Review: Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead

After reading all the other four books, I loved this one the most. The book is set after Rose Hathaway has just killed way too many Strigoi (bad vampires) that she has a special tatto for it. Even though she is a hero to her school, St. Vladmir's Academy, she has lost the love of her life, Dimitri. He has become a Strigoi in the mix of all the fights the school encountered. Rose drops out of school and leaves her best friend, Lissa, behind to search for him. She goes back to his hometown, Baia, to search for him and kill him like they promised each other they would do if the other became a Strigoi because they both rather die than become evil. But, when faced with the decision to kill him or join him, Rose is faced with the biggest decision of her life.
I bought this book because I just fell in love with the series. I read this in less than a week because I couldn't put it down. Te beginning ran a little slow with Rose going through the streets of Russia and you were lost as to why she was trying to find a town full of dhampirs when she should be looking for Strigoi but as the story goes on, you start relizing she's looking for Dimitri's family. I did like the new character, Sydney, even though she was a tad bit important to the story, she was a good addition to the story. The other characters like Mark, who is shadow-kissed, and Oskana, who is a spirit user. They were good assets to the story along with a man named Abe, or Ibrahim (if that helps you Academy fans out). I won't tell you why he is important but it will come as a shock to you when you find out. Along with Rose's search for Dimitri and the new characters, the old ones are all still in there because of Rose's looks through Lissa's eyes once in awhile. The other problems at the Academy are really great, they stir even more troubles for Rose than she already has but they seem so...random. When Lissa is controlled by a girl named Avery who came here for "vacation" is very random, I didn't see the need to go that far with that kind of thing. I rather see Viktor come back into the story or another Strigoi killing or Lissa going into a deep depression because Rose left and start back her...cutting. Those seem very logical and safe to do but the problems Lissa faces are random and make you sort of resent her. Since she is being controlled by Avery, I see why she's being that way but you do resent her when she's rude to Jill and Christian.
The climax to the story was great, the fight between Rose and Dimitri wass heartbreaking along with suspenseful. When Rose rather commit suicide than have Dimitri kill her, well I was sort of on her side. She seemed so determined or it and the conversation before Dimitri "dies" was very jaw dropping.
The ending was a great cliff hanger for the next book. I can not wait for Spirit Bound! I give this book four out of four black nail polishes and look below to see Spirit Bound's sypnosis and cover!

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he’s out there, somewhere.
She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true— Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. Only this time, he won’t rest until Rose joins him…forever.
Synopsis by Good Reads
Release Date: May 18, 2010