the pointless social politics they go. In between classes, house arrest (as punishment for escaping), and grueling training sessions with the extremely hot Russian guardian Dimitri, however, Rose begans to sense that danger is surrounding Lissa, that she is not who she thinks she is. Lissa has a rare power that could destroy her, and only Rose can protect Lissa from herself...and others who might want to use her for their own benefits.
Now this is the kind of YA paranormal series that I like. Butt-kicking, whip-smart female protagonists; dangerously sexy and complicated love interests; cutthroat high school drama; and an elaborately imagined alternative world...what more could you ask for?
All of the characters, not just the main ones, are great. They have personality, they make biting remarks, they sharpen their claws, spread rumors, manipulate. The Academy is, in a way, like Gossip Girl for vampires: the class politics underlining this series makes it more than a just-for-paranormal-entertainment read. There's plenty to be discussed in this book, as well as plenty to be entertained about.
And speaking of entertainment. The Gossip Girl reference is accurate, more so because of the sexuality that runs through the book. Vampires themselves are already attractive creatures; throw in a couple of hot guys, smart girls, and impossible romances, and you've got drama and heartbreak enough to satisfy your cravings. Most books get their strength through either character development or plot: VAMPIRE ACADEMY does both.
This book is class drama for the paranormal set, Twilight done right (in a sexually realistic kind of way). Pick this up and you'll be sucked immediately into its enchantment. I doubt you will be disappointed.
At the start of their senior year, however, Rose and Lissa get caught and it's back to the pointless social politics they go. In between classes, house arrest (as punishment for escaping), and grueling training sessions with the extremely hot Russian guardian Dimitri, however, Rose begans to sense that danger is surrounding Lissa, that she is not who she thinks she is. Lissa has a rare power that could destroy her, and only Rose can protect Lissa from herself...and others who might want to use her for their own benefits.
Now this is the kind of YA paranormal series that I like. Butt-kicking, whip-smart female protagonists; dangerously sexy and complicated love interests; cutthroat high school drama; and an elaborately imagined alternative world...what more could you ask for?
All of the characters, not just the main ones, are great. They have personality, they make biting remarks, they sharpen their claws, spread rumors, manipulate. The Academy is, in a way, like Gossip Girl for vampires: the class politics underlining this series makes it more than a just-for-paranormal-entertainment read. There's plenty to be discussed in this book, as well as plenty to be entertained about.
And speaking of entertainment. The Gossip Girl reference is accurate, more so because of the sexuality that runs through the book. Vampires themselves are already attractive creatures; throw in a couple of hot guys, smart girls, and impossible romances, and you've got drama and heartbreak enough to satisfy your cravings. Most books get their strength through either character development or plot: VAMPIRE ACADEMY does both.
This book is class drama for the paranormal set, Twilight done right (in a sexually realistic kind of way). Pick this up and you'll be sucked immediately into its enchantment. I doubt you will be disappointed.
Helpful Score: 2
This book was better than I thought it would be. I enjoyed that the story line did now concentrate completely on cliques, although there was some of that in there. I liked the story line of the different types of vampires and their protectors. It was a quick easy read.
Helpful Score: 2
I adored the entire series, more so than the Twilight series. Rose and Dmitri's story is quite intriguing! This book does contain underage drinking, and sex, so use your best judgment as to what age you let your kids be exposed to these things.
Helpful Score: 2
This book was the best vampire one I've read, and I'm normally a "Twilight" loyal! I loved the second, Frostbite, and can't wait for the third!!!
Helpful Score: 2
I stumbled onto this book after reading Mead's Succubus Blues. And while, I am very loyal to Twilight, this book really embodies the spirit of what it means to be a teenager and if teenagers were vampires, well, I believe it would be in the world Mead has created. The characters come off the page and you end up caring for them so much. Mead is an extremely gifted writer. I can't wait to read the rest.
Sherri B. (sharalsbooks) reviewed Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Bk 1) on + 259 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
New author for me and though I was intrigued with the plot premise, the beginning of this series had me feeling lost in the middle. I was expecting more detail and history of the characters, an introduction and getting to you phase, if you will. Instead I am dropped into the story feeling like I tuned in after it had started and had missed much of the beginning. Usually, this alone will be enough of a reason for me to stop reading and throw the book against the wall, but I decided to ride it out and see where it takes me. Im glad I did. Thankfully, the feeling of being lost doesnt last long as the author does an exceptional job of bringing the reader up to speed, filling in the gaps while keeping the story interesting and not getting bogged down in a lot of monotonous detail and blah blah blah.
Very quickly, I was able to see how close Rose and Lissa are. More than friends and closer than sisters, they share a very strong bond and though the reader doesnt understand the importance of the bond at first or the ramifications of this bond, it is very easy to see how closely connected they are. Once I understood that, the rest of the story quickly fell into place and I got busy meeting the supporting characters and enjoying Roses feisty personality, sharp wit and sometimes biting language.
I really like the premise of a vampire academy. A school for vampires; kind of like Hogwarts for blood suckers; really, how cool is that? Upon further pondering, I feel quite sure this is the first for this theme. Within the halls of the academy, we learn that an entire society of vampires exist, the mortal ones who also possess magical abilities, the Moroi and the evil immortal ones, the Strigoi. Rose is a half human half vampire, a Dhampir. Her duty is to guard and protect the Moroi, of which Lissa is one. Once Rose is fully trained, she will also be expected to lay down her life, if necessary, to ensure Lissa is protected from the Strigoi.
Overall, not a bad beginning to a series that holds a lot of promise. Still a little fuzzy on the details regarding why the Strigoi are hell bent on killing off the Moroi, but Im hopeful that will be cleared up as I progress through the series. Im looking forward to seeing how the budding relationships between Lissa and Christian and Rose and Dimitri play out.
Very quickly, I was able to see how close Rose and Lissa are. More than friends and closer than sisters, they share a very strong bond and though the reader doesnt understand the importance of the bond at first or the ramifications of this bond, it is very easy to see how closely connected they are. Once I understood that, the rest of the story quickly fell into place and I got busy meeting the supporting characters and enjoying Roses feisty personality, sharp wit and sometimes biting language.
I really like the premise of a vampire academy. A school for vampires; kind of like Hogwarts for blood suckers; really, how cool is that? Upon further pondering, I feel quite sure this is the first for this theme. Within the halls of the academy, we learn that an entire society of vampires exist, the mortal ones who also possess magical abilities, the Moroi and the evil immortal ones, the Strigoi. Rose is a half human half vampire, a Dhampir. Her duty is to guard and protect the Moroi, of which Lissa is one. Once Rose is fully trained, she will also be expected to lay down her life, if necessary, to ensure Lissa is protected from the Strigoi.
Overall, not a bad beginning to a series that holds a lot of promise. Still a little fuzzy on the details regarding why the Strigoi are hell bent on killing off the Moroi, but Im hopeful that will be cleared up as I progress through the series. Im looking forward to seeing how the budding relationships between Lissa and Christian and Rose and Dimitri play out.
Helpful Score: 2
The writing for teen readers has really improved since I was a teenager, and this book is no exception to that statement. Mead creates an interesting and cohesive new world. The Moroi and their guardian Dhampir need each other to survive, but sometimes the Moroi choose evil and become the monstrous Strigoi. The guardians must then track them down and kill them.
This story focuses on Lissa, the Moroi princess and the only remaining member of her family, and Rose, the Dhampir bonded to Lissa and her emotions. After their escape, two years ago, they have managed to avoid capture and being returned to the Academy, but it looks like their luck has run out. Once they're back at the Academy they'll have to be on their guard against enemies, seen and unseen.
This story focuses on Lissa, the Moroi princess and the only remaining member of her family, and Rose, the Dhampir bonded to Lissa and her emotions. After their escape, two years ago, they have managed to avoid capture and being returned to the Academy, but it looks like their luck has run out. Once they're back at the Academy they'll have to be on their guard against enemies, seen and unseen.
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of those books that suck you right in and never let you go. It's one of the few books for teens where romance doesn't distract from the story. The story starts with action and ends with action. It keeps you guessing right up ti' the end.
Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) reviewed Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Bk 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Reviewed by JodiG. for TeensReadToo.com
Rose and Lissa are best friends who share an unimaginable bond, even by vampire standards. Now, after time spent on the run, they have been returned to the school from which they escaped to face ridicule, speculation, and danger.
