Review: Storm Born by Richelle Mead

Title:  Storm Born
Author:  Richelle Mead
Series:  Dark Swan, #1
Publisher:  Zebra
Release Date:  August 1, 2008
Pages:  361
Rating:  ★★★★★

Just typical. No love life to speak of for months, then all at once, every horny creature in the Otherworld wants to get in your pants...
Eugenie Markham is a powerful shaman who does a brisk trade banishing spirits and fey who cross into the mortal world. Mercenary, yes, but a girl's got to eat. Her most recent case, however, is enough to ruin her appetite. Hired to find a teenager who has been taken to the Otherworld, Eugenie comes face to face with a startling prophecy--one that uncovers dark secrets about her past and claims that Eugenie's first-born will threaten the future of the world as she knows it.

Now Eugenie is a hot target for every ambitious demon and Otherworldy ne'er-do-well, and the ones who don't want to knock her up want her dead. Eugenie handles a Glock as smoothly as she wields a wand, but she needs some formidable allies for a job like this. She finds them in Dorian, a seductive fairy king with a taste for bondage, and Kiyo, a gorgeous shape-shifter who redefines animal attraction. But with enemies growing bolder and time running out, Eugenie realizes that the greatest danger is yet to come, and it lies in the dark powers that are stirring to life within her...

Richelle Mead is amazing, simply amazing. Not only is her Vampire Academy Series a favorite of mine, but also I may have found a love in her adult urban fantasy series, Dark Swan. I was about to give up on fae books. I have only read a few, but Storm Born turned out to be a real page turner.

We have the main character, Eugenie who is really just like all my favorite urban fantasy heroines. They basically all have one trait in common. They kick some serious ass. I found Euguine quite funny too. Her life isn't easy either. She recently finds out she is the daughter of the deceased fae king, The Storm King and there is a prophecy going around that his daughters son will rule the world and every fae is trying to rape her and be the father of that son. Yea. Eugenie has a lot on her plate.

"Oh, God. I’m trapped in the fucking Chronicles of Narnia."
"I’m sure that would be an amusing reference, if I understood it."  

We have two hot love interests, which means, yea, you guessed it. A love triangle! Kiyo is the hot shape shifting fox her steps into Eugenie's life and he makes it known that he is interested in her. To be honest I hate Kiyo. At the beginning I thought I would be the one cheering Kiyo on, but boy was I wrong. Part of it has to do with this huge secret and it's not one of those secrets where the girl says, yea, okay, whatever. It's a secret where it can damage the relationship for him keeping it in the first place.

And we have the sexy Dorian. Ooohhhh. I love this guy. He is king, of course and he is really funny and I always have a huge smile on my face when we have a scene with Dorian. He wants the Storm King's prophecy to come true, but he's not going to rape her to make it happen. I think Dorian has his own agenda, but to me he is real and a heart a good man and honest unlike Kiyo.

"That’s the last time you’re going to kiss me,” I warned when it ended.
He smiled knowingly, and in his eyes, I could see his own memories of that night. “So you say."   

I just love how Richelle Mead is able to get me so worked up with these characters that this book has been all I've been thinking about. I think Storm Born was a great start to the Dark Swan Series and I am looking forward to the next book, Thorn Queen.

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Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Title:  Bloodrose
Author:  Richelle Mead
Series:  Bloodlines, #1
Publisher:  Razorbill
Release Date: August 23, 2011
Pages:  421
Rating:  ★★★★★

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

Me being a huge fan of the Vampire Academy Series was super surprised that I was not really into  Bloodlines all that much. I found myself a bit disappointed. Whenever I hear the word, "spin-off", you get super excited for the series and also a little worried it won't be as great as the original series it came from. I just couldn't like this book all that much.

I think one of my biggest problems were the main characters. The main characters in  Bloodlines were some of the side characters from the Vampire Academy Series. Throughout the book it is kept in my mind that these are still side characters to me and I just can't get that out my my head. I didn't enjoy the side characters from the Vampire Academy Series being in the spotlight.

