Blood Promise

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

My favourite of the series so far. Although it's only been a few weeks since the previous book, Rose's grief has matured her quickly, and she sets out into the world with a near impossible mission and a whole lot of uncertainty about her future. There is no one telling her who to trust or what to do, she must decide for herself who she can rely on, and consider the consequences of her actions in ways that her earlier care-free self never bothered with.

Blood Promise, the 4th in the Vampire Academy series, follows Rose's mission to find and kill Dimitri. She withdraws from school and leaves behind Lissa, Christian, and Adrian. (Don't be too alarmed; her bond with Lissa allows her to check in on what's going on at VA.) This book is all about character development (Rose). She ends up in Siberia--or more specifically, in Dimitri's family home. Meeting his mother, grandmother, and sisters is both heartbreaking and soothing for Rose. I don't want to post any spoilers, but I will say that she does find him, and the story really begins from that point. She intended to end things simply, but she finds nothing is as simple as the first believed. Dimitri is a bit of a let-down. As a dhampir, he show more was a god. As a Strigoi, you expect him to be pure evil. It turns out he's neither of those things, which makes Rose's choice that much more difficult. Adrian changes in this book, too. I found myself rooting for him, because he was just so darn likable. Rose's love triange of sorts isn't resolved in Blood Promise, and I'm guessing it won't be fully resolved until the final book. With all the action and drama in each book, though, I don't mind reading two more installments before reaching a conclusion.

I am in love with this series. It's almost impossible not to care about the characters. Richelle Mead is a master at weaving together believable characters and suspenseful action sequences with gut-wrenching emotion. Her writing is getting better and better, and this is definitely a book you can't put down. The only criticism I can offer is that the beginning drags. Dimitri doesn't even appear until page 282. I kept waiting (and waiting...and waiting...) for Rose to find Dimitri. Once she did, the action picked right up, and I was hooked. 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

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

Well this review will be hard write because there are so many things I want to say, but I don't want to give spoilers!

Rose left the academy and is now on a crazy mission. She's stalking to streets and clubs of Russia trying to find a trail that would lead her to the love of her life - Dimitri. Along the way she'll befriend with some very special characters and find a lot more then she was looking for.
She will find Dimitri thought, and things surely don't turn out the way she planed.

On the other side of the world, Lissa and Adrian a grieving "the loss" of their friend Rose and it's not bright and shiny at the academy. They meet with some new friends but something seems really off, and they can't quite put their fingers on it.

Will Rose show more kill Dimitri? Will Dimitri awaken her? Will Rose come back to her friend Lissa? You'll need to read to find out =)

I was really feeling depressed reading the book, Rose was so drained of her fire and natural fierceness, she was drowning in grief and it was hard to bare.
Dimitri, oh fine Dimitri! He totally ripped my heart apart. He was so sweet, caring, knight-like and loving. All the magic is gone from him in Blood Promise and geez it hurts!
Lissa is becoming crazy and reckless, is spirit getting the best of her?

Most of the book was so sad it was a wonder the characters weren't putting a bullet the their head. The grief was so intense! I felt like crying alone with my book.
The end though, well I should say the last 200ish pages, WOW I was having a hard time sit still because I was so overwhelmed. I was feeling breathless by all the action going on.
And the very end.. oh.. my.. god.. Richelle managed to stun me. I mean really!
Richelle is good, oh so good! Why May 2010 is so far away? I want Spirit Bound now please!

Romeo and Juliet story's is out-shined by Rose and Dimitri's tragic love story. Hands down! 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