Remember when everyone was obsessed with vampires? Okay, maybe it’s still happening but it was definitely much more popular a few years back. Everyone has their own opinions about Twilight, good and bad, but there were so many vamp series out there. Which one was your favorite? Choose yours in the poll below. Don’t see your fave? Sound off in the comments and let me know which ones I missed.
When I think about Adrian Ivashkov I immediately picture a hot guy with a bad boy attitude who’s too cool for school leaning against a wall, smoking his cigarettes. Adrian is the definition of swag. He’s a rich boy who’s basically had everything handed to him his whole life.
Normally, this is the kind of guy I would hate but Richelle Mead doesn’t make one-dimensional characters so there’s more to Adrian than first meets the eye. The truth is Adrian is a very caring guy who loves hard. He’s an artist who sometimes lets his emotions get the best of him but it’s his inability to keep his feelings in control that makes him so lovable. When he falls for someone it’s not an easy fall. He gives the person he loves everything he has and then some and that’s both breathtaking and heartbreaking, depending on how it works out for him.
Besides that Adrian is a funny guy. He brushes off serious topics with little quips and is always flirting. Even so, when it’s time to step up and help his friends and family, Adrian is there doing what he needs to do. He goes above and beyond to help out when he can, sometimes pushing himself too far in terms of using his abilities (he’s a vampire with an affinity for spirit; if you don’t know what that is read the books!).
Overall, Adrian is an attractive guy with a great, loving personality who provides comic relief in serious situations. He often speaks in poetry and is one of the most loving characters I’ve ever read about. Check him out in the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series.
[Adrian] was too perfect, despite being one of the most imperfect people I knew.’ – The Indigo Spell
Although Bloodlines, the spin off to the Vampire Academy series, wasn’t as great as the original series of books it was still pretty fantastic. The heroine of the novels is Sydney Sage, an Alchemist whose sole task is to make sure other humans like herself never find out about the world of vampires. Of course that’s easier said than done.
At first meeting Sydney didn’t seem like an important character, much less one I could like. She first appeared in Blood Promise, the fourth book in the Vampire Academy series, and was deadly afraid of Rose Hathaway and all the other dhamphirs and vampires.
However, what was great about the Bloodlines series is we got to see a whole other side to Sydney and see her grow into a person I could actually like. It turns out Sydney is in fact a very brave person who goes above and beyond to help her older sister who was hurt by someone in the Alchemist community. Sydney’s also fiercely loyal, which is difficult because her loyalty is trapped between the Alchemists and her friends, the dhampirs and vampires she’s supposed to fear.
More than anything, though, what makes Sydney a wonderful character is her ability to empathize with other people. She doesn’t shy away when someone is going through something difficult. She forces herself to stay by their side and does everything in her power to help them even when they don’t want to help themselves. It’s this compassion that often puts her into trouble with her father, a fellow Alchemist, but it’s also what makes Sydney one of my favorite characters.
Besides all this, she’s also beautiful although she often struggles to see this herself. Always comparing herself to the vampires and dhampirs she’s often surrounded by Sydney struggles to feel her body is good enough just the way it is. Thankfully, there’s a certain vampire who’s determined to make her feel beautiful every single day.
‘[Sydney], you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth. And you don’t even know it. You have no clue how beautiful you are or how brightly you shine.’ – The Golden Lily
If you haven’t figured this out yet I’m obsessed with the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. It’s no surprise then that the male lead in the series, Dimitri Belikov, is today’s man crush Monday.
He’s hot, strong, protective, and extremely loyal. As a dhampir guardian he’s considered a god with his great strength and speed. Beside that he’s the quiet, brooding type of guy. He walks around wearing a cowboy duster and loves old westerns but he’s also fierce and a force to be reckoned.
What I love most about this character, however, is underneath all of that is this really sweet, loving guy who cares deeply about people. This is most clear in his relationship with Rose Hathaway but it’s also seen by how fiercely he tries to protect the people he guards. Dimitri is also the kind of guy that wants to be married and have a family. He’s the only boy in a family of women and he’s protective of his family and loves them dearly.
I could go on and on about how perfect Dimitri is but honestly you should read these books and see for yourself. Trust me, you’ll be in love with by the end of the first book if not sooner.
