This book started out a little slow, but a couple chapters in & I was hooked. The bond between friends Rose & Lissa is very compelling. Overall excellent writing & intriguing story line.

Do not judge this book by it's cover! It's a really good book and it's really different from all the vampire books I have read. The author is amazing at writing this because it's about two girls name Rose and Lissa, who have a bond and well Rose is her gaurdian and can see and feel what lissa is feeling. Rose is suppose to protect Lissa because Lissa is one of the princess in the moroi family. Any how it is a really good book especially about loyalty and friendship. You can relate to this book.. well besides the fact that we're not vampires in real life but you can relate to the characters of the book and how they act. I love the whole Demetri and Rose romance it's cute how they develope it throughout the book instead of just getting straight into the romantic stuff.. and then theres Lissa and Christian who will develope a friendship and maybe more but you'll have to read the book to be able to see more about it! anyways i recommend this book to everyone I'm hooked and I'm waiting for the third book to come out.

I loved this book this whole series is definitely one of my faves. The heroine is very strong and I love the story.

Took me a few chapters to get the characters, and what they were, straightened out but then it took off. Very interesting storyline. Can't wait to read the next book "Frostbite".

Rose and Lissa are like most teenage girls. They like boys, like to shop at the mall, and feel misunderstood. The only difference is that they are vampires. Lissa is a Moroi princess, a member of the vampire royalty, while Rose is a dhampir guardian who has sworn to protect Lissa even to death. Two years ago, they ran away from St. Vladimir's Academy, a private school for the Moroi and Dhampir races, for reasons that only Rose fully knows.

Now, the school's guardians have caught up with them and want to bring them back to the academy against their will. The halls of St. Vladimir's are filled with the same things they have always been: snotty Moroi, secrets, clan loyalties, and a deathly fear of the Striogoi: vampires who have become immortal and seek to destroy all of the royal family.

As a punishment for running away, Rose has to train every second that she is not in class. Her mentor is Dimitri, a stoic, handsome guardian whom she finds to be ever increasingly attractive. While Rose is training to become deadly to the Strigoi, Lissa is discovering how to be a royal without losing who she is inside. And why does someone keep planting dead animals in Lissa's path? Is someone out to get Lissa, and if they are, can Rose truly protect her friend?

This book was better than I expected. At first, I felt Rose was just an angst-ridden teenager just complaining about everything. But after awhile, the characters began to take on more depth. Rose and Lissa have a deep bond that goes beyond friendship. The scandals that takes place in the halls of St. Vlad's will keep vampire book lovers thoroughly entertained. There is some sexual content. Not too heavy, but vampires are sexual by nature, so this was expected. There are also levels of vampire sins so it was interesting to read about what this society found to be unspeakable. By the end of the book, you will be rooting for Rose.

Rosemary Hathaway and her best friend Lissa, a Moroi--the good type of vampires, have been on the run for two years now. Relying on Lissa's magical ability of compulsion and Rose's training as a Dhampir--half human, half Moroi guardians whose duty is to protect Moroi from the Strigoi, the evil and immortal vampires--they've managed to elude the guardians of St. Vladimir's Academy for young Moroi and Dhampir. Rose took Lissa away from St. Vladimir's when strange and dangerous circumstances threatened Lissa's safety...but now, the guardians have caught up with them, whisking the girls back to St. Vlad's.

There, they are regarded with contempt and suspicion. Rose is ordered to stay away from Lissa, and because she is behind in her training, is assigned additional training with the enigmatic Dimitri Belikov. But Rose is not one to take punishment lightly, especially if it means that she is no longer responsible for Lissa's protection. And now that they are back at St. Vladimir's the very reasons they fled come creeping back to haunt them...along with new dangers as well.

Richelle Mead has crafted an edgy, dark, and tantalizing world in Vampire Academy, in which she has embedded the perfect heroine. Rose is charismatic, yet tough and snarky, whose attitude is empowering and appealing, even as her faults become known to the reader. Mead's varied types of vampires will satisfy every reader's preferences, and those who thirst for an action packed, suspenseful, and unflinching paranormal romance will be glad to drink up Vampire Academy.

The mystery behind Rose and Lissa's escape is carefully concealed and let out gradually, which builds up suspense nicely, but may cause some impatience as readers try to piece together that puzzling clues. Rose's sporadic flashbacks to sophomore year and her encounters with a mysterious teacher blend nicely into the novel's many subplots and twists. Though there is a lack of drama as Rose recounts the night she and Lissa ran away, the slight let down is offset by the shocking climax of the book, making Vampire Academy an intoxicating and intriguing foray into a fully developed and very compelling world where danger lurks around every corner.

I picked up this book because I knew it was the first in a series and tend to prefer series to just stand alone novels lately. I was not disappointed in choosing this series, the story is a different take on vampires and there was a lot of information to take in (Moroi vs. Strigoi vs. damphirs and what they all mean and who hates who, etc.) but the story moved fast and I couldn't wait to reach the ending to see what happens. There is cussing so I don't recommend for younger ages despite it being a young adult novel and there is some sexual scenes (non-explicit). I do recommend this book (and series) for anyone who likes books that are just "cookie-cutter" versions of each other.

Though I no longer fit into the YA catergory, I can't help but to dabble every now and then. I was lucky enough to come across this new series. WOW, I have to admit when I first started this book, I couldn't quite make myself like the characters, but no more than 5 pages later I was hooked and the characters fate became my own. That's how you know you're reading a great book, you getted pulled into their world, and that DEFENITLY happens here!! So if you're ready to surrender your day (cause you won't get much done while reading this) grad this book and it's sequel and enjoy!!!

This book surprised me; Richelle Mead took the old concept of vampires and built a unique world from it. I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to all fans of fantasy books.

I am a Twilight fan and was recommended by Amazon to read this book. Of course I didn't think it would dazzle me quite as much as the Twilight books, but was very pleasantly suprised how much I liked this book. I read Frostbite as well and it made me love this series even more.
I am not sure I would give this book to my teenager to read because of some of the language, talk about getting naked, and self mutilation (cutting). But since I am 29, it doesn't really matter to me and didn't bother me. In conclusion, I really loved the book and look forward to the third book. I am glad I bought it.

I was a little confused in the beginning because I didn't understand what was happening, but once things got more clear I really started to enjoy it. It's dark, romantic and very funny!

this was not a bad book not what i was looking for and it took a long time to read because i couldnt get into it but not bad

If you enjoy a realistic portrayal of interpersonal relationships set in a wildly fun and dangerous world with vampires, those who love them, and those who hate them, do not pass up this book. This is the first of a multipart series, and you definitely want to get in on this action-packed installment.

This book was absolutely amazing! I loved it! I can't wait to read all of them! If u liked Twilight you'll love this one! It's not until the very end that you get it all! LOVED IT!!!!

This was an awesome book, it left me eager to find out what would happen in the sequel. While some habits of the vampire lifestyle were familiar to me from stories I've read in the past, many other aspects were fresh and inventive. The plot was very interesting; I loved the fantasy elements to it, and the plot twists kept the story from ever getting remotely close to being boring. The characters were great, I had so many favorites, which made this book even more enjoyable than it already would have been had I liked just one or two of them! If you're a fan of urban fantasy, vampires, magic, or forbidden romances, then give this book a read. Even if you're not, who knows, try it out, you might like it! :)

I have to admit, I'm a devoted "Twilighter." While waiting for Breaking Dawn to release, I've been reading some other vampire/werewolf type books, some good, some not so good. I just finished Blood and Chocolate, Blue Bloods, Silver Kiss, etc, but I am definitely shocked how I missed this one till now!!!

I'm 29, so not a teen anymore, but still a "young adult"...lol. Close enough anyways so I snuck over to Barnes n Noble's teen section and grabbed this cause it was the on display. I didn't even read my Twilight series as fast as this book! I loved it!!! The title seemed generic to me so I was hesitant before I ever picked the book up. I was stuck though starting with the first chapter! It moves quickly and is an easy read. I can't wait to go to BnN tomorrow to pick up Frostbite for my upcoming out-of-towner. Too bad #3 in this series doesn't come out till Novemeber :-/.

