Q&A WITH RICHELLE MEAD
WHILE CHRISTIAN AND LISSA’S RELATIONSHIP HAS ITS PROBLEMS, THEY’RE NORMAL PROBLEMS THAT ANY TEEN MIGHT EXPERIENCE, LIKE JEALOUSY OR MISUNDERSTANDING. WAS IT INTENTIONAL TO HAVE A MORE DOWN-TO-EARTH ROMANCE IN THE BOOKS TO CONTRAST THE EPIC DRAMA OF ROSE AND DIMITRI?
Lissa and Christian, while far from being a “normal” couple, were meant to be a contrast to Rose and Dimitri (and even Rose and Adrian). I wanted to show that not every romance is fraught with epic, world-shattering problems! That isn’t to say things were always easy for Lissa and Christian. They certainly had their share of difficulties throughout the series, and it was important for me to highlight the typical ups and downs that any couple, vampire or human, might have. Some people might argue that if I’d really wanted something to contrast with Rose’s disastrous love life, I should have given Lissa and Christian a perfect, problem-free romance. There was no way I could do that, though. Aside from the fact that it wouldn’t be realistic, I also think those little relationship kinks and difficulties are what end up making Lissa and Christian such a power couple. Facing problems together ends up strengthening both their love and themselves as individuals.
Lissa likes Christian because he doesn’t love her for her popularity—he loves her for her. With him she can really be herself and feels at peace. Although Rose initially tries to keep the two apart, thinking that Christian’s a dangerous influence on her best friend, it’s clear that they’re destined to be together.
Christian dragged his eyes from me to her, and as they regarded each other, I felt such a powerful wave of attraction, it was a wonder it didn’t knock me over. Her heart was in her eyes. It was obvious to me he felt the same way about her, but she couldn’t see it, particularly since he was still glaring at her.
—Vampire Academy, page 168
Christian and Lissa’s relationship is not without its trials and tribulations, though.
Christian is jealous of other guys Lissa spends time with, especially Adrian, whom he sees as everything he’s not, especially when he hears the rumor that the queen herself wants the two to get married.
When Avery befriends the group and turns Lissa on to drinking and partying—pretty much changing her personality into that of a shallow party girl—Christian feels he has no choice but to break up with her. This isn’t the girl he fell in love with. It takes a while, despite a ton of stubbornness on both of their parts, before they finally get back together.
While Christian still deals with being treated like an outcast, he finally fully accepts that he has won the love of the Dragomir princess . . . and future Moroi queen.
Q&A WITH RICHELLE MEAD
CHRISTIAN’S PARENTS TURN STRIGOI, AND HIS AUNT IS A MURDERER. HOW DOES HE MANAGE TO COPE WITH ALL OF THIS, ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING SHUNNED FOR YEARS AT SCHOOL? DOES HE EVER BELIEVE THAT HE TOO COULD BE CAPABLE OF EVIL ACTS IF IT RUNS IN HIS FAMILY SO MUCH?
Christian has one of the most interesting pasts of any of the characters—which is saying something, with this cast! From the moment we meet him, he has the legacy of his parents’ decision to turn Strigoi hanging over him. Later, he must contend with his aunt’s treason. These things go a long way to explain why Christian has such a prickly, rebellious nature. He doesn’t doubt himself or worry that he’ll follow in the steps of his family. The problem is that although he knows the kind of person he truly is, that’s not enough for some people. Since childhood, he’s been defined by others’ expectations of him. Everyone assumes he’s going to behave a certain way, and it’s incredibly frustrating to him since he often feels there’s no way he can convince others he’s different from the rest of his family. After a while, this is kind of what drives his tendency to act out. He figures if people think he’s bad, then maybe he should act bad! Fortunately, Lissa’s influence has had a huge impact on him. Although he’s still troubled by others’ opinions, she’s convinced him that going forward and being who he truly is will eventually convince others of his real nature.
CHAPTER 9
Allies & Monsters
MOROI
Moroi are mortal, living vampires—born, not made. Physically, they are tall and have very pale skin, the kind of skin that blushes and burns easily. Since they are vampires, they must drink blood daily to keep up their strength but require normal food as well.
While Moroi can withstand sunlight, it weakens them, and they must limit their exposure. Because of this, their schedules are usually opposite to the human world—for example, midnight would be noon to a Moroi.
Moroi have superhuman sight, smell, and hearing and can wield elemental magic. Moroi view this magic as a gift and part of their souls that connects them to the world. As such, they believe that it should be used peacefully. There was a time when Moroi used their magic more openly, for defense, to avert natural disasters, and to help with food and water production. But now, rules surrounding their magic are strictly enforced to help keep their existence a secret.
ELEMENTAL MAGIC
While all Moroi have a low-level ability over all four (main) elements, in their teens they begin to specialize in one element in particular. It has long been forbidden to use this magic in anything but a peaceful manner, although some Moroi do begin to question this stance when it comes to fighting back against Strigoi.
Q&A WITH RICHELLE MEAD
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO USE RUSSIAN AND ROMANIAN MYTHOLOGY TO CREATE THE WORLD OF VAMPIRE ACADEMY THAT INCLUDES BOTH LIVING AND UNDEAD VERSIONS OF VAMPIRES?
