FYI this post contains spoilers for the Vampire Academy series. Read at your own peril.
Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Bloodlines
After helping rogue dhampir Rose Hathaway evade justice, Sydney Sage is in serious trouble with the alchemists. Her career is jeopardized, to the point where she may have to go to a re-education center and be brainwashed into hating vampires again. However, Sydney is woken in the middle of the night to the news that she will be posing as Jill Mastrano’s (illegitimate sister of Queen Vasilissa’s) sister at a boarding school in Palm Springs, California. As per usual, adventures ensue featuring some of my favorite side characters from Vampire Academy, namely Adrian Ivashkov and Eddie Castile.
The writing in Bloodlines by Richelle Mead is what I have come to expect, words that keep my pages turning deep into the night. The pace is relatively fast, I mean I spent half the book wondering what exactly alchemist Keith had done, it’s not spelled out until the last one third. However, I will say that Bloodlines absolutely has that first in a series feel to it. I thought it was all exposition. There’s a larger problem presented at the beginning that never gets solved, and it’s obvious we will have to wait til the second book. I don’t have a problem with that, however, I feel like Bloodlines isn’t able to stand on it’s own. However, I bet as part of the larger picture it is fine.
Sydney differs as a main character from Rose in that she is vulnerable. The vibe I got from Rose was kickass girl in a leather jacket hair blowing in the wind devil may care I own the world attitude. With Sydney, I get a more understated feel. Sydney doesn’t have all the answers. She’s 18, yes, but still maturing and learning about herself. She doesn’t quite have the confidence she needs, and why would she with people like her father taking her down a peg or two constantly. I won’t go into details, but I will say I feel a sympathy for Sydney, yet, I think she’s destined for great things.
I am a bit disappointed in the lack of sexytimes, but it is Richelle Mead, so I expect there will be some sexytimes within this series and it will be awesome.
ALSO, there were cameo appearences AND THEY WERE FANTASTICAL.
While Bloodlines wasn’t on par with Vampire Academy, I think there is definite room for improvement. I found Bloodlines enjoyable and compulsively readable, but we never clicked in the omgwtfbbqBFF4life sort of way. That stated, I am looking forward with an open mind to the next in the Bloodlines series.
For those who haven’t read any of the Vampire Academy books yet, I think you can get through Bloodlines without reading them, however, you will have a more solid appreciation of Bloodlines if you read VA first.
Disclosure: Obtained at BEA.
Pre-order Bloodlines here.
This post was written by...
April (Books&Wine) – who has written 1074 posts on Good Books And Good Wine.
April is 24 years old. She is an educator. In her free time she can be found reading, working out, or eating junk food. She often wears her sunglasses at night.
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
Great review April. I think I’ll finish up VA before starting this series. Do hope there is more sexytimes to come
Thanks!
Awww, thanks Emily. And yes, omg finish VA it is AWESOME!
I can’t wait until this one comes out. Sad no sexy times in this one. But Mead is known for them, so hopefully they’ll be some in the next book. Thanks for the review! I’m relieved to know it is a good read.
It is sad, but I bet you will enjoy Bloodlines! I didn’t love everything about it, but it wasn’t terrible either.
I’m so jealous! I cannot wait to read this one! Sometimes it seems like the first book in a series(even the first VA) aren’t as good as the other books, maybe it’s the world and storyline build up that has to occur. I can’t wait to see what other characters make an appearance! Great review April!
That’s a good point. I think so too, although there are some series where the first book just blows me away, like Chaos Walking.
I’m sad that Bloodlines lacks that “WOW’ factor and that it lacks ‘sexytimes’, because I have such high expectations for it. But I’m still so excited to read it! I LOVE that we’ll be seeing plenty more of Adrian and Eddie. You’ve got me eager to learn which characters cameo! Rose?! Just wink twice for ‘yes’. She has to. I miss her badassness!
Great review, SO freaking jealous you got to read it early!
Right, just because I panned it doesn’t mean you can’t be excited for it. Also, the Eddie appearances are awesome. He’s a fabulous character.
Thanks for the review- I can’t wait to read Bloodlines and your review made me even more psyched for it!
Awww, YAY!
Thanks for your honest review! Sorry to hear that it didn’t immediately grab you and doesn’t stand on it’s own. Think I’ll wait for book two, and then read them back to back. Love Richelle’s books, so bet the second one will be better!