I think Ms. Mead handled the topic of teenage vampires and teenagers well. Unlike P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast (the mother daughter duo) and their House of Night series, I felt Ms. Mead had a more realistic take on teenagers. When I read P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast's writing, the writing feels *forced* and fake. It felt so fake reading the Casts' mediocre writing skills.

Nowadays, adults like to think teenagers in high school aren't like what Ms. Mead depicts in her novel. But I think her depiction is close to the high school drama and politics. Teens aren't as innocent anymore, they know what sex and drinking is. They know how to cuss and swear before they enter high school. It's a sad fact, but its reality. There are preteens who has lost their virginity. As much as we want to keep children and teens innocent of such issues, they're already discovering it on their own and among their peers.

Rose is a very tough dhampir girl and can come on as an aggressive person. But coming from a background like her, where she needs to be tough, it's understandable. It does take a while for readers to get use to her. The characterization of Rose is very different from most heroines. She is rebellious, but she is loyal to Lissa. One complaint possibly is Ms. Mead's characterization of Rose being super attractive and Rose's acknowledgement of her ability to attract the opposite sex. Rose is so sure of herself. There are many times where Rose is very confident in her assets and she mentions it. She comes off very confident and borderline arrogant.

Dmitri and Rose -- I think here Ms. Mead is aware of what she's presenting to teens. Therefore, she IS NOT telling teens to go out and meet older men. She does consider the factors of a forbidden romance. The age factors and clashes with duty and responsibility. The author allows for some hot sensual scenes between Dmitri and Rose, but they're not having sex. I think Dmitri is well aware of the precautions and controls his lusts and desires well enough, when not under the influence of spells.

Another minus against Rose is how she keeps drooling over Dmitri. We get that Dmitri is incredibly hot, but Ms. Mead doesn't need to have Rose drooling and lusting over him all the time. An occasional stare or something suggestive is okay, but having Rose talk about Dmitri like she wants him so badly is just too much. I think she needs to tone that done a bit.

About the antagonist and who was behind the animal killings and stuff, I had my suspicions and knew who they were before they were revealed. I predicted it would be them.

Another thing, I think it was strange and unique that the Vampires at Vampire Academy actually went to church on Sundays. Strange how both Mead and the Casts actually brought religion into the mix/their novels. It's just slightly unusual, I thought it would've been better if they left religion out because every reader has different opinions about religion, and it is best kept out of fiction.

Overall, I think it was a good read, I would've given it a 3.5 or maybe 4 rating. It's not entirely perfect, I've read better. But it is certainly better and more realistic than P.C. Cast and Kristin Casts attempt at writing. Vampire Academy has potential and I hope the sequels will show more improvement and development where the prequel lacked. But that doesn't mean it wasn't good. It was much more exciting than Twlight.

Recommendations: Night World No. 1: Secret Vampire; Daughters of Darkness; Spellbinder (Night World), Night World No. 2: Dark Angel; The Chosen; Soulmate (Night World) and Third volume of Night World Coming April 21 2009.

Honestly, I picked this book up not expecting very much. (I compare all teen vampire novels to The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle (Vampire Diaries)). Imagine my pleasant shock when I was sucked in by the 5th page!
Here's the story: Rose is a dhampir, her best friend Lissa is a mortal vampire princess. Rose is in training to protect Lissa from the vicious Strigoi.
The book deals with the friendship of Lissa and Rose that is inspiring and moving. You come to realize Rose would die for Lissa, not because she is royalty, but because of a fierce devotion.
Now...this book could have been supremmely irritating in the hands of a less-talented authour.
Lissa is pretty much a Mary Sue.
Rose finds herself in various idiotic situations and I kind of wanted to pull her out of the book yelling, "WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT!"
Rose is a far from perfect character, but her flaws and how she dealt with them kept me reading.
I cannot wait to read the 2nd book, Frostbite (Vampire Academy, Book 2)

Enter the dark and compelling world of the Vampire Academy series, a must read for fans of Stephanie Myer, Rachel Caine and PC Cast and Kristin Cast.Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess; a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond with the earths magic. Lissa and all of the Moroi must be protected at all costs from the Strigoi; vicious and immortal these rogue Moroi will stop at nothing to extinguish the Moroi race. Enter Rose Hathaway, a Dhampir with the powerful blend of both human and vampire blood trained in combat to kill the Strigoi. She is also Lissa's best friend and guardian in training. Two best friends must navigate through this dangerous world, confront temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let there guard down, least the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever.

