This book was seriously amazing. It had everything to make it a truly well rounded story. I have read many many vampire books, and this is one series that really stands out from the many.

The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead is the best vampire story ever written. It goes beyond our generic acceptence of straight-edged good and evil vampires and delivers a powerful story of romance, jealously and all the teenage angst we crave.
We meet Rosemarie Hathaway (Rose) and Vasilisa Dragomir (Lissa) in the first of this brilliant series in Vampire Academy. Rose is tough, strong-headed and so loyal to her best friend that she would die for her. Lissa is sweet, caring and content to follow her best friend to the end of the world. They are complete opposites yet they compliment each other in every aspect. Mead was able to create these dynamic characters and has sustained their original attributes through two exceptionally brilliant novels.
Rose and Lissa had run away from school because of Lissa's secrets, but they were found by the handsome, Russian, Guardian Dimitri Belikov. Taking them back to St Vladimirs turns out to be surprise after surprise for the two girls as they come to have new enemies they never had before and falling in love with boys they probably shouldn't have.
Love interest flairs up between Rose and Dimitri, Rose's new mentor (he is seven years older than Rose). As they battle with their emotions, Lissa is kidnapped by unlikely foe who puts them all in more danger than they realise.
Racing against time to find Lissa, using Rose's uncanny bond with Lissa, they manage to find the cabin that she is being stowed away in. But she isn't there. Rose realising this, runs into the forest after her with Christian, Lissa's unusual love interest.
Facing more battles than they realised, and forming bonds even stronger than that of Rose and Lissa's we are left craving more.
Which is where Frostbite comes in.
After a huge strigoi attack on the Badica family, it puts all Moroi and Dhamphir alike, in fear. Annoyed with Dimitri's way of treating her, Rose's long-absent mother turns up at the school, angering her even further.
Though and unlikely source of excitement runs through the school; an exspensive ski lodge has offered all Moroi families to come stay the christmas with them. Though even a challenge with Mason on the slopes can't take away the anger and resentment she feels toward Dimitri, his new love interest, Christian and most of all her mother.
The climax of the story begins when Mason, Mia (who's mother had been killed by the Strigoi attacks) and Eddie head out in search of the Strigoi that they so want to kill. Rose realising this, heads out in search for them, with Christian tagging along.
Finding them in the mall where the Strigoi have supposedly set up camp, Rose becomes the mother figure to them and starts to drag them home until they get lost. Though they don't have time to be afraid because they are attacked by Human's with guns. Even Rose's extensive training with Dimitri can't prepare her for what is in store for her and her friends for the next few days.
I found that the ending to Frostbite was one of my favourite endings I have ever read. Mead weaved intricately so many emotions into her final climax that you will be left pondering the ending for many days to come.

Richelle Mead is a brilliant writer and her work on the Vampire Academy series exceeds all other vampire novels. You'll left having to read them over and over again until she brings us the next installment to this thrilling saga.

Richelle Mead, you are definately one of my favourite authors!!!
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
I love all the twists in this book!
*SPOILERS*
And I love the conflict with Rose's mother. It's such an interesting read!
I was kind of sad about the death at the end... but otherwise I loved every minute of it! I can't wait until the next book comes out! I've already pre-ordered it

The second installment in Vampire Academy definitely lives up to the first. It has more action, more suspsense, but sadly not more of Dimitri than usual. Although the romance between lissa nd christian seems intense, i felt like i was left with only slightly more of Dimitri than before. Theres jealousy, sexual tension, and unrequited love all in a single chapter, so its pretty great. But not enough. I can't WAIT til shadow kiss. ALthough theres a loss, its still awsum what the rewards are. But the loss is pretty unsuspecting and on of the saddest parts so far in this entire series (i think). But i don't want to give away too much, so sorry if it seems like my review is lacking. Other than what i've already said, theres alot more revealed than what i expected so everyones in for some surprises. So ya'll def should read it. PEACE!

i love the vampire academy series! this book is great, cant wait for the next one!!

Love this book. I really like the relationship between Lissa and Rose. Roses wants Dimitri her dhampir trainer. She knows she shouldn't want him but she can't help herself and how she feels. Lissa has her own boyfriend Christian but she is afraid she is losing control again of her mind. Her Magic is different then anyone else's and she doesn't know how to handle it. This is a great 2nd books in the Vampire Academy Series can't wait for the 3rd.