That’s a good call, waiting for book two. I feel like I should do that with other series.
Fine, I might just read this for those fantastic cameos. The book maybe worth it just for that alone!
Do it! I guarantee the cameos rock!
I haven’t read the VA series, but I’ve always heard such amazing things about it ( I was always kind of turned off by the covers—I know, I know. Bad.) and will hopefully get around to reading them sometime! This was a great honest review, I know a lot of people are really looking forward to this one! Most of the time I like books that can stand on their own, even those that I know are going to be a series.
Yeah the covers are super lame. And thank you for appreciating honesty. I just can’t sugarcoat.
That said, VA is really awesome and I do recommend checking them out.
Bring on the sexytimes!!!
And the kissing!
I did not like the VA series. I am currently reading Bloodlines and I am impressed so far. I was a bit lost while reading your review. I am wondering what omgwtfbbqBFF4life means, not trying to sound rude but I think of teenage twits when I see that . I am a book blogger and a reviewer I may not write reviews that people find great but I do have pride in what I write. I am sorry but from my opinion this was the most unorthodox review I have ever read.
It’s tongue in cheek. It doesn’t actually mean anything, more like keyboard-gnashing, as in so excited you just smash the keyboard with excitement.
And I really resent that you imply that I don’t have pride in what I write. I am sorry I’m not up to your standards, but if you don’t like it, there’s an X button in the corner.
I tried to go check out your blog to see all this proud quality writing but you didn’t link to your blog in the header. What do I do now?
Oh I know OMGWTFBBQ…. I take pride in this comment.
Seriously it’s just not kosher to police other bloggers, to tell them how to write and critique their review style. April does a mighty fine job in promoting good children’s literature.
Great review. I have never heard of the author or the book.But it’s something I’ll remember because of the title. But can you tell me what is sextimes?
It just means sex scenes ha ha.
Thanks for the review! It revealed a teeny tiny bit more abt Bloodlines
. Aw, no sexytimes? Mayb its cos of the fact that its still the first book? Oh well.. So if we were comparing Bloodlines and VA1, which would be better according to you? Can’t wait for this book! Heard lots of ppl saying things abt the ending, goshhhhh. So you know, I wanted to know why Bloodlines wasn’t on par with VA? Was it like, bad or sth? Thanks again 
Sabrina, I didn’t connect with Sydney in the same way that I did with Rose, and I guess with VA, I felt there was more action and more of that sense of danger. Plus a whole lot more sexual tension.
That said, I enjoyed Bloodlines, but it isn’t my favorite of Mead’s work.
I’m really excited to read Bloodlines! Can you tell just a tiny bit about Adrian? Is he going to be paired with Sydney? *wink for yes* lmao
Adrian is a key player. He does flirt with Sydney, but they don’t kiss or anything. I’m hoping they do in The Golden Lily.
Hey, could you just tell me if Dimitri appears in this book ?? I’m so curious about those cameos you talked about, I think I’m going to read Bloodlines just because of them!
Yes! But I won’t tell you when.
Cool review..
I must know is mia in the books? Minor, cameo major role? I just simply think she is so cool!
She actually isn’t in Bloodlines, or at least not in the Bloodlines ARC.
Thanks for answering my previous question, April!
I have another one, sorry lol. Do we get to see Abe?
Yes, but for like 3 pages.
Will Eddie be Jill’s guardian?
He does play an important role and your guess is very very close.
how was the cameo from Rose ?:)
Short, but awesome. She’s still kickass.
Does Christian and Lissa make a cameo at all?
I’ve taken a great liking to Christian and I feel like he’s one of those people who didn’t get a satisfying ending.
D;
cool review April ! honesty is the best policy
im looking forward to reading this one…but i totally miss the VA series…in particular rose and dimitri!! i wish they could do a sort of sequel to their lives…but we dont know :/
Who are the cameos that appear in the book??
Plz answer me becz i’m dying to know it!!
Rose and Abe Mazur, i think that’s it really
no dimitri!!!
I LOVED Bloodlines! I definitely liked it a lot better than the last couple book of VA, just because it got too Twilight-y and “we were destined to be”. Sydney was also very relatable in my eyes, (although Rose will always have that special place in my heart).
bloodlines was GREAT!
Check out my review of it here:
http://readingwhiledreaming.blogspot.com/2011/08/bloodlines-review.html
Idk why but I get the vibe that Sydney/Adrian is a definite possibility…
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