Vampire Academy: Shadow Kiss

Author: Richelle Mead

Summary: (site) Is Rose's fate to kill the person she loves most? It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since Mason's death, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She has dark flashbacks in the middle of practice, can't concentrate in class, and has terrifying dreams about Lissa. But Rose has an even bigger secret... She's in love with Dimitri. And this time, it's way more than a crush. Then Strigoi target the academy in the deadliest attack in Moroi history, and Dimitri is taken. Rose must protect Lissa at all costs, but keeping her best friend safe could mean losing Dimitri forever...

Review: Gah! I just finished it and now I'm slowly dying!!!!! I really need to read the next book. It ended at such a sad part and I really want to know what the heck is going to happen. *whimper*

Yeah! Amazing fight scenes in this one with such precision. Richelle is an expert on fighting. Those were my favorite passages. Again, amazing imagery and memsmerizing details.

Oh, and the hotness cranks up a bit. :)

The only thing that bothers me about the book, is that Richelle Mead needs to recap with a little more flow. When she talks about eventst that happened in the previous books or when she's describing a term, it's in a not so subtle way. It kinda cut into the writing, so it was obvious. I don't think that the explanations were unneccessary. I just thought that there were better ways of weaving them in.

Read these books because they really are a quite a piece.

Rating: 1 2 3 4 4.5 5

Other Books In The Series:

1. Vampire Academy

2. Vampire Academy: Frostbite

3. Vampire Academy: Shadow Kiss (this one)

4. Vampire Academy: Blood Promise

Vampire Academy: Frostbite

Author: Richelle Mead

Summary: (site) Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose. It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians–including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks...This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory. But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

Review: I had read Vampire Academy a while back ago, and I gave it a so-so review. I was still fresh off Twilight, which I actually enjoyed, so that could have affected my feelings on it. In fact, I'm certain it did because I loved this one. Can't remember why I wasn't completly in favor of the first one.

That aside, it was great. All the action in this book was incredible and the imagery really came alive. Rose has an extreme personality, but that is who she is. The work the author did in giving Rose her own voice paid off, because everything Rose did fit her character. She had her own mind and did her own thing.

I really liked the action especially. It was so cool and well written. Descriptions weren't overloaded or sparse. Everything let you know what was happening and how it was happening as well as the sorroundings. It was like I could see Rose fighting.

Even at the end, Christian still ended up being my favorite character. Why? He's a fire-user. He's pretty morbid, but completely in love with Lissa. And he has a really cool last name. Ozera. If I could have any power in the world, I would choose to control fire, so I could fry Strigoi. ^.^

Rating: 1 2 3 4 5

Other Books In The Series:

1. Vampire Academy

2. Vampire Academy: Frostbite (this one)

3. Vampire Academy: Shadow Kiss

4. Vampire Academy: Blood Promise

Artist: Show Luo

Language: Mandarin

About: He's also known as Xiao Zhu or Mr. Pig or Alan Luo. He sings (well), dances (real swell) and hosts tv shows (smooth as a bell). Okey...

Anyway, he's pretty cool. I like him. I guess. Except when he acts like a freakin' two year old. :p I'm actually currently watching Shanghai Sweethearts and he plays the main guy. After episode 4, the rest is starting to look really, really awesome. :) Yey for t-dramas. His voice is so suave in this song! Eek! :) The lyrics are kinda playboy-ish, but he sounds so sweet and earnest. Wo shi zhen zhen zhen xi huan ni.

MUSIC VIDEO

It's catchy, isn't it? Maybe?

Contest Alert 4

Where: Go HERE

What: The Body Finder Prize Pack

Who: The wonderful author: Kimberly Derting

Ends: December 25 2009

Breathe

Artist: G-Dragon! (love him) <3

Language: It should be Korean

About: He's the leader of the amazing Korean band, BIG BANG. Wow. I'm in love with them, This song is really weird though. His singing rocks like always, but I don't really like his mv. For one, he dyed his hair freakin' platinum. He's so much cuter with brown. And I think he's wearin' eyeshadow and lipstick in parts of it. He's weird, but cute anyways. Woot! Woot! :)

MV:

All I Ever Wanted

Artist: Basshunter

Language: English

About: One of my friends is in love with the dude, so I decided to check out his music and I think it's pretty cool. Very dancy-ish techno. I guess. Whatever. Listen to it but don't watch the vid because it is really stupid. Ew. The song repeats itself over and over though which would probably sound a lot cooler in a club than on the radio. He has a pretty nice voice, but I'm not so into his songs. I don't know what my friend sees in him. -.- Maybe you'll like him?

