June 12th, 2012 · Penguin
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 418
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.
As readers, we all know it can be tough for a sequel to beat its predecessor but that is exactly what Richelle Mead has done with The Golden Lily.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.
As I mentioned in my Bloodlines review, it took me a little while to really connect with Sydney but the more I get to know her, the more I like her. In fact, in ways she reminds me of myself – for instance, were both socially awkward.
In Vampire Academy I was Team Dimitri all the way. I liked Adrian but there was just never any competition there; Dimitri won my heart from the very beginning. So of course I was cheering on Dimitri and Rose, hoping it would all end well. I’m thankful it ended the way it did not only because if it hadn’t my dreams would have been shattered but because if Adrian hadn’t of gotten his heart broken, him and Sydney might not have been (whatever they are) and that is one scary thought. What Sydney and Adrian have is friendship verging (or at least trying to) on something more. It’s so sweet to watch develop, plus it’s sure to make your little heart flutter. Trust me, mine did!
One of my favourite aspects of The Golden Lily is this whole new side to Adrian which we get to see explored. When one thinks of Adrian Ivashkov, cocky, sarcastic, witty, impulsive and charming are usually words that come to mind and though he is all that and more you see Mead dig deeper, giving us a look at what lies beneath the surface.
By the looks of it this series just keep getting better so with that in mind along with how The Golden Lily ended, I absolutely can’t wait for the next instalment. Bring on February!
4.5/5
Oh I wish I had read the Vampire Academy series already, I feel totally out of the loop! :( It's great when you're able to connect with a character especially when they remind you a lot of yourselves. I'm glad this spin off series is still working out for you Rebecca! Another fab review! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jasprit! I hope you read Vampire Academy soon so you can join in the fun and start swooning :)
DeleteI <3 this series so, so much! I too was all about Team Dimitri but since having read this spin-off series, Adrian is definitely swooning me over to his team! I mean, I've always liked - well okay, loved - Adrian but I love him even more when he's interacting with Sydney! They have much better chemistry than he ever did with Rose, so for that I'm really thankful! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
Yes! He sure is lovable when he's interacting with Sydney, especially this new side of him were starting to see. Thanks Erin!
DeleteI loved getting to see more of Adrian and his softer side in this one, So curious about Indigo Spell. Awesome Review!
ReplyDeleteKristin @ Young Adult Book Haven
Thanks Kristin! As you can tell from my review,I love this new side of Adrian too so I hope we get to see more of it soon! :)
DeleteEeeeeeeeeeeee, SYDRIAN!!!! *fangirl squeal* Oh my goodness. The gooeyness of my heart in this book reached paramount levels. They are so perfect for one another and given what a crazy Adrian fangirl I am, I LOVED the exploration of his character. But please, can we punch his father into the next galaxy?
ReplyDeleteFantastic review, Becca!! Now we can suffer in torment together until The Indigo Spell AND OMFG THE FIERY HEART!!! ADRIAN POV! *runs into wall*
SYDRIAN! *squeals along with you* I'm with you there, let's plot against Adrian's father. No one messes with our Adrian and get's away with it!
DeleteFantastic comment, Brodie!! Need The Indigo Spell, need, need, need! Wait up. What? The Fiery Heart is in Adrian's POV? O___O *runs into wall with you from the excitement overload*
I enjoy love interests like Adrian but love it even more when we get to see that deeper, human side. Bloodlines didn't fully do it for me (actually, compared to VA, I really disliked it) but I've heard good things about this book so I'm willing to give this series another chance. Great review, Rebecca! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry Bloodlines didn't do it for you, especially after how much you loved VA. I hope you have better luck with it when you try it again. Thanks Sam :)
DeleteI was totally the opposite of you when I read Vamp Academy, I was Team Adrian all the way so it makes me more curious to see this different side of him! I'm not a fan of spin offs so I haven't read Bloodlines. I did hear this series is quite good so maybe one day I will change my mind. I'm glad that this one is even better than Bloodlines though! Great review. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of spin offs either but since VA is one of my favourite series, I decided to give it a go and I'm glad it I did :) Thanks Elena!
DeleteI still need to read Vampire Academy, if you can believe it! Don't know what's taken me so long, really. Maybe the horrible covers? But they really do sound like fun books! The characters, especially - I would like to get to know what all the fuss is about them!
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you, the covers are quite bad. But trust me and all the other fans, Vampire Academy is absolutely amazing. It's action-packed, suspenseful, addictive, easy to read, swoony and so much more. It's one of my favourite series. They ARE fun books, not to mention addictive. The characters are great and I hope you meet them soon :)
DeleteI really loved this one, even more so than Bloodlines. I think Bloodlines was just like Vampire Academy (book one) it was mostly the platform/jumping off point for the series. I think the story really takes off in Golden Lily. It took a little while for Sydney to grow on me also. Her character really starts to shine in GL. I was always a team Adrian fan, one because I loved his character and two because I knew deep down that he never truly had a shot with Rose with Dimitri in the picture *sort of like my #teamjacob status in Twilight*. Glad you enjoyed this one!
ReplyDeleteMe too! TLG is even better than Bloodlines. ...it was mostly the platform/jumping off point for the series... - yes! Bloodlines is what set the series on it path, directing it away from VA. Glad you enjoyed this one too!
DeleteYou're back - yay!
ReplyDeleteGreat review of TGL, Bec! I really enjoyed it too and like you, I really liked getting to know Adrian better :D Bring on book 3!!
Yes, I'm back! :D`Glad to hear your a fan of the series and that your excited for book 3!
DeleteI really liked it too! I've always been a fan of Adrian I think Rose and Dimitri are better together but I love all the Adrian time we get in these bloodlines books. I can't wait for Indigo Spell!
ReplyDeleteRose and Dimitri are better suited and at least with Sydney, Adrian doesn't have to try so much, it just comes naturally. I definitely love all the Adrian quality time were getting with him in the Bloodlines series, especially this new side of him :)
DeleteI really liked your review! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete