"Bloodlines" by Richelle Mead follows the story of Sydney Sage, an alchemist tasked with protecting a royal Moroi girl while navigating challenges and mysteries in a boarding school setting. The plot unfolds with Sydney facing internal struggles and external threats, all while trying to prove herself trustworthy and redeem her past actions. Readers are introduced to a new perspective in the Vampire Academy world, with intricate character development and a plot filled with twists and turns that keep them engaged till the end.

Characters:

Characters are well-developed, with Sydney showcasing growth, Adrian adding charm and complexity, and Jill dealing with her own difficulties, creating a dynamic narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and humorous, effectively using first-person perspective to develop characters and their relationships while maintaining an entertaining narrative.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Sydney Sage, an alchemist tasked with protecting Jill Dragomir, incorporating familiar elements from the Vampire Academy series while introducing new mysteries surrounding tattoos and royal politics.

Setting:

The setting contrasts the lightheartedness of a boarding school environment with the darker elements of the vampire world, providing a unique backdrop for the story.

Pacing:

The pacing starts off slow as it establishes the world and characters but picks up later with intriguing developments and action, keeping readers engaged.

There was a hand covering my mouth and another shaking my shoulder, startling me out of a heavy sleep. A thousand frantic thoughts dashed through my mind in the space of a single heartbeat. It was hap...

Notes:

The story features Sydney Sage, an Alchemist who played a significant role in the Vampire Academy series.

Sydney faces scrutiny from Alchemists for protecting vampires, balancing her duties and personal beliefs.

Bloodlines is set in a school in Palm Springs, California, creating a new backdrop compared to the previous series.

The Alchemists are depicted as humans who keep vampires secret from the broader human population, but they harbor strong prejudices against them.

A key plot point involves the protection of Jill Dragomir, a Moroi princess, who must stay safe to uphold her sister Lissa's throne.

The book includes a hedging romance sub-plot between Sydney and Adrian, which develops slowly throughout the series.

Fans of the Vampire Academy series will encounter familiar characters like Adrian Ivashkov and Eddie Castile.

Bloodlines introduces themes of identity, loyalty, and the struggle between duty and personal beliefs.

The book explores how Sydney's significant upbringing influences her actions and thoughts.

Readers will recognize various symbolism throughout the series connecting to themes of magic and acceptance.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include elements of violence, themes of prejudice, and character trauma experiences.

Has Romance?

While the romance is not the primary focus in Bloodlines, there is a significant medium-level romance development, particularly between Sydney and Adrian.

From The Publisher:

The first book in Richelle Mead's New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series

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.

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.

Ratings (35)

Incredible (10)
Loved It (12)
Liked It (4)
It Was OK (8)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (73):

Read It (42)
Want To Read (24)
Not Interested (7)

3 comment(s)

StephB

It Was OK

1 month

I'm not entirely sure how to rate this one. Much of the book was so-so world-building, which, IMO, can sometimes slow down a first-in-series book. I found myself wanting to (but didn't) scroll ahead. It was fun reading more of Adrian and Sydney. Adrian is just as VA fans will remember him, charming, obnoxious

and now sportin' a seriously wounded heart

. It was interesting seeing deeper into Sydney's life as an Alchemist. We didn't get too much of that in VA. The over-all 'who-done-it' wasn't a surprise and

I'm still thinking there's more to Micah than we discovered in this one

.

For now, I'm rating it 3★. It was a good start to what will hopefully be a fun VA spin-off. I'll be continuing on with the series, especially after the way this one ended.

More of a review to follow ... eventually.

eljpal578

Loved It

2 months

I thought the Vampire Academy series was one of the better teen vamp series around. Rose Hathaway is the kind of kick-arse heroine that you hope today's teen girls take note of. (Take that, wet noodle Bella.)

When I heard there was going to be a spin-off, I assumed it would be focused on Jill. Instead the author picked the alchemist, Sydney, and I have to say I'm glad she did.

I enjoyed learning more background story on Sydney. She's another impressive heroine - smart, feisty and independent. I also liked seeing my favorite characters from Vampire Academy back in action.

The plot wasn't all that unique - I pegged the villain pretty early on. However, the story was engaging and moved quickly. I can't wait for book #2!

ehanut203

It Was OK

4 months

I loved the Vampire Academy series, and I have a feeling I'm going to love Bloodlines just as much. Mead is expanding on her world, showing us more about the Alchemists and more about new developments in the vampire world. Sydney is a great character. Her voice is totally different from Rose's, and in a way their journeys are complementary. Rose had to get her impulsive nature under control in order to grow up, but Sydney has to let loose and grasp her own power in order to do the same. I love the way she holds Adrian accountable for his actions - "that's just how he is" has always seemed like an excuse for someone to be a douchebag (in real life and in books).

What can you read after
Bloodlines?

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About the Author:

Richelle Mead is the author of the international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series, the Bloodlines series, the Glittering Court series, and the Age of X series. Her love of fantasy and science fiction began at an early age when her…

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Bloodlines

Richelle Mead

Book 1 in the series:Bloodlines