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A review by beaktastic
Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
5.0
I have to say, I LOVED this book! And I can't imagine many fans of the series would disagree! After two enjoyable-enough books, this one really grabbed me. It started off fairly slowly and innocuously, but before long it hit its stride and wouldn't let go. The entire book seemed to fit together really well.
Following the tragic events of the Frostbite, in Shadow Kiss Rose and the others must return to the Academy to move on with their lives. Graduation is fast approaching, and as is the senior novice's much-anticipated field practice. Despite her increasing short-temperedness, everything is looking up for Rose who, with two Strigoi kills under her belt already, reckons field practice should be a breeze and before long she'll be Lissa's guardian officially. But then she starts to see the ghost of Mason, who's death she still feels guilty over. She doesn't know what to make of it, or if she can even share this surprise visit with her friends, including secret love-of-her-life and mentor, Dimitri. But that's not all the graduating class will have to deal with before they reach the end of their senior year...
I thought this book was a vast improvement in the series, which was already pretty good to begin with. It started off quite quietly and normally for the series, but then it threw in all these new elements, such as Rose seeing the ghost of Mason, but also some elements that seemed to be hinted at in the previous book, relating to the bond between Rose and Lissa,.
I loved the slow build up to the dramatic conclusion of the novel. It was unexpected, and yet it was sort of expected at the same time, if that makes sense? I felt it was obvious that something was going to happen to one of the main characters and there would be a Strigoi attack, yet what the final outcome of it was totally took me by surprise. I kind of blame the Goodreads description for the Kindle edition of this book for me fore-seeing something happening, as it kind of spoils something that happens at the end of the book, but not totally,.
I don't want to go on for too long, but this was amazing. I loved this and I cannot wait to start book 4!
Following the tragic events of the Frostbite, in Shadow Kiss Rose and the others must return to the Academy to move on with their lives. Graduation is fast approaching, and as is the senior novice's much-anticipated field practice. Despite her increasing short-temperedness, everything is looking up for Rose who, with two Strigoi kills under her belt already, reckons field practice should be a breeze and before long she'll be Lissa's guardian officially. But then she starts to see the ghost of Mason, who's death she still feels guilty over. She doesn't know what to make of it, or if she can even share this surprise visit with her friends, including secret love-of-her-life and mentor, Dimitri. But that's not all the graduating class will have to deal with before they reach the end of their senior year...
I thought this book was a vast improvement in the series, which was already pretty good to begin with. It started off quite quietly and normally for the series, but then it threw in all these new elements, such as Rose seeing the ghost of Mason, but also some elements that seemed to be hinted at in the previous book, relating to the bond between Rose and Lissa,
Spoiler
I can't remember how explicitly it was mentioned in the previous book, but in my review for it I foresaw the revelation that Rose was taking Lissa's negative effects of spirit and it was nice to see that pay off finally confirmedI loved the slow build up to the dramatic conclusion of the novel. It was unexpected, and yet it was sort of expected at the same time, if that makes sense? I felt it was obvious that something was going to happen to one of the main characters and there would be a Strigoi attack, yet what the final outcome of it was totally took me by surprise. I kind of blame the Goodreads description for the Kindle edition of this book for me fore-seeing something happening, as it kind of spoils something that happens at the end of the book, but not totally,
Spoiler
It mentions that Dimitri is taken by Strigoi and Rose has to choose between him and Lissa, which sort of spoils the ending of the book in my opinion, but it doesn't mention Dimitri's final fate (or supposed fate? I'm not 100% sure Mead will leave it at that to be honest), but yeah, that was kind of annoyingI don't want to go on for too long, but this was amazing. I loved this and I cannot wait to start book 4!