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chelsfoust's review against another edition
5.0
Wow talk about a frickin cliff hanger!!!!!!!! Really good start to this new series, but good grief now I can't wait for the next book and this one JUST came out! :)
amieib's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book back in secondary school when I was just getting into reading and found that my school had quite a cool library. I never finished the series but remembered being so excited for this because Adrian Ivashkov was my favourite character from the Vampire Academy series and six books heavily featuring him seemed like heaven. Now 4+ years later, I’ve found my way back.
I really enjoyed this and since I’ve been struggling to really get back into reading, it felt like less of a chore than some other books I’ve attempted to read. I’ve found that I really like most of the characters (with a few obvious exceptions). I didn’t really expect to like this as much because my reading tastes were questionable back then but this book is solid and seems to have stood the test of time in a way. I was also hesitant about reading YA because I find myself leaning more towards Adult but the characters are dealing with quite heavy topics and the development was quite solid.
I’m looking forward to seeing where everything we found out in Book 1 leads us. Sydney’s father and Keith are obviously on my shit list. And I’m looking forward to Sydney hopefully addressing her diet/skinny fixation. There should honestly be a trigger warning for that.
Also the Jill-Eddie-Micah situation is also very interesting. I wonder what will happen with that. Also Sydney and Adrian’s dynamic is the kind of banter I love.
There also isn’t much world building here presumably because a lot of it that was done in the VA series (and it takes place in the modern world) which probably made this book a breeze in comparison to perhaps other fantasy books. You could read the series without going through the Vampire Academy one because vital information is provided but I think it’s more understandable and enjoyable with the back story that the VA books provide.
Solid read. Definitely continuing with the rest of the series.
I really enjoyed this and since I’ve been struggling to really get back into reading, it felt like less of a chore than some other books I’ve attempted to read. I’ve found that I really like most of the characters (with a few obvious exceptions). I didn’t really expect to like this as much because my reading tastes were questionable back then but this book is solid and seems to have stood the test of time in a way. I was also hesitant about reading YA because I find myself leaning more towards Adult but the characters are dealing with quite heavy topics and the development was quite solid.
I’m looking forward to seeing where everything we found out in Book 1 leads us. Sydney’s father and Keith are obviously on my shit list. And I’m looking forward to Sydney hopefully addressing her diet/skinny fixation. There should honestly be a trigger warning for that.
Also the Jill-Eddie-Micah situation is also very interesting. I wonder what will happen with that. Also Sydney and Adrian’s dynamic is the kind of banter I love.
There also isn’t much world building here presumably because a lot of it that was done in the VA series (and it takes place in the modern world) which probably made this book a breeze in comparison to perhaps other fantasy books. You could read the series without going through the Vampire Academy one because vital information is provided but I think it’s more understandable and enjoyable with the back story that the VA books provide.
Solid read. Definitely continuing with the rest of the series.
lmf456's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Eating disorder
blurrypetals's review against another edition
5.0
November 21, 2017
[re-read for my Greatest Hits Bookshelf Tour 2017]
This book and its sequels are so goddamn much fun it's a little insane, especially coming off the Eye-Roll Express that was re-reading the Vampire Academy series. The way all the different characters work with and talk to each other in this book alone are better than the whole of the Vampire Academy series, not to mention Sydney and Adrian Fucking Ivashkov's positively palpable and world-endingly cute chemistry and eventual courtship.
Those two and their relationship, of course, have always been my favorite part of the Bloodlines series, but Eddie, Jill, and the eventual addition of Angeline are all just the best. Hell, even the antagonists are more likable, interesting, and entertaining than Rose and Dimitri. Keith is so complex and conniving, it's delightful. The foreshadowing for what's going on with Lee is also just...just so good.
These books are why Richelle Mead is one of my favorites. Vampire Academy was just a vehicle to get me to Bloodlines and, even though I'm so bitter and angry about Vampire Academy as a whole, because I got this series and these characters out of it, I can't help but be grateful for it.
This whole series is a happy ending in progress and I adore it to pieces; and this is just the beginning. I absolutely can't wait to watch Adrian and Sydney fall in love all over again.
August 24, 2011
GODDAMN IT, DIMITRI BELIKOV. JUST STAY OUT OF ONE WHOLE DAMN BOOK, WILL YOU? PLEASE? JUST FOR ME?
Jeeze. Now that that's out of my system, on to the rest of the review.
So much love. I have so much love for this book (up until that last sentence, of course). Adrian and Sydney's relationship is so cute. When he called her beautiful I absolutely melted. So wonderful. I'm so glad this series is happening just so I can see more of their dynamic together.
Eddie and Jill are obviously going to happen, too. Just you wait.
Guesses I got right: I guessed about four pages before it was confirmed that Adrian and Jill were spirit bound. I guessed Lee would turn out to be behind the murders. I guessed that Adrian and Sydney were going to be love interests for each other, as well as Eddie and Jill.
Guesses I got wrong: I guessed the murders were connected to the tattoos (slitting their throat to drain the blood for the tattoos, amirite?). I guessed Keith would be a part of a love triangle with Sydney and Adrian (I only guessed that after reading the first chapter. It was clearly soon disproved).
