3.25* 
 I didn't enjoy this second book in the Vampire Academies Series as much as the first. I feel like there was more action in the first that kept me hanging on for more and kept me reading as I learned more about the various characters. 
 This second installment felt like nothing was happening and as though there was just build-up for future books in the series. I liked meeting a few new characters whom I'm sure will play more major roles in future books, but it wasn't until about the last 25% of the book that I actually felt compelled to just sit and continue to read. And yes, it was because there was action and excited in the last 25% of the book. 
 I feel like the growth that Rose showed in the book also happened in the last 25% of book as well and I really liked that development that I saw. There was also growth in a few of the other characters from St. Vlad's school as well, but they weren't necessarily characters that I truly was wanting to see growth in. I am excited to see what kind of future classes St. Vlad's will be having based on certain events that happened within this book. Those should make for some potentially awesome classes. 
 All in all, this book felt a little like a filler book, but I greatly enjoyed the last 25% of the book which definitely made up for the first half or so.