Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, #5) in Challenge Overload (PNR and UF Edition)

Sep 14, 2009 Natasha added it

I cannot wait for this book. I know there is going to be a book 6 because I checked it out, but I think this book will be a big turning point in the series. I really hope she saves Dimitri because I really loved him and didn't like the new Dimitri so much. It broke my heart to see the new Dimitri.I also really like Adrian and hope she doesn't break his heart, he deserves a chance. It's hard for me to think of another besides Dimitri but I would go for Adrian no doubt about it. I really can't wai ...more

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Jun 21, 2009 DarkHeart "Vehngeance" rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, a-richelle_mead, vampires, 2010, 2010-best-releases

A brilliant penultimate book - and one that should put to an end any nay-sayers who claimed that book 4 was just filler - as the repercussions from that book were weaved all throughout this one.

Mead provides enough page time and angst for members of both Teams Dimitri and Adrian to leave everyone happy.

I'm actually having a tough time writing a review that doesn't contains spoilers, so I'll leave it for now and just say that it was a fantastic addition to the series and I can't wait to see how ...more

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Sep 29, 2010 Amelia rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, vampire

CAUTION SPOILERS ABOUND!!!

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Am I the only one that found this book kind of boring? Yes it had action and political intrigue and whiney sappy romance (sort of... more whining though) BUT it still seemed like a snooze (and eye-rolling) fest.

I think we all knew that Dimitri was coming back. No surprise there. him playing the "I'm staying away from you for your own good" was ridiculous yet unsur ...more

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Aug 17, 2011 Nairabell rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-star, teen-ya-paranormal, read-in-2013

Rose has been outrunning death since she swore to protect her best friend Lissa and has now returned to St. Vladimir's after failing in her quest in Russia. Refocused on placing Lissa first no matter what, Rose is now distracted by taunts from her former love as he hunts her down. Dimitri wants Rose to join him or die, but when the possibility of a cure arises Rose is soon questioning what cost she is willing to pay.

This is the fifth book in the Vampire Academy series (after Vampire Academy, Fro Rose has been outrunning death since she swore to protect her best friend Lissa and has now returned to St. Vladimir's after failing in her quest in Russia. Refocused on placing Lissa first no matter what, Rose is now distracted by taunts from her former love as he hunts her down. Dimitri wants Rose to join him or die, but when the possibility of a cure arises Rose is soon questioning what cost she is willing to pay.

This is the fifth book in the Vampire Academy series (after Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss and Blood Promise) which is a series I really recommend reading in order. After the twist at the end of the previous book, I jumped straight into this to see what would happen next. The storyline is well written and cleverly plotted, building the tension to a dramatic ending although at times this did feel like it was setting up the finale of the series rather than being a story in it's own right. Several storylines are left unconcluded which is disappointing, particularly in Eddie's case.

The book starts off at St. Vladimir's as Rose completes her final trials in her guardianship training, and then moves to the Court which gives a nice change of pace. Vampire politics take an even larger role as defense tactics are argued, including moroi learning to fight and dhampir rights being questioned. I was unexpectedly fascinated by this, particularly when arguments were made to force all dhampirs to serve as guardians regardless of their choices and even their age.

Rose and Lissa have been reunited but their bond has been tested by their time apart, most easily shown by Lissa's new habit of keeping secrets from Rose which is a total reversal from their roles at the start of the series. Together they are trying to find a way to save Dimitri and Rose is soon put in the position of having to decide what she is willing to risk losing in order to save him.

This is lower on romance than the previous installments which is a shame given that Rose has agreed to give a relationship with Adrian a go. Adrian is one of my favourite characters and I was hoping for more scenes between them rather than their romance taking a backseat to Rose and Dimitri's past. Rose puts their budding romance at risk as she takes more and more extreme action in hopes of finding a cure.

All in all, this was a fun read and I'm looking forward to Last Sacrifice.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 43/50 ...more

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Nov 13, 2009 Jessica B rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, richelle-mead, 2010, released-in-2010, vampires, favourite-reads

I've been waiting for this book since January when I read the other four parts of this series. It was a very long 5 months. This particular installment did not disappoint! It was everythign I was expecting and more. I think there was a lot of prep for the final book in this one, but it was done right. It was interesting and kept at a good pace.

Rose was in her normal "Rose" fashion. Pulling crazy stunts and coming out relatively unscathed! There was enough Dimitri, Adrian, Lissa and Christian to ...more

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