Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1)

the beginning of the book was kind of slow, but near the end alot of stuff happens. i didnt really like the writing syle in some parts. i thought the book was really fun to read though because it was so different from the "twilight" idea of vampires.

Title: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: YA fantasy

Where I got it: ODLC (the library’s e-book collection)

One sentence: Rose, a dhamphir guardian, and Lissa, a Moroi princess, return from their time on the run to St. Vladimir’s Academy, where they become caught in scandal, rumors, and danger, from both themselves and the evil Strigoi vampires.

Themes: Vampires, scandal, rumors, romance, bonds, social pressure.

Main character: I don’t really know how I feel about Rose and Lissa. Their ‘bond’ kind of weirded me out at first, but it came into play later in the book. I felt like Mead tried to hard to make Rose the brash, reckless, aggressive, party girl, and some of it felt too…forced? Obvious? I don’t know. Lissa frustrated me sometimes. She alternated between passive and aggressive, and I know she was struggling with herself or whatever, but it also seemed like she had absolutely no backbone. There was very little character development.

Secondary characters: I didn’t feel enough of a connection to either Christian or Dimitri. They felt wooden, and although Mead explained Christian’s background, I just couldn’t get into what he was feeling.

Writing style: A little wooden at times. I wouldn’t say anything distracted me, but I found it difficult to picture anything, there was little description and the word choice was poor throughout.

Plot: I didn’t mind the background of the story: the relationships and folklore between the Strigoi, Moroi and dhampirs. However, the actual plot left me a little disappointed. The pacing is slow until the last fifty pages, and much of the plot is pretty predictable. I did actually like the last bit, and the plot twist caught me by surprise (maybe I’m just really blind to clues hidden along the way).

Best scene: The scene with Lissa in the bathroom. Really creeped me out, actually.

Positives: Entertaining, good background with the folklore, well thought out world, plot twists.

Negatives: Wooden and unchanging characters, slow pacing, not very descriptive writing.

Ending: Eh. I actually didn’t mind the ending scene, and it did kind of set up for future books, but just…eh.

Verdict: It was entertaining, but I didn’t really understand why it’s average rating on Goodreads was a 4.25. Crazy.

Rating: 6.9 / 10

Reader reviewed by Linda L

*previously posted on my book blog, Most Important Letter*

Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Penguin
Release date: August 16, 2007
Copy: Hardcover signature edition, gifted, personalized

L: Honestly, when I read the synopsis of this book, I thought, Whatever. But I decided to give it a try. After all, my best friend was singing its praises and shes never done that before, except for Harry Potter. So I was like, Why not?

Vampire Academy was amazing. At first, I thought it was a superficial story vampire and half-vampire teens living at a boarding school, seriously? but before I knew it, I become more and more wrapped up in the mysteries of the book. What was happening to Lissa? Who was causing it?

And of course, if youve ever heard of VA at all, youve definitely heard of the romance between Rose and her mentor, Dimitri &

I adored Roses witty lines, Lissas caring nature, Dimitris wise remarks, and Christians sarcastic comments. I loved the chemistry and romance between the amazing couples in this book. I loved the mystery, the danger, the adventure, the fighting. It reeled me in.

I loved this book. Seriously.

Rating: 5 out of 5 letter blocks

Sexual content: Kissing and references to sex
Profanity: Slight swearing
Violence: Well, Rose is learning to be Lissas guardian, so shes going to have to be in training &
Other notables: Underage drinking

Reader reviewed by Breanna

This book in a series of 6 in december and it could kill Twilight. I'm sorry but the aditude and development of the characters in this book are amazing. Rose Hathaway, Dimitri Belovic and Lissa Dragomir are a firce team that could be very well unstoppable.

Reader reviewed by Joelle M.

Good book overall.  I like how even though it is a vampire book, its more about the two main characters than about the vampire part itself.  I'm reading the 2nd book now. I really wish she would have gotten to be involved with Dimitri, but hey, its the writers story. Anyways, its a good read and worth checking out.

Reader reviewed by jedi145

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Reader reviewed by brianna

Vampire Academy  is one of  my all time favroite vampire series. I like the adventure thats diffrent from Dora the Explorer. It's more like a thrill adventure also with action and romace. I also could  not put the book down or the rest of  the series. I recommend this book and the rest of the series to anyone who likes all of what i have just typed.If you have  tried to read  this series and only got through some of the first one,reread it all the way through and then read the second.Then you can judge it youself.

Reader reviewed by Jamie

This is an addictive and fun read.This is typical Ya novel that what i thought at first about catfights,parties and gossip but it was more than that . This is about   Rose hathway and Lissa Dragomir   they ran away from st. Vladmir's along time ago but suddenly they were sent back.The school is for vampires and it's divided by royals( moroi)and Guardians(dhampir). Guardians are to guard the royals from the deadly vampires who's called Strigoi that bite humans and vampires! Danger and drama  awaits Lissa and Rose . She is in training to be Lissa's gaurdian. But can she do that while she's falling in love with her mentor who's seven years older than her.Fans of action  will like this as well.

Reader reviewed by sunny

This is A GREAT book. If you have read Evernight then this book will be the perfect match for you. At first it is a little hard to follow the plot but i literally couldn't put it down the whole time I was reading it. The first time you read it you might space out a lttle and be liek 'WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON' but if you power on then it leaves with a need for more. Just a brief summary - this book is about a teenager named Rose. When things get a lottle complicated in her life she turns to love but that doesn't work out either. Her very special bond with her best friend Vasillisa,enables Rose to save her from a life of healing her uncle, the next in line to the throne of the Vampire World.

Reader reviewed by Kim

With the popularity of the Twilight series, it seems that teen vampire novels are multiplying rapdily. Most of them seem to have a twist on the classic vampire persona, and Vampire Academy is no different. In this story there are three types of vampires, as opposed to  the normal one. What is different about this story though, is that it doesn't focus purely on love. While there is romance, this story is more about Rose's trials of training and protecting her best friend. The story is told wonderfully, and has a suprise twist near the end.