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blurrypetals's review against another edition
5.0
November 30, 2017
[re-read for my Greatest Hits Bookshelf Tour 2017]
The only issue I have with this book is its tonal whiplash. But, if that's my biggest complaint, I'm more than happy to enjoy the roller coaster that takes me from a re-education camp scarily reminiscent of gay re-education centers to Adrian dealing with the literal and metaphysical demons of his past to a daring heist/escape scene straight out of Mission Impossible to a shotgun wedding between two characters on the run. That's what I've always loved about these books, is that they're such fun and they're such a ride that, even when there are issues, plot holes, or just plain old mistakes (like Hopper's statue form going from being a chunk of quartz to him being an intricate golden statue), I honestly don't care about it all because the book is so much fun, the characters are so good, and the plot, although wild, is engaging and, at the end of the day, I honestly couldn't ask for much more than that.
And, yeah, Sydney and Adrian getting married feels like a fanfiction gone canon, but, while the whole "ew this feels like fanfiction" feeling usually can ruin something for me, this is far from being ruined--again, because it's fun, because Adrian and Sydney love each other, because it just makes sense for them and their story. It's campy as hell, sure, but it makes for some damn fun reading.
I love this series and I'm so glad my opinion on them hasn't changed as drastically as it did with Vampire Acadamy. Here we go, gang: the finale (both to the Bloodlines series as a whole as well as my Greatest Hits Bookshelf Tour 2017) awaits.
August 11, 2014
I can't believe it's almost over. I can't wait. It's going to be so good but I'm going to be so sad when it's over. This was so good. Adrian and Sydney got married and it was glorious. These books are glorious and I am not ready to let them go. alskdjfas;ldfk I don't know what I'm going to do when I know there is no more of this world to look forward to. Oh well. I suppose I'll bask in it until The Ruby Circle is here. Ah well.
[re-read for my Greatest Hits Bookshelf Tour 2017]
The only issue I have with this book is its tonal whiplash. But, if that's my biggest complaint, I'm more than happy to enjoy the roller coaster that takes me from a re-education camp scarily reminiscent of gay re-education centers to Adrian dealing with the literal and metaphysical demons of his past to a daring heist/escape scene straight out of Mission Impossible to a shotgun wedding between two characters on the run. That's what I've always loved about these books, is that they're such fun and they're such a ride that, even when there are issues, plot holes, or just plain old mistakes (like Hopper's statue form going from being a chunk of quartz to him being an intricate golden statue), I honestly don't care about it all because the book is so much fun, the characters are so good, and the plot, although wild, is engaging and, at the end of the day, I honestly couldn't ask for much more than that.
And, yeah, Sydney and Adrian getting married feels like a fanfiction gone canon, but, while the whole "ew this feels like fanfiction" feeling usually can ruin something for me, this is far from being ruined--again, because it's fun, because Adrian and Sydney love each other, because it just makes sense for them and their story. It's campy as hell, sure, but it makes for some damn fun reading.
I love this series and I'm so glad my opinion on them hasn't changed as drastically as it did with Vampire Acadamy. Here we go, gang: the finale (both to the Bloodlines series as a whole as well as my Greatest Hits Bookshelf Tour 2017) awaits.
August 11, 2014
I can't believe it's almost over. I can't wait. It's going to be so good but I'm going to be so sad when it's over. This was so good. Adrian and Sydney got married and it was glorious. These books are glorious and I am not ready to let them go. alskdjfas;ldfk I don't know what I'm going to do when I know there is no more of this world to look forward to. Oh well. I suppose I'll bask in it until The Ruby Circle is here. Ah well.
kaitiecakes's review against another edition
5.0
I finished this in 4 hours. I couldn't put it down it was so good!
beachybookstack's review against another edition
3.0
Ok so I picked up this book off my shelf and stared at it a moment. Did I read this one? I read the yellow one, purple one, and I know I didn't read the final book. Curse of reorganizing and packing all my books to move....actually not reading any leisure/fun books for over a year is the most likely cause of my amnesia. I never thought I'd be thankful for the little re-introductions that authors peppered into the beginning of a work in their series. Last we saw Sydney, she had been taken by force by te Alchemists because her sister is a snotty beezy tattetale. Shocker... And this leaves all her friends and Adrian in a loop of confusion and misery. Oh and Hopper is stuck being a statue. Clearly the most impacted critter in this situation.
