Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead: I can't seem to get enough of this world!

ISBN: 9781595143211
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Series: Bloodlines #5
Released: July 29, 2014
Length: 380 pp
Goodreads  |  B&N

     SUMMARY

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.
Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

     REVIEW

Whew. I just finished reading Silver Shadows. And when I mean just - I mean just, like five minutes ago finished reading Silver Shadows. I had to get my thoughts and feelings out immediately, and posting it on GR to leave for later blog post was just not going to cut it.

I've been waiting for this book to release since March of this year when I finished The Fiery Heart which KILLED ME. That book straight up murdered me and I needed this book to put me back together. When I started reading it, I couldn't believe how hard it was for me to get into it. The only Richelle Mead books I've ever read that I didn't really, really like were the first to Vampire Academy books. But that's not to say I was a stranger to her slow start and bangin-ass finish - it's kind of her MO.

It was definitely tough for me though, considering it'd been months since my last book in the series and it took about 40% in for things to heat up. Adrian is obviously miserable with Sydney missing - I get that. But he was so annoying and childish and basically reverted back to all the old ways he kept in VA which is when I truly disliked him. After finishing the book, I can obviously see why it happened and was necessary but boy it took me a good week to finally sink my teeth into this book.

Once things turned around.... I can't even begin to tell you the emotions I experienced at the hands of Silver Shadows. I think I've mentioned in past Mead reviews that she is the queen of action. I haven't read an action scene of hers that I wasn't hooked on. Well just know, the second half of the book is pure action and I couldn't put it down after that!

I'll admit Mead did her usual info-dumping in the beginning but I'm so used to it, I kind of rolled my eyes and skimmed it, but luckily it didn't take up much time. Also, there were a few times that the dialogue seemed a bit more stiff than usual for Mead... and there were a few convenient loop holes and abilities that allowed things to happen a little too easily.

With that being said, I'm way too invested in this series to even care. Silver Shadows topped everything for me (except for Fiery Heart because that's where Sydrian really took off) and some amazinggggg things happened that I obviously can't tell you.

We're also left with one hell of a cliff hanger that, oddly enough, I did not see coming at all. After I finished, I felt like I should've seen it coming but I didn't and now I'm pissed because I have to wait until February until the final book, The Ruby Circle come out. I'm going to go cry under a rock until then. See ya.

     THE BREAKDOWN

RATING: ★★★★ 1/2 - Really enjoyed it!

After waiting months for Silver Shadows to release, it was everything I wanted and more! Mead had her standards: a slow start and some classic info-dumping in the beginning but once she turned up the heat, I couldn't pull myself away!

She adds more and more to the world with each book and I can't even begin to talk about how much I love almost every single character in the series. Needless to say, it was another amazing addition to Bloodlines by Mead and now I've got to wait 6 more months until the finale releases.

Can I just say that there better be another spinoff? If I don't get like a Jill/Eddie or Olive/Neil or Nina/Somebody. Or Angeline! OMG or Marcus/Can't say who! OMG I just got so excited when I thought of Marcus and she-who-must-not-be-named!!! I need another spinoff! For those of you who've read it, you know who I mean right? This one fits best if she's going to write any more - you know it would be another amazing series, yes?

Anyhow, have you read Silver Shadows yet? What did you think? If you're a fan like me, chances are you loved it, but I'm intrigued to know if anyone didn't love it. Can't wait to hear from you!!


A.

Series Review: The Bloodlines Series by Richelle Mead

I've never really done a series review before, but since I have quick opinions on each book and some things to say about the series as a whole, I thought it'd be easier than posting four separate pointless reviews. Below are the mini-reviews for the following:

Bloodlines (#1): ISBN: 9780141337111, released: August 23, 2011;
The Golden Lily (#2): ISBN: 9781595143181, released June 12, 2012;
The Indigo Spell (#3): ISBN: 9781595143198, released February 12, 2013; and
The Fiery Heart (#4): ISBN; 9781595143204, released November 19, 2013.

**The following mini-reviews may contain spoilers for the Vampire Academy series. Click here for spoiler free reviews of the Vampire Academy series**

     SERIES REVIEWS:

BLOODLINES (#1);

     I went into this first book looking forward to continuing a series I enjoyed a lot, Vampire Academy, but not expecting anything fantastic. While I enjoyed VA, it wasn't life changing and I had a lot of grievances over Mead's writing and choices in the story. As I started Bloodlines, I realized there was nothing life changing at first either, and then I realized that Mead was actually not doing some of the annoying things she did throughout VA, e.g., info dumps, etc. I ended up liking it a whole lot more than I expected to and really connected with Sydney, Adrian (who I really hated in VA) and some of the other minor characters (though Jill tended to get on my nerves). I loved it more than I think I loved any of the VA books and was so eager to move on to book 2.

THE GOLDEN LILY (#2):
*Please note there may be spoilers for Bloodlines in this mini-review*

     I ended up enjoying this one a lot but not quite as much as I enjoyed Bloodlines. I was annoyed by the way a lot of things played out, specifically a certain rescue that took two days! WTF! Some things just didn't go the way I'd hoped but one thing that did go the way I'd hoped was the Sydney/Adrian dynamic. I won't spoil anything that happens in this book but I love their friendship and the way they developed and Sydney stopped being an uptight little snotball (well, somewhat stopped) and opened up a lot. I really learned a lot about Sydney and grew to love her even though she was an uber-bitch in book 1.

THE INDIGO SPELL (#3):
*Please note there may be spoilers for the previous two books in this mini-review*

     I went into this one really wary, too, because a blog friend of mine, Kelly of Dandelion Dreams, didn't like it as much as the others. I was a little disappointed with the direction the Marcus Finch thing went in and I was especially surprised with the way the witch thing ended up going. All of those things aside, I LOVED this one for one reason and one reason only: Sydney/Adrian. I need nothing else in these books other than "Sydrian". This book was more character-driven this time around but I was totally okay with that. I can't count how many times my heart nearly burst from swoon and excitement and happiness and sometimes sadness. If it weren't for the out of place witch thing and the anti-climactic deal with Marcus Finch, this would've been a perfect novel!

THE FIERY HEART (#4):
*Please note there may be spoilers for the previous three books in this mini-review*

I just... am at a loss for words when trying to describe The Fiery Heart. By page one, I was already grinning like a fool and thanking the bookish gods for giving us Adrian's POV. He was hysterical, and so, so sweet, and sometimes reading about him made me a little sad. Adrian came off as very arrogant and selfish in the VA series and that's most of the reason I didn't like him. In The first three Bloodlines books we get to know him better, but nothing like in The Fiery Heart. My heart belongs to Adrian, that's all I can really say that sums it all up.

Sydney and Adrian were amazing - they just did something unnatural to my emotions with all of their interactions. And then comes the end of the book, which I guess I should've seen coming but I was very near hyperventilating and now I NEED Silver Shadows in my hands right now. It's even worse knowing I'll finish Silver Shadows in two days tops and won't have the next book for God only knows how long, 6 months, a year? Needless to day, The Fiery Heart was the best of the series so far and I think I'm going to re-read this one, just to relive all the feels.

SERIES RATING: ★★★★ 1/2 - Loved it!

I seriously didn't think I'd ever get around to reading the Bloodlines series or like it enough to read the whole thing because while I enjoyed VA, I didn't love it - not nearly as much as I love Bloodlines anyway. So when I finally picked them up and fell in love, it was quite the pleasant surprise. All four books were great, especially the last two which were fantastic!

Have you read the Bloodlines series yet? What did you think about them? If not, are you planning on reading it? You're in for a treat if that's the case! Let's talk books!


Happy Reading! A.