Love triangles, politics, and family drama are just a part of Rose's daily routine at St. Vladimir's. Lissa, Dimitri, and Mason are all she has time to think about until the day Rose sees first-hand the damage done to a Moroi family murdered in their own home. Someone is targeting the royals, and the usual Strigoi rules are no longer applicable. She doesn't have time to think about her personal life, but it burns to ashes around her anyway. She has to prove to everyone, including herself, that she can be mature enough to handle her guardian responsibilties, but her ridiculous love life isn't make things any easier.For those who haven't read the first book, I will try to keep it as spoiler-free as possible, but no promises. :)
I finished this book today and didn't waste time busting out the laptop. I know this review is going to sound like insane babbling, but rest assured, the book lived up to its hype.
That's not to say it didn't take some time to "wow" me. Frankly, it sucked at first. (Ouch, that hurt to type!) I skipped the prologue because it was a badly-written recap that bored me to tears and made Rose sound like an idiot. It didn't set the stage at all. Then, it took a few chapters after that for me to really get back into my initial love for the story. It was a giant recap that I didn't need. One big pet-peeve I have is too much recap in a novel. It wasn't done well, it was blatant and didn't feel natural to read. I got distracted by all of it, and it really disappointed me. I hadn't noticed anything bad about Mead's writing in Vamp Academy 1, but this writing really felt awkward. I knew in my heart, however, that it would get better, and it really did.
That's not to say it didn't take some time to "wow" me. Frankly, it sucked at first. (Ouch, that hurt to type!) I skipped the prologue because it was a badly-written recap that bored me to tears and made Rose sound like an idiot. It didn't set the stage at all. Then, it took a few chapters after that for me to really get back into my initial love for the story. It was a giant recap that I didn't need. One big pet-peeve I have is too much recap in a novel. It wasn't done well, it was blatant and didn't feel natural to read. I got distracted by all of it, and it really disappointed me. I hadn't noticed anything bad about Mead's writing in Vamp Academy 1, but this writing really felt awkward. I knew in my heart, however, that it would get better, and it really did.
After all of the details of the first book were more-or-less out in the open, the recapping stopped and I got to focus on the "now." The plot was really fantastic. It kept me reading quickly and I was dying to know what would happen!
And Dimitri was there. He makes everything okay. I was very frustrated with him, of course, but I was just happy to see him. I was like "OOH Dimitri! Hi! It's me! Shaylin! Hey...where are you going!?" Mason's cute, don't get me wrong. But he's not Russian or 24. I do love a good love-triangle though, if you could call it that. It's pretty one-sided.
Rose does stupid stuff a lot, as usual, but I love her. She's one of the best main characters I've ever found. Her dumbness frustrated me a little at times, but she's smart and always picks up quickly. It's so much better reading about a smart heroine. Refreshing, and I don't have to scream solutions into the Kinde nearly as often.
The end...(like, the last 20%) killed me. I was so tense, and reading so quickly, I think I might have stopped breathing at times. It was beautiful, action-packed, violent, romantic, and just perfect, really. It was a tear-jerker, I will warn you. I didn't cry, because I read the cover of Shadow Kiss, the next one, and it GAVE THE END AWAY! Don't read it!!!!!
Yay for this author! She has woven a brilliant world and brilliant characters. I will be reading the rest in rapid succession, and I hope they live up to their predecessors' genius.
4.2/5 (-.8 for the beginning, the rest was pretty fantastic)
Shay-la
It was a couple of years ago when I read it, and now that you mention it, the begining was terrible! I forgot until now lol. I also hate recaps and usually just skip pages when it happens or at least skim over paragraphs! I must say, I don't usually notice bad writing, maybe I will start examinging it more closely tho... I am in it for the story and that's that, unlike you and the B.L. Jones in my life, who are English creeps ;-) lol I got so excited just reading your review, I am living vicariously thru you with these books. It reminds me of how excited and anxious and absorbed I was while reading them... My heart would speed up and I would be giddy with nerves, flipping page after page and burning supper lol! I love Demitri and laughed out loud about your little "hey, it's me Shaylin"! I give your review 2 thumbs up!
ReplyDeleteLindyJo
Why, thank you ma'am! These books make me a little insane. :) I usually try not to think about the writing and get lost in the story, but sometimes it completely messes me up. I hate being critical because I'm like, I've never been published! How should I know? I'm trying to hone my editing skills for when I "break into the business." Lol.
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