Release Date: February 10th, 2015
Publisher: Razorbill
Pgs: 348, hardcover, purchased
Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis:
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. Their forbidden romance exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, she and Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world and alter their lives forever. Don't miss their unforgettable final chapter...
Review:
I finished this a while ago and posted this subsequent review on Goodreads: "Amazing. Brilliant. I refuse to accept it's the end." My feelings, of course, haven't changed in the past months. I still remain adamant that Richelle Mead needs to continue writing in the world of Vampire Academy.
As always Mead offers a flowing prose with superb twists and turns, along with depthful characterization and humorous dialogue. These lovable characters come to life in one's mind and provide an air of humanity that's unlikely for a vampire-oriented plot.
I've been on the wild ride of Sydney and Adrian since its inception. I've seen these two come a long way from the neurotic, fearful Alchemist with hidden fierceness and the carefree, confident playboy Moroi with a broken heart. That kind of character growth is what I live to read about. Finally, in The Ruby Circle, we see it come to fruition as Sydrian, as the fans lovingly call them, finally become who they were always meant to be. And kick some bad guy butt along the way. I can always go for some bad-guy-butt-kicking.
Needless to say, I was a bit reproachful when starting the final book in the Bloodlines series. It was the last stop on the VA train that I've been on since 2009. If you're doing the math, that's six years. Yep! SIX YEARS, folks. And VA is my eternal literary love. So I was indeed wary about whether or not this book would live up to my expectations. I think you know the answer to that one.
We get to see a lot of old characters: Rose, Dimitri, Lissa, Christian. We get to see Adrian and Sydney as a married couple. *swoon* I'm a romantic, this is like crack to me. And of course, everything works out in the end. I mean it's the VA universe. When doesn't it?! But that's all part of its charm. While there were some unanswered questions, like about about the cure to Strigoi?!, I wasn't so much bothered by it. Why? Because I view it as a chance for Richelle to delve back into this world at some eventual point and provide those answers. I'm holding onto that hope in a vice-grip. Don't judge me. ;P
All in all, a fabulous read that pulls at the heart strings. If you're a fan of VA and Bloodlines, reading this is a no-brainer. If you're not... Um, what are you waiting for?! Go have a reading experience you'll never forget!
For fans of Richelle or just great reading material, she has a standalone book coming out in November, Soundless. Be sure to check it out!
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