Grief

The novel is filled with grief. Rose is on the hunt for Dimitri, her lover who has been turned into a Strigoi during a brave attempt to rescue those taken in a Strigoi attack on the academy. To all the Moroi and dhampirs in Rose's community, Dimitri is dead and there is nothing else to be done. However, in Rose's mind, Dimitri is still out there somewhere, living a life that he never would have wanted. For this reason, Rose goes in search of Dimitri. Throughout Rose's search for her lover, she has memories of their time together, including remembering a conversation in which he expressed the desire to die rather than live as a Strigoi. This is the reason Rose hunts him and hopes to free his soul from his undead body.

Rose tells Dimitri's mother, sisters, and grandmother about his change into a Strigoi. Immediately, the...