Friday, July 31, 2009

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1)
by Richelle Mead

Published: 2007
Genre: Fantasy, Vampires
Paperback: 336 pages
Rating: 5

Inspiration: Richelle's coming to town next month and I've been meaning to try this out because of all the positive YA blog reviews

Description from author's site:
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.

My thoughts:
In-a-word: bond

I'm caught! Hook, line and sinker. This is my third YA vampire series to try and I love it just as well as the other two I've read so far (Twilight and Evernight).

What I really enjoy is the spunky character (always love spunky gals), Rose, with her snarky remarks and warrior spirit. She's the ultimate tough girl heroine-in-training. She's looking to be a force to be reckoned with in the future books. I look forward to watching her grow.

Now the other main character, Lissa, is one to watch out for. She is a mystery.

This storyline has its own special vampire lore that is fascinating to learn.

Moroi = living vampires - this is Lissa
Strigoi = undead vampires - ??? you'll have to find out
Dhampir = guardians of Moroi - this is Rose

Who would have thought... living vampires?

Oh yeah, some flickers of romance and magic are thrown in here as well.

A good vampire treat - take a bite!

The Vampire Academy Series:
Vampire Academy
Frostbite
Shadow Kiss
Blood Promise (Release date: August 25, 2009)
Spirit Bound (Release date: April 2010)
Title To Be Announced (Release date: late 2010)

Richelle is on tour doing signings and appearances.
See if she'll be in your neck of the woods.
As for me, I hope to see her here:

Fairies & Vampires & Zombies OH MY!
Thursday, 08/27/2009 - 7:00pm
Not Your Mother's Book Club (NYMBC)
presentsRICHELLE MEAD, LILI ST. CROW, and LAINI TAYLOR

Books Inc. in Palo Alto
855 El Camino Real #74
Palo Alto, CA 94304

Author faq:

Who's on the covers of the Vampire Academy books?

Covers are designed by a book company's art department and are something I have little say about. Since everyone has different ideas about how characters look, the art department's ideas may not quite match the books' descriptions or your ideas. Or, the art department may not have even read the book.

Vampire Academy - Rose

Frostbite - The girl is Rose, and the guy is a mystery even to me. Without the red eyes, he'd be Christian. He's too young to be Isaiah.

Shadow Kiss - Lissa and Dimitri are on the old version; Rose is supposed to be on the new one.

Blood Promise - Rose

Fun fan stuff in the blogosphere:

FANMADE Movie Poster creation by TheatreBabyy-x

I think the actors are well cast for this pic.

Rose: Sophia Bush
Dimitri: Ben Barnes
Lissa: Teresa Palmer

- to date there has been no announcement about a movie being made






Polyvore creation by PEACE AND LOVE~










Zombie sighting:
page 171: I went through the rest of my classes like a zombie, and then I headed off to practice with Dimitri as fast as I could.

 
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