Book Review: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Title: The Golden Lily


Author: Richelle Mead


Publisher: Razorbill


Publication date: June, 2012


Hardcover: 417 pages




Stand Alone or Series: Series–this is the second installment in a series.


How I got this book: Bought


Why I chose this book: I would like to point out that Richelle Mead is a captivating writer.  Anything she puts down on a page can spark my interest.  Second of all, after reading the first installment in this series, I was completely hooked.  Of course I was going to come back for more!


Synopsis:

     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.


Review:
     I was hooked from the very first word.  I’m not gonna lie–I haven’t been doing my fair share of reading lately.  But in my defense, it’s summertime, the weather is amazing, and I think I’ve earned a little laziness. 
     But back to the business at hand.  I was worried that coming back to the second installment in this series would be a little hard for me, considering I hadn’t read the first one in over a year.  But I shouldn’t have worried.  With Mead’s amazing talents, I was able to fall right back into the story.  It was like I’d never left.  I could still feel my strong connections to the character’s–the kind that can’t be built instantly.  And let me tell you, Mead’s character’s are of the breathing-variety.  As in, if I saw them all walking together in a huddle down the street, I would stare, but I would not be surprised.
     The plot of the story was so intense, I couldn’t stop reading.  Just what I needed to get me out of my summer funk.  This was the type of book I could have kept reading.  Where were the next 500 pages?  I want more…
     If I remember correctly (and I do) I was a little disappointed by the lack of romance in the first installment.  But boy of boy…  Reading this installment, I am so glad some of the characters took their relationships slow.  It just makes it that much sweeter when it finally comes.
     And can I just say that I’m officially in love with Adrian Ivashkov.  I felt like I already knew him through the Vampire Academy series.  But now…well now I want to know him.  He’s what I thought he was, but so much more.  And Sydney Sage is perfect for him in that they are complete opposites.  She makes him want to be better.  Not to impress her, but just to be better himself.  Can anybody say swoon?  Even though Sydney has some totally inept social skills, we all know she’s falling hard by the numerous times she thinks about his extremely green eyes.
     If you haven’t caught on by this point, what I’m trying to say is Mead knocked another one out of the park.  But that shouldn’t be a surprise.  This is a book I would love to see on the big screen.  (Then again, probably not, because they would ruin in).
     If you haven’t read the first installment to the series, Bloodlines, then why are you even reading this?  If you haven’t read the Vampire Academy series, then you have not yet lived.  Put these things on your Bucket List, and get out and live!