Frostbite by Richelle Mead

I read this a week ago, I just haven’t had time to write anything about it. I really loved this book. It was great. And I mean GREAT! I read it in two days and that’s pretty fast for me these days. It definitely makes me want to go out and get the next book in the series, but unfortunately  it hasn’t been written yet. Oh Well, I guess I can wait until its written and published.

Rose always knows how to find trouble. And in Frostbite, not only does she find it, trouble seems to follow her around. There have been a few Moroi Royal families that have been killed by Strigoi and the entire Moroi universe is upheaved. They have to decide whether to enlist Moroi to protect themselves or to keep up the current state and do nothing and wait out the Strigoi.

Hell breaks loose when yet another royal family is slaughtered and a lot of the Moroi families decide to camp out at a ski resort. This ensures that there are plenty of guardians around to protect the Academy students and their families. Little do they know, instead of keeping Strigoi out, they need to be keeping academy students inside.

A few of the students decide that they are going to take this matter into their own hands. They are going to hunt down Strigoi that are causing all this turmoil and do what they can to kill them. Rose, of course, has to follow these rogue students on their suicide mission and make them see that they are not strong enough to handle any Strigoi. In the process, she becomes a hostage, sees one of her best friends die, and kills two Strigoi all on her own.

We get to see a lot more of Dimitri and Rose action in this book. Of course, it’s not the kind that us readers really want. Mostly it’s just friction between the two, because it is a love that they both want, yet can’t have. Also in the book, we meet a new character, Adrian, who is like Lissa. He, too, is a spirit user, but has different abilities than Lissa. He can use conpulsion like Lissa, but can also talk to people in their dreams, unlike Lissa.  

Lissa isn’t much of a main character in this sequel, but there are some questions asked and answered about her spirit magic. It definitely makes you wonder what she can and cannot do. Also, in what direction Richelle Mead will take the next book in the series.

This is a must read for any vampire lover and Richelle Mead lover. I was very pleased by this sequel. It’s not often that a sequel is as good or better than the first and this one definitely takes the cake. I can’t wait until the next!!

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

 I’ve had this book on my shelf ever since it’s come out and I just haven’t had the time to read it. All I have to say is, damn, I should have picked it up sooner. I LOVED this book. OMG I can’t even put into words how great this book is. I can’t wait for the sequel Frostbite to come out.

I’m not one to give out spoilers, I just want to put a small summary up. I did want to say that I really like Richelle Mead’s writing style. It flows well and it seems that she really digs into the worlds that she creates. I’ve read both Succubus Blues and Succucbus on Top (which I have a review up for) and all of them are so detailed and just great. You really get sucked into the action and actually understand and feel what the characters are doing and saying.

Rose and Lissa are the best of friends. Lissa is a royal in the Moroi society and Rose is training to become her guardian. The Moroi’s are full “blooded” vampires, while their guardians are vampire/human mix called dhampir’s. Rose and Lissa have escaped the vampire and dhampir school (Saint Vladimir’s Academy in Montana) and are on the run. They not only have to watch out for the officals of the school that are looking for them, but for the Strigoi (vampires that have turned bad that take blood from Moroi instead of human “feeders”).

They get caught by the school and are sent back. They are on probation and have to reassimilate into the school society where they are looked on as outcasts. Lissa has developed a special bond with Rose that lets Rose feel her emotions and even lets her share her thoughts. Lissa begins getting dead animals left with her at random moments. They don’t know who is doing it or for what reason. Rose wants to escape with Lissa again to run from the trouble that they are sure to find staying at the school. The only thing that keeps her there is the threat of not being able to protect Lissa if needed and also her trainer, Dimitri.

Rose and Lissa have many changes and rough times to go through. They have to find out who is sending Lissa dead animals and what they want. Plus, Lissa’s special powers are turning on her and they need to find out how to control them.

I recommend this book to any vamp lovers. It’s a totally different version of the usual vamp story and has a kick-ass female heroine.