Top Ten Tuesday: Boarding Schools

 This week's topic is a freebie. Since we're heading into back-to-school season, I'm sharing a few teen boarding school favorites!

What's your favorite boarding school book?

Contest: Vampire Academy

With a week to go until the movie hits the big screen, we're celebrating by giving away a copy of the first book! I loved this book series and I'm super excited for the movie.

Check out the trailer:

Excited?

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.

Enter to win 1 copy of Vampire Academy

(sorry US only)

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Review: Golden Lily

* Bloodlines book 2*

Since Sydney handled the situation so well, her stock has gone up among the Alchemists. She's praised and her actions have been held up for approval. While Sydney realizes she did well in that one instance, she knows that she doesn't always have the Alchemist's best interests in mind.

She's hanging out with her charges - for fun and not just for the sake of protection. She's dating a boy. She's learning, against her will, about magic.  In short, she's starting to care.

Can she achieve the fine balance between her job and her personal life?

My Thoughts: I really like this series, although my heart still belongs to the Vampire Academy series. The characters are growing on me and showing character development. The action, danger, and the mystery surrounding Jill and Adrian keep the pages turning fast. 

I like Sydney's brains. She's super smart and not afraid to show it. I admire that. She loosens up a little in this book, which is fun to watch. I like getting to know Adrian better -I'm starting to warm up to him a little after watching him deal with his father. My heart went out to him. I also found Angeline more mature and interesting. She provides a bit of humor too! 

I'm curious about Jill's future and the vampire hunters. I think they're going to make the next book very interesting! 

Cover Thoughts: Meh - never been a huge fan of these covers
Source: my Library
Fun Fact: Richelle Mead's books are often my go-to book for adults who read Twilight and come back looking for more vampire books. As a result, they're very popular with the adults at the library.

Teen Character Book Outfit: Sydney Sage

I adore Richelle Mead and her Vampire Academy series. I just finished The Golden Lily, part of the spin off series Bloodlines. Sydney is pretty conservative - here's something I picture her wearing. 

The pin will also go up on my Library Pinterest Board

Contest and Review: Bloodlines

*occurs After the Vampire Academy series*

Sydney's given an important assignment - even though she's in the doghouse with the other alchemists after helping Rose. She volunteers to go to save her sister from being inducted into the alchemists. Instead of being grateful, her sister takes her interference the wrong way.

Sick at heart, Sydney leaves for a mission with her worse enemy. She's to assumer a new identity in order to protect Jill, the newly found Moroi princess. Sydney and Jill are to become roommates at a boarding school. Eddie lives at the school as their brother. Adrian lives nearby - still nursing his broken heart.

Jill just wants to be normal, but as Sydney digs deeper, she learns the real reason for her protection. Her instincts tell her that something isn't right. There's a rogue alchemist on the loose...

Can Sydney keep Jill safe?

My Thoughts: It took me a few chapters to get into the story - but then I was hooked. While I'm not a huge Adrian fan (and prefer Dimitri), he still interests me. When I first heard about the spin-off series, I really thought Jill was going to be the main character. Instead, the books center around Sydney protecting her, similar to Rose protecting Lissa. There were a few parts of the book that didn't fit in for me - mainly the scenes where Sydney throws a fit about her weight/clothing size change. I liked her relationship with Jill and Adrian. I loved her sleuthing skills. I feel that she's different - yet similar to Rose, which is great. She's really strong, determined, protective, and sweet. So looking forward to Golden Lily out next June.

Cover Thoughts: Like many, I'm not a fan of the covers -but I do like seeing the tattoo

Source: Signed by the author at BEA

*********CONTEST***********

A BEA, I snagged a signed copy of Bloodlines and a Bloodlines bag.





Rules:
1. Be a blog follower
2. Leave a comment about this book or the Vampire Academy series
3. with your EMAIL
4. The contest deadline expires September 28th at Noon EST
5. Sorry, shipping is only available in the US.
6. Winner will be selected with Random.org

Review: Last Sacrifice

Rose is in jail, awaiting her trial for the murder of Queen Tatiana. Rose isn't good at being patient and away from the action. She can't stand being locked up. It's driving her crazy.

Then her father lawyer comes for a visit telling her the trial date has been moved up. Now, instead of having a month, they might have two weeks. Rose knows that's not going to be enough time to uncover the real murderer.

She doesn't have much time to worry because on the date of the funeral, her friends break her out of prison. Now she's on the run and supposed to go into hiding.

But Rose never does anything the easy way. She also has a secret to uncover from the late Queen. Can she clear her name and put the kingdom back to rights or will she be forever on the outside?

My Thoughts: Perfect ending for an amazing series. I'm not going to say too much, because reading something on twitter spoiled the ending for me, but just rest assured that it's the best ending ever.

I'm SO looking forward to the spin-off series. I can't wait to find out what happens.

Cover Thoughts: Love it! I love how the gate ties all of them together.

Source: My Library

Review: Spirit Bound

*Read ONLY if you've read the previous books in the series, as there are SPOILERS*

After Rose's graduation test, she joins the real world. While she awaits her assignment, she heads for the royal court with Lissa. While they're there, Rose plans an adventure neither of them will ever forget.

If they're ever going to save Dimitri, it's going to be now. After some research and with a plan in mind, they travel to Alaska - home to Victor Dashkov. He alone has the information Rose needs to save Dimitri. Unfortunately, he's under severe lock and key.

Once they break him out and uncover the truth, it's only a matter of time before Dimitri tracks down Rose. While she's determined to save him, he's determined to kill her so they can be forever joined. When they finally do meet, who will win the battle of wills and emotions?

My Thoughts: I waited to read this one - I have an issue with finishing series book when I know that they are ending soon. Last Sacrifice is almost upon us, so I needed to get my butt in hear. Plus I just read today that there's a spin-off series in the works for next year. I Loved this book -as I have the previous books. They're filled with raw emotion: love, betrayal, disbelief, understand, jealousy, and horror.

Cover Thoughts: I like it

Source: BEA (SIGNED!) - also reviewed for www.teensreadtoo.com

Fun Fact: Spin-off series starting will Bloodlines will be available in August 2011!

Spotted: New Vampire Acadaemy cover

What do you think?

I really like it. I'm still not done with Spirit Bound yet....

Spotted: Vampire Academy News

Did you hear?

Not only might there be a movie, but there might be a sin-off series as well!

*squeals with joy*

I still need to read Spirit Bound, but I'm wicked happy about this news!!!!!

Cover Released:

Love it
What do you think?

Vampire Academy author speaks out

Waiting Waiting Waiting for Blood Promise....
but here's the author chatting about the book series in general

Blood Promise

Here's a little something to tide you over if you're eagerly awaiting this book as I am, then check out the new Vampire Academy website.

I think the cover looks gorgeous and I can't wait to read the next installment.

Keep checking back at the website for a sneak peek at the book coming out at the end of August