The first book in Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines seriesWhen 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.Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that … 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.
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I’m absolutlety in love with this book. It makes me want to read more and more and more. The way the book is set up and how the plot is just so overwhelming i can’t get enough of it.
Reread 4/2021: Ok, this time I reread Vampire Academy and immediately went into Bloodlines and I gotta say Adrian is more annoying this time around. Sydney and the plot is fun, but Adrian’s “love” for Rose just seems so ridiculous – they barely dated, he knew when it started that she was having trouble getting over Dimitri and paid his way into being her rebound by making her feel like she owed him. Yes, I get why he feels used that she batted her eyelashes and asked for money, but seriously, he’s so whiny over everything, like poor little rich vampire. I’m waiting for him to grow up a little too – Rose’s growth over Vampire Academy made sense seeing her go from a teenager into a young adult, but Adrian is really hanging onto his immaturity and it’s not a great look.
I really quite enjoyed this. I had LOVED Vampire Academy and was worried to pick up a spin-off, for fear of being disappointed. Buuuut I decided to get over it and try it out and I’m glad I did. I didn’t love it as much, but I enjoyed Sydney and Adrian and Jill and would like to continue the series and see where it goes.
I have re-read the entire Bloodlines series over and over again, simply unable to get enough of it. I truly recommend this series to ANYONE. Rose’s introduction of Sydney to Vampire Academy was one thing, but having insight into Sydney’s perspective on the waking world around her is so gloriously different. Sydney’s character is abundantly admirable, and the spark of romance incorporated into this book is well hidden under the surface. I just simply love Sydney’s character, her analytical and practical nature adds to her depth, even when she can’t even see it herself.
Sydney has a lot going on in her life. She has to take care of Jill but can’t get too involved. Her Father is a dick and the Alchemist they have to be her point person is a total wanker. You can tell he hates Sydney.
Jill is so freaking whiny in this book I didn’t remember that. Poor me syndrome is enough to make me want to stop listening to her. Thank god this is more about Sydney than it is Jill.
The best part of waking up is…. Just kidding the best part of this book is ADRIAN IVASHKOV!!! He is awesome, he is having a hard time being shadow kissed that is for sure but he is trying his hardest to be better for Jill.
The ending has me all kinds of messed up I can’t wait to see what the next book is going to bring.
I did end up liking this book the more it went along and I want to see how Sydney’s teacher comes in.
I loved the narration.
To me third’s spin-off is going to be great but I felt that the Vampire Academy should be read first for full understanding on the character types. That being said, I really like these turn that these boots have taken and am excited to see where they go.
Fantastic book!
I had some serious apprehensions when I read the synopsis of this book (something I normally try to avoid!). I absolutely LOVED the Vampire Academy series but the Sydney Sage was not one of my favorite characters from the series. However, Adrian Ivashkov was and when I saw a blip on the net stating that he was also part of the series, I decided to try it out.
I purchased Bloodlines as an audio book because I had good luck with the VA series audio books and it was the same narrator. Unfortunately, it took me a really long time to get through this book because I found that I kept getting bored in the beginning of this book and it resulted in me pressing pause…….a lot.
The opening of this book is very slow moving. It seems like there’s a lot of unnecessary character introduction for a spin off series. I mean, I understand that there is a certain amount that is needed for things to flow naturally. However, therein lies the problem. It doesn’t feel like it’s flowing naturally. My feeling is a series is a series. Some are just not meant to and do not work well as a standalone but that’s not exactly a bad thing. Dont force it to be something it’s not. Bottom line is that Bloodlines is a spinoff. Be ok with that fact. If someone picks it up, give them just enough back story so that they know they need to get off their ass and read the original series. Simple as that.
With that being said, once I got past that initial rehashing of every character profile and every plot point that was important to those characters, Bloodlines was a fantastic book. You just have to be patient and get through the redundant information. Once you do, you’ll love Bloodlines.
