A Review for Bloodlines (Bloodlines#1) by Richelle Mead

Posted by Jess
Published Date: August 30th, 2011
Finished Date: September 8th, 2011
Publishers: Razorbill
Source: For Review
Format: Paperback
Pages: 421
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The Blurb: 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.


The Review: "You're eyes...they're beautiful. You're beautiful."

*Squeeeeeeee* :D I'm not even sure where to begin with this review. Richelle Mead has totally outdone herself. I was so excited when it was announced that there would be a spinoff to Vampire Academy; but also a little apprehensive. I just didn't think it was going to live up to VA. But....oh it so did! READ IT! READ. IT. NOW!!! GO...GO little minions GO!

As some of you know; I'm a huge VA fan...HUGE. It's one of my favourite vampire series...scratch that...its my FAVOURITE vampire series. It felt really good to fall back into the Moroi and Dhampir world, that it felt like I never left. Instead of being in Rose's head; we're in the Alchemists Sydney's head instead. At first I didn't think I was going to like it, being that her and Rose are so completely different. But I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought. We get a small glimpse of Sydney in Blood Promise and Last Scarifice but it's not enough for us to make up our minds about her. In Bloodlines, she's totally strong willed, vulnerable at the same time, and always up for anything that's thrown at  her (huh I guess her and Rose are more alike than we think). Ok so being in Sydney's head did freak me out a little, but because Mead is such a brilliant writer, you get so caught up and just read, read, read! It felt really good, and I missed it. I missed the characters too.

Speaking of characters, there are a few new ones here, Micah a human school boy he's just great. There's Lee; a new Moroi, he's great too but the ending with him wasn't a total shocker but I still didn't know what to make of it. (You have no idea how hard it was to write that sentence about him without spoiling...I deleted it a few times). Then we have our old characters. Eddie...ahhhhh I love Eddie, I loved him in VA and I love him now; he's Jill's guardian and he takes his job really seriously; especially after what happened to Mason in Frostbite. Sydney (well I've spoken about her...I don't need to say more). There is one more old character that you'll all be interested in...and that is one Adrian Ivashkov...Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh Adrian!! He's constant throughout the book; and I loved how when Sydney was having an issue; or needed to talk to someone, she went to Adrian. Adrian is still reeling from what Rose did to him (which by the way was totally mean...but I get why she did it). He still smokes, he still drinks (although a lot less than he used to). The snarky Adrian is still there though; he's still full of his old charm and wit, but we also see a vulnerable side to him which was a nice change.It felt nice to see a new side to Jill as well. She's 15 in the book and trying to adapt to a human school and it's pretty hard for her. Lots of complications arise, and a revelation regarding her and Adrian *dramatic pause for effect*.  Rose does make a short appearance but not for long; sadly there is no Dimitri :( never fear though Adrian fills all the missing Dimka holes :).

Now, romance. There isn't a lot of romance, and it certainly isn't the focus. Plot is solely the focus here. However having said that, Mead has left it open to interpretation as to where the romance will be. There was some underlying of 2 possible romances 1 of those being a possible triangle. We'll see.

Anyway, overall Bloodlines was fantastic, the plot was well thought out. The characters were all stronger than before. New characters included. There is a cliffhanger at the end...because well...it wouldn't be a Richelle Mead novel without a cliffhanger would it? And it's that particular cliffhanger that makes me want to read The Golden Lily NOW! It gives me hope that some old characters will be making a re-appearance :)




Bloodlines is fantastic, and its full of epicness! It's not even worth 5 stars, but I'm going to give it that anyway because that's all we have with regards to ratings. Go read it people...and go read VA if you haven't already!

Note: This is a re-post due to an error earlier...sorted now I hope.