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emilyrainsford's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Phew, what to say about this book??
To start with, I should say that I'm reading this for the first time as a 37 year old woman. Yes, it's a book for teenagers. Having said that, I read a lot of YA and the good ones can be enjoyed at any age. And having problematic content isn't excusable just because something is meant for teenagers - in fact, that just makes it all the more inexcusable.
Vampire Academy opens as our first person protagonist Rose and her bestie Lissa are caught on the outside and forced to return to vampire-Hogwarts, which they'd run away from two years ago.
What follows is a possibly interesting world and mystery, buried amongst a lot of teenage relationship drama and bitchiness and a looot of slut shaming. Like, a lot. Our main character Rose is supposed to be feisty and strong, but she's actually just a massive bitch and incredibly controlling of her best friend. Most of the boys at the school are awful pigs and most of the girls are fake and catty.
This book has a lot of consent issues. Rose can accidentally slip into Lissa's head and see from her perspective. Lissa is unaware of it when it happens and can't stop it or agree to it. So Rose starts using it deliberately, to check up on her friend. That's CREEPY folks. She justifies it towards the end with "sorry I just wanted to make sure you're okay". IT'S STILL CREEPY and an absolute non-consentual invasion.
There's a really disturbing scene where a bunch of vampire guys bring a human girl ("a feeder" gross) who is drugged up on blood loss and vampire saliva or whatever to a party, then all start doing things to her that she's too out of it to consent to. There's a word for that, folks. Rose only drags herself away from her make out session to address the situation because Lissa begs her to. Even then, she only succeeds in making the ringleader guy take the girl somewhere more private, and Lissa is like "wtf now he'll just do worse things" and Rose is like "meh, what can you do?" and goes back to her pash session. Then when Lissa follows them and takes vengeance on the would-be rapist (let's call it what is is), Rose acts like it's Lissa who's crazy and tells her off for "scaring" the human victim. Are you kidding me??
Have I mentioned yet that 17 year old Rose develops a crush on her 24 year old teacher... and that crush is clearly reciprocated by said older man? EW! And the moment he/we realise that is when he pulls Rose off some teenage guy she was dry humping, and he looks at her and realises she's sexy. EWWWWW!
Oh have I mentioned that all the vampire girls are suuuperrr slenderrrrr but have no boobs, but Rose has wOmAnLy CuRvEs and big boobs. She has big boobs folks. If you don't catch that the first time, don't worry, she'll remind you. About her bosom. So much bigger than the other girls.
Oh there's a bunch of vampire lore. I dunno, I couldn't explain it to you cos honestly it was kind of confusing.
The last 15-20% of the book really picks up the pace and interesting things start happening. Weirdly, the book ITSELF seems to undergo some kind of maturing process, even though the protagonist doesn't. But I don't that it's enough to save it from the mess that preceded it.
It's a shame because I feel like there's the potential for a really good story in there, but it is absolutely smothered by the questionable content. SO much questionable content. I struggle to understand who the intended audience is for this, because tbh I'd be horrified at the thought of young girls reading it.
To start with, I should say that I'm reading this for the first time as a 37 year old woman. Yes, it's a book for teenagers. Having said that, I read a lot of YA and the good ones can be enjoyed at any age. And having problematic content isn't excusable just because something is meant for teenagers - in fact, that just makes it all the more inexcusable.
Vampire Academy opens as our first person protagonist Rose and her bestie Lissa are caught on the outside and forced to return to vampire-Hogwarts, which they'd run away from two years ago.
What follows is a possibly interesting world and mystery, buried amongst a lot of teenage relationship drama and bitchiness and a looot of slut shaming. Like, a lot. Our main character Rose is supposed to be feisty and strong, but she's actually just a massive bitch and incredibly controlling of her best friend. Most of the boys at the school are awful pigs and most of the girls are fake and catty.
This book has a lot of consent issues. Rose can accidentally slip into Lissa's head and see from her perspective. Lissa is unaware of it when it happens and can't stop it or agree to it. So Rose starts using it deliberately, to check up on her friend. That's CREEPY folks. She justifies it towards the end with "sorry I just wanted to make sure you're okay". IT'S STILL CREEPY and an absolute non-consentual invasion.
There's a really disturbing scene where a bunch of vampire guys bring a human girl ("a feeder" gross) who is drugged up on blood loss and vampire saliva or whatever to a party, then all start doing things to her that she's too out of it to consent to. There's a word for that, folks. Rose only drags herself away from her make out session to address the situation because Lissa begs her to. Even then, she only succeeds in making the ringleader guy take the girl somewhere more private, and Lissa is like "wtf now he'll just do worse things" and Rose is like "meh, what can you do?" and goes back to her pash session. Then when Lissa follows them and takes vengeance on the would-be rapist (let's call it what is is), Rose acts like it's Lissa who's crazy and tells her off for "scaring" the human victim. Are you kidding me??
Have I mentioned yet that 17 year old Rose develops a crush on her 24 year old teacher... and that crush is clearly reciprocated by said older man? EW! And the moment he/we realise that is when he pulls Rose off some teenage guy she was dry humping, and he looks at her and realises she's sexy. EWWWWW!
Oh have I mentioned that all the vampire girls are suuuperrr slenderrrrr but have no boobs, but Rose has wOmAnLy CuRvEs and big boobs. She has big boobs folks. If you don't catch that the first time, don't worry, she'll remind you. About her bosom. So much bigger than the other girls.
Oh there's a bunch of vampire lore. I dunno, I couldn't explain it to you cos honestly it was kind of confusing.
The last 15-20% of the book really picks up the pace and interesting things start happening. Weirdly, the book ITSELF seems to undergo some kind of maturing process, even though the protagonist doesn't. But I don't that it's enough to save it from the mess that preceded it.
It's a shame because I feel like there's the potential for a really good story in there, but it is absolutely smothered by the questionable content. SO much questionable content. I struggle to understand who the intended audience is for this, because tbh I'd be horrified at the thought of young girls reading it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, and Rape
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