Gossip Girl With Fangs

“You can't force love, I realized. 

It's there or it isn't. 

If it's not there, you've got to be able to admit it. 

If it is there, 

you've got to do whatever it takes 

to protect the ones you love.” 

--Richelle Mead, Frostbite

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publisher: Razorbill, 327 pages

Publication Date: April 8th, 2008

Source: Bought

Goodreads
Previous Books in Series: Vampire Academy

Goodreads Description

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...

My Thoughts

SPOILERS FOR VAMPIRE ACADEMY AND FROSTBITE AHEAD...ESPECIALLY IN TEXT PICTURES...WARNING: THIS WILL RUIN THE BOOK FOR YOU IF YOU CONTINUE

I do not like to share. I am not a jealous individual. But Lord help you if you try and be a skank and move in on any man that is mine. Reading the synopsis before even starting this book had my blood boiling. Dimitri...liking someone else..WAAAAAAH?!?!? Uh uh, no way, that is SO not happening. Ok...gotta cool down...

Frostbite is every bit as good as Vampire Academy if not better. Each book in this series is so unique yet continues to build so perfectly on the previous book. We find our characters coming face to face with the very real threat of the Strigoi. They are seeking out royal families to destroy and Rose and Dimitri are right in the thick of things. Because of this, the entire school has winter break at a gorgeous ski resort. Enter: Drama. Rose is trying to get over Dimitri. This Tasha skank is trying to cougar her way into his life. Pathetic. Sorry! These books bring out my emotions! Anyways. The topic of Moroi fighting Strigoi using their magic is a much debated topic and I LOVED this addition to the story line. I totally think they need to be more proactive in their own survival instead of depending on other so much. Man up, bro. Start fighting fire with fire...literally...some of them can make fire. Amazeballs. The story continues with another Strigoi attack that leads some of our characters in a very compromising situation. But I'll get there.

This installment introduces a few characters that stick around for awhile. Namely, Adrian. I was warned about him by the lovely Betty, but in a good way. He is sexy. Bad boy. Rich. Royal. Couldn't care less what people thought...damn, he is pretty swoony, too. Can't lie. In addition to Adrian we meet Rose's mother, the infamous Janine Hathaway. Respected Guardian. Absent mother. Rose doesn't have the best feelings towards her. And they get into...uh...some situations themselves. 

Rose is...baller. She is not perfect. She makes mistakes. She tries to make up for them. She is still fiercely loyal and I love her for it. Dimitri is still amazing but his little flirtation with Tasha made me want to claw her eyeballs out. But then the end happens...*sigh*. While Rose is BEYOND badass and amazing, her impulsive actions do result in some injury to her. Then Dimitri sweeps in and their tender moments together make up for the entire book of agonizing missed moments and miscommunication. Oh my gosh, they are just too perfect! The writing is just so excellent that you really feel with these characters and I LOVE stories like this. Where you feel their pain and emotions. It's the best. 

As do all stories that matter, this book definitely sets up the rest of the series for a darker and more serious vibe. It is really starting to explore life and death and the sacrifices we have to make and the loved ones we lose along the way. It also starts to delve a bit more into the political aspect of their society. I love this. I think it brings a whole other dimension to the story. Mead doesn't dumb it down and this addition brings more mature content and intelligent things to debate and discuss. 

On to Shadow Kiss!!

Should You Read This? Um...duh.

And of course, my thoughts in texts :)