Bloodlines #2 The Golden Lily

Edicts or new experiences ..... what is more important? What has been said and strictly followed for a long time or what you see for yourself? ..... Presenting Bloodlines #2 The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead.

Here is the summary of the book:

The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series. 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. Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

In Bloodline, book 1 of this spin-off series, Sydney puts a stop to Keith's farce of an alchemic services in Palm Springs, California. In the Golden Lily, we delve into the deeper layers of the alchemist's lair. We see the deeper meaning behind the Golden Lily tattoo and what it takes to be an alchemist. We see Sydney observe her odd group of Moroi, Dhampirs and humans and begins to question long standing beliefs. Long buried alchemist history comes out the forefront...and maybe friendship and love to come into play.....

All the original characters return with the addition of new ones. Sydney in particular growing into her current under-the-radar high school life. We see her shredding the hesitance at being in a room with the vampires and the dhampirs. We see her comforting both Moroi and Dhampir...aka Adrian, Jill, Eddie and the lot when they are feeling low. We see her with her normal human classmates who give her dating advice and would do all sorts of mindless chatter. In other words, she does all sorts of things that a normal Alchemist wouldn't even think of doing. While Sydney is the lead Alchemist of Palm Springs now and her superiors are commending her...she is still beginning to question her beliefs.

Then there is Adrian....HOT without a doubt....you got to feel for the guy. First Rose chooses Dimitri over him, then because of his Shadow Bond with Jill he flies to Palm Springs to keep near and help protect her from assassination attempts. He is really trying to change his ways and Sydney sees that....and while she still has some hesitance she treats him like a person.....never judging him. And this is where it gets interesting. With the amount of time Sydney spends with the motley group of beings, she start to care for them - starts to see that not all vampires are the same.

The Golden Lily, was by and by a filler book....but A BLOODY GOOD ONE AT THAT. And its wholly based on Sydney's point of view. Which gives us a very intuitive peak into her thoughts about her current locations. There are no set villains, so the main focus is on how Sydney adjusts to her undercover life. She also finds herself a on-paper-perfect boyfriend, who is very intelligent, but with him she doesn't get the feeling of love. For Adrian, her understanding grows over time.....she begins to see him as a potential friend and maybe more.....

Richelle Mead, kudos to you for creating such compelling and dynamic characters....who have no qualms about doing what is right and even reckless in the face of danger and passionate when in love. But the ending......MAN I REALLY REALLY FEEL SORRY FOR ADRIAN....POOR GUY.....hoping that The Indigo Spell will come out soon.