Welcome to St. Vladimir's Academy, a private high school for vampires and the half-bloods who are bound to protect them. The Moroi are vampires, and the descendants of Moroi royalty are the social elite of St. Vladimir's. The Moroi are at constant risk, though. The Strigoi, the fiercest vampires, are out to get them, any way they can. The Moroi are protected by Dhampirs, guardians who are sworn to lay down their lives to assure that the Moroi bloodlines continue.
Rose is a Dhampir and Lissa is the last of the Dragomir line of Moroi royalty. Rose and Lissa share a special bond; one that nearly assures that Rose will be Lissa's guardian for life. Returning to school, however, proves to be more difficult than either of them imagined. The social politics have changed during their absence and Rose and Lissa are both the topic of several rumors. Their sudden disappearance, their time on the run, and their return are all subjects for speculation. In some instances, the truth may cause them more harm than rumors ever could.
In addition to the social pressures, Lissa may be in even more danger than anyone could have imagined. In addition to being Moroi and royalty, Lissa seems to have special abilities that haven't been seen among the Moroi in centuries. Abilities that make her an even more tantalizing target to the Strigoi.
VAMPIRE ACADEMY is a thrilling adventure that draws you along and makes you continue to turn the pages. As the danger to Lissa gets closer, it gets more difficult to put the book down. In a world that seems saturated with vampire books, Richelle Mead has created characters and a world that is both unique and believable.
Rose and Lissa are best friends who share an unimaginable bond, even by vampire standards. Now, after time spent on the run, they have been returned to the school from which they escaped to face ridicule, speculation, and danger.
Welcome to St. Vladimir's Academy, a private high school for vampires and the half-bloods who are bound to protect them. The Moroi are vampires, and the descendants of Moroi royalty are the social elite of St. Vladimir's. The Moroi are at constant risk, though. The Strigoi, the fiercest vampires, are out to get them, any way they can. The Moroi are protected by Dhampirs, guardians who are sworn to lay down their lives to assure that the Moroi bloodlines continue.
Rose is a Dhampir and Lissa is the last of the Dragomir line of Moroi royalty. Rose and Lissa share a special bond; one that nearly assures that Rose will be Lissa's guardian for life. Returning to school, however, proves to be more difficult than either of them imagined. The social politics have changed during their absence and Rose and Lissa are both the topic of several rumors. Their sudden disappearance, their time on the run, and their return are all subjects for speculation. In some instances, the truth may cause them more harm than rumors ever could.
In addition to the social pressures, Lissa may be in even more danger than anyone could have imagined. In addition to being Moroi and royalty, Lissa seems to have special abilities that haven't been seen among the Moroi in centuries. Abilities that make her an even more tantalizing target to the Strigoi.
VAMPIRE ACADEMY is a thrilling adventure that draws you along and makes you continue to turn the pages. As the danger to Lissa gets closer, it gets more difficult to put the book down. In a world that seems saturated with vampire books, Richelle Mead has created characters and a world that is both unique and believable.
Helpful Score: 1
this is a great book and the series is sooo good, couldn't put it down. This book setups our main chacters Rose and Lissa. How and why Rose and Lissa are such "close" friends. Lissa is a vampire and Rose is a dhampire (vampire strength but not the blood need). Actually Rose thinks of herself as Lissa dhampire (bodyguard). They are both young and on the run but get caught and dragged back to the Academy. That where the trouble begins and Rose will have to make another decision on who to trust and how to best protect Lissa. Hope
Barbara S. (barbsis) -
Helpful Score: 1
Thoroughly enjoyable. This is more about Rose Hathaway the dhampir than Lissa the vampire princess. Rose is her guardian and the story is told from her point of view. I really liked Rose and her determination to be the one who guards Lissa from everything endangering her life. I really hated Mia and felt there was something off with Natalie throughout the entire book. I even liked Victor as a love interest and think he will appear again as that surely isn't over. Christian is perfect for Lissa and hopefully, along with Rose, he will be able to keep her on the straight and narrow.
About halfway through this I thought I new where it was headed and decided I wouldn't be reading any further in the series but surprise surprise, I didn't know Jack! The story took a very interesting turn and I absolutely have to see what happens next.
