Frostbite Review

Frostbite (Vampire Academy 2)

-       Richelle Mead

Publisher: UK – Puffin

It's winter break at St Vladimir's, and a massive Strigoi vampire attack has put the school on high alert. This year's trip away from the academy to the wintery peaks of Idaho has suddenly become mandatory. But Rose's troubles seem to follow her wherever she goes - dealing with the pain of knowing that her relationship with her tutor Dimitri can never be, things get even more complicated when one her closest friends admits his feelings for her. The glittering winter landscape may create the illusion of safety but Rose - and her heart - are in more danger than she ever could have imagined...

I’m a bit late to the party and have only recently discovered how brilliant Vampire Academy series is. I’ve read the first book and adored it and now I’ve finished Frostbite. This means I’ve had to run off and order the rest of the series as Richelle has created a fantastic world. There are the bad vampires, the Strigori who kill people and there are the good vampires who have access to elemental magic and are protected by dhampirs like Rose. Rose is in her last year of school and looking forward to being a guardian for her best friend Lissa when they graduate, but she’s 17 and as such is distracted by the men in her life, from long term friend Mason to her guardian mentor, Dimitri.

I have to admit it took me a while to get into Frostbite – I was reading it over Christmas and as such so many things were competing for my attention, I kept putting it down. The writing was as captivating as before but there was less of an ongoing storyline than in Vampire Academy so it was easier to dip in and out. However, all that changed in the last 100 pages when Richelle Mead showed she was pulling no punches. Decisions both bad and good by all characters have consequences and this book showed that those consequences have lasting impact. The last few pages were edge of my seat reading, keeping me up late to finish. I was shocked and it really felt like the stakes were being raised for the rest of series were no-one is safe and anything could happen.

Richelle shows how YA stories can have real consequences. Her writing style is fabulous and I really felt like I was getting to know Rose more. She’s still a teenager and does act immature at times but when it comes down to the wire she holds it together and is able to use her head – one of the best role models in YA I’ve come across. Rose doesn’t need a man to rescue her.

Recommended for fans of Maria V Snyder & Kristin Cashore. 8 out of 10