Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead Series: Vampire Academy #1
Publisher: RazorBill (2007)
Paperback (332 pages)
Via: Library
Rating:
Also by this author: Frostbite, Shadow Kiss
Also in this series: Frostbite, Shadow Kiss
Reading Challenges: Read 2015
Synopsis
St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.
Find the book: Goodreads
Some things struck me about this book from early-ish on that I think deserve to be mentioned. First, St Vladimir’s Academy is located in Montana. I live in Montana. Rarely do I read books that are actually set here. Then, later in the story, Dimitri is reading a Louis L’Amour book. My dad has almost every Louis L’Amour book ever published and reads them all the time. Even later, they go shopping at the mall in Missoula which is apparently two or so hours from the Academy. I really like Missoula and visit when I can as my sister goes to school there.
Anyway, back to the book. Vampire Academy begins with Lissa, a Moroi vampire princess, and Rose, Lissa’s dhampir protector, being found in Portland, Oregon and returned to St Vladimir’s Academy after a two year absence. The novel is told in the first person perspective from Rose’s point of view.
Rose has some issues and I say that in the best way possible. She has family issues and baggage like crazy. Not to mention that she is a half-Moroi dhampir. And yet, she is completely devoted to Lissa. Sometimes I would question Rose’s actions but at the same time, she was always doing what she thought was best for Lissa. I truly admire that kind of loyalty.
Lissa is interesting. She seems almost to be an introvert but at the same time like she needs to fill her dead-brother’s social life shoes. She will get involved just because it is what she feels she needs to do as the last surviving Dragomir. Rose wants Lissa to take care of herself and not do anything that totally stresses her out. I agree with Rose on this one.
Dimitri is the dhampir protector assigned to Lissa that brings Lissa and Rose back to St Vladimir’s Academy. He believes in Rose, that she really can protect Lissa even though she is two years behind in her training.
Christian is different. I like him a lot. He never tries to be something he isn’t. He has no problem not fitting in and does not seem to care one whit what anyone thinks of him. He is pretty comfortable being himself.
This story reminded me a bit of the anime series Vampire Knight that I watched a few years ago in college. That is likely because there are royal vampire children at a secret academy where there are also those who protect the vampire students from other vampires. So, yeah, I was kind of picturing Rose as Yuki, Lissa as Maria, and Dimitri as a Zero/Kaname mix. That doesn’t completely work for any of them but that was how I pictured them. Maybe that is a weird connection to make, but whatever.
This was a library book that I picked out at a whim. It was a pretty good read and a great way to spend a few hours in a vehicle.
Which Reading Challenges?
- You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
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