Anyways, I want to be excited about this book and say it was great but I ended up feeling like I was waiting for something to happen for 75% of the book. I understand that escaping a reeducation center should take time or be difficult, but we all know she would get out/get broken out/be released (phrasing it this way to avoid spoiling anything). So much happens once Sydney leaves the reeducation, as it should. It justwould have been nice to get the ball rolling a bit sooner. There were a lot of obvious events in the first half of the book, but the route that Mead takes to hit these plot points was not as predictable as I expected. Points!
The ending sets up the next book and the obvious A plot and B plot---Sydney & Adrian story and Moroi world/Jill royal dispute. These have been thoroughly maintained through lines for the entire series and it's nice to see an author actually stick to their road map. There may be some obvious plot turns but I enjoy some of the predictability. That's why I'm reading YA after all. It's light. I'll finish the series once I put some time into other books I'm anxious to get to. Namely, Welcome to Night Vale as well as the sequel to The Rook.
Anyways, I want to be excited about this book and say it was great but I ended up feeling like I was waiting for something to happen for 75% of the book. I understand that escaping a reeducation center should take time or be difficult, but we all know she would get out/get broken out/be released (phrasing it this way to avoid spoiling anything). So much happens once Sydney leaves the reeducation, as it should. It justwould have been nice to get the ball rolling a bit sooner. There were a lot of obvious events in the first half of the book, but the route that Mead takes to hit these plot points was not as predictable as I expected. Points!
The ending sets up the next book and the obvious A plot and B plot---Sydney & Adrian story and Moroi world/Jill royal dispute. These have been thoroughly maintained through lines for the entire series and it's nice to see an author actually stick to their road map. There may be some obvious plot turns but I enjoy some of the predictability. That's why I'm reading YA after all. It's light. I'll finish the series once I put some time into other books I'm anxious to get to. Namely, Welcome to Night Vale as well as the sequel to The Rook.
cobycoyle's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it. I love Adrian and Sydney and the sacrifices they make for love. I love Eddie's dedication. I love that Adrian's mom accepted Adrian and Sydney's relationship.
And I loooovveed Adrian and Sydney's wedding. The lengths Adrian went to in order to provide her somewhat of a wedding experience were touching, and as soon as I saw him say "I have an idea" I sort of saw it coming but didn't at the same time (I know that doesn't make sense, sorry)
I thought the scenes with the Alchemist re-education center were very descriptive and well-written, and I could picture each scene clear as day. It was disturbing, and that is a good thing here to me- I wasn't bored, I was invested in the story and Sydney.
I'm very sad that the next one is the last one, and I just hope it does the series she's written so well justice.
And I loooovveed Adrian and Sydney's wedding. The lengths Adrian went to in order to provide her somewhat of a wedding experience were touching, and as soon as I saw him say "I have an idea" I sort of saw it coming but didn't at the same time (I know that doesn't make sense, sorry)
I thought the scenes with the Alchemist re-education center were very descriptive and well-written, and I could picture each scene clear as day. It was disturbing, and that is a good thing here to me- I wasn't bored, I was invested in the story and Sydney.
I'm very sad that the next one is the last one, and I just hope it does the series she's written so well justice.
mcdanky's review against another edition
5.0
I will never get enough of these characters or this world! Congrats richelle mead, you have me addicted! I've read va/bloodlines twice and I could read them all again and again. These books are right up there with Harry potter - which is saying something! All in all, a fantastic fifth installment in this series and I can't wait for more!!! Praying for another 6 from rose's pov!!!
snoopydoo77's review against another edition
5.0
First off, when I started the series I wasn’t so sure if Sydney would make a great story line. But Boy was I wrong. This book proofed even more than the four previous books. She has become such a strong person and this book was just proof, how strong she really is.
