Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1)

Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead

Rating: 4.5 stars

Before any of you read on, you should be warned that Bloodlines is a spinoff series of the Vampire Academy so if you haven't read VA, this book will spoil a lot of things for you, and you might get a little confused of its contents, so I recommended you read VA first. As many of my friends found out too late: they read Bloodlines first and ruined the whole VA series for themselves.

As many of you know, I am team Adrian and felt devastatingly sorry for him at the end of VA. To a book with Adrian as the main guy character, how can I not be happy?


I really loved the Vampire Academy series. I wasn't expecting to, but after the ongoing nagging of my dear friends, I finally decided to read them. To my complete surprise, I rushed through all six books and finished them in a week! So when I got news that the Bloodlines series will be tying the loose ends to the side characters in VA, I was stoked. 

Bloodlines starrs Sydney as the main character. Comparing to Rose, who was the main character of VA, she did seemed to be weaker and less determined or kick-ass. But that was to be expected as she was a human, not a half vampire. I felt a little weird at the beginning, reading in Sydney's point of view, but this feeling soon disappeared with the progress of them book. Sydney also grew stronger following the extend of the story. The book started off with an Alchemist meeting in which we met Sydney's father, her sister and a few other Alchemists. I immediately disliked Sydney's father. That man was despicable and rotten, I couldn't believe Sydney and her family wered undered him and still half respected him. He really was the worst father in the world. Sydney's sister struck me as naive and not very mature minded. This was also where we met Keith, a character whom Sydney strongly disliked. Sydney was then sent on an undercover mission to protect the Moroi Princess Jill (because of some assassination plot). She was to stay with Jill in a human High School. With due course to the plot development, we met Adrian, Eddie and even Rose. 

I may be a little biased, but I really liked Adrian in most parts of this book. At the start, he seemed to be very like his Adrian-self, flippant, flirtatious, sarcastic and never serious, but rather funny. Yet I felt that he was absolutely shattered from the fall-out with Rose. He slowly became a central part of this story and grew more serious. I liked him because whenever anyone was hurt, he was there to offer help and his support. He knew when to be serious and when to be light-hearted despite his own pain. But once or twice he seemed a little out of character with all his seriousness, other than that it was a brilliant depiction of Adrian.

Sydney also seemed to be different from who she was in VA. She seemed like such an uptight and stonic character then. She also seemed to strictly follow instructions she was given. But in Bloodlines, the reader saw so much more of her and realised that she is in fact strong and determined in her own way. She also seemed much more rebellious. The author also explained Sydney's fears and attitude which made me find her much more likable. As a character, she grew up and built up personality.

A little negative point was that I didn't like the character of Jill in this book. She didn't seem to be the innocent girl whom we knew in VA. Jill seemed so dark and gloomy in Bloodlines and her actions scared me a bit. I understood the difficulties she experienced though I hope she will learn to control her situation and herself better in the next book. 

The writing was fluid and the plot tight. I liked all the developments to the story and it wasn't predictable in the least. Though I would have liked the author to use a little extensive vocabulary, overall the read was pleasing and enjoyable. Mead knew how to balance her writing style (including descriptions) with her plot movement. Good job! 

I really need to rethink the statement about Cassandra Clare being the Queen of evil cliffhangers, Richelle Mead! How can you finish Bloodlines on such a note?! I need The Golden Lily right now!!

Can't wait to read The Golden Lily!! 



Synopsis from Goodreads

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.