The story picks up right were Vampire Academy left us. Rose and Lissa are still at St. Vladimir's. Lissa and Christian are now together and Rose is still in love with her mentor/tutor, Dimitri. When a massive Strigoi attack halts everyone's plans to travel home, St. Vladimir sends its students to a posh Idaho ski resort, so families can come together in a safe place.

But there seems to be a lot more drama happening on the slopes than Rose was expecting. Her good friend Mason has a huge crush on her, Rose's mom pops unexpectedly back into her life, and Dimitri seems to have eyes for someone else. Not to mention the Strigoi continue to cause problems.

When Mason and two other fellow students go missing, Rose knows they went to find the Strigoi. Joining forces with Christian, they head off to find the trio and end up way over their heads......

Let me just start off by saying that I love Richelle! I started reading Frostbite and I completely devoured it in one sitting! Is it her writing, the characters, the plot? Maybe it is a combination of everything, but I get so captivated in the story that I don't even see the pages getting thinner and the book coming to an end! In all seriousness, I really enjoy this series. It has everything that I like, vampires, humor, satire, action, romance, and suspense. I feel like I know the characters. I could defiantly see Rose growing throughout this novel and I can't wait to see her grow even more. While the plot had many twists and turns, Meade kept it going at a fantastic pace! I may even like Frostbite better than Vampire Academy! This is a great vampire series and if you haven't read it yet, I suggest that you do! I am anxiously awaiting the release of the next book Shadow Kiss, which will be available Nov. 13!

It's the holiday season at St. Vladimir's Academy, an elite school for Moroi and Dhampir. But for Dhampir Rose Hathaway, the approach of Christmas hasn't been very restful. Her mentor and secret crush Dimitri has been preparing her for a test with another widely respected guardian. But instead of meeting him, they stumble across the aftermath of a brutal Strigoi attack. The attack strikes fear in the Moroi community, and instead of splitting up for the holidays, all Moroi arrange to meet at secluded and high class ski resort--including Rose's formidable and detached mother. Sparks will fly as the two clash, and tension mounts as the threat of the Strigoi creeps closer and closer.

Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series takes a darker turn in Frostbite as Rose matures and is exposed to more and more danger, and finds herself taking higher risks. Though there is less interaction between Rose and Lissa, it's believable as Lissa is preoccupied with a new boyfriend, Christian. Readers learn more about the Moroi and their magic in Frostbite as Christian begins campaigning for lessons in self defense by using his magic, adding the twist of political tensions between the Moroi.

The addition of a lecherous and preying older Moroi and a beautiful and scarred Moroi woman that gives Rose some competition for Dimitri's heart add a nice balance to the novel, and enable Rose to cause more chaos. But the ultimate ordeal at the end of the book will test Rose to her limits and give her a dose the responsibilities that will be required of her once she graduates...can she prove herself worthy to become her best friend's guardian?

From the first page of Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1) I was hooked. By inventing a fresh, original take on vampires with a believable biology and a detailed world layout explained by more than simply "magic" I saw the start of a great series. By weaving in the beginnings of a forbidden romance and a intensely interesting conflict I knew that I'd devour the book within a day. And I did. I ordered Frostbite from three different places right away: Borders, amazon and the library. Then I paced around for a week and jumped whenever the phone rang. When I wealked to the end of the driveway and found it sitting innocently in the mailbox I ripped it open right there - talk about papercuts...and I must have had an adrenaline rush because that paper was thick - I actually sat down right on the lawn and read. Mmmm. Richelle can do a sequel! Quite possibly one of the best books I have ever read. And I've reread it many times. This book will not dissapoint. Read it. Devour it. Love it.

I really enjoyed this book much more than the first book in the series. It starts off with Rose explaining very briefly what happened in book 1 but then jumps right in where the story left off. There is more romance in this book, intrigue, mystery and I started to like Rose a lot better than in the first one because she is less "hostile" at times and seems to be coming into her own person. I can't wait for the third installment of this series!! I recommend for anyone who likes vampire novels or any type of "supernatural" stories. This is a different take on vampires than what we're used to but it becomes believable as the story unfolds. I found myself rooting for Rose and Dimitri and found their chemistry off the charts, which I loved. Can't wait for book 3!!