i read the summary and hesitated to read it at first because it seemed like just another 'mean girls' story with vampires in it. but i was surprised to find how intriguing it was. i didn't think i would like any other vampire story after the famous twilight series but this is completely different. what i found most extraordinary was how the author imagined a whole new world, like how jk rowling did harry potter and cs lewis did narnia. it was so different in fact, that there are even 'de facto' laws and made up stereotypes that are hard to understand because they are soo out of our world. it was well written and has a little of everything: action, suspense, romance, drama, humor. for some reason however i just couldn't give it five stars, i would give it 4 and a half if i could; no important reason for not giving it five stars though, so don't let that make you hesitate. i can give you my word that it comes next best to the twilight series; i've looked into others and they were simply pathetic. overall, highly recommended.

I am a big fan of Richelle's Succubus books, and am now a big fan of the Vampire Academy series! This book was fantastic. I know it's listed as young adult, but I'm thirtysomething and I loved it!

I started reading Vampire Academy at a bookstore and had to buy it. After I finished, I literally counted down the days until the sequel came out, it was so good. Richelle Mead did a very good job of blending the more serious vampire theme with the setting of a high school teen drama, making it an excellent read, well-balanced between suspense and fun. Bravo, Ms. Mead!

Younger fans of the vampire genre, and even adult fans, this is a new series you should check out. Welcome to a world where the good vampires, Moroi, need their half-blood cousins, Dhampir, for protection. Their children train at academies like St. Vladimir's, preparing Dhampir for the fight against Strigoi, the bad vampires. Moroi are not completely helpless, as they possess four schools of magic--air, earth, fire and water--but these are strickly for non-offensive uses. The Dhampir are heartier and stronger, their human side keeping them from needing blood to survive. But Strigoi hunt their kin, having a special taste for Moroi blood but an inability to tolerate any sunlight or use magics.

Vampire Academy introduces us to Rose Hathaway, Dhampir and guardian trainee. She and her best friend Lissa Dragomir, a Moroi princess and last of her family bloodline, have run away from St. Vladimir's after strange events lead them to believe Lissa is in danger. For two years they have run, hiding among humans and their time has run out. Brought back to St. Vlad's the two friends must deal with nasty rumors, mysterious changes in Lissa and that doesn't include the rigors of regular high school! Behind in her training Rose begins training in all her spare time with a full-fledged guardian, Dimitri, whom she has a growing attraction to. Meanwhile Lissa is having problems, someone keeps putting dead animals in her vicinity, but is this just someone's horrid prank or is it something more serious?

If you're a fan of vampire lore or favor the school of vampire fans who like their vamps pretty and not-so-evil this is a great book to try. As a hardcore paranormal & urban fantasy fan I found it to be light, but entertaining reading. On a more personal note I enjoyed that the locations in the book were all within the Northwestern US (Portland, Oregon, rural Montana, Missoula, Montana) as they were areas I was familiar with and aren't overly used in this genre. Richelle Mead's writing was a little unnotable and while I rarely complain about it the massive number of typographical errors in this book was annoying.

If you're too young for Laurell K. Hamilton, you enjoy the Buffy franchise or you just want a vampire lite this should be a good read--and don't forget to check out the second book, Frostbite!

BP Blood Pressure Cuff - Aneroid Sphygmomanometer, Adult Size
Yeah, I'm sorry but it doesn't come up to par with my all time favorite Twilight series. But it is beter then some of the other vampster book series out there. If you want clean cut, this has swering and sexual additives.
In fact a lot of their lives are described sexually. How they procreat and who can make babies and who can't.
There is the scratch your eyes high school crap, again. Which brings me to believe that that is what all the other writers fall on to, when you can't think of anything else.

