shadow kiss by richelle mead

Title: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3)
Author: Richelle Mead
Pages: 327
Rating: 5/5

Summary:

Rose Hathaway knows it is forbidden to love another guardian. Her best friend, Lissa-the last Dragomir princess-must always come first. Unfortunately, when it comes to gorgeous Dimitri Belikov, some rules are meant to be broken. But everything seems not right and something dark has begun to grow in her mind, and ghostly shadows warn of a terrible evil drawing nearer to the Academy's iron gates. And now that Lissa and Rose's sworn enemy, Victor Dashkov, is on trial for his freedom, tensions in the Moroi world are higher than ever.

Lying to Lissa about Dimitri is one thing but suddenly there's way more than friendship at stake. In a heart-stopping battle to rival her worst nightmare, Rose will have to choose between life, love, and the two people who matter most, but will her choice mean that only one can survive?

My Say:

Truly engaging! The first two books of the series got 4.5 stars but this one is totally a 5 stars!I love everything about it from the plot, storyline, characters and settings. In the third installment of Vampire Academy Series, we are brought to a darker side of story. The effect of being shadow kissed has made Rose haunted with the dead. I totally love this part. It sounds creepy but really works for this.

Even though Rose is one of kickass heroine with stubborn, hard-headed personality, it changes gradually, a bit, as her feeling to Dimitri is something that she can't ignore anymore, even to hold up as student-teacher for just a couple of months until she graduates. I love the femininity that shows through Rose.

Every characters in the story developing very well as they have strong personality and more matured, must be because they are nearly 18. What I love most probably will be the fighting duo between Rose fighting skill and Christian using his fire magic. They were badass! The second best fighting scene will be the duo of Dimitri and Rose. But the fun stops there until Rose found out she has to a decision to fight for her one true love. The ending is quite cliff hanging but I don't mind as it is acceptable for a series.

All in all, this book is the best compared to the other two (but they are still excellent). If you haven't read any of the book, you might want to change your mind. It's totally addictive (Sarah is totally right)! I have Blood Bound (thanks Shy!) and can't wait to continue the series.

Jo @ Ink and Paper
Sarah @ Sarah's Book Review
Sophie @ So Many Books, So Little Time
Angela @ Reading Angle

frostbite by richelle mead

Title: Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2)
Author: Richelle Mead
Pages: 327
Rating: 4.5/5

Summary (Goodreads):

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose...

It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians--including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if handto- hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks. This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price.

My Thought:

It's a WOW. I like Vampire Academy #1 but this one makes me fell in love! It's exciting, deviously cool, a fast pace page turners and I deliberately enjoyed the book so much. While the first book is a bit confusing, this one turned out to be more precisely explained and elaborated. Each characters were defined very well or maybe just excellent. They are well presented and each of them have an equal responsibility to make the story better. I found Rose's character is more serious, wiser and bright. Well, she seemed like a bit of a bit*h in the first book. The twisted feelings she has for Dimitri or a fling with Mason did gave some impact on the storyline.

New good and bad characters being introduced and I certainly love Adrian Ivashkov. I think he's rock. But the other two Strigoi characters, well, they played their parts very well for me as I'm awed when Rose was doing her actions killing those two.

The plot/storyline is good, interesting, enough to pull my attention and being absorbed by the book. However, the only flaw I could point out here is that the book is a little drag. The real actions only started like at the last 40 pages. It could be better if it started at the middle of the story. Too much drag on Rose feelings toward Dimitri, Mason, her mom and Adrian. It might be an asset for the next-next books but either way I think, overall, the book is still has its own charm. I could read it again and I probably will read the next sequel very soon.

Everyone should read it =)

Other Blog Reviews on Frostbite;

Aye.Me? @ Reversing The Monotony
Kristi @ The Story Siren
Faye @ Ramblings of A Teenage Bookworm
Sarah @ Sarah's Book Reviews

*Storywings is hosting A Vampire Academy Reading Challenge starting from April 18th- May 18th as a 'pre-welcoming' for the next new book in the series, Spirit Bound.

Check out on their blogs =)

vampire academy by richelle mead

Title: Vampire Academy #1
Author: Richelle Mead
Pages: 336
Rating: 4.5/5

Summary:

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.

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.

My Opinion:

I like this book. Not very much of it but still like it. 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 interesting and more difficult to put the book down.

The friendship relation between Rose and Lissa is very unique. They are bound and complete to each other. First few chapters I read about them, I feel very uneasy because I thought their bond is something 'dark'. But as I continue the reading, my curiosity is explained in a very simple twist. I thought of a Buffy clone when I imagine Rose. She is an amazing example of female power and a great role model for teenage girls. It's refreshing to see a teenager grows that much in one short book. While Lissa if the opposite one. She is very fragile, but not vulnerable. She is very graceful and soft. She is a Princess after all.

I enjoyed my time with Rose, Lissa, and Dimitri. Not to forget, rebellious Christian. The only flaw that I think affect me a little is Lissa actions is too bold and I don't know. Maybe too easy. She can/ nearly make out with anyone she wants to and I felt her character is too mixed up, unbalance. I think the way Mead creates her is like a teenager who has a personality complex. However, every other characters are better in the book. They have their own personality but they pretty much believable.

Even with that, overall, I still like the book. And also a fresh idea for book storyline as well. I'm anxious to read what else happens soon, if Rose will ever get her man, and if Lissa will ever be able to resolve her powers. Can't wait to read the next sequel.

Other Reviewers:

Sarah @ Sarah's Book Reviews
Sophie @ So Many Books, So Little Time