Wowee wow wow! What a CLIFFHANGER! I'm going to be pounding the figurative floors waiting for Silver Shadows!

Adrian Ivashkov... I'm not sure I'm as upset as others with the changes I see in him. He is absolutely different from the Adrian from Vampire Academy, but I'm alright with that. The Adrian in that series, and the start of this one, was depressed and fighting the effects of spirit by unloading on vices like smoking and alcohol. As sexy as he was I was always turned off by the constant smell of liquor and smoke that was always described as lingering around him. He sounded and smelled completely unhealthy. This Adrian is taking control and cleaning up, but without losing that brooding artist that I loved. I fall in with the characters who feel that it suits him. As far as his protectiveness and how that's different from previous books, well sure. In Vampire Academy Rose didn't need protecting, she was a warrior. In that world he was the protectED not the protectOR. With Sydney it's different. He feels like she's weaker than he is, it brings out that dormant part of him. He says it himself, "I'm not a violent person, Sydney. Not at all. I'll make love over war any day. But I swear, if they'd hurt you-". I think, push comes to shove, even a passive person can understand that. I love him. He's part 1 of why I love Bloodlines more than Vampire Academy. (I think I said all that in the last review, but it's still relevant for this one, so I'll repeat myself. haha.)

Part 2 of why I love Bloodlines more than Vampire Academy is Sydney herself. Again, it's probably repeating myself, but I LOVE that she's not a fighter. It's not to say she won't try to defend herself, because that would piss me off. And I'm not advocating for wimpy girls who always want to be rescued. Sydney is extremely capable without being a fighter. She's smart. She thinks and plans. Her way of fighting is cerebral, and it's just as integral as those who hold the silver stakes. I'll never be a brawler, but I'm smart, and so I can appreciate a character with those strengths. (And I love that Adrian is just as attracted to her brain.)

The group on the side, I'm sitting here trying to put them in order of who I like more. I want to say Trey, then Eddie, Neil last. And I guess I would stick with that, but at the same time I keep thinking of great things that they all do, and I like all of them. It's the same with Angeline and Jill. I don't dislike any of them. (Not like I was annoyed with Lissa in the VA.) Angeline is hilarious! Jill is sweet.

Zoe, yeah. Hate her. Like seriously. But I won't elaborate. You'll see.

"Not everything about me is cute."

That's true.  Some things are cute.  The rest are sexy."  His voice was low as he leaned toward me.  "So amazingly, agonizingly sexy that it's a wonder I can get anything done when all I ever think about is the taste of your lips and the touch of your fingertips on my skin and the way your legs feel when I-"

"Adrian," I interrupted.

His eyes smoldered, "Yes?"

"Shut up."

We reached for each other at the same time.

4 stars

Fuck. You.