Status
Checked out
Due 24-03-2022
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Razorbill (2007), Edition: Reprint, 352 pages
Description
Two years after a horrible incident made them run away, vampire princess Lissa and her guardian-in-training Rose are found and returned to St. Vladimir's Academy, where one focuses on mastering magic, the other on physical training, while both try to avoid the perils of gossip, cliques, gruesome pranks, and sinister plots.
User reviews
LibraryThing member CarissaJThomas
Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir. Half human, Half vampire---she is the dedicated (but not official) guardian of her best friend Princess Vasilisa Dragomir. Lissa is Moroi---a living vampire born with the ability to use magic---and the last living member of her family.
You'd think with Lissa being
Not long after their return, Lissa falls prey to a gruesome form of harassment. Originally, Rose believes that Lissa is the victim of cruel pranks perpetrated by jealous classmates. As time passes though, Rose realizes that whoever is behind the pranks wants something from Lissa. You see, Lissa has a secret. A secret that could change the way she is perceived by the Moroi. As her intended guardian, Rose will do whatever it takes to protect Lissa---even at the cost of her own life.
Personal Thoughts:
I have to admit that when I first saw this book, I was totally cheesed out by the title. So much so, that I actually avoided buying it until recently. With a name like "Vampire Academy," I figured it was just a lame attempt to jump on the vampire bandwagon.
Boy. Was I ever wrong.
To put it simply, Vampire Academy rocked my world.
From the very beginning, Richelle Mead sucked me into a world that was both surprising and boldly original. Capitalizing on old Romanian myths and legends, Mead has cleverly constructed a new vampire mythology with an old world feel.
The Dhampir protagonist, Rose Hathaway is a breath of fresh air. Her candidness is a quality that I feel is severely lacking in YA these days. She's courageous, resourceful, and above all--selfless. She projects a level of altruism towards Lissa that is rarely demonstrated in the world of kick-ass supernatural heroines. So many of them have the "look out for number one" attitude that it was startlingly refreshing to observe a character that is completely contrary to that.
I admit that I originally feared that Lissa would end up being a rather flat and static character. I was pleasantly surprised to find that even though she's a fragile flower, she's got a bit of steel in her that I hope we'll continue to see in subsequent novels.
And then, of course, there's Dimitri (sigh). Who could forget our ruggedly handsome romantic lead with his brooding silence and overall bad-assness?
I know I couldn't.
*Gives self mental shake*
Seriously, though, Vampire Academy delivers the goods. We've got engaging characters, fantastic world building, and a solid, rapid-fire plot. The total package.
I originally planned to read the next installment in the Fallen series after this, but I was so taken with Vampire Academy that I gobbled up Frostbite and Shadow Kiss in about 48 hours.
What can I say? The proof is in the pudding.
So, if you haven't already--go buy Vampire Academy. And if you already own it, but haven't gotten around to reading it just yet---I suggest you put it at the top of your TBR pile. A+
You'd think with Lissa being
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royalty that life would be easy. Unfortunately, life has been anything but easy for Rose and Lissa since they ran away from St. Vladimir's Academy, a school where the Moroi are educated and the Dhampirs are trained to protect them. After two years of being on the run, they are caught and taken back to the very place they fled. At the risk of being sent away from Lissa permanently, Rose is forced to resume her guardian training at the Academy in a probationary capacity. To make things worse, Rose has to endure grueling extra training sessions with the gorgeous Dimitri Belikov to make up for everything she missed.Not long after their return, Lissa falls prey to a gruesome form of harassment. Originally, Rose believes that Lissa is the victim of cruel pranks perpetrated by jealous classmates. As time passes though, Rose realizes that whoever is behind the pranks wants something from Lissa. You see, Lissa has a secret. A secret that could change the way she is perceived by the Moroi. As her intended guardian, Rose will do whatever it takes to protect Lissa---even at the cost of her own life.
Personal Thoughts:
I have to admit that when I first saw this book, I was totally cheesed out by the title. So much so, that I actually avoided buying it until recently. With a name like "Vampire Academy," I figured it was just a lame attempt to jump on the vampire bandwagon.
Boy. Was I ever wrong.
To put it simply, Vampire Academy rocked my world.
From the very beginning, Richelle Mead sucked me into a world that was both surprising and boldly original. Capitalizing on old Romanian myths and legends, Mead has cleverly constructed a new vampire mythology with an old world feel.
