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3.05.2012

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead


Title: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead
Pages: 332
Release: August 16th, 2007

Synopsis:(from Goodreads) 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...

My Thoughts:
I had several people anticipating this review, so I hope it’s not too disappointing!
I read Vampire Academy because of the hype I had heard about the series. Nearly every blog I go to on a regular basis raves about this series and I was fascinated by all of the praise it was receiving. Unfortunately, I feel that because my standards were set so high, Vampire Academy fell flat for me.

Generally, I can tell how much I love a book by how long it takes for me to read it; so when I was a week into this book and only halfway through I sensed that my attention was waning. My major qualm: it was incredibly slow and then in the last 50 pages or so, all of this plot is magically squished in. I also just couldn’t buy into the different types of Vampires that Mead had created; it simply wasn’t my sort of vampire novel.

When I was able to get focused on the book, the writing was very well done and I enjoyed several of the characters and the twists that were thrown in. I didn’t dislike it, but I didn’t really enjoy it either, and I don’t think I will be reading the rest of the novels in this series.

In Short:
Rating: 3/5
Purchase or Check Out?: Check Out
Would I read it again?: No


10 comments:

  1. Thanks for such an honest and well-written review, Darlene! I didn't want to say this earlier, but I did feel a bit the same way, even though I only read a couple of chapters. However, I think I'll push through it as well, just to see how it turns out for me :)

    thanks again for sharing the review!
    Vivian @ Vivaciously, Vivian

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    1. and thank you for such a kind comment Vivian! :)
      I hope you can enjoy the story more than I did!

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  2. I'm sorry that you didn't like Vampire Academy. :( I loved it, although I read it a few years ago, and my tastes have changed quite a bit since then. I've really grown tired of vampires, so I wonder how I would feel if I were to read it now. Still, I can understand why you didn't like it.

    -Ashley
    What's Your Story?

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    1. Eh, it’s all just personal opinion! I guess I just prefer traditional vampires. I am really glad you liked the series though. It was very well written and I don’t doubt that Richelle Mead really knows what she’s doing, just wasn’t my sort of book.

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  4. I remembered it took me some time to get into the series and I enjoyed it in the end. Sorry to hear that you didn't like it as much.

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    1. If I ever have a lack of reading materials(HAHA!) then I might give the second book a shot cause I have heard a couple people say that same thing but I am just not so sure! Thanks for checking out my review!

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  5. Darlene! Thanks so much for pushing through and finishing the book even though it seemed like you didn't like it. :) Don't worry about the opinions of those who wanted you to read books (including yours truly), or your not having the same response to it. We're all entitled to our own opinions!

    I totally understand from where you're coming. I originally read Vampire Academy years ago because I wanted an alternative to Twilight, which it was. I liked the series because Mead's vampires are based on the vampires in Eastern European folklore; Strigoi, Moroi, and Dhampirs are actually terms used there, though those types of vampires aren't as famous as one type we all know. I liked the idea of Moroi's dying out, and that Dhampirs had the power to protect them. The idea of an underground world of vampires was intriguing.

    Looking back at it, though, I'm realizing that I wasn't and still am not as into the characters as I should be—my favorite character is Adrian, who shows up in the second book, and he's the only one I really like. The characterization is good, since the characters are distinct, but the writing could have been more convincing, I guess? I do think the books get better later on, though; I know I was emotionally involved enough while reading the third book to actually end up crying late at night. Which was crazy. Haha!

    I know it wasn't a favor to us or anything, but thanks again for finishing the book and making a review anyway! :) I'n glad you don't hate it, at least, and I hope the next book you find won't disappoint you as much! :)

    Käthe @ Good Lit and Green Tea

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    1. Wow! I had no clue about the actual history of those sorts of vampires! Well, thank you for sharing that information. That definitely makes me appreciate the research that went into this novel!
      Thanks for checking out the review. I hope it wasn’t too disappointing!

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  6. Awww, sad. I loved this series! I know what you mean about going in with too high of expectations though. I finally read Jenny Han's first book and I thought it was just ok but everyone else raves about it. I think I might have been expecting too much.

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