The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Series: Bloodlines, Book Two

Publisher: Razorbill

Format: ARC

Published: 12^th June 2012

Number of Pages: 432

Book: For Review*

Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural, Magic, Action-Adventure, YA

Recommended Age: 12+

Contains: Swearing, Violence, Alcohol References

No Drug References

Author's Blog: Richelle Mead

Warning: Contains Spoilers From The Vampire Academy Series

Will love lose her everything she knows?

Sydney is an Alchemist.  She protects vampire secrets – and human lives.

In hiding at a Californian boarding school, Sydney’s life has become irrevocably intertwined with Jill Dragomir, the vampire Moroi princess she has been tasked with protecting.  She has grown close to those in Jill’s royal circle – and to someone in particular.  Someone that forces her to question everything the alchemists believe in.  Someone forbidden.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world – her new world – apart, Sydney’s loyalties are tested more than ever.  Should she trust the alchemists – or her heart?

Forbidden temptation lies behind the iron gates…

                                                                   Review:

The Alchemists are a secret society.  Their goal is to protect humans from vampires.  Then to keep their existence from the public.  And then... well, it doesn't really matter.  All that matters is that vampires themselves are pretty low in the list of priorities.  And getting chummy with a vampire is enough to get you sent to the Alchemists' idea of a psychiatric unit, known as a Re-Education Centre, where any warm feelings towards vampires will be programmed right out of your system. 

Alchemist Sydney Sage is hidden at a private boarding school, charged with the task of keeping the young Moroi princess safe and hidden, for fear of a civil war among the vampires.  Should war break out, not only will Jill's life be at risk and used as a pawn to get to the vampire Queen, but the entire species and hidden world will be revealed to humanity - something the Alchemists simply cannot allow. 

So as Sydney is, in the Alchemist's eyes, far too close to her charges, can she manage to keep out of the Re-Education Centre, separate her duty and feelings - especially as a new threat is rising, one that will change everything?

Will Sydney go with her very logical head or her very conflicting heart?

Oh, how I have waited, longed and pined for this book!  It's been so long that I started to go into VA withdrawal (it's not pretty, trust me, what with the shakes, longing to get a promise tattoo on the back of my neck and the dreams about Dimitri and Adrian.  Though the last one isn't actually bad at all...).  And finally, FINALLY, it's here!  And along with it came insanely high expectations.  Good ol' Richelle Mead did not disappoint!  I was unable to put The Golden Lily down, laughing, heart all nice and fluttery whenever Adrian was there!  This series just gets better and better and better.  I'm not sure if I can find the words to describe how much I loved this book, or to explain how desperate, desperate, DESPERATE, for the next book I am!  How am I meant to it months and months and MONTHS?!

Sigh.  Back to the Adrian fantasies...

God, I have no idea how Richelle creates characters I love so much it actually hurts, but she does.  And ol’ Sydney is really growing on me – so much so I love her just as much as Rose and, this bit shocked me, I didn’t miss Rose at all!  I couldn’t believe it!  But Sydney is so awesome and I love her dry sense of humour and wit.  She’s ridiculously clever, but she’s so bad, and therefore very funny, in social situations!  But Sydney is protective and supportive and never lets anyone tell her what to do.  And Adrian, oh!  Just when I thought I couldn't possibly love Adrian any more: Bam!  Oh, how I love him!  Funny, witty, adorable, complex Adrian, with that irresistibly adorable protective streak!  He’s so strong, but has this vulnerable side that makes me wanna hug him and kiss him and tell him everything will be fine because he's perfect.  And, I've changed my mind: I am now Team Adrian!  I love Jill – she’s so cute and she kills me, with her hyperness, and rambling habit.  I love seeing how she’s grown and matured; she’s really starting to act like the princess she is.  Eddie: I love him!  He’s so dedicated and determined and protective and I hated seeing him in pain!  As for Angeline, the new addition, she killed me!  She wasn’t adjusting very well to life at school and her bonkersness just killed me; her wildness and cheekiness really made me laugh too!  And who can blame a girl for crushin’ on the lovely Eddie?  And YES, Dimka is here too, with his wonderful “Zen-Master Wisdom”! 

I just loved the interactions between the 'relatives'.  The story was very much about the family, their antics and bonding - and it was all so funny and cute and they all really did feel like a family.  But what was best by far was the bond between Adrian and Sydney.  I just loved how protective of one another they were – they both took care of each other and believed in one another when no one else did.  But with all that emotion and desire… how the heck has Sydney managed to keep her hands off him?!  If I met Adrian, a million Guardians couldn’t stop me!

Now, Richelle Mead is, quite frankly, one of my very favourite authors ever!  Her writing is utterly addictive, fast-paced and hilarious.  Her plots are action-packed and normally have unforeseeable and huge twists.  Her characters are so real and padded out and believable and utterly loveable.  She has a way of writing that has me hooked start to finish and leaves me going insane for more.  And this world: man, I love it; I wish I could move there! And, again, I love the inside-Alchemist-look: I love knowing more about why they're how they are.  And with a new paranormal being, this world got a zillion times more amazing that it already was (pure awesomeness incarnate), making it infinitely amazing!  And as for the other new secret thing... can't wait to see where that one goes! 

Magical, awesome, addictive and action packed, The Golden Lily just raised the barrier paranormal books will be judged by a million, squillion, zillion metres.  It exceeded all my expectations and made me fall head over heels in love - again.  I swear, this series just keeps getting better and better.  I wouldn't be lying by saying I could read it forever and ever.  I read this book as fast as I possibly could, but didn't ever want it to end.  I stayed up till the wee hours to devour it, and was desperate for more the moment I set it back down.  Word of warning: don't pick this series up if you have stuff to do or want to sleep or something.  You won’t be able to stop reading.  But seriously, if you haven't read this series, please, please, PLEASE pick it up right now!  It's the most amazing set of books ever and I can't begin to find the words for how utterly incredible The Golden Lily was or how much I loved it. 

All I know is I'm desperate for more Adrian, to jump right back into the world.  Urgh, why did I read it now?!  I have to wait a year for the next book!  So, Ms Mead, I must tell you I am now in the middle of a totally legitimate medical emergency.  VAA.  Vampire Academy Addiction.  So, please, give me more - STAT!  Especially of that last chapter...  But please, before I go into withdrawal!

Star Rating:
5 Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

The Gathering Dark by Leigh Bardugo

The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2012 (Hosted by Book Chick City)

Happy Reading

Megan

* This book was received from Penguin in exchange for an honest review