Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Title: Frostbite
Author: Richelle Mead
Release Date: August 10, 2008
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Others in the Series: Vampire Academy
Age Group: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars

Rose Hathaway's got serious guy trouble.  Her gorgeous tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason has a huge crush on her, and she keeps getting stuck in her best friend Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian.  (So not cool).

Then a massive Strigoi attack puts St. Vladimir's on high alert, and the Academy crawls with Guardians--including the legendary Janine Hathaway...Rose's formidable, long-absent mother.  The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks.  This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only provide the illusion of safety.  When three students run away to strike back against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them.  Only this time, Rose--and her heart--are in more danger than she ever could have imagined...

I picked this up soon after finishing the first book and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. One thing I like about Richelle Mead is that her character's are original and stay true to some of their traits throughout the entire novel.

The plot line for this book, I consider, original because I have yet to read a book about what you do when you stick a bunch of vampires together into a ski lodge when danger is all around them.

I was frustrated with Lissa a lot. I can understand that she's stressed at times, but this girl is never happy. She's always gloomy and upset and crying, and I just got tired of it really soon. Nothing makes this girl happy, and I felt so bad for Rose because she kept thinking about her friend and others, and I just wished that Lissa would have had more consideration for Rose as well. She's not the only one going through drama.

I did like how Lissa had a solution for the big discussion that was going in the book. It shows that one day she could become a very good Queen, once she gets over herself and starts thinking about others.

I also felt bad for Mason and for a moment even Mia. I couldn't imagine going to what they went through.

Richelle is awesome at description and really letting you feel what Rose, and sometimes Lissa, feel. Rose had done a lot of maturing and considering everything she went through, I would not be able to keep my head together the way she did. I would even go as far as telling Lissa to stop having sex with her boyfriend if I'm going to get stuck in her head while she's in the middle of it. Seriously, there's a lot more self-control.

Though she slips up, which just makes it more real, I believe. No one changes over night, and considering there's four more books left I'm sure there's more to Rose and the way her character develops.

Funny, mysterious, nail-baiting, adventure that if you have not yet read this book, pick it up!