Review: Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Spirit Bound

Author: Richelle Mead

Publication: Razorbill (May 18, 2010)

Description: Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong...

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.

********** SPOILERS AHEAD **********

My Thoughts:  This was an excellent episode in the Vampire Academy series. There are so many problems facing Rose in this book.

She wants to find a way to change Dmitri back from being strigoi. To do that she has to break Victor out of his maximum security prison. Victor's brother may have the way to change strigois back. However, when Dmitri attacks them in Las Vegas, Victor and his brother escape. Rose learns the way to reclaim strigoi but she can't use it. The process needs a spirit user to stake the strigoi. Rose is not about to let Lissa anywhere near Dmitri. However, Dmitri kidnaps Lissa and Christian as bait to get to Rose. In the battle to get Lissa and Christian back, Dmitri is staked by Lissa and changes back to a dhampir. Naturally, this miraculous happening is not easily accepted. Dmitri is guilt stricken and ends the relationship with Rose. Rose being Rose is not willing to accept that.

Meanwhile, moroi politics happens. Queen Tatania and the council push through a law that will graduate dhampir at 16 instead of 18 so that they can become guardians sooner. This also helps avoid the question of whether or not the moroi should be taught to fight so that they can help themselves and not require so many guardians. Lissa turns 18 but is blocked from taking her seat on the council as the last of the Dragomirs because of an obscure law.

The court is in a state of upheaval over various strigoi attacks and the court rulings when bad abruptly gets worse. Someone has killed Tatania and all the evidence points to Rose. Then the book ends....

One of my friends is waiting for the series to end before she begins reading it. Right now, I envy her. I will be on tenterhooks waiting for the next installment of this series to find out how Rose survives this latest crisis. Is she convicted of murder on the circumstantial evidence provided? Is Lissa the last of the Dragomirs? Does she ever get back together with Dmitri? And what about Adrian? Please tell me that I don't have to wait a year for the next installment.

Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge, 2010 YA Reading Challenge