852 ratings (3.65 avg)
697 reviews

Van

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Van’s Bookshelves

to-read‎ (38)
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Van is Currently Reading

Van is currently reading

This Monster of Mine (This Monster of Mine, #1)

by Shalini Abeysekara (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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May 08, 2026 08:14AM

Van is currently reading

Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1)

by Richelle Mead (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading, reread

Reading for the 2nd time

read in March 2015

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Van said: " 4 1/2 STARS.

I've had Bloodlines on my bookshelf since the first week it was out, I think it’s been 3 years, and after all that time I've finally read it! Bloodlines is a spin-off from the Vampire Academy series following Alchemist Sydney Sage as she 4 1/2 STARS.

I've had Bloodlines on my bookshelf since the first week it was out, I think it’s been 3 years, and after all that time I've finally read it! Bloodlines is a spin-off from the Vampire Academy series following Alchemist Sydney Sage as she guards royal Moroi Princess Jill, sister to Queen Lissa Dragomir. Many of the Moroi are trying to disseat Lissa and since she’s heavily guarded their only other option is to go after Jill. To keep Jill safe and create a new law to protect Lissa’s legitimacy as Queen, Sydney and Jill go undercover as high school students in Palm Springs; because Palm Springs is the last place anyone would expect to see vampires. Or so you’d think.

The Vampire Academy Series is one of my all-time favorite YA series, so I was a little hesitant to start this spin-off series. I thought there is no way this series can live up the VA standards and how interesting can the alchemists be? But I was wrong! I enjoyed this book way more than I expected. Sydney was a great heroine, and while she is no Rose, I found her likable and funny. She is sincere yet oblivious to the world, society as a whole thanks to her strict upbringing. It was refreshing to see her gradually open her mind beyond what she was taught to believe and interact with other people, morois, and dhampirs which was out of her comfort zone. It was really nice to jump back into the VA world and see familiar characters from the VA series like Rose and Dimitri, who both made a brief appearance at the start of the book; and Adrian and Eddie who are permanent characters in the Bloodlines series. Man, I missed Adrian sense of humor! His banter with Sydney had me laughing so much throughout the book. It will be interesting to see how everyone’s relationship changes in the future books.

Overall Bloodlines was great! Once I started and re-familiarized myself with the world/characters reading through this book was an effortless breeze. For the majority of the book, the group is at Amberwood prep school but myths of Vampire Hunters, Stroigoi sightings, and power inducing tattoos turns what should be an easy babysitting job dangerous. Who knew the Alchemist world can be so interesting! I’m so glad I finally started this series, and will be reading the next book, The Golden Lily shortly. A must read for all VA fans and YA book lovers. ...more "

Mar 30, 2015 08:17PM · see review

Van is currently reading

The Convoluted Universe - Book Two

by Dolores Cannon

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Feb 06, 2026 10:11PM

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Van’s Quotes

“I think the most romantic letter you ever gave me was “W,” because it’s a couple of soul mate “V”s. Or maybe they were a couple of letters of the same sex engaging in a homosexual relationship. A “W” is two “V”s in a civil union, but the world is not ready to flip that on its head and let them go for the big “M.”
― Jarod Kintz, So many chairs, and no time to sit

52 likes

“Writers fish for the right words like fishermen fish for, um, whatever those aquatic creatures with fins and gills are called.  ”
― Jarod Kintz, This is the best book I've ever written, and it still sucks

819 likes