About halfway through this I thought I new where it was headed and decided I wouldn't be reading any further in the series but surprise surprise, I didn't know Jack! The story took a very interesting turn and I absolutely have to see what happens next.
Helpful Score: 1
I had a fun time with this book. The vampire lore was unique and the writer had a good way of keeping things unsaid to keep the suspense. I was intrigued but the characters and I will read the next one in the series. It was a little like a guilty pleasure at times though!
Helpful Score: 1
I think Id rate this about 3.5 stars because it just didnt quite make it there for me to round it up to a 4.
The setting of this story is St. Vladimirs Academy, which as you can tell from the title of the book, is a school exclusively for vampires. The school is in Montana, which isnt the most glamorous location in the world, but I suppose I can see the reasoning for that. The main character, Rose, is a dhampir - a half-human/half-vampire mix. Dhampir exist in this world to protect the Moroi, the mortal vampires who can control elemental magic, from the Strigoi, the undead, immortal vampires. There arent many dhampir and even less Moroi from what I can tell, and its usually the males who train to become guardians. Guardians are essentially just bodyguards assigned to (or chosen by) certain Moroi. Rose is one of the rare female guardians-in-training. Two years ago she and her best friend, Lissa, ran away from the academy, but the novel starts with them being caught and taken back. Now, even though theyre in the place where they should be safest, danger seems to be lurking around every corner. Rose divides her time between trying to protect Lissa, training with her ultra-hot mentor, Dimitri, and gossiping/being gossiped about. It really was just like high schoolwith vampires. Magical vampires.
As with Richelle Meads other work (Ive read all of the books in the Georgina Kincaid series so far), the mystery element was really weak. I suspected the villains early on, so the end wasnt much of a surprise. Maybe it was because this series is geared toward a younger audience, but I think even if Id read this when I was a teenager, it still wouldnt have been difficult to guess who the baddies were because Meads clues are subtle like a slap in the face. They might as well just write CLUE in the margin whenever she decides to drop a hint.
I dont necessarily mind predictability to a certain extent - sometimes its gratifying to reach the end and find out you were right, or to come across an author who throws in a twist and manages to surprise you - but my biggest issue with the lack of subtly is that sometimes it makes the characters seem kind of stupid when they dont pick up things that the reader sees as blatantly obvious. So later on when they finally start to put things together youre like, Well, duh, I figured that out 70 pages ago. Still, the book was entertaining so I enjoyed it overall.
Oddly enough, though I did like Rose and Lissa, my favorite characters wound up being Dimitri and Christian. Ive read reviews questioning Dimitris attraction to Rose, but I can see it. Shes beautiful, shes brave - brashly so, but nevertheless - and shes incredibly loyal. Yeah, sometimes shes a hothead, but Im willing to cut her some slack because shes only seventeen. When I was her age, I was nearly as dramatic and boy crazyand Ive always had a bit of a temper. Besides, Ive read plenty of books featuring adult protagonists who seemed much more immature than Rose. As for Roses attraction to Dimitri, who could really blame the girl? Then again, I do seem to have a penchant for hot, tall men with Russian accents. ;)
Im definitely going to read the next book in the series and see how things go from there. Despite the fact that the mystery/suspense element isnt Meads strongest suit, I like her style and she has interesting ideas. I do hope that the quality of the books stays more consistent in this series than in the Georgina Kincaid series, though, because those have been all over the place for me. I guess in a way this series will be a deciding factor in whether or not I choose to read anything else by this author in the future. One thing that I really cant stand is when a series starts out strong and then none of the subsequent books live up to the standard set by the first. Ive seen this happen in a few series and its just really disappointing. Not that I expect every book to be perfect - there are bound to be books that I like more than others in any given series - but there are times when the quality from one book to another is so disparate that it seems like they could have been written by different authors. In those cases, to save both my time and money, I think its better to just give up. Hopefully that doesnt happen this time around.
On a completely random note, it annoys me that the girl on the front cover, who I assume is supposed to be Rose, doesnt at all match the description of Rose in the book. I hate it when publishers do that.
The setting of this story is St. Vladimirs Academy, which as you can tell from the title of the book, is a school exclusively for vampires. The school is in Montana, which isnt the most glamorous location in the world, but I suppose I can see the reasoning for that. The main character, Rose, is a dhampir - a half-human/half-vampire mix. Dhampir exist in this world to protect the Moroi, the mortal vampires who can control elemental magic, from the Strigoi, the undead, immortal vampires. There arent many dhampir and even less Moroi from what I can tell, and its usually the males who train to become guardians. Guardians are essentially just bodyguards assigned to (or chosen by) certain Moroi. Rose is one of the rare female guardians-in-training. Two years ago she and her best friend, Lissa, ran away from the academy, but the novel starts with them being caught and taken back. Now, even though theyre in the place where they should be safest, danger seems to be lurking around every corner. Rose divides her time between trying to protect Lissa, training with her ultra-hot mentor, Dimitri, and gossiping/being gossiped about. It really was just like high schoolwith vampires. Magical vampires.
As with Richelle Meads other work (Ive read all of the books in the Georgina Kincaid series so far), the mystery element was really weak. I suspected the villains early on, so the end wasnt much of a surprise. Maybe it was because this series is geared toward a younger audience, but I think even if Id read this when I was a teenager, it still wouldnt have been difficult to guess who the baddies were because Meads clues are subtle like a slap in the face. They might as well just write CLUE in the margin whenever she decides to drop a hint.
I dont necessarily mind predictability to a certain extent - sometimes its gratifying to reach the end and find out you were right, or to come across an author who throws in a twist and manages to surprise you - but my biggest issue with the lack of subtly is that sometimes it makes the characters seem kind of stupid when they dont pick up things that the reader sees as blatantly obvious. So later on when they finally start to put things together youre like, Well, duh, I figured that out 70 pages ago. Still, the book was entertaining so I enjoyed it overall.
Oddly enough, though I did like Rose and Lissa, my favorite characters wound up being Dimitri and Christian. Ive read reviews questioning Dimitris attraction to Rose, but I can see it. Shes beautiful, shes brave - brashly so, but nevertheless - and shes incredibly loyal. Yeah, sometimes shes a hothead, but Im willing to cut her some slack because shes only seventeen. When I was her age, I was nearly as dramatic and boy crazyand Ive always had a bit of a temper. Besides, Ive read plenty of books featuring adult protagonists who seemed much more immature than Rose. As for Roses attraction to Dimitri, who could really blame the girl? Then again, I do seem to have a penchant for hot, tall men with Russian accents. ;)
Im definitely going to read the next book in the series and see how things go from there. Despite the fact that the mystery/suspense element isnt Meads strongest suit, I like her style and she has interesting ideas. I do hope that the quality of the books stays more consistent in this series than in the Georgina Kincaid series, though, because those have been all over the place for me. I guess in a way this series will be a deciding factor in whether or not I choose to read anything else by this author in the future. One thing that I really cant stand is when a series starts out strong and then none of the subsequent books live up to the standard set by the first. Ive seen this happen in a few series and its just really disappointing. Not that I expect every book to be perfect - there are bound to be books that I like more than others in any given series - but there are times when the quality from one book to another is so disparate that it seems like they could have been written by different authors. In those cases, to save both my time and money, I think its better to just give up. Hopefully that doesnt happen this time around.
On a completely random note, it annoys me that the girl on the front cover, who I assume is supposed to be Rose, doesnt at all match the description of Rose in the book. I hate it when publishers do that.
Helpful Score: 1
I was actually first introduced to this book through "bookfails" community where somebody said they didn't like it. The main character, Rose, is normally the kind of character I would get annoyed with and drive me away from the book: impulsive, reckless, and callous. The writing was good though, so I stuck with it. Soon, I saw the motivation that drove her, and I was able to sympathize with her. I mean, having been bullied in the past in the same way Rose is in the book, I can't say that I didn't want to punch somebody in the face right out.
The social relationships within the school, how the staff acts, as well as the relationships between characters are believable to me. I think that's one of the best parts of this book. I, also, enjoyed the system of magic that Mead created for the series; although, we only get a brief glimpse here.
The social relationships within the school, how the staff acts, as well as the relationships between characters are believable to me. I think that's one of the best parts of this book. I, also, enjoyed the system of magic that Mead created for the series; although, we only get a brief glimpse here.
