The Golden Lily - Review

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2)

By: Richelle Mead

Published: January 1, 2012 by Razorbill

418  pages

Source: Borrowed from my sister-n-law

(Goodreads / Amazon)

Summary:
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?

I must admit that for the majority of this book I was leaning towards a 3.5 star rating. Though I enjoyed the story and LOVE Adrian (how can you not?!), I kept wanting "more" and I was growing increasingly frustrated that 'more' wasn't coming. Why is it that a lot of books don't pick up steam until the last 100 pages or so?! This is an ongoing frustration of mine.  The end of the book propelled my opinion of it and I am very pleased with where book 3 will be heading. So, my final score for The Golden Lily earns 4 stars!  (Originally added on Goodreads September 2012)