Vampire Academy Review

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 veryplace 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.

My Thoughts: I really liked this book. It was more "adultish" (i made a new word) than some other vampire books, which is something I usually like (unless the characters are cussing every other word and having sex at least two times in every chapter). Actually, I think I was just pleased with the fact that it was more realistic than some other YA vampire books where all the vampires need blood and there are bad vampires but the authors FORCE the books to be PG and suffer for it (for the most part). I loved Rose because she seems like a real person. She's headstrong and smart but she isn't portrayed as perfect. I also love the world the author created with the humans, dhampirs, Moroi, & Strigoi. There was sad parts, funny parts, romantic parts, and "scary parts", (not like you'll throw down the book and run out of the room) all mixed together and topped with a mysterious tone. This was also a great beginnning to the Vampire Academy series and I'm sorry that I waited so long to start this series... Also there is a hot Russian guy, which is always a huge plus.
Rating: A
Update: Kind of upset right now because I was looking for something regarding Vampire academy and what came up was a huge spolier from the 3rd book about the hot Russian guy... now I'm sad.