Title: Shadow Kiss
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Date Published: November 13, 2008
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 443
Format: Paperback
Series: Yes
Overall Rating: ★★★★★ / 5
Goodreads:
Initial Thoughts: (Spoiler Free)WHAT IF FOLLOWING HER HEART MEANS ROSE COULD LOSE HER BEST FRIEND FOREVER?
Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth’s magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest vampires – the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa’s best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them.
Rose knows it is forbidden to love another guardian. Her best friend, Lissa – the last Dragomir princess – must always come first. Unfortunately, when it comes to gorgeous Dimitri Belikov, some rules are meant to be broken…
Then a strange darkness begins to grow in Rose’s mind, and ghostly shadows warn of a terrible evil drawing nearer to the Academy’s iron gates. The immortal undead are closing in, and they want vengeance for the lives Rose has stolen. In a heart-stopping battle to rival her worst nightmares, Rose will have to choose between life, love, and the two people who matter most… but will her choice mean that only one can survive?
I’m going to be honest.. I have put off writing this review because I was busy picking up the pieces of my heart.
I keep saying this in every review I write for this series, but how is it possible for them to keep getting better every time? Seriously, I don’t understand!
Overall, I am thoroughly impressed with the quality of the plot, and how Mead is able to consistently deliver such strong character development.
Shadow Kiss begins with Rose and her fellow Dhampir classmates preparing for their six-week training exercise during which time they will act as guardians to their fellow Moroi classmates.
During this training exercise, Rose is not assigned to guard her best friend Lissa, but is instead assigned to Lissa’s boyfriend Christian Ozera.
Although Rose was highly opposed to this pairing, I thought it was fantastic, and really smart on Mead’s part, because it finally gave Rose and Christian a chance to build a friendship, which proves extremely important later on.
Alternatively Lissa is paired with Eddie, which was definitely to her benefit because Eddie proves to be the definition of a bad ass.
Shortly after assignments are made, we learn of Victor Dashkov’s upcoming trial, and that neither Rose nor Lissa are allowed to testify.
This news obviously sparks extreme rage in Rose, who is still dealing with the loss of Mason, and with the news being paired with Christian, Rose makes the poor decision to throw a huge fit in front of her professors.
During all of this Rose begins seeing Mason’s ghost which she decides is due to stress, anger, and guilt, and that he is not in fact real.
This was actually a really cool plot point to me. I was not ready for Mason to leave me in the last book, and as I mentioned in my previous review, his death was probably one of the most difficult fictional deaths I have ever had to go through, so getting a little more time with him (even as a ghost) was definitely a nice little surprise.
Ultimately Adrian is the one who is able to get both Rose and Lissa an opportunity to testify because of his previously unknown family ties with the Queen.
Apart from the trial itself, I think the most important piece to the trip that takes place is when Lissa and Rose visit a fortune teller. Although Rose gets a pretty bland reading compared to Lissa, it is Dimitri’s reading that stands out the most.
Dimitri is told that “he will lose the thing he values the most.”
This was extremely upsetting to me, because I, like Rose, believed that the reading was referring to Rose, but boy was I wrong (more on this to come.)
Character Discussion (Spoilers Ahead)Rose Hathaway:
I feel like it is only fitting to start with Rose since she is not only the main character, but my favorite. Honestly Rose has not ceased to impress me. The amount of things that she has been through in such a short time, and the way she handles everything with such grace is inspiring.
What I continue to like about Rose is the fact that she is extremely real. Although she can be extremely immature and frustrating at times, she is also extremely passionate and strong. I love that she is a combination of things, and that she is imperfect. She is seventeen, and I believe it.
Rose goes through a lot in this book. Not only is she still dealing with Mason’s recent death, but she soon after begins seeing his ghost, which only increases her guilt and stress.
While trying to handle all of this on her own, Rose is also trying to make it through her training exercise so she can be Lissa’s guardian after graduation. (More on that to come.)
Adrian Ivashkov:
Adrian continues to surprise me. As I mentioned in my last review, I was hesitant of him when we first met him. I didn’t know his motives, and I had a very difficult time trusting him, but after finishing Shadow Kiss, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love him.
