Published: August 25'th 2009
Publisher: Razorbill
Page Count: Hardback, 503
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal
Find the Author: Website, Good Reads, Twitter, Blog
Buy This Book: Amazon
, Book Depository Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.
The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved? - Good Reads
I had one of those wonderful days reading - the weather was rather chilly and I lounged around in my husbands sweater with tons of blankets piled on me and read and read and read. I'm really homesick for Siberia, which is my families home and this was the perfect read for that since most of it takes place there... though not too close to our hometown, but close enough. Unfortunately I ended this evening not being too happy with the YA population. My husband and I got in a car accident because a teenage girl was going way too fast and didn't yield going left on the light while we were going straight on green. Thankfully our car is still running and the damage wasn't extensive - mostly because my husband is badass at defensive driving and swerved just the right way at just the right time. Rose heard some Russian swearing in this book, but I'm sure that paled in comparison to the words that were flying out of my mouth in Russian tonight. I was a little livid... But I cooled off once I saw how upset the girl was. According to the police officer though... this was her FOURTH accident... Anyway. What a day.
This book started out a little slow for me and sometimes I get annoyed in series when they feel they need to explain everything that happened previously because it makes me want to skip past it and skipping is never a good thing. It reminds me of The Babysitter's Club Little Sister books - the ones with Karen. The first chapter was always blah blah blah about her family. KAREN, I KNOW YOU HAVE TWO OF EVERYTHING, OK? I totally and completely understand why it's there, but it still bothers me every time. The book quickly picked up though, even though it felt like there were a massive amount of reminders sprinkled throughout the book.
I was nervous about this book, because I was afraid about how Richelle Mead would depict Russia. A lot of times in books it's depicted as this dreary and depressing poverty filled country with an elaboration on corruption. And I've heard enough in my lifetime to be a very defensive person about it. (Whenever Rose made a dig at Dimitri in earlier books, I'd get a little butthurt, because they're things I've heard millions of times before). Thankfully, Richelle Mead did not hurt my national pride. Her depictions were a little off, yes, but they weren't degrading and that's important to me. Her church descriptions were incorrect again. The Russian Orthodox still do not sit in pews and the Easter service, which is called Pascha (even in English speaking Orthodox churches) is a midnight service, not a morning service. Olena isn't a Russian name, it's Ukrainian, the Russian version is Elena. Paul isn't a Russian name as well... the correct version is Pavel. Other than that I won't complain.
This book was really emotional. And Dimitri is kind of exciting as a Strigoi. Well, despite wanting to rule the world ala Pinky and the Brain brain brain brain. I don't know if I was off my game while reading it or if Richelle really played it out well, but I totally didn't see anything that happened towards the end and at the end coming. I was honestly floored. Especially the whole Abe situation. Now looking back I totally get it and I'm kicking myself for not having outsmarted the book ahead of time. I'm such a betrayer though, because while I love Dimitri... I really love Adrian too. And I'm so caught between the two! Dimitri is great on one side, but Adrian is just... perfect for me! There was a great mix of action and grieving in the book and I love how even being oceans away Rose and Lissa are still as close as ever and Lissa is still active in the book.
Great, great book! I've rambled long enough, I think! And I'm introducing a new rating system. HELLO KITTY!
5 out of 5 Hello Kitties!
What a fantastic review! This has been sitting on my shelf for ages and you are tempting me to pick it up and start reading. Glad to hear you enjoyed the book. :)
ReplyDelete@Kathy Thank you! :] Definitely pick it up! It's a cool series! Thanks for reading and commenting! <3
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what you'd think of Blood Promise! It's definitely emotional. There were moments I loved it, and moments I hated it...I've read the whole series, um, three and a half times now...LOL So obviously the love wins out.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think the series begs to be read at least twice - because the WHOLE THING is full of those little twists that you don't realize until the end of it. Then you have to go back and read them again now that you know what's going on, and you find even MORE clues the second time...
........or it *could* be that I'm a little obsessed. ;)
Yay Liza! I'm so glad you liked it and that the descriptions of Russia didn't annoy you too much. I've read somewhere that Richelle Mead has a degree in Eastern European mythology or something like that but studying something really doesn't come close to living it does it? Another Adrian convert :( I like Adrian but he's no Dimitri and while Dimka is still around (even as a Strigoi), no matter how nice another guy is, they wouldn't be able to come close. Speaking of Strigoi, thumbs up for Dimitri as an even more badass god. I know he was evil but I totally dug it. Hurry up and read Spirit Bound! It was my least fav of all the books but I'll let you figure out why. Sucks about the accident. Hope all if okay. Maybe you can teach me some Russian swear words sometime :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, it's so funny you mentioned the Babysitters' Club. It wasn't just the Little Sister books, every BSC had a 'recap chapter', where they explained again how many brothers and sisters everybody had and that Stacey was from New York and that Jessi was black. I used to just skip those after a while!
ReplyDeleteIn VA, I notice that Richelle Mead explains what it means to be moroi/dhampir/strigoi in every book which does get a little boring. I understand it's there for readers who don't have great memories, though (I'm usually one of them, but VA is the one series where I always remember everything).
@BJ It was really good! Wow! This is definitely a series I could read over and over at this rate! Reeeeeally! I just finished Spirit Bound and I'm in awe! Ahhhh! :)
ReplyDelete@Lan Well, I guess mythology would probably be focused more of Paganism, I think and folklore rather than modern life! Ah well! It annoys me, but it honestly doesn't detract from the story overall, especially for the average reader who wouldn't know better. I can't help it! Adrian has won my love! I love Dima though! He's amazing! He's amazing even when he's Strigoi! I JUST FINISHED SPIRIT BOUND AND I'M ALL WOUND UP! Can't wait to start Last Sacrifice! But I'm sad because it's going to be over!
@TG Yes, true! I always skipped over that part too! :] Ahahaha! I'm the same way - I guess some readers who wait over a year for the next book to come out and don't feel like refreshing by reading the previous novel (which is something I normally do if I'm a little fuzzy) can benefit from it. But it kept bugging me! :D I KNOW THESE THINGS, RICHELLE. I'M A HARDCORE FAN! :D