Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3)

by Richelle Mead

Is 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…

• ISBN10: 1595141979
• ISBN13: 9781595141972
• Publish Date: 13 November 2008 (first published 1 November 2008)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Razorbill
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 464
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781595141972

Reviews

Intense. This was the best book yet. Dimitri and Rose's relationship develops further. I think the best thing about their relationship in this book is the way it develops over time. Too often in young adult fiction, well all romance fiction really, is that love is all insta. It's frustrating to read a couple that get together based on nothing but attraction, say they're in love and have no substance to it. The author portrays time well and the relationship develops slowly. Plus they're honestly friends. Christian and Rose become besties. I loved their whole total badass passage.

When we were almost to the other campus, I felt the weird nausea hit me. I called a warning to Christian, just as a Strigoi grabbed him. But Christian was fast. Flames wreathed the Strigoi’s head. He screamed and released Christian, trying frantically to put the flames out. The Strigoi never saw me coming with the stake. The whole thing took under a minute. Christian and I exchanged looks. Yeah. We were badasses.

Mead, Richelle. Vampire Academy Complete Series Books 1-6 . Penguin Random House Australia. Kindle Edition. There's lots of interesting developments regarding being shadow kissed and what that means for Rose's health. And poor Rose thinking she's going mad. She really struggles to contain it all. Rose is even more badass than ever. I loved every minute of it and flew through the pages. Although poor Adrian. He loves her so much and he has no chance. Fantastic book. 5 stars.

[Nessa Luna]

Beware: This review may have spoilers for the previous books in the series, I recommend you not read this review if you haven't read Vampire Academy or Frostbite!

In June last year, I finished Frostbite the second book in the Vampire Academy series. It was then that I decided to fully commit myself to this series; the first vampire series that I was actually enjoying. Drinks all around! I bought books three and five the next time I was in Amsterdam, mainly because they were discounted (5-ish euros each, hells yeah).

Shadow Kiss goes further a couple of weeks after the events of Frostbite. After the death of Mason, Rose's first two kills and her first two Molnija marks. In this book, the guardians of St. Vladimir's are preparing for a six-week field experience; they each get assigned a Moroi that they have to follow around and protect for six days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Rose wouldn't be Rose if she didn't mess things up again; so there's a lot of trouble going on on campus. Add to that the fact that Victor Dashkov is about to go on trial (without Rose and Lissa to testify), and now Rose is seeing ghosts?

I have to say, this book wasn't super filled with action; but neither were the previous two books. It was mostly action at the end of the book, which was super intense of course. I really loved the fights at the end of this book, even though there were some sad parts as well. It wasn't as sad as Mason's death at the end of Frostbite, even though I liked Dimitri a bit better than him; but I just didn't feel that sad? I guess because there's still a chance that Dimitri is alive/there, and Mason was just dead. I guess. I was more shocked than sad after finishing this book.

I believe we weren't introduced to any new characters (at least not ones that mattered, in my opinion; otherwise I'd have remembered them), but there were enough characters to deal with already. Rose, Lissa, Christian, Eddie, Dimitri, Adrian, etc etc. I don't know how the rest of the 'fandom' thinks, but I honestly disliked Adrian so much. I found him annoying in Frostbite already, but he got even more on my nerves in this book and ugh I just wanted him to stop existing. I don't ship him with Rose at all, and he was just so FRUSTRATING ALL THE TIME. UGH.

I also was a bit annoyed at the fact that Rose was just so confrontal about everything. I mean, I love a character saying what they truly mean, but Rose really needed to tone it down in this book. We did find out the reason why she was so confrontal in this book, but still it was a bit annoying at some points, and I really wanted her to just shut up and sit down. She was a bit less flirty though, probably because Dimitri finally kissed her back at the end of the previous book. That or I've just started ignoring every time she flirts with someone. I don't know.

We also found out more about the meaning behind being 'Shadow Kissed' a bit more, and I really liked hearing about it and I loved the fact that Rose is discovering more about herself and Lissa. It also broke my heart a bit, I think the people who've read the book know what I am talking about. I don't want anything bad to happen to them, because I honestly love them and their friendship so much. I am keeping my fingers crossed when I'm picking up the next book (which will happen soon! I PROMISE!)

As usual, the writing was really good and I got through the chapters very quickly. The reason I didn't finish the book that fast was because I was in a bit of a reading slump for the past couple of weeks (and a review slump as well, which is why it took a bit longer to write this review, sorry), but that didn't make me take away any stars.

In the end, I really enjoyed Shadow Kiss but there were some minor things, including one very annoying character that made me put down the book several times to let out a couple of long sighs. I recommend this book to people who loved Twilight and want to read more vampire books; I also recommend this to people who hated  Twilight but want to read more vampire books!

My opinion on this book in one gif: 

”Throughout history, people with new ideas – who think differently and try to change things – have always been called troublemakers.” (Vasilisa Dragonmir)

Shadow Kiss adds so much to the Vampire Academy world. The scope of the series is expanded, the characters develop even more, the political sphere is changing and there are more questions and answers related to magic, spirit and being shadow-kissed along with a vampire boarding school in the background.

Rose’s character growth is impressive. She’s still an impulsive and snarky badass, but after the events in Frostbite, she’s taken on more responsibilities and she’s matured.

Lissa is also growing into her own. She’s starting to become a strong leader and political figure and a terrifyingly talented spirit user.

I also liked the progression of Rose’s and Lissa’s friendship, especially the way things ended in Shadow Kiss, because I’m expecting a lot more character growth. Rose has always put Lissa before herself and Lissa has always had Rose by her side. I’m interested in seeing Rose go on her own journey and also seeing Lissa dealing with life without her lifelong friend and companion at her side.

Rose and Christian have a love-hate relationship and I love their friendship dynamics. They respect each other and defend each other but they find each other's presence annoying.

I’m also such a fan of the sickeningly sweet romance between Lissa and Christian. Those two are meant to be together. This is where I should also admit that I’m a Christian Ozera fangirl.

However, I don’t care much about the relationship between Rose and Dmitri. I’m not invested in their relationship, but I also don’t find their relationship annoying or frustrating.

The best part of Shadow Kiss is the plot. Everything is so well thought-out and trivial things and subplots come together to create an amazing story. From the mystery of a secret society to seeing ghosts along with a jaw-dropping climax and a heart wrenching ending…

Shadow Kiss might just be the best book in the Vampire Academy series.

”Rose is in red
But never in blue
Sharp as a thorn
Fights like one too.”
(Adrian Ivashkov)

[Vicki]

3.5 stars

[Baroness Book Trove]

THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS BOOK!!!

When I read the plot I sort of guessed that maybe Rose is putting too much on her shoulders to deal with all at once but after I started to read the book I couldn't help but think of it as another good book for character development.

Though I do feel bad for Rose who is seeing Mason's ghost around the campus and is the only one that I can see him thanks to her being Shadow Kissed. Toward the end of the book we find with why Rose is seeing ghosts and with why Mason is able to be seen as a ghost on the school's campus.

To read more of this book review please come to my book review blog: http://baronessbooktrove.blogspot.com/2014/07/shadow-kiss-by-richelle-mead.html

[whisperingchapters]

The Vampire Academy series has been in stores for a couple of years. I must admit that when I would go to Borders, (RIP since there aren’t any where I live anymore) I would look at these books but was never interested in them, until they announced a movie was going to air in February 2014.

I won a giveaway and it resulted in being the first Vampire Academy book. I started reading it and I was hooked. The plot, the characters, the story-line…everything is amazing.

It wasn’t until the third book, Shadow Kiss that I really got attached…very emotionally attached. I stayed up until 4:00 a.m. reading this book and I ended up crying a lot. I don’t cry in books; I usually get tears but full-on crying never happens…that was until Shadow Kiss. It was such a heartbreaking book and it was the book that got me wanting to read more and more of this series.

If you haven’t read the series, you are missing out a lot. So stop what you are doing and start reading VA. You won’t regret it at all.

Review was first published in 2014 in Latte Nights Reviews.

[Mercy]

Este libro es jodidamente genial. Todo en él. Historia, personajes, giros inesperados. Richelle Mead sabe como hacer una historia emocionante. Me encantó. Ha sido una muy buena experiencia y esa ultima y desgarradora frase ha hecho que vaya inmediatamente a leer Blood promise. Que por lo que sé, promete ser aún más emocionante.

[Sam@WLABB]

I sure hope this is a trick ending.

[Romance Schmomance]

gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[Nicole Lynn]

Um, major cliffhanger and all I can say is NOOOO!! And I hope it's not true/this better turn out all okay in the end. Gah gotta keep reading!