Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1) in And So It Begins Reading Challenge

Aug 03, 2011 Anasheh Satoorian rated it really liked it

My Thoughts:
This was my 2nd read-through to get ready for Golden Lily and Indigo Spell. I had previously read this, right when it first came out and had only rated it 3 stars on good reads. But I enjoyed it much more the 2nd time around.

What I Liked: The action packed last 150 pages. Adrian's humor. Eddie's devotion and mostly Sydney's struggle in fighting against what she was taught to believe and what she is starting to realize for herself.

Quote that summed up this book for me:

"As I drove ...more

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Nov 27, 2011 Paula Phillips rated it it was amazing

Were you one of the few that were sad to see the Vampire Academy books finish ? Sad, that you would never see Rose, Adrian , Dmitri, Sydney etc on a written page again? Never Fear though Vampire Academy fans , as author Richelle Mead has not left us wondering as she has written a spin-off type series focusing on The Alchemists and one in particular who got alot of face-time in the Vampire Academy series Sydney Sage. After the last book of the Vampire Academy series , we read as Sydney was found Were you one of the few that were sad to see the Vampire Academy books finish ? Sad, that you would never see Rose, Adrian , Dmitri, Sydney etc on a written page again? Never Fear though Vampire Academy fans , as author Richelle Mead has not left us wondering as she has written a spin-off type series focusing on The Alchemists and one in particular who got alot of face-time in the Vampire Academy series Sydney Sage. After the last book of the Vampire Academy series , we read as Sydney was found to be too close to the Vampires and exiled and ridiculed in the world of the Alchemists as to them Vampires and Dhampirs are abominations to the world and to humans. When an teenage girl Alchemist is required , it makes sense that they would stop at the Sage's family home and request Zoe Sage , Sydney's younger sister -though she has not had the training to deal with situations and Sydney , not wanting this life for her sister - stands up to take her place and sees this also has a last resort to redeeming herself and an opportunity to see old friends as when she arrives at the destination she is reunited with Rose , Eddie, Adrian , Jill and of course Abe - who as we learn has Sydney has his own Alchemist due to a revenge pact that was made. It seems that Jill's life as a princess royalty is in danger and they need to hold her somewhere safe and sound. Eddie, Jill and Sydney go undercover as Siblings and enroll in Amberwood Prep , though it seems something more sinister is happening when students start displaying similar tattoos to Sydney's alchemist mark and these tattoos are giving them fast-fix abilities. When Moroi are being found killed and these tattoos becoming more popular, it seems that Sydney and her friends may have another task at hand as it seems that the vampire killings , tattoos may be connected to a rogue Alchemist.
Find out more in this fast paced novel Bloodlines and stay tuned as once you put it down, you will be like me and holding out for the sequel "The Golden Lily". ...more

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Dec 05, 2010 Nicole rated it it was amazing

Shelves: signed-by-the-author, vampires

4.5/5 Not as good as the Vampire Academy books, but that's because Sydney didn't get enough romance for my taste... But I hear there's more in Golden Lily. Full review to come. ...more

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Jun 28, 2011 CrystalBookSnob rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, arc-i-own, reviewd

I LOVE VAMPIRE ACADEMY!!!! Whew, i just had to get that out of the way. Richelle Mead's young adult books literally make me feel like a screaming teenage girl again. When I received Bloodlines in the mail, I jumped up and down in my living room and left my family wondering if they needed to check me into the nearest mental institution! There's just something about the characters of Vampire Academy that make me all crazy and giggly.

At first I was hesitant to read Bloodlines because Sydney was not I LOVE VAMPIRE ACADEMY!!!! Whew, i just had to get that out of the way. Richelle Mead's young adult books literally make me feel like a screaming teenage girl again. When I received Bloodlines in the mail, I jumped up and down in my living room and left my family wondering if they needed to check me into the nearest mental institution! There's just something about the characters of Vampire Academy that make me all crazy and giggly.

At first I was hesitant to read Bloodlines because Sydney was not my favorite character towards the end of the series. And also, I'm a hard core Rose fan. But as soon as I was a couple of chapters in, I realized that I was enjoying the change of perspective and seeing the vampires from an alchemist's eyes. Bloodlines takes the reader deeper into the magical world of moroi, strigoi, and alchemists and we're getting to see more than just one aspect. We get more background and more history to these (for lack of a better word) creatures that Mead has created.

I love the very big role that Adrian has been given in this series. In Vampire Academy he was only this spoiled, rich brat who went around doing whatever he wanted and not caring about the consequences. But now he has the opportunity to become so much more and he's definitely learning the ins and outs of what it takes to be his own person.