Sydney was quite an interesting character to be the heroine, she wouldn't be my favorite heroine, but I really liked getting things in her point of view, because we really don't know anything about the alchemist and through her we get to know a little bit more about the. I would choose the vampires any day over the alchemists, not just because I am a hardcore vampire fan, but because alchemists are so cold.

Take Sydney's father for example. Father's are suppose to treat their children so special, like they're the greatest gift in the old and show them love. Her father is so cold, all he cares about is the alchemists. All the alchemists I met in this book has sickened me except for Sydney.

Another thing is that I really wish there was romance, we didn't really get any, but hopefully in the next few books that will change. One thing is this is definitely Richelle Mead's writing and that's what really kept me going. We did get to see some of our favorite characters from Vampire Academy. I think with time these side characters turned main characters will grow on me with time.  Bloodlines was okay and good, but it didn't blow me away like the first Vampire Academy book.

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Review: Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Title: Last Sacrifice
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Vampire Academy, #6
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: December 7, 2010
Pages: 594
Rating:

Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules. She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir’s Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir Princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardian to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose- for a crime she didn’t even commit. She’s in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She’ll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose’s life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back… and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your life is about saving others, who will save you?

Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy Series is a Winner. The sixth and Final book in the series does not disappoint, it is just as fabulous as all the other books in the series, actually it's even better. I felt like there was such a high expectation on this book and after you finish the book you amazed at how good this book is and also how sad that the series had just ended. I can honestly say that I was 100% satisfied with the ending, Mead could not have ended the series any better (or maybe she could have) she is just THAT good.

LAST SACRIFICE starts out where Spirit Bound left off. Rose is accused of the Murder of the Queen and things are not looking so well for our heroine at the moment and Rose also has her mind filled with the note the Queen left for her explaining that another Dragomir lives, that Lissa could have her spot on the thrown/council. But what is Rose to do when she is stuck in a jail cell. Will she be able to find the REAL murderer and who this other dragomir is? Or and will Rose choose between Dimitri and Adrian? All of these questions do get answered the the thrilling and exciting final book in the Vampire Academy Series, Last Sacrifice.

There was so much that I was pleased with in this book and it is so hard to talk about without giving anyway any spoilers, but I will try my best. In this book we get back all the characters that we love and we join all of them in an exciting journey to clear Rose's name in the murder of Queen Tatiana. Every character played a key role in this book and it was exciting. Lissa is determined to help Rose and by the end of the book she becomes someone that I love and respect. I feel like Lissa has grown up a big deal. I mean at first since book 1, she wasn't my favorite character, but look at how much she has grown.

And Rose's parents, Abe and Janine have just won the best parents of the year award! I don't think that I have ever read a book and loved the parents, but with Vampire Academy I adore Rose's parents. Of course I love Abe way more than Janine. Abe is such a joy. He is so funny and such an ideal father for me. I would love to have this guy as my father, not that I don't love my own dad. But Abe is hilarious. Whenever there was a scene with Abe I was like YEAH! MORE ABE! I am going to miss his character and I hope he makes a guest appearance in the spin off series.

"For a moment, I was captivated as I studied them side by side. My mother: the perfect picture of guardian excellence and decorum. My father: always capable of achieving his goals, no matter how twisted the means. Uneasily, I began to understand how I’d inherited my bizarre personality."

Adrian and Dimitri. I love both these guys and I feel like Rose has made the right decision with who she picked and of course I am not going to tell you who she picked, it needs to be a surprise and I will not be the one to spoil it for you. But Roses scenes with both of these men were just too wonderful. She spends time with both Dimitri and Adrian in this book and both relationships are like magic. There was sexual tension and longing looks and also complete happiness in the company of both men. I actually want both men to myself. Can I have them, please? From finally finishing Last Sacrifice I can say that I really think that Rose loves both of these guys in her own way. I want to say that there was one more romance that got rekindled, but I can't say who, but I loved them. They were beautiful and I wouldn't have minded more.

Every page of this book was great and as I got farther and farther into the book I just didn't want it too end. And in the future I most definitely see a re-read happening. Mead has to be one of the best authors I have ever read and I am looking forward to more from her. In LAST SACRIFICE lives will be lost and hearts will be broken, but you will love every single moment that you turn that next page.

"Ah, my daughter,ʺ
he said. ʺEighteen, and already youʹve been accused of murder, aided felons, and acquired a death count higher than most guardians will ever see.ʺ He paused. ʺI couldnʹt be prouder."

The ending of the series was too perfect. Lots of things happen, things that got complicated for Rose and things that made her lose herself and things that showed change. This Series was engaging and romantic and had everything I craved from a book. I am sad to see the series end but I am looking forward to the spin-off series. If you have not started the Vampire Academy series, you really need to take it from me and trust when I say that this series is worth your time and you will love it just as much as I did.

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Review: Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Title: Spirit Bound
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Vampire Academy, #5
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: May 18, 2010
Pages: 489
Rating:

Salvation has its price.
The words stunned Adrian for a moment, but he kept going. "You're lying. What you're describing is impossible. There's no way to save a Strigoi. When they're gone, they're gone. They're dead. Undead. Forever."

Robert's next words weren't directed at Adrian. They were spoken to me. "That which is dead doesn't always stay dead...."

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa Dragomir. It's graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives outside of the Academy’s cold iron gates to finally begin. But even with the intrigue and excitement of court life looming, Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri. He's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance, and now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever.

But Rose can't forget what she learned on her journey—whispers of a magic too impossible and terrifying to comprehend. A magic inextricably tied to Lissa that could hold the answer to all of Rose's prayers, but not without devastating consequences. Now Rose will have to decide what—and who—matters most to her. In the end, is true love really worth the price?

All I can say right now is WOW! I need some more Dimirti and maybe a little bit of Adrian too. I just love this series and it is so sad that it is coming to an end in the next book, Last Sacrifice. I enjoyed this book so much that I want to read it again and again. In the last book, Rose failed in killing Dimitri and as soon as she graduates she will no longer be safe inside the school anymore and Dimitri is coming for Rose.

But Rose cannot forget about the possiblity of being able to turn Dimitri back into a dhampir again. What is Rose to do? Also if that isn't enough Rose is conflicting between Adrian and Dimitri. Dimitri is the lover of her life, but she has begun to possibly feel love for Adrian and finally a tragic event happens that could change Rose's life forever.

I cannot express how much I loved this one. I love Richelle Mead but through the book, she kind of killed me a little too. Rose is Rose of course and we wouldn't love her if she wasn't. I like that finally she graduates and is a guardian. We get to see her kick some serious ass in this book and boy, I would not want to get in this girls way. I felt so many emotions for Rose in this book. She really goes through a lot. Dimitri makes Rose weak and she makes some mistakes, but she rises from them and does with her heart what she thinks is right.

"You're beautiful in battle," said Dimitri. His cold voice carried to me clearly, even above the roar of combat. "Like an avenging angel come to deliver the justice of heaven." "Funny," I said, shifting my hold on the stake, "That is kind of why I'm here." "Angels fall Rose."

Adrian is a joy. I just want more and more of him. You can see that he truly cares for Rose and proves it on and on through this book. I really hope that everything ends well for Adrian. Again, I love the evil Dimitri, but I also love dhampir Dimitri. They are both gods. He is absolutely perfect. You really feel for Dimitri and want to be there and put his head to your chest and soothe him. It breaks my heart how much he torments himself with what he did.

I have to mention Abe, we find out from Blood Promise that he happens to be Rose's father. I really love this guy. He is a flirt, well more like the lady's man, sneaky and has an ulterior motive for everything, but I could tell through the last book , Blood Promise and through SPIRIT BOUND that he deeply cares for his daughter and truly wants her to have happiness.