I took a class at the University of Michigan on Slavic folklore and mythology. One of the units we studied was on vampires, and we had the opportunity to read some really great stories and examine a lot of the symbolism behind these old tales. Years later, when I decided to write a vampire novel, I decided I wanted to base my series out of that same region. So, I went searching through Eastern European mythology again and eventually found a reference to Moroi and Strigoi that I thought could really make a great foundation for a vampire society. Dhampirs are a little more widespread in pop culture, and I’d heard of them before, though they too come from this same region. What’s funny is that I decided early on that my kickass heroine would be a dhampir, simply because I liked the mix of human and vampire traits. Later, I learned that in a lot of Eastern European myths, dhampirs have a reputation for being great vampire hunters. There were those who believed that if an evil vampire was causing trouble, you needed to recruit a dhampir to come get rid of him or her. So, without even realizing it, I’d cast Rose into a traditional warrior role!
Q&A WITH RICHELLE MEAD
IF YOU WERE MOROI, WHICH ELEMENT WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO SPECIALIZE IN?
People often ask, “If the Moroi don’t use magic for fighting, what do they use it for?”
The answer is that in recent history, most Moroi have simply used their powers for ordinary, day-today tasks. That might seem like a waste to some people, but if I had the chance to use air magic, I would do it in an instant! I absolutely hate blow-drying my hair and would love to be able to use a little magic to zap it into place each morning.
ST. VLADIMIR’S ACADEMY
A boarding school attended by both royal and non-royal Moroi as well as dhampirs who are in training to become their future guardians, St. Vladimir’s is in backwoods Montana. The school has wards—magical protective borders—in place to keep Strigoi well away from the gated iron fence that borders the school grounds.
Since access to blood is an important part of a vampire’s daily life, a “feeding room” is located adjacent to the cafeteria, containing willing human volunteers who are well cared for.
Moroi and dhampir students attend classes apart in the morning and together in the afternoon.
Q&A WITH RICHELLE MEAD
WHAT WAS THE PROCESS FOR BUILDING THE WORLD OF ST. VLADIMIR’S ACADEMY?
St. Vladimir’s serves a lot of different purposes in the series, so I had to consider all of them for its creation. It’s not just a school; it’s also a
sanctuary of sorts. Moroi parents who choose to send their children here are trading family time for safety. Students attend almost year-round and hardly ever see their parents. With those things in mind, I had to put St. Vladimir’s in a location that would preserve that high level of safety—both from Strigoi and curious humans. Backwoods Montana—with its vast forests and mountains—became an ideal setting. At the same time, I also had to keep in mind that students at a school like this don’t quite have the same experiences that “normal” students at a private boarding school would have. There’s no easy way to get off-campus. Field trips are few and far between because safety won’t allow it. Once Moroi and dhampirs are there, they pretty much stay there. As such, it was essential to make sure the school was the kind of place where they could live happily. Everything there is the newest and best, despite the façade of historic buildings. Computer labs, athletic facilities, and medicine—all of it is state-of-the-art. Academics are much more extensive than ordinary schools, in the hopes that there’s something there for everyone to be interested in. Equally important are the touches of ordinary home life, like religious services, movie lounges, and lots of open green spaces. The message one walks away with is yes, you do have to spend a lot of time at St. Vladimir’s… but you’ll like it.
MOROI CLASSES consist of artistic learning, language, and control over their elemental powers. Sample classes include American Colonial Literature, Ancient Poetry, Basics of Elemental Control, Russian, Creative Writing, and Culinary Science.
DHAMPIR CLASSES consist of fighting techniques and strength training for the guardians-in-training, known as “novices,” such as Advanced Guardian Combat Techniques, Bodyguard Theory and Personal Protection, and Weight Training and Conditioning.
In their senior year, novices get six weeks of field-experience training. Throughout that period, they are not obligated to take classes. Instead, they are assigned to a Moroi student whom they are required to protect twenty-four hours a day, six days a week. During that time, they are regularly “attacked” by adult guardians to test what they’ve learned while at St. Vlad’s.
SHARED CLASSES are subjects that will benefit the learning of Moroi and dhampirs alike and include Precalculus, Advanced Calculus, Animal Behavior and Physiology, Moroi Culture, and Slavic Art.
Q&A WITH RICHELLE MEAD
IF YOU WERE A STUDENT AT ST. VLAD’S, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR FAVORITE CLASS?
I’d probably take as many history and literature classes as I could! I love that kind of stuff, and one of the great things about the Moroi is that they have a much greater emphasis on their past and heritage than the rest of us tend to have. This makes a lot of sense when you look at what the Moroi have gone through. They’ve been hunted by the Strigoi and forced to spread out all over the world, sometimes hiding in isolation and sometimes mixing into human cities. When your people live with that kind of danger, preserving your culture becomes imperative. It’s that shared heritage that continues to unite the Moroi as a people and allow them to persevere.
MOROI ROYAL COURT
Situated in Pennsylvania, near the Pocono Mountains, the Moroi Royal Court is a collection of beautiful, ornate buildings modeled off the fortresses and palaces of St. Petersburg, Russia. Here, representatives from each royal family serve as Council members who vote on decrees and laws and are officiated by the king or queen.
The Court features administrative buildings, ballrooms, guest rooms, restaurants, small stores, offices, a coffee shop, and a luxury spa. The children of those who live at Court do not attend formal schools. Instead, they are tutored and live year-round in town houses with their families.
At Court, there are also on-site prison facilities and a courtroom where the queen presides over important Moroi trials.
MOROI ROYAL COUNCIL
Although Moroi live inside human-run countries and are subject to those governments, they’re also ruled by a king or queen elected from one of the twelve royal Moroi families. The eldest member of a royal family has the title of “prince” or “princess” and gets a seat on the Moroi Royal Council. The prince or princess is responsible for electing the Moroi king or queen, a position held until death or retirement.
Moroi royals are always given a dhampir guardian—often more than one—but non-royals are assigned guardians in a lottery system controlled by the Guardian Council.
THE 12 ROYAL MOROI FAMILIES
In order from smallest to largest:
DRAGOMIR
BADICA
CONTA
OZERA
TARUS
DASHKOV
VODA
LAZAR
DROZDOV
ZEKLOS
SZELSKY
IVASHKOV
Q&A WITH RICHELLE MEAD
IS THE MOROI ROYAL COURT MODELED ON OR INSPIRED BY ANY REAL-LIFE LOCATION? WHAT WOULD YOU COMPARE IT TO IN OUR WORLD?
I always picture the Moroi Royal Court resembling some of the old, sprawling universities found in the U.S. and Europe. I see lots of stone walled buildings and ivy, spread out on wide green lawns. We have to always keep in mind that the Moroi are living in a human world, and if they want to stay secret, they can’t really have anything that screams “royal palace.” Modeling their Court on a prestigious university gives them both a cover for humans and a presence that’s still very regal.
DHAMPIRS
Dhampirs were originally the offspring of Moroi and human couplings, but since vampires retreated from the human world, they are now a mix of Moroi and dhampir—a mix that will still produce a half-human/half-Moroi dhampir. Dhampirs are unable to reproduce with each other and need Moroi in order to have children.
Dhampirs get strength and endurance from their human side and enhanced senses and fast reflexes from their Moroi side. Dhampirs can’t work magic like a full Moroi, but they’re also free from certain Moroi constraints—like needing blood and being easily damaged by sunlight.
Moroi men seek out dhampir women for sex, but it’s extremely rare—practically unheard of—for there to be a more serious relationship between the two. Most Moroi prefer to marry their own kind to keep their bloodlines pure. A dhampir woman who lets Moroi men drink blood while having sex with them is called a blood whore.
GUARDIANS
With the mix of human and Moroi traits, dhampirs make the ultimate bodyguards. Many train to become guardians to protect Moroi from the threat of Strigoi.
Dhampir women often become single mothers, because Moroi men relish the freedom to have flings with them—without a real possibility of a lasting relationship. These women often choose to leave guardian training to raise their children, making female guardians rare.
Guardians are extremely serious about their jobs, in part because they need the Moroi race to survive so they’re able to have children. In fact, the guardian mantra when it comes to protecting Moroi is “they come first.” These are words many a guardian has lived and died for.
Dhampirs who do not complete their training do not receive their promise mark. Those who still kill Strigoi as a vigilante or hire themselves out as freelance bodyguards are deemed “unpromised.” These are dhampirs who are rebels by nature or those who are actively against the enforced social structure of the Moroi world, which to many means that dhampirs are treated like second-class citizens.
Q&A WITH RICHELLE MEAD
IF GIVEN THE CHOICE, WOULD YOU PREFER TO BE A MOROI, A DHAMPIR . . . OR A STRIGOI?
I’m pretty content to be a human, but if forced to choose between the three races in the VA world, I’d probably choose to be a dhampir. I like the sun too much and am too grossed out by the idea of drinking blood to really get excited about that! The one downside is that I’m not sure how well I’d do in combat training. In fact, I’m fairly confident I’d break my hand the first time I tried to punch someone.
MARKS & TATTOOS
Guardians have several official marks they use to acknowledge their achievements, and all are applied to the back of the dha
mpir’s neck.
Q&A WITH RICHELLE MEAD
WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THE GUARDIANS’ TATTOOS?
The guardian tattoos came about for a couple different reasons. One was that I wanted a way to establish rank and honor among the guardians. I wanted people to know, at a glance, who the most powerful dhampirs are. It was also important to me to establish a unique culture for the dhampirs. So much of what they do is in service to the Moroi that it’s easy to forget the dhampirs are their own people. The tattoo system and its ceremonies give the guardians an opportunity to have something that is totally their own. What I most certainly did not expect was that readers would start getting those same guardian tattoos permanently applied in real life! I’ve seen some pretty amazing tattoo work at my signings that I never envisioned when I started the series. I just hope my readers are still glad they got those tattoos twenty years from now!
ALCHEMISTS
Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide Page 24