Review: Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won't rest until Rose joins him . . . forever.

This fifth book in the Vampire Academy series was much better than book four, Blood Promise. Rose is trying to move on from Dmitri with Adrian. Only makes sense, right? Boyfriend becomes a vampire = break up. They certainly aren't Buffy and Angel. Only Rose has a crazy idea that was planted in her head by her father - turning Dmitri back from vampire to dhampir. In order for her plan to work she'll need the help of Victor, Lissa's ruthless uncle. So....Road trip! Dmitri's on her tail too as promised. Rose has lots of decisions to make and life lessons to learn but none of them will be easy.

Having graduated from the academy, Rose is now a BIG GIRL and a guardian which means that Rose has to grow up and it's about time, I say. All through these books she's been determined to be Lissa's protector but in book four she ditched all that and went to Russia after Dmitri, leaving Lissa behind at school. A dedicated guardian wouldn't do that. She wouldn't call Queen Tatiana stupid to her face either. I actually like Rose; she's tenacious as a pit bull and loyal yet emotionally vulnerable and I have to remind myself that she, and all her friends, are teenagers. I don't like Lissa; she's irritating and annoying and acts more her age. Makes me wonder why Rose is so attached to her.

Mead ends this one in a heck of a cliffhanger, leaving the last book to finish the story and wrap everything up. Last Sacrifice will be out on December 7, 2010.