As dhampir Rose Hathaway balances schoolwork and combat training in order to someday become a proper guardian for her vampiric best friend Lissa, she also struggles with her somewhat-inappropriate attraction to her tutor, Dimitri. When the vicious, amoral breed of vampires known as the Strigoi launch a daring series of attacks upon influential Moroi families, targeting Lissa among others, it’s up to Rose and other students from St. Vladimir’s to save the day and protect one another. But are they up for the task against creatures vastly more powerful than they are? Once again, Richelle Mead delivers a compelling blend of romance, action, and the supernatural, finding her own twist on the usual vampire mythos. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.