Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Purchased from: Amazon (Kindle Edition)  

Amazon Synopsis: 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.

Review: I am a huge fan of Richelle Mead. I discovered her books probably about three years ago. I picked up Vampire Academy on a whim. I had just finished reading Twilight, and enjoyed the different take on vampires. After seeing The Vampire Academy book on Amazon I thought... Well why not lets see what this one is like. I fell in love by the 1st chapter. I was sure this book was going to do the same, and to an extent I was right. I was a huge fan of Sydney during the Vampire Academy series, and by the end of the series really worried about what would happen to her after helping Rose. I waited anxiously for this book to finally be released. I love when authors go back and write the stories of supporting characters. I would have loved to follow Rose and Dimitri for however many more books she decided to write. I was sad at the ending of the series. So knowing that I'd not only get to be brought into that world again, but see my favorite characters again, I was ecstatic. 



The story starts out right away with a bang. Sydney is enlisted, against others opinions, to help out the long lost sister to the Moroi Queen, Jill. After moving away to the private school in California, Sydney is joined by some familiar faces to the Vampire Academy world: Adrian, Eddie, Jill, and Rose (Only for a moment, much to some readers dismay). After enrolling in school and starting classes, Sydney learns that Moroi are being killed in LA, and a local tattoo shop is selling very expensive and unique tattoos to the private school. Sydney takes it upon her self to find out what is going on to redeem herself in the eyes of her Alchemists superiors. While under taking this the reader also watches Sydney grow from a young girl that followed the rules to a T, into someone that is pushed beyond her comfort zone and has to start looking out for herself.

The story itself is a lot slower in pace than one might expect based off experience of reading the other series, but it never dragged. Even in the slower parts it was still compelling and interesting. Adrian's character, although still obsessed over Rose, starts to grow and come into his own once away from the Moroi Court. His quick wit and obvious enjoyment of tormenting Sydney kept me chuckling in bed.  Since the time of  Last Sacrifice, Jill has had to live a life she is unaccustomed to, and because of that fights to keep some control over her own life. In some ways she acts like any other 15 year old girl, in others it amazes me the amount she has grown up between the previous series to this one.


Overall I really enjoyed Bloodlines. I thought it was a great book to kick off the new series. I can't wait until the next book The Golden Lily.

I'd have to give this one Five Stars.

Ever Growing To Be Read Pile

In middle school and high school I read a good bit but nothing compared to what I read now. I reread a lot of the same books over and over back then. Now I barely have time to reread some of my favorites once a year. I've discovered so many new authors and series since graduating college that my to be read pile has grown past where I can see the end of it.

I used to laugh when people would say they had a pile of books waiting to be read. "You can't have that many." I'd tell them. I can honestly say now I know exactly how they feel. I don't actually have a list, but I know the next few I plan on reading once I'm done with my current. Randomly something will come out or I'll discover something new that takes the place of one of the top 5.

So far I am in the middle of The Dark Series by Christine Feehan. I'm rather new to her. A friend recommended the Drake Sisters Series and I fell in love. I'm now determined to read everything by her before Christmas. So after the Dark series, its on to the Leopard Series, followed by the Ghost Walkers.
From there I promised my sister I'd read the Hunger Games series. I've been told great things about that series. After that I've been told numerous times I need to read the Dresden Files. Every time I ask a certain friend which book should I read next, she ALWAYS says "Dresden!"

Had to take a small break from the Dark series today because one of my favorite authors had a new book come out today. Talking about Bloodlines by Richelle Mead. I've read just about everything she has released and I haven't been disappointed yet.