“My immediate associations with Dimitri were always intense and fierce; it was his sexy, battle-god persona that came to mind. Yet, it had been Dimitri’s gentleness and thoughtfulness mixed with that deadliness that made him so wonderful.” – Blood Promise
The Vampire Academy series has a bunch of amazing characters but my fave will forever and always be Rose Hathway. She’s fierce, snarky, protective, and loyal. And she’s hella fine. As a dhamphir (a mix breed between human and vampire) she has great strength and can kick butt.
She attends St. Vladmir’s Boarding School where she learns to become a guardian, a protector of vampires. For Rose, she plans on protecting her best friend, Princess Lissa Dragomir, who lost her family in a terrible car crash and brought Rose back from the dead giving Rose some interesting abilities.
Rose comes off as a bad girl who doesn’t follow the rules, and although she technically does start off that way everything she does is to protect Lissa and do what she feels is right. When Rose gets something in her head she doesn’t let anyone or anything stand in her way and that’s what makes her so awesome.
Besides all this Rose comes from two pretty bad a** parents. Her mom is a fierce guardian in her own right and her father is a mob type vampire who doesn’t take crap from anyone. I guess we know where Rose get’s it from.
Lastly, one of my favorite aspects of Rose is how hard she loves people. Her love for Lissa is something fierce but her love for Dimitri, her teacher turned something else, might be even stronger. Rose loves hard and when she cares about someone she’ll go to the end of the world and back just to save them.
If you haven’t read the Vampire Academy series yet I’d definitely recommend it.
‘Rose,” he said, forcibly trying to keep a serious tone, “I can think of many words to describe you, sexy and hot being at the top of the list. You know what’s not on the list? Sane.’
*This book is a part of my POPSUGAR 2015 Reading Challenge*
Book synopsis from Amazon:
The epic conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series is finally here…
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.
After their secret romance is exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world.
*This review will contain spoilers*
First of all I want to thank Richelle Mead for a wonderful two series worth of books. I’ve been following these characters for years now and it’ll be hard to let them go. Actually I’ll probably just reread the books forever and never really let them go. Really though, this has been a wild ride, and I hope Mead means it when she says this won’t be the last we see of these characters.
As far as conclusions to a series go this was phenomenal. Using the kidnapping of Jill as an excellent plot device Mead brought back so many characters and elements of both the Vampire Academy series and the Bloodlines series that I was floored. We got the return of the evil witch, Alicia, Dimitri and Rose joined Adriana and Sydney on a road trip where we learn Dimitri and Adrian are actually cousins, and the Warriors were brought back as well.
The one loose end I wish was tied up was the cure to Strigoi-ism (?). We know Sonya is still working on it but there was only one cure made for Neil and then nothing. That would seriously change the world for the vamps. Besides that I think Mead wrapped everything up perfectly.
The plot itself in this book was also great, albeit predictable. The most shocking things about the novel was Neil and Olive’s son, Declan, and the reveal of Dimitri and Adrian’s familial relations. Otherwise it was obvious early on that it was Alicia that took Jill, although I didn’t expect the Warriors to come into play. Additionally, although I wanted Neil to take care of Declan, I could tell by the way Adrian suddenly became so good with kids that Adrian and Sydney would probably become Declan’s parents.
Speaking of Declan, although I liked that Mead has now provided a way for Rose and Dimitri to actually have kids if they choose to do so, I think it’s a bit of stretch. To suggest that spirit somehow allows dhampirs to now produce seems unlikely. However, this is a series about vampires, witches, and everything in between so everything is already unlikely, therefore I just have to take Mead’s word for it that this is possible.
I would have liked to see more of Declan and know just how special he really is. Will he have some spirit powers or is he just a regular dhampir child? Maybe there’ll be another series surrounding Declan and everyone else’s kids? Please?
Moving on, I also wish we got to see Angeline. She’s the one character that was missing and I wanted to hear her sass one last time. She would’ve provided a lot of comic relief, although I think Adrian may have provided enough.
What I loved most about this book was really the relationship between Adrian and Sydney. Even though they struggled, mainly because of Adrian’s spirit use, they were able to work through their issues and support each other no matter what. It was interesting seeing them as husband and wife but it worked well too. Then seeing them become parents was icing on the cake.
I also really liked that Mead brought Rose and Dimitri into the epilogue, as well, allowing us to see that they would be married too … at least some day, maybe when Rose is 30. Mead wrapped up the Bloodlines series but it also felt like she was ending the Vampire Academy series too and that was really cool. Well done.
