Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

If you haven't read Ms. Mead's Vampire Academy series then please read them. You don't want to start Bloodlines without having read the VA series. I wouldn't say you would be lost but you would be feeling left out. Even having read the other books I was scratching my head a few times trying to place a few of the characters and other bits of information. But I was excited to be thrown back into this world and learn more about some of my favorite characters like Adrian and Sydney. You even see Rose a little bit in the beginning.

Sydney is an Alchemist. Alchemists are a group of humans that try and keep the vampires a secret from the rest of the human population. You first meet Sydney in the VA series when she is helping Rose. Later in that series she gets herself in hot water with the Alchemists when she helps Rose break out of jail and find Jill who is the half sister of Lissa the newly appointed Moroi Queen. In Bloodlines you find Sydney being awakened in the middle of the night. At first she thinks she is finally going to be punished and sent to a rehabilitation center for her part in helping Rose but that's not the case. She soon finds out that Jill has been attacked and they are sending her and few others to a boarding school in Palm Springs, California to put her in hiding and that Sydney will be her roommate. While Sydney's view of the vampires has changed a little since spending time with she doesn't want the Alchemist's to think she is sympathizing with them and now she has to live with one.

Spoilers Ahead Don't keep reading if you don't want to be spoiled!

Ms. Mead put some twists and turns into this novel. I didn't see the spirit bond with Jill and Adrian. I knew something more was going on with Lee. I just couldn't quite put my finger on it. I think it's sweet that Eddie has a crush on Jill. I wonder how that will play out in the rest of the series. I wonder who Ms. Mead has in store for Sydney. She needs a boy in her life. She needs a little fun in her life. The one thing I don't like about Sydney is she is so anal and rigid. She is so afraid of the unknown but it seems like her controlled world is going to be shook up. I think she will tap into some magic like her teacher suggested. I think there might be something between her and Adrian but both are pretty adamant about vampires and humans not dating so I'm not sure about that one. I can' wait for the next book it's coming out next May and is called, The Golden Lily. Ms. Mead you did not disappoint.