Review: Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead

Title: Bloodlines

Author: Richelle Mead

Series: Bloodlines 

Reading level: Ages 12 and up

Hardcover: 432 pages

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: August 23, 2011

BUY BLOODLINES:

AMAZON, BARNES AND NOBLE, THE BOOK DEPOSITORY

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy. 
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.
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. (copied from Goodreads)

My Review

 Bloodlines by Richelle Mead is a spinoff series for the massively popular Vampire Academy series. As a fan of the Vampire Academy, I knew I had to read it. Bloodlines is told from Sydney’s perspective, who is the Alchemist who was also in the final three books for the Vampire Academy series. Sydney is an Alchemist, all Alchemists are raised to believe Dhampirs, Moroi, and of course, Strigoi are evil, unnatural beings. After the events that take place in the final Vampire Diaries book, Last Sacrifice, Sydney is in trouble with the Alchemist. When they want to take her little sister, Zoe, over her, Sydney protects her by demanding to go instead. 

This assignment is to help keep the Moroi Princess Jill Dragonmir under cover for her own protection. This requires relocating to Palm Springs to return to high school, and become Jill’s roommate and “sister.” Several familiar faces that make their appearance throughout the book, and that always make me happy. My favorite person to return has to be Adrian Ivashkov. I loved him in the Vampire Academy series, but I think that towards the middle and end of Bloodlines I liked him even more. I have to say he is a bit mopey at first, because of the events that took place in Last Sacrifice. 

I did have one problem with Bloodlines, the self-image problems Sydney has throughout the book. As someone who was once a teenager, I know that it is not easy for teenage girls. Sydney’s father is disgusting man who deserves to have his teeth kicked in (but that is another matter), and made any normal self-image problems for Sydney so much worse. I have never been skinny, and I will probably never be skinny, but having super skinny Sydney constantly comparing herself to the skinny Moroi is depressing. I do like how Adrian keeps making comments about Sydney needing to put on a few pounds, and how she needs to eat more. While Sydney of course takes those the wrong way, it made me love Adrian even more. Do not get me wrong I LOVED Bloodlines; I just think it could have been better without the self-deprecation on Sydney’s part. 

I still think any fan of the Vampire Academy will love Bloodlines, and I guess that, for some, the wanting to be skinnier makes her more relatable. I am excited to read The Golden Lily the second book in the Bloodline series by Richelle Mead. I hope to see Adrian work some sense into Sydney as the series continues. I also cannot wait to see how the events at the end of Bloodlines play out in the sequel! I do not want to spoil it, so if you want to know pick up a copy of Bloodlines. 

**Unabridged Bookshelf borrowed this book from the local library**