19 Nov 2012

Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead


Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead
August 25th, 2012 · Penguin
Source: Won
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 421
Sydney protects vampire secrets - and human lives.

Sydney belongs to a secret group who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the world of humans and vampires.

But when Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, she fears she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. What unfolds is far worse. The sister of Moroi queen Lissa Dragomir is in mortal danger, and goes into hiding. Now Sydney must act as her protector.

The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one...
I haven’t been as eager to read for a while now but then things got worse and I eventually hit rock bottom reading wise, with no motivation to pick up a book - at all. Desperately wanting to regain my love for reading, I decided to enlist Richelle Mead for help, knowing that if any author was going to be able to pull me out of this funk, it would be her. And just like I had hoped, she delivered.

After devouring the Vampire Academy series earlier in the year, I had been looking forward to starting Bloodlines and seeing the world through an Alchemists eyes – enter Sydney Sage. I first met Sydney in Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, #4), but it wasn’t until Bloodlines that I really came to care for her as a character. It took me a while to warm up to Sydney as I didn’t make that same connection with her that I did with Rose where it was love at first sight sentence however I did gradually warm up to her as time passed.

You see Sydney back down a lot and keep quiet, even when she has something to say. She has her reasons for doing so which I very much understand but I was just waiting for that moment when she was going to take action and stand up for herself. I was wishing and waiting and hoping that it was going to happen and when it eventually did, even though I had been expecting it, I was surprised but in a completely good way.

It took me about half way in until I really got into Bloodlines but that has nothing to do with the book but rather with me and the terrible reading slump I was in. But the main thing is, in the end it did the job and very well I might add.

Don’t go into Bloodlines expecting Vampire Academy because you won’t get it. It’s not as badass and action-packed as VA but it has other great qualities and what it lacks, it makes up for in other areas (such as: super swoony Adrian who is sure to make you swoon your pants off!).

I’ve still got a while to go before my mojo returns completely but in the meantime I’m off to read The Golden Lily!

4/5

28 comments:

  1. Fantastic review! It's quite interesting when it comes to your connection with Sydney - I actually connected to her even more than I ever did with Rose, so it's funny that. Guess it's because I'm more like Syd in many ways. But I'm glad you enjoyed this book! Love this series (more so than VA which surprises me since nothing could ever beat my epic love for the VA series!).

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    1. Thanks Erin! That's the thing, I'm probably more like Sydney. We share quite a few simalarities and traits but it just took me a while to warm to her for some reason. I love this series too!

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  2. YAYYY for getting back into the swing of things, at least a little bit! That's so awesome. And I STILL need to read these. It'll be a goal of mine to at least start the VA books and these in 2013. Because I'm SO the last person ever to read them.

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    1. Can't wait for you to start VA and Bloodlines. Both great series and I'm super looking forward to seeing what you think! I only just read Vampire Academy this year so don't worry, I was late on joining the party too!

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  3. I'm actually very glad it's not as action-packed as the original VA series, because I don't want to read a copy of that but something unique - and I believe that Richelle Mead managed to present us something special with the BLOODLINES series... although Adrian would probably already be reason enough to read it. :D Glad you liked it and it could help you during your reading slump! :)

    Carina
    Fictional Distraction

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    1. Definitely and I agree. I think some readers are disappointed that it's not more actiony and badass - more like Vampire Academy - but I agree with you, there has to be some difference; it has to be seperate from VA otherwise where do you draw the line - who wants a remake?

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  4. Great review :) I loved VA and was super excited for the spinoffs as well. Glad you liked Blood Lines hope you enjoy The Golden Lily.

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    1. Thanks Bianca! I've actually already read The Golden Lily and it's even more awesome than Bloodlines. Review coming soon to a computer near you ;)

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  5. I actually loved Bloodlines more than Vampire Academy :) I thought Adrian was amazing and I actually thought Sydney was a great heroine. Amazing review!

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    1. Adrian is amazing. I only had eyes for Dimitri in VA but now that he's no longer around, I'm totally swooning over Adrian :D

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  6. Welcome Back! I love, love, love Richelle Mead and I really enjoyed Bloodlines, The Golden Lily in my opinion was even better, although I do agree that their is not as much action in this one as VA but, Adrian has been capturing my heart slowly but, surely since I was always a Dimitri girl. Awesome review!