The Dhampir protagonist, Rose Hathaway is a breath of fresh air. Her candidness is a quality that I feel is severely lacking in YA these days. She's courageous, resourceful, and above all--selfless. She projects a level of altruism towards Lissa that is rarely demonstrated in the world of kick-ass supernatural heroines. So many of them have the "look out for number one" attitude that it was startlingly refreshing to observe a character that is completely contrary to that.
I admit that I originally feared that Lissa would end up being a rather flat and static character. I was pleasantly surprised to find that even though she's a fragile flower, she's got a bit of steel in her that I hope we'll continue to see in subsequent novels.
And then, of course, there's Dimitri (sigh). Who could forget our ruggedly handsome romantic lead with his brooding silence and overall bad-assness?
I know I couldn't.
*Gives self mental shake*
Seriously, though, Vampire Academy delivers the goods. We've got engaging characters, fantastic world building, and a solid, rapid-fire plot. The total package.
I originally planned to read the next installment in the Fallen series after this, but I was so taken with Vampire Academy that I gobbled up Frostbite and Shadow Kiss in about 48 hours.
What can I say? The proof is in the pudding.
So, if you haven't already--go buy Vampire Academy. And if you already own it, but haven't gotten around to reading it just yet---I suggest you put it at the top of your TBR pile. A+
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LibraryThing member LadyHax
In the current oversaturation of vampire stories in the book market and public fascination with the mediocrity of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy is, surprisingly, a slight breath of fresh air. She has an original take on vampire society that doesn't involve
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sparkles and, most importantly for a young adult novel, is not puritanical about the behaviour of teenagers. They drink, they misbehave, they are bitchy, they have sex - like normal teenagers. Unlike the insipid first person narration of that other series, Rose is a lively voice and you don't mind being trapped in her head most of the time, not in the least for the occasionally hilarious sarcastic and ironic barb. Certainly, there are flaws - everyone is stunning, the timeline is a little skewed, the writing is not always the best (but in this way perhaps better reflects the thoughts of a teenage girl) - but overall this is good fun. The comparisons between this and the Twilight series are inevitable (as this review demonstrates) but unlike Meyer's novel, in reading Mead's book I didn't feel the overwhelming compulsion that I must have a serious chat to young girls reading this. Despite the (mis)behaviour of the teenagers in this series, I think it is a healthier and more well-rounded approach to teenage life - even if they are all supernatural beings. Show Less
LibraryThing member thehistorychic
What I Loved: This is one of the rare YA novels where neither of the lead characters got on my nerves, in fact they were both appealing and engaging. Their relationships with each other (best friends) and others were well written and fun to read. They were teenagers, they did some very "teenage"
What I Liked: I really enjoyed the twist on the vampiric lore and how it works in this society. The secondary characters were well rounded and served to work the storyline further. The plot was well though out and didn't leave that "where are they going with this" feeling.
What was "Sorta OK": The only complaint was at very the beginning it felt like "jumping" into a story already progress. It took awhile before I felt "caught up".
Why it got a 4: The book is very enjoyable to read: fast paced, quick, engaging, and funny (at times). I would recommend this to older YA readers (PG13 type of rating) and any adult who enjoys PNR. Overall, just a book to not miss!
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like things, but they were not annoying. The pacing of the story was fantastic and kept me interested until the very end.What I Liked: I really enjoyed the twist on the vampiric lore and how it works in this society. The secondary characters were well rounded and served to work the storyline further. The plot was well though out and didn't leave that "where are they going with this" feeling.
What was "Sorta OK": The only complaint was at very the beginning it felt like "jumping" into a story already progress. It took awhile before I felt "caught up".
Why it got a 4: The book is very enjoyable to read: fast paced, quick, engaging, and funny (at times). I would recommend this to older YA readers (PG13 type of rating) and any adult who enjoys PNR. Overall, just a book to not miss!
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LibraryThing member kraaivrouw
I am hugely critical of the recent spate of young adult books with vampires who sparkle and go to freakin' high school. Voluntarily. Right. I guess I'm a vampire purist.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Vampires are predators - they don't want to hang out with, have sex with, or fraternize
Richelle Mead gets credit for at least creating an interesting set of vampires based on actual legend (Romanian) - the Strigoi and Moiroi - throwing in her own creation - the Dhampir. The Strigoi are evil killing machines who have traded their souls for immortality; they prey on the Moroi, elemental magic-wielding vampire royalty who are fairly weak as vampires go and don't kill when they feed (because to do so would turn them into evil killing Strigoi). Moroi are protected by Dhampirs, half-human/half-vampire hybrids who, much like Blade, have some strengths and weaknesses from both sides of their genetics.
Vampire Academy tells the story of Princess Lissa (yes, Princess), Moroi royalty and all-around nice girl and her Dhampir guardian, Rose. At the beginning of the book they are being returned to high school after two years on the run following some unspecified set of events. This is where the weaknesses of the book come in - this pivotal event that sets up the story is mentioned in the first few pages and then abandoned until about 200 or so pages in at which point it's briefly explicated right before it becomes pivotal again. Ms. Read also has a bad habit of interrupting her story to provide you with page after page of exposition; in this way she reminds me of a D&D dungeonmaster who really needs to show off his lore - enough already. I much prefer writers who dump me into the middle of their world and trust me to figure it out.
I also really didn't like the two main characters - they're both the kind of cliquey mean rich girls I want to run away from as fast as I can. The minor characters aren't a lot better - a mix of various teenage cliches rattling around in a vampire boarding school in Montana. Lastly the whole high school thing is really annoying. It's hard for me to picture vampires in a Gossip Girl setting (much less one in Montana).
On a positive note these vampires are mean and predatory, they're just not more mean or predatory than your average adolescent. I was really hoping this would be the book to get me over my prejudice against these books, but it just wasn't. At least Rose and Lissa weren't sparkly.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Vampires are predators - they don't want to hang out with, have sex with, or fraternize
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a whole lot with the prey. Yeah, some of them hang out with humans, but really - some of us hang out with cows, but not too many of us, right? I'm also guessing that the number of humans with cow girlfriends or boyfriends is probably pretty low - at least I hope so. Yeah, we might have cute cow cookie jars, but mostly we're eating steaks and burgers and wondering whether or not to have the grilled onions.Richelle Mead gets credit for at least creating an interesting set of vampires based on actual legend (Romanian) - the Strigoi and Moiroi - throwing in her own creation - the Dhampir. The Strigoi are evil killing machines who have traded their souls for immortality; they prey on the Moroi, elemental magic-wielding vampire royalty who are fairly weak as vampires go and don't kill when they feed (because to do so would turn them into evil killing Strigoi). Moroi are protected by Dhampirs, half-human/half-vampire hybrids who, much like Blade, have some strengths and weaknesses from both sides of their genetics.
Vampire Academy tells the story of Princess Lissa (yes, Princess), Moroi royalty and all-around nice girl and her Dhampir guardian, Rose. At the beginning of the book they are being returned to high school after two years on the run following some unspecified set of events. This is where the weaknesses of the book come in - this pivotal event that sets up the story is mentioned in the first few pages and then abandoned until about 200 or so pages in at which point it's briefly explicated right before it becomes pivotal again. Ms. Read also has a bad habit of interrupting her story to provide you with page after page of exposition; in this way she reminds me of a D&D dungeonmaster who really needs to show off his lore - enough already. I much prefer writers who dump me into the middle of their world and trust me to figure it out.
I also really didn't like the two main characters - they're both the kind of cliquey mean rich girls I want to run away from as fast as I can. The minor characters aren't a lot better - a mix of various teenage cliches rattling around in a vampire boarding school in Montana. Lastly the whole high school thing is really annoying. It's hard for me to picture vampires in a Gossip Girl setting (much less one in Montana).
On a positive note these vampires are mean and predatory, they're just not more mean or predatory than your average adolescent. I was really hoping this would be the book to get me over my prejudice against these books, but it just wasn't. At least Rose and Lissa weren't sparkly.
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LibraryThing member littleton_pace
I LOVE this book. Where all other vampire fiction stories I've read have failed, this one wins. And I think the main reason for that is that the principal bond, the strongest bond, is not between a couple, but between two best friends. Rose and Lissa are literal soul mates, Lissa brought Rose back
What I also love, is that the "Chosen One", the "special" one who is normally the lead character in a series like this, is actually Lissa, not the lead character of Rose. Rose is her protector and even as a teenager is willing to sacrifice everything to protect her.
I also loved how much closer these teenagers are to real-life teens. They drink, they smoke, they have sex. Not all of them; but there are groups that do. Unlike Twilight where every student seems to be A)in love with Bella and B) a goody-two-shoes.
The principal theme is this friendship between the girls. They each have guys that they both like, but there is never a question who one would pick over the other. And it's that bond that makes this such a unique read.
I was initially confused by the two types of vampires and the dhampir and all the royals, but the more I read the more I understood. The foreshadowing is really excellent, during the big fight scene at the end, things that Rose has learned during her training and at school come in handy, she puts her training into action. She doesn't just randomly come up with the solution seemingly out of nowhere.
And the character of Natalie is very well-written. She's just a wallflower, and then I started to suspect her but not to the degree of evil that she eventually became.
Looking forward to the series, so glad I bought the box set.
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to life and thus strengthened their bond.What I also love, is that the "Chosen One", the "special" one who is normally the lead character in a series like this, is actually Lissa, not the lead character of Rose. Rose is her protector and even as a teenager is willing to sacrifice everything to protect her.
I also loved how much closer these teenagers are to real-life teens. They drink, they smoke, they have sex. Not all of them; but there are groups that do. Unlike Twilight where every student seems to be A)in love with Bella and B) a goody-two-shoes.
The principal theme is this friendship between the girls. They each have guys that they both like, but there is never a question who one would pick over the other. And it's that bond that makes this such a unique read.
I was initially confused by the two types of vampires and the dhampir and all the royals, but the more I read the more I understood. The foreshadowing is really excellent, during the big fight scene at the end, things that Rose has learned during her training and at school come in handy, she puts her training into action. She doesn't just randomly come up with the solution seemingly out of nowhere.
And the character of Natalie is very well-written. She's just a wallflower, and then I started to suspect her but not to the degree of evil that she eventually became.
Looking forward to the series, so glad I bought the box set.
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LibraryThing member NadineM
Just when I thought I couldn't read any more vampire books, along come Rose and Lissa. The Moroi, the Strigoi and the and the dhampirs, has brought me back to vampire fiction. Mead spins quite a story, with its' own unique set of vampire lore. This is definitely one series I will follow into
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subsequent books. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jenson_AKA_DL
Rose is dedicated to the protection of her best friend, Lissa, to the point that she was willing to risk everything to escape the evil they felt lurking at St. Vladimir's Academy. When Rose and Lissa are found and brought back to the academy it is clear that there are forces against them in the
This was a very well written and engrossing start to the steadily growing young adult, vampire genre. After reading so many of these kind of stories it is always a concern that I will get bored with the storyline as I have with many urban fantasies. Happily I discovered that although it did have many similarities to other stories I've read, the writing was good, the plot was sound and the characters were interesting enough to keep me reading. Even though there were many things I didn't like about Rose's personality these idiosyncrasies allowed, and will probably continue to allow, character development and growth you don't always see much of. I found many of the side characters very interesting as well and the ending was uniquely satisfying. The very last scene of the book was my favorite, even though it was no more than a couple paragraphs, and it has wet my appetite to read more of this series.
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school they need to fight against as well as forces within themselves. Despite her novice status and youth Rose knows that being true to her guardian duties of Lissa is worth everything she has to give, from becoming a social pariah to potential death.This was a very well written and engrossing start to the steadily growing young adult, vampire genre. After reading so many of these kind of stories it is always a concern that I will get bored with the storyline as I have with many urban fantasies. Happily I discovered that although it did have many similarities to other stories I've read, the writing was good, the plot was sound and the characters were interesting enough to keep me reading. Even though there were many things I didn't like about Rose's personality these idiosyncrasies allowed, and will probably continue to allow, character development and growth you don't always see much of. I found many of the side characters very interesting as well and the ending was uniquely satisfying. The very last scene of the book was my favorite, even though it was no more than a couple paragraphs, and it has wet my appetite to read more of this series.
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LibraryThing member ada-adjoa
I was wishing this was an adult book, because the scene with Dmitri was pretty hot. A little risque for teens- the heroine ends up naked, but not the hero. And I can understand the reserve, but if she is naked and he is a grown man, and they are together for the first time,well, there should be
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something about the tent in his pajama pants, IMHO. It's just reality. And it's only fair... Show Less
LibraryThing member Irisheyz77
I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy. I knew that it would deal with vampires but when I wasn't sure if it was something that I was going to like. Don't get me wrong I love vampires but the market is becoming so over saturated with them that I wasn't sure
What I loved about Mead's version of the story was the different types of vampires, the maroi and strifori and the societies of each. I loved that there was a vampire school and dhampir training facility. I loved the main character of Rose who was strong and so very kick ass. She was flawed and made mistakes but she tried her best. She didn't always succeed but she tried. What I didn't like was how she would make huge, life altering choices and then wouldn't have to suffer much for them. She ran away from school with her friend and vampire princess, Lissa, and was allowed back in with virtually no punishment when they were discovered. Lissa also wasn't a character that I liked very much. I found her to be pretty vanilla compared to the other characters in the story and seemed to lack depth and purpose. But I did really love Christian and Dimitri.
I found the writing to be absorbing and I didn't want to put this one down. Fortunately I read this during last October's Read-a-Thon so I didn't have to. I also found then when I finished the book I immediately wanted to jump in and read the next one. I needed to know just what would happen to Rose next. I was totally caught up in her world that I didn't want it to be over. This book is a must read for all you vampire fans out there. These vampires aren't your wussy sparkling variety. They are a whole new breed and I completely hooked and sold on this mythology. I believe that they could be real and so you can be sure that Mead is a very talented world builder.
As originally posted on my blog: Ticket to Anywhere
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that this would be a series that I was going to like. I was unprepared for just how much I was going to love the world that Mead had created. Hers was not your typical vampire story and I loved her take on the myths. I loved how this was a book purely about vampires and that humans weren't involved. I was getting tired of all the vampire/human hookups most of which strain believability since vampires typically need human blood to survive.What I loved about Mead's version of the story was the different types of vampires, the maroi and strifori and the societies of each. I loved that there was a vampire school and dhampir training facility. I loved the main character of Rose who was strong and so very kick ass. She was flawed and made mistakes but she tried her best. She didn't always succeed but she tried. What I didn't like was how she would make huge, life altering choices and then wouldn't have to suffer much for them. She ran away from school with her friend and vampire princess, Lissa, and was allowed back in with virtually no punishment when they were discovered. Lissa also wasn't a character that I liked very much. I found her to be pretty vanilla compared to the other characters in the story and seemed to lack depth and purpose. But I did really love Christian and Dimitri.
I found the writing to be absorbing and I didn't want to put this one down. Fortunately I read this during last October's Read-a-Thon so I didn't have to. I also found then when I finished the book I immediately wanted to jump in and read the next one. I needed to know just what would happen to Rose next. I was totally caught up in her world that I didn't want it to be over. This book is a must read for all you vampire fans out there. These vampires aren't your wussy sparkling variety. They are a whole new breed and I completely hooked and sold on this mythology. I believe that they could be real and so you can be sure that Mead is a very talented world builder.
As originally posted on my blog: Ticket to Anywhere
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LibraryThing member MisfitRhi
Younger fans of the vampire genre, and even adult fans, this is a new series you should check out. Welcome to a world where the good vampires, Moroi, need their half-blood cousins, Dhampir, for protection. Their children train at academies like St. Vladimir's, preparing Dhampir for the fight
Vampire Academy introduces us to Rose Hathaway, Dhampir and guardian trainee. She and her best friend Lissa Dragomir, a Moroi princess and last of her family bloodline, have run away from St. Vladimir's after strange events lead them to believe Lissa is in danger. For two years they have run, hiding among humans and their time has run out. Brought back to St. Vlad's the two friends must deal with nasty rumors, mysterious changes in Lissa and that doesn't include the rigors of regular high school! Behind in her training Rose begins training in all her spare time with a full-fledged guardian, Dimitri, whom she has a growing attraction to. Meanwhile Lissa is having problems, someone keeps putting dead animals in her vicinity, but is this just someone's horrid prank or is it something more serious?
If you're a fan of vampire lore or favor the school of vampire fans who like their vamps pretty and not-so-evil this is a great book to try. As a hardcore paranormal & urban fantasy fan I found it to be light, but entertaining reading. On a more personal note I enjoyed that the locations in the book were all within the Northwestern US (Portland, Oregon, rural Montana, Missoula, Montana) as they were areas I was familiar with and aren't overly used in this genre. Richelle Mead's writing was a little unnotable and while I rarely complain about it the massive number of typographical errors in this book was annoying.
If you're too young for Laurell K. Hamilton, you enjoy the Buffy franchise or you just want a vampire lite this should be a good read--and don't forget to check out the second book, Frostbite!
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against Strigoi, the bad vampires. Moroi are not completely helpless, as they possess four schools of magic--air, earth, fire and water--but these are strickly for non-offensive uses. The Dhampir are heartier and stronger, their human side keeping them from needing blood to survive. But Strigoi hunt their kin, having a special taste for Moroi blood but an inability to tolerate any sunlight or use magics. Vampire Academy introduces us to Rose Hathaway, Dhampir and guardian trainee. She and her best friend Lissa Dragomir, a Moroi princess and last of her family bloodline, have run away from St. Vladimir's after strange events lead them to believe Lissa is in danger. For two years they have run, hiding among humans and their time has run out. Brought back to St. Vlad's the two friends must deal with nasty rumors, mysterious changes in Lissa and that doesn't include the rigors of regular high school! Behind in her training Rose begins training in all her spare time with a full-fledged guardian, Dimitri, whom she has a growing attraction to. Meanwhile Lissa is having problems, someone keeps putting dead animals in her vicinity, but is this just someone's horrid prank or is it something more serious?
If you're a fan of vampire lore or favor the school of vampire fans who like their vamps pretty and not-so-evil this is a great book to try. As a hardcore paranormal & urban fantasy fan I found it to be light, but entertaining reading. On a more personal note I enjoyed that the locations in the book were all within the Northwestern US (Portland, Oregon, rural Montana, Missoula, Montana) as they were areas I was familiar with and aren't overly used in this genre. Richelle Mead's writing was a little unnotable and while I rarely complain about it the massive number of typographical errors in this book was annoying.
If you're too young for Laurell K. Hamilton, you enjoy the Buffy franchise or you just want a vampire lite this should be a good read--and don't forget to check out the second book, Frostbite!
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LibraryThing member krissa
I think I sabotaged this book before I read it. Sometimes timing is everything, and unfortunately, I found this one shortly after reading eclipse. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy it, it was just hard not to compare, and so didn’t measure up. I did like both Lissa’s and Rose’s character. They
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were well fleshed out, and more or less believable. I wish I could say the same for a few others, but as this is a series, that may start to come later. I did find the interactions between each other and the other students very realistic and teen-like. And it was a new (to me) and different twist on vampires which I had not read before (but I admit I haven’t read a whole lot of vampire fiction). I enjoyed it well enough, but I think one was enough, and I don’t seem myself reading more of the series. But I am glad I picked this one up. Show Less
LibraryThing member chibimajo
Rose and Lissa have an unusual bond, in part because of the vampiric powers Lissa has. Rose is her guardian, her protector and her best friend. The book opens with them getting caught and being returned to the vampire academy, where they resume their schooling. Some light romance for both
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characters and lots of action. Liked this book better than Twilight because it is not a vampire-human romance, it is a vampire-vampire or half-vampire-half-vampire romance. Humans do not figure into these novels as much. Show Less
LibraryThing member tyuiop159
When I first started to really get into reading, especially paranormal books, I refused to read this . To me it just didn't sound interesting or entertaining. I would always see it in stores, people would talk about it saying that it was better than Twilight, signs advertising it as a bestseller
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would sit at the entrance of the bookstore. I still refused to read it. Then one day my friends brings it to school and can't put it down. She won't stop talking about it. She kept saying read it, read it so eventually I broke down and read it. It is now one of my favorite series. There is not a bad thing about this book. Richelle Mead has created a new, original world that is incredible, for lack of a better word. The events that occur seem so real and possible that you'll think it actually happened, but at the same time it has the vampire, paranormal theme that it was intended to have. The characters are so lifelike that you'll believe for a short time that they are real. You'll cry when they cry, you'll smile when they smile, you'll be able to practically look through their eyes. Richelle Mead has drawn such an incredible picture. This series is highly addictive and you'll count every second until the next one in the series comes out. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookWhisperer
WOW! This book was awesome. This is the next Stephenie Meyer Series. I will be continuing to read this series. I can not wait to get my hands on the second book. I do not know that I would consider this book as a young adult story, but I am truly addicted after this first book.
Rose and Lisa are
Rose and Lisa are
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both exciting characters, that are solo story worthy, although, they are all wrapped up into one. I do not see how anyone could finish this book without expectations for the next book. Show Less
LibraryThing member greytfriend
I really enjoyed this book. It's a terrific young adult romance adventure. The characters are great, vividly portrayed and displaying very real emotions and reactions, regardless of the fantastic plot. I try not to compare every teen vampire story to Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but it does remind me
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of Buffy in that what was wonderful about Buffy was the people we came to love and watching them go through their lives in the midst of their adventures. Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy) is a master at creating characters, especially women. Mead has the same touch. Rose and Lissa in Vampire Academy are in the midst of a dangerous situation, but also just trying to deal with growing up, romance and sexual attraction, mean kids, nice kids who want something from them that maybe they don't want to give, school and achievement pressures, etc. Normal teens in an extraordinary situation. I especially identify with Rose, whose smart mouth, dislike of feeling vulnerable, and somewhat wacky sense of humor, often get her in trouble, but make her all the more endearing. Show Less
LibraryThing member MissReadsALot
I LUVED how this book was set up, considering it has vampires in it. I liked how the author made different types of vampires. My second favorite vampire book. I'm really excited to read the second and third books.
