Mead, Richelle ; Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) - Informal Buddy Read; Starts December 23, 2014

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This topic is open for discussion of Blood Promise by Richelle Mead




Book Synopsis:
Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters ... Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

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[CassieV]

Just started chapter 11. So far, Rose has run into Sydney (this is who the Bloodlines series follows, so I'm really looking forward to reading that one!). She's definitely interesting as a character. (view spoiler)[What do you think about the spell/tattoo that they use to makes alchemists? It's compulsion, but also makes them stronger, so kind of a trade-off there... (hide spoiler)]

Also, she just met Oksana (view spoiler)[another spirit user. It's interesting to hear that Oksana can heal Mark's darkness, but I'm with Rose in that I think it's a cheat of an answer. It seems too simple for Rose to remove the darkness from Lissa and then have Lissa heal it out of Rose. At least there's the balance that it takes a lot of effort to do, so there's a trade-off there (hide spoiler)].

[CassieV]

Just remembered the twist/ending to this one (the books kinda got jumbled in my head after number three), and it's a good one :D. Read Jen, read! Can't wait to see what you think of this one!!

[Jen]

Okay, so I read the part where Rose goes and meet's Dimitri's family. Here are my thoughts all the way up until she leaves.

1. I feel sorry for his sisters.
(view spoiler)[ Not only is one of them pregnant, but the other one almost found herself in the same situation with the same guy. I think Rose did the right thing by breaking that up. Yet, I think she should have gone back and talked to the family about it. I dunno, maybe helped the two sisters talk and realize it was the same guy? (hide spoiler)]

2. I love his grandmother.
(view spoiler)[ I loved her so much! I thought it was funny that she did speak English after all. Also, the test with Rose carrying the backpack was really interesting to me. I love that granny finally decided she was worthy. Although... (view spoiler)[ I wonder if worthiness really matters if Dimitri is one of the undead. Part of me (a BIG part) is hoping that he is still alive and just being held captive? I dunno. It's not likely. But he stills seems like End Game to me. Rose did get along with his family so well also! (: (hide spoiler)] She was also kinda intense, which makes Dimitri's personality make so much more sense to me. (hide spoiler)]

3. His mother was forgettable.
(view spoiler)[ I liked her when she was in scenes, but I wasn't that interested in her. I know that she was supposed to be a big deal because she is so different than Rose's mom, just still she wasn't that big of a deal to me when reading. (hide spoiler)]

4. Who is this dude who is following Rose?
(view spoiler)[ I know something big is going on with him. I mean, he is super powerful and such. Why is he after Rose? I'm wondering if it has to do with Lissa? Maybe someone (or he, himself) is trying to get to Lissa to kill off her line? (hide spoiler)]

[CassieV]

Jennifer wrote: "Okay, so I read the part where Rose goes and meet's Dimitri's family. Here are my thoughts all the way up until she leaves."

1. I agree with you in part, but on the other hand (view spoiler)[since she really isn't part of the family, maybe that discussion wouldn't have gone well. Also, we haven't really seen much of Sonya to know her and how she might react at this point. She may not have liked an "outsider" trying to bring this up. (hide spoiler)] Also, if Rose were known for talking things out, she wouldn't be Rose, would she? :)

2. Yeva! She is awesome as a character :). And the fact that she put all that stuff together for Rose just as a test was hilarious!

3. Meh, I agree. (view spoiler)[I think she was part of the lulling effect on Rose that kept her from wanting to leave, and was therefore necessary, but yes, not much spark to her. (hide spoiler)]

4. Just wait... ;)

These chapters, to me, were the slowest of the series so far. I know Rose (view spoiler)[is dealing with the depression of losing Dimitri, so the author does a good job of giving that feeling of "blah-ness"....but still, slooooow. The best thing I can say, though is that the ending (if I'm remembering it right) makes up for the slowness. (hide spoiler)]

[Jen]

Okay Rose has been in this room with Dimitri for a while. I'm not really sure how long though.

I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I love the, together. The idea of an life that never ends is also romantic and enticing, no one wants to age and die. Yet, things aren't right with him, I wish he was still the old Dimitri.

Also, I'm ready for Rose to get outta there but I'm not sure how she can escaped. Maybe she will get a visitor in her dreams again?

[Jen]

Okay. Rose has bused out. Now, she is running through the maze. I stopped reading just to check in. Also, I'm feeling a little anxious. I feel like one of them is going to die before she gets out of the maze. I mean, they are in the middle of no where.

Gah. I don't want Dimitri to die. I wish there was a way for him to still be okay. Although I thi it would be a cop out if (view spoiler)[ he ends up getting back to him own self even in his current state. Then he and rose bridge the gap between all of forms of vampires and there is peace on earth. Ugh. (hide spoiler)]

Ugh. I'm going to go back to reading. Although, I am really unhappy that she hadn't had any visits in her dreams, I mean, if they care about her I think they would continue to keep checking in. Especially because the marks on her neck really where noticeable and a bad sign but after seeing them, he still said he would never visit them anymore.

Anyway, I shall continue.

[CassieV]

Jennifer wrote: "Gah. I don't want Dimitri to die. I wish there was a way for him to still be okay. Although I thi it would be a cop out if (view spoiler)"

This made me laugh :)


I agree with you that it's disappointing that Adrian didn't check in with Rose again after seeing the bites. I would have hoped he would. In his defense, though, there's a lot going on back at the Academy, too ;)

[Jen]

Okay. I just finished.

I loved that moment of realization with Rose when she knew that he didn't love her. Also, when he realized what he should have said to get her. It gave great insight into who both of them are.

Also, I really liked this book in general. I was glad when Rose got away, but I have to admit I was a little happy that he is still alive.

I like the idea of a cure, but I also think it would be kind of annoying if there was one. I don't like it with writers create a plot line and then backtrack to undo it. You know?

[CassieV]

Jennifer wrote: "I like the idea of a cure, but I also think it would be kind of annoying if there was one. I don't like it with writers create a plot line and then backtrack to undo it. You know?"

Totally agree. They spend quite a while on that search/concept, and that is one of the reasons I didn't care as much for the last few (there were other reasons, too). I'm curious to see if I like them better this time around.

[Jen]

Overall, I did like that this book had a lot of flashbacks to Rose and Dimitri moments. I felt like I got a better insight into them as a couple.