Book Reviews: The Golden Lily & The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily
A Bloodlines Novel #2
Author: Richelle Mead
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Released: June 12th 2012
Review Source: Purchased

Prepare to be Tested.
The story that kicked off Richelle Mead’s international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series is NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE.
Read it Before it Hits Theaters February 14th, 2014!

The thrilling second installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series--and a #1 New York Times Bestseller--now in paperback

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 such painful read of the Bloodlines, mostly due to the transition from the strong characteristic of Rose (Vampire Academy) to the weak personality of Sydney, The Golden Lily WOW me.

The Golden Lily is a self-finding journey for Sydney. She grows immensely.

I really enjoyed reading The Golden Lily, especially with the developing relationship between Sydney and Adrian. I found myself liking Sydney in this book. She is opening up, still learning, and most of all she is becoming less annoying. Sydney is finally making decisions based on her believes, instead of following the Alchemist rules. What I love most about Sydney is her protective side toward others, such as Adrian. They both challenge each other and bring the best of each other.

Adrian. I just cannot stop thinking about him! We finally see the side of him I always knew of. His vulnerable side is to die for. He is kind, sweet and an incredible person. I LOVE HIM. There is always a two side of the story and we finally see how his relationship with his father really affects him. God, I just want to wrap myself to him and never let go. He needs comfort and love. He is one of the most beautiful fictional characters I’ve ever read about. When he tells Sydney – “You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth”,.OH GOD, his honesty made me love him even more than words can express.

The Golden Lily was an awesome read. It drags a bit but I found it very entertaining comparing to the first book. The ending of the book would make you love yet hate Richelle Read, such a cliffhanger!

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The Indigo Spell
A Bloodlines Novel #3
Author: Richelle Mead
Released: February 12th 2013
Review Source: Purchased

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

OH.MY.GOD! Adrian, can you be any more perfect? God, I would like my heart back please! Richelle Mead, I don’t know if I should love you or dislike you with all of your cliffhangers!! I cannot wait for The Fiery Heart.

The Indigo Spell left us on a romantic cliff hanger where Adrian and Sydney are in the start of a new romance. AND OH BOY! You won’t be disappointed in this book. Okay, maybe you will at the end, the very end but GOD… I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! It is filled with action and many plots. The Sydrian scenes are to die for!

ADRIAN IS PERFECT! The dance scene. Oh, so magical. Imagine yourself dancing in a royal wedding with the love of your life. God, isn’t it that so romantic? Adrian has the balls to ask Sydney to dance with him knowing this is forbidden in her world. Then at the sorority house – they’re painting shirts together. Adrian painting a fiery heart. PDA on the floor. OH MY.Non-Beating heart! WHY RICHELLE must you kill this beautiful scene?!

Sydney is a complete rebel. God, I disliked her on the first book. Gone is her boring self. Now she KICK ass! Not only is she breaking her now almost non-existence Alchemist life but she’s becoming powerful with her new magical skills. Will she be able to overcome the new character at the end? I hope so. Seriously, Zoe better not ruin her and she better not mess with Sydrian!

I absolutely adore this book. The ending will make you crawl over and cry because it is left there. I cannot wait for The Fiery Heart. Richelle Mead, please don’t break my heart. I cannot deal seeing Adrian hurt. This is a must read series!