Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Published: November 13, 2008
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 443
Source: Personal Copy
For Rose Hathaway, everything seems out of kilter. Ever since she made her first Strigoi kills, a dark shadow has been creeping over her. Looming in the background, too, is another realization: If she follows her forbidden love for guardian Dimitri Belikov, she might lose her best friend forever.
And these sleep-shaking worries couldn't have come at a worse time. The immortal unloving are prowling everywhere, famished for vengeance against her.
Rose is destined for greatness as Lissa's guardian, and as Lissa is the last of the Dragomir line, it's all the more important. Things are changing though. Rose is finding herself plagued by shadows of those who shouldn't be around anymore, and it's scaring her. To keep control, she begins to keep secrets from those who matter most to her, including Lissa and Dimitri, who might just be the only ones who can help her now. Can she realize that she needs them as much as they need her in time, or will it be too late? There are some things one can't come back from.
I feel this is an appropriate time for me to apologize to all Vampire Academy fans out there for the snide little remarks I made about the series because of the vampire plotline. Colour me nuts, but I'm officially obsessed, and I never in a gazillion-billion-trillian years thought I'd have to concede that. Shadow Kiss is book three in the six book series, and has effectively built the suspense to a fever pitch making it a serious page-turner. Alternating action, drama, suspense and terror on every page, Shadow Kiss is a true triumph for author, Richelle Mead.
I felt the series was a little shaky with book one, I'll admit. I understand why it was the way it was now though. Shadow Kiss doesn't need excessive backstory now because the prior books elaborated and detailed everything one needs to know, so we get dropped right into the action. Rose and Lissa, though close, still have separate lives and turmoil to deal with. For Rose, she's not only trying to come to terms with seeing things, but also trying to hide her love for Dimitri, and it gets harder all the time. I will admit, I found her a bit whiny because of this at times, but it kind of went hand-in-hand with her age. Honestly, Lissa annoyed me at times, too, because she had this total "holier-than-thou," everything is about me attitude. Dimitri, however exudes utter sexiness and power from every page, and let's just say there were several moments during Shadow Kiss that I'm pretty sure my heart fell right out of my body.
Despite aggravating immaturity at times, Shadow Kiss was a fantastic, riveting read that I couldn't put down. I definitely think it's the best of the series thus far. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy paranormal stories and those involving vampires.
So glad you enjoyed the book! I read this book when it first came out ♥ I love this series :]
ReplyDeleteI've only read the first part - it is the only modern vampire book I've liked. I don't know why I haven't read the rest of the books. I love Rose and Dimitri. Like you, I find Lissa a bit annoying.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I've read the first 3 books in this series so far and I think the 3rd one is my favorite :) It's so jam-packed with action and finally there are quite a few developments in Rose/Dimitri's relationship.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure but I suppose I started to doubt this series after the third book. Then it went downhill for me. Yes, my comments remind snide and I am not going to appologize to anyone.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those series I have yet to try out. While I have read a lot from many fans, I just have no felt ready to commit to so many books. I love though that it has sufficiently captured your interest enough that you felt it necessary to apologize for your previous remarks.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it Melissa ! This is my favorite YA series ever =) !!
ReplyDeleteOh these books -- so aggravating, yet so delicious.
ReplyDeleteLOVED Shadow Kiss!! How intense was that ending?! I'm glad you have come to terms with the greatness of this series, Melissa :-) haha and I agree - Lissa got on my nerves too. Great review chica!
ReplyDeleteI cried like a baby at the end of this book..in my dark living room and 4am, LOL. Great review! :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE these books and I think the first second and third books were my favorite. Great review!
ReplyDelete-Danna
Have I read it? Oh I am so bad..ok yes, I think the enxt one for me is book 4
ReplyDeleteLissa isn't my favourite, either. I find that she's kind of weak most of the time, which is annoying when you've got Rose as the main character, someone who is strong in more than one way. Loveeee this series, though. Like you I never thought I would say that, but I wish I had picked it up a long time ago (of course picking it up a couple months ago meant I could read all of them in a row, which was a huge bonus).
ReplyDeleteOh Dimitri, how I love you:) I found I read these books just scanning the pages for his name, hoping and wishing for lots more page time with him:) I adored this book and I can't wait to see what you think of the next several, I think Rose grows up a lot:)
ReplyDeleteI really need to get the first book. Your reviews are making me sad that I haven't read them yet. ;)
ReplyDeletecan I just say that I love that you love this!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are enjoying them! Great review!
ReplyDeleteI was skeptical of this series at first, also because of the vampires. (I'm kind of wary of them most of the time.) But Vampire Academy is a fantastic series, a fantastic fantasy, and a fantastic love story. The ending of this volume was... WOW. Crazy. Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteThis series got me too. I was convinced that I was going to hate it but I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI really must start this series soon. It sounds really good, and many people have said that it gets better as the series goes along.
ReplyDeleteSeriously Melissa, these books just keep getting better and better! I can`t wait to see what you think of the rest of them!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're loving the series as much as we do! I told you it'd get better after book 1! And when you go back and read book 1 again, it's way more enjoyable. At least it was for me.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Rose's whiny-ness, but just keep reading. And Dimitri, OMG, I dream of him...