Waiting on Wednesday: Week 9

WOW is hosted by Breaking The Spine.

**Might not want to read the description unless you've read books 1-4 of Vampire Academy**

SPIRIT BOUND

by Richelle Mead

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill (May 18, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595142509
• ISBN-13: 978-1595142504

Product Description

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…

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. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows 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 now he is hunting her. Only this time, he won’t rest until Rose joins him…forever.

If you know me, you know I am a big VA fan. You can check out any of my posts and reviews on the previous VA books here.

Spirit Bound reading and me!

Richelle Mead reading from SPIRIT BOUND! Click on the video titled "Richelle gives one of her first readings of Spirit Bound." This is the signing I attended in Tribeca, and when the camera scans the audience, you can see me and Husband! I'm wearing green and navy blue stripes. We're sitting 5th row back on the left.

Signed Blood Promise giveaway

Don't forget, the contest for the signed hardcover of BLOOD PROMISE by Richelle Mead is still going on at Sisters In Scribe!

Deadline for entries is Thursday FEBRUARY 4th!

http://sistersinscribe.blogspot.com/

Blood Promise

(have no idea whats going on with this post)

Product Details Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 512 pages Publisher: Razorbill (August 25, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 1595141987 ISBN-13: 978-1595141989

***DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE READ THE FIRST THREE BOOKS***

When an unheard of number of Strigoi attacked the school, St. Vladimir's academy lost a number of lives, Moroi and Guardian alike... including Dimitri. But Dimitri isn't dead, not really. He'd told Rose that he'd rather die than be one of them. Rose promised not to let him be turned and she intends to keep that promise, even though it means risking her life and Lissa's friendship. Rose sets out to find him, but can she really kill the man she loves?

This book is amazing. I couldn't put it down, I just HAD to know what happened. As with the other three in the series, I am amazed at just how many sub plots that Mead can string together so perfectly. And subtlety isn't lost either! There were a number of small things I was shocked by, but in hindsight, I should have noticed them. Brilliant! Can not wait to see how the story continues! So Razor Bill, hurry up and bring us the final chapter! --May 18th 2010--

January 18-21 Richelle Mead will be in NYC. I'll try my best to get out to meet her and snap a photo!

Shadow Kiss

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill; First Edition edition (November 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595141979
• ISBN-13: 978-1595141972

The third book in the Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead continues the story of Dhampir Guardian (in training), Rose Hathaway. Rose is shadow-kissed. When the car accident that took Princess Vasilissa Dragomir's family also killed her best friend and guardian, Rose, Lissa unknowingly used her ability to wield spirit magic to bring her back. Lissa is learning more and more about spirit, and Rose is discovering the not-so-awesome side effects of being shadow-kissed.

Since Mason's tragic death at the hands of a Strigoi, Rose has been having dark flashbacks. She can't concentrate at practice and her temper is hotter than usual. Being so close to the man she loves and not being able to have him doesn't help her. Then the school is victim to one of the worst Strigoi attacks in history, and everything is at stake.

This book is, so far, my favorite. It's action packed, the romance between Rose and Dimitri thickens and Lissa takes on a whole new level of awesome (and scary). I am amazed and inspired by Mead's ability to weave so much into her books. There is always something going on, even when there isn't.

Frostbite- A Vampire Academy Novel

Product Details Reading level: Young Adult Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Razorbill; First Edition edition (April 10, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 1595141758 ISBN-13: 978-1595141750

Frostbite is the second book in the Vampire Academy series. In this book, we get a farther look into the challenging life of dhampir, and future guardian, Rose Hathaway. Rose is impulsive, crude and quick tempered, but her training sessions with Guardian Dimitri Belikov have started to rub off on her. Rose is becoming more responsible and she's finally starting to see that what he's been teaching her are valuable life lessons. Lessons that she will have to learn if she wants to graduate from the academy and be her best friend, Lissa Dragomir's guardian.

Rose has more than her attitude to worry her: she can't get Dimitri out of her head, even though he may be falling for someone else, she can't stop slipping into Lissa's mind at intense, personal moments and to top it all off, her mother is in town. But after a brutal attack on Moroi royals by the immortal vampires, Strigoi, Rose finds her problems to be less than important. After the disappearance of three of her peers, Rose has to test her strengths as a guardian and a friend.

In the first book, it took my a while to get in to all the new mythology-- I'm a stickler for tradition--but halfway through the first Vampire Academy Novel, I was hooked. I've bought all four books in the series and I'm impatiently waiting on the mail today so I can get reading #3, SHADOW KISS.

This is a great series for anyone who enjoys a little romance, adventure and vampires!

Vampire Academy

• 
• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill; First Edition edition (August 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159514174X
• ISBN-13: 978-1595141743

I've been wanting another good teen vampire series to read, and there are so many to choose from right now that it was actually difficult deciding what to read first. This series came recommended by my favorite book reviewer/blogger, Jess at http://bookreviewsbyjess.blogspot.com/ so I decided it was a good place to start.

While I loved the characters of Rose and Lissa (I've always liked the name Vasilissa from Ukrainian/Russian folklore), it took me a few chapters to get into this one. It's written well enough and it's got a great hook for the beginning, but I'm a stickler for Vampire tradition. Mead has created her own world of vampires, something I've seen a lot of YA authors do when it comes to the undead, and while that is not necessarily a bad thing, for me it delays my interest in the story.

After a few chapters, I was hooked and fully emerged in the world Mead had created with Vampire Academy: There are two types of vampires--Moroi are mortal vampires and wield the earth's magic elements (fire, water, air, earth). Strigoi are immortal undead. They've gone to the dark side and lost their magic but gained strength and ferocity. They're basically the traditional vampire but they now carry an uncontrollable desire to drink from the Moroi. Then we also have dhampirs. While half-breeds aren't a new concept, having them as guardians that devote their lives to protecting the Moroi, is (I hate ending a sentence with the word "is" but for today, I'll deal).

Rose is a novice guardian and she's fully devoted to protecting Lissa, her best friend. In an effort to protect Lissa, from what Rose doesn't fully understand, she takes her away form the academy. The book begins with their return to St. Vladimir's Academy. They're back within the well guarded confines of the school, but danger may be even closer than it was on the outside.

Like I said, I thought it was well written. Mead is a very talented story teller and not once did the book feel dull. There's romance, secrets, scandal and vampires. Oh! And big sexy Russian vampires! Ya lublu, tebya, Dimitri Belikov. What's not to love? I recommend this series to all teen vampire fans.