Review: Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

June 12th 2012, Razorbill
418 pages, Hardback
Borrowed from the Library
Second in Bloodlines series
Young Adult Fiction
Amazon

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.

Favorite Quote:

“You need me? You yell. You want to leave? We go. I'll get you out of here, no matter what.”- Adrian

Cover Review:

The covers somewhat confuse me. Is the other girl Jill? If so she has such a small role in this book as to be non-existant. If it’s like showing two sides of Sydney than it’s an amazing cover because this book is all about duality.

Opinion:

I was so ultra excited to get my hands on this book! I could not wait to see more of Adrian and Sydney.  I have extremely mixed feelings about this book. There were definitely things that annoyed me, and there were things I adored. Like so much.

The plot was incredible and the morale of what has been indoctrinated into you from birth versus what you believe and see around you was so poignantly done.  The constant foreshadowing to the point that I was utterly annoyed with Sydney for not getting it and completely knew what was going to happen made it not only predictable, but boring. Foreshadowing should be done in a way that there are hints here and there, but it’s not screaming at you “Look over there!”

The duality of it was something that I found incredibly intriguing as a writer. Not only the duality of belief systems, but of plot points. From beginning to end it seemed like there was a mirror there reflecting life into Sydney’s view so that she could not get it wrong.

Characterization although weaker than other books by Mead was still impeccable. Sydney is always so well defined. Those around her seemed to endorse and enable her eating disorder, which made me a bit insane. I love that Mead includes real issues in her books from cutting to eating disorders, but there was so little to tell Sydney that what she is doing to herself is unhealthy. If food dictates your life it has become a disorder.

Overall, I left with an impression of adoration with a slight mixture of disappointment. I can’t wait to see more of Sydney’s world, which is still one of my favorites.

Rating:

Rie

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

Categories: 3.5 Stars, Bloodlines, Mead, Second, Series, Young Adult