Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Frostbite (Vampire Academy, bk 2)
by Richelle Mead

YA Paranormal
336 pages, softcover
Target Reader: 14-16 (see Content Rating below)

Razorbill/Penguin
978-1595141750
Release Date: April 10, 2008



From the publisher:

Rose Hathaway's got serious guy trouble. Her gorgeous tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason has a huge crush on her, and she keeps getting stuck in her best friend Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian. (So not cool).

Then a massive Strigoi attack puts St. Vladimir's on high alert, and the Academy crawls with Guardians—including the legendary Janine Hathaway...Rose's formidable, long-absent mother. The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks. This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only provide the illusion of safety. When three students run away to strike back against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. Only this time, Rose—and her heart—are in more danger than she ever could have imagined...

Read Chapter 1 HERE.

Series Books: The Vampire Academy

Even though I couldn't recommend The Vampire Academy (the first book in the series), this is such a popular series with teens that I decided to give the second book a try. Pretty much it's second verse same as the first.

The basic plot is quite intriguing. There's a subplot with Rose's mother that explains a lot about the chip on Rose's shoulder. The Strogoi/Moroi conflict escalates and it's discovered that the Strogoi are a lot more organized and focused than anyone imagined. There's also some hinting that the good guy/bad guy delineation isn't as clear cut as Rose and Lissa have always believed. Cool stuff. I can see why teens like this series.

But once again, it's all the mature content that leaves me unable to recommend this series. Early in the book, there is wholesale slaughter of a Moroi royal family and it's pretty gorey. We also get torture and murder of secondary characters, in real time. One murder is of someone we've become attached to.

Also, as with the first book, there is quite a bit of swearing and vulgar language. There is underage drinking. Rose gets drunk. There's heavy kissing and steamy make-out scenes. The reader experiences some of these scenes between Lissa and Christian, with Rose in the position as reluctant voyeur due to the connection between her mind and Lissa's.


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Content Ratings

Language: Frequent and casual use of multiple swear words, some quite vulgar. Use of the name of deity.

Violence: Hand-to-hand combat, torture, murder—in real time; detailed description of slaughter aftermath.

Drugs/Alcohol: Underage drinking.

Immorality: Several steamy make-out scenes, some casual.

Values/Themes: Casual sex and drinking is treated as acceptable behaviors.

Age Appropriate: Publisher lists it as YA (16+), but due to language, violence, and mature themes, I believe that's too young.

Writing Mechanics: There are a few glitches in plot and characterization, but nothing major.


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