Today I'd like to hone some of my (poor) mathematical skills and entertain you with some simple but self-explaining equations:Bloodlines: Richelle Mead= x: Cassandra ClareHint: Spin-offs? Bad idea. You either planned them from the very beginning or anybody in this solar system can see that you're clutching at straws here.Lissa : Rose = Adrian : xHint: Spirit users have a most peculiar ability. If you're familiar with Aladdin like I am, you'll know it's one of the wishes that the genie cannot grant. The gifted Moroi can, but with, uhm, side effects.Rose : Dimitri = Sydney : xHint: Ah, forbidden love. While in VA we followed the illicit affair of a then underage student and her infinitely hot professor, we are now presented with the blossoming affection between a (racist) human and a Moroi. It's not declared yet but there are 5 more books to go, can't waste it all in the first one, can we?Should I go on? Not necessary? I'll give you one more:Mia Rinaldi : the b!tch in VA = x : the same b!tch in Bloodlines.I could go on and on but then I'll be spoiling all the book for you, in case you want to read it.Have you guessed all the unknowns of my very simple equations? If you have, then you also have figured out that, in Bloodlines, Richelle Mead has taken a lot of Vampire Academy, given it a touch up and presented it to us AGAIN.Sub plots differ, of course, but the general idea? The same.And possibly worse. One element that really, really infuriated me in Bloodlines is the underlying motif of racism and discrimination that permeates the whole book. I could not decide whether to compare Alchemists to the Holy Inquisition or to KKK. This hate group's radicated belief (including Sydney's) that vampires are untouchable, disgusting and revolting unnatural beings did not sit well with me. The way it was developed and treated sounded very discriminatory and backwards (and a bit unbelievable too, IMO), you could just take out the word vampire and insert any other ethnic minority that has been persecuted in history and it would have fit perfectly. Hence, I did not like Sydney. I was pulling my hair out when she was naming her car and complaining about its color. I was scratching my nails on a blackboard when she got miffed because the freakin' fitter of the school gave her a size 4 instead of a 2 and she started getting paranoid about being fat. I was trying gouge my eyes out when she came out with stuff like not accepting food from vampires, checking that the water bottles were sealed not to drink from where they drank and stuff like that. I DESPISE RACISTS. Enough said. Not to mention the fact that this book is like a DIESEL car. VERY slow to warm up. The action picks up at about... yeah, 80% into the book. Before that it's a whole lot of racist comments, car rides around Palm Springs and mini-golf. Yes, you read correctly.So... are my 3 stars justified? Probably not. Yet, after being infuriated for about 80% of the book, when it finally started to take off, I have to say I quite enjoyed myself. Mead sure knows how to write some good action scenes and I foresee, in the far, far, far horizon, character development and possible redemption. Also, I liked Adrian. He's such an ass I cannot help it. His sarcastic and cocky comments were the highlights of my reading experience. And frankly, after the way he got treated by Rose in VA, I could not help but feel indulgent towards him.So, mathematical rant aside, I will pick up the next book in the series. This book is not as good as any of the Vampire Academy series but it MAYBE got potential, to be determined by further installments and consequent agonizing wait.

