So anyway, I am on the last book, and I have actually flown right through all of them in a week and a half. So I guess this means that they are pretty good. There are things that make me want to roll my eyes due to the juvenile nature of the books, but overall it didn’t bother me enough to stop reading (obviously).

The plot and how they all run together is put together pretty well, there are some pretty exciting moments in the series and it kept me interested. I’m pretty sad that I can’t find the 4th book on audio tape, so I’m going to have to wait until it comes out. *UPDATE: Blood Promise NOW AVAILABLE in Audio Format!

The characters are pretty well described, and I can get a really good idea of the “type” of person each one was. I will tell you right now though, at this point in the series, I am sooo over Dimitri. I wish she would get rid of him. I get that he is the one that brings a naughty type romance to the book, but I think I could do without all of the I love Dimitri stuff. I would love to see Rose with Adrian Ivoshkov. Which by the way has his own facebook page (here) – I just learned! However I do love that Lissa is with Christian.

Their are some very creative ways the author has used magic and the paranormal. The bond is a great way to get into two characters heads in one pop. I love it. The use of “spirit” is also very creative and intriging to think about.

All in all these books are pretty good, and I would recommend them to anyone who would like a good read. I have written some more detailed reviews on my blog, so check them out! It contains some spoilers so read with caution!

Rose and Lissa are bonded together by a one way psychic connection. Rose can hear Lissa’s thoughts, and can also see what Lissa see’s through Lissa’s eyes. It is a very intriguing bond, and adds a lot to the story.

As for the specifics of this book, it is set in a ski lodge. Strigoi (the evil Vampires), attacked the Academy, leading to the whole school attending a very well protected ski lodge, usually reserved for Royal Moroi during Winter Break. Many extra Dhampire’s have been called in to help protect the students, including Rose’s very well known Mother. The tension between Rose and her Mother is well placed, and I believe it helps develop Rose a little more, and I like her character.

Again, Dimitri is in the book, romantic things happen, and it makes me uncomfortable… hahaha. I don’t like Dimitri, and I really wish his character was a little better portrayed. I listened to the audio book and his voice may be the thing that deters me, so it may be different if you are planning to read the book, instead of listen to it.

I love the character of Adrian, he is charming, mysterious, sexy, and I really dig the bad boys look (even though I get the feeling he isn’t too “bad”).

The plot revolves around the decision to either retaliate against the Strigoi for the attacks or do nothing. It is part of the old ways that the Moroi and dhampire’s stay clear of Strigoi, only fighting when necessary, but many Moroi and many Guardians think that it is time for a change.

The real adventure begins when Rose learns that Mason, Mia, and Eddie have escaped the Ski Lodge and gone after the Moroi that killed Mia’s parents. Mia is enraged and wants revenge, and Eddie and Mason are willing and ready to help take out some Strigoi. Of course Rose goes after them, and they are soon caught and held prisoner by Strigoi and their human helpers. In the end Mason is dead, Eddie has been starved and fed off of almost to the point of being dead, and Mia and Rose must create a plan to escape their bondage. They devise a plan and the group is well into their escape plan when they run into powerful Strigoi that want them all dead. Rose ends up showing her kick ass skills and kills her first couple Strigoi, and Mia, the whiny little brat overcomes her ways and becomes stronger as she helps Rose take the Strigoi out using the element of water.

Overall this book is pretty good, and if you liked the first book, you will definitely get into this one, and want to pick up the 3rd one right after you finish. It continues the story really well, and takes some nice twists and turns. As with the first book Rose is very easy to listen to, and the concept of the bond really helps keep this book flowing at a nice pace.

As for the plot, with Victor out to get them, and how he used magic, and had used Natalie to test Lissa all was very well put together, and flowed really nicely.  I put together the plot relatively quickly, but their were some twists I didn’t expect, like Natalie turning Strigoi. Natalie was the last person I expected to be the villian, so I really liked that part.

Lissa and the spirit magic were great additives, and of course, the bond helped move the story along at a decent pace, never keeping on one character too long. It was good to always know that Rose was the point of view, even when speaking from Lissa and her psychic bond. The “shadowkissed” references really make me want to keep reading this book. To have bits and pieces of this story is what really keeps the series going, and I love the mystical, psychic touch it has. I can’t lie, I’ve already starting reading the other books, and I still like the “Shadowkissed” references in it.


Now Lissa, she is a good character, but I really don’t like her meek ways, and small voice. She seems strong, but  sounds way too childish, I think this might have to do again with the fact that I listened to the book instead of reading it, but anyway, Lissa just needs to toughen up. And I really didn’t like the crazy cutting, I don’t think it added too much to the book, and that kind of fear and frustration could have been shown in a different way. In the end though I think Lissa does the right thing with being with Christian. And speaking of Christian, he is one of my favorite characters, I wish he said and did more. (Maybe in the next book ;-P )

The last characters I want to address are Mia and Mason. Mia is a straight up brat, and I love how her character is portraided in the book. She is a typical snob you would meet at any high school, and I loved the twisted plots and rumors that were tossed around. It made the book fun to read and get into. A few times I think I even found myself giving Mia a sigh out loud, hehe . Mason was a nice character, not good for Rose, but helped to balance out the school atmosphere.  He was a good ole boy, and who doesn’t love a good ole boy.

Overall I really liked the book – enough to keep reading, and I would recommend this book to anyone interested in this genre. I personally use Audible to download the audio books, and they have some really good deal for those interested in audio books.

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