Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

#3 in Vampire Academy Series

Richelle Mead

2008

3/5 ⭐

Shadow kiss

You will lose what you value most, so treasure it while you can

It started after a few weeks of book two. All the students (Dhampir) will be given a field experience task to protect Moroi assign by the school. Rose didn’t get Lissa but instead, she got Christian which is Lissa’s boyfriend. Rose start to saw Mason but he didn’t haunt her as a ghost. He died in the Strigoi incident in the previous book.

Victor, the one who used Lisa and make compulsion on Rose will have a trial for his wrongdoings. Victor found guilty and spent his life in prison but before the hearing, he warns Rose to treasure what she values most while you can before she loses it.

Rose learns that when Lisa uses her magic “something” bad transfer to her. When that happens, she becomes grumpier and incontrollable of her emotion like Lissa used to be before. She learns this from the story of St Vladimir & Anna. She compares her life with Anna who commits suicide after few months St Vladimir died.

       Rose and Dimitri had their first sex after Dimitri tries to stop her from going full-on crazy after Rose kind of suck Lissa dark thingy and loose control. Mason finally talking to Rose about Strigoi coming but it’s too late. A lot of them already broke into the school because the wards come off. Rose has been assigned to keep the place safe but Rose being herself she finds for Christian and fight Strigoi together.

After the Strigoi attack, they found out that some of the students went missing. Rose had to ask Mason again for help since he’s the one that told her about Strigoi. With the help of Mason, they manage to locate Strigoi hideout, and with the help of her mom, Rose manages to join in the rescue. 

When they thought they manage to go out from the cave after fighting with Strigoi, suddenly came a group of Strigoi and attack them and Dimitri is one of them that had been attacked by Strigoi. Rose tries to help him but prevent by her mom as it too dangerous.

After hours went by, the guardian went again and help the rest but Dimitri didn’t go back. Is either he’s dead or turn into Strigoi. After a few weeks, Rose decided to drop out of school to find Dimitri after she found out from Mason that Dimitri had turn into Strigoi. She sticks with her stand even after Lissa tries to prevent her from finding Dimitri and for the first time in her life, she put herself first rather than Lisa.

Verdict

I didn’t see that climax coming. Why Dimitri needs to turn into Strigoi. They already in good terms. I like to see Rose's friendship with Christian grows cause in the first place she didn’t like Christian.  Can’t wait to see how the story goes with Lisa Christian and Adrian cause Queen Tatiana thinks that Christian is unfit with Lisa as it will bring bad reputations cause Christian parents to turn into Strigoi. The Queen tells Rose she wants Lissa and Christian to break up so she could marry Adrian. Somehow I think Lissa is a bit selfish, I know she preventing Rose from going to find Dimitri is to protect her but when she questioning which is more valuable their friendship or Rose relationship with Dimitri. It's a bit too much for me.