Book Blurb: 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, she keeps getting stuck in her best friend Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian.

Then a massive Strigoi attack puts St. Vladmir’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. Vladmir’s 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 heat-are in more danger than she ever could have imagined.

My Thoughts: Frostbite is the second book in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead, and I couldn’t read it without comparing it with the 1st book.

Now that the readers were introduced to Mead’s original vampire universe in detail in Vampire Academy, in Frostbite Richelle Mead could concentrate on the plot and character development. The main mystery/plot line in Frostbite was the exploration of the threat the Strigoi constitute, which was only alluded to in Vampire Academy.

The setting is exciting: for Christmas holidays the school goes to a very exclusive and posh ski resort, where skiing, partying and other troubles ensues.

Rose is back with more problems than ever, though most of her problems in Frostbite are mainly those of a  normal girl her age: Lissa is forsaking her because she spends all her time with her new boyfriend, Christian, Mason (Rose’s best guy friend) is trying hard to become more than friends with Rose, Dimitri is still forbidden and still oh so irresisitible (but now there is also Tasha (the beautiful royal aunt of Christian) who is openly flirting with him, calling him by nicknames and who manages to make Dimitri laugh!), a new boy appears on the scene to whom Rose is unexplainably drawn and who is nothing but trouble (Adrian  Ivashkov), and if that wasn’t enough Rose’s absent mom comes to the school, and Rose’s abandonment issues are seriously wracking havoc. So as you can see, life without vampire threats is eventful enough for Rose.

At times I was feeling sorry for Rose, because she really had so much on her plate and noone she could confide in or just talk things through. And now I come to the point which enraged me in Frostbite: Lissa. I understand that she is vulnerable and there is an established dynamic between her and Rose where Rose does everything to take care of her and protect her, but the way she didn’t care for Rose in Frostbite made me so angry. Friendship should be about two people being attentive to each other, and I understand that Lissa not having the magical bond to Rose does not know of her moods and feelings from start, but that is why she should at least be attentive to her or talk to her! Rose needed a friend, and Lissa as her best friend was pretty much absent from the equation for most of the novel. She was neither there as emotional support nor as just a physical friend. It’s nice and good that she can always count on Rose, but I felt bad on behalf of Rose seeing that not only didn’t she get the same consideration, but not even the attention of an ordinary friend. Sure, so far Lissa has not proven to be such an interesting character, but as a supporting character she is Rose’s best friend and she didn’t live up to her role in Frostbite.

Mason, oh Mason. *sighs* If you have read my review of Vampire Academy, you know that he is one of my favourite characters (and if you have read the series I’m sure you understand why I love him 🙂 ). He is cute, thoughtful, caring and so helpful to Rose. He was adorable in Frostbite too, and not wanting to spoil anything at all, that’s all I’m going to say.

A new addition to the set of characters is Adrian, another spoilt, rich royal, who exudes power and charm, and who is very much interested in Rose. I have a feeling he will become a major character later on, and I can’t wait to read more about him, he is the type of exciting bad boy, that you know is dangerous for you but you are just addicted to the thrill 🙂

Besides Lissa, the others characters truly evolve in Frostbite, one of the major one of these character developments is that of Mia’s, I’m curious to see how and on which side she will end up in the next books.

All in all Frostbite was another exciting ride, Richelle Mead took her characters and us readers for a few spins, the plot was more complex and I definitely want more!