Book Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Release Date: August 16th, 2007

Publisher: Razorbill

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Recommended? Yes!

Buy the Book: Amazon US | Amazon UK

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.- Goodreads Page

Warning: I tried to stop the gush. I really, truly did. I just couldn’t help myself! 


The book kicks off with two best friends, Rose and Lissa, being dragged - quite literally! - back to St Vladimir’s Academy, which they escaped from two years previously. The reason why they escaped is kept quiet for the most part, with little snippets being revealed here and there, throughout the book, until all is revealed at the end (did that sound intriguing? I hope so!)


The main plot isn’t a complicated one. Things are told from Rose’s point of view, as she settles back into life at the Academy and takes up extra guardian training classes with a hot Russian named Dimitri Belikov. It’s okay to swoon at the sight of his name. I do it all the time.


But of course with Rose being Rose, life is never simple. Someone at the school seems to have a grudge against her best friend Lissa, and they keep leaving dead animals for her to find. There’s a whole mystery regarding this, and yet there is so much more going on! I won’t give anything else away, you’re just going to have to read it for yourself. I don’t even think I could explain everything anyway. 


Richelle Mead has given us such an original and unique take on vampires - yes, there are vampires in here! - and I was left astounded at the creativity of it all. The Moroi/Guardian/Strigoi ‘lore’ in this book can be confusing at first (are you confused already? I bet you are!) but it is relatively easy to suss everything out eventually and if you read the next books, understanding it all soon becomes second nature.


Our main character Rose is the most amazing and badass character I have ever read about. She even out-badasses the boys! She’s strong, loyal, hilarious - seriously, you should see some of the things she comes out with! - and above all, she’s lovable. 


As I mentioned above, Rose takes extra guardian training sessions every day, and gets hot and sweaty with her hot, 6 ft 7, brilliant, amazing, Russian - I’ll stop now - twenty four year old mentor. Dimitri is HOT. I was surprised, as I honestly wasn’t expecting to love anyone more than I love Jace Wayland or Alex Fuentes. But, I have found him! I’d marry Dimitri, I really would. The age gap between he and Rose is a huge problem, and this comes up a lot in the book. Rose isn’t one to withhold her feelings, after all! 


In conclusion, this book is INCREDIBLE, INTENSE, and just overall BADASS. I can’t believe it took me so many months to read this, and the rest of the series. This series is literally all I can think about! (And talk about, apparently. I think I'm starting to get on some of your last nerves!)