When I was reading the Vampire Academy series, I was very much a huge fan of Adrian’s. Even now, that very first scene with him and Rose on the deck at the retreat is one of my favorites. There was just something about him – some sort of spark in his personality – that told me I had found a character that I could read for a very long time. He was sarcastic and witty but when the moment was really important, he shines like no one else can. In a very Adrian fashion. Usually with vodka. I heart him. I felt horrible for him at the end of the VA series and I’m really happy to see that Richelle Mead decided that he was a character worthy of being followed for a while longer.
Adrian in Bloodlines really is the same Adrian that we all know and love. He’s got issues. Issues that come from within. Issues because of his mom. Issues because of Rose Hathaway and Dimitri Belikov. Bloodlines give us a glimpse into the aftermath that he’s going through. And again, all is handled with sarcasm…….and vodka.
Sydney is still Sydney too. She’s had to face the music with the alchemists following her actions in Last Sacrifice and she’s still not 100% trusted in this series. Sydney kind of reminds me of Clint Eastwood in Gran Turino. The Vampire Academy series and Bloodlines both have present paralells to racism. Sydney is like the racist who suddenly sees the object of their hate in a new light. When Sydney and Rose met up in the Vampire Academy series, the seed was planted. Sydney was given the opportunity to see that the beliefs she was raised with (both vampires and Dhampirs are creatures created in, by and of evil) are not 100% accurate. Mixed in with the mystery of day that makes up the majority of the Bloodlines plot, Sydney is going through inner turmoil – struggling between the result of years of brainwashing and budding friends ships with Adrian, Jill, Eddie and a few other Moroi and Dhampirs.
I had already developed a bit of respect for Sydney in the VA books she appeared in for putting her ass on the line to help Rose but with Bloodlines being from Syd’s point of view, we get a much clearer picture of exactly what is at stake when she puts herself out there for the Moroi and Dhampirs. It’s really quite admirable.
As for the plot itself in Bloodlines, Richelle Mead did a fairly good job at weaving the mystery on this one. There are several mysteries running at the same time in this one. I am sorry to report that I guessed the outcome correctly on all but one of them by the time I was at the half way mark in this book. However, the very last puzzle piece I did NOT see coming at all and it’s a doozy.
Completely aside from the big mysteries of Bloodlines, my favorite part of this entire book was the very last sentence. And not because it signified the end of the book but because it was an indicator of what’s to come in The Golden Lily, the next book in the Bloodlines series. The Golden Lily is due out on June 12th and I am ticking down the minutes now.
Overall, I give Bloodlines 4 solid stars. A bit of a slow start but a great story once it got rolling. And that last sentence…… I so can not wait!!!!
I love it when authors take a minor character from a series and make them the star of a new series. Sydney, who briefly appeared in Richelle Mead’s “Vampire Academy” series is a wonderful character who is incredibly intelligent, driven, and caring and its easy to root for her and watch her grow.
It’s been ages since I read Sydney and Adrian, but I’ve thought about them often. Mostly about how I never did finish the series. Because it’s been so damn long since I read them, I’ve forgotten a ton of the finer points of the story. So, what better way to catch up than an audiobook reread binge? I loved being back in this world again.
I will say Bloodlines starts off a little on the slow side, but that was totally ok by me. I mean, I know things pick up and get far, far more interesting. Also, I’d forgotten a lot more about the series than I realized. This is exactly why I didn’t jump right to the final book in the series. I definitely needed the refresher.
But you know what I didn’t forget? Just how much I freaking loved Adrian Ivashkov. He was compelling (haha, pun) to me when I read the Vampire Academy series, but it’s more than that in the Bloodlines series. He’s the star of the show here. Well, him and Sydney. I struggled a little with Sydney’s rigidity in the beginning of this book, just like I did when I first read it. But again, I know what’s to come so it’s all good. Bloodlines was still totally enjoyable and I’m so happy I decided to reread.
FAVORITE QUOTES
“My God, Sage. Your eyes. How have I never noticed them?”
It’s a really good book for those who want to read a good vampire book and a way to keep them on their toes waiting to see what happens.