Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

The Synopsis:
Blood doesn't lie...
Sydney is 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. 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 last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning...





My Thoughts:
So, after being an engaged participant in the YA Crush Tourney hosted by The YA Sisterhood, I was deeply disappointed when my man, Daemon, lost.  I was also wondering who this Adrian was.  I mean, he won the Tourney and all.

My impressions of him?  I was not impressed, sadly.  Sure, he had this devil-may-care attitude and could be quite the charmer when he wanted to be, but I wasn't feeling it.  Honestly, I found him infuriating (and not in the good way) and annoying.  He smoked and drank and slept with just about every Moroi out there in a 100 mile radius.  I guess because of the Tourney I had such high hopes for him, but I was let down.  I thought he was going to be this unimaginably smokin' hot dude with a mysterious side.

I was also deeply confused.  I was under the impression that this series was a companion where you could read one and not the other and not be confused.  But I was.  I struggled to remember the differences between dhampir and Strigoi and Moroi and then remember that they're all vampires.  Moroi equals good.  Strigoi equals bad.  There were too many of these terms being thrown at me and I'd have to slow down a little bit just to process it all and make sense of it.

And then there was the story itself.  I did enjoy it and found myself engaged in Sydney's adventures.  The beginning, though, was very slow and I almost tossed it aside because it got very boring.  Then, towards the end, things picked up pretty fast, so I was glad I kept on reading.  I was expecting adventure and romance, but I didn't get much of either.  That disappointed me, but I was happily surprised by the outcome of the ending.  Very happy.

In all, don't make the mistake I did and don't read The Vampire Series.  I don't think I will because I think I ruined most of it and I'm not that interested in reading it.  I will, however, read Golden Lily and Indigo Spell.  I'm most curious to see how it will all turn out, but I can wait.  I'm sad that I didn't enjoy this book as much as other, but my opinion is my own.  By all means, if you enjoy Mead's writing, go ahead and read Bloodlines.  Please, don't let my opinion ruin your own entertainment.

Happy reading!