New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

I have a lot of books that I got this week due to BEA. Those are available to view in my BEA recap posts. If you'd like to see them, here are the recap posts I've posted this week..

Pre-BEA and BEA Day One
BEA Day Two and Three
Book Con and Other Events

I have two books this one. One is a review book and the other was a purchase I made because the book had caught my eye.

21 Stolen Kisses by Lauren Blakely (goodreads)
Soundless by Richelle Mead (goodreads)

A huge thank you to Penguin Canada for sending me a copy of Soundless. I am very excited to check it out.

What books made their way into your mailbox this week?

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Release Date –  June 12, 2012

Publisher Website –  Penguin/Razorbill

Publisher Social Media -  Twitter

Pages -  418 pages

My Rating- 4/5

**provided  from publisher for an honest review**

**SPOILERS FOR BLOODLINES**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series 

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought. 

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

Romance, action, beloved characters, and enthralling mythology is what readers can expect from The Golden Lily.  A new, and dangerous threat emerges and Sydney has a whole new sets of problems including Angeline, and getting asked out on a date.

The mythology is beginning to deepen and become less murky. I am really enjoying learning about the magic side of this mythology and learning more about the alchemist and their backstory. This is something Richelle Mead does really well. She manages to extend the mythology and give you just enough to answer some questions, and yet totally surprise you a few books later with new information.

I liked Sydney in this novel much more than in Bloodlines. She has begun to grow on me. Her flustered and shocked reaction to being asked out on a date was hilarious, and her nervousness while on the date endearing. She’s a young woman being pulled between what she’s been taught to believe, and what she is beginning to believe for herself. As we grow up we begin to realize our parents may not always be right. We stumble and make up our own minds about certain things and this is what is happening to Sydney. The pressures of her assignment, mixed with forbidden feelings, friendships and new relationships make her easy to root for.

Adrian, if possible, becomes even more swoon worthy and captivating. While Dimitri will always be my first love in this series, Adrian is a close second.  The burgeoning flirtation and friendship with Sydney in Bloodlines is explored and deepens in The Golden Lily. The connection he has with Jill provided some comedic moments when Jill was seeing Sydney through Adrian via the connection. Seeing his feelings grow, even as he is aware that Sydney does not care for Moroi is bittersweet. Those who grew to care about him in the Vampire Academy series will be glad he is moving on from Rose and falling for someone else, however, this seems destined for heartbreak as well. I literally sighed and swooned when Adrian tells Sydney  ‘If I were him, I would have said, 'You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth.” after Sydney’s date tells her a gorgeous dress she is wearing is “historically inaccurate”. Seriously, I don’t know how Sydney keeps her hands off him. 

The Rose/Dimitri fan girl in me sighed with happiness whenever he mentioned her, or he received a phone call from her. I am hoping Rose eventually makes an appearance and we get to see them interact again.

The emerging triangle that involves Eddie was one I am one I am not happy to see developed. I really like the thought of Eddie pursuing Jill and wish that would have happened. Hopefully this aspect will be more of a focus in the next books.

While I am not as attached to Sydney as I was to Rose I am still enjoying this series immensely. Adrian and Sydney’s scorching tension and banter is not only well developed but I couldn’t help but become invested in them. Fans of Richelle’s other books will devour this in one sitting and immediately look for more. Her addictive writing, compelling characters and thickening plot all make The Golden Lily a sequel that makes you want more. 

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Release Date –  August 21, 2011
Publisher Website –  Penguin
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  421 pages
My Rating- 7.5/10
**Obtained from the library**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning. 

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood

I read all the Vampire Academy novels and followed Rose’s journey to the satisfying end. I was eager to pick up Bloodlines and see where this journey would take me.

The writing in this novel was on par with what you expect from Richelle. Her novels are engrossing and she makes you care about the characters. I this novel felt a little different than the Vampire Academy novels though. The plot twists were all pretty easy to figure out, especially because we know so much Sydney doesn’t.

Sydney is likeable enough most of the time, I just found it harder to connect with her than Rose. Her demeanour is suppose to keep people at arms length however, so that may have come from her character. I found her pretty judgemental at times, and I couldn’t relate to that. I mostly just missed Rose’s voice.

