Firstly: I have read some not so great reviews on this book, after writing this review, and although I do agree with some points made, my first thoughts after reading this book were good ones. So obviously I am going to write a good review, because the book left me feeling good and I base my reviews on my reading experience and thoughts following. I am also one of those fairly optimistic people who don't easily shun the work of others.
Quoted from Richelle Mead's website:
"Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires--the ones who never die.
The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir; she is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.
After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking hearts.
Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's--but their world is fraught with danger both inside and out of the Academy's iron gates. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever..."
General: Yes, I thought this would be just another paranormal love story, but it wasn't. It was an odd mix between the dramas of high school, the power of friends, magic, romance...paranormal beings...etc.. and I think you should check it out. Another thing: I found myself confused for a little while at the beginning of the book because the characters often referred to certain incidents, people or things that I was absolutely clueless about. Don't worry, those little "holes" will be filled.
Characters: I think I generally enjoyed the characters in this book. The two main characters, Lissa and Rose, seemed very different but shared similarities that made them work well together. They both are very determined girls, but one major difference, and it is mentioned in the book, is that Lissa is very cautious and Rose more reckless with a somewhat rebellious attitude. I like the contrast between these two, as well as the strength of the bond they share.
Plot: I also enjoyed the plot. It wasn't too slow and boring, nor was it very fast and action packed. I think it hit a happy medium. I wasn't super addicted to this book and I was able to put it down at times, but it did catch my attention well enough that I finished it in less than two days. I did, however, find myself fighting the urge to go lock myself away and just read, read and read until I finished it.
Writing style: I did like the writing style in this novel. It was in first person, from Rose's point of view. She had a spunky attitude but yet an in depth knowledge of the ways in the world which was briefly brought into light during some parts. I found myself amused and compelled by the narrative and also I was able to relate with her. However, although she seemed mature in some parts, especially concerning her protectiveness over Lissa, she definitely had some lapses of immaturity and her morals were lacking at times. This is somewhat explained near the end of the book.
I could easily picture the characters and the scenery so that was a plus.
Re-readable? Yes, I think so.
Intended audience: Teens, probably fourteen and older, more specifically girls but guys may enjoy it also, I don't know!
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Paranormal, could also be considered romance.
I liked: the main characters. I think their relationship was really unique, especially because they would do absolutely anything for each other. This was an important part of the book that I thought was pretty neat.
I disliked: the emphasis on physical attraction in this book. Sure a lot of that does happen in the teen world, but I believe relationships should be based more on the actual relationship (communication, getting to know a person) aspect than lust. This book may have been a bit old for some of the younger teens, with the swearing and physical interacting, but it all depends how you were raised and what you've been exposed to prior to reading it, I guess. I mean it wasn't really that bad. But for some it may be. Just a warning.
