Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (2007)

-


Lissa and Rose have been on the run for two years. As a dhampir, Rose’s only job in life is to make sure Lissa is safe, who happens to be a Moroi princess. And she was doing a good job of it, until the both got caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir’s Academy, the very place they were running from. Resuming their senior year of high school, not much seems to have changed- until someone starts leaving dead animals in Lissa’s dormroom. At the same time, Rose learns she’s not as equipped to protect Lissa as she thought, and signs on to grueling training from Dimitri, an upper dhampir who’s experience has turned him into an emotionless building. As more problems rise is Rose and Lissa’s life, discovers that to be a dhampir, she must not only protect Rose, but protect herself before everything falls apart.
For a long time, I have been putting off reading Vampire Academy, simply because it sounded so cheesy. Infact, I think I tried reading it a few years ago, but I quit. However, I’ve been hearing so much about this series, so I tried it again and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book is part of a six-part series, and has a spin-off series, and I am definitely looking forward to continue on.
Right off the bat, I enjoyed the overall perspective of this book, which was told from Rose’s point of view. I think so many of us, including me, automatically assumed Lissa to be the hero and narrator, because she’s the princess. Hardly it’s even thought of what the princess’s protector thinks, or is going through. So, it was really refreshing to hear Rose’s thought’s, and made what could’ve been a very typical story more enjoyable. Plus, because of a special “bond” Rose had with Lissa, she was able to look through Lissa’s eyes, which in a was gave Lissa’s point of view, too.
Speaking of the plot itself, there was a lot of good old high school drama in there. Basically, if there wasn’t vampires in the story, this would totally be a contemporary. That being said, there was also a decent amount of slut shaming in the story, which I found to be really disappointing. Characters, including Rose and Lissa, were always commenting on how girls should act with their sexuality, or what they should were. Actually, a really big sub plot that there was a rumor around that Rose apparently had sex with two guys.
As you may have guessed, there’s a romance between Rose and Dimitri. And it was really weird. A lot of it was the fact that Rose was 17 and Dimitri was 24. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think age gaps are usually something to worry about is relationships, but at those ages there’s just so much development, and 7 years can equal a lifetime of differences. But my main problem was that is was insta-love. For the first half of the book, Rose didn’t feel anything for Dimitri, and then BAM she was in love. Personally, I like romances to develop in time, instead of happening overnight.
Still, despite the problems I had with Vampire Academy, it was addicting. I flew through it in a matter of hours, and it went really fastly. And yes, it was definitely like Twilight, but with way better writing, likable characters, and a decent plot. If you’re looking for a light paranormal tale, this is the one.

4 Stars

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How Andrew Smith (Probably) Saved My Life

-
Image
This is a picture of Andrew Smith, my all time favorite author. Over the past weekend, I got to meet him, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Now, you may be wondering why this guy is  not just my all time favorite author, but also one of my favorite people, and I am going to tell you all about it. Two and a half years ago, I didn’t even know who this guy was, let alone that he wrote books. I was really big into BookTube, and even though I didn’t make videos, I loved being a part of the community. One day, I heard about Winger , and honestly I wasn’t really interested in the book. I had heard so many good things about it though that I had to read it, and I am so glad I did. Within five pages, I kid you not, it was my favorite book, and it still is today. Over the span of my life, I have read over 300 books, and I have never been more attached to a set of characters. Ryan Dean stole my heart from the minute I met him, and his story then shattered my heart into a mil
Read more

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stievater (2012)

-
Image
In Henrietta, Virginia, magic is brewing. For Blue, this is no surprise. Blue lives in a house full of psychics. Some can predict times of events and some can predict things as a grave as the way someone will die. Blue’s only ability is to amplify other’s. Oh, and the fact that if she kisses her true love, they will die. For Gansey, the magic of Henrietta holds the key to the future. For a year and a half, he’s been searching Henrietta for the ley line that supposedly has the power to awaken a historical Welsh king that, when awakened, is able to grant powerful wishes. Enlisted in his search are his friends Ronan, Adam, and Noah. And now Blue. In a psychic reading gone wrong, the boys and Blue are put together, now all on the hunt for the ley line. There’s only one thing Blue isn’t telling them: she’s predicted to have a role Gansey’s death. Gansey, who’s alive right now. As they get closer to the ley line, it becomes clear that they’re not the only ones after the king and the conseq
Read more

Still Life With Tornado by A.S. King (2016)

-
Image
Sarah is sixteen, and she is going through an early-life crisis. She stopped going to school, and is stuck on the idea that nothing that she does will ever be original. That she is trapped in a world of unoriginality. Her days are spent following the homeless artist on the corner around town, and switching buses for hours until she doesn’t know where she it. On one of her wandering days, she meets herself. The ten year old Sarah, whose family’s explosive trip to Mexico ended with her older brother moving to Oregon, never to return. Then Sarah in her early twenties show up, and Sarah in her forties. They all hold a little piece of present Sarah’s life that she’s trying to figure out, but none of them are offering any clear answers. She better figure it out quick, though, before her whole world falls apart. I am a huge fan of A.S. King. When I was twelve, I first read one of her books, which was called Everybody Sees the Ants , which deserves five stars just based on the great title.
Read more