Adrian broke my heart in this novel. He’s still hurting after Rose. He is really sort of lost, and pretty much a mess. I enjoyed his friendship with Jill in this novel too. He is really sweet with her, and it brings out a side of Adrian that I really like.

I do love Adrian and Sydney’s chemistry though. She does something that nobody else has done before - she showed that she has faith in him. She expects more from him when others expect nothing. They use the whole “he’s Adrian” excuse for not expecting him to live up to his potential. Sydney pushes him to live up to it, and not for her, but for himself.

I am excited to learn about Eddie, and hope he is a large part of the next books. He was a character I really liked when we met him in Rose’s story, but he was always kept on the sidelines.

Getting to know more about Sydney’s “job” and how the alchemist stuff works was the high point of the novel. They group mentality that is pretty much programmed into them from a young age is a little scary though.

The ending of this totally makes me excited for the rest of the books . A certain someone shows up in the last few pages and that really got me wanting to read the next book.

While it was fascinating to find out more about the alchemists and Adrian, it has a different feel than the Vampire Academy series, and it may take some getting used to.

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
Release Date –  December 7, 2010
Publisher Website –  Penguin
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -   594 pages
My Rating- 8/10
**Obtained from the library**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

The astonishing final novel in Richelle Mead's epic series!

Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice. Now, with Rose on trial for her life and Lissa first in line for the Royal Throne, nothing will ever be the same between them.

Saying goodbye to characters you love is always hard. You have come to care about them, and you want an ending that does the series you love justice. I was satisified with the ending in Last Sacrifice (for the most part).

I am sure everything I can say about Richelle’s writing has been said in my previous reviews. She draws you in, captivates you and makes you care about these characters. This novel amps up the risks and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Rose has grown and changed so much since the first book. I felt for the first time that she truly was Dimitri’s equal and was ready to be with him as such.  Her progression and transformation is one of my favourite parts of the novels. Is she perfect? Of course not, but that’s what makes her real.

I ended up feeling so sorry for Adrian. He is totally a casualty of Rose trying to fight her own feelings. I wasn’t too destroyed for him because I knew he was in the next series, so hopefully he gets his happily ever after in those.

Lissa actually surprised me in this novel. She took risks, stepped up and helped Rose. She truly became someone that I could see being Queen.

As for the ending, Rose’s story ends as perfectly as I could have hoped for. Her story seems wrapped up and I felt ok with saying goodbye. Her and Dimitri are amazing together, and I really like him.

I wish we would have had a clearer ending for a lot of the characters. Christian’s future happiness seems to not be guaranteed at the end of the book. It made me realize how much I had come to like his character because I wanted to leave his story with him in a good place.

While this may not have been my favourite out of the whole series, it was a decent ending to a fantastic series. I am looking forward to catching up with Adrian, and Sydney in the next series!

In My Mailbox

This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

I had a pretty awesome book week. I have quite a few new additions to my bookshelf!



Gilt by Katherine Longshore (goodreads)

A HUGE thank you to Penguin Group Canada for this! The cover is even more striking "in real life". I am dying to jump right into it but I want it to count towards my Debut Author Challenge, so I shall wait until Jan...maybe. Hopefully I can resist temptation.

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead (goodreads)
Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday (goodreads)

These were holds I had placed at the library that came in. I have already read Deadly Cool and it's so much fun. A cute murder mystery! I can't wait to review it.

As for Last Sacrifice.... I have come to the end of the Vampire Academy novels. I am a little sad to be saying goodbye to Rose, Dimitri, and the rest. I hope to be reading this soon.

What books did you get this week? Leave me a comment and I will check it out.

Happy reading everyone!

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
Release Date – May 18, 2010
Publisher Website – Penguin
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 489 pages
My Rating- 7.5/10
**purchased**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa Dragomir. It's graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives outside of the Academy’s cold iron gates to finally begin. But even with the intrigue and excitement of court life looming, Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri. He's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance, and now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever.

But Rose can't forget what she learned on her journey—whispers of a magic too impossible and terrifying to comprehend. A magic inextricably tied to Lissa that could hold the answer to all of Rose's prayers, but not without devastating consequences. Now Rose will have to decide what—and who—matters most to her. In the end, is true love really worth the price?

*****Potential spoilers for previous books*********

I sat down to write this review knowing it would be a tricky one to talk about without giving much away. I may reference things that have happened in the previous books so if you haven’t read them, read at your own risk.

Richelle Mead has written a series that is addictive, filled with passion, friendship and complex characters.

The writing in this book was on par with the rest of the series. Fans of the others will quickly read through this instalment as well.

This book felt like saying goodbye. We’re saying goodbye to the Academy as our beloved characters gear up for graduation. We are saying goodbye to their childhood, and they are becoming adults. It gives this book (and the book before it) a much different feel than the earlier books in the series.

Rose is different is this book. She’s quite obsessed with finding out how to cure a Stigori (if it can be done). I sympathized with her longing to free Dimitri. I totally got it. She is quite reckless in her obsession. In some ways it felt like she was taking steps back from her progress, however, there are moments where she makes the more “grown up” choice. Rose really has blossomed into a fantastic guardian, and it’s been amazing got read her character progression.

If I didn’t love Dimitri so much I would feel horrible for Adrian. He’s hurt by Rose’s determination to help Dimitri. He feels the unresolved feelings lingering in Rose. You can’t help but hope he meets another girl that will distract him from Rose, as she is clearly in no position to be moving on.

Most of this book deals with Rose's journey to deal with Dimitri. The court politics I so enjoyed in the previous novels also comes into play.

The stakes are higher now than when they were in high school. It’s not just being removed from school anymore, and that makes for a more dangerous feel. You’re aware that there could be serious consequences for the actions many characters take. It leads up into our cliff hanger. There are different sorts of cliff hangers. Some leave you heartbroken, others leave you screaming, others leave you with your mouth open. This offers the kind of cliff hanger that shocks you. I am so glad I have Last Sacrifice ready to go because I don’t think I can wait very long to read it.

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
Release Date – August 5, 2005
Publisher – Razorbill (Penguin Group)
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 503 pages
My Rating- 8/10
**obtained from the library**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

****WARNING! SPOILERS FOR SHADOW KISS!!!! RUN AWAY IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT ****

After the cliffhanger in Shadow Kiss I was eager to dive into this next instalment of the Vampire Academy series. I was breathless waiting to see how Rose would deal with Dimitri being turned Strigoi.

This book had a different feel to the previous novels in the series. I am not sure if it’s Rose is different, or just a shift in writing style, but it felt different. I almost look at the first 3 as one part of the story, with the next three being more linked together. The writing style is still gripping, and you are compelled right from the first page.

Rose has left school, and is on a quest to keep her promise to Dimitri. They had both said that would not want to live as Strigoi and she wanted to make sure he didn’t. The Rose we meet in this book is understandably broken, but focused and a little reckless. After three books with these characters we’ve come to care for them, and it was rough seeing Rose so lost. She’s cut herself off from everyone, and keeps tabs on Lissa by using the bond they share.

Lissa was slightly less likeable in this novel. She was missing Rose a lot and did things that are out of character for her. The fact that Rose and Lissa are not together really changes the dynamic of the book, and not for the better. I hope they stick together in the next books, because they do need each other.

Christian, as always, remains awesome. Adrian is really growing on me. I am at the point that if Rose can’t have Dimitri Adrian will be a suitable second choice.

Which brings me to Dimitri. Sigh….If I didn’t love him already. This new, Strigoi Dimitri is hotter in a way. It breaks my heart that he is this way though. I can’t say too much about how much interaction he and Rose have, but their chemistry is palpable.

We are introduced to some new characters as well. Dimitri’s large family, some new friends in Mark and Oksana. I really liked Mark and Oksana and think Rose and Lissa would have a lot to learn from them. I also enjoyed Sydney.

There are plenty of heart breaking scenes in this novel. Rose telling Dimitri’s family what happened to him comes to mind.

The ending makes you anxious to read the next book. It shows how far Rose is willing to go for Dimitri and I am curious to know how it’ll play out.

This series is one that can not be missed. Rose is an amazing heroine, and taking this journey with her has been spellbinding.

In My Mailbox

This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

I had an epic book week. I got three books in total.

The first book was one that I won in a Goodreads contest. I was so excited when it showed up I scared my cat. She ran and hid under my bed. I was a little excited.



Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (Goodreads)

I have already started reading it, and it's perfection. I am loving it so far, and Magnus Bane is forever my favourite

A huge thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the contest.

