Vampire Academy: Book Review

Title: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Vampire Academy, Book 1
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: 2007
Format: Paperback
Pages: 332
Source: Bought
My Rating: 4 stars

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any 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 Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’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. Taken from Goodreads.com.

I have been hearing about Vampire Academy for a long time but I never picked it up for some reason. The covers of these books aren't so inviting but that wasn't really the reason but I'm glad to pick it up finally after having it for a year sitting on my bookshelf. I have to thank Melissa for that at Paranormally Romanced for making me read it. Thanks Melissa!

It's been a while since I read a book with such a kick-ass character. Rose was confident and blunt forward for anything she had in mind. She was a loyal friend and would do anything to protect Lisa. It was a relief for once to find out that the protagonists' best friend is actually a friend to them.

The story was a little hard to follow with the different kind of vampires, the good (Moroi Vampires) and the bad ones (Strigoi Vampires) and of course the guardians that protect Moroi vampires. Rose is training to become a guardian and hopes to be Lisa's guardian. The story is fast paced and I turned each page eagerly to learn what happens next. I liked Rose and Lisa. They sort of completed each other and that helped them a lot along the way.

The romance in this book wasn't what I was expecting. Everybody seems to be talking about Dimitri and I must admit it was one of the reasons I picked up this book, to find out about him. There aren't a lot of scenes with him and the scenes where we see him in are mostly the ones that he trains Rose. So you basically get to see them both and how they interact with each other. I didn't see the connection between them or liked Dimitri. I didn't dislike him either he was just.... there. I would say that I'm 'neutral' about him but I have 5 more books so you never know. Sorry Melissa if you're reading this you are probably planning my death. :) I tried! Saying that though I must also say that I haven't given up. I'll read the next books, which I plan soon, and see if I get to know more about Dimitri because you barely do in this book.

There is also another love story in this book and it's between Lisa and Christian which I loved! I just wished I could see more of Christian and Lisa. I wouldn't think it could be possible but through the connection Rose and Lissa have, Rose can enter Lisa's mind and see and feel whatever Lisa is doing and feeling. So through those few moments we get to see and know more about Lisa.

Overall I loved the book. At first when I picked up this book I though I was holding a good romance involving vampires. Now when I hold the book, I'm thinking of holding a good kick-ass book. If you haven't read it and you have doubts about it don't worry just pick it up!

Frosy

Beastly >> Book Review

Title: Beastly 
Author: Alex Flinn
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 2007
Format: e-book
Source: gift
My Rating: 3 stars


Synopsis
I am a beast. 

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster. 

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell. 

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.




My Review
I saw that there is going to be a movie based on this book so I though I should read this before going to see it.

It is a retelling of the fairytale story Beauty and the Beast. I never liked Beauty and the Beast as a kid. I have seen all the Disney movies but never really felt something about this story, except for the little mermaid... I loved that one!
Anyway so I thought why not read this book. I may actually like the story if it is on today's terms.

It's about a boy named Kyle and he is obsessed with his own vanity. He thinks, people that are less than perfect don't deserve any attention at all. And perfect, by his terms, is anyone who has money and beauty.
He doesn't behave nice to people that aren't perfect like him but a witch comes to put an end to that.

Sendra, is a witch that has been watching him for a while and feels discussed by what he is doing.... so she decides to give him a lesson.... an ugly one...

She transforms hims into a beast and the only way to get out of this curse is to find someone to love him in this form.
He has to find a girl to love him and of course he has to love her back in order to break the curse. And all that in two years notice.

I wouldn't say that I loved the book and that is because I don't like Beauty and the Beast so much.... but I can say that I really enjoyed it.
I liked that the book was told by the 'beast's' point of view. I liked how his character changed after his transformation. He wasn't a good guy and I didn't like him at all how he was at the beggining. A guy that was only interested in money and beauty living by his Dad's money and fame.
But all that changed when he became a beast. He became more aware that there is more out there aside from money and beauty.

He relises that he had never loved or been loved before and that seems impossible now that he is a beast.
A girl though comes to prove him wrong.

If you like fairytales being told in today's world and like the Beauty and the Beast... this is for you.

Movie Trailer

Frosy 

Buy this book at Amazon (Format Hardcover)

or Amazon | Book Depository (Format Paperback)

or Amazon (Format e-book, Kindle)