Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy

I actually have to say that I have been so lucky to read and review pretty much every book by Ms. Mead except for the anthologies. I remember picking up Succubus Blues on a whim from our book list and being instantly transported by Ms. Mead's storytelling. I never once thought of Georgina as a succubus but really as a person with problems. Hers were just a "wee" bit different than ours.

When I started the Vampire Academy series, it was very different than the other "young adult" books out there. Rose wasn't this needy teenager waiting to be saved. She could probably kick most of our butts with her hands tied behind her back. Yet she still had this wish to be a normal teenager and eventually a young woman with someone to love her. However, she knows that duty and real life would never let her have that. In a way, her self sacrifice is all she will ever do. One of the few people who understood that was Dmitri almost all to well....

Through the years, I've been continually amazed how Ms. Mead has built and expanded the VA storyline without compromise. She gave Lissa and Rose this steadfast bond where they are always there for each other through thick and thin. Friends like that are difficult to come by and they are even more precious to find after reading SPIRIT BOUND. I'm kind of sad to see it all end in LAST SACRIFICE but I'm curious to see what the spin-off will be about.

Here's my review courtesy of ROMANCE JUNKIES. (wow this is my longest post yet) :):)



Title: Vampire Academy 5: Spirit Bound
Category: Paranormal
Reviewer: Ann
Blue Ribbon Rating: 4.5


Rose and Lissa are preparing for graduation but their real lives are about to begin. Dmitri is still out there and waiting for Rose. Will love conquer all or will he succeed in killing her?

Rose is back at St. Vladimir's and ready to take the final test to become a Guardian before graduation. She should be happy but all she can think about is that Dmitri is still out there and gunning for her. But Rose has plans of her own for him which includes Lissa and possible help from her enemy, Victor Dashkov. Will she succeed in turning Dmitri back into a dhampir or will he kill her first before she has a chance?

SPIRIT BOUND continues Rose and Lissa's adventures into adulthood. Rose is mature beyond her years but her weakness are still Lissa and Dmitri. Yet she can act childish and brash when it comes to them because she often jumps into situations without thinking through the consequences and how it will affect other people. Lissa becomes quite a force while remaining Rose's staunchest supporter and confidant. Oh Dmitri is a bad, bad man but delicious as always but Adrian is no slouch either. I have my personal preference of who she should be with but Rose's feeling for each man are very heartfelt yet different. It will be intriguing to see who she will wind up with. There are plenty of twists and turns in SPIRIT BOUND that are unexpected that I think I dropped the book a couple of times because I couldn't believe some of the twists that were unfolding. The finale is set and I cannot wait for the LAST SACRIFICE.