BUT SERIOUSLY, BACK TO DIMITRI. I MEAN, WHAT THE HELL? I hate that guy. I wish he and Rose would run off into the sunset already to have their happily ever after already. I don't care about EITHER of them anymore because they keep tearing Adrian's life apart. So run, little dhampirs, off into your specially-crafted sunset already.
[re-read for my Greatest Hits Bookshelf Tour 2017]
This book and its sequels are so goddamn much fun it's a little insane, especially coming off the Eye-Roll Express that was re-reading the Vampire Academy series. The way all the different characters work with and talk to each other in this book alone are better than the whole of the Vampire Academy series, not to mention Sydney and Adrian Fucking Ivashkov's positively palpable and world-endingly cute chemistry and eventual courtship.
Those two and their relationship, of course, have always been my favorite part of the Bloodlines series, but Eddie, Jill, and the eventual addition of Angeline are all just the best. Hell, even the antagonists are more likable, interesting, and entertaining than Rose and Dimitri. Keith is so complex and conniving, it's delightful. The foreshadowing for what's going on with Lee is also just...just so good.
These books are why Richelle Mead is one of my favorites. Vampire Academy was just a vehicle to get me to Bloodlines and, even though I'm so bitter and angry about Vampire Academy as a whole, because I got this series and these characters out of it, I can't help but be grateful for it.
This whole series is a happy ending in progress and I adore it to pieces; and this is just the beginning. I absolutely can't wait to watch Adrian and Sydney fall in love all over again.
August 24, 2011
GODDAMN IT, DIMITRI BELIKOV. JUST STAY OUT OF ONE WHOLE DAMN BOOK, WILL YOU? PLEASE? JUST FOR ME?
Jeeze. Now that that's out of my system, on to the rest of the review.
So much love. I have so much love for this book (up until that last sentence, of course). Adrian and Sydney's relationship is so cute. When he called her beautiful I absolutely melted. So wonderful. I'm so glad this series is happening just so I can see more of their dynamic together.
Eddie and Jill are obviously going to happen, too. Just you wait.
Guesses I got right: I guessed about four pages before it was confirmed that Adrian and Jill were spirit bound. I guessed Lee would turn out to be behind the murders. I guessed that Adrian and Sydney were going to be love interests for each other, as well as Eddie and Jill.
Guesses I got wrong: I guessed the murders were connected to the tattoos (slitting their throat to drain the blood for the tattoos, amirite?). I guessed Keith would be a part of a love triangle with Sydney and Adrian (I only guessed that after reading the first chapter. It was clearly soon disproved).
BUT SERIOUSLY, BACK TO DIMITRI. I MEAN, WHAT THE HELL? I hate that guy. I wish he and Rose would run off into the sunset already to have their happily ever after already. I don't care about EITHER of them anymore because they keep tearing Adrian's life apart. So run, little dhampirs, off into your specially-crafted sunset already.
beachybookstack's review against another edition
4.0
Slow start turned into a steady plot after 100 pages. I wasn't sure I would read the next book until the last 50 pages. More VA characters are coming to join Sydney and the gang in Palm Springs!
readercasey's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
veraann's review against another edition
3.0
This is a spin-off series of the Vampire Academy. If you don't want to get some spoilers to the VA series, don't read this first.
I think the author did a good job of explaining characters and situations if you hadn't read the VA series. Some references may be lost if the reader hasn't read VA series, and it does have spoilers as to somethings that happens in that series.
As for this book itself. Not a bad start to the series, though I felt it was a bit slow paced. It does show some promise of a good series as it goes on. I do like the idea of delving further into the alchemist world. The world build has been established previously since this is a spin-off so I am hoping the characters will be built up and stand out more as the series goes on.
I think the author did a good job of explaining characters and situations if you hadn't read the VA series. Some references may be lost if the reader hasn't read VA series, and it does have spoilers as to somethings that happens in that series.
As for this book itself. Not a bad start to the series, though I felt it was a bit slow paced. It does show some promise of a good series as it goes on. I do like the idea of delving further into the alchemist world. The world build has been established previously since this is a spin-off so I am hoping the characters will be built up and stand out more as the series goes on.
cobycoyle's review against another edition
3.0
I am a huge Adrian fan, so I am super glad Richelle Mead made this series and decided to make him one of the bigger features. This goes for Eddie Castile as well. I also liked Sydney's character, though I didn't think I did enough to enjoy a series centered on her. I was surprised to find that I did enjoy (mostly) seeing things from her perspective, and this did have me feeling frustrated with myself AND Sydney. I had to put in check my own very liberal and very non-religious beliefs when feeling angry with her for screaming at Adrian for the spirit dream and Jill using her water magic, so this was sort of humbling (despite my still being angry with her, I did keep going "oh for fuck's sake magic is cool you twerp") as this is hard to do.
I did enjoy the book, though I found things a little more predictable than they were in the Vampire Academy series. I guessed what was going on with Adrian and Jill's bond as soon as they wouldn't talk about her attack much in the beginning of the book, and I started suspecting Lee of being some sort of villain early on. Despite this, I found the plot to be interesting and the book still well-written. To The Golden Lily I go!
I did enjoy the book, though I found things a little more predictable than they were in the Vampire Academy series. I guessed what was going on with Adrian and Jill's bond as soon as they wouldn't talk about her attack much in the beginning of the book, and I started suspecting Lee of being some sort of villain early on. Despite this, I found the plot to be interesting and the book still well-written. To The Golden Lily I go!