The Golden Lily: Book Review

The Golden Lily

Richelle Mead

Razorbill

June 12th 2012

Young Adult | Paranormal
Vampire

Official Blurb - 
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?

Gone is the playboy Adrian, witty still remains but he is a shell of his old self. Yet at the same time we get to see something as profound as it is opposite to our very first impression of him. Soft shy deep and transformational are his new feelings.

Sydney is a delight once again. So oblivious it is sweet. Fiercely loyal. I am excited to see what she will do next.

I do miss the more confident and semi pushy Adrian. Hopefully he might return in the next book and set the pages ablaze.

Jill's dreamy moments were slightly disturbing. Both coming from Jill and the idea that Adrian could have thoughts along the lines of "the burgundy trim in your skirt really brings out the amber in your eyes." I can't imagine guys noticing.

I loved this book and am so excited for more! The characters are awesome and the story intense.

Content:
Language: Mild
Violence: Moderate