Vampire Academy #3

Shadow Kiss
By: Richelle Mead

Write up:

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... 

I actually enjoyed this installment of the series better than the second, mainly because the second felt like it was just kind of a pit stop on the way to the main story. This book got fully into the action and answered some of the questions the first book posed: what is the significance of Rose being Shadow Kissed? What happened to Victor, how has his action changed or not changed Moroi society, and just how doomed are Rose and Dimitri. The answer to the last one being pretty doomed. But their relationship finally changes from the emo: we can't be together because of our duty stuff to something more. But just like any overly emotional and romantic teenage soap opera, just as they are happy in their love...tragedy strikes! Oh no! And of course this leads to Rose being even more cynical and upset, which can get annoying because this brings out her worst. It sets up the next book nicely though, and it promises to be a masterpiece of romantic angst and tragedy. As can be guessed...my favorite part of these books is not really the romance. I have not fully bought it emotionally. It feels very on dimensional to me. But I tend to read a decent amount of romance...so I'm picky. I like Rose as a character because she is pretty bad ass and strong. Yeah she has many faults...mainly that she can be annoying and petulant, but she's 17...so I excuse that, but other than that, she is a great character. I also like the society explored in these stories: the social structure and the inequalities built in. I feel like they could be deeper book if this portion was explored more. It is full of possibilities.

But what I liked most about this installment was the action. Every thread in the book was tied into the main climax and closing scenes of the book...so nothing was thrown away or left dangling. And there were lots of fighting and battle scenes. And there was also a lot of action when it came to Roses' power. Early in the book she starts to see ghosts, and of course many think she is going mad. But these incidents lead her to fully realize her capabilities and the benefits and downfalls of Lissa bringing her back from the dead. So all in all...it was a good read and kept me interested.

Overall grade B.