Review – The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

To celebrate the release of The Indigo Spell, the third book in the Bloodlines series, on the 12^th February, I decided to post my reviews for the first two books in the series. This week’s review is for The Golden Lily, the second book in the series. Next week will be my Indigo Spell Review as I was lucky enough to get it early!! Enjoy……

To view my Bloodlines Review, click HERE!

Title: The Golden Lily

Author: Richelle Mead

Series: Bloodlines #2

Genre: YA Paranormal

Published: June 12^th 2012

Book Description

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.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything.

Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

My Review

What a great second book to the series. The Golden Lily is a very entertaining read as we continue to see the main characters continue with their new lives protecting Jill and keeping her undercover. It is good to see the Moroi, Dhampirs and Sydney the Alchemist try and live normal lives together, even if they are playing the part of a "family". They are beginning to do normal things that teenagers do, go to school, catch up with friends and even date! Yes date!! Sydney, our smart, innocent girl goes on dates!! Trey, her human friend from school, happened to find someone who is the male equivalent to Sydney – Brayden. We see her struggle with the whole dating thing, but it is great to read about it, because for me, it’s been a long time since the first date/boyfriend thing! But while she is trying to figure out this new relationship she is still oblivious to some of the other relationships that are building around her.

Dimitri and Sonya Carp from the VA series play a larger role in this book and it was great to see the plot develop because of their involvement. Jill and Eddie’s parts weren't as big in this book, but they are both stuggling with their own relationship. We met Angelina in the Vampire Academy series and she definitely adds some spice to this series!!!

And Adrian..... How I love Adrian!!  It is great to see that he might actually work through some issues and turn into the beautiful person that I know he can be; it’s hidden behind the smart assed person he portrays to everyone else. It’s just too bad that he doesn’t live closer to me, because I would take care of him…

Sydney has to make a few choices between her beliefs of what she has been taught growing up, by her father and the alchemists, and what she has learnt from personal experience. This book seems to push her right to the edge in those beliefs, which will be interesting to see how she will handle it in the next book too. So, bring book three, Indigo Spell!! After that ending, I can't wait!!