Reviewed by Nessa Luna on
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:
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 10 February, 2016: Finished reading
- 10 February, 2016: Reviewed