Book Review: Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) by Richelle Mead

SERIES SPOILER ALERT. SERIES SPOILER ALERT. SERIES SPOILER ALERT. WARNING: The contents of this review may give away some of the major plotlines within the series. Do not continue reading if you want to be pleasantly surprised by the book.

Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) - Richelle Mead

Synopsis: The last few years at St Vladmir’s Academy have been rough for Rose Hathaway, but the end is finally near. Graduation is approaching- and after all the love, loss, killing and heartache that have taken place- Rose is excited to leave the school and finally enter the real world as a renowned and successful Guardian. Although she has high hopes of guarding her best friend- and the last Dragomir princess- Lissa, Rose knows that her questionable behaviour record could be an issue. Having just returned from her failed mission to Siberia to locate and destroy her Strigoi ‘boyfriend’ Dimitri, Rose is feeling a little down about her chances of getting this highly coveted position. Making her feel even more ill at ease, Rose knows that Dimitri is still out there- biding his time until she leaves the grounds of the school so that he can attack her and make her into a Strigoi just like him- or die trying. But she also lives with a kind of hope, especially after learning that the Moroi power of spirit (which Lissa yields) could be the cure capable of changing a Strigoi back into its former self. Determined to find out more about this potentially incredible feat- which could mean the difference between killing Dimitri and turning him back into the Dhampir he once was- Rose enlists the help of her friends to uncover as much as she can about the only Moroi who has ever saved a Strigoi. But Rose’s mission comes at a cost, one that means danger for more than just her and her friends. It’s a race against time, as they try to find a cure for Dimitri- before he can find and destroy them…

What I gained from reading this book: Whereas the previous book was all about dealing with grief, this novel focuses more on redemption, forgiveness and winning back love lost. In Spirit Bound, many of the characters have to find ways to buy back the respect of their friends and, in turn, be forgiven for actions they have taken part in. They also have to find ways to heal the many fissures within their relationships. Due to Avery’s influence (spirit and otherwise) in Blood Promise, Lissa treated Christian harshly, and now needs to earn back his love and respect, while Christian needs to let go of the hurt that he felt at Lissa’s unkind behaviour. Meanwhile, Rose is in a sweet new relationship with Adrian, but she still has strong feelings for Dimitri, who she finds difficult to let go. These emotions cause some rifts within Rose and Adrian’s relationship- especially when Dimitri comes back into their lives- and Rose finds herself drifting between her feelings for the two men. Love is an extremely complicated thing, and both Rose and Lissa keenly illustrate this in the novel. Both girls are in love, yet they are unable to express how they feel without someone getting hurt or losing face amongst others. Spirit Bound teaches us that, while it may hurt sometimes, the best thing to do is take a chance- because you never know how things will turn out. Sure, you may get hurt, but at least you won’t regret not trying…

Positives: The action scenes in this novel are awesome (quite like they were in the other books of this series), and Rose is just as strong-willed as ever. Lissa, too, is starting to come out as a stronger character, and her daring actions take the storyline to new levels.

Negatives: There were a few questions left unanswered at the end of the novel, and, while I’m sure they’ll be answered in the next book, it’s quite irritating that we weren’t given at least some hints towards what may happen next.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who are desperate to find out what happens next for Rose, Lissa and the gang- especially since the next book is the last of the series!

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead

SERIES SPOILER ALERT. SERIES SPOILER ALERT. SERIES SPOILER ALERT.
WARNING: The contents of this review may give away some of the major plotlines within the series. Do not continue reading if you want to be pleasantly surprised by the book.

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) - Richelle Mead

Synopsis:
St Vladmir’s Academy is still in shock after the horrifying Strigoi attack that claimed so many lives and destroyed any illusions of safety that the Moroi and Dhampirs once held.
But for Rose Hathaway, the attack has changed her outlook on life forever.
The man that she loves, guardian Dimitri Belikov, has been unwillingly turned into a Strigoi, and Rose knows that the only way that she can deal with his ‘death’ is to hunt him down and destroy him, just as they promised one another they would do in the event that something like this happened. But in leaving America and travelling to Russia to find Dimitri, Rose must leave behind her best friend Lissa Dragomir, whose life is quickly becoming unstable. Along with her new friend Avery, and against the wishes of her boyfriend Christian, Lissa starts to participate in reckless and unusual behaviour as a way of coping with her sudden abandonment, especially as the side effects of using her magical power, spirit, grow.
As Lissa’s wayward activities start to get out of control, Rose travels through unfamiliar country and meets many new people- some who are willing to help, some who have no choice but to help, and some who hold an ulterior motive for helping Rose achieve her goals.
But when Rose finally finds Dimitri, will she be able to carry out her plans and find closure? And what if Dimtri doesn’t want to be ‘saved’?

