Title:
Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2)
Author:
Richelle Mead
Rating:
5 of 5 stars
Goodreads Summary:
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 Hathway. And if hand-to-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 come without a price...
My take:
I finally see what all the VA hype is about! This book was great, fantastic. I devoured it.
Although I didn't cry like some people I know did, I can understand why so many people thought this book was so sad. It was. For some reason those series isn't just hitting me on an intense emotional level yet. Maybe because I'm reading them too fast? I just can't seem to stop :) hehe
Well I've finally met Adrian and I'm very glad I did! He's sultry and sexy. Even though people say he's trouble, well I understand how Rose feels about wanting to be near him. I can't wait to learn more about him!
There was a lot more action and this one, and thankfully, there weren't as much social drama. Well there was, but public things, not really this person hates someone else and blah, blah, blah.
Rose matured SO much in this story and I've learned to like her a lot better. I'm beginning to think Lissa is a little naive about a lot, but I still like her. Christian I still love and I gained a lot more respect for him in this one! I liked Mason a lot more and I still feel the same way about Dimitri, he's great. In this one we met in famous Janine Hathaway (Rose's mother). I also felt differently about Mia in this book and I started to like her more.
Ok, enough talking about this. I also have the third sooo I'm going to go read it now :)
Title:
Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1)
Author:
Richelle Mead
Rating:
4 of 5 stars
Goodreads Summary:
Vladimir's Academy isn't just boarding school - it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Priness. They've been on the run but now they're being dragged back to St. Vlahimir's - the very place where they're most in danger ....
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi - the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires - make LIssa one of them forever ...
My Take:
At first, I thought this book was OK. And then I started to reread Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare because Clockwork Prince comes out tomorrow, and I loved that book. However, I couldn't stop thinking about this VA story! I must have really liked it more than I thought I did.
The story was intriguing because it's original. At first it was a little hard for me to get all the different types, but eventually I caught on. It wasn't hard. The Strigoi are the bad guys, who try to kill humans, dhampirs (Rose and Dimitri) and vampires, some of who are royal. Rose is a vampire.
Rose is Lissa's guardian and is training really hard to make sure she is assigned to her after school. She's being trained by the god, Dimitri. The scenes between them are sometimes my favorite.
My favorite character overall was Christian. I think a lot of people fall in love with Dimitri because he's the dark, sexy type, but Christian was amazing in this story, and he was a minor character. A lot of the minor characters in this story are some of my favorites! Dimitri was great too and some of the situations Rose got herself into with them left me smirking and even laughing. I'm starting a soft spot for Dimitri as well!
The character development in this story was great. Rose changes a lot and Lissa's emotions and moods switch so much but she eventually starts to learn some things. Lissa and Rose's friendship was really intense. It was great and I enjoyed reading about them together, because they acted exactly like my sisters and I treat each other.
I thought Rose was a little too brash sometimes, and Lissa was a little too crazy, but eventually everything really gets explained and it makes sense.
This story wasn't lacking any action either. Trying to figure out everything that was happening between characters, besides there emotions because those stories were intriguing by themselves!, was enthralling.
I'm actually stopping reading Clockwork Angel to start the second. I didn't think it would bother me that much to stop here in the series, but I can't stop thinking about what happens next!
Title: Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2)
Author: Andrea Cremer
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Goodreads description:
When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer, one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack and the man she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedon? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destinry, Calla must decide which battles and worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.
My Take:
This was a huge disappointment. I loved Nightshade and was looking forward to this novel, but sadly, I was not impressed. I'll do this review as a list.
1. The first half of the book was a huge history lesson mixed with a bunch of new characters. Basically, way too much information and characters all at once. Especially since the new characters were the ones telling the history of the Guardians, Keepers, and Searchers. Meeting a couple characters is fine but we meet a lot of them. And they all take part in the action of the story. Seriously in the first half there was one action scene - the rest history. Boring.
2. There was too much bantering going on between the new characters. I understood they were all like family and I think Cremer was trying to assimilate us into their culture quickly but it was too much for me. I couldn't keep characters straight and all of the off-topic things they would throw into conversations confused me even more.
