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So. I've been reading the Vampire Academy series since it first came out in 2007. I started this series in seventh grade, and it's basically following me all throughout high school all the way until college with the extended Bloodlines series. I have many fond memories with both of these series, and I practically grew up with them if you consider that middle school through high school is often a really hard time in people's lives in the aspect that they're trying to find out their identity. And with that being said, I've always admired and looked up to Rose. She's one of my literary heroes.

When I first met Sydney Sage in the Vampire Academy series, I thought she was a stickler. She seemed boring, clean-cut, and straight to the point. All business, no play. However, her appearances in that series were brief. She was an important character, that much I could gather (and it was a bit obvious), but there was much time to delve on her. Despite how perfect she seemed - she was intriguing. So I was beyond excited when the Bloodlines series was announced. I really was curious about her, and while I wasn't fond of her in the first series - I didn't outright dislike her or hate her. I was simply curious, knowing she was the way she was for reasons unexplained. And I wanted those reasons explained.

Well, I got it in the form of this series. Today, that series ended for me. And I'd like to say I'm not happy with the ending.

Whereas the Vampire Academy ending seemed more final - this ending was much more open. There was no closure for me. Sydney and Adrian end up happy and together, which I'd been hoping and praying for by the second book, and I got it - so yay to that! Because I adore those two together. They bring out the best in each other, and have learned through hardship how to work with the worst of each other. Adrian showed, taught, and changed Sydney in so many ways - along with Jill, Eddie, Angeline, and others. This series was the greatest work of character development through time that I have ever, in my opinion, seen. Sydney went from having her faith set in hardcore beliefs, and being scared of her superiors to a strong and confident young woman who questioned everything around her and the truth of it all. Her questioning turned her into a character that I think a lot of people should look up to. She learned how to fight in her own ways, and on top of it she's intelligent - a trait that often gets bypassed in many sources of literature today. Sydney Sage-Ivashkov is a woman that every woman should look up to.

But within this specific book of the series, Adrian discovers a curious miracle - which I won't go into detail, because I don't want to ruin the book for those who haven't read. Basically, it's a detail that can change the world of the Moroi and dhampir. It's a secret that needs to be kept, and him and Sydney will keep it at all costs- but for something so amazing, that was even described in the book's synopsis...no one went into too much detail on it. Which is understandable, considering that those involved decided to keep it away from the Moroi world for the time being. But I personally feel as though this amazing thing was glossed over. Especially because, with the way the last chapter played out and how the story ended - the ending was an opening. It's an opening that could possibly lead into more book series, and it definitely leads into many, many more questions needing to be answered.

Compared to the other books in the series, as well, this specific one felt rushed. I'm not sure if was, or if this was a storytelling method Richelle Mead simply wanted to take on for this series. However, I do know it was very fast-paced and wasn't as enjoyable as some of the others. Mead is normally very specific about the details of events in the books and how they play out, especially events that are packed with high suspense and adrenaline. I've always loved that about her writing. But this specific book seemed to be lacking those details. The heist that takes place seemed to be downplayed. Sneaking in and around places and gathering information that could save or doom certain people were downplayed. For all of the seriousness of some of the events that were taking place within the book, The Ruby Circle seemed to be lacking a lot of those key emotions triggered by the author to keep the reader engaged.

I also noticed two editing mistakes in the printing, one of them being extremely confusing, which caused me to re-read the sentence about three times to make sure I understood it. The other mistake wasn't a huge deal. In fact, neither of them were that big of a deal to me. But I do know they may bother some others.

Overall, I still enjoyed the book. It was, very much, the epic conclusion it was advertised to be. It was simply wonderful growing up with these characters and seeing the change in their personalities, beliefs, and more. The development and growing these characters did was outstanding. I can say with my heart I love every single one of the characters within these books, and that The Ruby Circle did justice to their endings...and that, sadly, I'm going to miss them and hope there's more from them someday. If you liked the rest of the series, you'll most likely be happy with how this last book plays out and ends - so I recommend it.

I also recommend the entirety of the Bloodlines series - but before you read this series, make sure you read Vampire Academy!

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