Book Review: Frostbite - Richelle Mead

Title: Frostbite - Richelle Mead
Publisher: Penguin
Series: Vampire Academy #2 (1, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Service: Own
Release Date: 11/2013
Pages: 327
Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★
Buy || Twitter || Website || Goodreads

A massive vampire attack has put St. Vladimir's Academy on high alert. With the deadly creatures closing in, this year's trip to the wintery peaks of Idaho has just become mandatory.

But Rose Hathaway can't escape her (guy) troubles. Her relationship with gorgeous tutor Dimitri can never be and her closest friend has just confessed to his huge crush on her...

Give us a few words…

Why do you say that?

Frostbite is the second book in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. I read the first book a little while ago and finally decided that I would carry on with the rest of the books. I am glad I did as I think this book was much better than the first.

The thing I am most grateful for in this book is some character development. I struggled with Vampire Academy simply because I found it difficult to enjoy reading from Rose's point of view. I found her too arrogant and couldn't gel with her. Although she continues to have this air of self importance about her in this book it is refreshing to see Dimitri and, her mother, Janine, knock her down a peg or too. The real change came towards the end of the book where I feel she grows up somewhat after the incident she had to go through.

The addition of Adrian Ivashkov gives us someone to either love or hate. I loved what I have seen of his character so far and am intrigued to see what else can be done with him throughout the series.

As far as the plot is concerned I felt Frostbite was fast paced and much more action packed. We learn more about the Strigoi and the royal families which I think was a nice touch. The decadent resorts and Watching Lissa interact with royalty and nobility showed a different side to her character and it was nice to see her being independent of Rose.

There is a unexpected event that happens towards the end of the book that shocked me and if Mead continues to pull plot twists like this throughout the rest of her books I genuinely am looking forward to carrying on with the series.

Memorable Quote

We can't stop living because other people are dead.

Graduation Celebrations

Monday July 14^th I officially graduated from university. I gained a 2:1 in my degree and now hold a BSc (Hons) Medical Genetics.

Graduation is something I have been looking forward to since I knew I wanted to go to university. Neither of my parents went to uni and so it was a big thing for my family. Knowing the day has been and gone makes me realise just how quickly time can pass.

What I didn’t realise was just how busy graduation would end up being. My ceremony started at 10 o’clock and we were advised to turn up an hour and a half early to pick up our cap and gown. Waking up at 6 and getting myself sorted was a slightly painful experience before heading down to the university and meeting up with friends to get our clothing for the day.

No matter how many smiles are in those pictures let it be known that the cap and gown are actually very uncomfortable. I was surprised when my head started to hurt during the ceremony because of the weight of the mortarboard.

Regardless of how uncomfortable it felt it was pretty awesome to be dressed in a way that Harry Potter must be accustomed to. Falling to pieces from laughter with friends over just how ridiculous it all seemed made it worth it.


Official photographs done and alumni hoodie bought we made our way to the hall ready for the ceremony. Three separate languages, Welsh, English and Latin, a lot of clapping and shaking hands with the vice chancellor made up a two hour ceremony were there were a lot of cheers and tears. We doffed out caps for the alumni address and made our way outside so that we could celebrate being graduates.

The rest of the afternoon was a whirlwind of photographs for the local paper, my college and for friends and family. Tossing caps in the air is actually quite a dangerous but hilarious practice and we got some successful shots. The one thing I am glad about is how close the university is to the beach so we went down onto the sands to get in some pictures at the place where revision, barbeques and friendly games of football occurred.

I got home by two in the afternoon and got straight into pyjamas after having a hectic day. I was surprised by my sister presenting me with a bag full of gifts including crayons and a colouring book, face masks, photo frames and an assortment of other things. I know I am blessed to have a family like mine and would never swap them for anything in the world.

Later in the evening my whole family got together to break fast (as it was Ramadan) and we shared what must have been a ridiculous amount of food and ice cream cake. By the time I crawled into bed I was just grateful to have my head hit the pillow.

So graduation is done and dusted. My undergraduate university career is over and honestly I am a little scared about the future. Right now, I’m just taking each day as it comes.  

The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith

Title: The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith
Publisher: Headline Review
Series: N/A
Service: Bookbridgr
Release Date: 05/01/2012
Pages: 226
Format: E book

Rating: ★★

Buy || Twitter || Website || Goodreads

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Imagine if she hadn't forgotten the book. Or if there hadn't been traffic on the expressway. Or if she hadn't fumbled for coins for the toll. What if she'd run just that little bit faster and caught the flight she was supposed to be on. Would it have been something else - the weather over the Atlantic or a fault with the plane?

Hadley isn't sure if she believes in destiny or fate but, on what is potentially the worst day of each of their lives, it's the quirks of timing and chance events that mean Hadley meets Oliver…

Set over a 24 hour period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. 

Give us a word…

Why do you say that?

When I got this book I really wasn't sure what to think of it. The title made me think that it would be something I didn't gel with but considering everyone was talking about The geography of you and me, I felt I should give this a shot. 

The statistical probability of love at first sight was actually a rather interesting book. Don't get me wrong, this book is rather fluffy and for an evening where you want a read with a plot that isn't difficult to follow I would say this is perfect.

Hadley is on her way to her father's wedding which is over in London. She misses her flight by four minutes and is forced to take the next one. This small event causes her to meet the English born, Oliver and this is where our story starts. 

They both end up sitting next to each other on the plane and begin a series of short conversations over the seven hour flight. Throughout this, Hadley begins to wonder whether she fancies Oliver and whether he potentially feels the same way about her. After they land, they are separated and the story takes a turn to Hadley and the relationship between her and her father. I was much happier to see that this entire book is not made up of a teen relationship based on 7 hours of getting to know each other. 

The father/daughter relationship is rocky at best and Hadley does not want to be at her father's wedding. Their small interactions and Hadley's memories of when she was younger and nicely put together and I thought her reasoning behind not getting on with her Dad anymore was justifiable. However I did not like the way they patched up their relationship. Just like other aspects in this books I thought it was just a little too rushed. 

Hadley and Oliver obviously find their way back to each other in the end and end up dancing together at her father's wedding reception. Having sorted out the little blips they have suffered along the way there seems to be an unspoken beginning to a relationship occurring and this just didn't sit right with me. So many loose ends got tied up in a book that was set over a 24 hour period.

Although I enjoyed the writing style and the general family issues that got raised, I wasn't crazy about this book so I don't think it will be one I pick up again any time soon.