I love all of the things about this man and I am really looking forward to seeing more of him in the next book. It is really hard to say everything I want without giving too much away, but there are a lot of surprises, things that may shock you, which one of the reasons I love Richelle Mead's Series. I love that excitement that she brings to her books that makes me hungry for more.

"He has no right to threaten my boyfriends. I'm eighteen. An adult. I don't need his help. I can threaten my boyfriends myself."

Rose and the gang spend most of their time at the Royal Court, so what can I say it spices up the storyline quite a bit and I love it. I think that it is a very important part of the storyline and in this book we have much court drama that drives Rose insane and builds up anger for Queen Tatiana. There are a few twists and turns with every Richelle Mead novel, but you have got to love it.

Basically, I lost some sleep because I could not put the book down, which indicates that this is a MUST- READ! The ending is another cliffhanger(can we expect any less from Mead) and it is driving me crazy. I am very tempted to find out how Mead will end this series and I am very much looking forward to the final Vampire Academy book, Last Sacrifice.

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Review: Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Title: Blood Promise
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Vampire Academy, #4
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Pages: 503
Rating:

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?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

And Again, we have another OMG moment at the ending that leaves you craving for book 5, Spirit Bound. The ending of BLOOD PROMISE left you surprised and most definitely was set up for book 5, Spirit Bound. Oh, yea. The ending will drive you mad wanting to get your hands on Spirit Bound.

In the last book, Shadow Kiss Rose found out that the love of her life had been turned Strigoi and so she decided to keep to the promise they made each other, if each one of them had been turned Strigoi they would rather die. So Rose decided to keep to that promise. Rose set out on her journey to kill the man she loved. The real question is would she be able to do it?

In BLOOD PROMISE, we find Rose traveling to Russia, Dimitri's home country. And she meets quite a few new people. But she finally comes face to face with Dimitri, but now he is not the Dimitri that Rose loved, He's is a Strigoi. At the Academy, we keep in contact with Lissa and Adrian and it is just not the same with Rose gone and they end up facing a few problems of their own.

I admit BLOOD PROMISE was a little different than the other three books because Rose was not at the Academy. She is in the real world by herself. It was just so different no having her at the Academy for the majority of the book. This book at a slow start but it did really pick up. While Rose is on her journey we meet a few new characters. Sydney, who is a alchemist Rose meets. Abe, is the mysterious Moroi who saved her life and brought her to safety.

The Belikov's, who is Dimitri's family and a new couple who is shadow kissed just like Rose and Lissa. I really enjoyed all of these new characters and hope we see more of them in the future. A character I really liked was Abe. This man is really mysterious and I am kind o thinking throughout the whole book, who is this man? We do find out who Abe really is at the end, and it was a complete shocker! I can't wait for more Abe in the next book.

"Abe shook his head, and now the smile was gone altogether. "That's not the reason either. Don't lie to me little girl." I felt my hackles going up. "And don't interrogate me, old man."

We still get a glimpse at what is going on at the Academy because Rose is still shadow kissed to Lissa and she can see through the eyes of Lissa. At the Academy some new students get transferred and cause a bit of trouble for Lissa. And Lissa needs to learn to fight for herself because Rose is not going to be there for her forever.

I think up until the end of the book Lissa was acting too reckless and was hurt that Rose left. I think that she does not know the feeling of being alone because she has always had Rose by her side and I think it is good for her to learn that Rose is not always going to be there. She has to learn to be strong herself, especially since she is in line to be queen.

Dimitri and Rose. Even though Dimitri is Strigoi now, I couldn't help but love the bad boy side of him. Dimitri seems to not have lost his wanting Rose which keeps her alive for a while. But he is not the same Dimitri that Rose saw last. He is a completely different person. I know that some people don't like the new Dimitri, but I like this dangerous side of him and I am glad that we got to see it.

