Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Speculative (Teen)

St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school--it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's--the very place where they're most in danger. . . . Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi--the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires--make Lissa one of them forever. A unique and mesmerizing mystery with a whodunit ending that even the most skilled detectives will not predict. -- VOYA Mead's absorbing, debut YA novel, blends intricately detailed fantasy with a contemporary setting, teen-relevant issues, and a diverse cast of characters. -- Booklist