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Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…
It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if handto- hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks.... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.
But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…
Richelle Mead lives in Washington State.
Prologue
Things die. But they don't always stay dead.
Believe me, I know.
There’s a race of vampires on this earth who are literally the walking dead. They’re called Strigoi, and if you’re not already having nightmares about them, you should be. They’re strong, they’re fast, and they kill without mercy or hesitation. They’re immortal, too—which kind of makes them a bitch to destroy. There are only three ways to do it: a silver stake through the heart, decapitation, and setting them on fire. None of those is easy to pull off, but it’s better than having no options at all.
There are also good vampires walking the world. They’re called Moroi. They’re alive, and they possess the incredibly cool power to wield magic in each of the four elements— earth, air, water, and fire. (Well, most Moroi can do this—but I’ll explain more about the exceptions later). They don’t really use the magic for much anymore, which is kind of sad. It’d be a great weapon, but the Moroi strongly believe magic should only be used peacefully. It’s one of the biggest rules in their society. Moroi are also usually tall and slim, and they can’t handle a lot of sunlight. But they do have superhuman senses that make up for it: sight, smell, and hearing.
Both kinds of vampires need blood. That’s what makes them vampires, I guess. Moroi don’t kill to take it, however. Instead, they keep humans around who willingly donate small amounts. They volunteer because vampire bites contain endorphins that feel really, really good and can become addictive. I know this from personal experience. These humans are called feeders and are essentially vampire-bite junkies.
Still, keeping feeders around is better than the way the Strigoi do things, because, as you might expect, they kill for their blood. I think they like it. If a Moroi kills a victim while drinking, he or she will turn into a Strigoi. Some Moroi do this by choice, giving up their magic and their morals for immortality. Strigoi can also be created by force. If a Strigoi drinks blood from a victim and then makes that person drink Strigoi blood in return, well . . . you get a new Strigoi. This can happen to anyone: Moroi, human, or . . . dhampir.
Dhampir.
That’s what I am. Dhampirs are half-human, half-Moroi. I like to think we got the best traits of both races. I’m strong and sturdy, like humans are. I can also go out in the sun as much as I want. But, like the Moroi, I have really good senses and fast reflexes. The result is that dhampirs make the ultimate bodyguards— which is what most of us are. We’re called guardians.
I’ve spent my entire life training to protect Moroi from Strigoi. I have a whole set of special classes and practices I take at St. Vladimir’s Academy, a private school for Moroi and dhampirs. I know how to use all sorts of weapons and can land some pretty mean kicks. I’ve beaten up guys twice my size—both in and out of class. And really, guys are pretty much the only ones I beat up, since there are very few girls in any of my classes.
Because while dhampirs inherit all sorts of great traits, there’s one thing we didn’t get. Dhampirs can’t have children with other dhampirs. Don’t ask me why. It’s not like I’m a geneticist or anything. Humans and Moroi getting together will always make more dhampirs; that’s where we came from in the first place. But that doesn’t happen so much anymore; Moroi tend to stay away from humans. Through another weird genetic fluke, however, Moroi and dhampirs mixing will create dhampir children. I know, I know: it’s crazy. You’d think you’d get a baby that’s three-quarters vampire, right? Nope. Half human, half Moroi.
Most of these dhampirs are born from Moroi men and dhampir women getting together. Moroi women stick to having Moroi babies. What this usually means is that Moroi men have flings with dhampir women and then take off. This leaves a lot of single dhampir mothers, and that’s why not as many of them become guardians. They’d rather focus on raising their children.
As a result, only the guys and a handful of girls are left to become guardians. But those who choose to protect Moroi are serious about their jobs. Dhampirs need Moroi to keep having kids. We have to protect them. Plus, it’s just . . . well, it’s the honorable thing to do. Strigoi are evil and unnatural. It isn’t right for them to prey on the innocent. Dhampirs who train to be guardians have this drilled into them from the time they can walk. Strigoi are evil. Moroi must be protected. Guardians believe this. I believe this.
And there’s one Moroi I want to protect more than anyone in the world: my best friend, Lissa. She’s a Moroi princess. The Moroi have twelve royal families, and she’s the only one left in hers—the Dragomirs. But there’s something else that makes Lissa special, aside from her being my best friend.
Remember when I said every Moroi wields one of the four elements? Well, it turns out Lissa wields one no one even knew existed until recently: spirit. For years, we thought she just wasn’t going to develop her magical abilities. Then strange things started happening around her. For example, all vampires have an ability called compulsion that lets them force their will on others. Strigoi have it really strongly. It’s weaker in Moroi, and it’s also forbidden. Lissa, however, has it almost as much as a Strigoi. She can bat her eyelashes, and people will do what she wants.
But that’s not even the coolest thing she can do.
I said earlier that dead things don’t always stay dead. Well, I’m one of them. Don’t worry—I’m not like the Strigoi. But I did die once. (I don’t recommend it.) It happened when the car I was riding in slid off the road. The accident killed me, Lissa’s parents, and her brother. Yet, somewhere in the chaos—without even realizing it—Lissa used spirit to bring me back. We didn’t know about this for a long time. In fact, we didn’t even know spirit existed at all.
Unfortunately, it turned out that one person did know about spirit before we did. Victor Dashkov, a dying Moroi prince, found out about Lissa’s powers and decided he wanted to lock her up and make her his own personal healer—for the rest of her life. When I realized someone was stalking her, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I broke us out of school to run off and live among humans. It was fun—but also kind of nerve-wracking—to always be on the run. We got away with this for two years until the authorities at St. Vladimir’s hunted us down and dragged us back a few months ago.
That was when Victor made his real move, kidnapping her and torturing her until she gave into his demands. In the process, he took some pretty extreme measures—like zapping me and Dimitri, my mentor, with a lust spell. (I’ll get to him later). Victor also exploited the way spirit was starting to make Lissa mentally unstable. But even that wasn’t as bad as what he did to his own daughter Natalie. He went so far as to encourage her to turn into a Strigoi to help cover his escape. She ended up getting staked. Even when captured after the fact, Victor didn’t seem to display too much guilt over what he’d asked her to do. Makes me think I wasn’t missing out on growing up without a father.
Still, I now have to protect Lissa from Strigoi and Moroi. Only a few officials know about what she can do, but I’m sure there are other Victors out there who would want to use her. Fortunately, I have an extra weapon to help me guard her. Somewhere during my healing in the car accident, spirit forged a psychic bond between her and me. I can see and feel what she experiences. (It only works one way, though. She can’t “feel” me.) The bond helps me keep an eye on her and know when she’s in trouble, although sometimes, it’s weird having another person inside your head. We’re pretty sure there are lots of other things spirit can do, but we don’t know what they are yet.
In the meantime, I’m trying to be the best guardian I can be. Running away put me behind in my training, so I have to take extra classes to make up for lost time. There’s nothing in the world I want more than to keep Lissa safe. Unfortunately, I’ve got two things that complicate my training now and then. One is that I sometimes act before I think. I’m getting better at avoiding this, but when something sets me off, I tend to punch first and then find out who I actually hit later. When it comes to those I care about being in danger . . . well, rules seem optional.
The other problem in my life is Dimitri. He’s the one who killed Natalie, and he’s a total badass. He’s also pretty good- looking. Okay—more than good-looking. He’s hot—like, the kind of hot that makes you stop walking on the street and get hit by traffic. But, like I said, he’s my instructor. And he’s twenty-four. Both of those are reasons why I shouldn’t have fallen for him. But, honestly, the most important reason is that he and I will be Lissa’s guardians when she graduates. If he and I are checking each other out, then that means we aren’t looking out for her.
I haven’t had much luck in getting over him, and I’m pretty sure he still feels the same about me. Part of what makes it so difficult is that he and I got pretty hot and heavy when we got hit with the lust spell. Victor had wanted to distract us while he kidnapped Lissa, and it had worked. I’d been ready to give up my virginity, and Dimitri had been ready to take it. At the last minute, we broke the spell, but those memories are always with me and make it kind of hard to focus on combat moves sometimes.
