Blood Promise
Richelle Mead
Blood Promise
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Richelle Mead
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: Rose is about to face the hardest challenge of her life—she must confront the vampire she loves in a faraway land. In the icy wilderness of Siberia, everything she thought she knew will be tested... but that's only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy novel follows Rose, a guardian-in-training who must confront a deeply personal and dangerous mission just before graduation. The story explores themes of friendship, love, and moral challenges within a supernatural setting. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains fantasy violence and emotional intensity typical of coming-of-age stories.
Why we rated Blood Promise 12ME
Blood Promise is written at a Level 8 reading level across 512 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Blood Promise works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Blood Promise as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fantasy Violence.
Thematically, Blood Promise explores friendship, adventure, fantasy world-building, romance, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, adventure, fantasy world-building.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781595143105
- Pages
- 512
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Published
- April 6, 2010
- Type
- Fiction