I also got two books from the library. My stupid camera is not working right now so you will have to settle for cover pictures from Goodreads.






Anna Dressed in Blood By Kendare Blake (Goodreads)
Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead (Goodreads)

I have heard nothing but amazing things about Anna Dressed in Blood. It is going to be my next read after Clockwork Prince, and it'll fit perfectly with Halloween.

I am loving the Vampire Academy series, and can not wait to dive into this one.

What books did you get this week? Leave me a comment and I will check it out.

Happy reading everyone!

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
Release Date – November 13, 2008
Publisher – Penguin
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 443 pages
My Rating- 9.5/10
**obtained from the library**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Rose's fate to kill the person she loves most? It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since Mason's death, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She has dark flashbacks in the middle of practice, can't concentrate in class, and has terrifying dreams about Lissa. But Rose has an even bigger secret .... She's in love with Dimitri. And this time, it's way more than a crush. Then Strigoi target the academy in the deadliest attack in Moroi history, and Dimitri is taken. Rose must protect Lissa at all costs, but keeping her best friend safe could mean losing Dimitri forever...

After finished Shadow Kiss I wanted to scream. I want to cry and scream some more. Not only did I not have book four available to read immediately, but my heart had just been shattered.

If you’ve read this book you’ll know exactly what I am talking about. Richelle basically rips your heart out….you love it, but it hurts just the same. This storyline set ups what I am sure is a intense journey for our favourite Dhampir. It was a moment that will change EVERYTHING for the next few books.

The writing in this novel is as good as the previous two. Action paced, and full of emotion. You become invested in these characters and the outcome of their story.

Christian really grew on me during this book. I liked him well enough in the previous books, but I adore him after this book. He and Rose make one bad ass team. The whole “Moroi should be able to fight” debate intrigues me. I think Christian shows what a Moroi can do and what they could bring to the battle against the Strigoi.

Rose is more fragile in this book. We see what Mason’s death has done to her, and we learn a great deal more about what being Shadow Kissed means for Rose. We also start to look at what being a guardian means to Rose, and what she is willing to sacrifice for her job. She is maturing quite a bit, but there is still that rebellious, quick witted girl I liked from the first books.

I enjoy Adrian’s character a lot as well. He is funny, and keeps Rose on her toes. She’s meant to be with Dimitri, but I enjoy their interactions. I hope that he and Lissa learn more about their magic and what exactly they can do.

Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series keeps getting better with each book. I am so invested in these characters, and the storylines that Richelle has created. If you haven’t read any of these books yet, do so immediately.

In My Mailbox

This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

I had a really slow book week. I got one book from the library. My camera is out of battery and needs to charge so I will just post a photo of the cover.



Blood Promise by Richelle Mead (goodreads)

Super excited to start this one! I am loving this series.

What books did you get this week? Leave me a comment and I will check it out.

Happy reading everyone!

In My Mailbox

This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

I got a few fun things in my mailbox this week.

First something non book related. I LOVE Gremlins. The movie brings back memories of sitting and watching it with my sisters and I've always loved Gizmo.

One of my sweet penpals (who is really now more of a friend) sent me a present. A Christmas ornament of Gizmo!! It's seriously the cutest thing ever and I squealed when I got it in the mail.



He is so cute he will be in all my pictures this week :)

So I got 2 books this week.






Purchased -

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (goodreads)


From the library -

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead (goodreads)

So I pre-ordered 2 copies of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and ONE of them was shipped early. I am not sure when the second one will arrive (I expect this coming week) so you can expect to see it again.

I have read Shadow Kiss and LOVED it. This series just gets better and better. My heart was kind of broken at the end of this one though. :(

What books did you get this week? Leave me a comment and I will check it out.

Happy reading everyone!

Frostbite - Vampire Academy #2 by Richelle Mead

Frostbite by Richelle Mead
Release Date – April 10, 2008
Publisher – Razorbill
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 327
My Rating- 9/10
Obtained - from the library

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…

It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians—including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks… This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.
But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…

There will be spoilers for Vampire Academy, so if you haven’t read it you may want to wait to read this review. For more information on Vampire Academy you can read my review.

