As the world is enfolded in winter, Rose continues her training to make her an able bodyguard for the Moroi princess, Lissi, while fighting, with scant success, her overwhelming attraction to her mentor, Dimitri, and attempting to pass her classes. The Strigoi have become a greater threat, more openly and boldly attacking those vampires who have not turned to evil, making it more imperative for Rose and other dhampirs to be alert and ready to fight to the death. Distractions should be kept to a minimum, for everyone's sakes. However, between her mother's visit, school, the mental tie that has her inside her best friend/charge's mind at the most embarrassing of times, and the requited, but impossible love for Dimitri, as well as being in two potential triangles, Rose has plenty of distractions. That could cost her dearly.

Though not for the youngest of the young adult set, due to its realism and frankness, this is a compelling saga that will capture the imaginations of readers of any age old enough to appreciate the complexity of it. In Rose we have a heroine who is both uncertain and edgy, making for a multi-layered being through whose eyes we discover her world. Ms. Mead's world building skills are truly adept, and readers will want to follow her into the adult books she writes.