In case you didn't know, the 3 kinds of vampires are differentiated between by how vampire-like each species are. The strigoi are the worst. They are the vampires of legend: evil, soulless, determined to suck your blood, immortal. Strigoi are different than the others because they are made and not born. Moroi have vampire tendencies, such as drinking blood, pale skin, dislike of the sun, but are not immortal and have to eat normal food. They think they're so special but I don't really get it. The 3rd species, and most annoying and hard to understand, is dhampir. Dhampir are born by the coupling of a moroi, dhampir, or human with someone of a different race.
Now that I've finished explaining the details I can get to the actual story. What I like is that the main character is not a vampire of any sort but rather the antithesis-an Alchemist. Alchemists are the humans who keep us unknowing Muggles (sorry, but it was the best word I could think of) from finding out about vampires. They clean up messes and dislike all vampires as a whole. Sydney Sage entered the VA books when she bumps into Rose (the main character in Vampire Academy) in Moscow. She comes up again in the last book when she helps Rose with something that I shall not mention because this blog is not about Last Sacrifice. So, anyway, Sydney is given an assignment to protect the Moroi princess while she hides in a boarding school in Palm Springs, away from her would-be assassins. A bunch of other people accompany them basically resulting in a vamp reunion in Palm Springs. They then have adventures, Sydney solves a few mysteries, various people have crushes on various other people, and ADRIAN IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get all fangirlish, I just couldn't help it. For those of you who don't know, Adrian is the party boy who is in love with Rose (even though he's way better than her) in Vampire Academy. And he's back. This is my excited face. I know you can't see it but pretend that you can.
One big topic in this book are tattoos. Let me tell you, I am sick of tattoos having all these meanings and significances. Seriously, the ink is on the skin, not in it. Why does it matter if you mix gold or silver or steel or copper into the ink? I suppose it adds to the story but it just doesn't impress me much.
And in case you haven't read Vampire Academy, don't even think of touching this book until you do so. If you do, I will find out and hunt you down and tattoo on your forehead "I READ SPOILERS". Except I have a really bad handwriting and don't know how to tattoo so it will probably hurt a lot.
4.5 stars. I expected more romance for Sydney.
As much as I complain about tattoos, I have to admit that the one on her face is kinda pretty.
