Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Title:  Bloodrose
Author:  Richelle Mead
Series:  Bloodlines, #1
Publisher:  Razorbill
Release Date: August 23, 2011
Pages:  421
Rating:  ★★★★★

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.

Me being a huge fan of the Vampire Academy Series was super surprised that I was not really into  Bloodlines all that much. I found myself a bit disappointed. Whenever I hear the word, "spin-off", you get super excited for the series and also a little worried it won't be as great as the original series it came from. I just couldn't like this book all that much.

I think one of my biggest problems were the main characters. The main characters in  Bloodlines were some of the side characters from the Vampire Academy Series. Throughout the book it is kept in my mind that these are still side characters to me and I just can't get that out my my head. I didn't enjoy the side characters from the Vampire Academy Series being in the spotlight.

Sydney was quite an interesting character to be the heroine, she wouldn't be my favorite heroine, but I really liked getting things in her point of view, because we really don't know anything about the alchemist and through her we get to know a little bit more about the. I would choose the vampires any day over the alchemists, not just because I am a hardcore vampire fan, but because alchemists are so cold.

Take Sydney's father for example. Father's are suppose to treat their children so special, like they're the greatest gift in the old and show them love. Her father is so cold, all he cares about is the alchemists. All the alchemists I met in this book has sickened me except for Sydney.

Another thing is that I really wish there was romance, we didn't really get any, but hopefully in the next few books that will change. One thing is this is definitely Richelle Mead's writing and that's what really kept me going. We did get to see some of our favorite characters from Vampire Academy. I think with time these side characters turned main characters will grow on me with time.  Bloodlines was okay and good, but it didn't blow me away like the first Vampire Academy book.