Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Penguin, 2011. ISBN 978-1-921518-881.
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead is a novel for teens who love fantasy and mystery. This novel is a spin off from the Vampire Academy series so any reader who likes those will also like these. This is also a series of novels; it is possible to read this book by itself without reading the other novels but it's probably most recommended to read the others as it probably might make more sense.
The main character, Sydney Sage is chosen to take up an alchemist role in Palm Springs, California to protect a Vampire Princess, Jill Dragomir, a Moroi, who is a type of vampire that is basically like a human except the need for blood every now and again. She is fearful of harm from rogue vampire assassins while her sister (Queen of the Moroi, Lissa Dragomir) changes some laws. Sydney is woken from her bed in the middle of the night, scared that she would have to go to a re-education centre and finds herself being placed under strict eyes in Palm Springs for a chance to prove herself and regain the trust of her mentors, the Alchemists, after a situation that could have cost Sydney the trust of the Alchemists with Rose Hathaway, a dhampir, one of the protectors of the Moroi.
After being placed in the desert under the strict eye of Keith (another Alchemist) it is now Sydney's duty to protect Jill from any danger that befalls her, while re-doing year 12 at Amberwood Prep school (being close to and protecting 15 year old Jill gets easier when she's attending her freshman year at Amberwood).
The ending of this novel is wrapped in a huge mystery that will affect both Keith and Sydney plus not to mention all the Alchemists.
This was a brilliantly plotted novel with mysterious turns in all the right places.
Sarah Filkin (Student)