Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy

Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Vampire Academy, #1

Synopsis (goodreads): 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...

Review

Vampire Academy is about a Vampire Princess, Lissa, and her guardian, Rose. I was a little confused at first because it is told in the guardian's point of view and her mind was so much on Lissa that it almost felt as though you were reading about Lissa instead. It took me a while to really get into this book (after the first 50 pages). At the beginning of the book, Rose and Lisa are on the run, but you have no idea why or from what. And there's a lot of talk about dhampirs and Moroi and Strigoi, but you don't find out until much later what any of those words mean, or why they were hiding.


They are eventually captured by the St. Vladamir Academy's guardians and taken back to the campus. Once they arrive, you finally get a sense of who Rose and Lissa are. Rose Hathaway is strong, somewhat cynical, and from my understanding, really doesn't trust anyone but herself and Lissa. She's a complete smartass and reckless at times. But she protects Lissa at any cost, and that to me says so much about her character. She's extremely loyal to those she cares about. Vasilisa (Lissa) Dragomir is a member of one of the twelve ruling families. She's a princess and has had a rough couple of years. She's weak and fragile, and sometimes downright scary with the power she possesses. These powers are extremely rare and must be hidden because most of the vampires believe they no longer exist, but the harder she tries to conceal them and stop using them, the more difficult it becomes. The only person she trusts with this secret is Rose, and Rose has sworn to protect her and never tell anyone of what she can do. 


Enter Mia, a girl desperate to take revenge on Lissa, and Rose by default, for reasons unknown and has sworn to make their lives at St. Vladamir's miserable. Not to mention, she's dating Lissa's ex, which makes it all the more confusing as to why. She's got the guy so why is she still trying to ruin Lissa?


And then there's a mysterious Moroi boy who seems to know a little too much about Lissa and Rose. And there's a sexy godlike guardian who is responsible for training Rose and keeping Lissa safe. Did I mention he's sexy?? And there's Natalie, Lissa's shy and awkward "cousin" who is desperate to fit in, but appears to be cool, collected, kind and uncaring of popularity on the outside.


There's quite a bit of drama in this book with the royal families, their children and the novelties (guardians in training), and power between these groups shifts almost daily. Scary pranks are played, forbidden romances are budding, and some people are not at all what they seem. It's all quite a lot to take in at times, but I loved this story immensely and can't wait to start reading the second book in the series.

I rate this book: