Name: Golden Lily
ISBN: 9781595143181

Golden Lily

Monicap

Review from July 23, 2012
HOW MANY KINDS OF STUPID DOES A GIRL HAVE TO BE TO PASS UP ADRIAN IVASHKOV?!?!?!?!?!?

I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure there’s only one girl in the universe who is that level of stupid. That’s right, boys and girls: Sydney. 

Okay, so, if it’s not enough that Adrian and Sydney AREN’T together at this point, Sydney starts going out with some random douche bag named braydon. I probably didn’t even spell his name right, and I don’t care.
Before reading this book, I read the description, where it said, and I quote:  Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. 
My reaction to this line: WHAT?!? if you’re not gonna go out with Adrian, my next choice would be Trey, because he’s pretty awesome (and also that little theory I concocted about him towards the end of Bloodlines.) 
Sorry, but I just don’ get the attraction to... well, let’s face it, anyone, with Adrian RIGHT THERE.
As if there’s not enough drama going on with the regular high-school-and-vampire stuff, (because, of course, there’s not) there’s also more on Sydney being a witch.
Sorry, Sydney. You really can’t fight destiny, no matter how much you want to. and there are two things happening here that are destiny: you are a witch, and you belong with Adrian. And that’s just that.
Also, to anyone who formulated the same theory about Trey that I did in Bloodlines, the first 356 pages of this book will be TORTURE for you, as there are continually dropped hints about something we already know that are SO obvious but Sydney (and everyone else) pretty much... no, they just plain old MISS it.
(btw, I was SOOO right about Trey. Ha) 
Also, it’s so obvious through out this book that Adrian is in love with Sydney. If he’s not being obvious enough about it himself, it leaks through to Jill! How could she miss THAT?
Sorry, that’s just how I feel about it.

Now, I’ll leave you with some of my favorite quotes:

 His words were meant as a compliment, but they echoed too close to what the Alchemists had told me. And Mrs. Weathers. And Jill. Everyone thought I was so amazing, so responsible and controlled.
But if I was so amazing, then why was I always so unsure if I was doing the right thing?  

I can almost hear the sarcasm in this quote. It’s kind of a defeatist sarcasm, but it’s sarcasm, and I love it. 
Also, (I’m speaking to Sydney) because there may not be one single right thing to do. In all situations, all actions have good and bad consequences and intentions. Your situation is particularly hard because you’re being pulled against two groups and neither one seems to be more right or wrong than the other, but if one is right, than the other must be wrong, but you can’t tell. (I can, but telling you that won’t help you in this at all)

 sometimes when I was down, Adrian’s personality had the same effect. 

The goldenrod-walls effect. Yep. (His personality has that effect on me too). 

 That was it? That’s what the big deal was? It hadn’t been terrible, but it hadn’t sent me soaring to new heights either. It had been exactly what it seemed like, lips on lips. 

I love this new take on kissing. It’s like: Bad? No. Epic? Not really. That was it? Yep. (of course, that’s probably because she was doing it with the WRONG person, but I promised myself I wouldn’t get bitter about that.)

 Everyone was always going on about how socially inept I was. Did it extend to romance as well? Was I so cold that I’d my life never feeling anything? 

No, Sydney. Again, I think you’re having this problem because you’re attempting romance with NOT ADRIAN. 
Because, of course, there’s now way it could fail WITH Adrian) 

And, lastly:
On my cheek, the lily reminded me who I was.
I turned from him and walked away, refusing to look back.

Why, Sydney, why?

The Indigo Spell needs to come out right now, before the world ends. That’s all I’m saying.

Rosibel Silva Pineda

me encanto lol dinamico, que cada detalle es importante.
El mundo nuevo que se esta explorando de los hechizos es maravilloso.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
estoy sufriendo por adrian,

Annabella

Despite having a few doubts at the end of Bloodlines, I can oficially say I love this series. 
They all are winning me over and, my, me and Sidney are  really  alike.
Each twist interests me, but, most of all, slow burn Sydrian... I'm speechless.
(view spoiler)[ Adrian Ivashkov   Adrian Ivashkov   kisses you and you walk away?!  (hide spoiler)] Luckily I've got TIS right here.
ps: "You're the most beautiful creature walking on Earth" Can we just... *Sighs*

3.5*  

I had to look away, though I was unsure why. “If you know me so well, then you’ll understand why I’m leaving.”
“Sydney—”
I moved quickly toward the door. “Goodbye, Adrian.”
I hurried toward the door, half-afraid he’d try to hold me again. If he did, I wasn’t sure I could leave. But no touch came. No effort at all was made to stop me. It wasn’t until I was halfway out on the lawn in front of his building that I dared a peek back. Adrian stood there leaning against the doorframe, watching me with his heart in his eyes. In my chest, my own heart was breaking. On my cheek, the lily reminded me who I was.
I turned from him and walked away, refusing to look back. 

I’M GONNA FAINT LITERALLY SCREAMING IN CLASS RIGHT NOW THEY GOT ME SO BAD GOD BEST PEOPLE.

Emilie Adele Rognmo

4.5 stars

i have no words. this book was incredible. even tho braydon? brayden? annoyingly had to be there for 90% of the book, that sydneyadrian kiss at the end? totally worth it. now imma need sydney to stop being so stubborn and love adrian like he deserves to be loved. also jill and eddie? stop playing, and get together already.

Marissa Luzio 

So it seems like the Bloodlines series it going to go the same way as Vampire Academy, in a way. It was pretty predictable but not in a way that I disliked it. It was still super juicy and addicting as always. I LOVED reading this story and the world of Moroi, Dhampir, and Strigoi from Sydney's P.O.V. Something about her inner thoughts and the way she spoke was just such a refreshing start from Rose's in the Vampire Academy. Of course, it was a little annoying how restricted Sydney could be and that she's not that comfortable with herself, let alone others like Adrian. 

I liked how they made Sydney more than just a boring Alchemist. Now that she's pretty sure she has this unexplainable magic, she starts to open up, yet she knows the danger if anyone were to find out. I really liked how they incorporated Braydon, a sort of distraction for Sydney. It was cute and sweet and also funny to see how Adrian reacted. The pacing for everything was pretty darn good- the romance, danger, self-realization etc. I was so hooked on how likeable the characters were. Obviously I know Eddie, Jill and Adrian from before but Angeline and Tray were pretty likeable, despite their faults. What made this book even better was definitely Sonya and Dimitri!! Those two are both hilarious and just a great reminder where this whole storyline and world came from. 

Adrian was fantastic. Since Vampire Academy, I've been in love with Adrian. I think he has definitely grown and gone through some shit and deserves so much more, a.k.a Sydney :). Now, I don't know where Mead is going with this but it seems that Adrian finally gets to have some happiness in his life. I like that we get to see Sydney change, for the better. Her prejudices from the years and years of being brainwashed are finally breaking down and she's, again, slowly allowing herself to open up and be vulnerable in front of the Moroi and Dhampir. 

All in all, this was the perfect sequel and I couldn't ask for a better book! Can't wait for the next one, The Indigo Spell!!! Yay!

IF you liked this, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genre books. 
http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca

Jaclyn

That ending just broke my heart! Absolutely loved this one & I'm so excited for where this series is going. I loved Bloodlines but I definitely liked this one way more. I just loved all the character dynamics and the growth an development & I especially love Sydrian. They grew so close in this book and it was so beautiful to watch. The story itself was predictable and I caught on to a lot of the "plot twist" that we're coming but I flew through this and had so much reading it. Adrian Ivashkov is perfect & I really need him to be happy!!! I ship Sydrian so so hard omg....and i like the growing attraction that Jill is starting to get for Eddie! So cute! I also really loved all the magical elements that are starting to come into it and I can't wait to read Indigo Spell! Fantastic series! 

"But when I'm around you, I want to be better because..we'll it feels right. Because I want too. You make me want to become something greater than myself. I want to excel. You inspire me in every act, every word, every glance. I look at you, and you're like..like light made into flesh. I said it on Halloween and meant every word: you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth. And you don't even know it. You have no clue how beautiful you are or how brightly you shine." 


Adrian Ivashkov makes me smile and cry frequently. 
SYDRIAN ❤️

Lucia silva

La verdad es que me rompió el corazón en pedacitos. En miles de miles de pedacitos. El final me hizo llorar como tonta y romperme en miles de pedazos ): MANY SYDRIAN FEELINGSSSSSS. En serio, no sé como hay gente que sobrevivé ):

En fin, lo leí en dos días (casi uno y medio), lo leí en la cama, en el baño, en el colectivo, en medio de una plaza, lo leí EN TODOS LADOS porque quería terminar. Richelle me hizo esperar DEMASIADO por que al fin algo sucediera y me encantó. Estoy contenta que febrero esté TAN cerca, sino me suicidaría (como aun no lo hice con requiem, que raro). En fin, un buen trabajo. A pesar de que le faltó acción, me ha encantado como los personajes maduraron y crecieron de apoco.

Sophie Hutchings

OMGGGGG Sydney is so damn frustrating. I love her character and how her world is turning from black & white, vampire vs human to grey and just because your apart of a certain race does not make you a good/bad person. Although you just want to shake Sydney at times, the way she has been brought up and the values that have been drilled in to her head make a lot of her feelings & actions understandable. She is so smart but sometimes it can make her naive. 

The other characters have developed really well too, the guest appearance of two VA really add something special to the novel. I really like Eddie and Adrian's characters as they are very opposite so they are two really good males to have in these books.

 I really really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down. The VA world is brilliant and I love bloodline, and seriously can't wait to read the third book!!!! 

MUST READ FOR ANY VA FAN!!!!

Jo Young

Myla Larsen

Courtney ✿ @librarycutie

Okay, wow! We see some improvements in Sydney and Adrian, or shall I say Sydrian? I look forward to their moments, and that last chapter… THAT LAST CHAPTER BROKE MY HEART! If you've read it, then you know exactly why. Of course I was happy and estatic and thrilled until that last page… I just then felt my heart explode.
Indigo Spell, let's see what you got!

Pamela Alvarado

Wow.

Now I'm convinced this series is going to be better than Vampire Academy. For one, this has shown me Adrian is a much more interesting love interest than Dimitri (Sorry, love, but he's a tortured soul and what can be sexier than that?)

The ever existing internal conflict of Sydney's wishes for freedom, against her deeply ingrained beliefs is very well executed and I'm dying to witness how slowly she makes a decision in the future books.

As for their growing 'relationship'. I know I was frustrated, as many were with the previous book, in which there was zero romance. But Mrs. Mead has got it all planned. See, this one, this one is not your typical love story.

Mrs. Mead has written something that gives us enough to keep us barely satisfied, but also coming back for more. Good job!

Although, the plot twists were not that surprising, this book hasn't let me down at all. Keep it up!

See the full review and more at: A Writer's Tales

Ella Zegarra

MAGNIFICO!!! Simplemente genial, ahhhh no creo que sea posible que pueda aguantar hasta el próximo año para la tercera entrega, RICHELLE ERES MI DIOSA!!!! Adrian, Sydney, incluso Jill, wow, parezco una grupie pero es que amo este libro!!!

laura

Golden Lily Review This book was very good but still a little predictable for me. I loved the profession of the stories and the characters thou. I am really growing to love Sydney and Adrian. I also really love seeing the various other characters grow and develop. I still love eddie and am excited to see more of him in future books.
 
This book really set the foundation for the future in many ways. It showed us how sydney is being pulled in so many different directions and how also her values are slowly being changed. I love seeing her change throughout not only this series but in the vampire academy series. I also judge this book to have a lot of self-discovery/ personal growth in this novel that you may see in a new-adult novel. I love seeing her experience all these new things and also in a sense long for me in reference to education and travel. That part of her really struck a cord with me.
 
This book did have some cool fight scenes but again the pacing was still very slow for my liking. I still liked it I just wish the story packed a little bit more punch. The story is still being built and I excited to see where it goes next.

Gemma Cameron

I'm hooked and want to know more about Sydney and love how she doesn't want to know magic but she is good at it and everything else apart from the fact that someone likes her and we all knew she likes him but what will happen between them as that isn't allowed

damla

1.I love Sydney with my everything and I will protect my precious bean from everything
2.Sydney Sage is such an amazing character.She's beautiful,really smart,has an amazing passion for cars(which is something I can't relate, but I know a few things about being passionate) but my favorite thing about her is how kind and loving she is.I honestly havent read about such a beautiful soul for the longest time. I love her.
3.I cant really say I loved Adrian before.I absoulety didn't dislike him,in fact I liked him but not as much as most fans do.But after reading this,I know he's an intellectual because anyone who loves Sydney in any way is good.I think I reaaaally like him now.Adrian,you're a smart guy for realizing how beautiful and amazing Sydney is.

Andrea Ayala

I LOVED this book. It was amazing! way better than Bloodlines. The romance here was like yayy so much tensionn (view spoiler)[ finally we got that kiss with Adrian and Sydney! the last chapter was the best but Gos Sydney and her prejudice come onn (hide spoiler)] I loved it loved it, I really like Sydney I'm a lot like her in many ways and yeah this book was just pure awesomeness. It will keep you at the edge of your seat the whole time :)

Andreea Coșarcă

Helena Cristina Nogueira Pereira

OMG! The kiss 😍!
A Angeline é tão engraçada....
Trey 😥

Cat Nunez 

Cada vez amo más esta saga, me encanta que la historia no siempre se base en hablar de vampiros, sino que trata de contar cosas de todas partes, y a veces uno ni se da cuenta que la saga trata de vampiros, y eso, es lo que más me gusta, además que la trama es genial y también tiene peleas y no es todo color de rosa para ninguno de los personajes.

Amo a Sidney, tanto como a Rose, me encanta su actitud, pero odio como se siente respecto a los moroi y dhampirs, osea, no puedo culparla si desde chica le dijeron que los humanos no debían juntarse con vampiros. también me encanta que sea tan inteligente y buena en todo. Lo que más odie de ella fue la parte del final (view spoiler)[ pobre Adrian, siempre queda sólo y lo hacen sufrir, se que ella se siente incómoda frente a ellos, pero se nota que Adrian la ama, o sino, no hubiera ello todas esas cosas por ella, odio que lo hubiera echo sufrir y decirle que no podían estar juntos me hizo llorar:( nosé como lo deja si esa hombre es perfecto  (hide spoiler)]

Sin duda esta saga es perfecta igual que Vampire Academy, aunque igual me gusta que a veces se sienta como que es una historia con sólo humanos y después cuando nombran los vampiros ahí uno recién se da cuenta que la historia trata de ellos. ♥

También me gusta que salga Dimitri(lo amooooooooooooo:3). Es genial que mezclen esta historia con los personajes de vampire academy, así uno se identifica más con los libros, pero sin duda es hermoso sin la ayuda de esos personajes.

Lacey

There were a couple of good, exciting parts, and it was better than Bloodlines, but I'm so sad that this isn't as amazing as the Vampire Academy series, which I absolutely loved. But, Adrian is adorable in this book, and I'm desperately hoping for something more to happen between him and Sydney!

Jessica 

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  “Wasn’t that kind of the basis of passion? I didn’t know that either. The only thing I knew for sure was that this kiss had been a lot like the last one. Nice, but it didn’t blow me away. My heart sank. There was something wrong with me. Everyone was always going on about how socially inept I was. Did it extend to romance as well? Was I so cold that I’d spend my life never feeling anything?” 


Sydney Sage is back in the second installment of her spin-off series Bloodlines. In our previous chapter, the first of the series, we were shown quite a bit of action and familiar faces from the beloved Vampire Academy series and I’ve never been more excited! After an action packed fight involving a duo of Strigoi, and one former Strigoi who set his heart on changing back to the deadly monster he once was, and lastly some, shall we say, unexpected flames–we’re more than aware of dangers our gang just may be facing.

But can Eddie, Jill, Adrian and Sydney continue to keep their identities safe from the world? And can they keep each other safe?

Now that Sonya Karp, Dimitri Belikov and a very persistent Angeline, who readers will remember from Last Sacrifice as one of the Keepers, are thrown into their little family mix the stakes are higher than ever. Sonya seems to be in danger by a group of men who claim to have known her during her time as a Strigoi and an attack not long after which they only narrowly escaped. 

Continued @ BOOKEDJ.

Golden Lily

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