Monday, August 22, 2011

Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1)
by Richelle Mead
Publication Date: August 23rd, 2011
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 432
ISBN: 9781595143174

Where to Buy:
B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository
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. (Goodreads)
I was a little worried when I started reading Bloodlines. I love the Vampire Academy series, and I was worried that Bloodlines just wouldn’t be nearly as good. I shouldn’t have worried. Ms. Mead is a very talented storyteller, and Bloodlines was awesome. (If you haven’t read the Vampire Academy series yet, you totally should!)

Bloodlines brings us a lot of fun characters. A few we know from the VA series: Sydney, Jill, Eddie, Adrian. Oh Adrian. I felt so very bad for him at the end of Last Sacrifice. I really do like Adrian’s character, and I was curious to see what he would be like in the new series. As if I couldn’t have liked him enough before, I like him even more now. I really didn’t know what to expect from Sydney. She was a really uptight character in the VA series, so I didn’t really know if I would be able to connect with her very well. But I was able to, and I thought she was great as well.

I enjoyed most of the secondary characters also. I have always liked Eddie, and I really hope we see more of him in the next books. The one character I did have a hard time connecting with was Jill. She kind of reminded me of Lissa in the beginning of the VA series. I’m hoping we will see her character grow more as the series progresses. I also did enjoy the few interactions we had with some of the characters from the VA series: Abe, Rose and at the end of the book, someone I waited the WHOLE book to read about. (You’ll see who it is at the end; I’m totally not going to ruin it for you!)

The storyline was really interesting and fast paced. Once I had a chance to sit down, I had the book finished in just a few hours time. The story kept me hooked and kept me guessing, although I had my suspicions, and they turned out to be right.

Overall, I really enjoyed Bloodlines. I don’t know why I was worried that I wouldn’t. It was a really good read, and I can’t wait to read the next book, The Golden Lily!

Happy Reading!

14 comments:

  1. I still have to read VA. It's good that this book didn't disappoint! I get worried to, and it usually deters me from reading it.

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  2. If I'm lucky, my copy of this will arrive by the end of this week. Can't wait for another dose of Adrian - I've missed him since VA ended. ;)
    Great review; I'm very curious to now who of the VA characters appears at the end of the book. :D

    Carina

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  3. I am really glad to hear you liked it. I was a little worried myself till I read the first couple of chapters online. I will hopefully be getting my copy tomorrow. Nice review!

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  4. I've been a bit hesitant about reading Bloodlines even though VA is my favourite series. Adrian wasn't my fav character and neither was Sydney. But this review has sparked my interest. Thanks Cristy.

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  5. AHH. That last line killed. Damn you, Richelle Mead! Great review! I really loved this. Adrian is just... man, I loved in VA but he smashed the awesome-o-meter in Bloodlines. I love him so much more <3 I really enjoyed Sydney's point of view. Totally different from Rose, yet an equally engaging character. Cannot wait for The Golden Lily!

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  6. I am going to finish the Vampire Academy books before reading this, but your review has me really excited to jump in! I can't wait. I haven't met any of these characters yet, so I am looking forward to seeing these names pop up in the VA series.

    I am glad it lived up to your expectations and that you enjoyed it.

    Great review as always Christy!

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  7. I've been worried it won't be as good as VA, but I'm less nervous now! Can't wait to read it, really interested in reading about Sydney. Great review!

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  8. I'm really excited to go pick this one up tomorrow. I'm totally in love with Richelle Mead's world. Thanks for the review.

    Megan @ Read It, See It

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  9. I was worried this one couldn't possibly live up to VA either, glad to know that's unfounded and this story is equally good. Hopefully we'll get to see growth from Jill just like we did Lissa and Rose in VA. Thanks for the review Christy!

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  10. I loved Vampire Academy and I can't wait to read this book too. I was heartbroken over Adrian too. Usually in love triangles I always have a distinct person in mind but it was harder with Dimitri and Adrian (I picked Dimitri only because I fell for him first). I'm really excited and hopeful for Adrian in this series.

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  11. Woot, I'm glad you did end up enjoying this one! That ending...I'm still screaming over it, honestly. It's definitely going to give it that extra EXCLAMATION POINTS!!! factor in the next one. Can't wait! :D

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  12. If Dimitri makes an appearance then this book will have been more than worth the wait. I would absolutely read a series about him, but I digress. I had some reservations about this series, too, but I'm glad that I pre-ordered it and am looking forward to getting to know Adrian and Sydney a bit better!

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  13. I'm ready for some fast paced reads. Yay! Great review.

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  14. *smacks forehead* I still haven't read VA. Which is awful, I know. Now I just need to make myself read it. Great review!!

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