Bloodlines by Richelle Mead {20th]

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy. 

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.

Title - Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1)

Author - Richelle Mead

Pages - 421

Paperback, Hardcover, eBook - Hardcover 

Published & Publisher - August 23rd, 2011; Razor Bill

Source - Bought/Pre-order

Rating - 4/5

I thought Last Sacrifice would be my last taste of Richelle Mead, but I was wrong. I'm happy that I was! I've missed reading about this new and enthralling world she came up with. Well, since Vampire Academy has been out for awhile, I can't classify this as new per se. But I love Richelle's creativity and originally.

The main focus of the novel isn't about Rose (if you've read the Vampire Academy series, you know who that is) but on an alchemist named Sydney. Alchemists are humans with a special tattoo on their face, raised to hate vampires and all their relations. Their tattoo has magic in it that helps protect themselves from telling the world about the Moroi, Dhampir, and Strigoi society. Alchemists also cover up Strigoi killing. In Bloodlines, Sydney has to redeem herself since in previous events, her loyalty to the Alchemists were tested. She gets sent to protect a princess. She just didn't expect things to be so complicated.

To be honest, I have been eagerly awaiting this book for a very long time. Maybe that's why when I finished reading the book I felt that I had been let down. Too much hype. It wasn't because of the content in the book, it was great! I just didn't actually realized that this series isn't about Rose. Sydney and Rose are nothing alike, and that made me sad. True, they both have endless rambling that can take up pages. But Sydney is so... And Rose is so... I hope you can see what I'm trying to say here. In Rose's tale, there was a load of action. In Sydney's, it was more plain-ish. The last pages of the book were the only pages I actually like. 

I'm still very excited for the release of the second in the series! I recommend this book to everybody; it's not even necessary for you to read the Vampire Academy series! But if you want to so you can get the gist on the characters and stuff, you should.

First Line: I couldn't breathe.

"Thanks for looking out for her, Sage. You're okay, For a human." 

I almost laughed. "Thanks." 

"You can say it too, you know."

I walked over to Latte [car] and paused. "Say what?"

"That I'm okay . . . for a vampire," he [Adrian] explained.

I shook my head, still smiling. "You'll have a hard time getting any Alchemist to admit that. But I can say you're okay for an irreverent party boy with occasional moments of brilliance."

"Brillant? You think I'm brillant?" He threw his hands skyward. "You hear that, world?" Sage says I'm brillant!"