Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Title: Frostbite
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Released: April 10th 2008
Pages: 327 (Paperback)
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US
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Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose... 

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! 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 create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

I don't love vampires as much as I used to, purely because it is quite overdone, more so than other paranormal creatures. However, as soon as I read the first book in the Vampire Academy series, I knew that I had found something different. In these books, Mead has taken an idea and has transformed it into something unique - there are no vampires about that are quite like these.

Rose is a dhampir - half vampire, half human - and is training to eventually become the guardian of a Moroi. But it won't be just any Moroi - it will be Lissa, last of the Dragomirs, and Rose's best friend. In the last novel, both Rose and Lissa came dangerously close to not only losing control, but losing their lives. In Frostbite, the vampire royal families are starting to get killed off, and deciding that there is safety in numbers, everyone is moved to a ski resort for the Christmas break. Unfortunately, not everything is fun and games, and very soon, Rose finds herself and her friends in an incredibly sticky situation.

Mead's world of vampires is far different from anything I've ever read before. Each author has their own take on this mythical being, but Mead's is one of my absolute favourites. The entire idea is thrilling, and as the reader, you can't help but be sucked into it. It also doesn't hurt that Mead is an absolutely excellent writer - her language is gorgeous and just slips you into it completely and effortlessly.

I love Rose - I loved her in the prequel, and I still love her now. Yes, she's gorgeous, yes, she knows it, and yes, she sometimes does go on about it. But I never find it annoying, not like I do with similar characters in different books, which may be something to do with her being a total badass. One of my favourite narratives of all time, I think.

Dimitri...I NEED MORE DIMITRI! I love Russia, I love Russian guys, and I especially love fictional Russian guys. Dimitri is perfect - he's the kind of character who you wish was real, and who get hung up on for days after you've finished reading the book. There wasn't as much of him in this as there was the prequel - but I've had a sneaky peak at the Shadow Kiss synopsis, and it promises much more of him - yay for that!

We also find out who Adrian is! When I was looking through the different team options, I kept seeing his name crop up - BUT WHO WAS HE? Now, I know. I'm still team Dimitri of course, but dayum, Mead has a talent for creating hot guys. She wouldn't happen to be a magician, would she? With the power to make these fictional characters real? Because I wouldn't mind having an Adrian or a Dimitri lying around...

This review hasn't been too serious, so on a serious note: it really is great. Breathtaking, even. Although I've only read two of her books, I've kind of already gotten used to the fact that Mead is a consistent author - every book she delivers will be fantastic without fail, as the high ratings suggest. If you like vampires, pick this up. If you don't, pick this up. Either way, I think you'll like it, for one reason or another.
Rating: 5/5