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Bloodlines  By  cover art

Bloodlines

By: Richelle Mead
Narrated by: Emily Shaffer
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Publisher's summary

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 best-selling 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.

©2011 Richelle Mead (P)2011 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about Bloodlines

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    5 out of 5 stars
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VA fans will be thrilled!

For those who haven't yet read the Vampire Academy series, I suggest you go read them and get some background information before you read Bloodlines. If not, this book will only be confusing and make no sense at all. As for VA fans,you will love this book!

This book started right off where Last Sacrifice left off. The background,the characters are basically the same, only it was told from Sydney's perspective instead of Rose's.

Sydney was the kind of obedient girl who has been told what to do all her life. The alchemists were taught that all Vampires and Dhampires alike are evil,soulless dark creatures. So when Sydney helped former criminal Rose and Dimitri escape,she had made the biggest mistake an alchemist could ever make. In order to redeem herself,she can't afford to screw up her latest assignment,that is to take care of Vasilisa's sister, Jill Dragomir. Jill needs to go into hiding because she is the key to overthrowing Vasilisa's thrown. For some unknown reason, Abe insisted Adrian to be on this “vacation” for who knows how long. Palm Springs is supposed to be a safe hideout for all of them, when in fact, the real danger awaits them there.

Unlike Rose who is filled with so much passion and energy, Sydney was more of a docile person. She always took orders without questioning and always swallow the blame for what she hadn't done. Surprisingly, I love her just as much as I love Rose.

For me, the highlights of this book are always the talks with Adrian Ivashkov. He was so humorous and sarcastic that I literally burst out laughing whenever he opened his mouth. I never thought I could like him more than Dimitri before I read Bloodlines.

Also unlike in the first VA novel when Rose and Dimitri simply get it on with, the romance in this series was slow. Real slow in fact. Some people may be bothered by this, but not me. When I reached the end of the book, I saw so much potential and promise in this series. I can't wait to read the second book,The Golden Lily.

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32 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Definitely not Vampire Academy

I liked this book a lot, but it's not quite as good as Vampire Academy. Sydney doesn't quite match Rose as a lead character and the Alchemists aren't as interesting as the Guardians. On the bright side, Adrian shines as usual and the story really is quite fun.

Rating Emily Shaffer's performance in this title is extremely difficult. She did an excellent job telling the story and portraying the characters, but I do not think she should have narrated this book. This is not a continuation of Vampire Academy, but a completely new series, and it deserved a new reader. Sydney should have been given her own voice instead of being left with the voice of Rose Hathaway.

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13 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Not up to Par

The reviews for this book were excellent. I wasn't impressed, but it was a worthwhile listen. I didn't feel the love story and found the main character mildly irritating. I didn't read Vampire Academy, so maybe I'm at a loss. This book doesn't stand on it's own, but it's mildly redeemable.

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12 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Loved the book, Hated the narrator

Emily Shaffer is the worst narrator I have ever listened to. She makes all the girl's voices sound like valley girls or babies and all the men have some kind of unnecessary accent (like Adrian who suddenly sounds like he grew up in England), which bothered the shit out of me. I'm honestly considering just switching over to just reading the novel for the Golden Lily because of how horrible all of her voices are. However, I believe I'm going to just power through it because I love the convenience of the audio books. I don't know, I'm actually very torn.

Now for the book, the whole thing was great. A little predictable, yes, but aside from that it kept me interested and wanting more. There was not really any romance but for whatever reason I still liked it.

I would recommend the book to people who have read Vampire Academy but I would never in a million years recommend this audiobook with the god-awful narration.

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9 people found this helpful

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Good follow up story but horrible narration

I really enjoyed the Vampire Academy series and am pleased to follow the exploits of these characters. I thought the story lagged in some ways. On one hand the plot wasn't as defined, but on the other, the villains were obvious. I found myself wishing for the ending.

I think a big problem for me was the narration. If I had listed to the other VA books by this narrator I might have been used to it but I stopped listening and read the others after the first book. It was so distracting and so wrong for some of the characters, especially Adrian. What type of horrible accent was that?? All the dialogue was delivered in staccato. It seemed like everyone was continually yelling at each other. Was it not possible for these people to have a normal voice? Even the simplest conversation sounded forced, intense and snarky even when the actual text didn't call for it.

I wish I had quit listening and just picked up the book.

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9 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The narrator keeps yelling.

I wish she would stop screaming the male voices, it's really hard to listen to and it hurts my ears when I have my headphones in. It's impossible to fall asleep listening to this woman screech.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A little bit of OCD and a little bit of insanity!

As a 33 year old male you would think this book would be way down my list, however as always Richelle Mead pulls you in quickly and holds you there. This is a branch off from the Vampire Academy series, and you will see your favorites but the focus is no longer on Rose.

The Main is well written and her back story is revealed at a pace that is just right, her slow change in thought is very much like real life. There is no sudden jump from I am a coward to I am a hero. Everything is paced and balanced perfectly! Action,mystery,romance all tied up in a nice little bundle.

If you are looking for the almost nonstop action from Vampire Academy you wont find it here, however if you want to know more about the Alchemist and Vampires as well as life OUTSIDE court and school, give this book a read.

A warning, each book in this series does end with a lot left open, until it is all closed up in book 6, so if this is not you sort of thing avoid this book.

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6 people found this helpful

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Prefect mix

What did you love best about Bloodlines?

How we got to know the supporting characters from the last books of VA much better, their motives, their thoughts and reactions...
once i've read the next book in this series i think i might need to go back and read VA again to enjoy my knew knowledge to the fullest

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sydney, reluctant to act as ever, but now we are learning why this is...

Which character – as performed by Emily Shaffer – was your favorite?

Emily performed so stellar that i am unable to find one performance that stood out simply because it all was so awesome

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

there was a lull in the middle, but it was appropiate and i didn't mind, but it did mean i wouldn't hear it all in one sitting...
also 12½ hours is a long time :)

Any additional comments?

be careful with this Narrator....
she performes so well i've actually considered buying other books merely to hear more of her voice

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4 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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Good book, terrible narration

Read these books a while back and wanted to listen to the audiobooks... It's kinda painful. The narrator's delivery is terrible and all of the male characters sound like they're constantly yelling. Skip the audiobook and read it instead.

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3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Nothing Happens.

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

It was not something I felt the need to abandon but I am not quite sure what held me on but whatever it was it was just barley enough. I dont think anyone I know would love this book.

Would you recommend Bloodlines to your friends? Why or why not?

If they read Vampire Academy I would tell them to try it but I would warn them not to except anything fantastic.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Emily Shaffer?

Yes she is whinny.

What character would you cut from Bloodlines?

Honestly all of them except Adrian

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3 people found this helpful