How to rate this...well I'd like to give Adrian 923489238493/5 stars and everyone else like 2/5 stars. I only decided to read this after I heard Adrian was going to be in it. A book about Sydney and Jill, two of the most dull VA characters sounded boring to me. But I believe in Richelle Mead so I figured once the characters had a whole book dedicated to them maybe they would grow on me. Well not so much. Sydney was dull as ever and completely a push over and I hated her feelings towards Adrian and the vampires. Adrian can do so much better than her and I didn't really feel any chemistry towards them. I wanted Sydney with Trey. Then there is Jill who is shy and dull as well yet has 3 guys after her. CONFUSED! Adrian was the only saving grace as I expected. OMG He had me dying laughing most of the book. The first 46 pages without him were agony. This book lacked the excitement of VA. It was about boring Alchemists and magic and potions. We barely see a couple Strigoi at the end. I love/worship/would lick the ground Adrian walks on so that was why I ended up enjoying this book. I just hope in future books Sydney slowly becomes more likable and treats Adrian better. She is offered an apartment and gives it to Adrian which was nice but had I been her I would have been like I guess we will have to share. How she doesn't jump his bones is beyond me! I loved Eddie in VA but he lacked character in this book as well. All he did was follow Jill around and I was hoping for more into his character. I did like that there was mention of Rose and the pain she left behind on Adrian. I know she doesn't deserve his hurt but it would have been unrealistic to not mention it at all like I know some wanted. I was kind of disappointed but didn't have too high of expectations so I liked the book. Plus honestly you could throw Adrian into any book and I think I would like it. Here is to praying the other characters develop more in the next books and then it might be a winner. 
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