You can find my full review here:
http://myreads.booklikes.com/post/947215/silver-shadows-bloodlines-5-by-richelle-mead
You can find my full review here:
http://myreads.booklikes.com/post/947215/silver-shadows-bloodlines-5-by-richelle-mead
graciejames's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
beatrizmees's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
milyhope's review against another edition
4.0
I just finished and I'm in a book induced haze... I'm not sure I like the whole book, although I've given it 4 stars... I'm just speechless and really wanting the next.
Sydrian are amazing, and fearless, or at least that's what everybody else thinks because deep inside, they have big issues.
Overall: great
Sydrian are amazing, and fearless, or at least that's what everybody else thinks because deep inside, they have big issues.
Overall: great
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Fifth in the Bloodlines urban fantasy series for Young Adults and revolving around a group of dhampir, Moroi, and humans who have become friends. The couple focus is on Adrian and Sydney.
It’s three months in from the end of The Fiery Heart, 4.
My Take
The point-of-view switches between Sydney and Adrian, which only makes sense since they're so completely separate in Silver Shadows. I see this as a bridge novel. Yes, there are two important steps achieved, but that's just it. They're steps toward what will happen next.
Jeez, ain't it always the way with a fanatical organization that thinks it's all that? Terrified that someone may step out of line, think for themselves, challenge their obsolete, archaic thinking. Can't have that. Beat it down. Starve it out of them. And that's exactly what they're doing to Sydney.
These people think they're so decent, using their religious terms of communion, reflection, purification, and yet they delight in hurting, abusing, destroying individuals every chance they get. Doesn't sound very Christian to me.
Oh, please. I can't believe these Alchemist nuts actually believe they could be "contaminated" by touch!
Adrian is so confused and frustrated over Sydney that I'm guessing he clung to Nina, a full-blooded Moroi with a Gift for Spirit, as one of the few people who could understand what he was going through, even if she didn't know about Sydney. He's caught between trying to find and rescue Sydney and battling his depression even as he starts to try and fix things for others back at the court.
He's also confused about that whole being supported thing. He rails at his mother for being a hypocrite about his father, and yet he's doing the exact same thing. Even at the end when he returns, he still believes he'll be able to live his life as he's used to it.
It does lead to thoughts on love. A comparison of his parents and what he's experienced with Sydney. It'll be interesting to see how he thinks of it in The Ruby Circle.
The escape is something of a disaster; it does bring it home how impossible their situation is. It also brings out the romantic in Adrian. He was so sweet and thoughtful. A romantic and protective streak that is cracking.
At the very end, why didn't Adrian immediately think of his bond?
The Story
Light and sleep deprivation, less than minimal nutrition. Punishment for the slightest infractions or none at all.
It’s a nightmare for both Sydney and Adrian as she tries to survive, to escape, and Adrian struggles to reach her through Dreams.
The Characters
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist who is questioning their core beliefs — and has fallen in love with the enemy, a Moroi. Jared Sage is her fanatical father; Zoe is the sister who turned her in for torture and re-education. Carly is her older sister who stood with her mom during the divorce. Ian was a jerk who claimed he loved Sydney.
Lord Adrian Ivashkov is a Moroi prince with Spirit, a debilitating Gift that sends him seeking oblivion in drink. Hopper is a tiny callistana, who looks like a dragon and is a benign demon. Adrian's dead Aunt Tatiana, the late queen, has latched onto Adrian and her voice snarks away in his head. His mother, Danielle, is out of prison; Dale is the guardian who accompanied her to Palm Springs. His father, Nathan, is so angry with his wife, and worse, they're not being invited anywhere. Horrors!
The Moroi Court in Pennsylvania
Rose Hathaway and Dimitri Belikov are both dhampir and Guardians. Rose is also Queen Lissa's best friend. Christian is still part of Lissa's life. Maria Conta is an advisor. Sonya Karp is also a dhampir and a former Strigoi, like Dimitri, who was brought back by a Spirit user. She's desperately searching for a vaccine.
Vanessa Szelsky is one of the party royals. Wesley Drozdov shows up with his lackeys, Lars Zeklos and Brent Badica, trying to make trouble, and Adrian lets everyone know what they tried to do to Sydney, hee-haw.