Mead is such a fantastic writer. She leaves a mini-cliffhanger at the end of every chapter which pretty much makes it impossible to put the book down. There are also so many twists and turns and surprises around every corner. I can't even begin to guess what's going to happen or how it's going to end because she always just blows my imagination out of the water! The ending just blew my mind and I was speechless after I read the last page. And wishing I could get my hands on the next book that very instant!

So many of my friends and family love this series that my copy of Bloodlines has already been passed around! If you are a huge fan of Vampire Academy, you will not be disappointed! Trust me; go out and buy it now!! ...more

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Aug 31, 2011 thuy rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-written, young-adult, kindle-own, 52-books-in-52-weeks-2013, autographed-personalized

Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy was one of the first series that I really got into when I started to read YA books. I loved the world of the Moroi and Strigoi and the fact that Mead's characters weren't perfect and were fallible. Since then, Mead has become one of my favorite writers. From YA to urban fantasy to romance - if Richelle Mead writes it, I'll read it. However, I was hesitant to read Bloodlines because I was afraid that it would not be as good as VA. Sydney also wasn't my favorite cha Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy was one of the first series that I really got into when I started to read YA books. I loved the world of the Moroi and Strigoi and the fact that Mead's characters weren't perfect and were fallible. Since then, Mead has become one of my favorite writers. From YA to urban fantasy to romance - if Richelle Mead writes it, I'll read it. However, I was hesitant to read Bloodlines because I was afraid that it would not be as good as VA. Sydney also wasn't my favorite character, which also added to my reluctance to start this series. But I finally decided to take the plunge and I am so glad I did because Bloodlines is so fun and absolutely addicting.

Bloodlines is told from the point of view of Syndney, the alchemist who aided Rose in Vampire Academy. Her actions have put her in hot water with the alchemists, who believe that she may be getting too friendly with the vampires. Sydney must prove her competence and loyalty on her new mission posing as the sister of Jill Mastrano, sister to Moroi queen Lissa Dragomir. Sydney moves to Palm Springs with Jill along with her guardian Eddie, and VA favorite Adrian Ivashkov.

I was never a huge fan of Sydney. While helpful in Vampire Academy, she always came off as sort of snobby and judgmental. In Bloodlines, we get to understand Sydney a little more and what originally came off as snobbishness is more likely attributed to social awkwardness. Living with the alchemists her entire life, she hasn't had much practice interacting with people her own age. She is also very uncomfortable around the vampires, having been told that they are evil and unnatural her whole life. But she isn't narrow minded and must reconcile what's she has been told with her own experiences with them. In many ways, she is the opposite from Rose in Vampire Academy. In other ways, she is very similar. She is smart, determined, protective, and every bit as fierce as Rose when it really counts. And I love that she doesn't let Adrian get away with things and calls him on his bullshit.

Now we get to Adrian, the partying playboy. While I felt bad for what happened with him in Vampire Academy, I have to admit that I have always been annoyed by his spoiled and self-indulgent attitude. While he hasn't changed in Bloodlines, there's a definite shift in him. I think we're finally starting to see some of Adrian's true potential come through. He and Sydney also have some great chemistry together. Unfortunately there wasn't a ton of romance in this one, just a lot of banter. And you know what that leads to. :) Mead is a master of drawing out the tension though and I am excited to see where their relationship goes.

The plot moved quickly with plenty of action and intrigue to keep things interesting. Even though I figured out the bad guy pretty early on, I still had fun watching it unfold.

I am so glad that I finally decided to read Bloodlines. I loved jumping back into the VA world and learning more about the alchemists and vampires. Richelle Mead has done it again. I am totally hooked on this series and can't wait to read the next installment. Bring on The Golden Lily!

...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Angela rated it it was amazing

Bloodline is book one in the Bloodlines Series by Richelle Mead. This series is told from the perspective of Sidney Sage, Alchemist. I wasn't a Sidney fan in the Vampire Academy Series, but I loved Adrian, Eddie, and Jill. Sidney won me over with this book. I love how she's so different from Rose in Vampire Academy (although I love Rose). Sidney is far from a party girl. She dreams of going to college and enjoys studying and order. If you loved the Vampire Academy Series, this is very different ...more

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Feb 03, 2011 Lisa ILJ rated it liked it

Shelves: 2011, bea-11, ebooks-i-own, arcs-i-own

I wanted to like this one so much more than I did. It was a really slow read, and the plot just seemed to drag. I will still read the next book in the series. I remember no loving the original VA book, after the first book the rest were just fantastic.

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Dec 22, 2010 Georgia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-cover

I was so excited about this, and it most certainly didn't let me down. I mean, I LOVED this! Richelle Mead always has a way of making me forget the world I'm in, and enter another. I will definately be reading this again... and again... and again... ...more

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