Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Apr 14, 2013 Colleen Scidmore rated it really liked it

Shelves: part-of-a-series, drama, suspenseful, fiesty-female-mc-s, overcoming-obstacles, currently-on-my-computer, currently-on-google-drive, books-read-in-2017, dark, young-adult

This is a re-read for me and I'm not sure why I put it off for so long. I had forgotten how much I really liked it I guess.
This is also the second book in a row that I've read where the hot guy is named Dimitri. Must be a popular name for love interests!

Rose is a teenage Damphir, a half Moroi (vampire) and half human. She is attending The Vampire Academy to become a Guardian (a protector) for the Moroi against the Strigoi. Strigoi were once Moroi but have either chosen to become or were turned This is a re-read for me and I'm not sure why I put it off for so long. I had forgotten how much I really liked it I guess.
This is also the second book in a row that I've read where the hot guy is named Dimitri. Must be a popular name for love interests!

Rose is a teenage Damphir, a half Moroi (vampire) and half human. She is attending The Vampire Academy to become a Guardian (a protector) for the Moroi against the Strigoi. Strigoi were once Moroi but have either chosen to become or were turned by another Strigoi and become a different type of vampire. They are now immortal, completely different from their Moroi counterparts without morals, they have heightened strength and crave the blood of the Moroi. But Rose is not in training to be any Vampires guardian, she is training to be Princess Vasilisa Dragomir's protector.
Lissa is a royal Moroi who also happens to be Rose's best friend and with whom she shares an unusual bond in which Rose can enter her thoughts and feel her energy.
Rose has to protect Lissa from an ominous presence at The Academy that seems to be stalking her, some seriously bitchy little twit name Mia who is gunning for Lissa and Rose for no apparent reason, and keep her away from Christian the creepy loner who is the orphan child of Moroi turned Strigoi parents. On top of all that she has to train round the clock if she's even to be considered as a candidate to be Lissa's Guardian and try to keep her mind off her seriously hot older, Russian mentor and trainer Dimirti.

I really liked how loyal Rose and Lissa were to each other and it wasn't a Guardian and Moroi relationship, it was a best friend bond. I was reminiscing of my really close friends through high school.
I liked Rose in general she is the strong, sassy type of character that I like. I don't like damsels in distress and Rose definitely is not that. I wish that Lissa's character made more of an impression on me but I don't really feel like her personality was developed enough. Hopefully it will come out as the series progresses.
And the attraction with Rose and Dimirti kept me interested. It was just the right amount of heat for a YA book. I hope there is a continuation in the second book!

I'm looking forward to reading Frostbite and to seeing what's in store for Rose, Lissa, Christian and Dimitri. ...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Dichotomy Girl rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017, 2019, 2012, own-kindle-read, paranormal-or-spec, favorites-previous-years, 2013, 2024

Original Review: 3/5/12

I avoided this series for several years, confusing the Author with the Author of the House of Night series, of which I read the first book and didn't like it.

I was intrigued by the world building, and the different races of vampires: Moroi (living (and good) Vampires), the Strigoi (undead (evil) vampires, and Dhampir Guardians (Half Vampires).

These isn't much unexplored territory in the vampire world, so it's nice to find an author that make it feel fresh. ...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Asmaa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, series, books-i-heart, aaah-l-amour, hahaha, caliente, paranormal, wish-you-were-my-boyfriend, you-make-me-smile, z-2012-reads

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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Jan 05, 2011 Lisarenee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal

Rose and Liss ran away from friends, family, and the vampire academy two years ago. Rose is Liss' guardian, although that title is not official. She hasn't completed her training yet. Just when they were starting to feel comfortable in their new life, they get caught by the academy. The reason they ran two years ago was they felt Liss' life was in danger. The feeling of being watched and a feeling of ill ease is what prompted the two to make their escape. Now stepping back into their old life th ...more

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Apr 19, 2014 Melinda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Its been a really long time since I got lost in a vampire world. Looking forward in reading more of this series. I was surprised at how quickly I read this book. It kept my interest that I kept wanting to read when I should have been sleeping.

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Sep 25, 2010 Michelle rated it liked it

Shelves: richelle-mead, read-march-2011

I struggled with this in the beginning, I wasn't loving it as much as I expected too. I did enjoy the last 1/3 of it though. I will be reading the next 2 before I make up my mind completely! ...more

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