Blood Promise

This is my favorite in the series. Warning this review contains spoilers. The setting of this book is richly developed and so fun to read. Abe and Dmitri's grandmother add so much to the story line. I think I laughed out loud several times when Rose was "communicating" with Dmitri's grandmother. The scene where Rose had to carry the heavy boxes that turned out to contain bricks was just a great way to lighten a sad time in Rose's life. Seeing Dmitri's family was in a way like seeing Dmitri and I am glad Mead took the story line to Russia. Dmitri kidnapping Rose has to be the highlight of this book, it was so satisfying to finally *find* Dmitri and to have Rose and Dmitri engage in their battle. While initially Rose was not strong enough show more to overcome her love and Dmitri's power, eventually she uses her wits and instincts to get out of the situation that Dmitri has trapped her in. I couldn't help but root for Rose and feel proud for her. And I loved the ending, in a way a sort of climax with Dmitri's "love" note. What a great way to develop his strigoi character. Even though he is now one of the undead, he still feels the pull to Rose. When I finished this book, I could not wait to move on to Spirit Bound. show less

I love Rose. I think that needs to be out here right now. I am beyond fond of Rose, I think she's awesome, strong, loving, and in need of me to buy her ice cream and stroke her hair while she sleeps. Poor baby.

Shut up, I'm still heartbroken. Of course she found Dimitri. And he was Strigoi, immoral, evil, all the things he never wanted to be. And what's left of him in there wants Rose and he doesn't much care how he gets her. There's a part in the middle of the book where Rose is his prisoner and she's giving in to it, she's letting the addiction to blood-taking make her forget, she's drifting in a dreamland where she's once again with Dimitri. Heartbreaking. I couldn't blame her for that, not one bit. She had to face the man she loved, show more to see him as this evil thing who will hurt her as he hurts others, and it's hard for her. Easier to slip in to a fantasy. But because she's Rose she doesn't stay there, she builds up her strength and escapes.

Does she kill Dimitri? Yes. No. She thinks she does and we find out at the end that she somehow hadn't. But when she thinks she's killed him she's both devastated and satisfied. Devastated because he's truly gone and gone by her hand, satisfied because she's done what he asked and she's saved him.

Some of the best parts of this book, to me, where with Dimitri's family before she found him. Where they loved her because he loved her and where they mourned the death of human-Dimitri. Rose needed that.

As I was at the end of book 3, I'm dying for the next book. There's a rather broad hint in this one coming from another pair who are linked the way Rose and Lissa are that Lissa may have the power to save Dimitri, to turn him back from Strigoi. I want that. I want that for Rose. show less

How does this YA series just continue to get better and better?! I am just astounded by how it sucks me in. Things are not all wrapped up in a pretty package. I'm torn between how I want things to go. There's sacrifice and love and fight. Rose is one of the best heroines around. Really this series is full of excellent characters and the storyline is so rich. This book is full of wonders and tragedies. I love it all!

Richelle Mead is past master at writing fast paced stories. Even though I'm over the literary vampire phase that first introduced me to her Vampire Academy series, all the cliched phrases still apply - Blood Promise is a real page-turner, I couldn't put the book down, etc.

How to sum up Rose's journey without spoiling the series? Perhaps this quote from the end of the novel: 'And I launched into the story, telling her everything that had happened to me: my travels, the Belikovs, the Alchemists, Oksana and Mark, the unpromised, and of course, Dimitri'. That's basically a potted itinerary of her travels to Siberia to find her rogue lover, meeting his family, another bonded spirit user and shadow-kissed dhampir, and a woman named Sydney who show more reveals herself to be an Alchemist, or human agent with white witch type skills, who cleans up after dhampirs kill Strigoi.

There were a couple of twists that I didn't see coming, involving Lissa's new best friend and an unlikely ally for Rose, but Mead doesn't give her readers the chance to think too far ahead! Also, I thought Rose's showdown with Dimitri was handled very well, allowing her to let down her 'badass' defences and act like a confused and grief-stricken young woman for a change. There were a couple of scenes that almost had me tearing up, such was the strength of her emotions.

