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Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)

Richelle Mead

Start date: February 18, 2022

Finish date: March 18, 2022

Discussion: Buddy Reads 2022

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What Members Thought

Jun 15, 2014 Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile rated it liked it · review of another edition

Good, cheesy YA read. It's nothing deep or amazing, by any means, just light and easy entertainment. It's kind of the book form of a reality show. I will probably never read it again, but I'm going to continue with the series because I do like the characters and I'm in the mood for some YA cheesiness. ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Apr 05, 2017 Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Wonderful short story telling the history of Christian's childhood and the amazing strength and dignity of Tasha. Loved it! ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Sep 30, 2012 Trisha rated it did not like it

disappointed. I knew as soon as I hit the part where she describes just how beautiful and curvy she is - how she flirts with everyone, kisses any/every one and...just, it was my same complaint with House of Night series(Marked / Betrayed / Chosen / Untamed).
In order to be a kick butt vampire protector doesn't mean you have to be gorgeous and perfect. It also doesn't mean you have to throw yourself at every instructor, teacher, old/young man/boy within your sight!!! I lost count just how many boy ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 13, 2009 Barbara ★ rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2010, paranormal-warriors-guardians, zz-cover-red, young-adult, paranormal-vampires, x-set-in-usa-montana

Thoroughly enjoyable. This is more about Rose Hathaway the dhampir than Lissa the vampire princess. Rose is her guardian and the story is told from her point of view. I really liked Rose and her determination to be the one who guards Lissa from everything endangering her life. I really hated Mia and felt there was something off with Natalie throughout the entire book. I even liked Victor as a love interest and think he will appear again as that surely isn't over. Christian is perfect for Lissa a ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 11, 2009 Marla rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult, girl-power, zz-2012, with-reservations, fantasy, vampires, series, romance, adult

4.5 Stars. I really liked this book, and I would've given it 5 stars, except I wasn't crazy about Lissa for most of the book and Rose is too slutty. (But they both get better as the series goes on.)

Likes:
* Rosemarie (Rose) Hathaway is a cocky, aggressive, mouthy, super flirty, wild, self-impressed, trouble making, half-Moroi dhampir novice guardian, but she is also brave, strong, tough, clever, protective, and extremely loyal to Lissa. Rose has a personal goal to be Lissa's guardian and is train 4.5 Stars. I really liked this book, and I would've given it 5 stars, except I wasn't crazy about Lissa for most of the book and Rose is too slutty. (But they both get better as the series goes on.)

Likes:
* Rosemarie (Rose) Hathaway is a cocky, aggressive, mouthy, super flirty, wild, self-impressed, trouble making, half-Moroi dhampir novice guardian, but she is also brave, strong, tough, clever, protective, and extremely loyal to Lissa. Rose has a personal goal to be Lissa's guardian and is training hard to achieve it. Rose is not perfect but she's an interesting and tough female heroine.
* Not sure about Moroi vampire princess, Vasilisa Dragomir, she seems timid and bland, but Lissa improves at the end of the book.
* Gorgeous, lethal Guardian Dimitri Belikov who is tutoring Rose is a great mentor figure
* Brooding, sarcastic, observant, social pariah, Christian Ozera
* LOVE how loyal Rose is to Lissa and vice versa
(view spoiler)

Dislikes:
* Whew, lots of language...I know this is how teenagers talk, but it doesn't have to be that real
* Teen drama and lots of it added to political drama and power plays
* Typos were irritating...this is a huge hit series, why wasn't it proofread better?
* I don't know if I understand why Rose and Lissa ran away...kind of important, but wasn't obvious to me
(view spoiler)

With-reservations:
lots of language (a--, sh--, bast--d, p-ssed off, wh-r-, b--ch, you get the idea), violence, murder, kidnapping/slavery, prejudice, aggression, running away, malicious gossip, drugs, sex, using people, self-mutilation, mental illness, attempted suicide, and torture. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 18, 2011 Asmaa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, hahaha, explosive-couple, wish-you-were-my-boyfriend, you-make-me-smile, series, books-i-heart, aaah-l-amour, caliente, paranormal

Rating: 4.75/5

I can’t believe it took me years to read this book and I’m horrified that I passed on this awesomeness by reading crappy books, while Vampire Academy was collecting dust on my shelves for now 3 years.

Honestly, it was one of the most amazing books I’ve read in a long time, it makes all my five-ratings pale in comparison. Since I’m probably the last person on earth that has read the book, I’m going to skip the details about the story.

I was confused at first not knowing at all what Mo Rating: 4.75/5

I can’t believe it took me years to read this book and I’m horrified that I passed on this awesomeness by reading crappy books, while Vampire Academy was collecting dust on my shelves for now 3 years.

Honestly, it was one of the most amazing books I’ve read in a long time, it makes all my five-ratings pale in comparison. Since I’m probably the last person on earth that has read the book, I’m going to skip the details about the story.

I was confused at first not knowing at all what Moroi, Strigoi and Dhampirs were, she started talking about them as if we knew well what the definition of each was, I was tempted to look it up but thank God it didn’t last long. Add the cryptic way Lissa and Rose were talking, the author kept me on edge trying to figure out what the heck they were hiding, their statements were always cut mid-sentence, so the mystery just kept growing and so was my engrossment with the story.

The friendship between Lissa the Royal Moroi princess and Rose her Guardian felt real and deep: the bond that tied them, while complicated, was based first of all on their unlikely closeness, they were so different from each other, total polar opposites: Rose is reckless and impulsive, flirty, very aware of her physique and “hotness”, a major kick-ass and super confident; Lissa on the other hand is cautious, careful, fragile, shy, not as strong as Rose which makes her vulnerable and very dependent on her, and yet they were best friends that couldn’t stand the thought of being separated and could do almost anything for each other. Like for example: running away together from St. Vladimir Academy for two years before getting caught by the guardians. Dragged back to the Academy, Rose is the one paying up, since Lissa is a vampire princess and the last of her line; enter Dimitri.

Dimitri…

It’s the first time that I read about the male protagonist in a YA book being over twenty, and somehow he makes me less guilty crushing on him than the seventeen years old boys (since I’m way past that age). He’s over 6’7’’, longish brown hairs, with a Russian accent and a killer body that fought enemies like a god. I liked his maturity, his calmness, he made Rose seem so childish and foolish next to him; he’s a man of few words, but when he speaks he says things that makes you week in the knees.

Their love affair was forbidden and taboo but not for the usual reasons you’ve read about, but simply because he’s her instructor, her teacher, not only it’s prohibited add the fact that they are both guardians of Lissa and that would wreck their careers and mess with their lives. It’s a new kind of forbidden for a fantasy YA book and yet a classic one and I liked it a lot since the tension was almost tangible between them, building up and building up very slowly and oh so deliciously…

I liked the characters more than the story, which in my opinion (now that I read the second book) is weaker and felt more like a first ground for the next books so it cost 0.25 from the rating.

I want to thank my dear bestie Ashwaq for all her cheering and encouragement and for pushing me to read the series. I love you sweety <3
...more

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Aug 29, 2009 Karen rated it it was amazing

LOVED it, so much better than Twilight!

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Jul 03, 2012 Anastaciaknits rated it did not like it

Shelves: na-ya, 2014

I've been long told to read this series, so I finally got around to it. I was pretty disappointed.

I did finish it, but I struggled to finish it & just couldn't get into the characters, the storyline, or the VA universe. It's well written, I just couldn't get into it. I'm not sure it's Mead's fault; just there was so much hype about how good this series was supposed to be, that it was never going to live up to its reputation. ...more

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