A review by a_dara_ble
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Starting to reread a bunch of series I read in highschool. For what it is- a highschool vampire series, the first book is pretty good. I don't really get why they're in highschool if all the things happening seem a bit more college age (drinking, sex, dorms etc) but I guess if they're in highschool then the mc attraction to her teacher is more "forbidden."

the back cover is sort of a fake out, the strigoi don't even show up or even pose much of a threat (other than "one day you'll have to fight them") until the very last chapter

. It's mostly teen drama, but if that's what you're looking for, then this one's pretty good 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, and Self harm

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Car accident, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Torture

one of the mcs cuts herself when her emotions get "too much" to pull herself out of it, there's also brief descriptions of some dead animals, & a character is briefly described as being tortured by someone with air powers (mostly suffocation)