Mead, Richelle: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1); Start Date: February 10th, 2014

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

This Discussion is about Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead




Vampire Academy Sinopsis
St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever


Expect Spoilers

Previous Discussion here

[Logan]

Joining! I caught the long trailer for Vampire Academy at the movies this week and I was surprised at how funny it looks. If the books have the same tone I think I'm really going to like them.

[Jex]

I absolutely love Vampire Academy and am very tempted to re-read this with the group. I still need to read bloodlines so will at least join in for that.

[Sonia]

Well.. I'm biased cause I love Rose in general, but her remarks are awesome.

[Sonia]

My only issue with the trailer is that Lissa's mouth seems kinda odd to me, plus Rose is supposed to be curvy, not skinny.

She gives a lot of fight and has this strong presence. Which I didn't feel from the trailers and pictures. Who knows, maybe the actress surprises me. We'll see.

[Nicole]

Just checking in here, reminding myself the VA BR is still not set till February.

[Anima]

I'm in for both series. I read VA #1 few months ago and loved it, so I will gladly take the opportunity to read next installments :)

[Erin]

Im in! However I recently read VA So I will jump in with frostbite

[Paige]

Count me in!

[Katie.g]

I'm in too! Have the first book on my ereader :-)

[Erin]

Sumney wrote: "I'm in! =) Unfortunately, I don't know how to use spoiler tags. =/"

Hi Sumney, spoiler tags are an html code put around your spoiler that look has the word "spoiler" inside < > followed by your spoiler and then "/spoiler" within < >. Its hard to demonstrate so if you need more help or would like to look at more html codes there is a link to a pop up list above the text box on the right just click "some html is okay"

hope this helps:)

[Ebonny]

Count me in! These books have been on my to-read for far too long and this challenge will give me the push to finally read them. Looking forward to it, I hear a lot of good things about the series. :)

[Paige]

I'm excited but I have already read the first two books and I am not much of a re-reader so I'm going to join in in April with Shadow Kiss :) Is that okay?

[Jex]

Totally ok Paige! Feel free to add comments to the first two discussions since you've already read them.

[Paige]

Definitely will do that!! :)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I am going to try and squeeze this in!

[Krissy]

I am adding this to my things to read. When I saw this, I picked up the first book, and I started reading it. It's awesome. I really want to join in with the rest!

[Kai]

I'm in have not read any of them yet x

[Meredith]

I'm definitely going to be joining for this buddy read :) I've had this series on my to-read list for ages and just saw a glimpse of the trailer... it looks so good I'm excited to read it!

[Erin]

Sumney wrote: "Erin wrote: "Sumney wrote: "I'm in! =) Unfortunately, I don't know how to use spoiler tags. =/"

Hi Sumney, spoiler tags are an html code put around your spoiler that look has the word "spoiler" i..."

Anytime! HTML can be difficult to work with :)

[Daniell]

oh I have all these books already! so all we do is start reading book 1 Feb 10th and how do we go about discussions? I'm sorry I'm new to group.

[Sonia]

Hi Danielle, welcome to the group and the discussion.

We'll start reading on the 10th (not mandatory, since is an informal buddy read).

Since is not our first discussion about the book, I'll probably will look at the old ones and gather some topics for discussion.

Everybody is free to do comments as they read, and as long as we keep them under spoiler tags and identified by section so nobody gets spoiled, is good to go!

[Sunny]

I'm in ! would love to be a part of this discussion.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

I'm in. Never read any and the movie looks good too.

[F.J.]

I'm super excited about this series! I must say the trailer got me interested in the book after hearing about it ages ago so I started reading a few days ago... I can't wait to finish the series!

[Nicole]

Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I started and finished this book within three days and enjoyed every minute of it. How's everyone else going?

[Imke]

I started yesterday and I'm about halfway through. I like it so far, although it's very "high school". I will comment more later.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

I'm going to start it today when my husband leaves with his sons and friends for Atlantic City and when I put youngest on the bus too so this way I have time a few hours to read.

[Renee]

I read all the VA ages ago and loved them. I've read the first 2 Bloodlines and have been meaning to read the next, so plan to join in in October - set reminder in calendar. They are a bit highschool, but still a good read.

[Imke]

Just finished. This was a fast and enjoyable. Like a light snack. I think it could have done with a little less mean girl. This book/story felt more like a setting the scene for the rest of the series and I will continue reading. I love Rose, she quite a fighter and does almost anything for Lisa. Lisa I'm not sure I like her yet, she could do with a little more backbone though she seemed to be growing one towards the end of the book.

[Nicole]

Imke, I actually agree with all of that.

[Esther]

Well, the ebook just became available for me today. Good timing. I am not sure it is my cup of tea but i am in the mood for light reads nowadays. So we shall see...

[Jex]

I'm super excited to re-read this. Started today.

[Sonia]

Well, I'm not going to re-read it. BUUUUUUT only because my awesome sister got me this two for Christmas:

Soooooo, I'll be reading the graphic novel version instead, and will start the re-readings with book #3

[Sonia]

That, off course, if I can't put my hands on till there *grins*

[Jex]

Good idea Sonia. I should check out the GN too at some point.

[Nicole]

Gosh, those covers are amazing!

Guh, this series, it's gotten into my head. I don't know how I'm going to wait a whole month before going on to Frostbite with you all.

[Esther]

Chapter 10. I totally agree with Imke calling it a light snack.
Well, I suspect I would not care much for it, and I do not. But, as my expectations were low, I do not find it this bad. And I am in the mood for this kind of read. A bit too high school for my taste. Which is the point, I know, just not my taste.

Trying to stay spoiler free for now: Rose is getting on my nerve. Lisa is just... I am not sure what really. There too much mystery stil,l to understand her.

[Jex]

@Esther: I didn't like the high school of it at first, but the plot lines made up for it to me. There are definitely a lot of places I just want to reach in the book and slap Rose across the face, but it still turned out to be one of my favorite series in the end. Hopefully you'll find the same for you.

[Jen Hill]

Ooh yay! I am just about to start the third one. Can wait to discuss the first two.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Just got a copy through Netgalley. Now to fit it in!

[Sonia]

Nice!!1 Hurry up, the movie is almost there!

Yes, I saw today that the premiere date for you was the same date as mine.

*counting the days to enter the Academy's gates*

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I'm 10% in and surprised - not what I expected and so far so good

[Nicole]

I think for me it was better because it was different to what I expected, Karen ;)

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

Still trying to finish this book because I had other books that need to be finished for a challenge that is almost done but will catch up with this book while I wait for my reserve for Frost Bite to come.

[James]

I am currently reading this one with a buddy read partner and we both are enjoy this book a lot.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Whoops I forgot to come back to this thread. I did finish the book and gave it 3.5 stars, but I wasn't a big fan of Rose. I found her a bit of a "mean girl" and hard to warm to, relate to or have empathy with at many moments in the story.
However, I have to say this book surpassed my expectations. The vampire world created is a new take on an old concept, and the story in many ways is one of friendship and loyalty, with a bit of mystery thrown in.
I can see that this book was seting up and world-building for a series that no doubt gets better with each book. I will read the next one in the series at some point, but I have a few more in line first!

[Kelly]

Will be starting this one soon.

[CassieV]

Starting this tonight, :) just marking my place to come back.

[Jen]

I started this today. I'm 80 pages in so far. I like it but I'm having a little trouble keeping tack of everyone.

I really liked the parallel between (view spoiler)[ having your blood sucked and doing drugs. I was really interested in the people who have their blood sucked daily. Also, I liked that Rose somehow craves it still. I'm excited to see how this one aspect of the world plays out. (hide spoiler)]