Hello everyone!
Back in February, I wrote a quick little review about The Silver Shadows, the fifth book in Richelle Mead's Bloodlines series, and obviously I was late in doing so because it took a while for the physical book to arrive (I did have the electronic version, but truth be told I enjoy reading these ones in their original forms). Which meant I was pretty much just weeks away from the publishing date of The Ruby Circle, the sixth and final installment in the series, as well as the much-anticipated grand finale of the whole saga begun with the Vampire Academy years back.
Cue my excitement!
I can't even remember how or why I got into these books in the first place, I know for Twilight that I honestly wanted to know what the hype was about, and A Song o Ice and Fire was introduced to me on a weekend trip, but these books? No idea. I started reading Bloodlines because I loved the Vampire Academy series, and so it was sort of bitter-sweet for me to pick up the very last book (or it's last according to the author).
Image not mine
If we rewind just a little bit: Adrian and Sydney, Moroi vampire and human Alchemist (who has conveniently just busted out of re-education) have married in Las Vegas and sought refuge at the Moroi court. This has been granted - but it doesn't mean life is easy for them. Actually, Sydrian (Sydney + Adrian = Sydrian) seem to be having more problems than just two kids being in love and married young. Not only is Adrian's mother living with them (oh no), but Adrian and spirit have sort of gotten buddy-buddy recently, which leads to friction and tension between the couple as Sydney is adamant about the decision for him to go back on medication.
Because, let's be practical, if you're hearing the voice of your dead aunt in your had (read: an aunt that has been dead for seven books, natch), you NEED to do something about that.
Now, the book itself is once again split chapter-wise, with one from Sydney's point of view and one from Adrian's, alternating through to the end. It's actually a very nifty thing to do since there are a couple of storylines merging together in this last book.
#1 The Curious Case of the Princess in the Nighttime
Jillian 'Jill' Mastrano Dragomir is missing, and has presumably been abducted from her dorm room with her roommate still asleep, and not hearing or sensing anything, which is weird for a dhampir. Unfortunately, with her missing, Vasilisa 'Lissa' Dragomir, her older sister and queen, doesn't have the fulfilled 'quota' which allows her to sit the throne (not the Iron one, sadly). Ergo, mission directive: find Jill! This includes, but isn't limited to, a reappearance by Sydney's former history teacher - and witch mentor - and Sydney's transformation into a cat to sneak out of the Moroi court (no, for real, she gets turned INTO A CAT. Meow?) This happens because a treasure hunt has been set up, but only Sydney can unlock it ... and it's game on.
#2 A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes
Back in Silver Shadows, Adrian partied really hard with a Moroi girl named Nina, who is connected to dhampir sister Olive, who is a resurrected Strigoi (for more on that, check back on Spirit Bound and subsequent books in the series). Nina now wants Adrian's help to locate her missing sister, but Olive seems to be blocking her spirit dreams, which is unheard of (generally). And while Adrian has promised Sydney to lay off the spirit, he's a sucker for damsels in distress, and helps out. Only, Nina gets spirit-fried, and he learns something else: Olive is pregnant.
#3 Bloodlines Five-0
A link is established between Alicia (a former witchy nemesis Sydney thought she'd killed - turns out this is sort of like Vampire Diaries or Teen Wolf; they don't stay dead!) and the Warriors (those vampire-killing crazies from the Alchemists), giving clues that they have Jill. Cue the music! Cue Adrian joining up with his wife! Cue back-up: Rose Hathaway and Death in a Cowboy Duster himself, Dimitri Belikov! Seriously, it's just like old times, except for a side-tracking situation: Olive has been located (because Dimitri is just really that good and can recognize a homemade necklace pendant) so they hunt off after her. She's definitely pregnant - but - another dhampir (Neil, the British chap) is the father!
Crickets.
Dhampirs can't procreate. That was established back at the very beginning ... only, Olive is a resurrected Strigoi. Spirit brought her back. Which means ... yup, Dimitri and Rose babies.
Well, you know. SOMEDAY.
Olive unfortunately dies after a Strigoi attack, leaving her son with Adrian and Sydney (and giving readers humour overload since it's debatable what's more hilarious: Adrian Ivashkov changing a diaper or Dimitri Belikov installing a baby car seat). The poor thing is sidelined though as it's more Bloodlines Five-0 time, and the witch coven comes together to deal with the problem. But, problem ain't over yet - they still need Jill. And to do this, Sydney and Eddie have to go undercover with the Warriors to get a high-rank laptop. Between their secret agent work and Adrian's interrogation of Alicia, they get enough information to bust the princess out. Adrian sort of almost fritzes himself out with spirit in the process though ... but Sydney is there! Not to mention, she kicks her father in the weak spot saying she knows he's been dealing with vampire blood and illegal stuff, and scores big time in her little revenge fest.
To wrap it all up: Sydrian adopt Declan, the baby dhampir, since his father Neil thinks it would be safer for him to be out of the picture. They live together and work normal jobs; Sydney gets to attend university; Rose and Dimitri are engaged; there's mention of a possible Christian and Lissa engagement ... and that's it.
Huh?
Honesty on all fronts: the ending was a little bit anticlimactic for my taste. Plus, there's still so much to be explored! Lissa and Christian technically aren't married yet, Rose and Dimitri could have a baby, Declan is a miracle child ... a LOT of open endings even though the knots were all tied up. Oh, yes, Eddie and Jill are dating now, too. The humour of the writing was still there, which was nice, and the core of the story remained intact, but ... While I loved the book just as much as the rest, I feel like there could have been ... well, more. With Last Sacrifice, I got all that plus a truckload of other stuff. Now? I felt like there were things missing ... although it might just be a very clever way for Richelle Mead to keep her options open.
And you know what? If it's the latter, I'm totally down with it.
What did you think of the Ruby Circle?
xx
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