Helpful Score: 1
Call me an over-protective mother, but I tend to read the same novels that my children do, and since my younger teen had been wanting to read this series for some time, we bought the first book. I really disliked the cover on sight, and kept putting off reading it for that reason alone. In this case, one can judge a book by it's cover because once I forced myself to read it, I disliked the inside just as much.
I'm not a big vampire fan, but I don't dislike the genre on principle; I was prepared to give this book a chance but the story was not at all engaging. In fact, a great deal of it simply annoyed me. It was work to finish it, and I won't be reading any of the sequels.
I'm not a big vampire fan, but I don't dislike the genre on principle; I was prepared to give this book a chance but the story was not at all engaging. In fact, a great deal of it simply annoyed me. It was work to finish it, and I won't be reading any of the sequels.
Melissa A. (melymermaid) -
Helpful Score: 1
I DO BELIEVE IN FAIRYTALES!
I just finished reading books 1 through 4 in less than a week. I laughed out loud. I fell in love. I fought for those I love. I raced for my own life. I cried for all that was lost. And I was left wanting more. A lot more. I want to go through it all over again.
I can't wait until May 2010 for book 5 and can't help but wish Mead would release book 6 two days after that. I'd heard these books were great and was sooooo NOT disappointed. If you love vampires, adventures, mysteries and paranormal romances, but haven't read this series, get the books RIGHT NOW. You'll fall in love with all of them too.
Happy reading!
I just finished reading books 1 through 4 in less than a week. I laughed out loud. I fell in love. I fought for those I love. I raced for my own life. I cried for all that was lost. And I was left wanting more. A lot more. I want to go through it all over again.
I can't wait until May 2010 for book 5 and can't help but wish Mead would release book 6 two days after that. I'd heard these books were great and was sooooo NOT disappointed. If you love vampires, adventures, mysteries and paranormal romances, but haven't read this series, get the books RIGHT NOW. You'll fall in love with all of them too.
Happy reading!
Helpful Score: 1
I liked this book a lot. The plot was good and the characters are interesting. The main character is a guardian of a vampire so this isn't so much focused on the vampires, which is a good thing! I think everyone has had enough of all the vampire books, movies, tv shows, etc. So, pick this one up..I think you'll enjoy it. Definitely much better written than the Marked series of books.
Helpful Score: 1
The authors writing style threw me one too many times. I gave up about seven chapters into this book. I could not connect and found myself not caring at all about the characters. I've heard the series has good character development, but I could not grab it quickly enough to let me continue.
Helpful Score: 1
I love this book. It has a good story line Vampires and their protectors going to school together. Having regular almost everyday problems, and dealing with some of the same issues that we today or our children today may be having. This is a great book I intend to read the entire series.
Helpful Score: 1
Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires--the ones who never die.
The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir; she is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.
After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking hearts.
Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's--but their world is fraught with danger both inside and out of the Academy's iron gates. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever... from the Excerpt at http://www.richellemead.com/books/vampireacademy.htm
This book was entertaining and this is the 1st of the series. The next books called Frostbite #2.
The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir; she is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.
After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking hearts.
Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's--but their world is fraught with danger both inside and out of the Academy's iron gates. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever... from the Excerpt at http://www.richellemead.com/books/vampireacademy.htm
This book was entertaining and this is the 1st of the series. The next books called Frostbite #2.
This book was a little hard to get into but enjoyable once I got started. It's a young adult book but there is frequent mention of sex and drugs, so be aware if you're getting this book for a teenager. As an adult, it was a good read but kind of reminded me of being in high school - but thats what I would have expected.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved the concept of a different type of Vampire world. The chcaracters were well developed along with the storyline. A well enjoyed and fast read!
Helpful Score: 1
I love the infatuation period of falling in love with a new book series. Getting to know the characters, gaining familiarity with the writer's style, navigating around the new "world" of the story... it's all lots of fun.
It doesn't always work out in the end, but in the case of Vampire Academy, I was quickly sure that author Richelle Mead and I were at the start of a beautiful relationship. (The fact that my rarely-wrong bestie recommended the series didn't hurt this opinion, either.)