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel deals primarily with grief and highlights people’s ways of coping with the sudden loss of a loved one (even if that loved one isn’t necessarily ‘dead’, as in Rose and Dimitri’s case).
Rose knows that Dimitri is an evil Strigoi, and that his previously good demeanour is now destroyed, but she can’t help but remember him as he once was. After seeing him as a Strigoi, she manages to convince herself that there is still good inside him, and that he still loves her in the same way that he did as a Dhampir. These assumptions soften her resolve to kill him, as she originally set out to do.
Dimitri uses Rose’s grief to manipulate her into not fighting back, and attempts to convince her that her life will be changed for the better if she joins him as a Strigoi.
Furthermore, her lingering memories, and her realisation that killing the man she loves will be harder on her heart than she previously thought, make Rose’s task of destroying Dimitri even more difficult. Despite their promises to one another that they would rather be dead than a Strigoi, Rose discovers that the reality is difficult to cope with, and finds herself straying from her suicidal vendetta in the hope of recovering the love she has lost.
People cope with their grief in different ways, and the characters in Blood Promise are no different. While Rose’s mother deals with the deaths in the strong dry-eyed manner that is expected of her, her daughter is unable to shake away the memories that remain. She feels that she must destroy Dimitri so he can finally rest in peace, and so that she can find a sense of closure. While most people wouldn’t have to deal with this scenario, it just goes to show that coping with grief and finding closure can come in many different forms.

Positives:
The inner turmoil that Rose faces among the Dhampirs is perfectly juxtaposed with the outer turmoil that Lissa portrays to the other Moroi, as both struggle with their issues. Although this doesn’t sound especially positive, it shows how the girls act when they are apart from each other and have to deal with their difficulties alone, which further enhances the plot.

Negatives:
We are introduced to many new characters in this novel; but unfortunately, do not get to fully explore their personalities and capabilities. Hopefully they will reappear further on in the series, otherwise I’ll be quite disappointed. Their presence adds a new dimension to the storylines.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who read the previous book, who are looking forward to finding out how Rose will cope with facing her worst nightmare.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy # 3) by Richelle Mead

Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) - Richelle Mead

Synopsis:
Rose Hathaway is still trying to recover from the traumatic events that occurred only three weeks earlier- she witnessed the cold-blooded murder of one of her close friends at the hands of the Strigoi who captured them, and got her first molnija marks, as a sign of having slain several Strigoi.
However, all of these events have begun to build up for Rose, and focusing on normal everyday life is difficult. When the Guardian novices face their field experience orientation, and have to protect their selected Moroi student for six weeks, Rose is determined to do her very best. She is a strong-willed person who is dedicated to becoming a Guardian and she is not going to let a traumatic experience mar her commitment to the job.
Meanwhile, Rose’s best friend Lissa is getting off the meds and will be once again able to access her magic, and sexy Guardian instructor Dimitri is still working on campus, and getting Rose all hot and bothered.
But there are dark forces surrounding St Vladmir’s Academy, and Rose discovers that she is the only one who is able to see the ghostly shadows wandering the campus.
With danger looming and a large-scale Strigoi attack imminent, Rose finds herself having to choose between life and love, and the two people she cares most about…

What I gained from reading this book:
Spirituality and faith are covered a little bit in this novel, as well as the concept of fortune and how it can be shaped by one’s actions.
After Rose starts to see ‘ghosts’, she begins to question her sanity, but she also delves into the spiritual side of life to try and determine whether the ‘ghosts’ she sees are trying to give her a message, in order to find peace, or if they are out for revenge like she previously assumed.
This course of thought also makes her consider her own death and ‘rebirth’ at the hands of Lissa, and makes her wonder whether being shadow-kissed is the reason why only she can sense the dead and the messages that they are trying to communicate.
Rose, Lissa and Dimitri also visit a fortuneteller in this novel, whose predictions cast a shadow over the events in the story, and Rose encounters strange premonitions from an old feeder named Alice as she accompanies Christian to his meals.
These moments, interspersed with some church scenes, make this novel ‘deeper’ than the previous two, and show how Rose is maturing in her views towards faith, especially in times of ill fortune.

Positives:
It’s so romantic reading of Rose and Dimitri’s blossoming but ultimately forbidden love. These moments are especially highlighted during their quiet interludes together, which often occur between the action sequences in the novel.

Negatives:
I don’t know if it’s just the copies that I’ve been reading or if it’s more of a widespread problem but I’ve found quite a few spelling and grammar mistakes in this novel and the previous two books. Although this has nothing to do with the storyline, I find it quite irritating.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who enjoyed the action of the previous novel in the series, only this time it’s on a darker level.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Mead

Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) - Richelle Mead

Synopsis:
It has been some time since Rose Hathaway found herself face-to-face with a Strigoi, and things are only just starting to get back to normal for her at St Vladmir’s Academy. Still attending daily training sessions with her handsome Guardian mentor Dimitri, Rose is determined to eliminate any weaknesses she may have against her biggest enemies, the Strigoi, with the intention of destroying them and protecting her best friend Lissa Dragomir.
However, when a large family of Moroi royals are found slain, along with their Guardians, all previous notions that the Guardians held of the Strigoi are challenged. It looks as though a whole group of Strigoi have worked together, a concept previously unheard of due to their violent natures, and it looks as though they have had outside help in carrying out their murderous ways.
With the Christmas holidays approaching, and as a way of keeping the families united during the break, the Academy decides to schedule a ski trip at an Idaho resort where all families are invited, hoping to keep the Moroi safe from any unforeseen dangers.
But while the Academy students and their families enjoy their trip, news breaks that another royal family has been attacked and killed.
Three students, frustrated about the lack of action being taken by the Guardians, decide to go and fight back against the Strigoi, and it’s up to Rose and Christian Ozera to put aside their mutual dislikes of one another and go to rescue them.
But the students are in more danger than they realise, and one of them won’t make it out alive…

What I gained from reading this book:
One of the themes in this novel is relationships, and how external forces can affect them. Rose’s friend Mason has a big crush on her, and wants to be more than friends, and for a while, Rose ignores it, preferring to focus her attention on her attraction to Dimitri. But when Dimitri starts seeing somebody else, Rose decides to give Mason a chance, and even though she likes him, she finds herself unable to give him her full attention. Rose’s relationship with her estranged mother Janine is also difficult. Her mother’s sudden return into her life, even if it’s just to accompany the family she protects, means that Rose is suddenly forced to look at why her mother is less maternal than others and yet so successful as a Guardian. She learns a lot about her mother, and through the process, about herself as a person.
Most people have relationships with others where, like Rose, they are ignored by those who should be close to them, or revered by those who they are not entirely interested in. Reading of Rose’s interactions with her mother, Dimitri and Mason help to make more sense of these relationships, and highlight any familiar interactions that readers may face with people in their own lives.

Positives:
There is a lot more action in this novel, whether Rose is learning how to stab a vampire in the heart with a silver stake, facing off with the evil Strigoi or even performing aerial skiing stunts to impress Mason. These actions give the story an exciting edge.

Negatives:
Rose and Lissa’s friendship, while still strong, is not as noticeable in this novel as it was in the previous one. Their friendship seems to take a backseat to the love life of Rose, and the Guardians’ clashes with the Strigoi.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who want to find out what happens to Rose and Lissa after the first Vampire Academy novel.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) - Richelle Mead

Synopsis:
It’s been two years since best friends Lissa Dragomir and Rose Hathaway ran away from St Vladimir’s Academy- a school for Moroi (mortal vampire) students learning how to control their magical abilities, and for Dhampir (half human, half vampire) novices intent on training to be guardians for the Moroi against the evil Strigoi (a band of immortal vampires who have lost their souls and kill for pleasure).
The two originally fled from the school because they feared that dark forces resided there, and Rose, worried about Lissa’s safety, thought that it would be safer in the outside world. But after a group of Guardians locate them in Portland and drag them back to the Academy in Montana, Rose and Lissa have no choice but to once again conform to Moroi and Dhampir standards.
Lissa, a Moroi princess, once again becomes the darling of the social elite, despite harbouring feelings for the mysterious outcast, Christian Ozera.
Rose, meanwhile, embarks on a seemingly never-ending training schedule with handsome guardian Dimitri, hoping to improve her Dhampir fighting abilities, and win Dimitri’s approval- and maybe his heart.
But then the strange occurrences that made the girls leave two years earlier begin again, putting Lissa in danger. The girls have to work out why it’s happening before evil invades the campus, and the Strigoi try to turn Lissa into one of their own.

What I gained from reading this book:
Lissa and Rose are best friends who share a unique bond that is unprecedented in their lifetime- Rose is able to connect with Lissa on a psychological level and not only experience her emotions, but jump into her mind on occasions. This bond is a vital part of their friendship, and allows Rose to protect Lissa in a way that other Dhampirs without the ability cannot even comprehend.
Although the girls come from different ‘races’ of vampires- Lissa is a Moroi, while Rose is a Dhampir- they are still closely connected. This is despite the fact that most Moroi vampires, while they respect the Dhampirs for putting their lives on the line for them, do not readily associate with them socially. However, these social barriers do not deter Lissa and Rose from staying the best of friends and close confidants.
This association enforces the notion that everyone has similarities, despite their different backgrounds, and shows that social barriers should not form the basis of how people interact with one another.

Positives:
The introduction of different ‘races’ of vampires, and their special abilities is an interesting concept that helps this book to differ from other vampire series’.
The characters are also easy to relate to, with their schoolyard experiences very similar to those that people would normally face (despite the whole supernatural aspect, of course).

Negatives:
Rose can seem like a bit of a hothead, and Lissa can sometimes appear to be a bit of a pushover, but the girls are ultimately likable characters. Their flaws make them seem more normal and identifiable to readers.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who enjoyed the Twilight saga and need another vampire fix.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below: