Vampire Academy Collection by Richelle Mead

The Communes in the novel are a highly-stigmatized community of women who chose to raise their families together and no longer be guardians. While the Communes do exist in the novels, they are different. Moroi men in the series are encouraged to breed with Dhampirs in order to make more Dhampirs as they are a dying breed. This is where Dhampir women are sent who wish to forgo their chance at being a guardian and become breeders, or those who are forced to for failing as a novice. The Communes have also been introduced in the series. RELATED: 'Vampire Academy': Julie Plec & Marguerite MacIntyre on the Importance of the Show's Relationships It’s rare to see Lissa ( Daniela Nieves) or any of the Moroi actually attending their classes, and the only classes Rose ( Sisi Stringer) partakes in are training and field experience (the latter of which doesn’t actually come in until the third book). This change has made a huge difference to the storyline, as now the plot of the first season doesn’t revolve around high school, it is now all about politics. While there are Moroi/Dhampir communities, they are removed from the school grounds and all across the world.

There is an entire community of Moroi and Dhampir within its borders called the Dominion. The series now sees St Vladimir’s set somewhere lavish in Europe, but it is no longer just a school. The school was gothic and looming in exterior, and boarded Moroi and Dhampir alike, from pre-school to high school. Vladimir’s was originally set in the deep woods of Montana, hidden from sight of the humans and warded from Strigoi. With Dimitri Rose can be herself – share her fears and lament the price she has to pay always being in Lissa’s shadow.The first stark difference from the series is in the setting.

All of this amounts to Rose suppressing a lot of her inner turmoil and donning a ‘brave face’. Rose also has the weight of a friendship on her shoulders – she is Lissa’s future guardian, and with Lissa being the last Dragomir princess Rose definitely feels the pressure of her future guardianship. But Rose also dons pretty impressive armour – her mother is a famous Dhampir guardian who all but abandoned Rose to pursue her body-guarding career. She is a completely loyal friend to Lissa – the type of friend who ‘has your back’ and will gladly flatten anyone who raises a finger or bad word against you. Rose is a sharp-tongued, tough-as-nails sweetheart. Their relationship is an evolution– and while readers witness their unfurling feelings, she also reveals their true characters.

Mead saves Rose/Dimitri from becoming creepy and inappropriate because she really develops their romance.

Vampire Academy Collection by Richelle Mead