Ahead of the upcoming release of the Vampire Academy movie, Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters, starring Zoey Deutch and Lucy Fry and set to for release February 14, we take a look at why this is one of the best vampire series to emerge from the genre.

St Vladimir’s Academy certainly isn’t your usual boarding school, it is a vampire academy. Hidden away it teaches young vampires in the ways of the paranormal and how to protect the Moroi, a race of half-human and mortal but good vampires. The Moroi are in need of protection from their sinister un-dead counterparts, the Strigoi.

In Vampire Academy, the first of the six-book series, 17-year-old Rosemarie Hathaway (Rose) and Moroi Princess, Lissa Dragomir are brought back to St Vladimir’s Academy after running away two years ago, the pair hold a unique psychic bond in which Rose can know of Lissa’s thoughts and whereabouts. Dimitri Belikov, a guardian sent to return the pair, is charged with protecting the princess and assigns himself the challenge of training Rose. Dimitri has faith in Rose’s ability and believes he can form an excellent guardian of her, making up for the lost years.

The pair soon fall back into academy life and it soon emerges that the pair have become outsiders due to their rebellious actions. The story descends into a twisted tale of forbidden romance, deceit, misunderstanding and jealousy, all blended with the supernatural.

This is a standout book in a standout series among a genre that is at times tired and repetitive. Rose is a powerful, confident and strong female character and her presence stands defiantly against the dark side of the ruling class and the un-dead Strigoi. Richelle Mead’s books have been critically acclaimed since the beginning, being placed on the New York Times’ Bestseller top ten series and coming fourth on the AMA’s teens top ten behind Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The eBook containing the first three volumes that the upcoming film is based on can be bought from Sainsbury’s.

A killer read for any paranormal romance lover with more to offer than the Twilight series.

Sainsbury’s is now selling ebooks in many genres, and many bestsellers!