I thought this was a great follow up book and can't wait to read the next one.

This book is the sequel to Vampire Academy, and it's defenitly not just for YA! I enjoyed the first book, but I LOVE this one. There's nothing like a good twist, something that despite your best efforts, you just couldn't see it coming. Well, you get that here and then some! Richelle Mead has a way of sweeping you off her feet with her writing and she didn't hold back on us here. I am eagerly awaiting the third book!

Love this series and after the fallout from Breaking Dawn, I will anticipate the third book will be high on the best seller list.

Easy, good read.

Another great book in the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead! I love the second book even more than the first. Anyone looking for a good Young Adult paranormal read should pick this series up. It's got romance, adventure and holds your interest. I can't wait for the next book!

Wow! This was a great follow-up to Vampire Academy (Book 1). Richelle Mead has a wonderful style of writing that keeps the pace moving quickly. It was hard for me to put this book down once I started reading. Once again, the plot and characters were unique and interesting. Mysteries kept unfolding and love triangles were building; there's always something intriguing going on to hold the reader's interest. Now I can't wait for the 3rd book of the series to come out!

This is not your typical Vampire novel. In my opinion, it's much more orignal and fun than most! It has a range of great characters that you can both adore and hate - that's something that really makes this book come alive! The sequal to the excellent book: Vampire Academy excedes the first and makes me even more impatient for the third novel to come out!

Rose Hathaway is a Guardian-In-Training. She's a student at St. Vladmir's High where teenagers train to either be Guardians or to be protected by Guardians (the Moroi). Her dementor is Dimitri whom Rose completely adores but my stay away from because of their difference in age and the fact that they can't be distracted when they are going to be protecting the same girl: Lissa.

Dimitri might be having his eye on someone else and Rose's friend, Mason would do anything to be with her. But aside from Rose's constant guy trouble the Moroi royalty are constantly being attacked by Strigoi (Moroi gone bad.) and ruthlessly killed in the process. They are killing royalty and common blood alike as well as the Guardians that live to protect them. They must do whatever they can to stop this group of Strigoi from killing any more of their species!

Another thing is going on as well. Rose's own mother, the great fighter and killer of Strigoi is coming to her school and Rose could not be more displeased...

Things are crazy at St. Vladimir and all could possibly end fatally...

Enjoy this novel!

This is the second book in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. It was just as engrossing and griping as the first book. This is another one of those series that I just can't put down, yet I am not sure why.

In this book a violent Strigoi attack on a noble Moroi family leaves St. Valdimar's academy in a state of panic as the Christmas holidays approach. An elegant solution is presented that will allow the students of the academy to mingle with their parents for the holidays. The whole school is put up in a ski resort for the holiday season; with the highest security measures taken. Lissa is forced to mingle with her noble kindred and much of her time is spent in the company of Christian. Rose finds herself in a lonely situation. Dimitry is doing his best to ignore her and Lissa is otherwise occupied. Rose's life is even further complicated when her famous guardian mother shows up to help with security. As Strigoi attacks continue to get more violent and more frequent, many questions are brought up; among them are whether the Moroi should learn to protect themselves and use their magic to harm others.

This book was well-written, the characters have a lot of depth, and the world is creative and interesting. The action scenes are well-written. The love scenes are sweet without being overly explicit. The binding between Rose and Lissa is interesting. The inclusion of both Adrian and a new love interest for Dimitri made for wonderful new character additions. Throughout the whole book is a overlying sense of urgency and doom as if the Moroi are being marched toward their extinction. The next book promises to have even more dire situations and more interesting character development.

I could not put this book down. I had to blink back tears at the ending for a number of reasons, it was sad and yet hopeful. It takes a good author to drag a reader into a story that thoroughly. The only thing that has bothered me about this series is that I think the book titles are a bit corny and the book covers could also use some help. That is a small quip though based on how much I have loved this series!

I was sad to finish this book and can't wait for the next one to come out. I would put this series right up there with the Twilight series given how much I love it.
karissabooks.blogspot.com

The woman has done it again! Another great novel. I have yet to meet a book by this author that I haven't fallen in love with. Mead, in her second Vampire Academy book, has made this book even better than the first, which I thought was impossible. Now I know nothing is impossible for this author.

The character development is really good. Rose has to deal with Lissa's attention being else where. Including Dimitri? Rose shows real character getting past some of that adolescent angst.

