Scan barcode
scarlettereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
I first read Vampire Academy when I was fifteen, and wow was fifteen year old me powerful, because this is pretty bad and I thought about calling it quits a whole lot.
I’m going to put some of that down to the audio narrator who shouldn’t try for a Russian accent for any reason at all, but a lot of it is down to the writing.
The major issue I take with this book (and I felt the same fifteen years ago), is that the love interest is literally a paedophile. What was it about the 2000s that had YA authors writing about “older guy” love interests like their lives depended on it?
I hated Dimitri Belikov way back when, and I hate him even more now.
This is going to sound extremely bizarre, and perhaps it’s like when Michael Gary Scott imagined a unicorn before he’d ever seen one but hear me out: Before I even knew of the existence of Tommy Wiseau it was Tommy Wiseau who I pictured when I pictured Dimitri. To fifteen year old me that was how much older than seventeen a twenty-four year old looked. Also, how the hell did I do that?
Even after watching the terrible but bingeable TV adaptation where Dimitri is just some British guy who slipped into a sort of Russian accent about twice, I still see Tommy Wiseau when I picture Dimitri Belikov. Just wearing a leather duster coat and fewer belts.
Is it kind of iconic of me to read a book with a love interest who is kind of part vampire, who looks EXACTLY like TOMMY WISEAU, who I believe to be kind of part vampire—it explains a lot about him, just think on it for a minute—when I had never seen or heard of Tommy W? Incredibly. The accent is somewhere in the wheelhouse of what the audiobook performer went with, so why the hell not?
(But my sincerest apologies to Mr. Wiseau for picturing him when I envisioned a child predator in 2009. I know now that he’s just an “American guy” who is so super good at playing “American football” but is probably not a fan of garlic or holy water.
Anyway, this book is bad. Rose is pretty horrible. Dimitri is literally a paedophile. Etc etc etc. How the librarians at my catholic high school snuck this series onto the shelves I’ll never know, but I kind of wish they hadn’t 😬
I’m going to put some of that down to the audio narrator who shouldn’t try for a Russian accent for any reason at all, but a lot of it is down to the writing.
The major issue I take with this book (and I felt the same fifteen years ago), is that the love interest is literally a paedophile. What was it about the 2000s that had YA authors writing about “older guy” love interests like their lives depended on it?
I hated Dimitri Belikov way back when, and I hate him even more now.
This is going to sound extremely bizarre, and perhaps it’s like when Michael Gary Scott imagined a unicorn before he’d ever seen one but hear me out: Before I even knew of the existence of Tommy Wiseau it was Tommy Wiseau who I pictured when I pictured Dimitri. To fifteen year old me that was how much older than seventeen a twenty-four year old looked. Also, how the hell did I do that?
Even after watching the terrible but bingeable TV adaptation where Dimitri is just some British guy who slipped into a sort of Russian accent about twice, I still see Tommy Wiseau when I picture Dimitri Belikov. Just wearing a leather duster coat and fewer belts.
Is it kind of iconic of me to read a book with a love interest who is kind of part vampire, who looks EXACTLY like TOMMY WISEAU, who I believe to be kind of part vampire—it explains a lot about him, just think on it for a minute—when I had never seen or heard of Tommy W? Incredibly. The accent is somewhere in the wheelhouse of what the audiobook performer went with, so why the hell not?
(But my sincerest apologies to Mr. Wiseau for picturing him when I envisioned a child predator in 2009. I know now that he’s just an “American guy” who is so super good at playing “American football” but is probably not a fan of garlic or holy water.
Anyway, this book is bad. Rose is pretty horrible. Dimitri is literally a paedophile. Etc etc etc. How the librarians at my catholic high school snuck this series onto the shelves I’ll never know, but I kind of wish they hadn’t 😬
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Violence, Mental illness, Animal death, Blood, and Grief
ellynscoffee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Pffttt this book turned into rage bait for me. I'll be spoilering the whole review as it is a rant review.
I cannot stand Rose and the further I get into the book the bigger my eye rolls get and the more I want to audibly groan about how annoying and stupid she is.
