Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, #6) in Nothing But Reading Challenges

Dec 31, 2010 Bonnie rated it did not like it

Shelves: ya-paranormal, young-adult, 2010-books, vampires-werewolve-zombies-oh-my

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I was originally going to give this three stars because of lingering fondness for this series plus the fact that despite stupid plot threads, it did jump quickly enough from point to point that it wasn't boring, per se. But then I thought about it harder and got extremely angry at the book and author and so docked it a star. EDIT: Screw it, I'm still angry about the ruination of this series a day later. It's down to one star.

I defended this series. It had a cheestastic premise and horrible, hor I was originally going to give this three stars because of lingering fondness for this series plus the fact that despite stupid plot threads, it did jump quickly enough from point to point that it wasn't boring, per se. But then I thought about it harder and got extremely angry at the book and author and so docked it a star. EDIT: Screw it, I'm still angry about the ruination of this series a day later. It's down to one star.

I defended this series. It had a cheestastic premise and horrible, horrible covers and I defended it. "It might sound lame" I protested "but this Mead really knows how to keep you hooked. And I love Rose and I love Dmitri and I will be so happy for them to get their happily ever after!" And then this book happened. When a book manages to make you disgusted with (1) the heroine (2) the hero (3) them as a couple then you know something is wrong.

Why I now hate Rose: Rose has always been flawed. That's what I loved about her. She was a rebel, a troublemaker, a flight risk. But she also had a good heart and she wasn't kill-me dumb. In book 2, it even looked like she was maturing. She was NOT running off to hunt evil Strigoi (though she does run after her friends who did). Even her friend comments that she is being more rational than before. And after everything that's happened to her (killing Strigoi, watching her friend die, having to kill the love of her life, etc.) she should have continued that emotional growth. Instead she is so irritatingly dumb, selfish and thoughtless in this book I stopped caring if she lived. She gets whisked to safety by Dmitri and Sydney and what does she do? Whines about how boring it is and runs off into the wilderness...with no money, no contacts, nothing and with all the forces of the Moroi kingdom trying to kill her. Why? Why can't she form a plan that lasts beyond her immediate gratification? Also, she treated Adrian like absolute crap, came up with preachy reasons for why this wasn't her fault and really only felt bad because he called her out. When Dmitri keeps protesting that they can't be together she can't see any possible reason why they couldn't hook up, because the old problems (she was too young, he was her teacher, they had to focus on Lissa) weren't true anymore. Dmitri has to remind her, several pages later, that she had a boyfriend. She in fact forgets about Adrian for long periods of time and only finally breaks up with him to his face because he confronts her. Rose, I'm sorry Mead turned you from a character I loved into a whiny little brat. RIP, Awesome Rose.

Why I now hate Dmitri: Mostly because he keeps telling Rose how awesome she is when she has turned so rancid. Also, because despite all his talk about honor, he STILL hooks up with her while she is with Adrian.

Why I now hate them as a couple: I didn't even care when they got their happily ever after. I really, really didn't. And after how much I loved the Dmitri/Rose ship earlier, that is horrible. I just hated Rose so much in this book and Dmitri was such a shadow of his former self, I just couldn't bring myself to care.

My favorite characters in this book by far were Adrian and Victor Dashkov, mostly because they seem to be the only characters willing to call Rose out on her bullshit. It's sad when I like the villain so much more than the heroine.

Mead continues to be badly in need of editing. What was the point of the Keepers? NONE! They didn't show up again. They didn't DO anything important, they didn't have any important plot-related information. They just took up a good chunk of the beginning part of this book, for no rhyme or reason.

And all the giant plot holes of the earlier book did not get answered. WHY ARE THE STRIGOI SUDDENLY WORKING IN GROUPS AND USING HUMANS!?!?!? Whenever we see Strigoi it does not seem like they have problems organizing. Dmitri apparently had a great Strigoi network working for him. So why was everyone SO surprised in earlier books when groups of Strigoi attacked? I always thought we'd learn there was some amazingly powerful spirit user controlling them or some badass Strigoi had grabbed power and was forcibly organizing people. But nope, no reason. Same with human help. All the Strigoi encountered make it seem like it's no biggie that humans do things for them. There are even conversations (mostly in Blood Promise) about how humans work for Strigoi. So why in Frostbite was everyone freaking out about the possibility? Was there never a good answer or after the third book Mead just got lazy and stopped trying to be coherent?

