Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy #1

Book Summary via Goodreads:

       "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."

I've been wanting to read this book, honestly since I saw the movie. While I really did like the movie, I could kind of tell that things were altered a little.

The book is definitely much better. Also, I really do love that this book is about a friend ship rather than a sappy over the top annoying romance. Sure Rose has a thing for Dimitri and Lissa has a thing for Christian, but the story is never about that. And it's a breath of fresh air in the world of all vampire books.

Since I did see the movie before reading the book, I couldn't help but compare, and notice the changes. But it never took me away from the book since I was able to easily get into this book and see the characters with out thinking of the movie.

This is the second vampire book that I have read recently that didn't suck (no pun intended). All these characters were well written, the story was really fluid, and Lissa and Rose's friendship was something that is missing in many YA books. I highly recommend this series.