"I’d said it before and meant it: Alive or undead, the love of my life was a badass."

It is really hard to say what I want to say without giving too much away though. Rose and DImitri get to spend quite a bit of time together and when that time is over she has to pull it all together, remember who she is and what she beileves in and fight for her life. Even if it means she will never she the face of her beloved Dimitri again.

The ending was mind-blowing, well maybe I should say the last 200 something pages, it was hard to put the book down. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read Spirit Bound. There was so many questions at the end of BLOOD PROMISE that changes things for out heroine, Rose Hathaway.

But she is a strong woman and will be able to handle whatever is thrown her way. Only two more books left and I really wonder how this Series will end. Richelle Mead is an author you guys really need to check out.

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Review: Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Title: Shadow Kiss
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Vampire Academy, #3
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: November 13, 2008
Pages: 443
Rating:

Is Rose’s fate to kill the person she loves most? It’s springtime at St. Vladimir’s Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since Mason’s death, Rose hasn’t been feeling quite right. She has dark flashbacks in the middle of practice, can’t concentrate in class, and has terrifying dreams about Lissa. But Rose has an even bigger secret . . . .She’s in love with Dimitri. And this time, it’s way more than a crush.
Then Strigoi target the academy in the deadliest attack in Moroi history, and Dimitri is taken. Rose must protect Lissa at all costs, but keeping her best friend safe could mean losing Dimitri forever…

So, after finishing SHADOW KISS, I thought it would be really kind if there was a warning that came with it, ***WARNING: HAVE BOOK 4, BLOOD PROMISE WITHIN REACH UPON COMPLETING THIS BOOK!!! I guarantee you will go insane if you do not have the next book right next to you when you finish this book, what a ending that was.

In SHADOW KISS, Rose is recovering from the traumatic events in Frostbite. When Rose sees Mason's ghost she believes she might be going crazy. We truly learn what it means to be shadow kissed and at times you may think that being shadow kissed is not a good thing. We find out what being shadow kissed to Lissa can do to Rose.

Rose is still training to become a guardian and Rose is taking her guardian trials, where each dhampir in their final year get assigned a Moroi to watch over and makes sure no danger befalls upon them. The attraction between Dimirti and Rose grow more than ever in this installment, but it is getting really hard for them to draw the line between teacher and student. Things take a turn when Strigoi enter the school grounds and everyone is in danger and things will never be the same again for Rose.

"And I thought the whole point of my education was that violence IS the answer."

I am not sure which book I liked best. Frostbite or SHADOW KISS? They were both so good! I don't know how Richelle Mead does it, but she has not disappointed me yet. SHADOW KISS was the longest book of the three and kept the action going. There is just a lot we get to learn and I want to learn more and more. Rose and Dimirti's attraction takes a turning point and I think that this is another reason why I was so crazy for this book. They deeply care for each other and it is beautiful to read about.

I found out just how deadly being shadow kissed can be. I really wanted to know what being shadow kissed meant and I just got my answer. SHADOW KISS was way more action packed than the last two book which is why I like this one so much. We really get to see Rose in action. We get some more Adrian and really get to see another side to him throughout the series. I truly believe and think that he deeply cares for Rose and I would want them be together if there was no Dimirtri.

"What's up?" I asked.
You tell me," he (Christian) said. "You were the one about ready to start making out with Adrian."
It was an experiment," I said. "It was part of my therapy."
What the hell kind of therapy are you in?"

Towards the end of the book we get some devastating news and it breaks my heart. I swear I was crying and couldn't stop. We grown connected these characters that you feel for them. By the end of the book Rose stands up to Lissa and says things to her that she probably didn't want to hear. And Rose also makes a big decision that could cost her her life.

I enjoyed SHADOW KISS. It was amazing and makes you crave for more. I honestly do not think that any young adult author could beat the Vampire Academy Series. After the ending I am looking forward to Blood Promise which I have bought in advance to the warning to have it within reach after finishing SHADOW KISS.

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