I love that Adrian got Lissa and Rose to the trial, just so he could do something nice for Rose.
I love that Adrian and Lissa worked together to try to develop strength in their use of spirit (Even though Christian felt a little differently!)
I have to admit, my heart broke a little at the end when Adrian asked Rose if she would give him a chance when he got back, because although I still want Dimitri and Rose to be end game.. if it is even possible.. I do really love Rose and Adrian.
Dimitri Belikov:
Ugh I should honestly talk about Dimitri last.. because my heart cannot handle this. I knew as soon as Dimitri got that reading that all things were going to go to shit.. but I did not expect it to hurt as much as it did.
I love the fact that Rose took Dimitri down during one of the training exercises. I love the fact that Dimitri and Rose finally had their moment in the cabin. I love the fact that Dimitri, who wanted to guard Lissa more than anything, was willing to give all of it up to have a chance to be with Rose in the future.
I hate how all of this is probably impossible now.. because Dimitri did lose what he valued most.. his soul.
Ugh Richelle Mead.. what have you done to my heart?
Mason Ashford:
As I said before, I am sincerely grateful that we got more time with Mason in Shadow Kiss. However, it almost hurt more to say goodbye again.
Every time Mason appeared, and Rose described him as pale and sad.. my heart shattered a little more.
Mason deserved so much more and I am beyond upset that he didn’t get it. The fact that he stuck around to warn Rose and the others of the imminent Strigoi threat though.. ughhh my heart.
Mason’s death is probably something I will never recover from.
Lissa Dragomir:
I mentioned in my previous review that I was glad there was a distinct lack of Lissa in the last book.. I kind of take that back.
Although she isn’t my favorite, Lissa has actually started to grow on me, and it is probably because the focus has shifted to Rose, but I really enjoyed her scenes in this book.
I do have to say although Lissa was not on the forefront in Shadow Kiss, when Rose decides to leave her and the academy, I was pretty upset.
Not only was Rose planning on leaving her behind, she was planning on doing it without ever telling her, which I think is worse. And although I completely understand why Rose came to this decision, I still felt really bad for Lissa, and I am honestly surprised that Lissa didn’t insist on going with her.
Eddie Castile:
Lastly, I would like to talk about Eddie.
Eddie had such a minor part in the last book. Yes he was there in Spokane, but he was so high out of his mind from the Strigoi bites, that he wasn’t really relevant.
I am so glad that he became more of a focus in Shadow Kiss, because not only is he extremely interesting, he is also really amazing.
I like that Richelle shed some light on Eddie’s personal suffering, and how he is dealing with the loss of his friend, and how he put’s some of the blame on himself because he couldn’t do anything to help Mason.
I am really hoping that Eddie becomes more prevalent in future novels, because I have not had enough time with him.
Let’s Discuss That Ending (Spoilers Ahead)Okay.. that ending though.
Okay.. that gif is clearly a lie because I am not fine.. not even in the slightest.
If I am being completely honest, I was pretty upset for the entire last half of the book. From Rose’s headaches, and ghost sightings, to Rose having a break down at the airport..
The feels are real folks.
How can Mead be so cruel as to finally give us a Rose and Dimitri love scene, and then take Dimitri away? Because this is 100% not okay.
I knew we were going to lose someone.. again.. and I just couldn’t bring myself to think it was Dimitri.. even though it was blatantly obvious. I thought.. oh maybe Rose will lose her mom, or we will lose Eddie (Which thank God we didn’t..)
And when Rose had to wait to find out if they found Dimitri’s body.. only to find out that they didn’t and he was turned Strigoi.. UGH!
And Rose deciding to leave both Lissa and the Academy so she can go KILL DIMITRI.
UGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Seriously.. I cannot stress enough how upset I am by this book’s existence.. but I am also equally grateful for it..
Such conflicting emotions!
Here’s to hoping the next one doesn’t completely destroy me..
I hope you enjoyed this review and discussion. If you’ve read Shadow Kiss.. do you think I will ever recover from that ending?
Much love everyone, and as always, remember: Read your books
– Danielle
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