3. A couple of characters made some choices that didn't make me so happy. Particularly since the choices seemed out of character for them. What happened between Calla and Shay in the garden and then what Ren did when they found him. Both left my mouth hanging wide open.
4. Shay changes a lot. I always thought of Shay as a nice guy. He wants my first pick for Calla but I thought that if she ended up with him I could deal with it. Not anymore. I swear the only thing he wants from Calla in this book is her body. It's ridiculous.
Ok, he wants her safe too, but that's so he can have her body.
5. Calla. This girl just keeps getting worse. It's ok that you may love two different men but you know what you ultimately want. Stop toying with the idea of being with both. I really think Cremer is going to stick Calla with Shay at the end and I think she's just keeping thoughts about Ren around for a love traingle thing. Just let Ren go. Seriously, I would like the story better if you would quit getting my hopes up. It's obvious Calla wants Shay. Quit trying to keep the love triangle.
Even though I wasn't happy with the story, there were still things I did like.
- The new characters we meet. After, finally, getting them all straight, there are a lot of characters I grew to love. I would LOVE to read a book about Cooner and Adne's past life. Or just a chapter from their POVs. Seriously, Connor is a kick-ass character. So light hearted, charming and sly. He's fun!
- The second half of the book did have some good action. Once things started rolling it didn't stop, which was great. There were sad parts and shocking parts. Both of which I was happy with (even the sad parts because you feel something finally after all that history!)
- The Searchers were fun people. Even though the Searchers can kick some serious ass of their own, they are compelling bunch. They were seriously a family and it was interesting to see their different powers. Especially the Weavers!
I will still read the third book. Even though I think I know how things will end up, especially with who Calla will be choosing, I'm still curious as to what will happen with all the characters. I seriously want to see Connor, Adne, Ethan, and Sabine make some moves! Honestly too, I'm hoping that Ren finds someone - even if it's not Calla. Maybe he'll find someone better because Calla's really making me mad.
I can say if there's a spinoff with some of the Searchers, I would definitely read that.
Read this book or don't. Your call.
Title:
Nightshade (Nightshade #1)
Author:
Andrea Cremer
Rating:
4.5 of 5 stars
First, I just have to say that this is probably one of my favorite covers ever! Beautiful!
Goodreads Summary:
Calla Tor has always known her desinty: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essense of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything - including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?
My Take:
I could not stop reading this book. I don't know why but I didn't think it would be that amazing when I picked it up, maybe because of this unjustified presumption it made me love the book more? All I know is I read late into the night because I like to read, this wasn't for that reason, this simply was because I couldn't stop.
Calla (Lily - nickname) is a strong female lead and it's really refreshing because she doesn't depend on anyone, and when Ren (her soon to be mate) or any man try to control her, she gets pissed. Granted, she is an alpha. But throughout the book she's basically trying to decide if she should follow one part of her heart and protect a boy she shouldn't, or follow the other side and be with the one, and the pack, she's supposed to be with.
It was hard for me to see Calla's attraction to Shey. She knew nothing about him and at times to me it felt like she really only liked him because she was written to. There could have been a smoother transition into this romance. However, the romance between Ren and her felt completely natural, even though they really seem to fight at times. To me there seems to be huge sexual chemistry there, and I can't figure out why Calla doesn't see it.
I'm just going to state that I'm all for Ren. If Calla doesn't want him I'll gladly take him :D
The plot was intriguing because this seems like a very original werewolf story. (technically they aren't werewolves, but Guardians) There is a story about love but there's an overarching theme of pack and loyalty. There are also the Keepers, who are basically the Guardians providers and leaders, and the Searchers, who are the enemies of the Keepers, therefore enemies of the Guardians as well.
I knew the ending because I accidently read something somewhere, but if I hadn't, it's quit a cliffhanger! All I can say is that I was so frustrated with some of the decisions made near the end of the book that I almost didn't even want to read Wolfsbane. That changed though because I can't give up on these characters, they are a lot of fun!
