Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)

by Richelle Mead

[Stephanie]

Originally posted at Once Upon a Chapter

Vampire Academy is the first book in the Vampire Academy series. It is an awesome first book and makes me want to read the rest of the series as soon as possible! Rose and Lissa have an unbreakable bond. It was forged in possibly the most terrifying moment of both girls’ lives. The cause of the bond remains a mystery for quite a bit of the book. It really adds to the plot line. As the reader you can know what both Rose and Lissa are feeling through the bond.

The story opens with Lissa and Rose staying on a college campus while trying to finish up their high school degrees. Two years ago Rose managed to convince Lissa to leave protected St. Vladimir’s campus in Montana and have been on the run ever since. Finally, St. Vladimir Academy gets serious and sends professional guardians out to retrieve Lissa and Rose. Neither is very happy about going back to the school. Once there, life returns to normal. Both Lissa and Rose have quite a bit of learning to make up for. Rose is on house arrest except for school and her extra training sessions with Dimitri.

Most everyone at the school accepts the prodigals return without too much drama. Mia, Lissa’s boyfriend’s new girlfriend, wants both girls’ reputations ruined. Mia will do anything to keep the spotlight off her. It makes Rose’s task of keeping Lissa safe more difficult. In general, Rose would be happy to silence Mia. Not too long into the school year, threats start making their way to Lissa. They seem a little over the top even for Mia, so who wants to scare Lissa? Does the unseen foe mean to harm Lissa or just shake her up?

Wow! This book kept me glued to the pages (errr, buttons as it were) through the whole story. I didn’t feel like it dragged once. This is a young adult book and there isn’t anything beyond a heavy make out session as far as heat goes. Lissa and Rose are very close. They have a unique friendship that sadly isn’t found more often in the real world. Mead does set up a love triangle with Rose and two other male characters. I have a feeling I know where it’s going to lead but I always feel so torn between both men because they both have their own attributes that make them perfect for the heroine! Despite the conflict that I know is coming involving the relationship, I know that the Vampire Academy series is going to be one amazing ride!