Humor even better than last time.

The reality of what Rose does, is training to be finally really starts to sink in. The prices that she has to pay to gain the ability to kill monsters. And the price they all must pay in the end.

Other characters are introduced in this book. And all of them are just too good not to meet in this book. And that's all I'll say so that the story won't be ruined. (At least not by me!)

**** If you've read the first book, trust me you don't want to miss then. If you haven't read any of these books, start. If you love vampires, great action, and good mysteries. This is better then it gets!!! (Here's the first book, Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1).)

Of all the Young Adult series about vampires, the Vampire Academy series is probably my favorite. This sequel was very enjoyable. I couldn't put it down after I started reading.

I love the relationships between all the characters, Rose especially. When she deeply cares for someone, you can feel it in your soul how much she loves them. Her and Lissa's connection is a really unique way to show inside Lissa's head, without actually having her point of view. Rose and Dimitri's relationship is strained, and Rose is almost positive that there will be nothing between them ever again; especially when a new woman comes into the picture. The friendship between Rose and Mason is growing. He obviously would do anything, and I mean anything for Rose. We find out though, that moving on isn't so easy when you care so deeply for someone. There is also the introduction of Rose's mother, and this definitely throws Rose's world for a loop.

Some of the decisions Rose made were questionable, and the outcome was obvious, but it was nice to see her use what she has learned at St. Vladimir's Academy, and put that to use out in the real world.

Rose is growing and maturing into a woman in this book. She's working on her attitude and her control. She's not perfect by any means, but she's getting better. She now understands her flaws, even though it hurts her when people point them out.

All in all, this was a great sequel. If you read the first, there is no reason to not pick this up. I'm excited and worried to see where the third book takes us. It seems like Rose will have some tough decisions to make in the future.

This was another amazing book by a very talented author. I loved Frostbite every bit, if not more than Vampire Academy. The characters are rich and flawed with hints of things to come. We got an introduction to a new character who bodes to be promising as well as more Christian who I happen to have a soft spot for ;) I adore Rose, she is a fun, strong female character with a great deal of depth and heart. The dark twist to this novel was page turning and Mead did a seamless job unraveling the story and at a fantastic pace. I have not been this engrossed in a vampire novel since LJ Smith. It may not be as great a series as Twilight, but it definitely is high up on the list. With all the flat, cliche series out there these days (such as "Chosen" stay for away from that one..), this is a breath of fresh air. I am eagerly anticipating the third book....

This book is perfect for summer reading. I can hardly wait for the next installment. My teenager loves this series, too, and the characters are closer to her age.

A thriller story for those that like a good vampire story. A lot of the parts get you really excited. But then there were some sad parts, but it is expected.

The first book in this series was wonderful, and this one was just as good. Mead has come up with an extremely original storyline, and her writing flows beautifully. If you liked the first book, this is a must-read!

After the lite urban fantasy of Vampire Academy, try on something just a little darker with Frostbite.

Welcome back to St. Vlad's. Christmas is quickly approaching and the wilds of Montana are freezing. The students are all looking forward to their holiday break until a brutal Strigoi (the bad vampires) attack on a family of Moroi (the good vampires) and their Dhampir guardians (half-bloods) leaves the vampire community reeling in shock. Not only is the murder violent but marked by the number of Strigoi it would take for such an attack and their involvement of humans. Fearing for the safety of the students and their families the students of St. Vlad's head to Wyoming for a ski trip in a Moroi owned resort.

Rose and Lissa are back, with new problems brewing. Rose keeps getting sucked into Lissa's mind when her friend is with her boyfriend, Christian. But Rose has boy troubles of her own. She's got it bad for her mentor, Dimitri, who is too old for her and will be guarding Lissa with her after graduation. At the same time her best guy pal, Mason (who has had an obvious crush on her for a long time), would be a great boyfriend and could help her get over Dimitri. When she realizes she's not sure about Mason her actions send he and a group of fellow students out of the safety of the resort and into harm's way.

While the first book was good, Frostbite started off shaky. I was pretty worried it wasn't going to win me over. But when the real trouble starts happening about halfway into the book this story got good. Really good. If you liked the first book you will LOVE this one. Rose is growing up, maturing as much as she can and I found that I began to like her a lot more, even relate to her for the first time. Lissa's role in this one was considerably smaller, but other secondary characters from Vampire Academy rounded this story out well. I even grew to like Mia by the end of the book.

