The Book Courier: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3)

by Richelle Mead

Type: Book 3 of the Vampire Academy Series

POV: 1st Person~ Rose

Rating: 5/5 stars

This is my favorite of the series thus far! Rose has changed for the better since the events of book two, Frostbite.

After everything that has happened, Rose still needs to graduate if she ever plans to become Lissa's guardian. She is almost there. The only thing standing in her way is the 6 weeks of field experience. Well maybe not the only thing....

Mason haunts her dreams and soon she starts seeing him while she's awake. But while vampires are true, Rose knows ghosts are just stories made up to scare the little dhampirs and Moroi, right? She feels guilt over his death, and can't help but wonder if this connection with Mason means something is wrong with her. Is she going crazy?

On top of that, Victor is going on trial for kidnapping Lissa in book one. He is one of the few who know of Rose's feeling toward Dimitri, and is more than willing to share this juicy piece of gossip to the entire Royal Court and ruin Dimitri and Rose's reputation.

If that wasn't enough strain on Rose's forbidden love affair with Dimitri, than Lissa's perfect relationship blows it out of the water. Not so long ago, Lissa's nightmares woke Rose from sleep. Now it was her sex life. To say things were a different would be a understatement. The psych link is stronger than ever, and it doesn't help that Lissa's strong feelings for Christian extend through the link making Rose feel even worse about her love life. Or more, her nonexistent love life.

Rose learns what it truly means to be shadow kissed, and the consequences that come with it.

What I loved most about this book was Rose's character development. Since the events of book two, Rose is starting to realize how unfair the cards were dealt for the dhampirs. I was pleased with this progression because this was something that bothered me from day one of starting this series.

"My first duty was to protect Moroi and not give into my own impulses. Over and over, I repeated the guardian mantra. They come first. Those words were really starting to annoy me."

Lissa is another aspect of the book that has bothered me from the beginning. First of all, I find her selfish when it comes to Rose. As her best friend, how has she not noticed the way Rose feels about Dimitri? And the last chapter really pissed me off. That just showed how selfish she really was. I just find her weak and a high maintenance friend. She gets so wrapped up in her happiness or problems that she forgets to even think about her best friend. And Rose is the one, these days, that has the largest pile of crap to deal with. In Lissa's emotional absence, Rose turns to Dimitri as her anchor. I just do not like her as a character, hopefully she matures and can come to terms with the decisions Rose makes.

"They come first, right?

"Not always. Sometimes, Rose, you have to know when to put yourself first."

As for Rose, she is being challenged with the idea that Lissa does not necessarily have to come first, something that Rose has seen as an absolute truth her entire life. She is bound to protect the Dragomirs at all costs. This is becoming an old argument, one without a solution. Or maybe there is a solution, one that Rose has never dared to consider until now.

"You two are a match made in heaven. Or somewhere."

Ha! I love that quote! It is the perfect description for the duo that is Rose and Dimitri. These two were beautiful together this book (even more so than the other books, that is). I absolutely love them together and the way Dimitri treats Rose compared to other people. His love for her shows even when he doesn't say it. A lot happened between the two in this book. I can only hope for the best.