Frostbite returns us to the characters we know and love from Vampire Academy. The characters are ones that you fall in love with. I realized I am now fully invested in Rose, Lissa and the rest. I love that Richelle is able to make us care about the fate of these characters and has us hoping for some form of happiness for them.

Rose’s character is a good balance between the rough, snarky girl we know and the woman she is growing into. She’s changing, and her character growth is amazing. I wish more novels had such an arc for major characters. Her training classes with Dimitri are having a impact in more ways than the physical. Dimitri is still his wonderful, smart, sane self. The chemistry between Rose and Dimitri is electric, and you can’t help by root for them.

Lissa is still the same sweet Lissa from the first book. She is less unhappy, and eager to learn more about her unique powers. I love her and Christian together. Christian is one of my favourites. He’s so haunted by his past, and hurt. I love that Lissa is so good for him and that he is good for her.

The introduction of some new characters spices things up and creates some interesting potential for the upcoming books. Adrian Ivashkov is the most prominent addition. He is snarky, has some great one liners, and can keep Rose on her toes. I love that there is someone that can verbally match Rose’s banter, and look forward to seeing more of him later novels.

In Vampire Academy the fact that the Moroi can use magic was important in the first book, but it plays a major role in this book. The politics of the Moroi society are fascinating to me and I can’t understand why the idea of using the Moroi’s power to fight the Strigoi had not been discussed and implemented.

This series is quickly becoming one of my favourites, and my only complaint is not having book three to dive into right away. Richelle has left enough questions to keep me coming back, answered enough of them to satisfy me, and introduced elements (and characters… I am looking at you Adrian) that I can see causing troubles for some of my favourites. Sigh…Why did I wait so long to start this series? If you haven’t yet please fix this immediately, you won’t regret it.

In My Mailbox

This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

I got a few books this week (mostly from the library.





For review

Everything We Ever Wanted by Sara Shepard (goodreads)

Thanks HarperCollins Canada (especially Shannon). I am going to be doing something exciting with this book in Oct, so look forward to that.

From the Library:

Frostbite by Richelle Mead (goodreads)
Ten Things We Did and Probably Shouldn't Have by Sarah Mlynowski(goodreads)

I am so behind in reading the Vampire Academy series. I am almost finished Frostbite and am loving it!

What books did you get this week? Leave me a comment and I will check it out.

Happy reading everyone!

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Release Date – August 16, 2007
Publisher – Razorbill
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 332
My Rating- 9.5 /10
Obtained - purchased

Here is the Goodreads 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.

This is a series that I have heard so much about. I am not really sure why I haven’t read it already, but I am really glad I decided to.

Richelle’s writing is the type that will pull you in. It makes you want to keep reading. I was instantly attached to these characters and the world they live in. The twists and reveals kept me guessing and turning the pages as fast as I could to find out what would happen next.

I found the premise of two different types of vampires really unique, and interesting. It made for a different spin on the typical vampire tale. The difference between the two being born vampires (Moroi) vs. made vampires (Strigoi). It provided a nice political side to the story that I hope is continued in the next books.

The characters we are introduced to during the novel are well developed, and complex.

I enjoyed Rose Hathaway a lot. She’s brave, strong, hard working, and capable. She has some sassiness, and sexuality to her which is refreshing to see. She doesn’t shy away from being tough and being feminine at the same time. She provided a lot of the humour in the novel, and some of her quotes are now among my favourites.

Lissa was very sweet, devoted to doing what her family would want her to, loyal, and strong in her own way. She is a Vampire Princess and the stress of what is expected of her is evident throughout the book.

The relationship between Rose and Lissa was one of my favourite things about this book. They have a true friendship that is built on mutual respect, loyalty and genuine affection for each other. I am curious to see how deep the bond between the two girls will go in the subsequent books. I have a feeling we are just scratching the surface of the connection they now share.

No story would be complete without some romance and it is delivered in this book in the form of two pretty awesome love interests. Dimitri and Christian. Dimitri is Rose’s teacher. The chemistry between them literally burns through the pages. It’s delicious. I couldn’t wait for them to give in and FINALLY kiss. Christian seems really sweet, and definitely wants to protect Lissa as well. I am curious to see how their relationship will change after the ending of this book.

Now that I have finally given in and read book one of this series my only regret is that I do not have book two ready and waiting for me to read. If you haven’t started this series yet, do so immediately.