This book was amazing. i read it in 3 hours. I hate I read it so quickly, but the cool thing about this book, is you can re-read it. Twilight lovers should check out this book! There 2 upcoming sequels to this book. Part of me wants to read them, part of me wants to stop with the first book because it was perfect. Of course i will read the other ones, but i just wanted to express how great this was. If you liked this, You might would like Wicked Lovely and Jade Tiger. They had the same feel, to me. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

This is one of the best YA books I have read in years (I'm almost 30). Since working on a science fantasy novel of my own, I haven't picked up any YA books because I wanted to stay in the mindset of a more adult kind of writing. But what I love about Richelle Mead's YA style is that the book reads like an adult novel written about teenagers. I happily devoured Rose and Lissa's adventures, and found myself wanting more so much that I went back and bought the second book, Frostbite. I can't wait for the third book to come out, and every book after that. The wonderful twist on the vampire legend, the truth about who Lissa is, and the incredible social and political worlds and extremely fascinating, and easy to follow.

I really wasn't expecting much from this book - the cover looked kind of cheesy (yeah, yeah I know about judging a book by its cover) and the title seemed sort of bland. Honestly, I skipped over this book time and again until I finally decided to give it a shot after seeing it repeatedly recommended on various forums and WOW! I'm so glad I did! What a great story! I loved Mead's concept of vampires and the world she created at the academy. It's original, well developed and filled with frustrating, endearing, fascinating characters (I loved Dimitri!).

Rose is tough, but in ways that make her intriguing. She's also vulnerable and able to admit when she's wrong. I liked her character quite a bit and she grew on me more and more as the story progressed. Her bond/friendship with Lissa is also a very nice change of pace from so much of paranormal YA lit that I've read recently where the heroine has no female friends - or not any real ones. In this story, the connection between Rose and Lissa features prominently.

The romantic tension between Rose and Dimitri is played up well and progresses in a believable way - no sudden proclamations of love out of the blue. These two develop feelings for each other based on mutual respect, which is also lacking in quite a few other books/series of this genre. Of course it helps that they're both attractive too, but it was refreshing to see a romance built on something other than looks.

Overall, Mead's writing style flows well, the dialog is believable, the characters are well developed and the story is highly entertaining. I read it under a day and now I'm eagerly awaiting the second in the series. I'm thrilled to have found such a talented author who writes the kind of urban fantasy/paranormal romance I've been looking for. I can't wait to read more of Mead's books.

So I am not going to tell you the plot of the book in this review. I don't usually read many books that are recommended to me. So I took the chance on this book and so WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED IN THIS BOOK! This wasn't just reading a book it was like watching a movie in my head. I have read a few books with vampires in them and this has become one of my fav. The author did a great job at getting me interested and then keeping me interested. The plot and characters hook you from the get go. Even if you are not a teen you can still read the book. I am 23 and still loved it. Give this book a chance and you won't regret it.

One of the best vampire books I've read in a long time. Original worldbuilding and a gripping storyline. I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series.

OMG this book is wonderful. I am a lot older than 17, and I loved this book. Rose is a great narrator- sassy, immature, brave, loyal. It is very clever of the author to use Rose's ability to enter Lissa's mind as a way for us to get Lissa's POV. The world building was great and the whole premise of Moroi and Strogoi was fresh. Rose's narrative voice is funny and poignant all in one.I am so over the typical urban paranormal vampire story, that I almost did not get this book. However the glowing reviews here pursuaded me to give it a try. If you are a woman of any age- run and buy this book. The romantic tension between Dmitri and Rose was fantastic! I cannot wait to see what happens between Rose and Dmitri next. The second installment comes out in a few days and the third this fall. It is wonderful that Richelle Mead is such a prolific author! I love, love ,love this book! IMHO romantic tension is so much sexier than graphic bedroom scenes. This book has it all- buy it! (Sorry for all the exclamation marks- I just can't stop gushing about this book).

I throughly enjoyed this and would recommended it. Mead has created an intricate, engaging and considerably original vampire world, combining status, danger and emotional turmoil. The three breeds of vampires is an intreging concept and the characters are well rounded and varying. Amoung the central characters there's Rose, who is strong (both physically and mentally), reliable and likable; and Lissa, who is troubled but loyal with a firm faith in her friend. The bond between them is also very clever, letting the reader see what both characters feel about plot situations. Overall, YA-style writing with a great plot and interesting, loveable characters; I am looking forward to the sequal!

I really loved this book. I'm not a teenager - I'm 31. I bought this book based on the blurb on the back and the intriguing notion of a school for a society of vampires, complete with their own class system. The title "Vampire Academy" is a little silly, but I doubt that the author had much of an input into the title name, and it probably does catch the eyes and ears of the Young Adult market.

I loved the two main characters of Rose and Lissa. I thought it was very clever of Richelle Mead to allow us to see into Lissa's thoughts and emotions as well as Rose's. If the book had been all Rose then it would have been a bit annoying - she's a wonderful character, but she's strong and dominant and that can be overpowering. Rose is perfectly balanced by the fragile and mysterious Lissa and their relationship is the key focus of the book. I also really enjoyed the forbidden Rose/Dimitri attraction and really enjoyed their scenes together.

Best line in the book which made me laugh out loud: "It was the kind of dress that changed the world. The kind of dress that started religions". Hilarious!

My only criticism is that characters other than Lissa and Rose are not well developed. I hope this is a fault that will be rectified as the series progresses. Looking forward to the next book!

As other reviewers have noted, Mead does a very nice job creating "her version" of the vampire hierarchy as a backdrop. But she falls a bit short in that the characters she has created are not terribly likeable (isn't that YA fiction writing rule #1??) or interesting. Rose is annoying and rather mean if you ask me. Llissa is a manic depressive, insecure mess. And the fact that Rose (age 17) and her mentor Dmitri (24) are embarking upon the beginnings of an illicit relationship is not really the kind of thing young girls should be reading about. And this is coming from a 35 year old chick who's really not that much of a prude.

The protagonist of VAMPIRE ACADEMY, Rose, is a member of a half-human, half-vampire guardian class dedicated to the protection of the elite vampire-pure bloods. She's great at what she does, but no matter how good she gets she'll always be a second-class citizen. It's even tougher for her as there aren't many female guardians, and women of her hybrid species often get very little respect. This adds a poignancy to the story that keeps it grounded where other books about the escapades of beautiful and wealthy immortals end up silly and Mary Sueish.

Rose is very, very devoted to the pure-blood vampire that she protects - a kind and gentle, as well as beautiful, vampire princess named Lissa. Rose supports Lissa emotionally, guards her physically, and when Lissa makes bad decisions that could get her into trouble with the school authorities, Rose steps in and takes the blame then, too.

The amazing thing is, Lissa seems to deserve Rose's devotion. She's an incredibly loyal friend, and repays Rose with the trust and esteem she deserves. She's also gifted or cursed with the ability to heal - even to bring creatures back from death - and unusual powers of mind control. But her gifts are both forbidden and costly. In short, blessed as Lissa is - she's in an incredibly difficult position, and the reader, like Rose, wants to protect her.

I liked the story, with its mix of mystery, intrigue, and romance. I liked the friendship between Rose and Lissa, and I liked Lissa's snarky, outgoing personality. There's real drama and emotion here, and I can't wait for the next installment.

I found the main character to be an annoying twit. She was pushy, nasty, and a huge bully. Yet, Miss popular at the school. She cut class, fooled around excessively with the boys, told her best friend what to do. How was this endearing? Then to top it all off, would excell in making the wrong decisions. Sorry, but I find it hard to like a novel when the herione has the characteristics that I would consider as the bad guy.

I loved this book, but I found myself wanting Rose and Dimetri to "hook up". Maybe that comes from reading more adult aged romance books. I am 24 and loved this book. I can not wait to read the next one and I hope that she will qrite quite a few of them. Maybe even age Rose so that her and Dimetri can be together, oh I can hope can't I.

First off, let me say that the world of vampires Richelle Mead creates in the first book of this series is very cool. The Moroi (Lissa) are mortal vampires who need to be protected by the Dhampir (Rose) because the Strigoi are after them. Lissa and Rose are both very interesting characters and the psychic connection between them is fascinating. Richelle's writing is well paced and somehow she manages to make all the fantastical elements in her story seem very realistic and believable. But the real icing on the cake is Rose, whose character is strong and determined. She is really the antithesis of many heroines of YA novels that are weak and scared. I will definitely be reading more of this series.

Rose and Lisa are not ordinary best friends - they share a bond that no others in that time have! This bond allows Rose to see through Lisa at times, sometimes even purposely.