On top of that, she can't stop herself from spying on her best friend, not once but MULTIPLE TIMES and only feels "mildy guilty" about it. Girl you should feel ashamed!! What's wrong with you??
Oh and let's not forget the ridiculous relationship between Rose and Dmitri, the brooding morally confused 24 year old mentor that has eyes for a 17 year old girl... yes very attractive 🤢 Rose baby you have so much more to like than a guy 7 years older than you.
And would it kill Rose to not slut shame every few pages?? Or pull a "I'm not like other girls" sentence out of her ass?
If it's so easy for her to go meddling in her best friend's relationship too and then NOT ADMIT SHE WAS INVOLVED?? Then what else will this absolute brick of a girl do without remorse?
Oh and not to mention the way self harm and mental health is dealt with. I know this book was written in 2007 when this kind of stuff was still weird to talk about but my god I felt like I was losing brain cells watching poor Lissa get her mental state completely disregarded. Even though the others didnt know she had self harmed, was it not clear to anyone after she was targeted the first time that she might need something other than some tone deaf "oh well poor you go to hospital and stay there alone for most of the night you'll feel better tomorrow xx".
I just cannot overlook these problems. At first when I started the book I was enjoying it and I actually thought I might have a good series here to read but the further I went the worse I felt about this book. There were just too many things that I couldn't overlook and that were just too painful or too brain numbing to read.
My main takeaway is this:
Rose is a terrible friend and extremely unlikeable. The issues written about are understandable for the time but obviously it didn't age well and let's not glorify grown ass men having relationships with 17 year olds please. Ew ew ew the ick that overtook me.
Sorry to anyone who liked this book but I am absolutely yeeting it out of my kindle asap.
I cannot stand Rose and the further I get into the book the bigger my eye rolls get and the more I want to audibly groan about how annoying and stupid she is.
On top of that, she can't stop herself from spying on her best friend, not once but MULTIPLE TIMES and only feels "mildy guilty" about it. Girl you should feel ashamed!! What's wrong with you??
Oh and let's not forget the ridiculous relationship between Rose and Dmitri, the brooding morally confused 24 year old mentor that has eyes for a 17 year old girl... yes very attractive 🤢 Rose baby you have so much more to like than a guy 7 years older than you.
And would it kill Rose to not slut shame every few pages?? Or pull a "I'm not like other girls" sentence out of her ass?
If it's so easy for her to go meddling in her best friend's relationship too and then NOT ADMIT SHE WAS INVOLVED?? Then what else will this absolute brick of a girl do without remorse?
Oh and not to mention the way self harm and mental health is dealt with. I know this book was written in 2007 when this kind of stuff was still weird to talk about but my god I felt like I was losing brain cells watching poor Lissa get her mental state completely disregarded. Even though the others didnt know she had self harmed, was it not clear to anyone after she was targeted the first time that she might need something other than some tone deaf "oh well poor you go to hospital and stay there alone for most of the night you'll feel better tomorrow xx".
I just cannot overlook these problems. At first when I started the book I was enjoying it and I actually thought I might have a good series here to read but the further I went the worse I felt about this book. There were just too many things that I couldn't overlook and that were just too painful or too brain numbing to read.
My main takeaway is this:
Rose is a terrible friend and extremely unlikeable. The issues written about are understandable for the time but obviously it didn't age well and let's not glorify grown ass men having relationships with 17 year olds please. Ew ew ew the ick that overtook me.
Sorry to anyone who liked this book but I am absolutely yeeting it out of my kindle asap.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Self harm
lmcknight's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
It’s not for me
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Blood, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Drug use, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Violence, Animal death, Car accident, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Suicidal thoughts
balter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
0.75
This is probably the worst book I’ve ever read. From slut shaming to pedophilia this book has it all. The characters are mostly unlikable and one-dimensional and the dialogue is cringe-y at best. The main character/narrator is funny, at least, so it gets a portion of a point for that. I read the entire thing waiting for the book to start making sense and it never did, I do not recommend this book at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Biphobia, Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, and Sexism
More...