Customer Reviews
definitely more interesting than the synopsis suggests 
2008-06-29
i read the summary and hesitated to read it at first because it seemed like just another 'mean girls' story with vampires in it. but i was surprised to find how intriguing it was. i didn't think i would like any other vampire story after the famous twilight series but this is completely different. what i found most extraordinary was how the author imagined a whole new world, like how jk rowling did harry potter and cs lewis did narnia. it was so different in fact, that there are even 'de facto' laws and made up stereotypes that are hard to understand because they are soo out of our world. it was well written and has a little of everything: action, suspense, romance, drama, humor. for some reason however i just couldn't give it five stars, i would give it 4 and a half if i could; no important reason for not giving it five stars though, so don't let that make you hesitate. i can give you my word that it comes next best to the twilight series; i've looked into others and they were simply pathetic. overall, highly recommended.
Fantastic! 
2008-06-16
I am a big fan of Richelle's Succubus books, and am now a big fan of the Vampire Academy series! This book was fantastic. I know it's listed as young adult, but I'm thirtysomething and I loved it!
Excellent blend of themes 2008-06-02
I started reading Vampire Academy at a bookstore and had to buy it. After I finished, I literally counted down the days until the sequel came out, it was so good. Richelle Mead did a very good job of blending the more serious vampire theme with the setting of a high school teen drama, making it an excellent read, well-balanced between suspense and fun. Bravo, Ms. Mead!
Welcome to St. Vladimir's Academy 2008-05-26
Younger fans of the vampire genre, and even adult fans, this is a new series you should check out. Welcome to a world where the good vampires, Moroi, need their half-blood cousins, Dhampir, for protection. Their children train at academies like St. Vladimir's, preparing Dhampir for the fight against Strigoi, the bad vampires. Moroi are not completely helpless, as they possess four schools of magic--air, earth, fire and water--but these are strickly for non-offensive uses. The Dhampir are heartier and stronger, their human side keeping them from needing blood to survive. But Strigoi hunt their kin, having a special taste for Moroi blood but an inability to tolerate any sunlight or use magics.
Vampire Academy introduces us to Rose Hathaway, Dhampir and guardian trainee. She and her best friend Lissa Dragomir, a Moroi princess and last of her family bloodline, have run away from St. Vladimir's after strange events lead them to believe Lissa is in danger. For two years they have run, hiding among humans and their time has run out. Brought back to St. Vlad's the two friends must deal with nasty rumors, mysterious changes in Lissa and that doesn't include the rigors of regular high school! Behind in her training Rose begins training in all her spare time with a full-fledged guardian, Dimitri, whom she has a growing attraction to. Meanwhile Lissa is having problems, someone keeps putting dead animals in her vicinity, but is this just someone's horrid prank or is it something more serious?
If you're a fan of vampire lore or favor the school of vampire fans who like their vamps pretty and not-so-evil this is a great book to try. As a hardcore paranormal & urban fantasy fan I found it to be light, but entertaining reading. On a more personal note I enjoyed that the locations in the book were all within the Northwestern US (Portland, Oregon, rural Montana, Missoula, Montana) as they were areas I was familiar with and aren't overly used in this genre. Richelle Mead's writing was a little unnotable and while I rarely complain about it the massive number of typographical errors in this book was annoying.
If you're too young for Laurell K. Hamilton, you enjoy the Buffy franchise or you just want a vampire lite this should be a good read--and don't forget to check out the second book, Frostbite!
ok another twilight wannbe 
2008-05-10
BP Blood Pressure Cuff - Aneroid Sphygmomanometer, Adult Size
Yeah, I'm sorry but it doesn't come up to par with my all time favorite Twilight series. But it is beter then some of the other vampster book series out there. If you want clean cut, this has swering and sexual additives.
In fact a lot of their lives are described sexually. How they procreat and who can make babies and who can't.
There is the scratch your eyes high school crap, again. Which brings me to believe that that is what all the other writers fall on to, when you can't think of anything else.
Loved this! 2008-07-25
This was an awesome book, it left me eager to find out what would happen in the sequel. While some habits of the vampire lifestyle were familiar to me from stories I've read in the past, many other aspects were fresh and inventive. The plot was very interesting; I loved the fantasy elements to it, and the plot twists kept the story from ever getting remotely close to being boring. The characters were great, I had so many favorites, which made this book even more enjoyable than it already would have been had I liked just one or two of them! If you're a fan of urban fantasy, vampires, magic, or forbidden romances, then give this book a read. Even if you're not, who knows, try it out, you might like it! :)
WOW!!! 2008-07-15
I have to admit, I'm a devoted "Twilighter." While waiting for Breaking Dawn to release, I've been reading some other vampire/werewolf type books, some good, some not so good. I just finished Blood and Chocolate, Blue Bloods, Silver Kiss, etc, but I am definitely shocked how I missed this one till now!!!
I'm 29, so not a teen anymore, but still a "young adult"...lol. Close enough anyways so I snuck over to Barnes n Noble's teen section and grabbed this cause it was the on display. I didn't even read my Twilight series as fast as this book! I loved it!!! The title seemed generic to me so I was hesitant before I ever picked the book up. I was stuck though starting with the first chapter! It moves quickly and is an easy read. I can't wait to go to BnN tomorrow to pick up Frostbite for my upcoming out-of-towner. Too bad #3 in this series doesn't come out till Novemeber :-/.
A Good and Compelling read, much better than P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast 2008-07-10
I think Ms. Mead handled the topic of teenage vampires and teenagers well. Unlike P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast (the mother daughter duo) and their House of Night series, I felt Ms. Mead had a more realistic take on teenagers. When I read P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast's writing, the writing feels *forced* and fake. It felt so fake reading the Casts' mediocre writing skills.
Nowadays, adults like to think teenagers in high school aren't like what Ms. Mead depicts in her novel. But I think her depiction is close to the high school drama and politics. Teens aren't as innocent anymore, they know what sex and drinking is. They know how to cuss and swear before they enter high school. It's a sad fact, but its reality. There are preteens who has lost their virginity. As much as we want to keep children and teens innocent of such issues, they're already discovering it on their own and among their peers.
Rose is a very tough dhampir girl and can come on as an aggressive person. But coming from a background like her, where she needs to be tough, it's understandable. It does take a while for readers to get use to her. The characterization of Rose is very different from most heroines. She is rebellious, but she is loyal to Lissa. One complaint possibly is Ms. Mead's characterization of Rose being super attractive and Rose's acknowledgement of her ability to attract the opposite sex. Rose is so sure of herself. There are many times where Rose is very confident in her assets and she mentions it. She comes off very confident and borderline arrogant.
Dmitri and Rose -- I think here Ms. Mead is aware of what she's presenting to teens. Therefore, she IS NOT telling teens to go out and meet older men. She does consider the factors of a forbidden romance. The age factors and clashes with duty and responsibility. The author allows for some hot sensual scenes between Dmitri and Rose, but they're not having sex. I think Dmitri is well aware of the precautions and controls his lusts and desires well enough, when not under the influence of spells.
Another minus against Rose is how she keeps drooling over Dmitri. We get that Dmitri is incredibly hot, but Ms. Mead doesn't need to have Rose drooling and lusting over him all the time. An occasional stare or something suggestive is okay, but having Rose talk about Dmitri like she wants him so badly is just too much. I think she needs to tone that done a bit.
About the antagonist and who was behind the animal killings and stuff, I had my suspicions and knew who they were before they were revealed. I predicted it would be them.
Another thing, I think it was strange and unique that the Vampires at Vampire Academy actually went to church on Sundays. Strange how both Mead and the Casts actually brought religion into the mix/their novels. It's just slightly unusual, I thought it would've been better if they left religion out because every reader has different opinions about religion, and it is best kept out of fiction.
Overall, I think it was a good read, I would've given it a 3.5 or maybe 4 rating. It's not entirely perfect, I've read better. But it is certainly better and more realistic than P.C. Cast and Kristin Casts attempt at writing. Vampire Academy has potential and I hope the sequels will show more improvement and development where the prequel lacked. But that doesn't mean it wasn't good. It was much more exciting than Twlight.
Recommendations: Night World No. 1: Secret Vampire; Daughters of Darkness; Spellbinder (Night World), Night World No. 2: Dark Angel; The Chosen; Soulmate (Night World) and Third volume of Night World Coming April 21 2009.
Such an interesting story.. 2008-07-04
Honestly, I picked this book up not expecting very much. (I compare all teen vampire novels to The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle (Vampire Diaries)). Imagine my pleasant shock when I was sucked in by the 5th page!
Here's the story: Rose is a dhampir, her best friend Lissa is a mortal vampire princess. Rose is in training to protect Lissa from the vicious Strigoi.
The book deals with the friendship of Lissa and Rose that is inspiring and moving. You come to realize Rose would die for Lissa, not because she is royalty, but because of a fierce devotion.
Now...this book could have been supremmely irritating in the hands of a less-talented authour.
Lissa is pretty much a Mary Sue.
Rose finds herself in various idiotic situations and I kind of wanted to pull her out of the book yelling, "WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT!"
Rose is a far from perfect character, but her flaws and how she dealt with them kept me reading.
I cannot wait to read the 2nd book, Frostbite (Vampire Academy, Book 2)
dark and compelling world 2008-07-02
Enter the dark and compelling world of the Vampire Academy series, a must read for fans of Stephanie Myer, Rachel Caine and PC Cast and Kristin Cast.Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess; a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond with the earths magic. Lissa and all of the Moroi must be protected at all costs from the Strigoi; vicious and immortal these rogue Moroi will stop at nothing to extinguish the Moroi race. Enter Rose Hathaway, a Dhampir with the powerful blend of both human and vampire blood trained in combat to kill the Strigoi. She is also Lissa's best friend and guardian in training. Two best friends must navigate through this dangerous world, confront temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let there guard down, least the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever.
