Vampire Academy: Frostbite
Yes, I read another Vampire Academy book. I'm sorry. It was there, and I was there, and it had vampires in it, and I'm sorry, okay?
And now I want to tell you all about it. I'm sorry for that, too.
THE BAD
First up, the "plot twist" of Strigoi (evil vampires) teaming up with humans. I wouldn't even count this as a twist if Rose (the protagonist) didn't act surprised each and every single time it came up in the narrative. Seriously, it went something like this:
first attack: "There's no way the Strigoi could have done this alone. They must have teamed up with humans. This changes everything!"
second attack: "This confirms it. The Strigoi are teaming up with humans. This changes everything!"
third attack: "What? Strigoi teaming up with humans? Impossible! This changes everything!"
Yes, the phrase "this changes everything" was used each time. I realize this is a YA book, but honestly? I'm not that smart. If I can see the "surprises" coming a mile away, so can young adults.
Other things that bugged me include the student/teacher romance. Because, ew. It wouldn't bother me nearly so much if it wasn't painted like the Best Thing Ever that Has To Happen Someday, and only their Evil Society is keeping them apart.
Maybe-just maybe!-society is keeping them apart because student-teacher romances are a really really really bad idea. Rose isn't even eighteen yet. It's not only a seven-year age difference between them, it's also statutory rape if they do get hot'n'heavy.
In conclusion, eww.
There were also a few passages I went through the trouble of underlining because they got under my skin just that much.
pg. 219: It was a long, Asian-style dress with flowers embroidered into the silk.
Okay, so... Was it based on Indian fashion? Korean? Tibetan? Laotian? Thai? Nepalese? My guess is that she was going for Chinese/Japanese (because that's all Asia consists of, and they're practically interchangeable, amirite?).
pg. 244-245: Sitting near his post was an enormous Maglite, two feet long and easily seven pounds. I grabbed the Maglite and clocked him on the back of the head. He grunted and crumpled to the ground. [...] I was pretty sure I hadn't hit him hard enough to cause real damage, and with the sun coming out, he wouldn't freeze or anything.
This is one of those things that happens in fiction all the time, but it still bugs me. Protip: is someone unconscious? Then real damage has, in fact, been done, and you need to find medical help now.
pg. 257: Novices had a saying grilled into us from an early age: Only they matter.
Emphasis the book's, not mine. So far, Rose is treating the idea that she's a second-class citizen from birth like it's totally normal. I'm hoping this changes in future books, but to find that out, I'd have to read more. (Oh no, what a tragedy! YA fantasy lit, my only weakness!)
THE GOOD
First and foremost, Adrian Ivashkov. He reminds me of Zelos from Tales of Symphonia. What can I say, I'm a sucker for smarmy douchebags with dark secrets. I hope he shows up more in later books.
Also good-the redemption of Mia. I was not a fan of the slut-shaming in the last book. In this one, Mia steps up and does some badass shit despite Rose initially declaring her useless. I like it when protagonists are proven wrong.
Rose's reconciliation with her mother managed to tug at some of my cold, bitter heartstrings.
The death of Mason, who I liked as a character, but was glad to see die because let's face it, how often to characters with development and lines and whatnot get killed off in YA fiction? Not often enough. It was nice to see a victim who wasn't faceless is what I'm saying.
The fight scenes were pretty cool, particularly with the more realistic approach to decapitation than is usually seen in fiction.
And finally, the following quote.
pg. 278: Isaiah rolled his eyes. "Good God. What a noble lot. You're all Spartacus, aren't you?
What with all the good guys going back and forth with the "let them go, kill me instead!," it was gratifying to see someone shared my opinion of the situation. Even if he was a villain.
So that's it, my latest foray into reading things I'm not supposed to. We will return to our regularly scheduled classic literature very soon, I promise.
And now I want to tell you all about it. I'm sorry for that, too.
THE BAD
First up, the "plot twist" of Strigoi (evil vampires) teaming up with humans. I wouldn't even count this as a twist if Rose (the protagonist) didn't act surprised each and every single time it came up in the narrative. Seriously, it went something like this:
first attack: "There's no way the Strigoi could have done this alone. They must have teamed up with humans. This changes everything!"
second attack: "This confirms it. The Strigoi are teaming up with humans. This changes everything!"
third attack: "What? Strigoi teaming up with humans? Impossible! This changes everything!"
Yes, the phrase "this changes everything" was used each time. I realize this is a YA book, but honestly? I'm not that smart. If I can see the "surprises" coming a mile away, so can young adults.
Other things that bugged me include the student/teacher romance. Because, ew. It wouldn't bother me nearly so much if it wasn't painted like the Best Thing Ever that Has To Happen Someday, and only their Evil Society is keeping them apart.
Maybe-just maybe!-society is keeping them apart because student-teacher romances are a really really really bad idea. Rose isn't even eighteen yet. It's not only a seven-year age difference between them, it's also statutory rape if they do get hot'n'heavy.
In conclusion, eww.
There were also a few passages I went through the trouble of underlining because they got under my skin just that much.
pg. 219: It was a long, Asian-style dress with flowers embroidered into the silk.
Okay, so... Was it based on Indian fashion? Korean? Tibetan? Laotian? Thai? Nepalese? My guess is that she was going for Chinese/Japanese (because that's all Asia consists of, and they're practically interchangeable, amirite?).
pg. 244-245: Sitting near his post was an enormous Maglite, two feet long and easily seven pounds. I grabbed the Maglite and clocked him on the back of the head. He grunted and crumpled to the ground. [...] I was pretty sure I hadn't hit him hard enough to cause real damage, and with the sun coming out, he wouldn't freeze or anything.
This is one of those things that happens in fiction all the time, but it still bugs me. Protip: is someone unconscious? Then real damage has, in fact, been done, and you need to find medical help now.
pg. 257: Novices had a saying grilled into us from an early age: Only they matter.
Emphasis the book's, not mine. So far, Rose is treating the idea that she's a second-class citizen from birth like it's totally normal. I'm hoping this changes in future books, but to find that out, I'd have to read more. (Oh no, what a tragedy! YA fantasy lit, my only weakness!)
THE GOOD
First and foremost, Adrian Ivashkov. He reminds me of Zelos from Tales of Symphonia. What can I say, I'm a sucker for smarmy douchebags with dark secrets. I hope he shows up more in later books.
Also good-the redemption of Mia. I was not a fan of the slut-shaming in the last book. In this one, Mia steps up and does some badass shit despite Rose initially declaring her useless. I like it when protagonists are proven wrong.
Rose's reconciliation with her mother managed to tug at some of my cold, bitter heartstrings.
The death of Mason, who I liked as a character, but was glad to see die because let's face it, how often to characters with development and lines and whatnot get killed off in YA fiction? Not often enough. It was nice to see a victim who wasn't faceless is what I'm saying.
The fight scenes were pretty cool, particularly with the more realistic approach to decapitation than is usually seen in fiction.
And finally, the following quote.
pg. 278: Isaiah rolled his eyes. "Good God. What a noble lot. You're all Spartacus, aren't you?
What with all the good guys going back and forth with the "let them go, kill me instead!," it was gratifying to see someone shared my opinion of the situation. Even if he was a villain.
So that's it, my latest foray into reading things I'm not supposed to. We will return to our regularly scheduled classic literature very soon, I promise.