Book Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Title: Bloodlines  

Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Bloodlines #1
Pages: 421
Publisher: Penguin
Date of Publication: 25th August 2011
Source: Publisher
Synopsis from Goodreads: 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.

*SPOILER INFO: This review will NOT contain spoilers from Bloodlines, but it WILL contain spoilers from the Vampire Academy series. If you have not yet read all the Vampire Academy series and do not wish to be spoiled, I'd recommend you don't read this review...*

My Thoughts:
I'm a huge fan of the Vampire Academy books, so I was super excited to read Bloodlines. Before I read it, I was a little worried that it wouldn't live up to VA, or it would just be the same story repeated in a slightly different way but with different characters, but now, I can safely say that neither of these things were an issue with Bloodlines. It was different, exciting, and I couldn't stop reading.

Bloodlines is a story about Sydney, who is an Alchemist. Alchemists are the humans who protect vampire secrets from humans, and therefore keep the humans safe and alive. Because of her helping Rose in VA, when Sydney is woken in the middle of the night and shipped off to Palm Springs, she thinks it may be punishment for 'sympathizing with vampires'. In fact, she is there to protect Jill Dragomir, the vampire queen Lissa Dragomir's illegitimate sister, and the only person who can keep Lissa on the throne. Jill's being hidden away in a human school in Palm Springs, and along with guardian, Eddie Castile, Sydney must keep Jill and her identity safe from harm.

I really enjoyed reading from Sydney's point of view, it gave me a new insight into the Moroi world, as I was reading from the point of view of someone who thought vampires were unnatural, and that they're feeding habits were disgusting. I knew from the VA books that Alchemists didn't like the vampires, but it wasn't until I'd read Bloodlines that I realised how scared they were of them, and how uncomfortable they were around them. I loved learning about Alchemist traditions and all the things that they had to do, and about Sydney's difficult childhood, growing up preparing to be an Alchemist.

Sydney herself was a great character. She was smart, kind, and some of the things she did had me laughing out loud. She cared for Jill right from the beginning even when she was uncomfortable around her, and I'd really love to have a friend who could plot revenge on classmates like she did to Laurel for Jill. ;)

I really liked Adrian in this book. I didn't really like him in VA, I guess he was always overshadowed by Dimitri... But in this book he really shone for me. He was really sweet in what he did for Jill, and the way that he tried to do things right and got stuck into them made me see a different side of him, a side that I could possibly fall for in future books... :)

I really liked the setting in the book, it was nice to read about stories that take place in the Moroi universe that aren't set in a Moroi school or the Moroi court. It was interesting to read about Jill had to adapt to living in a human school - the PE lessons especially. I wish I could get out of PE because I was 'allergic to the sun' ;)

The plot twists towards the end just kept coming. I didn't see any of them coming, and I certainly didn't guess the huge one towards the end. It was fast paced and exciting and I couldn't stop reading. I was so glued to it, that I managed to read while the TV was on in the same room with a programme I like, and I didn't get distracted, which has only ever happened once before, with Last Sacrifice. It must be Richelle Mead's amazing writing...

Overall, Bloodlines is the perfect first in a spin off series. As it is a spin off, it didn't need lots of explaining at world building at the beginning; the story just got started and from there, the action didn't stop until I'd finished. If you have any doubts about Bloodlines, forget them. It will NOT disappoint!

*Thank you to Penguin for sending me this in exchange for an honest review. In no way has this affected my opinion of the book.

My Rating:

I give it well deserved 5 Feet!

Challenges:
2011 Paranormal YA Reading Challenge #42
2011 100+ Reading Challenge #75