Linda
Written on May 19, 2014
Full review to come soon.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
“We’re suckers for it.” — Entertainment Weekly
Join the legion of fans who skyrocketed this six-book series to the top of the charts. Start here, with the first book that kicked off the international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series. Adapted into an original TV series streaming on Peacock!
Love and loyalty run deeper than blood. 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.
- ISBN10 159514174X
- ISBN13 9781595141743
- Publish Date 16 August 2007 (first published 1 August 2007)
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 15 April 2021
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Razorbill
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 352
- Language English
- URL https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781595141743
Reviews
Full review to come soon.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
Baroness Book Trove
Written on May 11, 2014
Okay so I told myself in high school that I wouldn’t read this series at all because I just didn’t think that it was going to be all that good. After a long debate, within my inner head and of course with looking at the movie trailer that I thought looked pretty good and different but I haven’t seen the movie yet, decided to give the series a shot. Now I am sucked in and sad that I am almost done with this new book series but I am glad that she has another book series out that is still a part of the Vampire Academy world. Anyways back to the present with this book. I know that I made my book review blog a while ago and that I haven’t posted anything since I started it. But here I am with this review that I hope everyone likes. (Oh and I also started it because it was set in Montana which is pretty cool!! That and I also just recently moved here!!!) So anyways…book review time.
I started to read this book on May 10 and ended it on May 11 despite adding it to my book list on good reads(a book site) in January and writing this review a month later(which probably wasn’t the best idea to do). I read this book on my kindle because I don’t have any of them in the actual book form which is quite sad as that is how I love to read my books. Even if recently I had to read them on my kindle as I have only bought electronic based books from Amazon right know but I do have actual books. As I first started this book the thing that was going through my mind after the first sentence was ‘Oh great what have I gotten myself into this time?’ but as I went further on in my reading I found out that I actually liked the way that the author was able to suck, no pun intended, into the book. It was a little bit weird when I first read “Images-hers, not mine-tumbled through my mind: fire and blood, the smell of smoke, the twisted metal of a car.” I mean without knowing about the two main characters, Rosemarie and Vasilisa, having a bond that let one of them, Rose, into the other’s head, all because of Lissa bringing Rose back from being dead, was weird but then you end up learning about that later on, toward the end of the book if I’m not mistaken, and then it hits you in the head, or at least it did with me, that this is what the author meant at the beginning of the book.
To read more of this review please go to my book review site which is here: http://baronessbooktrove.blogspot.com/2014/06/vampire-academy-by-richelle-mead_11.html
Kelly
Written on Feb 24, 2014
I'm probably one of the very last young adult readers to have picked up this series, and only now that I've Read Vampire Academy, I'm wondering why I didn't pay attention to the hordes of fans singing the praises of the series. It was incredibly entertaining, fun and flirtatious with the dark elements adding just a touch of danger. I hadn't realised that so many other young adult authors have tried to cash in on the Vampire Academy phenomena, but having read so many others, the original is without a doubt far superior.
Dimitri may be brooding, moody and no nonsense, but he has the ability to bring the female reader audience to their knees. He's involved in one of the sexiest scenes I've read in any young adult novel, not surprising he's considered to be among the most loved male protagonists today.
Stick to the original Vampire Academy series, anything else is just a poor imitation.
Sam@WLABB
Written on Feb 16, 2014
reveriesociety_
Written on Dec 16, 2013
It's okay that a character makes mistakes. Maybe that's why this author was trying to attempt? But there are ways to pull it off without the reader ending up disliking the MC. It would've been better if Rose had actually had to apologize for it, to Lissa. Instead of her just forgetting about it, because... If I were Lissa... Man, I would be so pissed!
I recommend it, though. Maybe I'll see some character development in the other books so I'm crossing my fingers =D
Angie
Written on Sep 14, 2013
You know all of those brown haired heroines who think they’re plain and ugly? You won’t find one of those in Vampire Academy! Rose is pretty much the opposite. She’s confident in her looks, almost to the point of being cocky. She’s foul mouthed, impulsive, and has a bit of an attitude problem. I can definitely understand why many readers dislike her, but I think she’s feisty and refreshing from the usual. She’s also super kick ass, although not quite as good as she thinks she is. Rose is fiercely loyal to her BFF, Lissa, whom she’ll be a guardian to one day (assuming she graduates). Lissa is a great balance for Rose, and vice versa. I absolutely love their friendship, even when Rose is being a meddling bitch, which Lissa does call her out on.