It's there bond that keeps Rose at Vampire Acadamy. The reason is that things were happening to Lisa and to save her Rose took her and ran away. Coming back to Vampire Acadamy, Rose had her own fears about what would happen to her. But once the bond is discovered it starts the biggest adventure of their lives...

I really enjoyed this book and I think all people that like a good fantasy or action would too! It's funny, adventurious, romantic...

I hope that you at least try it out! This is working it's way to be one of my favorites!

Vampire Academy is a wonderful new take on what could be a seemingly stale topic; vampires. How many different ways can vampires be done? I am always impressed when someone can mold something new but Richelle Mead does a top notch job in breathing new life into a well loved group of fictional characters. Her writing is fast paced and engrossing. There is no lags in the book but moves at a steady and unraveling pace. Each chapter is like a puzzle piece, adding new details to the mystery around the connection between Lissa and Rose as well as to the mysterious skills each girl seems to have. Rose is a strong, no nonsense female heroine if not a bit typical for a heroine. I was most intrigued by Christian, the love interest of Lissa. He has the potential to be a strong, edgy and witty character with quite a bit of meaty history behind him. I look forward to him being elaborated upon in future installments. My only criticism for the first installment was its predictability. What should have been a shocking turn of events was easily predicted early on in the story. Too many hints were dropped and too much emphasis was placed on the "good" vs. "bad" characters to be a dead give away. Some corny plot devices were used to fulfill a book requirement---brainwashed make-out sessions anyone? There were clear influences in this story, some more subtle than others (a vampire novel with a character named Xander----where have I seen that before.....?) All in all I was quite pleased with the book. I look forward to seeing the progression of the characters and hearing more about the undead vampires which I know will make a larger appearance later I presume.

After R.L. Stine's "Dangerous Girls" and the Cast's "House of Night" duo, I was beginning to lose faith in finding any good teen vampire novels. But oh, does Richelle Mead deliver!

First and foremost, the characters are superb. I love the narrator. Rose is a witty, sassy dhampir, and she goes very well with the kind and gentle Lissa. Their relationship is real to the reader; you feel pain when they fight and delight when one defends the other. The surprise villain was brilliantly creepy and intelligent and (to me) unexpected. Mia, as the forefront antagonist, was a girl I loved to hate right from the start.

Secondly, there is originality emanating from the first chapter. Yes, we saw a vampire school in the House of Night series, but not like this. The school wasn't important as a school so much as a SETTING, which House of Night failed to have a clear vision of. The different breeds of vampires, the roles they play, and the hierarchy seemed like the author wrote them all out in detail before she went to work on this novel. And while vampires using magic and elements seems to be turning into a fad, Mead makes it all seem new and awe-inspiring.

Finally, but still just as importantly, Mead uses foreshadowing from page one. Vampire Academy is intricately woven with hints and suspense, so that by the end, when the reader discovers the who and why of the antagonism, the reader is left saying, "Of course, it all ties in now!" I haven't had a feeling like that since the ending of Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game."

Oh, and the tragic romance was played to perfection as well.

I am immensely looking forward to book two.

While this book takes a while to get started, it is well worth the long read. It is not the traditional vampire story. With a typical teen love for the main character, Rose. This story gets better with every turn of the page!

I'm a huge fan of vampire literature, so I feel qualified to say, WOW, about this book. Mead concocted a very creative twist on vampires, and the book is extremely readable. If you like vampire books, or even if you don't, read Vampire Academy!

I wish I hadn't waited so long to begin reading "Vampire Academy" because it is a great start to a new series. Richelle Mead has created an interesting world filled with 3 types of vampires: Dhampir, Strigoi, & Moroi. As well as making an interesting vampire world, Mead uses these 3 types of vampires to make some strong statements about prejudice. This world is completely new & engrossing.

I can see much potential for this series & will be reading the second book as soon as it comes out. Definitely recommended for lovers of vampire fiction.

Loved it- I am an avid reader who is well past her teen years, but the world Ms Mead builds is very interesting. I have read and seen tons of vamp fic with royal blood and court politics, but this teenage world is so insular, it kind of reminds me of a Hogwarts gone Gossip Girl. (Definately has a highschool flavor) But imagine it told from much more jaded Ron or Hermione's perspective.

