Richelle Mead's "Bloodlines"

"Bloodlines" on Amazon

For those of you who have read my review of Richelle Mead's "Vampire Academy" series, you'll know that I LOVE the series. "Bloodlines" is the first book in her spin-off series, but before you start it, I highly recommend that you read the original series. Most of the characters in Bloodlines are familiar to those who have read the Vampire Academy series, and without reading that, you'll lack a lot of the prior character development. 

Bloodlines follows Sydney Sage, the Alchemist who assisted Rose in the original series. For those not familiar with it, an Alchemist is a human faction responsible for keeping other humans in the dark about the existance of vampires and dhampirs.

After her involvement in the events of the final Vampire Academy book, Sydney is given the opportunity to redeem herself with an assignment to keep an eye on  the Moroi princess, Jill, while she is in hiding after an assassination attempt. 

Also along for the ride are VA alums Eddie Castile, the devoted dhampir guardian, Rose's crime boss father, Abe Mazur and love-crushed vampire pretty-boy Adrian Ivashkov. Several new characters are introduced, but I doubt that they'll make much of an appearance in subsequent books, with the possible exception of Sydney's younger sister, and a future Alchemist, Zoe Sage.

As was the case in a couple of the VA books, Bloodlines is less about ass-kicking action and more about plot and character development. You're given plenty of insight into the Alchemist organization and both Sydney's background and family life. 

Observing the blossoming friendship between Sydney and Adrian, two characters who couldn't be more different, is entertaining and heartwarming, and you can't help but root for something more to happen there. Adrian's cocky confidence mixes with Sydney's introverted awkwardness for amusing results.

This book reads like a Nancy Drew novel, which is to be expected, since Sydney is very clinical and academic (a far cry from the heroine of the VA books, the "hit first, ask questions later" Rose Hathaway), but in true Richelle fashion, it finishes with a bang that leaves you craving more.