By the way, my name’s Rose Hathaway. I’m seventeen years old, training to protect and kill vampires, in love with a completely unsuitable guy, and have a best friend whose weird magic could drive her crazy.
Hey, no one said high school was easy.
Move on over J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer: If I want to get my fantasy/vampire fix, I go to RICHELLE MEAD. At first I was like, teenage vampire love story, you have got to be kidding me. But somehow, I got sucked in. And I fell hard. For the intricate world of human and vampire interaction that seems surprisingly realistic. For all the action and love drama I didn't think could get packed into such speedy reads. And most of all, for the snappy writing and cliffhangers that constantly keep me turning the pages wondering what happens next. Thank goodness this is a series! One book just ain't enough!
21 out of 21 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I just got this book yesterday and I've already finished and it is so good! I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't expect this book to be so real. It makes you feel like you're right there in the same room as Rose.
Ten words: Edward Cullen is an abusive retard! Dimitri is a wonderful tutor!
15 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.sj11
Posted Thu Nov 06 00:00:00 EST 2008
I Also Recommend:
Frost Bite is an amazing book. It has alot of twists that you never would have thought of. I got this book on Halloween and I had to work very hard to try and not pick it up and start reading it. So much for work, I finished it that night! Things start to heat up on the slopes between Rose and... sorry not going to spill any more. If you've read the first one and loved it you will enjoy Frost Bite. I can't wait till I get Shadow Kiss.
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Usually the second book in a series is the boring on but that is not the case with Frost Bite! This was even better than the first one (which was good) Taking the whole school & their families on a ski vacation was brilliant. It made it possible to bring in more characters without having to make them younger students or teachers. Adrain is dark & sexy, Tasha is scarred, beautiful & outspoken. Jannie is tough but tender. We get to see a relation develop between Rose & Mason. Some surprises & sadness along the way. But there is no way this will dassapoint a VA fan!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Oct 20 00:00:00 EDT 2009
I Also Recommend:
It starts out where Rose and Dimitri head out in his Honda to go see Arthur so Rose can take her test that she missed while she was gone. Arthur and other hdampir's are found dead. Rose is shaken up by this, and stressed out with everything else going on in her life- like her mother showing up at the academy.
The romantic tension is obviously hard to ignore for both Rose and Dimitri. And here and their they both have their fair share of slip-ups. But so far Dimitri does seem to be the one maintaining the control. . . until it becomes too much, and he tries to forget Rose by running into Tasha's arms (Christian's aunt).
It's obvious that Rose is confused and heart-broken- who wouldn't be when the guy you love is trying to fall in love with someone else? So she does some pretty stupid things that include leading Mason on to believe she might actually have stronger feelings for him than she really does, being cold and mocking to Tasha, flirting with Adrian- a royal- in front of Dimitri, and back lashing and angry at Dimitri (But who can really blame her for that? Gawd, I'd be the same way!)
I love this series and this second book- Frostbite is pretty good. I love the romantic tension between Rose and Dimitri! GREAT SERIES. CAN'T WAIT FOR FIFTH BOOK TO COME OUT!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I have heard high praise for this series and from what I have seen so far, it is well-deserved. The unique vampire society and different classes of vampires is such a good change. Although recently we have seen everything from sparkly "vegetarian" vampires, vampires with tribal tattoos, vampire transfiguration, and even 'ol Mr. Darcy is now a vampire. In the Vampire Academy, we learn about the three different types of vampires in this fictional world. The Moroi are the ruling upper class. They require blood to survive and need to stay out of the sunlight. In general, these are "good" vampires. When a Moroi and a human reproduce, you end up with a Dhampir. A Dhampir can also result from a Dhampir/Moroi cross. The Dhampir are the guardians of the Moroi. They do not require blood to survive and do not need to avoid sunlight. They are, however, superior in strength and reflexes to both humans and Moroi. The last class of vampires in this world are the Strigoi. These are "true" vampires. Not only do they share the Moroi need for blood and nocturnal lifestyles, they are killers. They are Moroi who have gone evil or human/dhampir victims who have been turned.
As far as heroines go, Rose Hathaway is one of the most honest, kick-ass ones I have seen. She is far from perfect and she knows it. Because she is a Dhampir, she is schooled in ways to protect her Moroi charge. This is not limited to multiple ways to kill and maim. The best part of this training is her extra lessons with Dimitri, who even has me swooning. He is her mentor, and 7 or so years her elder, but it never seems creepy or perverted. The two share a mutual attraction and try their hardest to suppress their feelings for each other because it might get complicated if they are both assigned to protect Lissa, Rose's best friend. As her guardians, they must be willing to not only sacrifice their own lives, but each other's to protect her. Kind of messed up, but this is their way of life.
This installment of the series was even better than the first. Rose is such a perfectly flawed character. She wants to be treated like a grown-up, and yet she still catches herself being childish with many things. There are some serious plot twists that force her to look a little closer at her choices, and I love the growth her character makes.
I try not to compare books when I write my reviews, but I can't help myself with this one. I think it's because I read two so similar books, so close together. When I sit and think about Chosen (House of Night #3) and what I didn't like about it, and then look at Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2), all of the problems are gone. Both books are about teenage vampires going to school, encountering boy trouble, menacing forces, and being a teenager on top of it. Where I was annoyed with the teenagers in Chosen, the characters in Frostbite were endearing. The same goes with the dialogue. Frostbite was just more believable for me, as much as a book about teenaged vampires can be. Also,the sexual nature of Chosen seemed to go over the top. Zoey was completely slutty, for lack of a better word. She just doesn't seem to be able to say no. Rose tries to forget her feelings about Dimitri by trying to move on to another guy, but it isn't like she and Dimitri have a relationship. While she isn't being fair to the person she moves on to, she seems to honestly think those feelings will come as time goes on. When she realizes they won't, she ends it.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.i couldn't put the book down, i kept wanting to know what was next, who gets the girl kinda-thing going on. and the jelousy well that was great. i very much recommend this book , hell the whole seires for that fact.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Apr 07 00:00:00 EDT 2009
come on.... Do we have to get abusive about which is better then the other... Personally i am a Hardcore fan of Twilight,and because of a great friend of mine, i read The Vampire Academy and just finished it last night.. It's definitely a good read... I just think that we have to have a little respect for each other.. True some of us may like Twilight better the Vampire Academy or the other way round.. But hey we are don't all love the same books.....There's going to be definitely some disagreement... With that said.... I say this Book is definitely a MUST READ... I won't choose which is better, Twilight or the Vampire Academy Series, but i will have to say i LOVE them BOTH.... IF you're into Sexy Vampires i recommend you to Buy this one..Demitri is one sizzling Hot Vamp.* sighs*
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.irock_ur_socsand_uknowit
Posted Sun Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2009
i gotta admit that these books r pretty freakin' awsome. but there is no way that it could ever beat twilight. i mean, i dont think that its possible 4 a book 2 be az good az the twilight sereies. anyone agree?
3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.RIVETING! wow,now that's a story! what a well-thought out plot and the characters are drawing me in more and more. I could read this book again immediately to get it all and experience surprises and discoveries again, but I'm diving into the third one right now! <BR/><BR/>This was a rarity to become so engulfed in a story again and it made me realize the difference in "an enjoyable read" for like a "rainy day" or just something to pass the time and talk about with others, and an epic storyline that's riveting, surprising, engaginge, and unforgettable. This book took me directions I could never forsee but sensible according to their world of adversity. Sometimes authors try too hard to create the unexpected and it becomes the unfathomable as it flies in from left field. Anyone can create randomonium that no one could expect. But this series has a wide array of ingredients on the table to work with and these stories are some amazing recipes. <BR/><BR/>Richelle Mead has put a lot of forethought into the political, social and dutiful dynamics between characters and their settings and she introduces you the characters in levels of depth like we get to know people in real life. We think we know all she's decided about them but she unveils more depth as stories progress and as characters emerge to take more prominent roles. This combination of dynamics and characters and culture and settings have provided Mead with unlimited possibilities for future writings. <BR/><BR/>Her captivating writing style keeps readers engaged cover to cover without stretching into transition pieces or dragging a good plot. I enjoy a book that fulfulls itself bringing closure to the story while leaving windows open for future adventures. <BR/><BR/>My compliments to Richelle Mead and for her imagination, theory and professionalism, and to her creative staff and editors teams for all their hard work and support in bringing us more! ...and HURRY!...
