Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel by Richelle Mead | Book Review

Look out for Bloodlines, Richelle Mead’s new series set in the world of Vampire Academy, coming August 2011! After two years on the run, best friends Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir's Academy, a private high school for vampires and half-bloods. It's filled with intrigue, danger - and even romance. Enter their dark, fascinating world through a new series of 144-page full-color graphic novels. The entire first Vampire Academy novel has been adapted for book one by Leigh Dragoon and overseen by Richelle Mead, while the beautiful art of acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli brings the story to life.

Why Did I Read This Book?

You know how sometimes you get on this reading roll where you are reading all of the books ever at once and it’s so awesome and you are like hey, I might as well beat my own record this weekend by picking up a super fast graphic novel of a book that I already love? Well, yes that’s exactly why I read Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel by Richelle Mead adapted by Leigh Dragoon and illustrated by Emma Vieceli. Pretty much this book took me exactly 40 minutes to read and let me tell you straight out that I refuse to spend longer on this review than the book took me to read, it’s just the principle of the matter.

What’s The Story Here?

Okay, so Rose and Lissa are on the loose from Vampire Academy because Rose believes that Lissa is in danger. Rose is a dhampir meaning she’s half vampire half human and totally kick ass. Lissa is a moroi meaning that she is a vampire with a magical power. Rose and Lissa are tracked down by some guardians and brought back to St. Vladimir’s where Rose is almost kicked out and told that she can’t be Lissa’s guardian, but then she manages to convince them that she needs to be Lissa’s guardian. Also, Dmitri offers to be Rose’s mentor. And well, of course a plot is afoot to kill Lissa because she is the last of the Dragomirs. Also, there’s some mean girls and some rumors and some romance. It’s really the introduction to a whole series.

How Does It Compare To The Original Book?

Pretty much Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel follows the original Vampire Academy book almost part for part. There are scenes missing, no doubt, because that is how adaptations work. However, the important stuff is still there. Is it as good as Vampire Academy? No, but it is a fun little distraction.

How Is The Art?

I feel like a lot of people don’t like Emma Vieceli’s illustrations. I don’t mind them. I mean, the art is not pretty and flowy like manga. However, the use of color is great and I liked how that brought the book to life. Mia did not look how I expected her to look. Also? Dmitri was illustrated pretty well. Um, there is the graphic part when Rose wears the necklace to the dance, and well, you all should hopefully know what happens next at this point. OH! I liked how Rose was illustrated. I did not care how Lissa was illustrated because she’s never really been a selling point of the series for me.

Who Should Read This Book?

Fans of Vampire Academy who are not purists — I definitely think that if you have not read Vampire Academy yet, you should read the series first and then get to the graphic novels, but yeah these graphic novel books feel like total fanservice and I am okay with that.

Sum It Up With A GIF:

LOL yes this scene shows up in the graphic novel in all it’s graphic form.

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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