Frostbite - Review by Rissa

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...

Originality

So, let me start by saying this is my absolute favorite book in the entire Vampire Academy series. As with Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead takes the reader on an incredible journey in which surprises lie around every corner. Without giving away any spoilers (which is very hard, so many major plot points are extremely unexpected!) I will say that this book had me loving some characters and absolutely hating others. The reader really feels what Rose goes through as the books progresses.

Cover

I've searched many times for a definite answer to the question of who is on the cover of Frostbite, but no one seems to know for sure. I am under the impression that the girl is Lissa (due to her blonde hair), but the guy I am not so sure about. Due to his red eyes it only makes sense that he would be a Strigoi, but I can't say any more than that for fear of a spoiler. In the back corner, there is a picture of the ski resort that serves as the setting for much of the book. Despite the confusion of who is who, I think the cover gives off a cold, mysterious feeling, which absolutely sets the mood of the book.

Characters

Several new characters are introduced in Frostbite, perhaps the most important being Adrian Ivashkov, the flirty, affluent "bad boy" with an obvious crush on Rose. Let me say right now, I love Dimitri, but after meeting Adrian...let's just say Dimka had some serious competition! However, that's not to say that Dimitri doesn't get some more attention himself! Christian Ozera's aunt Tanya proves to be a real thorn in the side of our dear heroine (Rose), when she reveals an obvious crush on Dimitri. Tanya is definitely a love/hate character, she's completely awesome, but Rose is entirely jealous of her because Dimitri pays her so much attention. We will also encounter the mother of our own, ever charming, Rose. Janine Hathaway and her daughter are most definitely at odds, and Frostbite will reveal the familial relationship that made Rose who she is.
The reader will find a new relationship with Mason, who steps up to claim a major character status, and reveals a crush on Rose, as well as Mia, who proves to be more than the one dimensional mean girl we once thought her to be.
Mead also delves deeper into each individual character, and we get to know more about Rose, Lissa, Dimitri, Christian, and the rest.

Plot

The story opens with Rose going to take her Qualifier which will decide if she is well on her way to becoming a Guardian. Unfortunately, when she and Dimitri arrive at the testing ground (which is a Moroi family residence) it is discovered that there was a massive Strigoi attack and the family, along with their guardians, have been slaughtered. This puts a definite damper on the fun of the holiday season, as all the remaining Moroi and terrified about the encroaching danger. The school moves them all to a ski lodge over their winter vacation, but everyone is still on their guard. Rose and her friends in particular are increasingly restless and upset that none of the Guardians are acting in retaliation, but when some choose to act out they are met which tragic results.
Romance and jealousy are abound as Rose and Dimitri battle their starcrossed emotions, along with family drama, darkness, magic, and a shocking ending which will strike all.

Ending

There's not much I can say about the ending, because anything would be a major spoiler, and trust me, you don't want it to be spoiled. It's enough to say that some hearts will be broken, choices will be made (for better or for worse), and Rose will have discovered exactly how devastatingly serious her life as a Guardian can be. While this book doesn't have much of a cliffhanger, the final line will DEFINITELY leave you wanting more.

I don't usually give books a perfect score, because often I feel that anything can be improved on, but I honestly loved Frostbite, and I would definitely recommend it to any fan of the series, so in my opinion, Frostbite gets a full ♥♥♥♥♥!