"Bloodlines" by Richelle Mead

From Goodreads: "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." 

While Richelle Mead's "Vampire Academy" series is one of my most favourite book series of all time, I must admit that I was quite hesitant to read this book. Primarily for two reasons, Sydney and Adrian (AKA the main characters of this book). I personally found Sydney to be way too uptight for my liking in "VA" and as for Adrian? Well, I was Team Dimitri from the get-go and every time Rose was with Adrian? I wanted to rip my hair out. Piece by piece. Therefore, imagine my surprise when I read this book and enjoyed it more than the first two "VA" books- and had an even bigger emotional reaction to it than those same two books!

I think that while I was reading the "VA" books I did everything in my power to hate Adrian and in doing so, I never understood him as a character. However, after having read this book I have such a new found appreciation for him and I have really come to respect him. Adrian is flat out hilarious. And swoon-worthy! He almost makes me forget about Dimitri. And Sydney? I have come to understand that there is a method to her madness being extremely calculated and somewhat standoffish- she's had a tough life and it only stands to reason that said life would have a great impact upon her.

Now I must admit, typically when I read a book I try not to foreshadow, I like being taken by surprise and I like having that, "Oh my gosh, did author X seriously just do that?" moment, but in this book I think that what was going to happen next was pretty obvious and as such it was a bit of a bummer because I missed out on that heart-stopping (or heart-breaking) moment. BUT... The last four words of the book (which I will not divulge *laughs evilly*) more than makes up for the overall predictability of the book (seriously, when I read those last four words I squealed. Loudly. And I may or may not have caused my dad to swerve into the wrong lane as he was driving. And then swerve again when he tried to determine whether or not I was crying from the book- which I was- happy tears though). 

All in all, this is by far one of the best books I have read in 2011! Richelle completely exceeded my expectations and the next book in the series, "The Golden Lily", has shot up on my "Most Anticipated Books of 2012" list. 

Rating: 10/10

Memorable lines from the book: 

"Brilliant? You think I'm brilliant?" He threw his hands skyward. "You hear that, world? Sage says I'm brilliant!" (pg. 145).

'"Are you going to do the work and give me the paycheck?" Adrian asked hopefully.' (pg. 235). 

"Of course they didn't give us this much, Sage. But I had to make sure I nailed my first assignment. Takes a lot of tries before you hit perfection." He paused to reconsider that. "Well, except for my parents. They got it right on the first try" (pg. 333).

"My earlier point remains. You're a solid person, Sage. You're easy on the eyes, if a little skinny, and your ability to memorize useless information is going to hook some guy in" (pg. 409).