Very little takes place outside the campus, and it so well written that you don't mind. Lots of themes - affluent neglect, social power and its abuses, hiding your identity...all very accessible themes, done with excellent protagonist voice. This special bond between the two girls is powerful and well explained. I love the fact that each girl is determined to do whatever it takes to protect the other, and though they have to reach for it and sacrifice for it, this novel hints at an optimistic and believable series to come. I am VERY impressed. I also loved the characters and clever turns in her Succubus Blues. I eagerly await Ms. Mead's follow up to both these storylines.

OK, so I'm 14 so I haven't read her other stuff. I'm sure it's really good and it might not have as much sex as I think it does, but back to this book.

This book is just...wow. I had seen it at a local Border's and my mom had offered to buy me a few books. But I didn't get it then. :D

But everytime I would go to a bookstore or on here, I would always see it and finally I got it for my birhtday.

I stayed up till 5 am reading it. I LOVE THIS BOOK. Then I kept re-reading for a few days after. I basically, have most of it commited to memory. It's a really good book and just the right amount of everything.

Rose is a very interesting character. She acts on impulse and nothing more. And wow, she can kick [...]. I love the whole, umm, I can't believe I'm going to say this, but the whole girl power thing. haha.

SO JUST READ THIS BOOK PEOPLE. :D

After reading this book I must say that I love it. I didn't like the book in the begining it started off weird (almost like it picked up at the end of another book), but the author quickly pulls you in and makes you see why she started the book the way she did. I like Rose (the dhampir and guardian to Lissa)she is sassy, quick witted, and doesn't take crap from anyone. I didn't like Lissa in the begining of the book, she came across as a whiny, spoiled, can't take care of myself woman. But throughout the course of the book she quickly comes into her own (with the help of her guardian and another character). I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Great start to an intriguing new series. It has all of the fun bitchiness of high school drama but also a great world with some cool sects of vampires and how they interact. Plus just enough YA romance to keep it exciting.

"Vampire Academy" is the second novel written by Seattle-based Richelle Mead. This time, she takes us back to school--vampire school, to be exact.

The story begins when Vasilissa Dragomir and Rose Hathaway are apprehended by the Vampire Academy's truant squad and returned to school after a runaway attempt. Lissa, who is a Moroi and a true vampire, is one of the Royals who is close to the vampire throne. Rose, who is a dhampir, is destined to protect her. Moreover, Rose is bound to Lissa's mind in a way no guardian has been since the days of the saints. Lissa has a talent that frightened them both into getting away from the school.

Of course, things are different when they return and the once-popular duo are the subject of rumors and character assassination. Typical high school stuff, only lives are at stake.

"Vampire Academy" was a great read. Mead's idea of vampires is slightly different than what I am acquainted with, but she did a great job of explaining how dhampirs, Morois, and Strigois differ. Her world and rules were very good, for the most part. Her characters were people that you wanted to care about and read more about. My one complaint was that Ms. Mead did not set the scene as well as she did in her first book, "Succubus Blues." While the book was still easy to follow, I wanted to be as firmly in the place as I was in the world and its characters.

I actually will be looking for the next book in this series and strongly recommending it for young adult readers as well.

I loved this book and cant wait for the next on plain and simple this book has something for everyone
Ava

"Vampire Academy" is the first book in a new series by Richelle Mead. Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a vampire who is mortal yet also has magical abilities. Lissa's best friend Rose Hathaway, is a Dhampir who's destiny is to be Lissa's guardian. The Moroi need guardians because of another group of vampires called the Strigoi whose sole mission is either to wipe out the Morois or to turn them into Strigoi. This book is told from Rose's point of view. These two girls also share a psychic bond that is very rare in their world. This was one of the best parts in the book. Richelle Mead slowly gives us the background and details which led to Lissa and Rose's special relationship. That said, I only gave the book a four star rating, because I felt it was too similar to P.C and Kristen Cast's book "Marked". I also didn't connect with the characters as much as I did with "Marked". Still, it was a fast moving story and it did keep my attention long enough that I will definitely read the next book which will be told from Lissa' point of view rather than Rose's.