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.sdkhdthchfsykt6982
Posted Thu Apr 26 00:00:00 EDT 2012
What ruined the book for me was Mason dying
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sat Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2012
Rarely does a book in a series rival the first, but Richelle Mead's got me locked in and devouring the books in this series.
Forget Stephenie Meyer. That series is like a kid's pop-up book in comparison.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.teric29
Posted Sat Mar 17 00:00:00 EDT 2012
This book has sucked me in and i LOVE it, this author gets is so right on ALL levels, this is far better than Twilight in the sense that it is similar but so different....the "teens" are so adult like in the regard that they are working toward guardians or royalty but no loosing themselves in the process.....such a good read!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Jan 31 00:00:00 EST 2012
An excellent read for those who havebeen following the VA series. Richelle Meads's secondbook is just as suspenseful as the first. Through new love triangles and terrifying crisises, a whole new respect has been added to everyone's favorite Dahmpir. Rose Hathaway finds herself learning more about herself and the secrets of the strigori world.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I have read this book before. I enjoyed the series, When my friend Kayla reccomended it to me. I hope you all enjoy this book! Though none of my reviews have been read yet i feel people will eventually read them! :) i may not be famous - but one day i'll be worth millions!
* Love,
Mad-Z
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book was kind of a you read it for a couple hours hooked on it, then your yaawning the next. I liked this book but I loved the 3RD one better. Overall, it was a really good book but you have to have patience to get to the best parts of the book.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.23booklover23
Posted Sat Oct 03 00:00:00 EDT 2009
I Also Recommend:
The Vampire Academy series is my favorite series in the entire world! Frostbite is my favorite among them, so Frostbite is my favorite book in the whole universe!!! It's better than vampire academy because it's more edgy, and it is (in my opinion) better than shadow kiss and blood promise because those two make me sad and cry, and though Frostbite is sad at the end, it isn't sad throughout the whole thing. plus i like the tension and awkwardness between rose and dimitri. it is so fun and cute! I love this book and i recommend it and the whole series to everyone, especially vampire lovers!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This only furthered my infatuation with these wonderful characters! Frost Bite was so emotionally grabbing, that i found myself in tears during my 5th period English class. I recommend it to everyone who loves to read vampire novels. Richelle Mead is a wonderful author, and i love the way she makes me love her characters!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites. It's never boring and the twists keep you on your seat. I love Rose, she's a strong heroin who kicks butt and doesn't wait for the guys to help her. I love the chemistry between Rose and Dmitri and how it's a sort of forbidden love thing. Rose really comes into her own in this book too, she finally realizes what being a guardian is all about and it's not as glamourous as she thought. Can't wait to read the next installment!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I read the Twilight books and the House of Night series and i thought these would be just like the HoN ones since it looked like it had the same premise, but it turns out that it was totally different and really kept your attention. I'm not an avid reader but i have started to become one and i have to say if you like the sappy teenage vampire romance novels this one is it... I really enjoyed these books and ended up reading them in about a week. I fell in love with the characters and found myself being pulled into the story.. You get to really connect with the characters. I would really recommend this to everyone who likes these types of books.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
Join the Vampire Academy and Experience Augmented Reality. Click here and put your face on the cover of a best seller book. Are you tempted? Watch Vampire Academy come to life with your likeness!
Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…
It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling ...