Book Review: Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Pages: 594

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: December 7, 2010

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

**This review contains some small spoilers.  

**If are behind on this series, check out my review of Spirit Bound.

Goodreads says, "She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir’s Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir Princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardian to come.  Now the law has finally caught up with Rose- for a crime she didn’t even commit. She’s in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She’ll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir. But the clock on Rose’s life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back… and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your life is about saving others, who will save you?"

Rose Hathaway is in prison for a crime she didn't commit and not just any crime....the crime of killing Queen Tatiana.  Things are looking pretty grim for Rose.  She needs the help from her friends in order to clear her name.  They figure out a way to stall her execution, but in order to do that, Lissa must put herself in the running for the position of Queen, which brings a whole set of its own problems as well.  Rose is feeling the pressure, because time is running out. She on a journey to clear her name all the while trying to figure out who actually killed Queen Tatiana.  Last Sacrifice, the final book in the popular Vampire Academy series, is a heart-stopping adventure that I simply couldn't put down.  


Rose Hathaway is one of my favorite heroines of all time. By book six, readers will feel like they truly know her.  I never get sick of her kick butt and take names attitude. Unfortunately, she is still dating Adrian, (sorry-- I am Team D!) but deep down, she is still attracted to swoon-worthy Dimitri.  I mean, who wouldn't be? Dimitri is fantastic in this book.  In some of the other previous books, I found myself getting frustrated with his character, but in this book, he definitely redeems himself.  


Even though Rose and Lissa are apart, readers are still able to experience what Lissa is going through due to their bond and Rose's frequent "visits."  I found this to be especially captivating since Lissa was going through the process of becoming a possible Queen as the Moroi have their own secret trials to see which candidate is truly worthy of the special title.  As usual, I adored Lissa and Rose's friendship and I must admit that they are my favorite BFFs in any young adult novel. Hands down.


I'm sure I've stated this before, but Richelle Mead is brilliant. The way that she is able to weave a tale and really surprise the readers with more and more twists and turns....it's incredible.  And let me tell you, this novel definitely has a few! Other than Suzanne Collins, I am not sure who does an end of chapter cliffhanger better!


I am BEYOND sad that this series is over; however, I am thrilled with the ending. I won't say anything, but I think readers will be happy with it.  I am usually upset by series' endings, such as Harry Potter or Hunger Games (TEAM GALE!), but this was picture perfect for me.  The spin-off series, Bloodlines, will be coming out this summer/fall, but it will be based on some minor characters and *sigh* only a cameo from Rose. The one hope I have is the fact that Richelle Mead said (at a recent book signing I attended and more on that later) that maybe she would revisit the character of Rose again some years down the road. I'll keep my fingers crossed for that possibility as well as a Vampire Academy movie!  Meanwhile, maybe I'll get into the Georgina Kincaid series (her adult series) which I hear is quite good, but for now, there is definitely a void to fill.  

*Buy Last Sacrifice

*Read Chapter One

*Watch the Book Trailer