Bite Me! A Vampire Literature Podcast

In which Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 8-10 of Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead. Rose struggles with impatience and self-doubt as she trains to be a guardian, frustrated by the lack of real action despite ongoing dangers. Through her bond with Lissa, she senses Lissa’s anxiety about Victor’s trial and her weakened magical abilities, reinforcing themes of vulnerability and pressure in their friends...

In which Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 4-7 of Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead. Rose continues her guardian training and begins her official field experience protecting Christian. She performs well during mock attacks and starts to better understand teamwork and responsibility, even though her earlier freezing incident still worries the instructors. She is questioned about her behavior, and it bec...

In which Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 1-3 of Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead. Rose Hathaway is struggling emotionally after Mason’s death and feeling restless at St. Vladimir’s Academy. She deals with complicated feelings—partly from her psychic bond with her best friend Lissa, which causes her to experience Lissa’s intimate moments and leaves her frustrated and jealous of Lissa’s relationship w...

In which Ash and Bethanie discuss the short story From The Journal of Vasilisa Dragomir. In the world of Vampire Academy, royal life is bound by duty—but nothing can prepare Vasilisa Dragomir for the night that changes everything. Told through private journal entries, this intimate story follows Lissa in the aftermath of a devastating car accident that leaves her the last of her family line. As gr...

In which Ash and Bethanie discuss the short story The Turn and The Flame. When respected Moroi royals make the unthinkable choice to become Strigoi, the Ozera name is plunged into scandal and fear. As darkness consumes her own family, Tasha Ozera is left to pick up the pieces, grappling with grief, fury, and a truth she cannot escape. Determined to stand against the evil that stole her loved ones,...

In which Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 21–23 of Frostbite, by Richelle Mead. Rose faces life-threatening danger and devastating loss as she battles Strigoi to protect her friends, culminating in the tragic death of Mason. Overcome with grief and rage, she channels her emotions into a brutal confrontation with Isaiah and Elena, demonstrating both her ferocity and the psychological toll of viole...

In which Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 18-20 of Frostbite by Richelle Mead. Rose faces escalating danger as Mason, Eddie, and Mia impulsively head to Spokane, forcing her and Christian to pursue them through risky measures. Their journey culminates in a tense confrontation with hostile humans and eventually a kidnapping by the Strigoi, led by the cruel Isaiah, who manipulates and threatens the...

In chapters 15–17 of Frostbite, Rose navigates the turbulent waters of love, jealousy, and self-discovery. She struggles with her feelings for Dimitri while balancing a complicated romance with Mason and the flirtatious attention of Adrian. Conflicts with her mother, Janine, and tensions at social events highlight Rose’s growing awareness of familial and societal expectations. Amid threats from St...

In which Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 11–14 of Frost Bite, by Richelle Mead. Rose navigates a whirlwind of romance, power, and danger. She grows closer to Mason, sharing playful moments and tentative kisses, while grappling with lingering feelings for Dimitri and the provocative attention of Adrian. Meanwhile, she witnesses Lissa and Christian practicing forbidden magic under Tasha’s guidance...

In chapters 8–10 of Frostbite, Rose struggles with jealousy and longing as Lissa and Christian’s romance grows, intensifying her feelings of being sidelined. Her conflicted emotions deepen after an impulsive kiss with Dimitri, who then distances himself, leaving her confused and regretful. Christmas brings further tension with Dimitri, her cold mother Janine, and a heartfelt gift from Lissa, empha...

In which Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 4-7 of Frostbite by Richelle Mead, the second book in the Vampire Academy Series! Chapters 4–7 Summary: Rose is shocked when her estranged mother, Janine Hathaway—a famous guardian—visits the Academy. Their strained relationship flares as Rose challenges her mother’s choices in class, leading to a public confrontation. Later, during a tense training sessi...

In which Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 1-3 of Frostbite by Richelle Mead, the second book in the Vampire Academy Series! Chapters 1–3 Summary: Rose Hathaway, a fierce dhampir guardian-in-training, prepares for her Qualifier exam while managing concern for her best friend, Lissa, a Moroi royal struggling with her mental health. During a road trip with her mentor Dimitri, their growing romantic...

In which hosts Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 21-24 of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Chapter 21 Summary: Rose and Dimitri kiss under the influence of an enchanted necklace, which clouds their minds with lust until Dimitri discards it. Rose warns him about Lissa’s kidnapping, but guardians and Kirova are skeptical. Using her bond, Rose tracks Lissa to a cabin where Victor reveals he kidnappe...

In which hosts Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 17-20 of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Chapter 17 Summary: Lissa tells Rose that Dimitri and Victor are arranging for Rose to go shopping as part of Lissa’s protection. The trip almost falls apart when Lissa finds a dead dove in her bag, but the outing proceeds. During the trip, Dimitri warns Rose about Strigoi and shares personal insights. At t...

In which hosts Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 13-16 of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Chapter 13 Summary: Rose worries about rumors and suspects Lissa uses compulsion to gain popularity. She secretly watches Lissa compel a classmate, and Christian, also seeing it, confronts Lissa. Rose trains with Dimitri, who shares his troubled past and praises her. Their connection deepens as Dimitri flir...

In which hosts Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 10-12 of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Chapter 10 Summary: Mia reports Rose and Lissa for passing notes, leading to an embarrassing public reading. Jesse begs Rose to clear his name, but she finds him cowardly. Rose recalls a past incident where Ms. Karp caught them reviving a dead raven, warning them to keep it secret. Mason criticizes Rose ove...

In which hosts Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 6-9 of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Chapter 6 (Summary): Rose gets permission to attend church just to be near Lissa. There, she becomes intrigued by the term “shadow-kissed,” used to describe St. Vladimir’s guardian Anna. Rose learns that Anna and Vladimir were bound after he saved her life. She realizes their bond mirrors hers with Lissa. Lat...

In which hosts Bethanie and Ash discuss chapters 3-5 of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.  In this episode, Bethanie and Ashleigh dive into Chapters 3–5 of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Rose is back in training, but it's anything but smooth sailing. Instructor Stan thinks she’s all luck and no skill, while Victor Dashkov praises her—but with a suspiciously keen interest in her psychic bond wit...

In which hosts Bethanie and Ash discuss chapter 2 of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Chapter 2 Summary Dimitri keeps the girls separated on the flight back to St. Vladimir’s so that they cannot plot an escape. As they get closer to St. Vladimir’s in remote Montana, Rose recognizes that escape is increasingly unlikely. Lissa’s fear is so potent that Rose is drawn into her mind via their psychic c...

In which hosts Bethanie and Ash introduce their new Vampire Literary Podcast! They begin their Vampire podcast with a chapter by chapter deep dive into Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Vampire Academy Chapter 1 Seventeen-year-old Rose Hathaway is a dhampir (half human, half vampire), and has a psychic connection to her best friend, Vasilisa Dragomir (known as Lissa), who is a Moroi, or full-blood...