3.61k reviews for:

Shadow Kiss

Richelle Mead

4.2 AVERAGE


I AM SO ANGRY AT THIS BOOK THAT I'M STILL IN SHOCK! It was amazing which makes the ending even worse, I can't even write a review so I'm leaving it like this.
adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

And just when you think the VA series can't put your heart through any worse nonsense than losing a certain lovable and adorable character, Richelle makes us--along with Rose--go through one more death. And this one succeeded in breaking my heart.

I just can't even talk about what happened at the end of this one. Mostly because it is definitely a spoiler [although if you've read the synopsis for the next books, you can probably figure out what it is..], but also because I cried my heart out and I don't want to face what's coming. So let's talk about the early happenings of this book.

Rose and the other senior novices are preparing for their field experience "exams", which is where they act as mock guardians to other student Moroi in order for them to get a better feel for what guardianship really entails. Alberta being the hardass that she is, sticks Rose with Christian instead of her bff Lissa who everyone expects her to actually guard one day. And Rose being Rose throws a fit because SHE SHOULD BE GUARDING LISSA AND CHRISTIAN IS STOOPID. Dimitri being Dimitri manages to talk some sense into Rose before she says something even more damning and all is well. For a while.

Meanwhile, Rose finds out that Victor's trial is coming up and petitions for her and Lissa to be invited to speak. They manage a ticket aboard the plane (thanks to Adrian) and are then off to visit Court. On the way over, Rose is plagued by hideous migraines and ghostly visions of people who are supposed to be dead. This was another cool development in the story seeing as the more kills Rose manages, the closer she gets to the world of the dead and the more "weird stuff" starts happening to her, ie. seeing ghosts, sucking the darkness from Lissa, and going berserk when she becomes angry. It was interesting to see her vulnerable and unsure of herself because she was not in control and possibly going crazy.

I also loved the development of her and Dimitri's relationship in this one. After seeing Rose deal with all kinds of crazy stuff (literally and figuratively), he is finally ready to admit to himself that he really does love her--even though he's older than her, even though they are both going to be Lissa's guardians someday, even though they can never be together, etc. He loves her and worries about her well-being and realizes that he is happy with her, and I just love when love wins.

Then THAT ENDING happened, and I just wanted to cry a river of tears even though I've read this a million times.



My head and heart are still crying, and I don't want to continue on in the story because I know what's coming. But a sadistic part of me wants to keep reading also because I know what's coming. What can I say, I'm weird.

My lovely Dimitri...

4.2

"You will lose what you value most, so treasure it while you can."

Naprosto fenomenální. I teď po letech si stojím za tím, že je Stínem políbená asi tím nejlepším dílem v celé knižní sérii, i když díl budoucí mám v srdci taky hodně hluboko. Přiznám se ale, že je pro mě tenhle díl hodně složitý. Ze začátku jsem totiž odkládala jeho přečtení, je to vážně hořkosladký pocit. Na jednu stranu jde vážně o fantastický příběh, na druhou stranu mi ale láme srdce. Kdo četl, jistě ví.

Hrozně se mi líbil ten koncept dhampýrských terénních praxí. Úplně jsem viděla před očima, jak je jich učitelé napadali. Přišlo mi to super! A rozhodně mi přišlo super, že byla Rose ve dvojici s někým jiným než s Lissou. Dokonce bych řekla, že jsme díky tomu mohli lépe nahlédnout do jejího přátelství s Christianem, kterého fakt žeru!

Trošku mi tu neseděl Adrian, občas mi přišel svou přítomností tak trochu do počtu. A to ho vážně miluju. Akorát ho mám silně spjatého se Sydney, k Rose se mi prostě vůbec nehodí.

Zároveň se mi líbila ta zápletka s duchy, na tu jsem úplně zapomněla a postupně odhalovat, proč se něco děje, bylo super. Přišla jsem si, jako kdybych ten příběh četla prvně.

No... přesto tu bylo něco, co mi silně vadilo. Což není autorčina chyba, samozřejmě. Šíleným způsobem mi vadila Lissa. Sice nikdy nepatřila mezi moje oblíbence, tentokrát ale její sobeckost předčila meze. Použít (nebo se o to alespoň pokusit) na svou nejlepší kamarádku nátlak, aby ji ze sobeckých důvodu přiměla zůstat? Proboha. Tahle část, kdy Rose Lisse konečně řekne, jak se cítí, je ale perfektní:

"Tady nejde o tebe, jasný? Tentokrát jde o mě. Ne o tebe. Celý můj život, Lisso..., celý můj život to bylo to samý. Oni mají přednost. Žila jsem jenom pro tebe. Trénovala jsem, abych byla jako tvůj stín, ale víš ty co? Teď chci přednost já. Pro jednou se chci starat sama o sebe. Už mě unavuje neustále hlídat někoho jinýho a nemyslet na to, že taky něco chci. Dimitrij a já jsme se tím řídili a podívej na to, jak to dopadlo. Je pryč. Už ho nikdy neobejmu. Teď mu dlužím alespoň tohle. Mrzí mě, že tě to raní, ale tohle je moje volba!"


Myslím, že přesně tohle Lissa potřebovala slyšet. Vážně se občas chovala jako malej spratek a na tom, co chce a co cítí Rose, nikdy nesešlo.

i can't put my feelings into words...
what did i just read?!
whyyyyyy...
dark funny mysterious sad tense 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

omg that ending was amazing, I can't wait until the next book. I honestly feel this was one of the best books in the series so far.

Well, this was heartbreaking. Even though I kinda saw it coming, it still bloody hurt. And here I thought ending of the last book sucked!

I feel so bad for Rose. The writer is really harsh on her protagonist. This girl takes on everyone's hate and sarcastic remarks and replies with her own. Had this been any other "noble" character like Harry, he'd be in depression. Rose is extremely strong both emotionally and physically. So strong that I fear what will happen if one day she snaps and loses it all.. and I'm surprised she hasn't lost it yet, given that ending. You go Rose. Do your thing. Be strong <3

I loved this book it has all I wanted for Rose and Dimitris relationship I was so sad when I thought Dimitri was dead ,then when mason said he wasnt dead but strigoi I died a little in side. I can't wait for the next book I hope she dosent need to kill him but if that's what she needs to do and what he wants then I guess I'll just have to cope.