78 of 82 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Awesome book by Richelle Mead, May 18, 2010
This review is from: Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, Book 5) (Hardcover)
I find it very challenging to review this book because it was good in so many ways that can't be explained without spoilers. But worry not, this review is Spirit Bound Spoilers Free. I will do my best to express you the passion I felt reading this book, but I'm afraid it's beyond what words can explain.
Spirit Bound starts back at the Academy, it's finally graduation time and Rose has only one more challenge in front of her: The Trials. A final exam planned by guardians to test their ability to protect Moroi "in the real world". But what worries Rose the most is the after-graduation. She always thought it rimed with freedom but reality hit her in the face. She will spend her life protecting Moroi and her own desires won't matter anymore. There's not only the weight of responsibilities though, she knows Dimitri is out there, lurking in shadows, waiting for an opportunity to kill her.
In this installment, Rose is more determined than ever and will use extremely illegal ways to reach her objectives. Desperation to save Dimitri, while she still can, drives her actions and consequences won't be light. She is not risking only her future and her life but also the ones of people she loves.
When we love a book, we all say "I couldn't put it down", well in this case, I loved the book so much I HAD to put it down and take deep breaths because it was just too much. Love, Passion, Treason, Fear, Sadness, Grief, all these emotions laid on paper in a so intense way it almost became unbearable. At times I couldn't believe my own eyes, events happening in that book triggered reactions in me that are beyond words!
I really love both Rose and Lissa for their very distinct qualities, and even though they are very different, they have one thing in common: they would do anything for each other.
Adrian is as snarky as ever but we get to discover a new side to him. I really like the guy and it's clear he cares about Rose and I loved to watch them together.
Dimitri, oh Dimitri! He broke my heart in Blood Promise and Spirit Bound wasn't any easier. At times I really felt like hitting him in the head to knock some sense into him and even though I would have a lot to say, I won't spill the beans and ruin surprises. I will mention though that chapters 20 and 24 nearly killed me.
I was glad that Abe was in SB, he didn't play a major role but it was nice to have him around and I think he will have a bigger role in The Last Sacrifice.
The end is as usual a cliff hanger, if suspense could kill Richelle Mead would be in danger of trial for massive murder, because I really don't know how I will be able to wait until December to know how this epic story ends.
Vampire Academy is my favorite series and Richelle delivered. Spirit Bound was action-packed, full of surprises, emotions and magic. I was in awe so many times during this book, it really was fabulous.
I think Shadow Kiss is still my favorite of the series because I'm such a romantic but Spirit Bound is very close second.
I really hope Rose will have her happy ending in The Last Sacrifice (even though the title doesn't point that way), she's been through so much, she really deserves her happily ever after.
If you are looking for spoilers, you can stop by my SB discussion post: [...]
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45 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conflicted: anxious for the next, frustrated with this one, May 21, 2010
This review is from: Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, Book 5) (Hardcover)
I don't even know where to begin with Spirit Bound. I've been waiting for this book for a while and was really anxious to read it, so it was sort of a disappointment in parts and I really liked others.
If you read this series from the beginning, you get to this book prepared to Rose and her way - stubborn, impulsive, selfish and unselfish at the same time, high-handed, courageous, sharp-tongued, amongst other adjectives. What you're not prepared to is seeing Rose go back to her old ways after everything she's gone though in the previous installment. She's back to being the same Rose from the first three books just a little meaner and more bad-a s s. She hasn't really grown up as you'd expect, she keeps going head first on everything and no worries about consequences, this time she even puts her friends in danger because of that. Though this may be seen as courage, I have to say it's lack of thinking most of the time. Yes, she's brave, but she never puts herself on other people's shoes. She has her ideas and wants to impose it to everyone else, and when things don't go the way she wants she throws tantrums. I've seen that there will be just one more book in this series and it would be really sad if it finished and the main character didn't get to grow up in the process.
In terms of plot, I really thought it was weak though it had various aspects to it. You get three main locations with specific events in it, the court part was the worst of it, in my opinion. You get pages of Rose trying to think, brooding in her room (or wandering), not talking to anyone, having fits, while nothing really happens. She's always snapping, conflicted about Adrian, suffering for Dimitri, but no action really takes place. There's no big mystery to be revealed, nothing to keep us going. Then, finally the pace picks up, you feel like serious things are about to happen and...the book ends. Just like that! When you finally get involved in a real plot, there are no more pages to read. It's frustrating, to say the least.
The feeling I got by the end of this installment was that I was only allowed to read half of a book and they haven't published the other half yet. If I'd known this prior to reading I would have probably waited for the other one to come out and read both at once. I feel a little cheated after waiting this long only to get something I felt was incomplete. Having said that, I will definitely read the next one.
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25 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing!, May 18, 2010
This review is from: Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, Book 5) (Hardcover)
You know when you read a series, and you get such anticipation for the book that your expectations become amazingly high and then you read then book and you go...well that was ok. Well that was NOT this book! I can't believe all the places Richelle Mead takes you with this story. The roller coaster your stomach takes because there are so many twists and turns.
I really dont want to say much because it'll give away so much.
But if you have enjoyed the other books in this series thus far then you will definitely not be disappointed!!
I would definitely not read this book if you haven't read the 4 others before it though.
I will always advocate for Richelle Meads writing because it is just amazing, and has a way of just sucking you in.
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