Book review - The Golden Lily . . .

Spinebreakers crew member Reema reviews the latest instalment from Richelle Mead, best selling author of the Vampire Academy series . . .

To start off, I have to express my surprise in the choice of front cover. The first book in the series ‘Bloodlines’ had a picture of a girl (who I assume is supposed to be Sydney) with her golden lily tattoo. In the following book, ‘Golden Lily’, we see the same character minus the Golden Lily tattoo, isn’t the tattoo more relevant in the second book? Especially as the book is titled ‘The Golden Lily’ ?

However, moving on the content of the book, I have to admit that Mead always manages to through in some surprises making sure each book meets its expectations. I wouldn’t class her work as faultless, as she sometimes forgets her minor character’s, or their elemental power etc, but she shows her skill in dropping hints that all make sense in the end. Being a fan of Vampire Academy, I refused to believe that these series would meet the Vampire Academy standard; especially since its based around a minor character such as Sydney, who I've never really paid any attention to, or associated with a significant role.

This book introduces the idea of possible ‘Vampire Hunters’ an old race of Alchemists who have broken off the Sydney’s Alchemist world and started their own race, calling themselves, ‘Vampire Hunters,’ aimed to kill Strigoi, and Moroi too, once they wipe off all Strigoi’s. This was a very interesting development to the series, as it travels further away from Rose’s world, and we get to see and appreciate more of Sydney who doesn’t seem like the possible heroin; and in fact, is the complete opposite of the famous Rose Hathaway.

Dimitri, the God, the Hero, seems less impressive in this series as we don’t see him from Rose’s point of view. Sydney and Dimitri share a polite relationship, and Sydney’s interests lie far from him. There is even a slightly negative impression created when Dimitri is seen as insensitive for trying to extract Sydney’s blood without her permission, and also through the justifiable bitterness that Adrian feels towards him.

Richelle Mead lives up to her ‘forbidden romance’ technique again, an odd and near-impossible combination of an Alchemist and a full-blooded vampire (and I thought the whole Rose-Dimitri relationship was forbidden enough). It’s really sweet that Adrian has such feelings for her, yet I can’t help feeling a slightly betrayed that Adrian has moved on so quickly from Rose; maybe even relieved about it as he would finally be able to forgive Rose and Dimitri, and they could all be one big Vampire Academy-Bloodlines family.

Rating - 4/5

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