Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
First Published: 2007
Publisher: Razorbill
Recommended Age: 12+
Pacing: Normal
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Boarding School, Romance, Friendship, Mystery, magic, Vampires
BLURB:
Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth’s magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest 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. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them. After two years of freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir’s Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-to-be, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. But inside the iron gates, life is even more fraught with danger . . . and the Strigoi are always close by.
I like this series because everything makes sense.
Unlike other urban fantasy series featuring vampires. *cough* Twilight *cough* It’s an old subject, so I won’t dwell on it, but let’s just say that there’s nothing terrifying about having your vampire body sparkle like you’re covered with diamonds. It’s ridiculous.
But this book isn’t. I find the concept of having vampires be protected by guardians very interesting. For once it’s the bad guys that need protecting—though they’re fairly okay all things considered. You usually forget, as a reader, that they drink people’s blood until Rose mentions it.
If you’re hesitating between watching the movie and reading the book first, pick the book and then watch the movie. That’s what I did and I’m glad for it. Because the movie is ABSOLUTELY ridiculous—almost like pretty Edward and his sparkly body. But it’s somewhat self-aware of its ridiculousness, so I had a blast watching it with lots of popcorn in front of me.
Give this series a try if you’re looking for a good boarding school story with a kickass heroine—whose love interest is not the top guy at school—and vampires that can control magic.
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This is one of my absolute favorite series! I’m currently rereading them and I’m at the 4th book and loving them as much as the first two times 🙂 have you read the entire series? And the Bloodlines spinoff series?
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I made the mistake years ago of watching the movie before i realised there was a book. Now I know I need to read the book coz as always its so much better than the movie.
Great review, I always did find the prospect of shinning like diamonds in the sun a bit strange.
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