Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Source: Borrowed from the library

Synopsis from Goodreads:

I wasn't free of my past, not yet.

Sydney's blood is special. That's because she's an alchemist - one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worls of humans and vampire. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists. And now with her allegiances in question, her future is on the line.

When Sydney torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far orse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one.

The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions, and forbidden romance lurk both outside - and within - the school grounds. Now that they're hiding, the drama is only just beginning.

Book 1 in the Bloodlines series
Well- it's bound to be a good book isn't it? Because it's written by Richelle Mead, one of my all time favourite authors. All of her books have the power to move me. To make me feel completely absorbed in the world of the book, to laugh, cry, fall in love, and to be so completely engrossed in the lives of the characters that I don't even notice the pages turning. And Bloodlines was no exception.

This is a new spin-off series set in the familiar world of the Vampire Academy books, but with the focus shifted to some of the minor characters of that series. It felt like meeting old friends again to catch up with how things have been going since the end of Last Sacrifice, and to just slip back into the world of vampire politics, and the different races of Human, Moroi, Strigoi and Dhamphir.

Bloodlines focuses on the human Alchemist Sydney,  who was a relatively minor character in the Vampire Academy seres. She is sent by her order to help protect and guide the new Moroi princess Jill at a human school.

Sydney is smart, dedicated, and strong minded- but there were still some moments when I wanted to shake her, and shout "stick up for yourself"! The group of Alchemists that she comes from are so hard on her, so closed minded, and so mean. They are so steadfast in their belief that vampires are completely evil, but are themselves just so harsh. It's surprising that Sydney came out of that atmosphere as strong and as good as she is. I admired her more for it.

You also have such a great character in Adrian, he is such a lost boy, a bit of joker, and you never know what to expect with him. But that is another reason that I love Richelle Mead's books- there is always such a great vibe, quirky personalities and an element of humour.

As well as the fantastic characters the actual plotline is so clever. It definitely keeps you on your toes- with twists, and betrayals. There is a constant sense of being in suspense, expecting something drastic to happen at any moment.

Sydney for the most part is so determined to try and handle everything herself, but I loved how she grew closer to the others as time went on, and forms strong bonds of friendship with the vampires that she didn't expect to. It was great that Sydney the steadfast rule-follower toughens up, and learns to listen to her own instincts.

What can I say- an exciting, heartwarming, uplifting, absorbing, book! With a great storyline, amazing characters, and fun dialogue, of course Bloodlines is a winner! This is a fantastic start to a series that I can tell is only going to get better and better.

Rest of the series:

Book 2- The Golden Lily
Book 3- Indigo Spell (due for release Febraury 2013)