    Kristin @ Young Adult Book Haven

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    1. I love Richelle Mead too, she's one of my favourite authors. I agree, The Golden Lily is even better then Bloodlines; the series just keeps getting better! Same! I was a Dimitri groupie too but now that he's not around I am slowly but surely swooning over Adrian ;D

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  7. I'm so glad Richelle pulled you out of your reading slump! I tend to go to my favorite authors as well when I'm feeling like that. I've only read the first two books of VA, and hopefully, one day, I'll have the time to finish the series and start this one. Glad you liked it, Rebecca! Great review!

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    1. Me too! Richelle Mead sure is talented :D VA is amazing so I hope when you get round to reading the rest of the series you love it!

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  8. Ooooh, I'm glad you liked Sydney, more! I think I'm one of the few people who really liked her in VA, and I'm SO excited to get to know her here. BUT THANK YOU FOR HEADS UP, RE: ACTION PACKED. I think I've totally been expecting VA 2.0 but... OK. Different book. I'm EXCITED. And I'm excited to read your TGL review! *runs off*

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    1. I love you. Your such a cutie. *huggles* ♥
      It's not that I didn't like Sydney in VA, it's just I didn't really know her. In Bloodlines you get to really hear her, not just see her. Definitely not as action packed which is a little disappointing as Richelle Mead is awesome at writing those scenes but I'll take what I get. *runs off to check comment*

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  9. At the mention of Adrian Ivashkov swooning readers pants off: CUE RIDICULOUSLY STUPID GRIN. That boy, he does things to me, Becca <3 I am so happy Bloodlines helped you out of your reading slump - Richelle Mead is a GODDESS! That woman can save anyone from a blogtastrophy. And I'm so so so so so so happy you're back blogging! I'VE MISSED YOUR LOVELY POSTS!

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    1. *ridiculously stupid grins along with you* That Adrian does things to all the girls, your not the only one Sweets ;D You can say that again! Not only is she a goddess but a writing goddess. I'm so thankful for her. ♥ Aw, I've missed you too! *huggles*

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  10. Can I read this book without reading the Vampire Academy books first? I have all the books from VA except for the first one.. so I need to wait for a copy :p But I really like the sound of these books. Great review!

    Mel@thedailyprophecy.

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    1. Thanks Mel! You can read the Bloodlines series without having read Vampire Academy but VA is such an amazing series, plus it would make reading Bloodlines all the more enjoyable since you would then know any characters that make appearances such as Rose and Dimitri. If it was me I'd wait to get to a copy of the first book but that's just me, do whatever you like. Hope you get round to these books soon!

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  11. For some reason, BLOODLINES never really caught my attention (especially since I'm sort of like a 'cover-girl'; I care a LOT about covers xP), but after reading your review, I'm getting intrigued! Too bad about not being as connected to Sydney as was possible, and that she sounds a little on the weak side. Aha! A swoon-worthy love interest? Count me in! Adrian sounds smoochible. <3

    Anyway, awesome review, Rebecca! I might have to rethink on whether I should read this one or not, but my decision's headed a little toward the 'yes' side. ;)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Megan! Oh, trust me, Adrian is way smoochible :D Sydney isn't weak, she's just not badass and kickass like Rose. She has other great qualities though.

      Yay head toward the 'yes' side because these are are some really great books! Have you read the Vampire Academy series? If you haven't, I really recommend it, if you have, awesome!

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  12. I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would with out Rose and all but I thought it was pretty damn awesome!

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    1. I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it! I loved Rose in VA and was surprised too that I that I still enjoyed it, even though she was hardly in it :)

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  13. I still have only read the first book in this series, which I almost feel embarrassed about! Everyone seems to love this series, and I can't wait to find the time to finally continue and finish the rest!

    Lisa
    @turningpages94.blogspot.com

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    1. I hope you continue the series because it really is great.

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  14. Thanks for the review Rebecca! I feel like a total noob because everyone RAVES about Vampire Academy and Bloodlines.. but I haven't read either! I keep seeing them both everywhere though, and I love your review, so it might be time for me to just hurry up and get them read! :D

    Thanks Rebecca!

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    1. Don't feel like a noob, I only read the VA series this year! There's still plenty of time to catch up :D I do hope you look into reading them because they are amazing books, not to mention one of my favourite series!

      Thank YOU Ashley!

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