Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Penguin Aus. (Imprint: Razorbill)
Publication Date: 23 August 2011
ISBN: 9781921518881
Stand alone or series: Bloodlines #1
Pages: 432 pages
Book Received from: Penguin Australia (Publishers)
First Lines: I couldn't breathe. There was a hand covering my mouth and another shaking my shoulder, startling me out of a heavy sleep.
Possible Spoilers if you have not read the Vampire Academy Series. You've been warned :)
Synopsis:
BLOOD DOESN'T LIE . . .
Sydney's blood is special. That's because she's an alchemist - one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists. And now with her allegiances in question, her future is on the line.
When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one.
The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions and forbidden romance lurk both outside – and within – the school grounds. Now that they're in hiding, the drama is only just beginning.
My Thoughts:
After finishing and absolutely loving Last Sacrifice, I was stoked to find out Richelle Mead had a branch off series planned and I couldn't help but think, "This will be good. I wonder who the characters would be."
I will admit right now, I did struggle a bit at the beginning. I knew Sydney was going to be different from reading from Rose's POV but I don't think I was prepared for it. Somehow I kept referring back to the Vampire Academy books and thinking that this is NOT how I expected this to be.
In saying that though, once I warmed to Sydney I was completely won over. It also helped that by page 50 there were a few familiar faces in the crowd. Bloodlines is based roughly a month after Last Sacrifice wrapped up. Lissa is now queen and while she is accepted by the majority of the court, there are a few that are not happy with this development, hence Bloodlines begins. Jill, the sister of Lissa has been whisked off to a secret location after there is an attempt on Jill's life, something that will affect Lissa's royal position. With no sister, Lissa loses the crown. The alchemists are brought in, and while Sydney is still copping the flack from helping Rose out she is assigned reluctantly to room with Jill and attend school.
I'm also so happy to find Adrian has a strong part in the story too. He was one of my favourites in the Vampire Academy series and when he showed up in this I was doing a little happy dance.
Bloodlines is alot like Vampire Academy in terms of setting the scene for a series as a whole. It's a strong start and I look forward to reading The Golden Lily book 2 in the Bloodlines series.
