Helpful Score: 2
As a spin off to Vampire Academy, this book does not dissapoint! I was completely brought back into the world of the Moroi. Cant wait for the next Bloodlines novel!
Helpful Score: 1
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, and since she helped out a dhampir, Rose Hathaway (See The Vampire Academy Series), she's been on thin ice with her organization. They are supposed to help clean up the messes, not create them. A dhampir is a product of a vampire and human union, and Jill Mastrano is one. She's the reason Sydney is about to head into a new assignment, and she knows she needs to ace it to win back her good standing with the Alchemist organization.
Jill is the sister of the vampire queen, and until the laws are changed, Jill's life is in extreme danger. A vampire can only be queen if she has other living relatives, c and Jill is Lissa's only relative. With her out of the way, Lissa can lose her throne and the vampire politics would renew with a vengeance. The plan is to move Jill into a human school in California. There, she can be safely hidden but just in case someone finds out where she is, Sydney will become a high school student right along with Jill, becoming her roommate. They will pass themselves off as sisters, with Jill's guardian, Eddie Castile, their brother. Adrian, soul bound to Jill, will also be passed off as their other brother, but he will stay at a local vampire's house. That's where Jill will go to feed twice a week.
Everything seems to be going smoothly until Sydney can't keep from investigating a weird fad going on at their school. The students all talk about their metallic tattoos and how they get special powers from them, like strength. Not to mention the girls that seem to be winding up dead with their blood drained and their throats slashed. Sydney knows that she needs to just follow her orders, but she just can't seem to help herself.
With romance, intrigue and new characters, Mead moves her world of humans and vampires into sunny California. I couldn't put this book down; it was so good! I loved the VAMPIRE ACADEMY SERIES, so I was anxious to see how Ms. Mead would change from Rose Hathaway to Sydney the Alchemist as her main narrator. With ease, I came to love Sydney and how she handled herself in a variety of situations. The story unfolded at a steady pace, with the action and mystery unfolding at just the right moments, leaving this reader craving more. Thankfully, the next in the series, THE GOLDEN LILY, was just released! Simply a wonderful paranormal young adult story that will enthrall many.
Jill is the sister of the vampire queen, and until the laws are changed, Jill's life is in extreme danger. A vampire can only be queen if she has other living relatives, c and Jill is Lissa's only relative. With her out of the way, Lissa can lose her throne and the vampire politics would renew with a vengeance. The plan is to move Jill into a human school in California. There, she can be safely hidden but just in case someone finds out where she is, Sydney will become a high school student right along with Jill, becoming her roommate. They will pass themselves off as sisters, with Jill's guardian, Eddie Castile, their brother. Adrian, soul bound to Jill, will also be passed off as their other brother, but he will stay at a local vampire's house. That's where Jill will go to feed twice a week.
Everything seems to be going smoothly until Sydney can't keep from investigating a weird fad going on at their school. The students all talk about their metallic tattoos and how they get special powers from them, like strength. Not to mention the girls that seem to be winding up dead with their blood drained and their throats slashed. Sydney knows that she needs to just follow her orders, but she just can't seem to help herself.
With romance, intrigue and new characters, Mead moves her world of humans and vampires into sunny California. I couldn't put this book down; it was so good! I loved the VAMPIRE ACADEMY SERIES, so I was anxious to see how Ms. Mead would change from Rose Hathaway to Sydney the Alchemist as her main narrator. With ease, I came to love Sydney and how she handled herself in a variety of situations. The story unfolded at a steady pace, with the action and mystery unfolding at just the right moments, leaving this reader craving more. Thankfully, the next in the series, THE GOLDEN LILY, was just released! Simply a wonderful paranormal young adult story that will enthrall many.
Helpful Score: 1
Don't hate me for saying this: I had high hopes for this book and was disappointed. I'm a huge (no really, HUGE) fan of Vampire Academy and I cherish those books--they're up there with Harry Potter for me. If you asked me to pick one series to read out of the genre to recommend to anyone, I'd say Vampire Academy every time. It's awesome, it's got girl-power and responsibilities and values, etc etc. I was sad when the series ended and very happy when I found that Sydney was going to get her own series to tell her story.
