Still, I think both of those issues could have been addressed in different ways, and if it was written now, I think they would be. She does get help at the end of the book and go on antidepressants, which also cuts off her connection to her magic. There are a few graphic scenes that depict Lissa self-harming or describe the scars on her arms. Also, Lissa’s spirit magic has damaging effects on her mental health and causes her to struggle with depression and self-harm. A romantic relationship begins to develop in this book between 17-year-old Rose and her 24-year-old instructor, Dimitri. I will say, I think this book got away with a lot, since it was published in 2007, that it may not have gotten away with if it was published now. When they return, various threats to Lissa continue to emerge, and they have to figure out where they’re coming from and who’s causing them. At the beginning of the book, we see Rose and Lissa being brought back to the Academy that they’ve been on the run from for two years because Lissa was in danger. This book does a great job of establishing their relationship and the special bond they have through Lissa’s magic that allows Rose to see Lissa’s thoughts, feelings, and literally peek into her head to see what she’s seeing at any given moment.

Part of why I love this series so much is because of the strong, healthy friendship between Rose and Lissa. Warning: There will be spoilers for the series! So let’s jump in and talk about these books!

It’s been a while since I’ve read these books, so it was like reading them for the first time again, which made it even better. Recently, I reread the entire Vampire Academy series, and I wanted to review each of the books in one post to talk about all my thoughts.

Vampire academy book set