The plot definitely takes the backseat to the world building, and is actually structured in a way that lends itself to even more world building! Vampire Academy essentially gives us a crash course in vampire history and politics which I found fascinating. This is definitely some of my favorite vampire mythology. Rose is a dhampir, a half vampire. Dhampirs serve two purposes in this world: guardian or blood whore (someone who freely gives their blood, probably during sex). Rose is hoping to become the former, but with her record she may end up disgraced as the latter. Then there’s the Moroi, who are the good vampires. They can wield magic from the elements, but are mortal. Finally, there’s Strigoi, the evil, immoral, and immortal vampires. Of course, there’s also all kinds of social structure and history involving all three groups, and we get it all! I didn’t find it info-dumpy at all, but there is a lot of information to keep straight.
For most of Vampire Academy, we see Lissa and Rose trying to get back into the swing of things after a two year absence from their special vampire school. In addition to the general vampire politics at play, there’s also a ridiculous amount of high school politics. I had forgotten all about this. It is a bit silly, but I found it entertaining. Lissa is working her way up to being queen bee since that’s what is expected of her, while Rose is trying to keep slutty rumors at bay. The teenage social hierarchy wouldn’t be complete without a blonde mean girl, and a broody, misunderstood loser (whom I love to pieces!). Then there’s some instance where dead animals are left for Lissa and no one knows who’s leaving them until the last 50 pages or so where the action and plot pick up.
Vampire Academy is a world building dominated introduction to a fabulous series. I’m so glad that I reread it, since now I can appreciate the following books even more. Do not let the weak plot deter you from reading this series! It gets so much better after the vampire society is established. Rose’s attitude is also taken down a notch by the end of the book, making her more likeable. It also has the start of one of my favorite romances ever! I will admit that I am totally in love with Dmitri and I’m still rooting for him to get the girl despite being much older and her mentor!
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
Mercy
Written on Aug 30, 2013
uno excelente, otro bastante bueno, otro bueno y uno horrible. Este es el segundo.
Adictivo, divertido, personajes diferentes, a ratos predictivo pero en general, me entretuvo mucho. Quiero el siguiente :3
Reseña: http://thebooksaremylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/resena-vampire-academy-richelle-mead.html
mitabird
Written on Nov 5, 2012
violetpeanut
Written on Jul 18, 2012
However, despite all of those things, i found myself unable to put this book down. For whatever reason, I enjoyed the plot and wanted to find out what would happen next. There was a lot of gossip and a whole lot of teenage drama - but then, this is a YA book and was meant to be relatable to teens. Personally, I think teens are capable of appreciating a higher level of writing than was offered in this book but for pure entertainment it fits the bill.
I debated about whether to give this 2 or 3 stars. In the end I decided on 3 because I enjoyed it enough that I will probably pick up the next in the series at some point.
notajammiedodger
Written on May 15, 2012
Was so excited to buy this today :D I can't wait to read it.
15/05
First off I just want to state that my rating of this is based largely on how it came across to me in comparison with the book. It would probably be different for people who haven't read the book. Graphic novels translate very different to an actual book, in the same way that movies compared to books do. Also this was my first graphic novel (I have read Manga before, but it's a little bit different), so this is from someone who is not at all familiar with these kinds of books.
I actually really enjoyed this, I think the artwork was fantastic, and most of the characters were just like I would imagine them to be. So while I really enjoyed this book (would you call it that?) I am curious as to how it would come across to someone who hasn't read the book. At times I felt it was a little jumpy, like they would be doing one thing and all of a sudden they would be somewhere else. Graphic novels may just be like this, I wouldn't know. I also didn't feel as though the chemistry between Rose and Dimitri communicated very well, (from what I remember, and correct me if I am wrong and I will change it) they had a lot more chemistry in the first book. They had a sort of instant attraction to each other that they were constantly battling. And I don't feel as though you really got that from this.
The artworks were all really amazing, I loved how the moroi magic looked. I also how the frames were fogged around the edges when Rose was in Lissa's head, I think that was a really interesting touch. I think sometimes the characters eyes were a little on the small side, but other than that, I think the artists did a fantastic job with this. Christian was hot! And while I never imagined Mason to be very attractive, I know he was described as good looking in the book but I am just not a fan of red hair, I think the artists really made his looks work for him. He was really good looking! The only character that surprised me with how she looked was Natalie. I know she probably looked as she was described in the books, but for some reason I pictured her with brown hair. Not sure why.
Anyway, all in all, I think this will be great for a quick Vampire Academy fix when you don't have time to read the book, as I read it in under an hour while I was on my way home this afternoon. And I really cannot wait to get my hands on Frostbite so I can stare at Adrian :P I love Adrian 3 I also think he looks amazing in Frostbite! I would definitely recommend it if you have read the books and are interested. Great, quick and fun read.