Title: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Columbus Metropolitan Library
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.
I hadn’t seen the movie trailer yet but saw on Richelle Mead’s blog the series was being made into a movie. I thought I would read it before it came out.
I’m glad I did! I found myself telling my book club about it and it sounded quite silly talking about it out loud. You see, there are “good” vampires who are mortal and use their magic to improve life around them and there are “bad” vampires who are immortal. The bad ones, or Strigoi, are former humans who were turned by a vampire bite or a former good vampire (a Moiri) who killed someone while feeding. They are harmed by sunlight, have red-tinged eyes, and are evil. That’s the very basic thing you need to know about the vampires.
Why wouldn’t they need to go to their own school? The vampire academy is in Montana and is where the Moiri learn how to use their magic. Other students include Dhampirs who are trained to be Guardians to the Moiri.
As Moiri are mortal, their numbers are dwindling and the Strigoi numbers are increasing.
Add teenage hormones, royal families, and the pressure is piled on for Lissa and Rose to figure out who keeps leaving dead animals and threatening notes for Lissa. I’m hooked and can’t stop reading the remainder of the book series. (I’m now on the last one.)
The trailer for the movie seems to play up the snark. Hopefully I’ll enjoy the movie as much as the book series.