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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
This was my least favorite book of the series so far for a number of reasons. I thought it dragged on in parts, especially in the beginning. The entire time Rose spent with Dimitri's family was pointless and added in a cast of new characters that weren't compelling at all, taking away time from old characters that I wanted to hear about.
This story also added in new elements to the world Mead created that were completely out of left field. There was no reason why Alchemists needed to be kept secret from the reader or from the Dhampirs and Moroi in the first three books, for example, and it makes me think Mead hadn't thought of them in the beginning and added them in later. I also hate when authors add in flashbacks that weren't mentioned in previous books but supposedly happened to the main characters during the time that those books were taking place. If it was an important event/scene then it should have been written into the previous books.
Additionally, the love triangle between Rose/Dimitri/Adrian was made completely useless in this book. I'm actually a sucker for a good love triangle, but that means it can't be 100% obvious who will end up together and it can't come out of left field either. If Rose ends up with Adrian, I'll be completely shocked at this point. Mead really missed an opportunity to give her love triangle a purpose and infuse some good drama and romantic tension into this series by not allowing Rose to move on with Adrian before finding out that Dimitri is alive. Even if they start dating in the next book, we also know she'll be trying to cure Dimitri so it won't truly be moving on. It makes the love triangle pointless and I'd rather it not have been there at all. This is one of the many things that bothered me about the Twilight Series.
Another problem I had with this book, was one that I saw coming as soon as Dimitri turned into a Strigoi. I hate it when vampire novels produce a cure for vampirism. One of the chilling things about becoming a vampire is that it's permanent. For me, it cheapened the tragedy of Dimitri being turned in book three and it makes vampirism seem less awful.
I haven't read the last two books in this series, but I also feel that Mead has written herself into a corner with Dimitri. The way the character was written in the first three books, I can't see him ever being able to live with himself after killing innocent people as a Strigoi. He always had such a strong sense of honor. But my guess, based on the high star rating I've seen given to the sixth book, the fact that it's written for a young adult audience, and my suspicion that Mead is in love Dimitri in the same kind of way Meyer is in love with Edward, I think he'll be cured and survive in the end. After I read the sixth book, if I'm wrong, I'll eat my words.
One thing I disliked about both this book and the ending of the last book was Rose putting Dimitri above Lissa. Something that I really liked about this series, was the relationship between these two friends and how important it was to both of them. Not that it was a perfect friendship, but it was still good. But Rose followed the typical path of "girl choosing her boyfriend over her best friend." Mead tried to pretend that at the end of this one, Rose chose Lissa over Dimitri but she didn't really. She already thought Dimitri was lost to her forever when she almost killed him and at the end of the book, she's willing to risk Lissa's life by releasing the person who tried to kill her in order to save Dimitri.
Although the books clearly had flaws, there were times when I was really sucked into the story so I didn't hate it. I hope that the next two books will be better.
This story also added in new elements to the world Mead created that were completely out of left field. There was no reason why Alchemists needed to be kept secret from the reader or from the Dhampirs and Moroi in the first three books, for example, and it makes me think Mead hadn't thought of them in the beginning and added them in later. I also hate when authors add in flashbacks that weren't mentioned in previous books but supposedly happened to the main characters during the time that those books were taking place. If it was an important event/scene then it should have been written into the previous books.
Additionally, the love triangle between Rose/Dimitri/Adrian was made completely useless in this book. I'm actually a sucker for a good love triangle, but that means it can't be 100% obvious who will end up together and it can't come out of left field either. If Rose ends up with Adrian, I'll be completely shocked at this point. Mead really missed an opportunity to give her love triangle a purpose and infuse some good drama and romantic tension into this series by not allowing Rose to move on with Adrian before finding out that Dimitri is alive. Even if they start dating in the next book, we also know she'll be trying to cure Dimitri so it won't truly be moving on. It makes the love triangle pointless and I'd rather it not have been there at all. This is one of the many things that bothered me about the Twilight Series.
Another problem I had with this book, was one that I saw coming as soon as Dimitri turned into a Strigoi. I hate it when vampire novels produce a cure for vampirism. One of the chilling things about becoming a vampire is that it's permanent. For me, it cheapened the tragedy of Dimitri being turned in book three and it makes vampirism seem less awful.
I haven't read the last two books in this series, but I also feel that Mead has written herself into a corner with Dimitri. The way the character was written in the first three books, I can't see him ever being able to live with himself after killing innocent people as a Strigoi. He always had such a strong sense of honor. But my guess, based on the high star rating I've seen given to the sixth book, the fact that it's written for a young adult audience, and my suspicion that Mead is in love Dimitri in the same kind of way Meyer is in love with Edward, I think he'll be cured and survive in the end. After I read the sixth book, if I'm wrong, I'll eat my words.
One thing I disliked about both this book and the ending of the last book was Rose putting Dimitri above Lissa. Something that I really liked about this series, was the relationship between these two friends and how important it was to both of them. Not that it was a perfect friendship, but it was still good. But Rose followed the typical path of "girl choosing her boyfriend over her best friend." Mead tried to pretend that at the end of this one, Rose chose Lissa over Dimitri but she didn't really. She already thought Dimitri was lost to her forever when she almost killed him and at the end of the book, she's willing to risk Lissa's life by releasing the person who tried to kill her in order to save Dimitri.
Although the books clearly had flaws, there were times when I was really sucked into the story so I didn't hate it. I hope that the next two books will be better.
Still really enjoying re-reading these! Not as exciting the second time around because I knew what happened, but this book really expands the world with new groups of people and characters. I also couldn’t fully remember the ending so that was fun!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Amazing series by an amazing writer. Love how it captures your attention and transports you to the scenes with great details. No series by this author has disappointed me to this day. They are great reads and rereads.
2022 edit:
Re-reading this series in honor of the new tv series. The tv series is a lot better than the movie (movie was horrible in my personal opinion) and me re-reading the books allows me fresh new eyes when I do comparisons of what one doesn’t have and what I like best between the books vs tv.
To be honest, this author through the years has had the most amazing books I’ve ever read. Great characters and their respective developments, doesn’t add random people to the story just to add them (everyone is important and has great purpose), the relationships (friends, couples, families, enemies and even frenemies). She captures your attention and makes you not want to stop.
I still remember when I first read these I just couldn’t put them down. This time it was the same only life has added more responsibility that doesn’t let me read none stop with only naps, meals and bathroom breaks.
I truly recommend everyone read any of her series, you will not regret it.
2022 edit:
Re-reading this series in honor of the new tv series. The tv series is a lot better than the movie (movie was horrible in my personal opinion) and me re-reading the books allows me fresh new eyes when I do comparisons of what one doesn’t have and what I like best between the books vs tv.
To be honest, this author through the years has had the most amazing books I’ve ever read. Great characters and their respective developments, doesn’t add random people to the story just to add them (everyone is important and has great purpose), the relationships (friends, couples, families, enemies and even frenemies). She captures your attention and makes you not want to stop.
I still remember when I first read these I just couldn’t put them down. This time it was the same only life has added more responsibility that doesn’t let me read none stop with only naps, meals and bathroom breaks.
I truly recommend everyone read any of her series, you will not regret it.
A reminder to never read a book you know is going to have a sad ending at work
“I’d said it before and meant it: Alive or undead, the love of my life was a badass.”
#1: Vampire Academy ★★★★★
#2: Frostbite ★★★★★
#3: Shadow Kiss ★★★★★
#4: Blood Promise ★★★★★
Tenhle díl jsem si oblíbila hlavně kvůli Rusku. Zase máme spoustu akce a tady jí je opravdu hodně. Od cca 100 strany až po konec musíte číst dál a dál, protože se pořád něco děje.
girl was really pissing me off for a minute but turned things around just in time.
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated