Bloodlines [Hardcover]

Richelle Mead (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 23, 2011 | Series: Bloodlines (Book 1)

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.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From Richelle Mead: A Letter to Fans

A lot of people ask me if I’m sad that the Vampire Academy series ended. And honestly…I’m not. There are a couple reasons for this. One of the biggest is that I’ve always known how Rose’s story was going to wrap up, and it was time for her to get a little happiness. She’s had a rough time in the series!

The other reason I’m not sad about Vampire Academy ending is because…well, it hasn't.

Technically, Bloodlines is the first book in a new series (which is also called Bloodlines), but it picks up almost right after Last Sacrifice ended. Fans aren’t going to have to wait long to find out what’s going in the Moroi world--and that’s the key point here. We’re still in the Moroi world. Bloodlines takes place around all the Moroi, dhampirs, and other supernatural intrigue and romance we loved in the first six books. We even get to see how a lot of familiar characters are doing--including Rose and Dimitri.

The biggest difference is that Sydney, the Alchemist we first met in Blood Promise, has taken over as our narrator. She’s telling the story now--and with good reason. Things have gotten a bit crazy in the Moroi world, and Sydney finds herself dragged into the heart of it. Jill Mastrano, the young Moroi girl who learned about her royal status at the end of Last Sacrifice, is being targeted by assassins who want to remove her sister from the throne. To keep her safe, Jill is sent off into hiding--at a human school in Palm Springs, California.

To say this is a bit of culture shock for Jill is an understatement, but it’s just as difficult for Sydney. Sydney has to go undercover with Jill, posing as her sister, in order to make sure things run smoothly with a vampire hiding out in a human society. Eddie Castile, the well-intentioned dhampir always getting into trouble for Rose, also comes along to work as Jill’s bodyguard. Rounding out the cast is the notorious Adrian Ivashkov. He’s not posing as a student, but he has “helpfully” invited himself along to keep a brotherly eye on Jill--and torment Sydney with his constant jokes and party boy habits.

Rose was a great narrator, and Sydney’s fun in a lot of different ways. She gives us a human take on the Moroi world, which isn’t something we’ve really seen yet. Vampire life, through Rose’s eyes, is a very normal thing. For Sydney? Not so. It’s made worse because she’s been raised to believe vampires and dhampirs are wrong and unnatural, but spending time with them in Palm Springs begins to change her mind. The Alchemists don’t look favorably on those questioning their beliefs.

What’s also interesting is that Sydney has a much more analytic view of the world than Rose. Sydney overthinks where Rose rushes in, and both styles are fun to watch. Sydney’s super smart and can memorize reams of material—but is a little oblivious to how a normal social life works. That’s never been an issue while she was working as a field Alchemist, but in the midst of a high school—with guys who want to ask her out? Yeah. There are a few complications! Roll in the fact that sinister, supernatural activities are going on in Palm Springs, and Sydney suddenly finds her mission a lot more complicated than even she expected.

All in all, I think readers who loved the Vampire Academy series are going to adore Bloodlines. I purposely left a lot of questions at the end of Last Sacrifice…and those are going to get answered. And like I said, Vampire Academy hasn’t really ended. It’s just going to go on in a different form and give us a look at the vampire world in a new way. Fans of Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian are going to love learning more about them. So, have fun, and get ready for the story to continue!

--Richelle Mead

About the Author

Richelle Mead (www.richellemead.com) is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Vampire Academy series. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington.

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Product Details Age Range: 12 and up Hardcover: 432 pages Publisher: Razorbill; First Edition edition (August 23, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 1595143173 ISBN-13: 978-1595143174 Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (361 customer reviews) Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

Richelle Mead is an international bestselling author of fantasy books for both adults and teens. Her Georgina Kincaid series follows a reluctant succubus, while her Dark Swan series features a shamanic mercenary caught up in fairy affairs. Over on the young adult side, Richelle writes the much-acclaimed Vampire Academy series and its spin-off, Bloodlines, about a secret society keeping the vampire world hidden from humans.

Richelle's books have been on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and received honors from the American Library Association. Her books have been translated into over two dozen languages, as well as transformed into graphic novels. A lifelong reader, Richelle loves mythology and wacky humor. When not writing, she can be found spending time with her family, buying dresses, and watching bad reality TV. More at: www.richellemead.com

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#30 in Books > Teens

#30 in Books > Teens

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Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars

(361)

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See all 361 customer reviews

“ I love Adrian's character and he was even more amazing here, but really Sydney outshines them all. ” Teri Hack  |  112 reviewers made a similar statement

“ I was so sad when the last series ended, but this new series has me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book! ” Crystal76  |  67 reviewers made a similar statement

“ I found the story well written as well as the characters well developed which is a must in my book. ” Mandy Sickle  |  60 reviewers made a similar statement

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 74 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of suspense, danger, and drama; VA fans will be pleased. August 23, 2011

By A Book Obsession.. TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Sydney has been on thin ice ever since helping Rose with her problems. Working with a dhampire is tantamount to treason to the Alchemists so they don't trust her anymore. She can't afford to screw up her latest assignment for more reasons than she can count. She's to go into hiding with the Dragomir princess Jill, aka jailbait. Jill's life is at risk as she is the key to overthrowing her sister's throne. Eddie and Adrian accompany them, making for one heck of a rag tag team. Sydney will have to keep her wits about her as danger will not only come from assassins but from places they least expect. To make matters worse, her own career is in doubt due to her questionable interactions with them. However, staying detached from the rest of them please her supervisors, will prove to be the least of her worries in the end as much more is at stake then she ever realized.

I'll admit I was a little skeptical at how much I would really enjoy Bloodlines due to the perspective change. I love Rose, and just figured anyone else would pale in comparison. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Sydney's perspective. There is so much more to her than we saw on the surface in the Vampire Academy series. She is incredibly strong, yet unlike Rose she doesn't go charging into problems like a bull to hit them head on. Her methods are a little more underhanded and subtle, yet no less effective in the end. I find her aversion to Abe a little amusing as they are quite similar in the long run. The most intriguing thing about Sydney's character would have to be the constant war she is at with herself. She wants to stick to the strict rules and upbringing her Alchemy beliefs taught her, especially the unnaturalness of magic and that anything vampiric is evil. However, things keep coming along to challenge that perspective, and well, she isn't quite sure what to do about that. She has a very long way to go, but I think the more she throws off the Alchemist's single mindedness, the closer she will come to her true potential.

Ahh, Adrian. He was another character that caught me off guard. I'll be honest that I hadn't seem him as much more than a troubled man who served as a roadblock to Rose and Dmitri's relationship. I knew he cared for her and that she was his crutch, but I never really guessed at how deep his feelings truly went. In Bloodlines, we get a glimpse into just how much he was left reeling at the pain of losing her. He is an absolute train wreck, even more of a mess than he ever was, yet he is still trying to keep it together. It is that holding on that shows his potential, and I think now that his "crutch" has been removed, he may have a chance at healing for good. I do think Sydney will be playing a large role in that recovery, because unless I was imaging things, I have a feeling there was something really growing between the two of them. That will be one heck of a shake up as Moroi and Humans are forbidden from being together. Add in the fact that she is an Alchemist of all things, it takes the forbidden love idea to a whole new level. Only time will tell how all that plays out. It should definitely prove to be interesting.

Full of suspense, danger, drama, and even a little forbidden love thrown in, Bloodlines was everything I have come to expect from a Richelle Mead novel. This book will satisfy even the worst cravings that Vampire Academy fans have had since the final installment. Of course, that satisfaction is only for a short time, as it wouldn't be one of Richelle's books without an ending that leaves you reeling and desperate for more. While Bloodlines had one of the more mild cliffhanger endings compared to others, I still cannot wait until The Golden Lily is released to see what happens next. Several things were placed into play and I can only imagine where those twists will lead. A round of applause to Richelle Mead for pulling off yet another fantastic start to a great new series.

46 of 54 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I hoped for, but I'll be coming back for more August 23, 2011

By Dee18 TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

When the Moroi world is in the midst of revolution and political upheaval, measures must be taken to protect the second most crucial member of the royal family.

Since discovering that Queen Lissa Dragomir has a half-sister called Jill, royal loopholes have thrown the young girl in danger. For her own safety she is being herded to Palm Springs, to live amongst humans and hide in plain sight.

Joining her will be dhampir bodyguard, Eddie, and two alchemist workers - Keith and Sydney. Adrian Ivashkov must also accompany the young woman, for reasons neither of them will reveal.

Though these vampires are fleeing from the turmoil within their own race, they'll be even more surprised to find what lurks amongst them in the human world.

`Bloodlines' is the first book in Richelle Mead's `Vampire Academy' spin-off series.

I was ecstatic for this book. The sting was taken out of `Last Sacrifice's' finality purely because I knew there was a spin-off series in the works. I counted down the days, avoided spoilers and watched YouTube teasers. And in the end . . . I was a little underwhelmed.

Let me start out by saying the good. And because this is Richelle Mead, there is plenty of good.

For starters, this series has a very different feel to `Vampire Academy'. I don't just mean the protagonist change of alchemist Sydney Sage versus dhampir Rose Hathaway. That's obvious. I mean Mead has completely changed the atmosphere for this spin-off. In `Vampire Academy' Rose and Lissa were nothing short of celebrities within the school grounds; Lissa, for being the last of the Dragomirs, and Rose for her attitude and eventually, kill rate. They were superstars and utterly cool. Because both Rose and Lissa were a part of the `inner circle' it meant we read scenes with the queen, in the thick of political subterfuge and major social change.

In `Bloodlines', that's all gone. Jill is the illegitimate half-sister who needs to be kept in hiding. The people accompanying her in exile are likewise cast-offs and no-hopers. Eddie is a reprimanded dhampir, still being scolded for his actions in helping Rose. Adrian Ivashkov is a heartbroken drunk. And Sydney is under no illusions as to why she has been allowed on this mission - the alchemists have little love for vampires, and they wouldn't send their best to guard one of them.

The characters in `Bloodlines' are the bottom-of-the-barrel outcasts, and that makes them brilliant! By simply offering us these outskirt characters, Mead changes the entire focus and trajectory of the series. Suddenly we are able to bear witness to the Moroi societal changes from the bottom-up; we read what the little people really think of those above them, and how royal decree affects the little guys.

The other positive of this series won't come as much of a surprise - Adrian Ivashkov. Ohhhhhh. . . Adrian! Richelle Mead really wrote lightening in a bottle when she came up with this tortured alcoholic royal. He is a fan favourite, even more so when he became the romantic under-dog of `Last Sacrifice'. Many VA fans who are unsure of venturing to a new series terrain should be implored to make the trek purely for Adrian because . . . he's freakin Adrian Ivashkov!

I will say that in `Bloodlines', Mead barely touches on the extent of Adrian's heartbreak in the wake of Rose. He's still at the point of bottling-up and being outwardly bitter. But he's still the same smart-aleck wounded soul that fans fell in love with back in `Frostbite'. Part of Adrian's brilliance simply lies in his truthfulness, however cutting. His utter honesty in all things means he has some brilliantly poignant scenes and is a wonderful interpreter for many other characters. He's not always the snarky alcoholic, he does have occasional flashes of brilliance.

Now, for the not-so-good.

Sydney Sage is not a great narrator. She's not bad, and though it pains me to compare - she's certainly no Rose Hathaway. I know, I know! Richelle Mead wanted a very different protagonist to carry `Bloodlines' - and you can't get anyone more different to Rose than Sydney.

Where Rose was brash and cocky, head-strong and fiercely loyal, Sydney is meek. She has lived a sheltered and bookish life and feels closer to forty than twenty. Sydney does improve over the course of `Bloodlines' - so by the end of the book she is a changed woman on the brink of upheaval, nearly ready to reject all she has ever known in the face of what she has come to learn from living with the vampires. But `Bloodlines' is 421 pages long. . . and it takes a while for Sydney to get to that point of interest.

Though I did like Richelle Mead's head-nod to Australia that came from an in-joke with Sydney's name.

Another problem I had with `Bloodlines' was simply pacing. I was about 114 pages into the book when a character makes an off-hand mention that two days have passed. What!? Two days in 100+ pages? This is a very different time-line and pace from previous VA books, and it was hard for me to assimilate to the drag. Part of the reason for a sluggish pace is simply setting - Mead can no longer rely on fans' touch-stone to the actual Vladimir Academy, instead Mead has to build up this new Palm Springs accommodation and set the scene for the human school. This takes a lot of time, and is one reason I sort of wish the books had gone back to the good old Vladimir Academy . . .

One more small complaint I had was romance. Considering `Vampire Academy' had such an incredible illicit love story at its centre, as a fan you can't help but look for the romance in `Bloodlines'. I won't give anything away, but there are many male secondary characters in the book. Each time one of them trotted across the page I couldn't help but wonder "is he the one? Will Sydney fall for him?" When it became apparent who the romance will be with, I was delighted/half-hearted. On the one hand; YAY! On the other hand . . . it will take a while to get there. That's all I'm saying.

Honestly, `Bloodlines' had me under-whelmed for about 300 pages of this 421-page book. But, of course, in the last sprint Richelle Mead writes her typical saving grace - a thrilling, action-packed ending that will leave your heart thundering. And her signature cliff-hanger is a fifty-foot freefalling doozy! Be warned! `Bloodlines' wasn't exactly what I was hoping for with the VA spin-off, but that ending will definitely have me coming back for more.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars It's no Vampire Academy August 27, 2011

By Lori Lawson VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I love the Vampire Academy series. It's one of my all time favorites. I was very sad to see it end, especially being Team Adrian, because things were very sad for him in the end. So how could I not be super excited for Bloodlines? No Dimitri getting in the way of things, more Adrian, more Jill, new characters, who wouldn't be excited? But in all honesty, I wasn't as thrilled with Bloodlines as I wanted to be.

I did like it! I just wanted it to be as awesome and captivating as Vampire Academy, and it wasn't. I think that's because Rose just set the bar way too high. Sydney is definitely no Rose. To me Sydney wasn't completely likable. She was brought up to loathe vampires. As a reader I found it hard to relate to that, because I love vampires....Throughout the book she does start to lighten up so I think it's only the start. I think I will eventually love Sydney as much as Rose, but I'm definitely not there yet.

Another thing that I wasn't too thrilled about was...there's no romance. That's understandable once you read the story, but it's also a little disappointed, you know, because I love Adrian....but this is another example of a promising start.

This might sound like a negative review, but it's not. Bloodlines still has all the things I have come to love from the Vampire Academy world. There's action and some new very interesting characters. There's some new plot lines that I am dying to find out more about. All in all, I think this is a series that I'm going to grow to love. It will only get better and better.

› See all 361 customer reviews (newest first)

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyed this book

I bought this book because im a huge Richelle Mead fan. I loved Vampire Academy series and the sucubbus series. Read more

Published 11 hours ago by L. Hayes

5.0 out of 5 stars Richelle Mead has done it again!

Almost as soon as I'd finished reading Bloodlines the first time I yearned to read it again so rereading it for the release of the new book seemed like the logical (and totally... Read more

Published 6 days ago by Myra (Pieces of Whimsy)

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read...

I love all of her books!!! The twists and turns she adds are amazing! I can't wait to read the next book!

Published 8 days ago by Jacki

5.0 out of 5 stars bloodlines

Love it. A wonderful spin-off or standalone. Loved this character in the original series and of course Adrian.Can't wait for more.

Published 9 days ago by Jacqueline M. Reidy

5.0 out of 5 stars I think this is a interesting book

If you like vampire books, you will get into this series, I like this book cuz of the different take on vampires in the world, I do recommended this book, just give it a chance

Published 11 days ago by redneck

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved

Hard to believe that Sydney put up with Adrian an still doesn't know much of romance anyways this is a good book to read.

Published 15 days ago by Amber

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this series

Following up from reading the VA series, I love this take on Sydney and Adrien. I've always wondered more about her and what her profession is so this gives a good background about... Read more

Published 15 days ago by Charlene

4.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars

(Source: I borrowed a copy of this book.)
When Sydney's father wakes her in the middle of the night to join an alchemist's meeting, the last thing she expects is to be spent... Read more

Published 18 days ago by Sarah

5.0 out of 5 stars always love Richelles work

I always give five stars to a book I read more than once, and this is certainly that.

I'm not great at reviews, but I will say why I repeatedly return to Ms Meads... Read more

Published 21 days ago by Revati Ragini

5.0 out of 5 stars I Adore This Series!

Personally, I enjoyed Bloodlines more than Vampire Academy. As much as I loved reading from Rose's point-of-view in VA, I enjoyed Sydney's fresh prospective a thousand times more. Read more

Published 22 days ago by Pretty In Fiction

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Sydney a witch?	OMG, I know.! I've read other people's theories about that and some things make sense. I think Trey is some witch thing too, why? 1. His tattoo... did you notice how nervous he got when Sydney asked him about it.?! and 2. He's working w. Miss Teliwhatever :P too... and I don't think it's... Read more Sep 15, 2011 by Jomayra Berrios |  See all 6 posts
Found it early	I got an ARC of it on ebay. Aug 12, 2011 by Lil_Dhampir |  See all 6 posts
Bloodlines.....	They have to fix Adrians ending, he is a great character who deserve a better ending don't you guys agree? and Im really excited about Sidney being a main character can't wait! Jan 6, 2011 by Une Leirvik |  See all 28 posts

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Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill; First Edition edition (August 23, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595143173
• ISBN-13: 978-1595143174
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (361 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richelle Mead is an international bestselling author of fantasy books for both adults and teens. Her Georgina Kincaid series follows a reluctant succubus, while her Dark Swan series features a shamanic mercenary caught up in fairy affairs. Over on the young adult side, Richelle writes the much-acclaimed Vampire Academy series and its spin-off, Bloodlines, about a secret society keeping the vampire world hidden from humans.

Richelle's books have been on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and received honors from the American Library Association. Her books have been translated into over two dozen languages, as well as transformed into graphic novels. A lifelong reader, Richelle loves mythology and wacky humor. When not writing, she can be found spending time with her family, buying dresses, and watching bad reality TV. More at: www.richellemead.com

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#30 in Books > Teens

#30 in Books > Teens

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 74 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of suspense, danger, and drama; VA fans will be pleased. August 23, 2011

By A Book Obsession.. TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Sydney has been on thin ice ever since helping Rose with her problems. Working with a dhampire is tantamount to treason to the Alchemists so they don't trust her anymore. She can't afford to screw up her latest assignment for more reasons than she can count. She's to go into hiding with the Dragomir princess Jill, aka jailbait. Jill's life is at risk as she is the key to overthrowing her sister's throne. Eddie and Adrian accompany them, making for one heck of a rag tag team. Sydney will have to keep her wits about her as danger will not only come from assassins but from places they least expect. To make matters worse, her own career is in doubt due to her questionable interactions with them. However, staying detached from the rest of them please her supervisors, will prove to be the least of her worries in the end as much more is at stake then she ever realized.

I'll admit I was a little skeptical at how much I would really enjoy Bloodlines due to the perspective change. I love Rose, and just figured anyone else would pale in comparison. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Sydney's perspective. There is so much more to her than we saw on the surface in the Vampire Academy series. She is incredibly strong, yet unlike Rose she doesn't go charging into problems like a bull to hit them head on. Her methods are a little more underhanded and subtle, yet no less effective in the end. I find her aversion to Abe a little amusing as they are quite similar in the long run. The most intriguing thing about Sydney's character would have to be the constant war she is at with herself. She wants to stick to the strict rules and upbringing her Alchemy beliefs taught her, especially the unnaturalness of magic and that anything vampiric is evil. However, things keep coming along to challenge that perspective, and well, she isn't quite sure what to do about that. She has a very long way to go, but I think the more she throws off the Alchemist's single mindedness, the closer she will come to her true potential.

Ahh, Adrian. He was another character that caught me off guard. I'll be honest that I hadn't seem him as much more than a troubled man who served as a roadblock to Rose and Dmitri's relationship. I knew he cared for her and that she was his crutch, but I never really guessed at how deep his feelings truly went. In Bloodlines, we get a glimpse into just how much he was left reeling at the pain of losing her. He is an absolute train wreck, even more of a mess than he ever was, yet he is still trying to keep it together. It is that holding on that shows his potential, and I think now that his "crutch" has been removed, he may have a chance at healing for good. I do think Sydney will be playing a large role in that recovery, because unless I was imaging things, I have a feeling there was something really growing between the two of them. That will be one heck of a shake up as Moroi and Humans are forbidden from being together. Add in the fact that she is an Alchemist of all things, it takes the forbidden love idea to a whole new level. Only time will tell how all that plays out. It should definitely prove to be interesting.

Full of suspense, danger, drama, and even a little forbidden love thrown in, Bloodlines was everything I have come to expect from a Richelle Mead novel. This book will satisfy even the worst cravings that Vampire Academy fans have had since the final installment. Of course, that satisfaction is only for a short time, as it wouldn't be one of Richelle's books without an ending that leaves you reeling and desperate for more. While Bloodlines had one of the more mild cliffhanger endings compared to others, I still cannot wait until The Golden Lily is released to see what happens next. Several things were placed into play and I can only imagine where those twists will lead. A round of applause to Richelle Mead for pulling off yet another fantastic start to a great new series.

46 of 54 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I hoped for, but I'll be coming back for more August 23, 2011

By Dee18 TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

When the Moroi world is in the midst of revolution and political upheaval, measures must be taken to protect the second most crucial member of the royal family.

Since discovering that Queen Lissa Dragomir has a half-sister called Jill, royal loopholes have thrown the young girl in danger. For her own safety she is being herded to Palm Springs, to live amongst humans and hide in plain sight.

Joining her will be dhampir bodyguard, Eddie, and two alchemist workers - Keith and Sydney. Adrian Ivashkov must also accompany the young woman, for reasons neither of them will reveal.

Though these vampires are fleeing from the turmoil within their own race, they'll be even more surprised to find what lurks amongst them in the human world.

`Bloodlines' is the first book in Richelle Mead's `Vampire Academy' spin-off series.

I was ecstatic for this book. The sting was taken out of `Last Sacrifice's' finality purely because I knew there was a spin-off series in the works. I counted down the days, avoided spoilers and watched YouTube teasers. And in the end . . . I was a little underwhelmed.

Let me start out by saying the good. And because this is Richelle Mead, there is plenty of good.

For starters, this series has a very different feel to `Vampire Academy'. I don't just mean the protagonist change of alchemist Sydney Sage versus dhampir Rose Hathaway. That's obvious. I mean Mead has completely changed the atmosphere for this spin-off. In `Vampire Academy' Rose and Lissa were nothing short of celebrities within the school grounds; Lissa, for being the last of the Dragomirs, and Rose for her attitude and eventually, kill rate. They were superstars and utterly cool. Because both Rose and Lissa were a part of the `inner circle' it meant we read scenes with the queen, in the thick of political subterfuge and major social change.

In `Bloodlines', that's all gone. Jill is the illegitimate half-sister who needs to be kept in hiding. The people accompanying her in exile are likewise cast-offs and no-hopers. Eddie is a reprimanded dhampir, still being scolded for his actions in helping Rose. Adrian Ivashkov is a heartbroken drunk. And Sydney is under no illusions as to why she has been allowed on this mission - the alchemists have little love for vampires, and they wouldn't send their best to guard one of them.

The characters in `Bloodlines' are the bottom-of-the-barrel outcasts, and that makes them brilliant! By simply offering us these outskirt characters, Mead changes the entire focus and trajectory of the series. Suddenly we are able to bear witness to the Moroi societal changes from the bottom-up; we read what the little people really think of those above them, and how royal decree affects the little guys.

The other positive of this series won't come as much of a surprise - Adrian Ivashkov. Ohhhhhh. . . Adrian! Richelle Mead really wrote lightening in a bottle when she came up with this tortured alcoholic royal. He is a fan favourite, even more so when he became the romantic under-dog of `Last Sacrifice'. Many VA fans who are unsure of venturing to a new series terrain should be implored to make the trek purely for Adrian because . . . he's freakin Adrian Ivashkov!

I will say that in `Bloodlines', Mead barely touches on the extent of Adrian's heartbreak in the wake of Rose. He's still at the point of bottling-up and being outwardly bitter. But he's still the same smart-aleck wounded soul that fans fell in love with back in `Frostbite'. Part of Adrian's brilliance simply lies in his truthfulness, however cutting. His utter honesty in all things means he has some brilliantly poignant scenes and is a wonderful interpreter for many other characters. He's not always the snarky alcoholic, he does have occasional flashes of brilliance.

Now, for the not-so-good.

Sydney Sage is not a great narrator. She's not bad, and though it pains me to compare - she's certainly no Rose Hathaway. I know, I know! Richelle Mead wanted a very different protagonist to carry `Bloodlines' - and you can't get anyone more different to Rose than Sydney.

Where Rose was brash and cocky, head-strong and fiercely loyal, Sydney is meek. She has lived a sheltered and bookish life and feels closer to forty than twenty. Sydney does improve over the course of `Bloodlines' - so by the end of the book she is a changed woman on the brink of upheaval, nearly ready to reject all she has ever known in the face of what she has come to learn from living with the vampires. But `Bloodlines' is 421 pages long. . . and it takes a while for Sydney to get to that point of interest.

Though I did like Richelle Mead's head-nod to Australia that came from an in-joke with Sydney's name.

Another problem I had with `Bloodlines' was simply pacing. I was about 114 pages into the book when a character makes an off-hand mention that two days have passed. What!? Two days in 100+ pages? This is a very different time-line and pace from previous VA books, and it was hard for me to assimilate to the drag. Part of the reason for a sluggish pace is simply setting - Mead can no longer rely on fans' touch-stone to the actual Vladimir Academy, instead Mead has to build up this new Palm Springs accommodation and set the scene for the human school. This takes a lot of time, and is one reason I sort of wish the books had gone back to the good old Vladimir Academy . . .

One more small complaint I had was romance. Considering `Vampire Academy' had such an incredible illicit love story at its centre, as a fan you can't help but look for the romance in `Bloodlines'. I won't give anything away, but there are many male secondary characters in the book. Each time one of them trotted across the page I couldn't help but wonder "is he the one? Will Sydney fall for him?" When it became apparent who the romance will be with, I was delighted/half-hearted. On the one hand; YAY! On the other hand . . . it will take a while to get there. That's all I'm saying.

Honestly, `Bloodlines' had me under-whelmed for about 300 pages of this 421-page book. But, of course, in the last sprint Richelle Mead writes her typical saving grace - a thrilling, action-packed ending that will leave your heart thundering. And her signature cliff-hanger is a fifty-foot freefalling doozy! Be warned! `Bloodlines' wasn't exactly what I was hoping for with the VA spin-off, but that ending will definitely have me coming back for more.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars It's no Vampire Academy August 27, 2011

By Lori Lawson VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I love the Vampire Academy series. It's one of my all time favorites. I was very sad to see it end, especially being Team Adrian, because things were very sad for him in the end. So how could I not be super excited for Bloodlines? No Dimitri getting in the way of things, more Adrian, more Jill, new characters, who wouldn't be excited? But in all honesty, I wasn't as thrilled with Bloodlines as I wanted to be.

I did like it! I just wanted it to be as awesome and captivating as Vampire Academy, and it wasn't. I think that's because Rose just set the bar way too high. Sydney is definitely no Rose. To me Sydney wasn't completely likable. She was brought up to loathe vampires. As a reader I found it hard to relate to that, because I love vampires....Throughout the book she does start to lighten up so I think it's only the start. I think I will eventually love Sydney as much as Rose, but I'm definitely not there yet.

Another thing that I wasn't too thrilled about was...there's no romance. That's understandable once you read the story, but it's also a little disappointed, you know, because I love Adrian....but this is another example of a promising start.

This might sound like a negative review, but it's not. Bloodlines still has all the things I have come to love from the Vampire Academy world. There's action and some new very interesting characters. There's some new plot lines that I am dying to find out more about. All in all, I think this is a series that I'm going to grow to love. It will only get better and better.