Customer Reviews

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1)

5 star:		(249)
4 star:		(99)
3 star:		(31)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

The problem with most Young Adult books is that talk down to the reader and treat them like a kid. Richelle Mead tosses that concept out the window and paints a vividly dark world without pulling any punches. Fans of the mysterious underworld will absolutely love this fantastic storytelling, filled with emotional strife, teenage crushes, and fiercely dedicated friendships. If you enjoy a realistic portrayal of interpersonal relationships set in a wildly fun and dangerous world with vampires, those who love them, and those who hate them, do not pass up this book. This is the first of a multipart series, and you definitely want to get in on this action-packed installment.

Vampire Academy sets up one of the most fascinating worlds I have come across in very long time. Richelle Mead's vision of vampires is fresh and intriguing. The story is well written with a gripping plot and characters that are both realistic and real. Not only do I feel as though I an starting to know these people and their world, I also find myself actually caring about what happens to them.

The novel is indeed darker than the average YA offering. But it is in no way traumatizing or depressing. It is simply placed in a world that is grittier and more dangerous than that of most people. It still covers common themes from high school. While not worrying about life and death, the leads still have to contend with attacks on their reputations and decisions of which is more important, staying good with the popular crowd or being true to your heart.

This new universe has seized my imagination and I am more than eager to see the next installment of this series.

Rose and Lissa are best friends who share an unimaginable bond, even by vampire standards. Now, after time spent on the run, they have been returned to the school from which they escaped to face ridicule, speculation, and danger.

Welcome to St. Vladimir's Academy, a private high school for vampires and the half-bloods who are bound to protect them. The Moroi are vampires, and the descendants of Moroi royalty are the social elite of St. Vladimir's. The Moroi are at constant risk, though. The Strigoi, the fiercest vampires, are out to get them, any way they can. The Moroi are protected by Dhampirs, guardians who are sworn to lay down their lives to assure that the Moroi bloodlines continue.

Rose is a Dhampir and Lissa is the last of the Dragomir line of Moroi royalty. Rose and Lissa share a special bond; one that nearly assures that Rose will be Lissa's guardian for life. Returning to school, however, proves to be more difficult than either of them imagined. The social politics have changed during their absence and Rose and Lissa are both the topic of several rumors. Their sudden disappearance, their time on the run, and their return are all subjects for speculation. In some instances, the truth may cause them more harm than rumors ever could.

In addition to the social pressures, Lissa may be in even more danger than anyone could have imagined. In addition to being Moroi and royalty, Lissa seems to have special abilities that haven't been seen among the Moroi in centuries. Abilities that make her an even more tantalizing target to the Strigoi.

VAMPIRE ACADEMY is a thrilling adventure that draws you along and makes you continue to turn the pages. As the danger to Lissa gets closer, it gets more difficult to put the book down. In a world that seems saturated with vampire books, Richelle Mead has created characters and a world that is both unique and believable.

Reviewed by: JodiG.

Rose and Lissa are like most teenage girls. They like boys, like to shop at the mall, and feel misunderstood. The only difference is that they are vampires. Lissa is a Moroi princess, a member of the vampire royalty, while Rose is a dhampir guardian who has sworn to protect Lissa even to death. Two years ago, they ran away from St. Vladimir's Academy, a private school for the Moroi and Dhampir races, for reasons that only Rose fully knows.

Now, the school's guardians have caught up with them and want to bring them back to the academy against their will. The halls of St. Vladimir's are filled with the same things they have always been: snotty Moroi, secrets, clan loyalties, and a deathly fear of the Striogoi: vampires who have become immortal and seek to destroy all of the royal family.

As a punishment for running away, Rose has to train every second that she is not in class. Her mentor is Dimitri, a stoic, handsome guardian whom she finds to be ever increasingly attractive. While Rose is training to become deadly to the Strigoi, Lissa is discovering how to be a royal without losing who she is inside. And why does someone keep planting dead animals in Lissa's path? Is someone out to get Lissa, and if they are, can Rose truly protect her friend?

This book was better than I expected. At first, I felt Rose was just an angst-ridden teenager just complaining about everything. But after awhile, the characters began to take on more depth. Rose and Lissa have a deep bond that goes beyond friendship. The scandals that takes place in the halls of St. Vlad's will keep vampire book lovers thoroughly entertained. There is some sexual content. Not too heavy, but vampires are sexual by nature, so this was expected. There are also levels of vampire sins so it was interesting to read about what this society found to be unspeakable. By the end of the book, you will be rooting for Rose.

Length:: 1:56 Mins

I simply loved this book. In fact, when I finished it, I overnighted the next book in the series - overcoming my native cheapness - because I just had to know what happened next and to have more of the characters. Can't wait for book 3!

While Mead's take on the vampire universe is unique and refreshing, her storytelling is ultimately what made this book fall flat for me. The concept is very intriguing, but Mead's sometimes amateurish prose, lackluster dialogue, and one-dimensional characters made this a very irksome read for me. I kept waiting for the book to get better, hoping that the plot would suck me in, but it just never happened. This is really unfortunate, since the plot itself is clever, imaginative, and genuinely engaging.

Mead's great concept is hindered, in part, by her thinly drawn characters. While it seems that Rose is meant to be clever and smart-mouthed, mostly she just comes off as a rude person who is weirdly obsessed with her best friend. Her witticisms seem limited to generic pseudo-rebellious comments and wry observations about how "lame" the people around her are. Meanwhile, Rose's friend, Lissa, seems to lack any personality at all, other than to occasionally cry or whine about something. Dimitri, Rose's love interest, is a sloppily written "Strong, Silent Type" (TM) whose only defining trait is that he occasionally listens to Prince's "When Doves Cry."

The prose, too, leaves much to be desired. Mead has a great tendency to TELL, rather than SHOW, and while this may not be such a bad thing when handling exposition into her elaborate vampire mythology, this tendency causes the character development to feel pretty thin. Furthermore, I feel that this novel could have used an editor in some spots--for example, when Rose comforts a crying Lissa after a gruesome discovery on campus, Rose makes note of Lissa's "sleek, silky hair." Pleasant, sensual lines like that really interrupt the urgency of the narrative, and yet Mead insists upon using them in scenes that should carry a lot of tension.

However, with such choice lines as, "And despite all the assurances I had from other guys that I was hotness incarnate, I needed to hear it from the one guy I actually wanted," one compliment I can give is that Mead has certainly captured the voice of a semi-articulate teenager. While this is undeniably realistic, I personally didn't think that it made for a very good read.

There are bright spots in Mead's novel--I particularly loved a line where Rose describes how an old photo causes "a dull throb" in her chest. Sometimes Mead's narrative really sings, but mostly, it falters. I'm hoping that the next books in this imaginative series will be an improvement (in much the same way that the later TWILIGHT SAGA books were better-written than the original).

With all that being said, I'm not at all surprised at the number of five-star reviews here. Despite the editorial flaws, Mead's world is still original, intricate, and certainly worth delving into with further books.

I have to admit, I'm a devoted "Twilighter." While waiting for Breaking Dawn to release, I've been reading some other vampire/werewolf type books, some good, some not so good. I just finished Blood and Chocolate, Blue Bloods, Silver Kiss, etc, but I am definitely shocked how I missed this one till now!!!

I'm 29, so not a teen anymore, but still a "young adult"...lol. Close enough anyways so I snuck over to Barnes n Noble's teen section and grabbed this cause it was the on display. I didn't even read my Twilight series as fast as this book! I loved it!!! The title seemed generic to me so I was hesitant before I ever picked the book up. I was stuck though starting with the first chapter! It moves quickly and is an easy read. I can't wait to go to BnN tomorrow to pick up Frostbite for my upcoming out-of-towner. Too bad #3 in this series doesn't come out till Novemeber :-/.

This series is soooooo much better than Twilight. I grew so tired of Bella and how weak she was that the Vampire Academy was a welcome alternative. It's nice to read about a sexy, complex, empowered young woman who can take care of herself and doesn't need to be constantly rescued by all the men around her. By the title and the cover I didn't expect much, I honestly thought it was going to be a little corny and maybe a bit superficial. Boy was I wrong. Even through the wit and lightheartedness of Rose, we were still able to see her as a real person with complexities that we all have to deal with. I also appreciated that the love that she felt for Dimitri did not define her. She remained a seperate entity from Dimitri with her own interests, responsibilities, and relationships. Much more realistic and relatable than Twilight in my opinion and definitely more entertaining.

Loved it- I am an avid reader who is well past her teen years, but the world Ms Mead builds is very interesting. I have read and seen tons of vamp fic with royal blood and court politics, but this teenage world is so insular, it kind of reminds me of a Hogwarts gone Gossip Girl. (Definately has a highschool flavor) But imagine it told from much more jaded Ron or Hermione's perspective.

Very little takes place outside the campus, and it so well written that you don't mind. Lots of themes - affluent neglect, social power and its abuses, hiding your identity...all very accessible themes, done with excellent protagonist voice. This special bond between the two girls is powerful and well explained. I love the fact that each girl is determined to do whatever it takes to protect the other, and though they have to reach for it and sacrifice for it, this novel hints at an optimistic and believable series to come. I am VERY impressed. I also loved the characters and clever turns in her Succubus Blues. I eagerly await Ms. Mead's follow up to both these storylines.

VAMPIRE ACADEMY is a fun romp through the world of teen vampires, well-written and thoughtful while still delivering thrills and romance. Highly recommended for fans of teen vampire lit who are looking for something with more substance than the standard girl-meets-vampire storylines. Lissa and Rose are strongly drawn characters with realistic issues and the plot doesn't disappoint. Mead has a winner.