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Home » Authors, Doll Mona Leigh, Reviewers, Reviews, Richelle Mead

ARC Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Submitted by on August 18, 2011 – 2:49 am64 Comments


Author: Richelle Mead
Book: Bloodlines
Release: August 23, 2011
Series: Bloodlines 1
Reviewer: Mona Leigh
Source: Penguin Young Readers Group
Purchase: – 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.

All right Vampire Academy fans, the time is upon us for the release of Richelle Mead’s latest offering, Bloodlines, and I got a sneak peek! There’s a lot I could say, but I’m not going to spoil the surprise—and what a surprise it is. Many of you (like me) are Team Adrian/Jill, and you’ll get to see their new relationship, but hold on to your hats ‘cause it’s going to blow you away. All sorts of romantic possibilities are dangled in front of us, and they’re more delicious than I anticipated. I can see fireworks on the horizon.

Adrian continues to grow and mature, but he’s still the same charming ne’er-do-well he always was. His character gets a lot of page time and we get to watch his metamorphosis from slacker-addict to semi-responsible adult. Although I liked the old Adrian, I think the new and improved Adrian will have me wrapped around his little finger.

Remember Sydney—the alchemist who helped Rose and Dimitri—well, this is her story and we get to know the real Sydney and what makes her tick. Eventually we learn why Abe “Zmey” Mazur was able to blackmail her so effectively that she jeopardized her job to help Rose escape jail. And what an interesting revelation it is!

As usual, the pacing is brisk and the subplots are simmering. The initial world building was taken care of in the Vampire Academy books, but now we have the world of the alchemists—rather strange and twisted, but well-constructed. Sydney is a bit of a conundrum. She’s been indoctrinated in the ways of the alchemists, intimidated by her father until she’s afraid of her own shadow, and yet, when you least expect it, she has fire and strength that bring surprising results.

Since we didn’t learn much about her from the earlier books, I was more than a little curious how this would play out, but her character arc continues here and I like the person she’s becoming. I can see this series following the success of the VA books, and I can’t wait to collect them all.

PS ~ Yes, you’ll get another peek at Dimitri. *wink*wink*

Also Reviewed By: – Good Books and Good Wine – Moonlight Book Reviews

Mona's first grade teacher, Mrs. Stanford, gifted her with the love of reading. For that, she'll always live in her heart. But reading took over Mona's life, eclipsing everything but playing sports, and has continued to be a huge part of her life. Although she has always written poetry and stories for her self, last year she decided to try her hand at writing fiction. She is currently editing her first urban fantasy and hopes to have it ready for the agent by summer's end. Besides reading, Mona loves speed in the form of fast cars. The faster, the better! In her next life, she plans to drive race cars (or whatever happens to be their replacement in the future) all while reading and writing. She has also taken up rune reading, and find it to be disturbingly accurate and exciting.
Doll Mona Leigh
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Mona Leighs website

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