Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Title: Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5)
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: RazorBill (18th May 2010)
Blurb:

ROSE’S LIFE WILL NEVER BE HER OWN.

ROSE HATHAWAY HAS BEEN OUTRUNNING DEATH EVER SINCE SHE SWORE TO BE THE PROTECTOR OF HER BEST FRIEND, LISSA. NO MATTER WHAT.

She’s finally made it back to the haven of St. Vladimir’s but with Dimitri, the boy she once loved, stalking her, Rose can only run so far.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance, and now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won’t join him, he won’t rest until he has silenced her . . . forever.

Rating: ***(3 stars)
Review:

Spirit Bound is the fifth – and penultimate – book in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. In a lot of ways my reading of this book was compromised by my reading of both Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, but it was an enjoyable read nevertheless.

Spirit Bound has a really interesting plot. It is partly about the fallout of events in Blood Promise, and Mead throws a spanner into the works. Things really come to a head in Spirit Bound and it serves to set up the final book – Last Sacrifice – in a really interesting manner. Spirit Bound tied up as many plot threads as it created.

Personally I had a few issues with Rose in this book, mostly I think because I have read the first two books in the Bloodlines series. But I found myself at times struggling to understand her choices. Don’t get me wrong, Rose is as bull-headed, and determined to do what she considers the right thing as she has been in the previous four books. I really admired that in her, I just wish she’d think about the consequences a little bit more – but then she is only seventeen/eighteen.

I really enjoyed being reunited with the Vampire Academy gang, even if there wasn’t much page time for Eddie, Jill, or Mia. A LOT goes on in Spirit Bound, so I was glad that all the gang appeared – at least in passing. I liked the fact that Mead gave the book two main plots, with lots of subplots that played out along the way. I would have liked to see more reaction from the dhampir community to certain of the events in the book.

Spirit Bound is a good edition to the Vampire Academy series, and I am looking forward to seeing how Mead will tie up all the plot threads in Last Sacrifice. If you are a fan of Paranormal Romance, and like vampires, then you should definitely check-out this series.