First Published: June 12th 2012
Pages:  418 (Paperback)
Publisher: RazorBill (Penguin)
ISBN: 9781921518478
Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Synopsis

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?

Review

Richelle Mead you have done it again. You have blown me away with your amazing writing that seems to captivate me. Golden Lily is much more fast paced then Bloodlines which I loved. It is more interesting and more suspenseful which I think Mead does best. There is excellent character development of pretty much all of the characters through out the whole novel, as the novel goes on each character grows more and more. I really like Sydney from the moment we meet her in the 4th Vampire Academy Book, Blood Promise and through Bloodlines I grew to like her even more, but with the confidence she grew through this book, I grew to love her. She starts to think more about the Alchemist, about how far they take things, about what they say isn’t that true. She goes against what she believes in for people she doesn’t even like that much. Adrian just, what can I say! I thought I loved him a lot already but the way he acts, especially towards Sydney makes my heart melt. I think the problem with Adrian is that he cares too much for people that let him down. He cares for Jill and then slowly for Sydney. Just all the little things he does for her and she doesn’t realise his feelings, it made my heart flutter. The interactions between Adrian and Sydney, oh my. Like the moment after they go to meet Adrian’s Dad it was just beautiful.  There is so many heartfelt scenes between them. Not just romantic but those scenes that are much more. They know each other like they have known each other forever. They understand each other like no one else can. I also liked that we got to see more of the Vampire Academy character that we know and love.  We got to see a lot of Dimitri, I just couldn’t keep the fangirl in myself down. I love that we got to see the side of Dimitri that we didn’t get to see that much in VA. We get to hear more about him and Rose, and their relationship and if you didn’t know it already we get to see that he really does love Rose. Eddie, oh how I feel sorry for him! Just why can’t he be happy for once, that’s all I want for him.  He always wants to make others around him happy but never himself and when he does it backfires on him. Angelina became bearable to a point but then what she does, just makes me so angry and frustrated, I can’t really blame her to a point because she doesn’t really know how to live. She cracked me up so many times, she is so childlike in a way.  Jill. Let’s talk about Jill. Gosh, I just feel so sorry for her. She just wants to have a normal life, have a boyfriend, have fun, but because of that fact that she is in hiding she can’t do that. She has been thrown into this world, where she really doesn’t have a say and I love that she somewhat keeps that Jill from VA that we all know and love.  I loved that Richelle brought out the element of magic in the book, it was totally cool and awesome, and the fact that Sydney can use it, made it that much awesome.  Richelle Mead knows how to compel an audience; she knows how to draw them in.  She creates suspense.  Her writing is so captivating; you are so into the story that, I felt everything. I think maybe because I have been with most of these characters for so long that I am so attached to them. I mean, wouldn’t you if you read have been reading about them for about 6 years.  The Golden Lily brings out the best in Mead, there is suspense, dramatic changes, things happen that I didn’t even know could or would. She created more of this already fascinating world. Each book just seems to get bigger and better. This is an honest review and my love for Vampire Academy and Bloodlines does not influence my review it in any matter. I just cannot wait to see  more Adrian and Sydney moments that make me want to laugh or cry.

 Quotes;

“But … Why? Why would you want to do that” “Why?” he asked “Because it was the closest I i could get to doing this” He reached out and pulled me to him, one hand on my waist and the other behind my neck. He tipped my head up and lowered his lips to mine’   ‘But perhaps the best part of all was that I, Sydney Katherine Sage, guilty of constantly analysing the world around me, well, I stopped thinking. And it was glorious.’ “She’s not the one I’m always thinking about anymore. I don’t see her face when I go to sleep. I don’t wonder about … you inspire me in every act, every word, every glance. I look at you and you’re like… like the lights made into flesh….you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth.” “This ‘lifestyle’ and ‘belief system’ you’re defending, have used you and keep using you. They treat you like a machine, one that’s not allowed to think – and you’re better than that” 

 

I Give 5 Stars to The Golden Lily.

What did you think of The Golden Lily? Did you like it as much as I did?