November '10 BotM: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

[Kathleen]

Please post comments and discussion here for the November '10 Book of the Month:


Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1) - Richelle Mead


(Selected by Kami, Kristie, Liz, Kathleen, and Karen)

[Kristie]

I've already read this whole series, all but the last book since it doesn't come out until December, but I can't wait to start again. I'm not a very big YA fan but this is one of my favorite series.

I just started reading Vampire Academy last night and I really love it. Is anyone else going to read this one?

[Kathleen]

I hope to start it soon.

[Kristie]

Well...I read the first book and then I couldn’t stop myself, I read the rest of the series. I can't wait for Last Sacrifice to come out. Dec. 7th seems so far away! Agh! But I really do love this series.

[Kathleen]

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1) by Richelle Mead is an interesting twist on traditional vampires. The vampires in this book are mortals called Moroi. They only become immortal undead Strigoi if they bite and drain a another person or if they are forcefully turned by being bitten by a Strigoi. Vampires are protected by dhampir bodyguards called guardians. Dhampirs were originally created when vampires mated with humans. Dhampirs share some of the vampires' characteristics, but don't need blood and can go out in daylight. Dhampirs are sort of like mules in that they can't reproduce with humans or other dhampirs, but can reproduce with vampires. The child will always be another dhampir no matter how many generations ago the original human mated with that child's vampire ancestor. Vampire females rarely produce a child with a dhampir male. It is more common for dhampir children to have a vampire father and dhampir mother. These children are usually illegitimate and take the last name of their dhampir mother. Dhampirs guard vampires because they see it as the only way that their race will reproduce. Dhampirs, just as vampires, can be forcefully turned into Strigoi.

Book 1 in the Vampire Academy series centers around Rose Hathaway, a dhampir who is dedicated to guarding her best friend, Vasilisa Dragomir, a Moroi royal. Lots of high school angst mixed with vampire politics. Good teens, bad teens, and selfish teens who you hope will gain maturity as they grow older. Rose is the central character of the series. I liked both girls, including Lissa, despite the issues with which she was dealing. I see a lot of potential for growth in these girlfriends. I was uncomfortable with 20-something Demetri's interest in teenage Rose. He handled it completely appropriately, but he is her dhampir guardian mentor. I would like to see this subplot take a different direction. Overall I would give this book four stars.

[Kristie]

I just read the last book in the series Last Sacrifice. It was SOOO good. I was really bummed that the series is over but there is a spin off series that comes out next summer. Yah!!!