Bloodlines has a slow start, a slow build, and a great ending. I can see where Mead is going with the storyline and I will be buying the next book when it comes out; however, this was rather tedious to complete. 3.5 stars :(
Also, as a side note but not really a spoiler: I don't get the tattoo thing. I know they have them and what purpose they serve, but I didn't think "normal" humans could see them. They can--and to me it's a weird loophole, because the tattoos alone would make them memorable to humans, and their job is to prevent humans from knowing vampires exist.... Anyway, just a loophole imo.
Bloodlines has a slow start, a slow build, and a great ending. I can see where Mead is going with the storyline and I will be buying the next book when it comes out; however, this was rather tedious to complete. 3.5 stars :(
Also, as a side note but not really a spoiler: I don't get the tattoo thing. I know they have them and what purpose they serve, but I didn't think "normal" humans could see them. They can--and to me it's a weird loophole, because the tattoos alone would make them memorable to humans, and their job is to prevent humans from knowing vampires exist.... Anyway, just a loophole imo.
Helpful Score: 1
I've had this book for a while and just finally got around to reading it. It is a well done story but the characters didn't capture my heart like the ones in Vampire Academy did. Still the main character, Sydney, grew on me by the end of the book and I am eager to see where the next book in the series, The Golden Lily, takes the story. It looks like there are six books planned for this series (two books a year through 2014).
After helping out Rose in the last Vampire Academy book, Sydney is in trouble with the Alchemists. Still they need her to do a job that will have her in close contact with the Moroi. With Lissa on the throne, her only living family is Jill; if Jill dies Lissa looses the throne. Lissa is working on changing the law that links family to throne, but until then Jill must be protected at all costs. So Sydney is sent to be Jill's roommate at a boarding school in Palm Springs of all places. Sydney's job is to protect Jill until the law is changed. Along with Jill Sydney finds some of our favorite characters from Vampire academy (Adrian and Eddie). While there Sydney uncovers a rash of murders that may closely involve the Alchemists.
The story was very well done and very interesting. We get to learn a ton more about the Alchemists and it was great to learn. It was also fun to see Rose, Dimitri, and Adrian from Sydney's perspective.
Sydney isn't my favorite lead; she comes off as too stiff and too proper to be all that likable. As the book goes on though she grows and changes and by the end of the book I liked her a lot better. Jill also wasn't my favorite either; she comes off as weak and easy to manipulate for most of the story and I wish she had shown more backbone.
Adrian though is one of my favorite characters and he was pretty darn awesome in this story. I can't wait to see where the next story takes him. Eddie was also very well done and it was great to read more about him as well.
The plot is very intricate, there are a lot of politics, and a lot of twists and turns, as well as a little romance here and there. This story definitely isn't as romance focused as Vampire Academy was and none of the characters have the sizzle that Rose and Dimitri had. Still it was a very well done story and I enjoyed reading it.
Overall while this wasn't the absolutely awesome reading that the first Vampire Academy book was it was a solid book that fans of the series should enjoy. Sydney wasn't my favorite heroine but by the end of the book she started to grow on me. I do love that Adrian is in here and can't wait to read/learn more about him. Fans of paranormal YA and of the Vampire Academy series should find a lot here to love; although I will warn that Sydney is a much tamer heroine than Rose and there isn't as much sizzle to this book as there was to the first VA book.
After helping out Rose in the last Vampire Academy book, Sydney is in trouble with the Alchemists. Still they need her to do a job that will have her in close contact with the Moroi. With Lissa on the throne, her only living family is Jill; if Jill dies Lissa looses the throne. Lissa is working on changing the law that links family to throne, but until then Jill must be protected at all costs. So Sydney is sent to be Jill's roommate at a boarding school in Palm Springs of all places. Sydney's job is to protect Jill until the law is changed. Along with Jill Sydney finds some of our favorite characters from Vampire academy (Adrian and Eddie). While there Sydney uncovers a rash of murders that may closely involve the Alchemists.