While still lite for the urban fantasy genre Frostbite was very dark in the final chapters and without getting spoilerish I recommend you bring some tissues if you're sensitive like I am. I can't wait for the third book--Shadow Kissed!

Life is rough in high school--even for dhamphirs. Rose Hathaway is in her Senior year at St. Vladimir's. In six months, she'll be a full fledged guardian, protecting her lifelong best friend, Lissa, a Moroi Royal.

Rose is on her way to take her Qualifier. She's going to be tested by one of the guardian greats, Arthur Schoenberg. Since he cannot leave the Moroi royal house he is guarding, Rose and her teacher, Dimitri, are coming to them.

What they find instead is slaughter. All Moroi and Dhamphir members of the household are dead--apparently a plot by the Stigoi vampires and humans in conjunction.

St. Vladimir's reacts with alarm. The school won't be allowing the students to leave on Christmas break. Instead, a ski resort will host all the students together and attendance is mandatory.

Then--another Royal house is attacked and it becomes obvious the Stigoi are set to attack all the Moroi royalty and end the lines. While the Moroi are arguing defense, some of the factions are considering a more offensive approach--which, to this point, has been forbidden.

Did I mention that Rose is having man trouble? She's in love with Dimitri, her teacher, but she can have Mason, a fellow guardian-in-training.

And--since the guardians in training need even more defensive training, guess who's come to teach special classes? Janine Hathaway, Rose's mother, who'd given up raising her child for her career...

What impresses me most about "Frostbite" is Rose's character growth in one short novel. You really read how events shape Rose's thought processes and can see how this young heroine is being shaped for her future in service to the Moroi.

The intro to this book is one of the best I've ever read. In author parlance, it's a 'tell', but it's a great introduction to Rose's world and the three types of vampires inhabiting it.

"Frostbite" is the second book in Richelle Mead's 'Vampire Academy' series. It's written for young adults, but I promise you adult readers are going to enjoy every minute of the story. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.

I bought this and the privious book becase of the auther. I really like her book I read both books in tow days. I could not put this book down. Every page was like a gift. By the end of the book I was crying, it could have been becase it was 4 am and I'd been up all day but I don't think so. The ending leaves you wanting more I don't know IF I can wait till nov when the next book comes out. The ending is wonderful made you feel things were right even thought bad things happen in the world.

Richelle Mead is a fantastic author. She is rapidly making a great name for herself in the world of literature, and it is clear why. Her writing skills are fine-tuned, and she can obviously tell one heck of a story. More than that, her characters are fun, funny and exciting. Her novels make you believe like you know her characters, and Frostbite was no exception. It includes all aspects of teenage life, and sugar-coats nothing. This type of truth to her writing is severely refreshing and entertaining. You will find yourself trapped in her stories, wanting to know what happens next. Her characters and intriguing stories draw you in so deep that you can't escape until you've finished reading every last page. I also find that I connect with her characters, because they are people that I'd like to associate myself with if they were real, which I wish they were. Richelle's devout following will no doubt be awaiting impatiently for the third installment in the VA series, Shadow Kiss. I know I will be, along with the books in her two other series (check them out!!) and the work she creates for the rest of her successful life.

"Frostbite", the second book in the Vampire academy series, is a wonderful book! I love Rose's character especially, and also Christian. I can't wait for the next installment, "Shadow Kiss".... More! More!

Frosbite was even better than Vampire Academy, it took me about a day to read it that's how interesting the story line was. The plot took so many different twist and turns, making the book an adventured you could not wait to see how it ended. Rose have both grown and still managed to maintain the teenager that she should be. Some of the parts especially when she finally realizes that she has a lot of the same traits as her mother was great. This book has alot to offer not just to young readers but to older readers as well.The plot has suspense, romance, and love of friendship which can overcome just about anything.
Can't wait for the other book.
Fiona M. WEST PALM BEACH, FL.

I loved Vampire Academy - I thought it was well thought out, well written and had a unique twist on vampire mythology. I loved the romantic tension between Rose and Dimitri and was looking forward to seeing what happened between them, as well as learning more about Lissa's abilities.

