The Golden Lily Review

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?
*****SPOILERS******** 

****ALERT*********

I LOVE Richelle Mead. I love her so much in fact that I have read everything she has every written. I have her comics w/variations and her graphic novel. That said my favorite series is The Dark Swan. I have met her twice and she is a lovely person, and I have named one of my own characters after her. 

HOWEVER,,,,,
Why is it that she screws with the men I love in the series? I won't spoil the other series but the ending of Dark Swan killed me. And now POOR ADRIAN. I mean I know he will get his happy ending EVENTUALLY, but good lord. How many books have we been through with him now???? He deserves a little something. 

I give this book a 4 because I still really do like it and adore Richelle Mead even though I am getting frustrated. 

As for Sydney Sage. I'm not a fan of her. I'm just not feeling it. And how about next book Adrian gets a little love and screws over the girl. HUH???? And don't change him. I mean, yeah, maybe one shouldn't drink or smoke but I LOVE HIM the way he is. A HOT MESS. That is part of his charm. His smart ass demeanor is what makes him a hit. I don't want him to change. I like that he has a drink in his hand or a cig. Makes him more real and less YA "perfect" 

For the love of god.. Let him be happy. 

And I knew right off the bat that when Trey's "cousin" was introduced he was the new bad guy. 

Also, I think it would have been better if Adrian was going to suffer to keep Brayden in the picture and create a love triangle. But I guess that will be for Eddie, Jill and Angeline now. How much torture will Eddie have to endure???????? 

For the love of Jesus and all things HOLY if she writes a book about CARTER could she please NOT fudge with him. *carter from the Georgina Kinkaid series 

Still if you love this series you still must read in order to finally see his HEA. 

And for all you middle age YA readers. You may get this. I never liked James Spader in 80's movie, nor do I think Richelle Mead's description of Adrian is close to him, but I still think of him when I read Adrian. What do you think?