There's apparently a spin-off series (Bloodlines) which I don't think I'll even read. Mead has ruined this series too thoroughly. ...more

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Mar 19, 2010 Morgan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-read, romance, vampires-and-immortals, paranormal, young-adult, fiction, ghosts

**Kindle**

Finally got around to reading this one since I have Bloodlines from the library.

The only part that irked me was the slamming of West Virginia before Rose has even seen it or ever been there. While she found beauty in it eventually, I would have liked to see at least a passing mention of there being more there than just a gas station = a town. :/ That's true in some cases in EVERY STATE, and far from true in all cases in my home state.

That aside the resolution of R/D *finally* and I wis ...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it it was amazing

At the end of Book #5 Spirit Bound, we heard about the death of Queen Tatiana and saw Guardian Rose Hathaway being put away for her death. Now with the funeral processions happening, they have moved Rose's trial which all think she is guilty for to two weeks. Two weeks before she learns her fate as either proclaimed her innocence that we all know she is or they still find her guilty and execute her. During Tatiana's procession, it seems Rose's friends and family see this as the perfect opportuni ...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Nairabell rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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

The moroi Queen is dead, found murdered in her bed with Rose Hathaway's stake embedded in her chest. Caught in a desperate race to clear her name, Rose and her friends find themselves forced to play detective and solve the case for themselves. Political machinations and motives abound but can they find the killer before Rose loses her life? And what will her friends be forced to do in her defense?

This is the sixth and final book in the Vampire Academy series (after Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Sh The moroi Queen is dead, found murdered in her bed with Rose Hathaway's stake embedded in her chest. Caught in a desperate race to clear her name, Rose and her friends find themselves forced to play detective and solve the case for themselves. Political machinations and motives abound but can they find the killer before Rose loses her life? And what will her friends be forced to do in her defense?

This is the sixth and final book in the Vampire Academy series (after Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise and Spirit Bound). This is a series you really need to read in order so I'd definitely recommend starting with book 1 (as well as not reading any further as I may spoil all the previous books).

This is a pretty awesome end to the series. The storyline is well plotted and action packed, leading the characters off on two interlinked quests - proving Rose's innocence and finding Lissa's sister - whilst some stay behind at court to buy them time. There are a lot of twists and turns, although I figured out some in advance, and lots of plot lines from earlier books are brought forward and concluded.

However some storylines were left unconcluded which I have mixed feelings over. On one hand Adrian, Sydney and Jill are all set to feature in the spin-off series which starts with Bloodlines so I'd expect their storylines to continue, but I've heard no mention of Eddie continuing. If he doesn't I'll be really disappointed as he gave up a lot to help Rose and there's not really been any mention of his future.

Rose has to fight to prove her innocence, whilst also being protected by her friends and family which she is resistant to as they are putting themselves at risk. It also forces her to work with Dimitri and leaves her battling her feelings for him while trying to honour her relationship with Adrian. She's grown a lot since the series started and I felt for her as she struggles to clear her name.

Lissa has also grown a lot since the beginning of the series and in order to buy Rose time she has entered the race to be named the new Moroi Queen. This not only gives a view into the monarchy tests which I found fascinating, but also brings the vampire politics storylines to the forefront and seeks conclusion to them. I loved how her relationship with Christian has helped bring out the best in her and their scenes together were incredibly sweet.

All in all this was a good end to a fun series and I'm looking forward to the spin-off.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 44/50 ...more

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Mar 12, 2010 Sonya rated it it was ok

Shelves: urban-fantasy, 2010

The plot was to determine who murdered the Queen and in turn free Rose - framed for her murder. For the most part, you have teenagers trying to solve a crime…and it “feels” like it. I understand this is a YA book, but the unraveling of the mystery felt juvenile. I really disliked approximately half of the story being told through Rose “visiting” Lissa’s head…if I never read another book using that as a plot device it will be too soon.

As you would expect, everything works out in the end and Rose ...more

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Oct 04, 2011 jodiel86 rated it liked it

Shelves: genre-ya, genre-fantasy, genre-romance

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FINALLY! I FINALLY FINISHED THE SERIES!

I still think the first three books were the best. The rest just didn't live up to my expectations, I don't think. Will definitely buy the first three for my bookshelf, and one day, when I get around to it, I'll start the Bloodlines series. ...more

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