Favorite Line:
“Sydney,” Adrian interrupted, cupping my face in his hands. “Never, ever think like that. I don’t regret anything we’ve faced. Being with you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, the one perfect decision I’ve made in a lifetime of fumbling and poor judgment. I’d go through it all again to be by your side. Never doubt that. Never doubt how I feel about you.”
Stars: 5 out of 5. Such a great book and end to a wonderful series.
Borrow or Buy: Are you kidding? Buy this. Put it on your bookshelf and then reread it always. Buy the whole series while you’re at it.
Other Reviews
Having read Silver Shadows a little whiles back I am so excited to have so many people to fangirl with. This book was my favorite in the series so far and I’m so glad so many people loved it as much as I did. Here’s some of the best reactions to the book I’ve seen so far. Obviously, beware the spoilers.
Many fans were ecstatic.
SILVER SHADOWS IS THE BEST BOOK FOREVER! THANK U FOR CREATED SYDRIAN… MY LIFE IS NOT THE SAME NEVERMORE 😍❤😙 #SydriansFeels@RichelleMead
— sk sage (@owivashkov) July 31, 2014
Many were in tears
Finished Silver Shadows… And now I’m going to curl up in my bed and cry. #Bloodlines#SilverShadows — Sydney Sage (@AuroralIolanthe) July 31, 2014
Silver shadows ia already ruining me — st. clair (@peregrinesage) July 31, 2014
Why do the relationships of fictional characters affect me so much? I can’t stop crying! #SilverShadows — Aurora Knightsblood (@ak_gossipghoul) July 31, 2014
Others just can’t let go
@RichelleMead I wish I could go back in time and read #SilverShadows all over again for the first time. It was that good! — Warnette (@nohamohamad) July 31, 2014
I JUST FINISHED #SilverShadows OH MY GOD PLEASE TELL ME THERES MORE, I NEED MORE MR&MRS IVASHKOV @RichelleMead — fangirl101 (@CupidsDaughter_) July 31, 2014
Some were angry (but in the “How could you write this awesome book and then leave me hanging?” way)
Just wanted to say that I finished Silver Shadows earlier today. DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE ENDING. YOU’RE EVIL, MEADS 😭😫 — .:C A N E Y A:. (@Caneyaz) July 31, 2014
@RichelleMead that cliff hanger though!!!! You’re killing me!! I can’t wait for Feb #silvershadows — Sai (@MidnightQueen95) July 31, 2014
Others learned a few things
What I learned from #SilverShadows: The Alchemists are on a whole new level of crazy and the Warriors of Light should step up their game. — Melissa (@Minamostaza) July 31, 2014
And a few just didn’t know how to feel
Idk how to feel about Silver Shadows tbh — Minza (@minzab1) July 31, 2014
starfleetin: I FINISHED SILVER SHADOWS AND AM HAVING TROUBLE FORMING COHERENT THOUGHTS http://t.co/l2xFuyf6Zr
— Jasmine Emily 🙂 (@EmilyJ_BlueRose) July 31, 2014
If you haven’t read this book yet, what are you waiting for? It’s a good one. Also make sure to check out my review of the book and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
I am a firm believer in rereading books. I most recently just reread the whole Mediator series by Meg Cabot and I loved every second of it. Something about reading a good book for the second time just feels awesome. If you need any more reasons to reread your favorite book (although you really shouldn’t) here’s a few.
1. You know how it ends
Although we hate it when other people ruin an ending for us it’s different it we’ve read it ourselves. There’s this crazy anticipation that comes when you know something good or bad is about to happen and you feel so much anxiety because you want to yell at the character but you can’t. Also, it’s great watching your OTP fall in love knowing they’re going to end up together. It’s like hitting rewind on your favorite movie.
2. You pick up on things you missed
Remember how there was that crazy twist at the end and you couldn’t believe THAT person was the killer. Well now you’ll be looking at all the clues and seeing what was staring in the face the whole time. I still don’t understand how Kate Brian (aka Kieran Scott) pulled the wool over our eyes with Private. HOW DID THE AUTHOR DO THAT???
3. Falling in love with your favorite character all over again.
Yes Pooh Bear. Yes we can.