In my humble opinion, the most lackluster thing about this series is its name. Not only does it brand it squarely in the "academy" age bracket -- limiting its audience -- the cheesy cover art doesn't help matters much.
I think many 20-something and older readers -- like me -- will enjoy Mead's writing and her likeable characters. The action is good, but plot is still somewhat original, even in the crowded YA field and the love story is smoldering without being smutty. It would be a shame to limit all this "goodness" to a high school audience, so I hope more seasoned readers aren't scared of by the title. There is more here than superficial teenage vampire fluff. Truly.
Mead does a great job of introducing central character Rose and her best friend, Lissa. The tie between the two girls is powerful and believable, and I enjoyed the voice of both very much. I look forward to following their story through the rest of the series. More importantly, Rose is not a "Mary Jane" heroine. She makes mistakes and bad choices, often without apology. She has normal, adolescent hormones and hangups. She just happens to also be a kick-ass vampire guardian in training (called a dhampir, in this series). She's a smart, sassy character that brings a lot of "girl power" to the genre without trying to be a role model. It's refreshing.
Vampire Academy effectively sets up not only a modest hurdle for the characters to overcome in book one, but also the large, overarching threat the characters will likely deal with for the rest of the series. Budding romances are introduced. Social tensions are revealed, both in the microcosm of the academy and in the large-scale political world the characters live in. All in all, it's a great book.
I very much look forward to reading the other books in the series, and following Rose and Lissa on their next dangerous adventure.
It doesn't always work out in the end, but in the case of Vampire Academy, I was quickly sure that author Richelle Mead and I were at the start of a beautiful relationship. (The fact that my rarely-wrong bestie recommended the series didn't hurt this opinion, either.)
In my humble opinion, the most lackluster thing about this series is its name. Not only does it brand it squarely in the "academy" age bracket -- limiting its audience -- the cheesy cover art doesn't help matters much.
I think many 20-something and older readers -- like me -- will enjoy Mead's writing and her likeable characters. The action is good, but plot is still somewhat original, even in the crowded YA field and the love story is smoldering without being smutty. It would be a shame to limit all this "goodness" to a high school audience, so I hope more seasoned readers aren't scared of by the title. There is more here than superficial teenage vampire fluff. Truly.
Mead does a great job of introducing central character Rose and her best friend, Lissa. The tie between the two girls is powerful and believable, and I enjoyed the voice of both very much. I look forward to following their story through the rest of the series. More importantly, Rose is not a "Mary Jane" heroine. She makes mistakes and bad choices, often without apology. She has normal, adolescent hormones and hangups. She just happens to also be a kick-ass vampire guardian in training (called a dhampir, in this series). She's a smart, sassy character that brings a lot of "girl power" to the genre without trying to be a role model. It's refreshing.
Vampire Academy effectively sets up not only a modest hurdle for the characters to overcome in book one, but also the large, overarching threat the characters will likely deal with for the rest of the series. Budding romances are introduced. Social tensions are revealed, both in the microcosm of the academy and in the large-scale political world the characters live in. All in all, it's a great book.
I very much look forward to reading the other books in the series, and following Rose and Lissa on their next dangerous adventure.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a great read! The characters are ones that are real and believable and the plot was well done. Can't wait to read the next one!
excellent series to read if u like Twilight u should like this book.
Loved this book loved the characters especially of course Dmitri.
I enjoyed this book. It was interesting, exciting and fun--however, I wouldn't recommend it for young teenagers unless you don't mind them constantly hearing about sex, cutting oneself, and things akin to drug use.
First book in the series and so far, so good. Looking forward to the next book (Frostbite). I've read the Twilight series, am reading the Blue Bloods Series and the Mortal Instruments series. Not sure that I would compare this to any of those though. It took me a bit to get used to the lingo (Dhampir, Strigoi, Moroi...). I think this book/series seems a little MORE fantasy and a little less realistic and relatable.
For the Mom's out there: I know this is a teen/YA novel, but I would NOT let my teenager read it. There was quite a bit of swearing (f-word included) and way more intimacy and talk of sex than I would allow a teenager to read. I haven't read the whole series, but I think this book probably should have been published as an adult novel.
On a side note, I found a handful of grammatical errors... annoying, but nothing to keep me from reading the book.
Guess I'll see where the next book takes me...
