BOOK REVIEW ~ THE GOLDEN LILY BY RICHELLE MEAD

Title: The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, Book Two)

Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill

Genre: Young Adult

Release Date: June 12, 2012

Hardback: 418 pages

Copy of book bought by reviewer

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.

 

 

Sometimes I need to step away from adult romance and immerse myself in the young adult genre--and for me, nobody does it like Richelle Mead. I am a huge fan of her VAMPIRE ACADEMY books and still miss Rose and Dimitri. Sigh.

But Adrian steals all the good lines in The Golden Lily. Lines that make you swoon and realize that his time has finally come.

'You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth.' --- Adrian (The Golden Lily)

Sydney Sage has a huge paradigm shift in this book. What she has always thought as black and white is a pretty shade of gray. She has to make some difficult choices--choices that she once viewed as morally wrong. Her proverbial blinders are taken off and sometimes, the view isn't what she expected.

We get to see a tease of Dimitri--at first he wasn't in the beginning pages, which floored me. Because we ALL know he appeared at the end of Bloodlines. I had a little WTF moment and calmed down when he made his expected appearance. Yes, I know this is no longer his and Rose's story--but it was nice to see him and sigh a bit in remembrance.

But Mead did a terrific job on staying on task--and building an incredible story for Sydney and Adrian.

I have always had a soft spot for this Moroi Vampire, who has a penchant of going against the grain. He is so good at being so bad. He is the perfect match for the ever stoic Sydney and I can't wait to see how their relationship changes over time.

Richelle Mead is a Master (or should that be Mistress?) at leaving tiny clues scattered throughout without revealing too much and leaving the reader at the edge for more.

I am here for the duration Richelle and will continue to read this wonderful paranormal adventure that you have penned.