Blood Promise

Vampire Academy, Book 4

By: Richelle Mead

Narrated by: Emily Shaffer

Length: 13 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir��s Academy was the deadliest ever in the school’s history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them . . . including Dimitri.

He’d rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa—the one she has sworn to protect no matter what—and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?

Back to school! Listen to more titles in the Vampire Academy series.

©2009 Richelle Mead (P)2010 Penguin

Critic reviews

"The most exciting yet.... Mead’s storytelling improves with each installment, as she keeps readers on the edge of their seats while adding a few unexpected twists." (Associated Press)

Adrian's fake accent is nauseating

Why is he British......? Why bother giving an American character an English accent when you can't even do one properly. the narrator shuffle is the only bad part of this series. Otherwise they are excellent!

Love this series

My Summary:

Unbelievably, Rose has left Lissa behind and traveled to Russia to find the man she loves so she can kill him. She knows the man she loved would never want to be a strigoi, killing those who he would have once died to protect. Rose can't move on until she knows he's at peace. But when the time comes, will she be able to do it? Can she really win against him? They were so evenly matched before he turned - now he will have the strigoi speed and strength to help him. And even if she can do it, what then? Having turned her back on Lissa, she can't just drop back into her old like. And speaking of Lissa, what will happen to her while Rose is off hunting strigoi? All her choices haunt her as Rose fights to do the only right thing she knows to do.


My Thoughts:

5 stars - A MUST read

The Blood Promise audiobook again changed narrators. I looked ahead and it seems that Emily Shaffer will read the rest of the series. I did like the change this time. Emily added the Russian accents back in that the narrator from book 2&3 had removed. I like the Russian accents. Dimitri just didn't sound like him without one. Emily does a good job with all the voices and I was able to sit back and enjoy the book without being distracted by the narrator, highest praise I can give.

If you follow me on twitter, you may have witnessed my emotional breakdown during this book. I required much reassurance from trusted peeps that I could survive Dimitri as a strigoi. This book was sad. It's supposed to be sad. Rose is in the worst possible place in her life trying to do the worst possible task. What I really liked about this book was the path that Rose traveled. She dealt with grief and pain. She got to know the Dimitri of Russian, the young Dimitri and it was painful. She experienced such impossible situations. While she suffered and fell down many times, she was Rose. Her true heroism was firmly in place. I cried for her. I hurt for her. I was proud of her. She may have wished that she didn't do some of the things she did, but I thought she was noble in her efforts and accomplishments. Why do I make such a big deal out of this? Well, there was a series that I loved that the heroine didn't do what Rose did. She let the trials break her. I won't say what series but needless to say I was worried about Rose. It never happened. Rose is Rose - a kick butt badass in love with another one.

As for the plot, it was crazy intense. Just as I thought I had something figured out, everything turned around and I was reeling. There were so many twists and turns in this story, I was beginning to feel like I had lost my normally incredible ability to figure things about before they happen. Alas, I did figure out a few so it's not gone. Not many though. It's an emotional roller coaster that was so much fun to ride, I was quickly back in line for more. Bring on book five. So glad this series is complete. Don't think I could handle a year wait between books.

Just read it! It's fabulous.

love the story...hate the narrator

Why in the hell does everyone suddenly have an accent??? I get the people IN Russia need it but it's already been said that Dimitri only has one when he's excited or agitated and his English is better than Rose's. And when did Adrien turn BRITISH?!?!

Nice story-Awful sound bites and horrible accents

I understand that I am not the target reader here but I've got to pitch in with a comment to the publisher. Stop with the crappy background music and if you can't deliver an accent then don't. Adrian turns super brittish in book 4? Really?

It was great to meet Dimitri's family and Abe. The story expands outside the school and grows on me even more but when a story fills pages and pages of a book with whiny and super obvious choices it get's old. I feel the whole 3rd quarter of this book did exactly that. The end is good if a bit predictable but a good story continues.

This book is a chance for the narrator to make or break a book and the change of cast in book 4 feels forced and ill timed. Rose and Lissa are delivered well but supporting characters are delivered under strain.

We may all be better off reading this one.

New Narrator. Still Great

The Vampire Academy series are wonderful page-turners and hard to put down, with memorable characters and unexpected situations. This book is read by a different narrator than the first three, which I didn't like at first. However, once I got used to the slightly different voice, I enjoyed this reading immensely.

Least Favorite So Far

Where does Blood Promise rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Out of the series so far, this book is probably my least favorite. I am not saying it is a bad book! All I am saying is that the story line for this book was different from the others. Lissa is a little more selfish...something I don't really see her as, but that is how she was coming across. Rose...well, Rose was Rose...in a good way. I think what really bothered me with this book was that Rose and Lissa were apart, and Lissa wasn't understanding Rose's need to "save" Dimitri. I love Dimitri, and I can't wait to see/hear more of him, whether good or bad. I'm hoping for good. Overall, this was a critical book, and I understand it necessity for the overall story line, but I still don't like it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Blood Promise?

When Dimitri first shows us, the final scenes between Rose and Dimitri when she tries to escape, and the last moments of the book when Rose gets his letter.

What does Emily Shaffer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I wish I had time to read the books because I don't care for Emily Shaffer's narrating in the least. She has a slight husky voice, that I do like, but she also caries a teenage whine, almost valley-girl talk, that I do not like. I do like her Russian accents, though.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Everything that had Dimitri in it.

Fan of the Series

I really like that this book takes a break from the Academy, as well as, Rose and Alyssa's friendship to focus on Rose's story. I was nice to learn more about Rose and see her character develope further, rather, than stay in same scene and just rehash the same things in a different way. The narration wasn't terrible, I just don't feel she is the best fit for Rose. I th8nknof Rose as a little tougher and not as whiney/needy sounding.

Keeps getting better

Wow they basically got there own book, the others were there but not there, and it was an important fact finding book. She learned so many things on this trip, not only personally but professional and still finds a way to pull it all together when needed.. sounds like they have a big situation coming in the next two books!! I can’t wait to see how it ends up!!

Side note the music and side effects are not necessary or needed, I don’t know who thinks we need that kinda stuff but although it doesn’t distract me it’s really just annoying. If your going to make auto books this way there should be an option to shut it off or on.

Not a lot happened, but what did, was great

I love this series believe me, but for some reason this one seemed on the less eventful side, half the time she was sitting in a room just existing but the other half was incredible.

So hard to listen to the narrator!

This narrator makes my ears cringe! If I didn’t have to work and drive, I would be reading this book instead to avoid the voice and horrid accents!