For the Mom's out there: I know this is a teen/YA novel, but I would NOT let my teenager read it. There was quite a bit of swearing (f-word included) and way more intimacy and talk of sex than I would allow a teenager to read. I haven't read the whole series, but I think this book probably should have been published as an adult novel.
On a side note, I found a handful of grammatical errors... annoying, but nothing to keep me from reading the book.
Guess I'll see where the next book takes me...
I found this book to be a refreshing look at young vampires.
Undoubtably one of the most popular and rabidly loved YA paranormal series out there, VA is an interesting mix of teenage angst and insecurity, gritty realism and paranormal fantasy. It is well written but aside from the fact that the main characters were adolescents and the setting is high-school, it read much more like gritty adult fiction. I'm not sure I like that. There is graphic language, sex, alcohol and drug themes etc. etc. - all of which one assuredly finds in reality but would like not not to have to deal with in a teenage vampire series.
Awesome book couldn't put it down!
Great book, nice development of characters
Stephanie K. (wytchysteph) reviewed Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Bk 1) on + 39 more book reviews
This being the first book in the series I was impressed with the story, the character development as well as the subtle hints to upcoming possibilities with character interactions. I enjoyed the history of the separate characters as well as why they are who and what they are. I continued reading this series and haven't been disappointed yet, other than not liking what happens to one character, which I will not spoil for you if you are reading the series.
An exciting new series for YA's that will keep you reading book after book. I was lucky enough to have the first three books in this series and read them back to back. Even though I finished one at midnight, I started the next one right then as I just had to know what happened next. It was fascinating to see Rose mature and become an adult as her life progressed in ways that she both anticipated and never expected. The action in the books progressed to endings that were both satisfying and twisted. I am going out right now to get the rest of this series.
Cute, easy read. The main character, Rose, is a little obnoxious, sometimes difficult to like. Almost never takes the high road and it isn't clear where the author stands on the choices Rose makes. Since she never seems to learn anything when she chooses to beat people up, start fights, rumors, tell lies, manipulate - it seems a bit like this behavior is deemed OK. As an adult reader, I know my own morals and values but I wonder what kids think? That said, it is fun and silly and you look forward to her next adventures.
For parents who might be thinking about this for kid: teenage girl talks about drinking, trying drugs, making out, sex, sexual thoughts. She is a virgin but pretty willing to go anywhere but "there".
For parents who might be thinking about this for kid: teenage girl talks about drinking, trying drugs, making out, sex, sexual thoughts. She is a virgin but pretty willing to go anywhere but "there".
love it.
This was a great read! The characters are ones that are real and believable and the plot was well done. Can't wait to read the next one!
This one languished on my TBR pile for years. I finally picked it up after seeing the movie. The characters are interesting, and it's nice to pick up a vampire book that doesn't completely revolve around forbidden fangy love. Rose and Lissa have a wonderful friendship and would do anything for one another, and it will be interesting to see their bond continue to grow in the rest of the series. Overall, it's a good start to the series, and I am looking forward to the rest of the books.
This book was a very good read..The only thing I didn't like was that it was almost all about gossip ...you know like he said she said....both of the girls fall in love with someone their not suposed to...does that cost lissa's life? you have to read it to figure it out!
okay book. I only read it because I want to see the movie. I am not sure if I am going to read any other in the series yet.
This genre is not usually my cup of tea, but I really did like this story and can not wait to read the others in the series. Richelle Mead writes very well and keeps you involved. Lissa & Rose's bond is so strong. Wish there was someone in my life who I had such a strong bond with. Definitely worth the read.
very good
Bekka M. (thecolorfulmccaw) reviewed Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
It was good!
I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. Was so ready to read more.
Rose is such a strong female character and you instantly like her and can't help but fall in love with Dimitri right along with her. This series if my favorite series I've read, and this books starts it all! Once you finish this book, you'll want to grab the second book! It's hard to put down!
The book has foul language and sexual scenes in it, so I'm not sure why it's in the young adult genre. At first the book served like it was "mean girls" with vampires due to the bullying and one of the characters cuts her wrists. But the story got better and the ending was unpredictable! Not sure if I'll read another book in the series though because there were a lot of misspelled words, which was distracting.
