The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
Series: Bloodlines #2
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: June 12th 2012
Source: Library

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?

After the very last sentence of Bloodlines I was even more excited to start The Golden Lily! Dimitri and Sonya have arrived in Palm Springs and they are determined to find a way to protect Moroi and Dhampies from being turned into Strigoi after the revelations that Strigoi who have been saved by Spirit can't become a Strigoi again. Sydney has started questioning the Alchemists and their beliefs as she gets closed and closer to Jill, Eddie and Adrian. 

Sydney is quickly becoming one of my favourite female characters. She's super smart, can fix cars, is a total badass and she's just completely awesome. Sydney is kind of socially awkward and doesn't realise when people are trying to ask her out. Trey sets Sydney up with his friend Brayden (because apparently he's a male version of Sydney when really he's just a bore) and they go on dates to windmills and museums (how fun!). Sydney knows she doesn't have feelings for Brayden because she's started developing feelings for someone else and she knows it's forbidden. 

Adrian was even more adorable in this one. He's still trying to get over Rose, but it's clear how much he likes Sydney. He buys a car he can't drive and asks her to teach him; he goes to self-defense classes with her (where there's some serious chemistry between them!) and he's always looking out for her. Adrian is still coming to terms with his bond with Jill but he's started to sort his life out. He joined college and even tried to get himself a job (which was hilarious). Adrian has some really hilarious and sarcastic lines that always had me laughing my head off. I just love Adrian so much.

I can't even tell you guys how much I wanted Adrian and Sydney to get together! They're just so perfect! I actually may love them more than Rose and Dimitri... I can't help it! Adrian is clearly attracted to Sydney but Sydney is refusing to give into her feelings since she's an alchemist and alchemists can't get with Vampires. I kind of wanted to cry most of they way through this book because I just wanted them to get together!

Yet again, there was a lot going on in this book. It turned out that there was a secret group working to rid the world of Strigoi (or all vampires really, they aren't picky). Dimitri and Sonya are determined to find a way to prevent Strigoi from turning other vampires. Sydney had a boyfriend and was trying to juggle him, Adrian and the other vampires (which didn't work out so well). 

There was a hell of a lot of action at the end of this book which I completely loved. I really enjoyed finding out about this secret group (even if they were a bunch of assholes who couldn't tell a Strigoi from a Moroi). And then later on my Sydrian feels went into overdrive and then I was dying to get stuck into The Indigo Spell!

Overall, I adored this one as much as the first book. I am kind of enjoying these a lot more than Vampire Academy because I kind of like the characters more. It's nice to be able to learn about Eddie, Jill, Adrian and Sydney while also having some of the Vampire Academy characters make an appearance.