The worse thing to ever happen is when you forget, specifically, why your character is the best. You know in your heart this character is the greatest thing that’s ever blessed a novel but you can’t remember exactly why. That’s why when you reread and see Dimitri and Rose (spoilers!!!) finally give into their feelings for each other in Shadow Kiss you melt all over again. You forgot how good that scene was! Yeah, it’s the best.
4. You know so much more now then when you first read the book.
Being older and wiser (even if it’s just a little bit) you will see this book differently than when you first read it. That quote about all the “little infinities” (TFIOS has the best quotes by the way) suddenly means something different when you lose someone close to you. Or how falling in love is just like falling asleep (last TFIOS quote I swear) means more to you when you’ve actually fallen in love. As you grow and become a different person, reading the same book for the second (or third time) will take on a whole different meaning for you.
5. Going through all the laughs, tears, and pain all over again
I guarantee that if a book is truly well written it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve read it you will still laugh at the jokes, cry when your favorite character cries, and feel pain when someone is hurt or dies. Though it may sound crazy you know you fell in love with that book because of the emotional roller coaster it put you on.
Your emotions:
Yeah, you know you enjoy the stress. Wouldn’t it be great to go on that ride again?
I challenge you to take a look at your bookshelf and try rereading that book you used to be totally obsessed with. Trust me, it’ll be even better the second time around. I mean really, who doesn’t love seconds? Enjoy!
Sadly, I haven’t been able to keep up with my reading as much as I would like to since being in college. However, I still make time to read and these are the five books that I can’t wait to come out in 2014.
1. The Guard by Kiera Cass (February 4, 2014)
Yes I know this one isn’t really a book but a novella but I’m still excited (even though I’m totally Team Maxon). If you haven’t read the first two books in The Selection trilogy you should definitely look into them because its awesome. The focus is a girl named America, who is entered into this Bachelor style contest to win the prince’s heart and the throne. Filled with drama, love triangles, and threats from rebels this trilogy has it all. This new novella will show more into the life of Aspen, America’s ex-boyfriend, and give us more insight into his story. What I’m most excited about is the preview of the next and last book in the trilogy that’s supposed to be included at the end of the novella. Which brings me to number two.
2. The One by Kiera Cass (May 6, 2014)
I’m both equally excited and saddened by the oncoming release of this book. I quickly fell in love with this trilogy reading the first two books in two days and then proceeding to re-read them over and over again to this day. I will be sad to see this trilogy come to an end (fingers crossed for a spin off series) but I’m also very excited to see how it’s all going to end (Team Maxon!!!). This is definitely a book I’ll be pre-ordering.
3. Panic by Lauren Oliver (March 4, 2014)
I became obsessed with Lauren Oliver when I read her first book, Before I Fall, and her Delirium trilogy (even though I hated how it ended). This new book (already being optioned for a movie) focuses on not only a young girl but a guy as well which is new for Oliver. Based in a small town where almost nothing ever happens (I can relate) graduating seniors play a game called Panic that has high stakes and even higher payoff if you win. It’s a mystery what the game actually entails but based on Oliver’s past writings you can expect a lot of love, drama, and intrigue, as well as the unexpected. I’m definitely in!
4. Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead (July 29, 2014)
Out of all the new books coming out in 2014 this one is probably one of the most highly anticipated among young adults. Richelle Mead created this crazy, fictional world of vampires, dhampirs, and Alchemists in her Vampire Academy series (which is now being made into a movie franchise that I totally disapprove of but we’ll save that for another day). This spin off series focuses on Sydney, an Alchemist who at first hated vampires and everything to do with them, but now has become very accustomed and acquainted with them in more ways than one if you catch my drift. The last book left us with a major cliffhanger, leaving me to wonder what in the world is going to happen next. Sadly, it’ll be a while before we get the answer to that question.
5. Endless by Kate Brian (July 22, 2014)
Honestly, I haven’t even finished reading the last book and I’m already excited about this novel. Kate Brian (also known as Kieran Scott) is a master at producing series and trilogies that are made to get you hooked. From Private to Privilege to the Not-A-Blonde Cheerleader series, Brian knows exactly how to push our buttons, leaving us wanting more. Her newest trilogy, Shadowlands, is no exception. This trilogy had me hooked from book one when the ending left me with my jaw on the floor. Endless is the last book in this trilogy and I’m sure its going to be a spectacular conclusion that will probably make us wish it wasn’t all coming to end. Until Brian comes out with her next series that is.
Zakiya N. Jamal 