The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines, #6) by Richelle Mead

 The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines, #6) by Richelle Mead-348 pages

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Sydney and Adrian have escaped the Alchemists for now and are temporarily safe at Moroi court. However, many Moroi and others are skeptical of a human and Moroi marriage, so it's awkward even there. Jill is missing and Sydney and Adrian want to help find her, but can't risk leaving Moroi court. They want a happily ever after and be left alone once they find Jill. Will they find Jill? Will they get their happily ever after? I did like this book and there are some twists and turns. Overall, it is a satisfying end to the series, but I do feel it was a bit rushed. I did like the ending to the book, though. 

Silver Shadows (Bloodlines, #5) by Richelle Mead

Silver Shadows (Bloodlines, #5) by Richelle Mead-380 pages

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Sydney Sage has been kidnapped by the Alchemists and they will attempt to "Re-educate" her. Adrian is in a downward spiral without her and is visited by his mom fresh out of Moroi prison. She takes him back to Court with her. He spirals further for a while, but then snaps himself out of it. There are complications at Court, but finally Adrian gets a lead and works with es-Alchemist Marcus to spring Sydney from Alchemist "Re-education." Meanwhile, Sydney endures depravity and torture while in Alchemist captivity as they attempt to get her to see the "error" of her ways and turn back from them. Will Adrian and Sydney be reunited? If so, then at what cost? I continue to like reading this series and have already started the final book of it. 

The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines, #4) by Richelle Mead

 The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines, #4) by Richelle Mead-420 pages

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Sidney Sage now has more company in helping keep Jill Dragomir safe in Palm Springs. Her sister, Zoe, and another Dhampir, Neil, have joined her group. Now she must keep her friendships with the Moroi and Dhampirs, and her relationship with Adrian a secret from Zoe. Sydney also is intent on developing an ink to counteract the Alchemist compulsion tattoo. If she can, then she can help so many more. Can she keep her relationship with Adrian secret from her sister or will she be found out? What will happen if she is found out? I really enjoyed reading this book and continue to enjoy this series. I look forward to reading the penultimate book in this series and then finishing it. 

The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines, #3) by Richelle Mead

The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines, #3) by Richelle Mead-401 pages

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Sydney Sage continues her Alchemist mission to protect Jill Dragomir from her enemies. Things get complicated by a witch coming after her and her teacher Ms. Terwilliger. Sydney learns more magic and becomes more comfortable around magic. Also, Sydney tracks down former Alchemist Marcus and gets his story. Her relationship with Adrian continues to evolve. Can Sydney continue to deny her feelings for Adrian? Will the witch defeat her and/or Ms. Terwilliger? I continue to enjoy reading this series and look forward to reading the next book. 

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, #2) by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, #2) by Richelle Mead-418 pages

Sydney Sage has been at Amberwood Academy for a few months now protecting Jill Dragomir and is becoming close with Eddie and Adrian, who are also there to help protect Jill. New threats are revealed and a new protector, Angeline, has joined the "family." The main new threat is a group of vampire hunters that call themselves the Warriors of the Light. They hunt and destroy Strigoi, but have no love for Moroi or Dhampirs, either. Sydney and her "family" have run-ins with this group. A taboo/nearly forbidden love begins to sprout between Sydney and Adrian by the end of the book and will no doubt begin to blossom in future books in the series. I continue to enjoy reading this series and look forward to reading the next book soon. 

Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1) by Richelle Mead

 Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1) by Richelle Mead-423 pages (paperback)

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist. The Alchemists try to keep humans oblivious to the existence of vampires (Moroi, Strigoi, and Dhampirs). Also, Alchemists try to keep the peace within the circles of the vampire races. Strigoi are full-blooded blood-thirsty vampires. Moroi are less aggressive vampires that feed on blood, but don't kill humans and can pass for human. Dhampirs act as bodyguards for Moroi and are part-human, part-vampire. Sydney has a controversial past, according to her Alchemist father and leaders. She was involved in the escape of Rose Hathaway, a Dhampir who was in some trouble. Sydney wants to make up for this alleged wrongdoing and she wants to avoid being sent to a re-education camp. She's woken up in the middle of the night by her father and ends up tasked with keeping Jill, who is sister to the Moroi Queen, Vasilisa (Lissa), safe at a boarding school in Palm Springs, California. Opposition to the Queen has risen and an attack was made on Jill, necessitating her going into hiding. Sydney and Jill are to room together at Amberwood Academy in Palm Springs. Things are not all as they seem in Palm Springs and Sydney will have to unravel more than one mystery. I really liked this and look forward to reading the next book in the series. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Soundless by Richelle Mead

Soundless by Richelle Mead  266 pages

For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village. Her people are at the mercy of a mysterious faraway kingdom, which delivers food in return for precious metals mined from the treacherous cliffs surrounding them.

When villagers begin to lose their sight, their rations shrink and many go hungry. Fei's home, the boy she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

Then Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon . . .

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead – 332 pages

Rose, a dhampir guardian-in-training, and Lissa, the vampire classmate she protects, have been on the run for two years.  They are finally tracked down and taken back to St. Vladimir’s Academy, a school for vampires and their half-human, half-vampire guardians.  Rose has a bond with Lissa, and must try to keep their secrets while they both navigate the hierarchy of the school’s social world; not all foes are on the outside.

This series has an interesting take on the world of vampires, setting up the group of good Moroi against the dark Strigoi.  But who knew teenage vampires created the same schoolyard drama as ordinary humans?  We see the bad boy and the strong silent type, and among the girls, the wallflower and the social climber.  The snappy dialogue isn’t enough to keep the high school games from growing old, and the villains are not so very villainous.  Rose, with all her flaws, does serve as a narrator that can spin the story well, though we wish she was better at doling out pieces of key information at better times.  The emotions she and the other characters experience ring powerfully and true, and that aspect of the narrative was enough of a hook to carry me through the end of the book, if not enough to want to continue the series.