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Dec092010
Vampire Academy Week – BOOK REVIEW: ‘Blood Promise’ by Richelle Mead
by Carolyn • Posted in 5 Star Reviews, Authors M-P, Book Reviews, Paranormal, Richelle Mead, Vampire Academy Week, Young Adult
Title: Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4)
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: Feb 2010 (UK) / Aug 2009 (US)
Paperback: 493 pages
Genre: Paranormal
Young Adult
RATING: 10/10
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir’s Academy was the deadliest ever in the school’s history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them. . . including Dimitri.
He’d rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa—the one she has sworn to protect no matter what—and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?
REVIEW:
**warning – may contain spoilers**
Wow! This book is amazing! I read it so quickly (well, for me anyway), I honestly couldn’t put it down I was so absorbed in the story. ‘Blood Promise‘ is a total rollar-coaster ride and I loved every minute of it.
After my small annoyance with Rose and Lissa in ‘Shadow Kiss‘, ‘Blood Promise‘ bounces back and gives me everything I wanted from the characters and from the story itself. This is by far the most exciting instalment in the series so far. It really is that good!
Rose has left the academy in search of Dimitri to end his suffering after being turned. Her heart hurts for leaving Lissa behind and the fact they didn’t leave on very good terms niggles her. But she leaves anyway and travels to Siberia with the hope of setting Dimitri free from a life as one of the Undead.
On her travels to Siberia, Rose meets lots of new people; Sydney, an alchemist, Abe, a mysterious man who comes to her aid and Dimitri’s family. It was nice to see where Dimitri came from and Rose was welcomed with open arms into the family. Each character is as interesting and intriguing as the original ‘cast’ and it was actually quite refreshing to be given a new set of characters.
There was only one thing I was waiting for the entire time I was reading this book – the moment that Rose would come face to face with Dimitri. With each page that drew me nearer to that moment just increased my level of tension and anticipation.
My heart broke when Dimitri was bitten, but the fact he wasn’t totally gone, even if he was a Strigoi, gave me hope of seeing him again…and I did. So did Rose (obviously, as this is her story..ahem).
When Rose meets Dimitri for the first time since he was turned her emotions go wild and although he’s not her Dimitri, he’s still there in front of her and it was just heart-wrenching. I felt each one of her conflicting emotions and I understood all of them. The sexual tension between Rose and Dimitri is still dominant, even as a Strigoi, and was electrifying.
Because of this, and her hesitation to kill him, he captures her. They spend time together, with Rose as Dimitri’s prisoner. Dimitri wants to turn her so they can be together for eternity. He begins to drug Rose my biting and drinking her blood leaving her in a drug induced state for days and Rose becomes an addict. Things get very blurry and complicated for Rose and she’s almost convinced that being with him, even as a Strigoi would be better than not at all.
But lots of things happen and she comes to her senses and escapes. The fight scenes between Rose and Dimitri as he tries to prevent her leaving are intense and moving, especially when she finally drives a stake through his heart and leaves him for dead.
She returns home, but after only a few days back at Court a letter arrives for her, signed off with a D!!!! This book was just so amazing. I lapped this instalment up in just a few hours – the hubster was a book widower while I was reading it, I just couldn’t stop.
VERDICT:
There is something really very special about this series and one which has become an instant favourite. This series will remain on my shelf forever!
SOURCE: Thank you to Penguin for sending me this book for review.
Look out for my review of ‘Spirit Bound’ later today!
Read my review of Book #1: Vampire Academy
Read my review of Book #2: Frostbite
Read my review of Book #3: Shadow Kiss
3 Comments
Oooh a 10 out of 10!!
I daren't read the review because of the spoilers (sorry), but anything with a 10 from you automatically goes onto my wishlist
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Reading the series finale now. It's such an amazing series. Word is out there is a spin off series featuring others from the books and it will include 6 books.
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