The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy spinoff series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students-children of the wealthy and powerful-carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead’s breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

Set one month after the end of Bloodlines, Sydney Sage is back along with the rest of the gang. After outing a fellow Alchemist for being associated with vampires, Sydney is now Ms. popular among her superiors. Instead of being the disgrace among Alchemist’s that she once was, Sydney is now looked on with respect. She is now able to do whatever she pleases without someone breathing down her neck, thinking that she is about to become a vampire supporter.

As much as Sydney would love for the rest of her experience in Palm Springs, California to be relaxing and uneventful, she’s not very shocked to learn that that is not going to be the case. Soon a new threat arises and Sydney must do everything in her power to keep her charges safe. Except this time, Jill is not the target. Sonkya Karp is. Sydney must reach deep down inside herself and challenge her own beliefs. For she was sent to protect Jill. The alchemists said nothing about protecting other Moroi.

I have been a big fan of Richelle Mead’s work for a couple of years now. I fell absolutely in love with The Vampire Academy series, and I’ve been reading some of her adult novels as well. I pretty much read anything Richelle Mead produces, as I am a big fan of her writing.

One thing I’ve noticed is that Richelle Mead’s writing is not always consistent. There were two books in the Vampire Academy series that I found absolutely boring. There was really nothing wrong with the writing style, I just failed to find an emotional connection with the story. I’ve also met other people who have had this problem with Richelle’s writing style. I’ve read most of the Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle, but I wasn’t a big fan of those books either. When Bloodlines came out, I thought that the book was decent. It didn’t blow me away, by any means, but I was intrigued. I didn’t think that I would purchase The Golden Lily when it released in bookstores because I wasn’t really sold on the series. I ended up being realllllly glad that I did end up buying the book.

The first chapter of The Golden Lily was really good. It got a little slow after that for about four or five chapters. I began to worry that this book would end up being like Bloodlines for me. It picked up a lot after that, though.

Fans of Adrian will loveeeee this book! I’ve always been a huge Dimitri fan, but I’ve also had a huge book crush on Adrian since Vampire Academy. Adrian has so many scenes in this book. I was so excited and happy to read all about him. I was also so proud of Adrian because of all of his accomplishments that he achieved in The Golden Lily. The relationship between Sydney and Adrian was also so adorable, I could have just read about it all day.

One thing I did not like about this book, and something that I noticed in Bloodlines, was how unrealistic the school is. I know that this is a book, and a lot of things are supposed to be made up, but the school was supposed to be a real life private school that would act like any school you would go to today. I’m sorry, but there is noooooo way Sydney and her friends could have pulled off a lot of the things they did while attending that school. Also, schools would not just brush off the fact that they could never get in touch with a student’s parents. I think that this is something that Richelle Mead should keep in mind for the third book, as it really put me off in a couple of scenes.

I loved loved loved all of the characters in this book, maybe with the exception of Brayden. I’m sorry, but he was creepy and weird. I really hope that he doesn’t have an appearance in the third installment. I’ve always had a slight problem with the character of Sydney. She’s very uptight and kind of closed off. That really comes across even when she’s just narrating. That really improved during the second half of the book. I was really happy to witness some transformations in her own personality and thinking processes. I’m really looking forward to watching that progress in the next book.

I would definitely recomment this book. I started it expecting to think it was ok. In fact, I was totally prepared to rate it a three. Never did I think that I would be coming away from this book rating it at almost 5 stars. I loved it! There are no warnings with this book; it is completely appropriate for all ages. Go. Buy. This. Book. Now!

Pages: 418

Publication Date: June 12, 2012

Publisher: Razorbill

Rating: : ★★★★½

 

Teaser Quote: “He reached out and pulled me to him, one hand on my waist and the other behind my neck. He tipped my head up and lowered his lips to mine. I closed my eyes and melted as my whole body was consumed in that kiss. I was nothing. I was everything. Chills ran over my skin, and fire burned inside me. His body pressed closer to mine, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. His lips were warmer and sofer than anything I could have ever imagined, yet fierce and powerful at the same time. Mine responded hungrily, and I tightened my hold on him. His fingers slid down the back of my neck, tracing its shape, and every place they touched was electric.”