Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead

Title: Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1)
Author: Richelle Mead
Release date:  August 23, 2011
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 432
Source: BEA
Reading level: YA

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.

Bloodlines, the first book in the series of the same name, doesn’t quite live up to the awesomeness of Vampire Academy but it’s a pretty close second.  I certainly think fans of the first series will enjoy this fun spin-off.
Bloodlines focuses on Sydney Sage, the Alchemist readers meet in Vampire Academy.  The ramifications of what she did with Rose are coming back to bite her now and to prove her loyalty to the Alchemists she must protect Jill from rebel vampires who want her dead.  Sydney and Jill aren’t the only ones back from the Vampire Academy series.  There’s Abe, a brief appearance of Rose, Eddie Castile, but above all, there’s Adrian Ivashkov.  Sydney and Adrian have some of the best banter!  They are at each other’s throats quite a bit but it makes for some fun times.  Sydney is very uptight and kind of naive and prudish.  It’s definitely a product of her upbringing but it can be a little annoying at times.  Hopefully the longer she spends are the vampires, the more those things will change.  Adrian is just as great as he was in Vampire Academy but he’s a little more broken now.  Seeing him like that really hurt and I hope Sydney and the others help him get past Rose throughout the series.  Jill and Eddie were pretty great.  Jill was kind of cranky for a lot of the book but she had a lot going on.  Eddie was so sweet and one particular scene at the end almost broke my heart.  I want to see him happy.  There are only brief appearances of Rose and Abe in this first book but I look forward to seeing what’s changed in their lives.
The story drags quite a bit which is my biggest complaint.  There was a lot of mystery and intrigue though which helped keep me interested even when things didn’t seem to be going anywhere.  I would have liked Bloodlines more if I found it to be as unputdownable as Vampire Academy but that just wasn’t the case.  There was a lot of background in this book and I think it was necessary to set everything up for the series but I still would have liked less of it.  I think the next book, The Golden Lily, should be a lot better since the story is already set up.
Overall, Bloodlines disappointed me a little but not too much.  I will certainly continue with this series and I have high hopes for the following books.

Looking for more reviews of Bloodlines by Richelle Mead?
Bloody Bookaholic’s review
Mindful Musings’ review
The Crooked Shelf’s review

Series:
Bloodlines (#1)
The Golden Lily (#2)
The Indigo Spell (#3) – February 12, 2013
The Fiery Heart (#4) – 2013
Untitled (#5) – 2014
Untitled (#6) – 2015

Other reviews for this author:
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Frostbite (#2) by Richelle Mead
Shadow Kiss (#3) by Richelle Mead
Blood Promise (#4) by Richelle Mead
Spirit Bound (#5) by Richelle Mead
Last Sacrifice (#6) by Richelle Mead

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10 comments

  1. Just you wait until you read the Golden Lily! For me that’s when this series really picks up. Of course, I’ve been an Adrian fan since Frostbite so I really like this series because of him. I just love how Richelle Mead weaves her stories. She’s brilliant.

  2. I read this just after finishing Last Sacrifice, and I agree, the story was a little slow, but I still loved it. It was interesting to see know more about the alchemist side, and I can’t wait to know more about their history. Sydney is a very smart person, and I haven’t read the second book, but I’m really looking forward to see how she handles Adrian as a partner.
    Great review 🙂

  3. This one was definitely slow, but the later books definitely get better! And OH GEEZ. Adrian. I’m hoping you’ll like where things go for his character in the future.. and that scene with Eddie? I know exactly what you’re talking about!

    great review.

  4. Definitely agree the story dragged; I felt it was a little predictable too. I enjoyed this one, especially for Adrian, but I was a little let down after the awesomeness that is VA

  5. I’ve been so disappointed in these books. I loved VA so much and like everyone else I love Adrian. Still do. I think the biggest mistake R Mead made was making the story from Sydney’s POV and not Adrian’s. He’s really the one with the story to tell. Changing so much and going off on his own. Becoming Shadow Kissed. Yet all we read about is how Sydney never eats and how Jill is perfect and wants to be a model! Where is kick ass Rose when we need her?

    Honestly, the second book isn’t much better until the very end.

    Sorry. I needed to get that off my chest.

  6. I liked the focus on background and I really got hooked on the context and the politics.

    I truly loved this book!