Blood Promise by Richelle Mead *Spoilers*

After the massacre at Vampire Academy, Rose Hathaway faces the most task of her life and she knows that she must do it alone. With Mason departed for the other world, Rose must hunt down and kill Dimitri Belikov, the man she most loves. The fourth nail-biting episode of Richelle Mead's popular vampire series dramatically shows the fatal power of a promise. 
{taken from goodreads.com}

*Disclaimer: this review may contain spoilers. I have tried my best up to this point not to reveal any, but honestly - it's insanely hard not to!  You have been given a fair warning.

As the fourth installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series, Blood Promise has been the most challenging for me to read.  I found myself unable to put the book down at times, yet wanting to punch it other times.  Like I've said before, Richelle Mead does a superb job of building up to the climax, but in this book I felt as though I was pushed over the ledge - unwillingly.  The story is what's made me hang on.  I have to know what happens next.  In this book, it was the "getting there" part that frustrated me.

The story picks up literally where Shadow Kiss had left off. Rose's new mission is to leave St. Vladimir Academy and kill the man she loves - Dimitri.  A suicide mission, if you will.  But her journey will not be easy since she has no idea other than Siberia is where he's at.  After a painful & agonizing goodbye to Lissa, which Lissa did not approve of or want to accept, Rose is forced & determined to keep her promise to Dimitri - kill him & set his soul free & not let the Strigoi remain inside of him.  Through her journey Rose meets new acquaintances.  Some become good allies, while others just creep her out.  She stumbles upon Dimitri's family & feels responsible for telling them of his fate.  It is here that she begins to lose sight of what her real mission was - to find Dimitri & kill him.  She instantly feels the love that Dimitri always talked about among his mother & sisters.  This creating a huge distraction for Rose.  Ultimately after a series of events & a strange man by the name of Abe crossing her path, she remembers what she must do & continues on with her conquest.

This is where the story took a strange turn of events for me.  In walks Dimitri.  I want to squeal & jump in to his arms.  Embracing his return.  But this isn't a happy reunion.  Dimitri is Strigoi, and his soul is dead.  All he bores now is pure hatred & disgust.  He captures Rose & keeps her as his pet.  He decides to play Mister Nice Guy & give Rose time to decide her own fate: be turned in to a Strigoi, like him or be killed, by him.  Of course Mister Nice Guy has alternate ways of giving her this time to think.  He starts to feed off her, which in turn clouds her judgment & places Rose in a drug like state, making it difficult for her to understand right from wrong.  These episodes keep occurring & this is where I had a hard time reading the story.  Not because it was poorly written or that I had lost interest, only because I had become so engrossed in these characters that I could not stand to see Dimitri act this way.  I wanted my gentle, protective, loving Dimitri back!

Rose being Rose, she finds the will to snap out of Dimitri's trance & also finds a way to escape.  The next series of events had me turning the pages so quickly.  Dimitri was on the hunt for Rose and I felt like I was right there in the middle of the chase.  What happened next left me breathless, if I wasn't already out of breathe!  Rose did the unthinkable, and she stayed true to her promise.  She freed Dimitri's soul.  At least that is what we are lead to believe.  Not wanting to think about her actions or deal with the aftermath of her emotions, Rose immediately jumps back in to Lissa's mind & discovers that she is in danger - half a world away.  What a perfect time for Rose to be bombarded with a new task at hand & not have to think about what just occurred.  Rose is sent back to St. Vladimir by the help of Abe, the stranger she met while in Russia.  Though she fears him & his intentions, something sparks her interest.  Why is he helping her?  Once back at the Academy Rose is faced with consequences of her actions, and their results.  Surprisingly though Lissa is quick to apologize & welcome her back not only as her guardian, but her best friend as well.  And right now, a best friend is exactly what Rose needs.

The story begins to wind down with the foreshadowing of a new romance that could be occurring between Rose & Adrian, the other spirit user who has been a loyal friend to Lissa while Rose was gone.  But is it too soon after Dimitri?  Speaking of... is Dimitri truly dead this time?  Rose receives a startling package as the story concludes convincing her he may not be.  A new mission is stirring inside her head.  One that she knows she must accomplish this time & be certain it has been fulfilled.  A mission she'll need her best friend for.

Blood Promise was very emotional for me.  It was agonizing to see the choices that Rose had to make, and then to watch her carry them out.  Richelle Mead has done another brilliant job of grabbing a hold of the reader & not letting go until you're gasping for air.  Two more books await me before this saga ends.  I am terrified as to what lies ahead.

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