Synopsis 
 Rose swore to protect her best friend Lissa when they fled what threatened her at St. Vladimir's Academy, a boarding school for vampires and their half-human bodyguards, Dhamphirs. When they're finally caught and dragged back to the campus, keeping Lissa safe becomes even more dangerous. They're pulled back into the royal politics of the Moroi as well as the lesser dramas of high school life. But danger lurks as someone tries to reveal Lissa's secrets and possibly even kill her. And of course, the Strigoi, undead who feed on Moroi for strength, are always a looming threat. 
 Thoughts 
 I'm way late to the party on this book. It's been on my to-read list for forever, but I just kept bypassing it. The title and original cover didn't really appeal to me. Vampire Academy? Eh, the title made me judge prematurely. The trailer for the movie piqued my interest and I might have bumped it up to the top of my to-read pile. I regret nothing. This book has a completely different take on vampire lore that is refreshing and intriguing. There's a great friendship between Rose and Lissa that doesn't get diminished by the romantic interests (which are also great). Rose is sarcastic and confident and willing to do anything for Lissa, but she also has a vulnerable side. This book has it all; romance, action, mystery, high school gossip, and it even grapples with mental health issues. I need to get my hands on book two, stat!