Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, Book 6), Richelle Mead

Synopsis: The astonishing conclusion to the #1 international bestselling series...

Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice.

The Queen is dead and the Moroi world will never be the same. Now, with Rose awaiting wrongful execution and Lissa in a deadly struggle for the royal throne, the girls find themselves forced to rely upon enemies and to question those they thought they could trust. . . .

But what if true freedom means sacrificing the most important thing of all?

Each other.

Thoughts: Great ending for this series....left a few loose ends, which I hope get tied up in her follow up series, Bloodlines.  Already started Book 1, and enjoying it!!!

Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, Book 5), by Richelle Mead

Synopsis: After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's - and to her best friend, Lissa. It is at long last graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won't rest until Rose joins him . . .forever.

Thoughts:  I take back what I said about the previous book in this series...THIS is the best one so far. Rose's adventures in this book are above and beyond anything in the other four. And the end of the book?  Cliffhanger extraordinaire!! I'm #2 on the list to get the last one in the series from the library, and I can hardly wait for it.

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, Book 4), by Richelle Mead

Synopsis: 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?

Thoughts: Best book of the series so far! It starts off a little slow, but once it takes off, it's hard to put down. You're wondering how in the world Rose is going to get out of the situation she is in....and then amazed at how it happens.  Then, when you think she is safe,she gets a letter........and the book ends!  

Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, Book 3), by Richelle Mead

Synopsis: Rose knows her love for Dimitri Belikov is forbidden. Her best friend, Lissa -- the last Dragomir princess -- must always come first. But a strange darkness begins to grow in Rose's mind. The immortal undead are closing in, and they want vengeance for the lives Rose has stolen. In a heart-stopping battle, Rose will have to choose between life, love, and the two people who matter most...but will her choice mean that only one can survive?

Thoughts: I think I said it after reading the second book, but it was reinforced in this one. Getting attached to ANY character in this series is a very bad idea. I had a feeling something bad was going to happen to someone, but it turned out to be neither of the two male characters I expected....I'm still reeling a bit over what happened.  Three more books left in the series, and I can't wait to read them!!!!

Frostbite (Vampire Academy, Book Two), by Richelle Mead

Synopsis: Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if handto- hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks.... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…

Thoughts: Yet another series where I have to learn not to become attached to any one character...darn it!  I enjoyed the interaction between Rose and her mother, especially the scene of them in combat practice against one another. The bond between Lissa and Rose is changing, and I'm looking forward to seeing where that goes. I think I'm starting to understand what "shadow kissed" means, and hope to find out more about that in Book Three, since the title is Shadow Kiss.   

Vampire Academy, by Richelle Mead

Synopsis: St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Thoughts: This is one of my "read the book before watching the movie" reads for this year. I've read my share of vampire series in the past ten years or so, thanks to having had two teen girls during that time....and this one is, hands down, my favorite one to date. I already have the second book from the library, and plan to read all six--and I just hope the movie does it justice! 

My rating: Five stars