And even though I know how everything will turn out - without beginning to imagine how Richelle Mead will craft the final two books in the series - I sort of hope that poor Adrian gets his chance with Rose. I've never been overly convinced by her 'two halves of one soul' relationship with Dimitri, and I have a soft spot for handsome, rich, playful Adrian. show less

This series just keeps getting better; it gets straight to the point, picking up where it left off. Blood Promise is just so much more emotional than the others because of the tough decisions Rose has to make. I absolutely adore the vampire element.

The plot around this book heavily revolves around Rose trying to find Dimitri who is now a Strigoi and to ‘save’ him. This book is an interesting one because it’s so emotional compared to the other ones. Rose’s pain for Dimitri felt so real and sincere; it brings tears to your eyes. Blood Promise focuses more on Rose but we do still catch glimpses to Lissa through the bond, although Lissa’s life isn’t as exciting. Every moment and emotional aspect felt so realistic and all the show more hurt was grasped perfectly.

In this book, we get a pretty good insight of the characters and we also meet some unexpected characters when Rose travels to Russia to find and destroy Dimitri who is now a Strigoi; Richelle Mead sure knows how to write an engaging story. I really enjoyed reading about the characters, especially Adrian, he’s infatuated with Rose but knows that she is in love with Dimitri; my heart goes out to him, in my opinion he deserves a nice loving girlfriend.

Meanwhile, although Rose left Lissa at St. Vladmir’s Academy, Rose drops in on her a couple of time using their bond. Lissa copes with Rose leaving her but is deeply hurt. In the begging she starts fulfilling her job as being royalty and starts making new friends but later, through the bond Rose sees that things aren’t actually going on too well.

Does Rose really have the power to destroy Dimitri? Well, you are just going to have to find out by reading the book. Although I have to say, there is a major cliff hanger; so watch out. I’m getting started on Spirit Bound!

Rating: 5 out of 5 show less

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead, which is the fourth book in the Vampire Academy series, was probably one of the most emotional books I’ve ever read. The inner conflict that Rose Hathaway experiences in regards to losing Dimitri Belikov literally made me weep. I mean, here we have a girl that is still madly in love with a man who’s clearly no longer himself. The problem is, can she kill him? Can she put him out of his misery, or will she join him by becoming a strigoi? Now, I don’t know about other readers, but the fact that Dimitri Belikov turned strigoi really wouldn’t have bothered me much… sure he’s a bit rougher now and kind of a jerk, but he’s still Dimka underneath it all.

Yes, I know I’m in love with a freaking show more fictional character. Don’t judge me.

To make matters worse, now that Rose is out of the country, Lissa is in danger. It’s like all of the nonsense is just hitting her at once and no matter what she does, she won’t win. Blood Promise has, once again, enough action to keep readers turning the pages, but ready yourself for a lot of feels. Oh, and don’t forget the cliffhanger. This book had a cliffhanger that would blow you away!

As I’m sure most of you – who read my previous reviews – will notice, I’m kind of addicted to this series. Now, maybe that makes me biased, but really I kind find fault in the Vampire Academy series. I’ve tried, but I simply can’t. It’s just that good.

(review originally posted on www.tentaclebooks.com) show less

Oh, the tortures that Rose puts herself through in the name of love and loyalty must be what make her such a fascinating character to follow. I have to say that it was rather predictable that Rose would succumb to Dimitri's evil wiles, because hey, he's hot and Mead has a book to fill. It was strangely satisfying for a little while in that Rose and Dimitri's relationship got cut short in the previous book and so they could not revel in their love for each other. Sappiness aside, I think I loved this book the most out of the series not only for Rose's escapades, but also for the setting in Russia and Siberia. I don't recall ever reading any fictional book that took place in these locations and it was a little bit of a learning experience show more for me.
Dimitri's family gave me some insight into who Dimitri is, which I appreciate since he always seems so mysterious. I also loved the character of Yeva - she did and said whatever she wanted and everyone was terrified of her - I hope she makes another appearance in the final book of the series!
The new element of the Alchemists was interesting in that humans have the potential to play a centralized role even in the Moroi/ Dhampir society, even though Rose has previously believed that her world was almost completely segregated from the human world. Unfortunately, this also creates just another layer in the caste system, for the Alchemists are essentially the "clean-up crew", which puts them at a lower position than even the Dhampirs who choose not to be guardians. No wonder Sydney sees Rose as "pure evil." In her shoes, I probably would, too. show less