Wednesday 29 July 2009

Shadow Kiss: A Vampire Academy Novel - Richelle Mead

Shadow Kiss: A Vampire Academy Novel - Richelle Mead

Pages: 443
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: 13th November 2008

Other Titles in the Series: Vampire Academy (my review), Frostbite (my review), Blood Promise (25/08/09)

What if following her heart means Rose could lose her best friend forever?

Rose Hathaway knows it is forbidden to love another guardian. Her best friend, Lissa - the last Dragomir princess - must always come first. Unfortunately, when it comes the gorgeous Dimitri Belikov, some rules are meant to be broken…

But since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn’t been feeling right. Something dark has begun to grow in her mind, and ghostly shadows warn of a terrible evil drawing nearer to the Academy’s iron gates. And now that Lissa and Rose’s sworn enemy, Victor Dashkov, is on trial for his freedom, tensions in the Moroi world are higher than ever.

Lying to Lissa about Dimitri is one thing, but suddenly there’s way more than friendship at stake. The immortal undead are on the prowl, and they want vengeance for the lives that Rose has stolen. In a heart-stopping battle to rival her worst nightmares, Rose will have to choose between life, love, and the two people who matter most…but will her choice mean that only one can survive?

Wow! Shadow Kiss was fantastically amazing. It’s hard to put into words how much I loved it.

I was very worried about Rose in Shadow Kiss. Everything that was effecting her became steadily worse and I was just waiting for her to finally snap. This feeling only intensified as we learned more about Anna and the nature of her relationship with St. Vladimir and it’s similarities to Rose and Lissa’s.

Something that struck me repeatedly in Shadow Kiss was how oblivious Lissa was to how Rose and Dimitri felt about each other and also how unwilling Rose was to tell her. Rose’s need to protect those she loves trumps every other aspect of her life, right down to not telling her best friend about the guy she loves just in case it gets out somehow. She is the type of person that would lay down their life for someone but also seems terrified of letting anybody in.

But the ending. Oh my god, the ending. I was left reeling, in complete and utter shock. The Ravenous Reader told me that Shadow Kiss tore her heart out. I wasn’t quite prepared for how right she was. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since and I still can’t get my head around it. It totally blew me away.

I am literally aching for Blood Promise now. Roll on August!

Sophie

10 comments:

  1. Oh gosh, I know, the ending! I raced through it, and when it was done, was like, "No. Way. What?!?" Stunned in utter disbelief. Great review! :)

    - Alex

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  2. Hahaha I know just what you mean...

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  3. I love unexpected twist endings! Like at the end of Ugly Betty series 1. Or was it 2... With the car crash. Couldn't believe it happened - almost seemed real! This was when I thought Alexis and Daniel were dead. Yeah, I'll stop now :P :) Great review.

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  4. Sara - I know exactly what you mean. I was so annoyed that it ended that way!

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  5. August & Blood Promise aren't far away... you'll make it!

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  6. I really like Christian in this one. Glad you liked it! It does have a great plot twists!
    -amy

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  7. OMG! I cannot wait to read this book! It isn't here in the Philippines! Lucky peeps!

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  8. I can't wait for "Blood Promise" either. Great review.

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  9. Fab review Sophie - I loved this installment but I wanted to scream at the end of the book!!! I just couldn't believe the ending, I still don't want it to be true LOL. I've added your link to my review :o)

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  10. I just want to say that I think the ending of this book is soooooo bogus. Why him!? Why did he have to be them!? I feel so hurt and betrayed as a reader. However, I keep reading.....there might be a silver lining....there has to be...right?

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