Song: (i don't recommend watching the vid)

The Narrative Of Frederick Douglass

Author: Frederick Douglass

Summary: Autobiography of the famous abolitionist on his life as a slave.

Mini-Review: I had to read this one for class and everyone either hated it or loved it. I loved it. I thought I was gonna be a hater because I really dislike non-fiction, so I left it 'til the last minute. I finished it really quickly and found that it was refreshing, simple and very story like.

Honestly, if you have to read an autobiography, I recommend this one. It was such a great book and Frederick Douglass can write. All those similes helped me understand what it was he felt throughout his life and his explanatory tone helped to keep the story straight.

Enjoy it people!

Rating: 1 2 3 4 5

A Song

Don't have a review today, but please feel free to listen to this amazing song!

Title: U

Artist: Super Junior M

About: Lovely song by a Korean band even though I'm pretty sure they sing this one in Mandarin. It is super duper catchy and I always sing the english part. I really like this group because all the guys are really cute. :) Also, this song is so much more mature than some of their other ones. I also love SuperGirl and Sorry, Sorry by them. SuperJunior, you rock!

Vid:


Aww.... :)

I Don't Care

Artist: 2NE1

Language: Korean

About: This is a very poppy song with interesting lyrics and the MV is pretty cool. I don't like the highlights in that one girl's bangs though. :P

MV: I Don't Care

Love this song! Addictive.

Hush, Hush

Author: Becca Fritzpatrick

Summary: A fallen angel for her chem partner. Nora doesn't really know what to make of Patch who seems to know a lot of things about her that no one should know. Even though he seems cold and indifferent, he's also really intriguing. Sometimes a girl can't stay away from that type of guy, but does that make him "the" guy? Nora goes through the year figuring him out and figuring out whether or not to give love a chance. (I probably wouldn't make a good summary writer)

Review: ~LOVE IT~ It was really good. The very beginning was a prologue which gave some insight into the story. It was just a little itsy bit confusing. Still, it was a wonderfully described introduction. The ending didn't rush or felt cut off. It was pretty cute. And funny. :) I haven't read the alternate one, but I heard it wasn't too different.

Nora is a normal girl. I liked her because she was easy to understand since she was a lot like me. I get defensive before offensive. Her personality was realistic in most parts and her reactions fit the situations she found herself in. I saw many reviews that said she was a stronger version of Bella and I guess it is true, but the book isn't like Twilight at all in my opinion. Although I admit that many YA romances begin with a seating chart in science class. The seating chart is realistic. Perfect Chemistry is in Chemistry. Well most actual teen romances probably do begin because two people have classes together, so I understand that scenario.

Patch: He is bad, but nice deep down. Before I read the book, I liked the cover. Afterwards, the cover still made sense, but the guy on the front doesn't remind me of Patch at all really. And I wanted to know Patch's real name. Good thing there is a sequel.

This isn't exactly a relationship book. That is pretty much center stage, but there is more. I think that is unique and steps away from Twilight. There are other main characters which appear almost as much as Nora and Patch. Vee is annoying, but she wasn't way out there. I know people like her. All the characters had distinct traits and I could picture them well enough. Although I loved Patch, he was slightly out of my reach. I didn't understand him very well and felt he was slightly 2-d. The mystery surounding him, clouded him up again. I'm sure the author is saving him for the sequel which I look forward to reading.

Read it. I don't think it'll be a waste because the writing is good. If you decide you don't like it, it'll probably be because you aren't too much into paranormal or you absolutely hated one of the characters. But remember that having a strong reaction to characters is proof of good writing. :) Unless the main character is completely stupid and fake. That doesn't happen here though.

I don't know about the title though. I love it, but it doesn't really seem to fit the story...?

Rating: 1 2 3 4 4.5 5

(not a five because it left me wanting more. That can happen when books aren't stand alone)