LibraryThing member SturgisPublicLibrary
This is a fun story of best friends trying to survive all the drama of the teen years and then some. Lissa is a Vampire and Rose wants to be her Guardian. The girls ran away from the Vampire Academy only to be caught and returned to rumors, scandal, and other mysterious happenings. This book deals
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with some very real teen issues in a setting that is not so real, and that is what I think is best about it. The story is slow at the beginning, but by the end I could hardly wait to read the next in this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member dasuzuki
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I have been on a vampire kick ever since finishing the Twilight series. When I first read the premise while browsing at Borders it did not sound that interesting to me. When I told a fellow book club member that I enjoyed Vampire Diaries and Twilight
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they said I really should check out this series. I'm glad I did. I can't wait to read the rest in the series and find out what happens with Lissa and Rose and both their relationships. Show Less
LibraryThing member fortheloveofbooksrev
I ordered this book in hopes of finding another vamprie series to enjoy instead of just rereading Twilight over and over again. Man, am I glad I did. This book, and the others in the series are without a doubt the best books I have ever read.
The book starts quickly, with Rose and Lissa being
Lissa is batteling with her Spirit powers (she doesn't know she has them yet) and they begin to cause her depression. Lissa is a cutter, and because Rose is shadow-kissed, she can get into Lissa's mind and always comes to her rescue when she needs it. On top of constantly being worries about her best friend's mental state, Rose is taking two extra training sessions a day from the gorgeous new Guardian, Dimitri.
Right from their first day, Rose feels a connection with Dimitri. Their forbidden romance is extremely addicting, and I kept having to stop myself from skipping over parts just to read about their sessions together. Although Rose doesn't seem to realize it, Dimitri acts just as attracted to Rose but in a secretive and sexy way.
Rose is one of the most powerful and strong willed characters ever written about. She is sexy and flirty, but at the same time she doesn't take crap from anyone, making her the girl that every guy wishes they had and every girl wishes they were. She also goes through struggles that every girl can relate to. She flirts with people, gets caught making out, has a crush on her hot teacher, feels like she has no one to talk to, and is constantly protecting her best friend. Her character is the perfect blend of every element, which made me feel as if I were her.
Toward the end of the book, Lissa and Rose's fears for leaving were proven right, and Lissa is in mortal danger.
This book is absolutely perfect, Mead's writing style couldn't fit the characters more accurately, and I can assure every girl 13+ that they will NOT be able to put this book down until they finish it!
I give it a 5+/5 for being AMAZING!
The book starts quickly, with Rose and Lissa being
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dragged back to St. Vladimir's by the gorgeous Dimitri (my soon to be husband :D) and life at the Academy starts off with a bang. Right at their return their schedules are very busy, and the girls don't get to spend as much time as they would like together.Lissa is batteling with her Spirit powers (she doesn't know she has them yet) and they begin to cause her depression. Lissa is a cutter, and because Rose is shadow-kissed, she can get into Lissa's mind and always comes to her rescue when she needs it. On top of constantly being worries about her best friend's mental state, Rose is taking two extra training sessions a day from the gorgeous new Guardian, Dimitri.
Right from their first day, Rose feels a connection with Dimitri. Their forbidden romance is extremely addicting, and I kept having to stop myself from skipping over parts just to read about their sessions together. Although Rose doesn't seem to realize it, Dimitri acts just as attracted to Rose but in a secretive and sexy way.
Rose is one of the most powerful and strong willed characters ever written about. She is sexy and flirty, but at the same time she doesn't take crap from anyone, making her the girl that every guy wishes they had and every girl wishes they were. She also goes through struggles that every girl can relate to. She flirts with people, gets caught making out, has a crush on her hot teacher, feels like she has no one to talk to, and is constantly protecting her best friend. Her character is the perfect blend of every element, which made me feel as if I were her.
Toward the end of the book, Lissa and Rose's fears for leaving were proven right, and Lissa is in mortal danger.
This book is absolutely perfect, Mead's writing style couldn't fit the characters more accurately, and I can assure every girl 13+ that they will NOT be able to put this book down until they finish it!
I give it a 5+/5 for being AMAZING!
