The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Rochelle Mead: Review

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2)
Rochelle Mead
Published June 12th 2012 by Razorbill
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Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:
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?

Darkfallen's thoughts:

 

What can I say? Rochelle Mead knows how to write a series! Of course I am sure the whole reading world knows this already, but just in case you have been living under a rock, I thought I would say it. Lol

Sydney is trying to balance school and keep up her family facade in addition to keeping Jill safe, and well hidden. Not to mention there is a new villain in town. To top that off she is also trying to have a relationship with a real boy. Need less to say it isn't all working out so great. When things take a turn for the worse will Sydney be able to solve the problem? Or has she finally met her match?

I'm coming to love Sydney even more in this book. I feel like I am finally getting a look behind her perfect exterior for once. She isn't having an easy time with everything going on around her, I just wish she could break down and admit she needs a little help every once and a while. She still has her hang ups about the vampire world but I'm happy to see that the line between her and them seems to be blurring a bit for a change. She is finally starting to see that maybe the monsters aren't so bad and that some humans are the real monsters.

I also loved, LOVED Adrian. But then that's nothing new. I have a serious soft spot for that boy, and even when I was Team Dimitri, I still loved Adrian. And in this book was no exception. I just want to make him happy. And to see him happy when Sydney would open up to him really made me squee! I will have to kill Rochelle Mead if she doesn't hurry up and put those two together. I just want to see them in love with each other so bad. Adrian is just so damn sweet to her!!

Overall this was a great action packed sequel. I liked it better than the first book in this series, and I am finally getting used to Sydney's voice. Still I have to admit my heart misses Rose.

 

Lymi...