The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

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Source: Purchased (Chapters)
Publisher: Razorbill
Format: Hardcover, 418 pages
Release Date: June 12, 2012

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.

I don't think there is a single author on this planet that makes me as crazy as Richelle Mead does. I may have breathed like a handful of times while reading this [glorious] book but really, who cares about breathing when Adrian Ivashkov is on the page? Definitely not me. Bloodlines and The Golden Lily follow much the same formula for success as the Vampire Academy series and I have a great feeling that we're only getting started!

Sydney is a wonderful heroine. She's an academic genius but comparatively rather lacking when it comes to the social scene. I laughed myself to near tears as I read through some of her 'adventures' in the dating and socializing world. While I don't believe I've ever met anyone quite as brilliant as Sydney, she feels like a very real character to me and I just find her so, so, so endearing.

Adrian Ivashkov... Be still, my beating heart. Adrian's growth and development was off the charts in The Golden Lily! I can really spot the changes in him from the flippant party boy of Frostbite to the thoughtful and sometimes even responsible person he is now. That's not to say that he doesn't maintain his charm and wit -- they are abundant -- but there is more than meets the eye when it comes to Mr. Ivashkov.

Now, okay. Speaking of Sydney and Adrian... MY EMOTIONS. I am desperate to grab hold of Sydney and Adrian and lock them in a closet somewhere because really. The obvious pull between the two of them is so strong that I can't look away for a second. They complement each other so well and really bring about the strengths in each other... quite the contrasting pair.

While I did guess at some of the mystery in this novel early on, there were still a few things left to discover. Some interesting threads have been offered up and I can only imagine where they will lead in the upcoming books. In any case, with such a devastating ending (I think I read it about 6 times) there has to be a light shining in the distance!

To anyone that has not given Richelle Mead a shot: DO IT. Or I will disown you. (okay but seriously, PLEASE)

Cover Comments: For some reason, I feel like this isn't a colour we see very often and I like it! It's definitely a softer tone than the Bloodlines cover but I really like that creamy shade matched with the gold writing. Other than that, it's alright.

5/5