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LibraryThing member miyurose
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to! The action starts right from the beginning, as Rose and Lissa are captured and brought back to St. Vladimir’s, the school they’ve run away from. The vampire myth here has been twisted around, with there being more than one “flavor”; the Strigoi
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are probably closest to the traditional vampire. I liked the changes and the extra hierarchy it brought to the vampire society. This is a YA book, so there are a lot of teen-related issues — bullies, gossip, depression, dating, etc — and a fair amount of angst, but I thought it was all done rather well. And I had absolutely no clue who the bad guy was going to be before it was revealed. All in all, I will definitely continue this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member meerka
I have two teen friends who are reading these and as I'll be organizing Teen Read Week in October, I thought I better catch up on the latest titles in fantasy and sf. And so Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead was the book of the day. Can't say I was moved by the characters or the plot in the least.
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Maria V. Snyder writes more interesting combat training. The Godfather already did the dead animals in beds, and we all saw Obi-Wan influence the Storm Troopers. Vladimir appears a tasty romantic interest, but certainly no Valek. Show Less
LibraryThing member stephxsu
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
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. Dhampirs whose life mission is to protect the royal Moroi? An exchange of blood between dhampires and Moroi being dirty and disgusting? The Moroi’s conscious decision to hide from, not fight, the bloodthirsty Strigoi? Come on. 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.
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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. Dhampirs whose life mission is to protect the royal Moroi? An exchange of blood between dhampires and Moroi being dirty and disgusting? The Moroi’s conscious decision to hide from, not fight, the bloodthirsty Strigoi? Come on. 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.
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LibraryThing member busygirllibrary
I picked up this series merely because of the vampire suject and was pleasantly surprised. The books present a world where two kinds of vampires exist along with half-vampires, all unknown to humans. The series is a light read, entertaining and full of action. My only complaint is that there are
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several grammatical errors throughout the books which can be slightly annoying. Show Less
LibraryThing member annamariie
When I first started Vampire Academy I did NOT like it, the MC, Rose, seemed like she was trying far too hard to be (and the author was trying far to hard to make her) a bad ass, it was too strong and I wanted to throw the book out a window.. this was still continuing onto page 100, which isn't
Getting past Rose's over-barring bad ass attitude the book turns into a great story with very well developed characters, and an amazing plot! There were pieces that were inserted into the story that you don't put together (or a question you don't get the answer to) until the end, but you never lose interest! There are insane plot twists & you get to know so many characters so well in just 300 pages.
Mead does a wonderful job also mixing two worlds, the world we know & the Romanian mythology of the Moroi, Strigoi & the Dhampir of Balkan folklore. So not only do you learn about the characters & their world, you're learning about old time folklore & mythology as well, which a lot of writers don't bother to include in their stories. A lot of times you get a story with a character (or characters) trying to obtain something but you never get background on how they got to that point, or why they're doing it, what drives them, etc. With Vampire Academy, you get this and SO much more.
There are some authors who create stories, and there are authors who write stories, Richelle Mead is definitely an author who creates her stories!
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good since there's only 332 pages to the book to begin with. I left it at page 100, and went off to do something else, at this point and every time I thought about the book I thought maybe I'd just put it up, give it away and start reading something else.. but I am SO glad that in the end I decided to read it all the way through, because I fell in love (again! Second time in the last three days! I'm on a roll!)Getting past Rose's over-barring bad ass attitude the book turns into a great story with very well developed characters, and an amazing plot! There were pieces that were inserted into the story that you don't put together (or a question you don't get the answer to) until the end, but you never lose interest! There are insane plot twists & you get to know so many characters so well in just 300 pages.
Mead does a wonderful job also mixing two worlds, the world we know & the Romanian mythology of the Moroi, Strigoi & the Dhampir of Balkan folklore. So not only do you learn about the characters & their world, you're learning about old time folklore & mythology as well, which a lot of writers don't bother to include in their stories. A lot of times you get a story with a character (or characters) trying to obtain something but you never get background on how they got to that point, or why they're doing it, what drives them, etc. With Vampire Academy, you get this and SO much more.
There are some authors who create stories, and there are authors who write stories, Richelle Mead is definitely an author who creates her stories!
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LibraryThing member SandyStiles
Definitely a page-turner, and an interesting premise, but not one of my favorites. "Moroi" vampires must be guarded constantly by dhampirs (children of parents where only one is a vampire) and all go to school together. Danger is mainly found in the form of Strogoi, who are vampires who will drink
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blood to the death. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Soaring Eagle Book Award (Nominee — 2011)
Whitcoulls Top 100 Books (76 — 2010)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — 2008)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2007-08-16
Physical description
352 p.; 5.48 inches
ISBN
159514174X / 9781595141743