Linda's Review of The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, #2)

by Richelle Mead

The thrilling second installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series--and a #1 New York Times Bestseller--now in paperback

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?

This and other reviews can also be found on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews

Sydney is a very strong female heroine! She can take care of herself, she is loyal, she is very smart and she knows how to say no and make others respect her. Of course she is just as socially awkward as usual, but that is partly why she is so endearing to me. I like that she is not too cocky, and she is learning how to interact with people her own age.

The Golden Lily actually surprised me in a very good way! I was a little cautious before I started it, because I had heard rumors of a love triangle, and I hate love triangles in my books. I wish I hadn’t listened to those rumors, because I would have read this long before I actually did.

Sydney continues to be herself in this story, and at the same time, she lets herself grow as well, even when what she wants to do seems to be against her Alchemist beliefs. She takes a stand, and decides that she needs to be able to protect herself if she is to protect others as well.

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, #2)

by Richelle Mead

Reviewed by Linda on Jul 14, 2012

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