Jessica

This series is one of my favorite audiobook series- listening really brings the world to life. However, I felt a bit let down after the tension of Beautiful Chaos because the beginning of BR moved slowly and was very reflective. BR is divided into three parts- they definitely picked up as they went along. I always enjoy the writing in this series, but BR didn't quite have the pacing the others had.

In the kitchen when Ethan tries to get Amma's attention and the crossword puzzle at the table with Lena and Macon.

I felt the others in the series were better, but I love Kevin T. Collins as the narrator. His narrating wasn't as powerful to me in this one though. I think it's because it was so much more focused on Ethan as opposed to the characters around him. Adding Khristine Hvam really gave Lena a solid voice. I love Khristine's work in YA audiobooks. She really does a fantastic job at connecting with the characters, and Lena was no exception.

Out of the darkness and into the light

Even though it isn't my favorite of the series, I felt it was a good send-off. I'm going to miss Gatlin and these characters so much. Luckily the movie is coming soon!!

alchemy, vampires, and trouble

I like how Sydney is forced to live with the Moroi and Dhampirs and leave her comfort zone. Seeing these "monsters" as friends challenges everything she knows. I loved the tension she faced between her Alchemist beliefs and duties and her projects for Mrs. Terwilliger as well.

Adrian. Always Adrian.

There is a lot of humor and some very tense moments. Mostly it's just a fun ride.

The Bloodlines series is quite different from The Vampire Academy series, but if you enjoyed VA, you'll enjoy getting to know some familiar characters better. As much as I love Rose, Dimitri, and Lissa, I enjoy the group dynamic of the Bloodlines series. This quasi-family of Moroi, Dhampir, and Alchemist (with some humans along for the ride) is really entertaining.

Yes. This is such a fun series, and things really get interesting for Sydney in this book. She's really deepened as a character. And don't get me started on Adrian because I could read about him all day. I loved the chance to learn more about Mrs. Terwilliger and to have an introduction to Marcus.

Adrian. I love how Emily Shaffer does all the characters in both the Bloodlines and Vampire Academy series, but Adrian has always been and will always be my favorite. Emily's performance gives his voice life, and she captures his snarky charm perfectly.

The scene in the garden toward the end. Can't say more without spoiling it.

I will definitely listen to it again! The story is so compelling, and the writing is gorgeous. Laini Taylor has become one of my favorite authors. This book is a little harder to read because the focus has shifted to the points of view of many characters and in multiple locations, but it's handled really well. I also feel like Laini did a fantastic job of showing just enough brutality to be realistic in a war-torn setting without being gratuitous or over the top. Her world-building is fantastic- I really felt a sense of every location and could close my eyes and picture each scene, especially in the "sandcastle".

It would be a MAJOR spoiler to say, so I'll just say the whole interaction with Karou, Akiva, and Thiago.

I haven't listened to the first book yet (read the hardcover) but for DoBaS I started with the audio and I'm so glad I did. Khristine really brought out the nuances and subtext for me, as well as the humor of Zuzana and Mick.

Again, don't want to spoil, but the scene where Ziri has to make a decision that Karou doesn't want him to make. My heart felt ripped in two at that point.

Read Daughter of Smoke and Bone and you'll fall in love with Akiva and Karou. Read Days of Blood and Starlight, and you'll fall in love with everyone who matters to them.

I actually find the narrator fun. I like how she differentiates the voices and pulls the emotions of the characters in. However, I didn't give her a 5 star on performance because I thought a lot of the time that she dragged the words out too long, making the characters sound drunk when they weren't. I thought her narration on previous books was better, so I am taking off a star for that. Otherwise, it was great.

I still love Adrian and love him even more with his growth and maturity

Sydney- I think she does a great job at getting into her head.

It made me laugh a lot

The Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series are both so much fun, and Richelle Mead has created a world I love to get lost in.

Yes, even though I didn't enjoy as much as The Passage, it was still good, especially the last 1/3. The first 1/3 was a bit touch and go for me, and I felt we had way too much time with certain characters.

Didn't like this one nearly as much as The Passage- a lot of it was confusing too. But once the story picked up, it was interesting and tense. Looking forward to seeing where the third book takes us. It was pretty confusing on audio with the jumping back and forth, especially since some of the characters were minor characters or weren't in the first book. I think it would have been easier to read the first time in print then move to audio. I did listen to The Passage again (for the 5th time) just before listening to The Twelve, which is helpful.

I think his narration lends itself well to Justin Cronin's writing. I did miss the change up of having different voices in the first book though. I also wondered why Scott Brick pronounced a character's name in a different way from the first book. Every time he did that it took me out of the story.

Definitely. Lots of questions left to answer, loose ends to tie up. I'm looking forward to the big finale of this series.