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Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, Book 3) | 
 enlarge | Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Category: Book
Buy New: $8.99
New (33) Used (8) from $5.21
Rating:  48 reviews
Sales Rank: 562
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 448
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.4 x 1.3
ISBN: 1595141979
EAN: 9781595141972
ASIN: 1595141979
Publication Date: November 13, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
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| Customer Reviews: Read 43 more reviews...
Great find! January 8, 2009
I have to say, I'm not a big fan of YA vampire novels, but I've really found a great story here with Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy Series. I like Rose's character and given that she's sixteen in the first novel, Vampire Academy, she's a strong heroine to build a series on. I'm still torn between reading a book where a sixteen year old girl's love interest is well into his 20's as it's not something I would approve of even when I was her age, but the coming of age story line, as well as watching her and the rest of the characters mature and find their places in Mead's Vampire world is hard not to enjoy. I would recommend this for readers over sixteen and to read the series in order. It makes more sense and limits guessing when reading the latest installment. Shadow Kiss is not only a really good book, but the ending leaves readers eagerly waiting for more.
I can't believe it January 8, 2009
I have been pleasantly surprised that so far I found each book in this series better than the previous one. We are definitely seeing Rose mature in this book and starting to learn how to exert at least some level of control on her impulsive manner. Lissa's character seems to vacillate between appearing to mature and realizing the good she can do in Moroi society and back to the child who always needs to be comforted and protected by others. We also get a hint of what Lissa's part in the Moroi royal court may be in the coming book.
Adrian, the prince Rose met on the ski vacation, is at the Academy working with Lissa to try to teach her his spirit skills and to try and learn her healing skills. While Christian is afraid that Adrian is putting the moves on Lissa, Adrian definitely seems more interested in Rose and possibly in more than just a passing, I want to get in your pants way. The best part to me was to see some interaction between Rose and Dmitri that went beyond the "we are guardians and we can't be together" stuff. It was also interesting to see that there is a start of people questioning Rose about the belief that was instilled in her that the Moroi always come first and what Lissa wants to do must always trump what Rose wants.
Stop here if you do not want any spoilers.
First of all I have to say I cannot believe Dmitri is now a Strigoi. I am soooo bummed out about that and I'm hoping Mead has a twist in mind that has Dmitri either not a Strigoi or some how overcoming the evilness and need to kill that the other Strigoi have. I really hope it's not going to be one of those lessons that Rose is going to have to face that you can't hesitate to kill Strigoi even when it's someone you once knew because that can endanger the Moroi you are protecting. It just seems wrong to me to have an unhappy ending in a YA series.
I'm also curious to see what will come of the secret club lead by Jesse and Ralf. I wonder if their part was to be what weakened the wards on the Academy or if in the next book they will take a bigger part in the coming confrontation between the Strigoi and Moroi and the Moroi's that want to learn to fight and those that do not.
I know I already said so but I still can't get over the ending. I am on pins and needles waiting for the next book to come out later this year. I really hope book 4 is it. I need closure soon :)
 Kiss St. Vladimir's Academy Good-bye January 5, 2009
After the tragedy of Frostbite, Rose and her friends are coping as best they can. Bearing her first molnija marks might be a bit of a status symbol but their earning was bittersweet. As her final months at St. Vladimir's begin winding down the guardians are facing their field experience testing. They'll be facing weeks of practice guarding their Moroi classmates from their instructors pretending to be Strigoi. Expecting to be paired with Lissa, Rose's field experience should be easy. But when she sees the ghostly image of Mason and freezes at her first attack everything goes downhill.
For the first time in her life Rose is beginning to question the life of a Dhampir. Becoming Lissa's guardian means she will never choose what classes to attend or where she will live. The guardian standard "They come first." suddenly doesn't have such a great ring to it. Meanwhile, Lissa continues to practice her spirit magic with Adrian causing turmoil with Christian. When Adrian begins to see how Lissa's magic use is affecting Rose the mystery of St. Vladimir and shadow kissed Anna holds answers Rose isn't ready to face. She's always known she may one day have to give her life to protect Lissa but can she? When an unexpected threat breaks over the academy the students' lives are forever changed but none moreso than Rose who has to choose whether to protect her best friend or fulfill a promise to the man she loves.
As with the first two books, I very much enjoyed being emersed in the world of St. Vlad's. In just three short books Rose has gone from mouthy runaway to seasoned guardian. It was great to see her beginning to question whether she really wants to live her life for Lissa. That aspect of the Dhampir/Moroi relationship has always bugged me. It was also enjoyable seeing Rose put into a position she didn't expect no matter how upset she got.
I will say that I struggled with the pacing this time around. I also felt that the events of Frostbite seemed as if they were being overlooked almost as if they had happened a very long time ago instead of just a couple of weeks. I've always looked forward to Rose's interactions with Christian and Adrian but both characters seemed different this time around, not bad just... as if they weren't being written with their usual stronger personalities. The focus was definitely more on Dimitri and I know many readers of the series adore him but I've always found him boring. I had hoped that the extra focus would make me like him more and approve of his relationship with Rose but I was again unable to find a spark for him. Without spoiling anything I feel it is safe to say that the next book, Blood Promise, will be mostly Rose and Dimitri again.
Amazing. Simply Amazing December 31, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book, along with the others in the series, is just completely amazing. Higher than Twilight in my opinion. The stories have both romance yet action and for the last half of the book i was pasing around, dieing to know what happens. I couldnt turn the page fast enough!
Im not going to write about what it is about, because im pretty sure there are enough out there, but i am saying you have to read it!
My boyfriend called me alittle after i read it and all i could do was talk about it! I can not wait till August. Yes the ending maybe alittle sad.. but it just makes you more pumped up to see what the fourth is going to be like.
BEAUTIFUL December 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book deserves MAD props. I mean, seriously. To read it was draining and at times so disheartening so to write it must've taken a great deal of strength. You have to dig deep, really connect with those sort of emotions or they WILL NOT come across. Believe me, I know. I will admit to skimming her and there, but only on the parts that had to do with her actually finding out about being Shadow Kissed. It was dull for me and I was so much more consumed with everything else that was happening that I just couldn't bring myself to invest in it, ya know. In the end, I'm glad I didn't but those reasons are spoilers that I refuse to post. At any rate, I loved this book. It's the only book, ever, to actually bring me to tears at the end. I've been hooked from the beginning and will remain devoted to this series. Well worth the time, readers, well worth the time.
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