BOOK REVIEW - SILVER SHADOWS by RICHELLE MEAD - BLOODLINES # 5 - PENGUIN - YA PARANORMAL ROMANCE

By: Richelle Mead

Published By : Penguin

Released : Available Now

Details : Paperback from publisher for honest review, 380 Pages

RATING: 4 ADRIAN STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

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.

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. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.


BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I ALWAYS look forward to reading anything Richelle writes. The only series I am working my way through is Age of X. I have started Gameboard of the Gods. Everything else I have consumed in both her YA and Adult genres.

Bloodlines is a series I really enjoy. I keep waiting for that five star read for me to personally slap down. I am always close to giving it, but something holds me back.

This book is no exception. I did really enjoy this installment. 

Sydney is such a great character, no matter what is thrown at her, she pulls through.

I feel like there is more to come from Sydney in The Ruby Circle, Bloodlines # 6, what I mean is there feels like unfinished business with what Sydney went through in this installment. 

I actually feel like there are a few things that come under, ‘unfinished business’ in this installment that I wonder if they will be addressed in The Ruby Circle. I wait hoping for that closure.

ADRIAN!!

ADRIAN!!

ADRIAN!!

How I do LOVE thee...BUT!!! ADRIAN!!!

Now I totally dig what Richelle was presenting me within this installment with his character.

I. Do.

Doesn’t mean I liked it.

Adrian has struggled with his addictions and his Spirit gift, ever since we have known him. We all know that and we love him for his struggle and he is flawed. He knows it as much as we do.

BUT!!!

“What is it with you and girls, Adrian, dear? Why do they either mean nothing to you or everything? It's always an extreme."

"Because I don't do things in halves, mom. Especially when it comes to love.”


This is where I face plant and try hard to control how I feel about Adrian’s actions in this installment.

I am left feeling a little disappointed in you, young man. 

I totally understand you slipped back into your old ways, but the one thing for me personally and it is my personal thoughts, I have been waiting for that Rose and Dimitri moment. What I mean is, when Dimitri was turned Strigoi, Rose went all out to get that man back and she did what she needed to do. She didn’t go partying and drinking and ...and...and...

I CAN’T EVEN SAY ONE THING.

Yes, I know Richelle wrote Adrian deliberately this way...but...* face plant *

Why?

I want to clarify, I do love Richelle’s writing talent and I do love all her characters and I love all her stories she has written, but... this was Adrian’s moment to shine and ...

* face plant * 

I want to point out that not everybody will feel the same as me, I just have this passionate thing where I wanted Adrian to go all out and be the hero, bust down some doors, get Rose and Dimitri involved and...well this is me writing the story and I am not the author. I need to put the brakes on. 

He did indeedy eventually rise to the challenge. Doors were busted, other characters did come out to play...but...

I think Jill was forgotten a bit and again I understand what Richelle was doing here and what we further learn. I think what I am trying to say is more could have been going on in the first half of the book in a more exciting manner, my personal thoughts, as other readers could be quite satisfied with the way things played out and that is cool.

The story really got going for me in the latter part of this installment. I enjoyed the book until well over half way mark, but it wasn’t grabbing me by the throat like the others did.


Adrian came through in the end, but I wanted this Knight and I got a guy partying all night. Maybe I am thinking too Rose and Dimitri and their passion for each other that has no barriers. There are of course different rules for the human that Sydney is and the Moroi that Adrian is. 

Politics, people!

But, shiz, politics did not stop Rose. She broke rules.

Adrian is a rule breaker.

“Are you in a suit?” I managed at last, my voice chocking up. “You didn’t have to dress up for me.”

“Quiet, Sage,” he said. “I’ll make the hilarious one-liners during this daring rescue.”


Normally I can get a lot of Adrian quotes/funnies from each installment in this series, but this time round, not so much. Naturally it was a more subdued story due to Sydney in the red corner and Adrian in the blue corner, literally. Possibly a pun in there somewhere.

I still rate it highly, but I think five books in I was expecting more after the ending to The Fiery Heart.

I wanted Adrian’s heart to be all FIRED UP in this installment and he got sloppy and told us things, but actions speak louder than words... Mister!

I kept wanting him to snap out of it earlier and go all Rambo and get his merry band of characters to help him get Sydney back. I saw so much more that could have happened.

Now, I can’t even name one person. 

Talk-to-the-hand-because-the-face-don't-wanna-know.

Those who have read, will know who I mean.

Again, well played Richelle.

I think I was looking for so much more from Adrian’s pov. But that is just me personally. I will still give this book four stars because it did invoke emotions in me, some were frustrated and others were for Sydney and what she went through. And then of course Richelle gave us something special.

I do highly recommend Vampire Academy series, then follow it on by Bloodlines. This wasn’t my favorite book in this series, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

In saying that , there were a couple fave moments near the end.

*wink* 

Michelle