*3.75 STARS*The greatest changes in history have come when people were able to shake off what others told them to do. I was pretty sure I was going to love this book! Sadly, I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. Maybe it's because it's been a few years since I read the Vampire Acadamy series so I didn't remember a lot and it took me a while to get back into this world, I don't know.To me, all the events seemed kind of predictable, From the start, I didn't trust Keith and Lee and I knew they must've had something to do with all the bad stuff happening. I hoped I was wrong and some unexpected twist of events would occur, but that didn't happen... I still quite liked the story though. I feel like it's a good start to the rest of the series, it's not too heavy to digest, and I can't wait to see what the next books will bring. I found it really enjoyable and I was glad to see some familiar characters returning like Eddie, Jill, Sydney and especially Adrian! Ohhh Adrian, how much I love him already! I like that they chose Sydney as the new heroine because she's totally different from Rose but still really awesome! I love her character development so far! At the beginning she was really uptight but she's finally growing a backbone and generally getting more feisty.I already totally ship her and Adrian together! (though I secretly like Trey too, ssht) I can't wait to see where their relationship is heading! I'm also burning with curiosity to see Dimitri in the next book, I missed him so much! I want more Rose too, I can never get enough of both of them!Now, on to the sequel, which I hope will be slightly better than this one! :)

My reaction after reading this book.I have this shock-type face right now, which I usually get when I read a disappointing or a really good book. I don't even know if I am disappointed or happy...I was so excited for this book. I was screaming with happiness when I got it read it. But Bloodlines was so NOT what I was expecting. I thought it would be an action filled story with awesome characters and some romance here and there. But what did I get after reading this book? NOTHING. Yes, people who loved Vampire Academy series and are dying to read this book, NOTHING.I wouldn't say I didn't like Bloodlines. It was good but I would point out each and every freaking thing I hated about it. I am so ashamed. I don't know why or on whom... but I am ashamed.....FAIL#1 What happened to you Ms. Mead? Do you know why people liked your books? Its because of the KICK ASS heroine. Yes, please notice and think about the word KICK ASS for a minute. I knew it before reading this book that Sydney would not be a fighter or anything but this was so frustrating. I was thinking after reading more than half of the book that when will she actually start fighting or you know do something exciting? It was just like this:'Protecting Jill-Reminding herself that shes An Alchemist-Protecting Jill'And that sequence went on and on and stopped when only 100 pages were left. I liked Sydney but the author made her so dull, she had no life. Even though she was the main character of this book, Jill took all the fame.FAIL#2 I hate Jill from the core of my heart. So all the Jill fans out there... Please don't read this fail. This book was basically ALL about Jill, protecting Jill, loving Jill. UGH! I freaking hate this bitch so much that if she was alive, then I would have shot her or something after reading this book. Why the fuff was everybody attracted to her? EVERYONE?! Tell me one guy, ONE guy who had not fallen in love with her. Because of that dumb bitch, Sydney had no story at all. And WHY ADRIAN WHY?! Do you have be feel sorry for that weirdo? Jill should die. DIE! >.< She always caused trouble, more than half of this book is about her which annoyed me to death, shes just fifteen and attracted like every guy from 18-21... All I want to say is,FAIL#3 I just blame the author. You made every character, which I loved, behave wrong. From Sydney to Eddie, I was like, "no... noway is Adrian or Eddie like that!" Because of the characters, I was so sad. Even though Adrian was the only male character who behaved like himself, the rest were changed. As if I never knew them. And when I came to know about Eddie's love interest in the end, My hands were on my face and I was shaking my head in disappointment. FAIL#4 I give Bloodlines an award for the most predictable book ever. When I thought I couldn't get any more disappointed, the author decides to give us such a predictable story, I didn't even have to use my brain. I guess I have read and seen many thriller and mystery books and movies to know that the villain is the least person you suspect. I am reading and reading and reading, and suddenly the book finishes and I am just staring at the freaking wall and being like, "Thats it?"FAIL#5 No romance at all. You heard me, NO romance. Not even a tiny bit. I am so shocked. And yes, I will never get to know who is on the cover beside Sydney. I think its Adrian but whatever, I don't even picture Adrian like that anyway. More or maybe 100% like Chace Crawford. xD I was so angry. Poor Sydney. She couldn't even have a tiny bit of romantic thingy with Adrian. This story was all straight and adventure type. No action. No romance. No cliff hanger. No nothing. *Breaks the brick while Banging my head against the wall but still alive*Now a letter especially for the author Ms. ReadDear Author,(Cool down Saniya, Cool down!) Anyway, I would like to tell you that you should write the next book, The Golden Lily much better or else don't be surprised if you see a creepy figure standing outside your bedroom window with a gun. *On my knees* PLEASE! Write the second book nicely PLEASE PLEASE! From your crazy Vampire Academy fan, Saniya.If this book was more about Sydney, more about Adrian and Sydney, more action, more romance and a better cliffhanger... I would have rated this book 4-4.5 stars. I am rating this book 2.5/5 stars (half of the book was bearable) I liked Bloodlines, but these points I mentioned above irritated me alot and I am going to read the next book because of Adrian, Sydney and Eddie.I AM DISAPPOINTED! (and readers who read my review and then comment like "you are wrong, etc" Please, why did you even bother reading the whole review. You just see my 2 star rating and go read another review.)