Unfortunately, Frostbite just didn't deliver for me. I thought the plot-line was thin and simplistic compared to Vampire Academy. I missed all the various sub-plots that helped make Vampire Academy such a compelling story. This just seemed to be missing something, like it was part of the book but not the whole thing. We meet Adrian, who promises to be an intriguing character next time around, but find out very, very little about him in this book. Nothing new is revealed about Lissa's abilities - only a few details about what Adrian can do but nothing at all about her. And while I did enjoy learning more about Rose's relationship with her mother, even what is revealed there is minimal. We discover the source of some of the tension between them but we still know nothing about her father. I'm sure that will be revealed in the subsequent books, but it would have been nice to have more substance in this one.

It was still an enjoyable read and I'll definitely get Shadow Kiss (the third in the series) when it comes out, but I was honestly disappointed in Frostbite and didn't think it lived up to the first.

This was a very good book, even better than the first in the series, and now I can't wait for the third one to come out! I REALLY want to see what happens with Rose and Dimitri

This is a good follow up to the first book in the series. Certainly if you liked that, you will like this. It is a bit short, and does start out with one of those weird coincidences (she finds the first bodies) that authors sometimes use to kick start their plots. It is a fun world she has created and I look forward to the next one.

So, I'm completely sold. Mead has graduated into one of my favorite YA authors.

In the previous installment, "Vampire Academy", there were a lot of lose ends and questions. I was left intrigued enough to pick up book 2, and am incredibly happy to say, I wasn't left wanting.

Rose grew up in "Frostbite". We are introduced to a new cultivating male specimen by the name of Adrian; who is a whole lot of bad in a bottle. We grow up with Rose's character as she experiences the lack of glory of the kill, along with heartbreaking loss.

But of course, most importantly, it all comes back around to the forbidden love between Dimitri and Rose. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that while Mead will leave readers craving more; she simultaneously leaves us with enough to hold us until installment three.

While often, second books are unable to hold onto the hype preceded, Mead succeeded marvelously. The Vampire Academy Series has completely cemented my loyalty with "Frostbite".

I read the first and it was great and the second is even better. You learn more about the characters that you have grown to love. I know I love a book when I get upset about a characters decisions as if the person was a close friend. Through this book I was totally engrossed in it.

There is a love triangle that is actually a little wierd since Rose is kind of a bystander caught in the middle of something she wouldn't be involved in if not for her bond with Lissa.

Then there is a love triangle which is more of a square since Dimitri and Rose are crushing on eachother but can't be together for the many reasons that Dimitri gives

Then Mason just adores Rose and since Rose can't be with Dimitri she tries to create feelings for Mason and then their is the women that wants to steal Dimitri (or as she calls him Dimka) away from Rose.

The author did another great job with the characters you learn more about them and how they work. I know that I will read this series over and over again.

Read it and am awaiting the next book. I can't wait.

I read "Frostbite" in 2 days & very much enjoyed it. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I felt that "Frostbite" was not quite as good as the first book in this series, "Vampire Academy." That being said, "Frostbite" is a great read in its own right & focuses more in Rose's personal growth than "Vampire Academy." Rose's relationships with Lissa, Dimitri, & her mother are tested in big ways during the course of this book. Rose learns a lot about herself & grows up a bit at the end, which made me happy because she can be immature & impulsive at times. There are no real shockers in "Frostbite," but it was a fast read. I'm anticipating "Shadow Kiss" this fall.

For the fourth time, Richelle Mead has shown just what a brilliant, talented writer she is. "Frostbite" is part 2 of an ongoing teen series that began with "Vampire Academy," and it is clearly the best so far.

"Vampire Academy" introduced us to our narrator--Rose--and about a dozen other important characters; namely her best friend, Lissa, and her mentor and love, Dimitri. Mead's new vampiric world was slowly revealed throughout the course of the story, outlining the importance of the academy, as well as the roles of Moroi (like Lissa), dhampir (Rose and Dimitri), and Strigoi. In the simplest of explanations: Moroi are akin to royalty who must be protected; dhampir are the guardians of the Moroi; Strigoi are vampires gone bad (yes, you read that right).

"Frostbite" is an astounding follow-up. The prologue has Rose re-introduce the basics of this developing series, as well as a couple key roles. It's a good refresher on the events of the previous novel, and brings long-awaiting readers back up to speed.