Amberwood Preparatory School
Princess Jill Mastrano Dragomir is Lissa's sister and the only reason Lissa is queen of the Moroi. She's been hidden at the school to keep her alive and Lissa on that throne. Eddie Castile is in love with Jill and one of her dhampir bodyguards along with Neil Raymond and Angeline Dawes who has finally become a couple with Trey Juarez, a human student. Jackie Terwilliger is Sydney's magical mentor and history teacher. Maura is Sydney's stiff-faced Alchemist replacement.
Neil is in love with Olive Sinclair, who was a strigoi in The Fiery Heart until her sister, Nina Sinclair, helped bring her back. Meanwhile Nina misinterprets Adrian's interest.
Carlton College
Rowena Clark is a student friend of Adrian's; Cassie is her girlfriend.
The ex-Alchemists
Marcus Finch is number one on the Alchemist Most Wanted list. He's been helping Alchemists who have started to question the party line; Sydney was one of them. Sheila, Grif, and Wayne are part of Marcus' team.
The Alchemists…
…are a secret society of humans fanatical about keeping humans from knowing about Moroi, strigoi, and anything else that goes bump in the night. Grace Sheridan is in charge of the re-education facility, and she's a right bitch who delights in torture. Baxter is the cook. Addison teaches the art class which is designed to encourage conformity. Harrison teaches current affairs according to the Alchemist viewpoint, i.e., propaganda aimed at forcing them to see the Moroi as evil. Kennedy is another teacher. Kendall and Grayson are guards.
Emma will become Sydney's roommate. Elsa, Amelia, Jonah, Renee, Lacey, Hope, and Stuart are more prisoners desperate to keep themselves from the taint of Sydney. Duncan Mortimer is the first to make overtures, but even he is very careful. Mostly because of Chantal, a girl he fell in love with whom they took away when they realized it.
Keith Darnell was the jerk from Bloodlines, 1, and The Golden Lily, 2, who went into re-education. Seems he really did learn his lesson.
The Witching Hour in Las Vegas is a Moroi-run casino and hotel.
Dhampir are half-Moroi, half-human, and they train to protect Moroi. The Warriors of Light are anti-non-humans as well and hunt vampires down. Sydney learned in Indigo Spell, 3, that they're secretly associated with the Alchemists.
The Cover
The cover is soft with Adrian looking out at us over Sydney’s shoulder from the greeny gold background while Sydney is staring straight at us, her blonde hair blown to the side, her golden lily visible on her cheek. It’s a sad cover for a sad story.
The title is a question, for Sydney’s golden tattoo has Silver Shadows.
It’s three months in from the end of The Fiery Heart, 4.
My Take
The point-of-view switches between Sydney and Adrian, which only makes sense since they're so completely separate in Silver Shadows. I see this as a bridge novel. Yes, there are two important steps achieved, but that's just it. They're steps toward what will happen next.
Jeez, ain't it always the way with a fanatical organization that thinks it's all that? Terrified that someone may step out of line, think for themselves, challenge their obsolete, archaic thinking. Can't have that. Beat it down. Starve it out of them. And that's exactly what they're doing to Sydney.
These people think they're so decent, using their religious terms of communion, reflection, purification, and yet they delight in hurting, abusing, destroying individuals every chance they get. Doesn't sound very Christian to me.
Oh, please. I can't believe these Alchemist nuts actually believe they could be "contaminated" by touch!
Adrian is so confused and frustrated over Sydney that I'm guessing he clung to Nina, a full-blooded Moroi with a Gift for Spirit, as one of the few people who could understand what he was going through, even if she didn't know about Sydney. He's caught between trying to find and rescue Sydney and battling his depression even as he starts to try and fix things for others back at the court.
He's also confused about that whole being supported thing. He rails at his mother for being a hypocrite about his father, and yet he's doing the exact same thing. Even at the end when he returns, he still believes he'll be able to live his life as he's used to it.
It does lead to thoughts on love. A comparison of his parents and what he's experienced with Sydney. It'll be interesting to see how he thinks of it in The Ruby Circle.
The escape is something of a disaster; it does bring it home how impossible their situation is. It also brings out the romantic in Adrian. He was so sweet and thoughtful. A romantic and protective streak that is cracking.
At the very end, why didn't Adrian immediately think of his bond?
The Story
Light and sleep deprivation, less than minimal nutrition. Punishment for the slightest infractions or none at all.
It’s a nightmare for both Sydney and Adrian as she tries to survive, to escape, and Adrian struggles to reach her through Dreams.
The Characters
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist who is questioning their core beliefs — and has fallen in love with the enemy, a Moroi. Jared Sage is her fanatical father; Zoe is the sister who turned her in for torture and re-education. Carly is her older sister who stood with her mom during the divorce. Ian was a jerk who claimed he loved Sydney.
Lord Adrian Ivashkov is a Moroi prince with Spirit, a debilitating Gift that sends him seeking oblivion in drink. Hopper is a tiny callistana, who looks like a dragon and is a benign demon. Adrian's dead Aunt Tatiana, the late queen, has latched onto Adrian and her voice snarks away in his head. His mother, Danielle, is out of prison; Dale is the guardian who accompanied her to Palm Springs. His father, Nathan, is so angry with his wife, and worse, they're not being invited anywhere. Horrors!
The Moroi Court in Pennsylvania
Rose Hathaway and Dimitri Belikov are both dhampir and Guardians. Rose is also Queen Lissa's best friend. Christian is still part of Lissa's life. Maria Conta is an advisor. Sonya Karp is also a dhampir and a former Strigoi, like Dimitri, who was brought back by a Spirit user. She's desperately searching for a vaccine.
Vanessa Szelsky is one of the party royals. Wesley Drozdov shows up with his lackeys, Lars Zeklos and Brent Badica, trying to make trouble, and Adrian lets everyone know what they tried to do to Sydney, hee-haw.
Amberwood Preparatory School
Princess Jill Mastrano Dragomir is Lissa's sister and the only reason Lissa is queen of the Moroi. She's been hidden at the school to keep her alive and Lissa on that throne. Eddie Castile is in love with Jill and one of her dhampir bodyguards along with Neil Raymond and Angeline Dawes who has finally become a couple with Trey Juarez, a human student. Jackie Terwilliger is Sydney's magical mentor and history teacher. Maura is Sydney's stiff-faced Alchemist replacement.
Neil is in love with Olive Sinclair, who was a strigoi in The Fiery Heart until her sister, Nina Sinclair, helped bring her back. Meanwhile Nina misinterprets Adrian's interest.
Carlton College
Rowena Clark is a student friend of Adrian's; Cassie is her girlfriend.
The ex-Alchemists
Marcus Finch is number one on the Alchemist Most Wanted list. He's been helping Alchemists who have started to question the party line; Sydney was one of them. Sheila, Grif, and Wayne are part of Marcus' team.
The Alchemists…
…are a secret society of humans fanatical about keeping humans from knowing about Moroi, strigoi, and anything else that goes bump in the night. Grace Sheridan is in charge of the re-education facility, and she's a right bitch who delights in torture. Baxter is the cook. Addison teaches the art class which is designed to encourage conformity. Harrison teaches current affairs according to the Alchemist viewpoint, i.e., propaganda aimed at forcing them to see the Moroi as evil. Kennedy is another teacher. Kendall and Grayson are guards.
Emma will become Sydney's roommate. Elsa, Amelia, Jonah, Renee, Lacey, Hope, and Stuart are more prisoners desperate to keep themselves from the taint of Sydney. Duncan Mortimer is the first to make overtures, but even he is very careful. Mostly because of Chantal, a girl he fell in love with whom they took away when they realized it.
Keith Darnell was the jerk from Bloodlines, 1, and The Golden Lily, 2, who went into re-education. Seems he really did learn his lesson.
The Witching Hour in Las Vegas is a Moroi-run casino and hotel.
Dhampir are half-Moroi, half-human, and they train to protect Moroi. The Warriors of Light are anti-non-humans as well and hunt vampires down. Sydney learned in Indigo Spell, 3, that they're secretly associated with the Alchemists.
The Cover
The cover is soft with Adrian looking out at us over Sydney’s shoulder from the greeny gold background while Sydney is staring straight at us, her blonde hair blown to the side, her golden lily visible on her cheek. It’s a sad cover for a sad story.
The title is a question, for Sydney’s golden tattoo has Silver Shadows.