Tuesday, June 19, 2012

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead Book Review

As you all know I am a HUGE fan of Richelle's Vampire Academy Series. So when I read that she was going to have a spin off series with Sydney and Adrian and the gang I jumped for joy. I absolutely love how Richelle builds the lives of the characters and has you routing for them even if they don't think something will happen. The Bloodlines Series is no different. So if you enjoyed Vampire Academy then you will LOVE Bloodlines.
The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

          MY REVIEW OF BLOODLINES
Warning: This book is very addictive! Spellbinding!
My Rating: 5 of 5

My Cover Thoughts: I absolutely love the cover! Sydney is so beautiful with her tattoo and Adrian, well he is just HAWT!

My Thoughts/Review: I absolutely loved this book. I was told that it started out slow and then did not go so well as Vampire Academy. Well to the people that told me that I want to say you are CRAZY because Richelle did an excellent job with Sydney’s story.

Sydney is am alchemist and she was raised not to trust vampires so she is very cautious around them. This is her story where we get to see what the alchemists are thinking and how they work. We also see firsthand that no matter who you are you can still be fooled and you must always watch your back.

Sydney is in charge of keeping Jill safe from rouge Moroi. They are enrolled in a private boarding school where things start to go downhill fast for people. Plus Sydney must face her worst enemy and deal with some baggage she has carried for years. Then she has to deal with selfish, egotistical Adrian. What is a girl to do? Will she solve the mystery at hand or will she and Jill end up in trouble or worse yet dead?

This story started out action packed and kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more. Plus the ending was STELLAR!!!!!!!!!! I will not ruin it for those who have not read it but the last page is my favourite!

Memorable Quotes: Page 412-413 Adrian speaking to Sydney in the apartment:
Adrian says “My God, Sage. Your eyes. How have I never noticed them?” That uncomfortable feeling was spreading over me again. “What about them?” “The color.” He breathed. “When you stand in the light. They’re amazing ...like molten gold. I could paint those...” He reached toward me but then pulled back. “They’re beautiful. You’re beautiful.”

Advice: This is a must read and if you loved Vampire Academy you are going to love this series as well.
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.

          MY REVIEW FOR THE GOLDEN LILY
Richelle Mead has blown it out the water again! She never ceases to amaze me with her writing and leaving me wanting so much more. In this follow up to Bloodlines we get to see some new characters and we get to see some old ones. I could not put this book down lord I was up till 3am finishing it because I just had to see what happened to Sydney.

In The Golden Lily Sydney is faced with numerous issues and the most pressing is keeping Jill safe from the Moroi who want to kill her. Sydney, Jill, Eddie, Adrian, Dimitri, and Sonya, Angeline, Micah, Brayden, and Trey have so much going on in this book. I love how Richelle set it up each character has their own story to tell and Richelle does not disappoint when it comes to the work up of a romance. This review will be different because I want to give you short glimpses into all the characters lives and of course you know I have to save Adrian for last because he makes my heart speed up and I just can't concentrate when I think about those big green eyes...... you get the point I don't need to ramble.

*******THIS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS IN IT, SO PROCEED WITH CAUTION*******

Jill is finally getting used to boarding school. She is dating Micah and she has friends and things seem to be going well except for her bond with Adrian. It seems like sometimes he can hide his feelings through the bond but other times he can't and that is when Jill feels it the worst. School is going great and she has managed to make more friends but she worries for Adrian constantly and that leaves her in a fog. Plus she and Micah are getting serious and Sydney has warned her about getting to close to him because he is after all human. Poor Jill what will she do when she is faced with a huge decision that will affect her and the others around her?

Micah God Bless his soul because he looks just like Mason and every time Eddie looks at him he is seeing Mason all over again. Micah is smart and athletic and he loves Jill. He and Jill are dating and Micah is excited because in Bloodlines Jill was afraid to date him because she is a Vampire and no one can find out. Micah ever the gentleman loves spending time with Jill and her family and even goes so far as to include her in everything he does at school. Together they make a great couple and Micah even invites Jill home for Thanksgiving.

Angeline lord she is as crazy a Dhampir as ever. She has taken on the task of protecting Jill and she has to learn how to fight like a Dhampir because she is used to savage fighting and Eddie has told her that she needs to think and act like a guardian and pay attention to all things around Jill. This becomes hard for Angeline because at times she is not comfortable around everyone but in the end she and Eddie practice and she is able to hold her own. Plus she has a crush on someone and she is willing to do anything to get their attention.

Eddie oh Eddie he has pined over Jill since she came to court. He knows that as a Dhampir he can never be more than just friends but he longs to be with her and every time he sees her with Micah his roommate he is forced to swallow his feelings for her. Eddie is first and foremost her Guardian and will do whatever is in his powers to keep Jill safe from all harm. He has a distraction from his pinning of Jill because he has to teach Angeline how to fight like a Guardian and he has to teach Angeline how to spot danger. Plus Angeline is really fun to be around. At times she can be to much but he really enjoys her company.

Dimitri and Sonya are at Clarnce's house conducting experiments and trying to figure out a way to restore Strigoi back to Moroi's. They have Adrian to help them out but there is only so much they can get done because they need something that can only come from one person and that person is not willing to give it up at first but once that person does help out in the experiments they regret it because there is so much danger out there and they are afraid that they will get hurt. Dimitri is still hot as ever and he is so devoted to the Guardians. Sonya is planning on her wedding in a few months. She and Mikhail are so happy now that Sonya is a Moroi.

Trey is so grateful to Sydney for uncovering the whole tattoo mess because it has restore his position on the football team and he no longer feels threatened. But in Golden Lily we get to see more and more of Trey and his bizarre behavior. As Sydney uncovers the truth Trey will have to make some tough decisions and he will have to decide if he truly does trust Sydney enough to tell her the truth.

In Golden Lily we meet Brayden who is a brainiac just like Sydney. He works at the coffee shop with Trey and Trey introduces him to Sydney. Brayden is smitten by Sydney and they soon start going out on dates but everytime they are on a date some crisis comes up and Brayden and Sydney end up separated. Brayden is smart and funny and he even has all the makings of a *Swoon* worthy guy but at the end of the day can he stand up to the one person who loves Sydney? Well well well you just have to read the book to find out!

And last but not LEAST in my eyes Adrian. Lord in Golden Lily he shows a side to him that is very rare. He is still in school taking his art classes and still drinking and smoking. But we get to see a glimpse into his life and how things got so bad for him. We also learn some interesting stuff about Adrian and we get to see him show his feelings for someone. Adrian is actually capable of being unselfish which totally threw me because I love my snarky rude boy! Adrian realy stepped it up this time around and I love him even more!

So what are you waiting for..... Go on out and get Golden Liliy because you will not be disappointed!

FAVORITE QUOTE:
“I tried to be a better person for her– but it was to impress her, to get her to want me. But when I’m around you, I want to be better because… well, because it feels right. Because I want to. You make me want to become something greater than myself. I want to excel. You inspire me in every act, every word, every glance. I look at you, and you’re like… like light made into flesh. […] You have no clue how beautiful you are or how brightly you shine.”
FOR ALL YOU ADRIAN FANS HERE IS WHAT I PICTURE ADRIAN TO LOOK LIKE






2 comments:

Arianne said...

I really want this book!!! People are raving about it!

Tee said...

Arianne,
If you read the first book you need the second one! Man this book was EPIC!