Frostbite: The Graphic Novel by Richelle Mead, Leigh Dragoon and Emma Vieceli

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 144pgs

The Story

The drama and romance continue in this 144-page full-color graphic novel adaptation of the second Vampire Academy novel, Frostbite, which was overseen by Richelle Mead and features beautiful art by acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli.

The Review

FROSTBITE is the second installment of Richelle Mead's bestselling YA series Vampire Academy, only, unlike its original book form, it is a graphic novel and one of the best I've read in graphic novels so far! So, if you're considering buying this graphic novel than I would strongly recommend that you read the actual book series prior to starting this graphic novel since some minor details are left out from the books in this rendition. Anyway, I absolutely loved the first Vampire Academy graphic novel released last year because it's yet another Richelle Mead creation being brought up onto the table and honestly who doesn't want more of Richelle Mead's VA world? I, of course, certainly want more of it and I adored this new book as it turns out!

There's just something special and so captivating in Leigh Dragoon and Emma Vieceli's work, and I love how much effort they have put into their own interpretations of the Vampire Academy world, not to mention in a much shorter form. For them personally, I think it would really tough in trying to create something where millions of readers are eagerly awaiting for their favourite YA series to turn into a graphic novel and I thought they did the best job they possibly could in doing so! While I had trouble in liking the depiction of Rose and Lissa's characters, since that's not how I imagined him, and even the really 'buffed-up' Dimitri was not my Dimka, however in this second piece of artwork of FROSTBITE, every other character has improved in the looks department and the scenery is just so beautiful and so much in detail . . . so once again a very well done job on the artist's part!

Now like most readers wanting to get their hands on this graphic novel right here, while Dimitri is in our mists and we love seeing any piece of nakedness coming from him, but what we were most looking forward to was seeing our chain-smoking, ridiculously-good-looking, witty-comebacking boy Adrian and once I saw his face come up onto the fine glossy pages . . . he was exactly how I imagined him in the books and boy was he handsome! And once you add the same scenes from the book - ones filled with action, romance and a lot of complications as expressed and remembered from the book series - and not to mention adding a very hot looking Adrian AND a smexy Dimtri . . . everything was just . . . AWESOME in this graphic novel! Absolutely everything!

Overall, the FROSTBITE graphic novel was more than I thought it would be and it will certainly not disappointed us obsessed Vampire Academy fans! It's fast-paced and gets straight to the itty bitty details that we so desperately want to relive from the book series, and I'm sure you'll want this baby up in your VA collection without a doubt too!

The Rating

5/5 stars

Vampire Academy Graphic Novel by Richelle Mead, Leigh Dragoon and Emma Vieceli

Release Date: 23rd August, 2011

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 144pgs

The Story

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 the 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.

The Review

Now it's no secret that I'm an obsessed fan of Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series, and of course, I'm also a huge fan of graphic novels. I know I'm such a geek when it comes to those two things. So when I found out that yet another Richelle Mead book series was going to be made into a graphic novel form - for those that don't know her Dark Swan series was also recently adapted into graphic novels and they were just awesome - I was really, really excited to see our beloved characters drawn onto full-colour pages.

First off, before I talk about the plot, I want to talk about the artwork itself. For those worried about how their characters will turn out, not to worry though because while a couple of characters were a little different to my own interpretation of them in my head . . . it was nonetheless an awesome graphic novel for those desperate for more VA action. For the past year or so I've been a fan of Emma Vieceli's artwork and followed her more closely as soon as I heard she was to be the illustrator for Vampire Academy, and I'm so glad she was chosen to undertake such a difficult task - you know, since this YA series has a huge following and all. There's no doubt that this girl has talent and the character designs were just phenomenal. The details within themselves were exceptional, and while the scenaries were beautifully drawn, but what I loved most was the raw emotion displayed on the characters faces. Especially when it came to Rose's humour and Dimitri's ever-so-seriousness.

Moving onto the storyline. Look when it comes down to it, not every single scene in Vampire Academy will make it to the actual graphic novel. While many loved scenes were not in the book, but a lot of fans like myself will recognise the most important scenes that were featured - one including a favourite scene of mine, that being the Rose and Dimitri 'bandage' scene which a lot of you will know about. So in terms of the plot, I thought Leigh Dragoon - the person in charge of putting the entire story together - did an amazing job in grabbing the most essential scenes and laying them out clearly for readers to understand what was going on.

Really, my only complaints about the graphic novel was Rose herself (not to mention her chest size) and a couple of other supporting characters. They were not how I imagined them to be, but everyone has different versions inside their heads but I still loved their character designs no matter what. Rose facial expressions were well captured and so damn classic. And MASON! What surprised me the most was that when I read the first Vampire Academy book I thought Christian was supposed to hot, but in the graphic novel form I thought Mason was way hotter than Christian. So kudos to Emma for drawing a very hot Mason for the world to see! *hugs*

In the end if you're a fan of Vampire Academy than I have no doubt in my mind that you will want this for your own personal VA addictive collection. Beautifully depicted with great action sequences, intimidate details, and a whole lot of epic fun and adventure, this graphic novel shall not disappoint you and you will fall back in love with this series. All I can leave with you guys is - beware of the half-naked Dimitri. I swear, fangals might have a heart-attack after reading this book and seeing his 'naked' side. Just giving you a heads up is all . . .

The Rating

5/5 stars