Title: Bloodlines
Author: Richelle Mead
Available: August 23, 2011 (In stores now)
Goodreads says: When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.
Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.
On the cover: Adrian Ivashkov (on the left) and everyone's fave alchemist, Sydney Sage (on the right)
You guys, words can't describe how much I loved Bloodlines even though months ago, I was very not into the idea of there being a spin-off. But I stuck it out because I heard Eddie and Adrian would be there and I BASICALLY ADORED LURRRVED them in VA. Bloodlines is the beginning of a brand new series starring Sydney Sage that Richelle Mead created to explore the complex role that the Alchemists played in the vampire/dhampirs and human world and affairs. The characters in Bloodlines are really drawn out and being set up for the sequel The Golden Lily. Guys, I can't even begin to explain how this series makes me happy.
We're shown more of Eddie and how he's getting along since passing his Guardian trials (remember those that made everyone gasp in delight and freak the shiz out?) and what role he plays in the Royal Palace alongside Queen Lissa! (fine, Vasilissa), Rose, Christian and Dimitri. Also, we see more of Jill as well, because, hell, we JUST found out she's the illegitimate sister of Lissa (and can I say, I've never wanted to slap Lissa more than I had when Jill recounted tales as being an awkward person in the palace).
Oh, yes, we also talk about Adrian.
We're shown more of Eddie and how he's getting along since passing his Guardian trials (remember those that made everyone gasp in delight and freak the shiz out?) and what role he plays in the Royal Palace alongside Queen Lissa! (fine, Vasilissa), Rose, Christian and Dimitri. Also, we see more of Jill as well, because, hell, we JUST found out she's the illegitimate sister of Lissa (and can I say, I've never wanted to slap Lissa more than I had when Jill recounted tales as being an awkward person in the palace).
Oh, yes, we also talk about Adrian.
If you didn't guess, I'm a huge member of Team Ivashkov. Sorry Belikov! :D So, we explore more of Adrian and how he becomes a useful person! despite him being "too pretty to be useful". Adrian is seriously devastated when we remembered him last time, with that one scene between Rose and Dimitri as Adrian walks in on it. Adrian fans wept as the moment passed and we don't really know what happens to him, but that is explored with Bloodlines, where we see him struggling to regain his once carefree and party-boy attitude (it's still here!) but it becomes even more destructive since the last events in Last Sacrifice.
Then there's Jill Dragomir, the poor girl dragged into all of this when Rose set out to help Lissa gain the throne and needed to find another relative to let her take the throne. Jill, I salute you for putting up with the bullshit Lissa pulled you through (at least Rose was kinder... and SPOILERS!). Bloodlines takes up the mantle besides the Vampire Academy series as it has an engrossing plot; hilarious, raw, and real characters (Sydney's obliviousness to flirting? check, Jill struggling to maintain her normalcy as she's dragged as a pawn for the Royal Palace, Eddie and yanno, letting Jill die while Adrian brings her back via SHADOW KISSED!, and more explanation behind the Alchemists organization , who are pretty effin' scary after the book). Lastly, we're left on a not so much as a cliffhanger, but more like a promise that The Golden Lily will live up to its sister's badassery and and amazing yet (and I don't want to use it) star-crossed romance (it's what you least expect) that we know and love dearly.
Bloodlines is pretty stellar, filling the void that VA left for all Richelle Mead fans. While the execution may be a bit slow (remember Vampire Academy guys? ), it's necessary for the newcomers to read it and helps the returning dhampirs (that's us you VA-lifers!) get adjusted to the same story, but with new rules and characters.
再见！
Jaz
P.S In case y'all haven't heard; The Golden Lily sequel is coming out June 12 and Entertainment Weekly got an interview and first chapter with Richelle Mead! Go check it out.
And to add some more love to that, there's the anthology Foretold of that one time when Richelle promised her adoring cult fans the story where Rose and Dimitri are in Russia and his family is involved? Yeah, it's coming out in late August, with other rock star authors.
Shazam!
When Sydney Sage is dragged out of her bed in the middle of the night by the Alchemists, she's certain it's because she's finally being punished for helping Rose Hathaway escape. She's surprised to find that the Alchemists--and the Moroi--have a more important problem. Jill Dragomir's life is in danger from her sister's political enemies, and the princess needs to disappear. So, Sydney finds herself in the most unlikely of places--a boarding school in Palm Springs, CA, masquerading as Jill's sister and roommate. There, Sydney not only has to help protect Jill, but prove her loyalty to the Alchemists, who no longer trust her...in between dealing with high school drama and uncovering some surprising secrets under Palm Springs' sunny facade.
ReplyDelete