Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Title: Bloodlines

Author: Richelle Mead

Series: Bloodlines

Book #: 1

Pages: 421

Reading Level: YA

Book Rating: .8

T.B.Published: August 23rd, 2011

by Penguin Young Readers Group

Richelle Mead's Official Website

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

Taschima's POV:

I was so scared when I first started reading this book. I mean, City of Fallen Angels turned out to be a huge downer, what if one of my favorite authors ever (Richelle Mead) let me down? What is Sydney isn't as entertaining as Rose? What is the plot sucks? What if there is no Dimitri?!

My fears have been beaten down and vanished out of Taschima land. This book was awesome! No really, it was so good! The book picks up about a month after Last Sacrifice. In the last book Lissa was made queen and well not everybody is liking this too much. And so the unhappy few who dislike Lissa are going to do whatever it is they can to get her off the throne, even if it means killing a little innocent girl. If they kill Jill then Lissa will have to give up her throne since there is no other Dragomir alive. While they try to overturn the law that says Lissa can't be queen unless she has a living family member, Jill must go into hiding. That is where Sydney, the alchemist, comes in. With the help of Eddie and Adrian she must keep Jill safe at all costs, and believe me that this is more easily said than done. Along with this problem is another more mysterious issue at hand. All over the new campus they keep talking about these unnatural tattoos who seem to give the bearer abilities of some sort. Also, girls keep coming up dead with their blood partly drained and a slash on their throats, could it be some crazy Strogoi, or does the rumor of Vampire Hunters hold any truth to it?

Sydney is a wonderful character. Soooo complicated. Because we have this girl who ever since she met Rose she started to understand that the world isn't black and white, vampires are not all evil. They can be good as a matter of fact, or slightly better than some humans. So in one hand she has this knowledge, but in the other hand she has all of her people's believes that clearly state that vampires are the offsprings of the devil. They are evil, inhuman. They are to be tolerated but never liked. Getting to witness how Sydney deals with this conflict is fascinating because she isn't this perfect character who suddenly drops her long term beliefs for new ones, she is in a constant inner battle with herself. Like for example, she sees magic and she tries to run for the hills. Although I am a Rose lover, I really am, I can honestly say that Sydney is a terrific character and I am not sad in the slightest to have her guide me through this new world.

Bloodlines will definitely tie up some loose ends. Adrian is still pretty hung up on Rose, which is very realistic. I mean he isn't gonna get over her that easily. I am so glad Adrian is in this book! Every time he comes up it's like the sun shines on the pages of the book. Adrian is a hoot (I'm still team Dimitri but whatever). He's funny and charming, and obnoxious... There is a lot of Adrian in Bloodlines to go around. Along with the old comes the new too because we are introduce to some new characters. To be totally honest the new characters are okay, but I prefer the old gang. Call me old fashion.

Sadly there is no Christian or Lissa to see in this book, but there is some Rose and Abe. Eeeeks!

The only bad thing about the novel is that most of the mysteries I had them figured out pretty quickly. The minute something strange happened I pretty much figured out why this was happening. I believe there was one mystery that I didn't figure out, one of the biggies too. I loved that Richelle could catch me that off guard! I wasn't expecting the "final battle". That I could figure out most of the mysteries though doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the novel, I read those 400 pages like there was no tomorrow. Sad part is that now I'll have to wait a whole year for a sequel T_T

Also romance wise? Not much to talk about! The series is much more plot driven and there is little to no romance. Though you can see the roots of some other romance that has the possibility of blooming in the future. Also the ending had me screeching!!!! When a certain character appeared I went nuts and started jumping up and down. A few people that were around me started giving me funny looks, but I didn't care!

I don't want to give too much away, last thing I'm going to add is Vampire Academy fans don't be scared!!! Richelle delivered!!! Bloodlines passed all fire tests with flying colors. You will all enjoy it! So when August comes around run to your nearest Borders and even if you have to stay in the store all day and read the book, do it. It's worth it.