Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Title/Author: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead
Publisher/Date published: August 16th 2007 by Razorbill
How I got this book: own it.
Why I read this book: people were raving abou it, saying they love Rose and Dimitri, so I thought I should meet them.

Goodreads summary: "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."

While I did enjoy Twilight and read the whole series, it kind of went downhill for me after the first book. After this I've been wary of reading books about vampires, because I wasn't really looking for a repitition of what I've already read. And I have to say this book was a breath of fresh air and not the 'meh' I was expecting.

The characters of this book and the books itself appear on 'favourite' and 'best' lists around the blogosphere and I must say that I was not disappointed. There were not glittering vampires (I have issues with that) and I loved the fresh look Mead had on the whole mythology surrounding them.

Let me just say that I love Rose! She's just kickass, she is extremely loyal and when her best friend needs her, she doesn't back down for anything or anyone. She has a sense of duty that is not very common in someone her age. And she's passionate, I always love that in a character. Of course she has her faults, but they make her a wellrounded character.

And Dimitri... If ever a guy was swoonworthy... I go a bit crazy fangirl over him. I loved the chemistry between him and Rose, even though I had some issues with the age difference. I mean, 7 years might not be a lot when you're both 50-something, but 16 and 23? That's big. I'm just glad Rose seems to be a really mature 16-year-old.

I also loved the magic system and the whole feel of the book. I'm definitely reading the sequel! I'm thinking Rose will upset the whole order of things and start a revolution.

My rating: 4.5 stars