Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 978-0-141-33186-7
Pages: 493
Series: Vampire Academy #4
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
St Vladimir's has been attacked and as a result Rose has lost everything she
holds dear. She had to choose between Lissa and Dimitri and has now journeyed to
Russia to fulfil a promise to Dimitri. As Rose travels she doesn't realise the
horrors and revelations in store for her, nor does she realise just how much
danger she has left Lissa in and it quickly becomes clear that the risks are
greater than ever before.
This is the fourth book in the Vampire Academy
series (after Vampire Academy, Frostbite
and Shadow Kiss) and if you're new to the series I'd recommend going back and starting
with the first book. This review is also likely to contain spoilers for the
earlier books.
I was really looking forward to this installment after the
dramatic end of the previous book, but I have to say I ended up a little
disappointed. The book has a dark and at times dismal feel and is much heavier
in subject matter than the previous installments. The storyline is divided
between Rose's quest to find Dimitri in Russia and Lissa's school life at St.
Vladimir's which means there are two entirely distinct plots at the same time.
The plots are well written and both build to dramatic endings, although I felt
Rose's dragged at times.
Rose has travelled to Russia in search of
Dimitri, essentially in order to kill him. Along the way she is introduced to
Sidney and the existence of Alchemists who have existed for hundreds of years to
protect humans from vampires (both moroi and strigoi) and their dhampir
guardians. Syndey took a lot of getting used to as she is pretty bigoted against
non-humans at the start, although I gradually warmed to her and ended up liking
her a lot by the end of the book. Rose also meets Dimitri's family and
experiences what life is like for dhampir's who choose not to become
guardians.
Rose also learns more about spirit users and being shadow
kissed and her reunion with Dimitri is dramatic. At times it felt like Rose
stayed too long in certain situations and that is where the storyline felt
dragged. One thing I loved that I didn't expect to was little flashbacks to Rose
and Dimitri at happier times as these helped lighten the overall darkness of the
storyline.
Meanwhile back at St. Vladimir's Lissa has befriended new girl
Avery on the prompting of the Queen. It's interesting to see her reactions to
political manipulation, and also how Lissa chooses to act when Rose isn't
around. It quickly becomes clear that rather than being a bad influence, Rose
was the only thing helping Lissa make good choices and before long her
relationship with Christian is on the rocks and Lissa is putting herself in real
danger.
All in all this was an interesting read and I'm looking forward
to Spirit Bound.
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment:
8/10
Cover: 7/10
Overall: 42/50
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