Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Building the tension...

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead is a slow burn. Mead takes you into the lives of two teenage girls Rose Hathaway and Valisia Dragomir. These two young ladies are tied together by more than just friendship, Lissa  saved Rose's life when they were young through magic, and now they are bound. Rose has sworn to become Lissa's Guardian at all costs, even when the adults at the academy make it clear that might not happen. Throw in Rose's growing attraction to her mentor, Dimitri (a guy several years her senior), and your standard high school rivalries, and a type of vampire known as Strigoi (vampires who have killed or been turned) and you have an intriguing cast of characters. Although at spots I found the book to drag along, the tension picked up and Ms. Mead kept my attention, which can sometimes be hard to do. (Oh look! A chicken!) A recommended read for YA and adults alike, Mead does a credible job of building a world we can all delve into. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

4 stars, Keeps you guessing

About Richelle

Scorpio Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens.  Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time. Before becoming a writer, she considered a few different career paths. She received a liberal arts degree from the University of Michigan, an MA in Comparative Religion from Western Michigan University, and a Master in Teaching (Middle & High School English) degree from the University of Washington. In the end, she decided writing was the way for her but believes all of her education prepared her for it.

A life-long reader, Richelle has always had a particular fascination with mythology and folklore. When not writing,, she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses. Lots of dresses. She is a self-professed coffee addict, fights a constant (and losing) battle with procrastination, and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous.

Her adult series are published by Kensington Books.  The Georgina Kincaid Series (Succubus Blues, Succubus on Top, Succubus Dreams, and Succubus Heat) tell the humorous and heart-breaking story of a reluctant succubus who can't touch the man she loves without dire side effects. On top of that, she must deal with Hell's middle management team and the many supernatural threats that come her way.  Richelle's Dark Swan Series (Storm Born and Thorn Queen) follows Eugenie Markham, a free-lance shaman who battles ghosts and fey that sneak into our world from the Otherworld. When an alarming prophecy suddenly makes her every Otherworldly creature's object of desire, Eugenie must dodge their advances while also fighting a dark power rising within her.

Richelle's YA series, Vampire Academy, is published by Razorbill Books (Penguin) and thus far contains Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, and Spirit Bound.  This New York Times and USA Todaybestselling series has won honors from the American Library Association and been translated into 30 languages.  It follows the war between two races of vampires, living and undead. Rose Hathaway, a 17-year old half-vampire, is training to be a bodyguard for the living vampires and finds her life complicated by the dangers that involves, as well as an illicit romance with one of her teachers.