This time, Rose's life becomes even more exciting. For starters, Strigoi are attacking in coherent, organized groups, slaughtering royalty and their guardians with frightening ease. Then, Rose's previously-absent mother appears--unwantingly for Rose--at the academy while the Moroi in the northwest gather to strategize defense. As if that weren't enough, her feelings for Dimitri, while returned, are constantly being rejected and turned down, as they have a duty to protect Lissa, and the risk of emotion cannot get in the way of that.

But does it end there? Not for Rose. Her friend, Mason, begins to show interest in her just as an old friend of Dimitri's shows feelings for him, causing even more chaos in Rose's heart. And all the while, she's lacking the company she sorely misses from Lissa, AND she's unwittingly witnessing Lissa and her new boyfriend take their relationship to the next level!

It sounds like a lot of drama, and it is. But Mead narrates to us flawlessly in the voice of Rose, who is clearly growing up, albeit struggling. Older teenage girls and even young adult females are likely to find themselves empathizing with our heroine. Mead's style is fresh and exciting, making it hard to put down the book even for a moment. Some of the action gets a little hot and heavy, but Rose is 17, something parents should keep in mind when considering this for younger girls.

But for older teens, this series is exceedingly brilliant. Richelle Mead creates an exciting, brand new world of vampires with all the familiar modern notes of strong female leads, friendships, enemies, relationships, and drama. Interspersed is Rose's wit and sarcasm, often landing her in trouble with others, but keeping the spice of the story and holding the readers' mental palate.

"Frostbite," put simply, has surpassed its predecessor. I wish I could give it more stars, and I simply cannot recommend this series enough. It will be agonizing to wait 'til next fall for the sequel, "Shadow Kiss."

Like the previous reviewer I found this book in my bookstore a few days before the release date. It was wonderful. In so many series', the middle book can be mediocre but Frostibite is as good as VA. I gulped this book down in one setting and then went back the next day to savour it all over again. IMHO, the romantic/sexual tension between Dimitri and Rose is one of the best I have read in any series ever! I love the fact that they have not consummated their relationship yet, because it adds to the anticipation for each subsequent book. I am not going to give a plot synposis here, but here are a few tidbits. Rose shows real growth as a person/adult. She starts out immature and a little sulky in the beginning of the book. Her best friend Lissa is preoccupied with her own love interest and Rose is left out. Dimitri has his own possible love interest crop up as well. By the end of the book however,Rose has fought some personal demons with regards to her Mom, and has shown her strength (personal as well as a Dhampir guardian) in fighting the Strigoi. There is a death of a major character. I was breathlesss as I read the battle scene between Rose and the Strigoi- what amazing writing! Buy this book and VA and read this series! Even if you are not a YA (It's been a long time since I was a teen!) you will love this book. Even if you are totally over the vampire paranormal genre, this is so different and well written you will love it! I am grateful that Richelle Mead is such a prolific writer because we should have the third in the series out before the end of the year.

Vampire Academy book 1 is a wildly successful beginning to the series. Fans have been clamoring for more, and now we finally get our hands on Frostbite as book 2 of the VA series. Does it live up to our expectations? Absolutely! In fact, Frostbite is even better than book 1. If you enjoyed VA, you will love this book. Richelle Mead writes an immersive and highly entertaining story from the perspective of Rose, a teenage girl who dedicates her studies and her life to protect her best friend Lissa. Someone or something is murdering vampires, and the students and guardians of St. Vladimir's are totally freaking out. Meanwhile, she has to deal with the forbidden love for her instructor Dimitri. Oh, it just keeps getting better! The ending is fantastic, and leaves you clamoring for book 3.

I was very excited about the release of this book after I devoured VA in one sitting. It didn't disappoint as I also read this book in one sitting. It was even better than the first and the ending left me anxious for the third! Richelle Mead's writing never fails to captivate and surprise. If you loved Vampire Academy you will love this continuation of Rose's story.

I was lucky enough to pick up Frostbite 2 days prior to the release date because I couldn't wait any longer and it was worth it!!! It was great to be with these characters again. The story was so emotionally driven it will stay with you even as you close the book. I do not want to give away the story; reading it is far more rewarding. The Vampire Academy series is a great read for anyone of any age. I highly recommend it!

I can't wait until Shadow Kiss is published and to see where we will end up with Rose and Dimitri.