The story was very well done and very interesting. We get to learn a ton more about the Alchemists and it was great to learn. It was also fun to see Rose, Dimitri, and Adrian from Sydney's perspective.
Sydney isn't my favorite lead; she comes off as too stiff and too proper to be all that likable. As the book goes on though she grows and changes and by the end of the book I liked her a lot better. Jill also wasn't my favorite either; she comes off as weak and easy to manipulate for most of the story and I wish she had shown more backbone.
Adrian though is one of my favorite characters and he was pretty darn awesome in this story. I can't wait to see where the next story takes him. Eddie was also very well done and it was great to read more about him as well.
The plot is very intricate, there are a lot of politics, and a lot of twists and turns, as well as a little romance here and there. This story definitely isn't as romance focused as Vampire Academy was and none of the characters have the sizzle that Rose and Dimitri had. Still it was a very well done story and I enjoyed reading it.
Overall while this wasn't the absolutely awesome reading that the first Vampire Academy book was it was a solid book that fans of the series should enjoy. Sydney wasn't my favorite heroine but by the end of the book she started to grow on me. I do love that Adrian is in here and can't wait to read/learn more about him. Fans of paranormal YA and of the Vampire Academy series should find a lot here to love; although I will warn that Sydney is a much tamer heroine than Rose and there isn't as much sizzle to this book as there was to the first VA book.
Helpful Score: 1
This book starts off exactly where Last Sacrifice ends. I wouldn't even call it a spin-off since every character from VA appears in this book except Lissa though she is spoken of. The only difference is that Sydney and the Alchemists are center stage. Otherwise it is a complete regurgitation of the VA series but instead of Rose, Lissa, Christian and Dimitri we have Sydney, Jill, Adrian and Eddie. There is a spirit bounded pair, a boarding school where Sydney has to actually go to school and hell even the guardian is in love with his charge. And don't even get me started on Kevin. I knew where that plot was going right from the beginning. No surprises there.
I usually love Richelle Mead's writing but this book is a total cope out. I'm extremely disappointed and this is a series I will not be continuing though I will say that I enjoyed the ending tremendously - much more so than the entire book!
I usually love Richelle Mead's writing but this book is a total cope out. I'm extremely disappointed and this is a series I will not be continuing though I will say that I enjoyed the ending tremendously - much more so than the entire book!
Helpful Score: 1
Love the new series, reading book two now! Diggin' it! Parental advisory, skipping school, drinking, and drug use. Mild (by my standards) profanity.
Helpful Score: 1
When I first learned Mead was continuing the VA series but from a different perspective, I was excited but nervous about how it would turn out. I must say, she does not disappoint! I can't wait until the second book comes out!
I like hearing about Sydney more than Rose. I found Rose to be annoying and just wanted her to sit down and shut up sometimes, don't get me started on spoiled rotten brat Lissa. But Sydney seems more realistic to me. She tries to do everything right but keeps getting caught in situations. I liked this book better than the other series. I read through this book in one night while it took me days often to get through the VA books. Don't get me wrong, I love them all, but I think this is the best yet. The last VA book was a bit disappointing, so this was a good segue.
Gives a different look from Sydney's family struggle with strict father and religious group. Sydney has a mission where she has to accompanied Moroi's Princess (Queen Lisa's sister) Jill to a private school. Jill is targeted by assassins due to her sister. The heart broken Adrian has a connection to Jill (shadow kissed) is trying to get over Rose and is starting to have feelings for Sydney who thinks this is a second chance at a life that was denied to her. But to push Adrian's buttons a new bodyguard shows up in the end of the book, now Adrian has Demitri to contend with. Hopefully the next book Golden Lily picks up where this one left off.
