Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1) in Vamps with Bite

Oct 06, 2010 Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, i-own

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. There has been so much talk about this book in recent months. Those lucky enough to get their hands on ARC鈥檚 have seemed to think that Bloodlines isn鈥檛 as good as VA and while I do see what they mean, I don鈥檛 exactly agree. Going into this book I was sooo excited about it. VA remains one of my all time fave series and I had high expectations for Bloodlines and, for me, it didn鈥檛 disappoint. I can see the differences in this and VA, but I loved it none-the-less.
The world within this book is very There has been so much talk about this book in recent months. Those lucky enough to get their hands on ARC鈥檚 have seemed to think that Bloodlines isn鈥檛 as good as VA and while I do see what they mean, I don鈥檛 exactly agree. Going into this book I was sooo excited about it. VA remains one of my all time fave series and I had high expectations for Bloodlines and, for me, it didn鈥檛 disappoint. I can see the differences in this and VA, but I loved it none-the-less.
The world within this book is very different from that in VA. The minor characters in VA now have a larger role and they have the chance to shine. The world within the Amberwood boarding school was quite normal, and the book lacked the Moroi magic found in VA, but I discovered that I actually didn鈥檛 mind that. The pace of this book was slower as Richelle Mead set up the characters and storyline, but I enjoyed the pace and everything that happened.

It was nice seeing the new characters in this book. After the way the Vampire Academy series ended, there were a lot of questions left unanswered and a lot of loose ends left untied. In Bloodlines those characters whose stories weren鈥檛 completed are front and centre and we get the beginning of their own tales. Sydney, Jill and Eddie are all back and their lives are now our focus.
I wasn鈥檛 sure how I would feel about Sydney. I liked her in Blood Promise and I knew she had promise, but I wasn鈥檛 expecting to love her as much as I did. And I did actually love her....a lot. She has her issues and fears in regards to Moroi and vampires, but she鈥檚 strong too. One of the things that was a stand out about her for me was her morals. I liked that she still has issues with vampires and still considered them and their world to be evil and unnatural at times, and yet unlike the other alchemists, she treated them with respect and decency; interacting with them in a way that was kind and not unnecessarily cruel. Throughout this book Sydney continued to grow and her ideas change and I think she has the potential to be an incredible heroine as the series continues. Personally I can鈥檛 wait to witness her becoming the kind of lead I know she can be.

I can鈥檛 say enough how much I love Adrian. While Dimitri always had my heart in the previous series and I always wanted him to be with Rose, I鈥檝e always thought highly of Adrian鈥攅ver since he appeared in the VA books. He鈥檚 such a great character. He鈥檚 funny and charming and underneath he鈥檚 got such a great heart. There鈥檚 so much about him that鈥檚 a front and not completely the truth that I adored the moments when his kindness and his true feelings shone through. It鈥檚 clear from this book just how much Rose鈥檚 betrayal hurt him at the end of Last Sacrifice, but at the same time I could see that he鈥檚 ready to move on and that he can be okay again. There鈥檚 nothing I want more than him to reach his potential. The relationship he has with Jill is so adorable. He鈥檚 always cared about her, but in this book it鈥檚 finally clear how strong that affection is. He treats her like a little sister and I don鈥檛 doubt that he鈥檇 do anything to keep her safe and happy.

I can鈥檛 deny that Bloodlines lacked the romance that VA did and yet I wasn鈥檛 disappointed by this鈥攏ot in the least. The chemistry is there between Adrian and Sydney and Mead has set up a great stage for what I can foresee being a terrific romance. The seeds have been sown and I鈥檓 excited about the prospect of seeing their relationship develop over time. It鈥檚 obvious from the way they interact with each other that something really deep could develop between them in future books. While they鈥檙e very different in a lot of ways, they鈥檙e also very similar and I think they could find strength in themselves from each other. Adrian certainly is charming enough to help change Sydney鈥檚 thoughts on Moroi and sweep her off her feet and I can鈥檛 defiantly see her helping to heal his broken heart. I cannot wait to see how this relationship changes in the next few books鈥攊t鈥檚 so exciting.

I liked the side story of Jill and Lee, although I saw Eddie and everything he feels coming. I鈥檓 eager to see where this leads and what it means. There were enough twists and turns in this book to keep you on your toes and the entire time I was reading I didn鈥檛 want to stop. I think there a tonnes of possibilities for the characters in this book and the ending was one that left me wanting more....stat!
Bloodlines proves that Mead can indeed keep her VA world alive and has captivated me once again. I think this the start of what looks to be a brilliant series and I for one cannot wait to get my hands on The Golden Lily, although the wait is going to kill me!

...more

77 likes · Like · see review

Apr 27, 2011 DemonKitty003 rated it it was amazing

I simply got the chills when started reading the new series. My heart raced with excitment I just couldn't put it down. Amazing thrill ride I was on the edge of my seat (were I always like to be on a good book).

The funny parts with Adrian and some with Sydney were perfect. Near the end I was blown away by the feel of a little romantic feels towards the two. Something forbidden and that should never be in the world, THIS is what I love to feel. I actually believe Adrian and Sydney should be toge ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 05, 2010 Beccy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: vampires, series-to-finish, read-in-2014

amazing

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 24, 2011 Debbie rated it really liked it

I absolutely love the Vampire Academy series and it rates as one of my top picks so I was both excited and nervous when I heard Richelle Mead was doing a spin off series. I had my doubts when I heard Sydney was going to be the main character. Yes, she had spunk and I did like her but somehow it just did not seem like it would be as exciting without a Moroi or dhampir as the main character. I was completely wrong. Sydney's character was wonderful! We learn a lot more about her history, how the al ...more

Like · see review

Jun 08, 2011 Brittnie Sanders rated it it was amazing

Love the spin off! Lots of twists and stuff, which I seen a lot of them coming but hey, i'm not against a spoiler anyways. Can't wait to grab the Golden Lily and get a little dose of Russian :) ...more

Like · see review