Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead

Synopsis:

For Rose Hathaway, everything seems out of kilter. Ever since she made her first Strigoi kills, a dark shadow has been creeping over her. Looming in the background, too, is another realization: If she follows her forbidden love for guardian Dimitri Belikov, she might lose her best friend forever. And these sleep-shaking worries couldn't have come at a worse time. The immortal unloving are prowling everywhere, famished for vengeance against her. An adrenaline-laced episode of the teen pop favorite Vampire Academy.

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The battles Rose endures are never-ending.  She is constantly battling herself between the love for Lissa and her love for Dimitri.  Beyond her personal battles are the physical battles she must also endure.  In this installment of the series Rose and her other friends are taking part in the field exercise.  They are each assigned to a Moroi who they must protect from the Strigoi (Guardians playing them).  Rose is ultimately upset that she is not assigned to Lissa, and the problems that occur because of this are all blamed on her jealousy. 

She experiences darkness in full form since fighting and killing Strigoi in the last installment of the series.  Rose won't open up her problems to anyone, including her best friend Lissa.  It is these problems that cause more problems to occur, but through the love and patience of Dimitri she is finally able to share and provide enough warning for the imending battle against the Strigoi.  It is determined the Strigoi have broken the barrier around the school and are now coming to kill the Moroi and their guardians.  Through the information Rose is able to provide, the school receives enough time to make sure the casualties on campus are minimal.

But a decision must be made...will they go on the offensive against the Strigoi since the know where they are staying or will they take the typical defensive and stay on academy grounds?  The decision is made and the results are emotional.  Will Rose survive after the heartbreak she endures through these battles?  I guess we will have to wait and see what happens in the next installment of this series. 

So far I've been entertained by this series and unable to put the books down.   Mead writes with enthusiasm and puts her heart into the book.  She keeps you entertained throughout the novel and is sure to include emotions and situations which relate heavily to teenagers as well as other young adults.  I'm excited to see what this series is leading to...