[ 2016 | Review #26 ] : "SPIRIT BOUND"

Title : SPIRIT BOUND

Copyright © 2010 by Richelle Mead

Cover design by Emilian Gregory

Front cover photograph © 2009 Michael Frost

Published by RazorBill ( an imprint of Penguin Group ) | www.razorbillbooks.com

Paperback ; 496 p ; ISBN 978-1-59514-366-2

Normal Price : IDR 176

There’s a big diffrence between death threats and love letters – even if the person writing the death threats still claims to actually love you. And Rose Hathaway got those – both of them. After long, heartbreaking and really exhauted journey to Siberia, trying to find Dimitri and finally meet the person who already change into ‘something’ quite dreadfull to her life, Rose manage to escape from being hostage and killed Dimitri – or at least that she thought at the time.

Coming back to St. Vladimir – the only place where she think gonna be safe, at least for a while, after all she is having doubt about Dimitri’s death. Her worries proven to be right when she got an interesting letter from none other than Dimitri, who appearantly ‘still-live’ and gonna visited her soon for payback. But Rose already planning ‘something’ to face Dimitri, even tough this plan quite sketcy. It start when Abe Mazur – Rose’s father, mentioned about Robert Doru, Victor Dashkov’s spirit-wielding brother.

Robert who disappear long time ago, by rumors said that he holding the secret way, changing Strigoi back into Moroi. No one ever knew this thing could be happening, but Rose sees this is as the only way to face and saving Dimitri at the same time. But first she must face long time enemy : Victor Dashkov, who now living as prisoner, waiting for final punishment after his betrayal, sacrice his own daughter and nearly killed Lissa too in the process. Can she pursued Victor to tell her regarding whereabout his brother is ?

“My dearest Rose,One of the few downsides to being awakened is that we no longer require sleep; therefore we also no longer dream. Without dreamds, I have to be content with my own imagination – which is almost as good. I can picture all those things perfectly, as well as how it’ll be when I take your life from this world. It’s something I regert having to do, but you’ve made my choice ineveitable. Your refusal to join me in eternal life and love leaves no other course of action, and I can’t allow someone as damgerous as you to live,” ___love, Dimitri

Rose keep her mission secretly, but somehow Lissa find-out, and even willing to help her. Maybe because she having diffucult time with Christian, starting with Her Royal Highness that wishes her favorite nephew, Adrian Ivashkov choose Valissa Dragomir as his girlfriend and much more promising ‘future’ wife, than other disturbing girl : Rose Hathaway. Between Adrian-Lissa engagament’s plan, even they both choose another option : Rose and Christian, the tension start to rise up among them.

When Christian seems withdrawn and gave-up on his relationship with Lissa, starting mingle with Mia and Jill – a newby who really adore Christian, Lissa got so furious but instead starting ‘conversation’ with Christian, she makes another mission to help Rose. The plan is very danger, illegal and if they got caught, is gonna be the act of treasonous. In order to find Robert, they must breaking into Tarasov – maximum security prison in Alaska, where they will rescue Victor to Las Vegas, meeting with his brother.

When Eddie Castilo joining this suicide mission, and another helper : Mikhail Tanner – guardian on archive duty, willing secretly help her, since he has history quite similar with Rose’s situation. He in love with Ms. Karp – former teacher at St. Vladimir, who helping Rose and Lissa several times in their difficulty, before she turn in Strigoi, and must be killed by none other by Mikhail. Added to team by surprise, when Adrian suddenly appear in Las Vegas, thinking that Rose and Lissa secretly escape from their duty to having fun in there.

This book quite ‘thick’ consider than previous books. Last time, we follow Rose’s journey into another country, cold and hard Siberian, Russia. That story quite intense, so vivid specially when Rose finally meet Dimitri – the Strigoi. But the following story having different kind of nuance and twisted situation. First, Rose who I pressumed finally close her chapter with Dimitri, starting new relationship with Adrian, will finally got another happy ending.

But then, Dimitri did not die. I’m ok with that, quite relieve actually, until Rose’s new plan to changes-back Dimitri’s condition, from Strigoi back into Moroi. The following story goes south – when Rose desparately willing to do anything, even it’s dangerous, illegal, and careless, dragging her friends and foe into another mess and chaos. Did this impossible mission will succeded ? And can they trust person who involve in this situation, like Victor Dashkov and his brother ?

With another ending that again turning into different agenda, I really curious about the final instalment of this series. Although I must confess, in this story, my respect goes to the boys : Adrian and Christian, who proove themselves with loyalty and using their ‘brain’ and logic instead babbling and rambling act based on emotion like Rose and Lissa. Or it might proove another theory, how different between man and woman when comes to take difficult decision ... (^_^)

Title : SPIRIT BOUND

[ book 5 of VAMPIRE ACADEMY Series ]

Copyright © 2010 by Richelle Mead

Rate : 3.5 of 5

[ more about this author & related works, just check at here : Richelle Mead | on Goodreads | on Wikipedia | on IMDb | at Twitter ]

Best Regards,

@HobbyBuku