The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead Review

(Cover photo provided GoodReads)

Source- Razorbill ARC (Thanks Razorbill!) 

Publication Date- June 12, 2012

Rating - 5/5 GOLDEN STARS!

I honestly hugged this book when I finished reading it! It was that amazing and heartwarming. The awesomeness that began at the end of Bloodlines starts immediately on the first page of The Golden Lily.

Richelle Mead is again the master of memorable scenes and addicting writing in The Golden Lily. I absolutely love how Mead planned a perfect installment to the series. She obviously has a plan for the Bloodline series where Sydney, Adrian, Jill, Eddie and Angeline will grow throughout and stand strong through grievous challenges.

I could not imagine a better cast of main characters. They are all alike in how they have strained relationship with their biological family (after all Eddie has no idea on his dad’s identity) and are all struggling to achieve their wish of true love. But different in what causes me to love to be their friend them the most.

Sydney: I love to be Sydney’s friend because she is an empathetic observer who is not afraid to stand up for what is right. Like me, she is always constantly thinking and hoping she is doing what is right.

Adrian: I would rejoice in being Adrian’s girlfriend not just because he is handsome but for his sense of hilarious humor and how fiercely loyal he is to those he cares about.

Jill: Jill because of her maturity, her drive to protect herself despite being the guarded and how she is super funny. I think I laughed the most during Jill’s lines.

Eddie: Eddie is so selfless and I adore all he does to protect his friends. He is an amazing, nice guy and an extraordinary fighter.

Angeline: Angeline starts the book clueless of normal life but quickly adapts and grows into an intelligent character that learns from her earlier mistakes. In one scene, Angeline asked the sagest question ever.

Together, Sydney, Adrian, Jill, Eddie and Angeline combine into the perfect family!

I also was completely amazed by the story. I was surprised how much Mead incorporated the struggle Sydney and Adrian have with their respective fathers. I really liked the scene with a certain father.

I completely never imagined how alike Sydney and Adrian would become. They both have fathers they strive to impress but fail and have mothers they wish to see again and love. Each scene between them demonstrated to me how they were destined to be a couple. Actually, I believe they are one of my favorite couples ever. Their love is not instant, not clear and not perfect; it is outstanding. They are true star-crossed lovers but also friends who care deeply about the others feelings and safety. I am still reminiscing the conversations between Sydney and Adrian in my mind and rushing home to grab my copy of The Golden Lily to read those scenes again.

Now for the vampire hunter sub-plot and major challenge that the marvelous Bloodline main characters overcome brilliantly. I liked how the problem caused a rift between the characters. I felt that the tricky decision many characters made provided more excitement to the story because of questionable actions.

The vampire hunters caused Sydney and to question the ideals that her family placed in her mind from a very early age. The story causes Sydney to question: Does it matter what being your friend is or what they do? What choice is most rightous: abide to responsibility or defy discrimination?


These questions can also apply to my life because I am also constantly struggling to choose the best decision for my friends, my family and myself. I want to be completely independent, but sometimes I have to acknowledge that someone else might be right. There is no obvious answer in life in how to be responsible as in there is no absolute answer who the true heroes are and the real villains. Mead’s book causing me to speculate about my life decisions again illustrates how powerful The Golden Lily really is.

I will always remember the ending of The Golden Lily as outstanding! The ending tore my heart into tiny ribbons of lilies.

This is a book I will never become tired of praising. It has my favorite characters, an exciting story and humorous, extraordinary lines. The perfect book to read over and over and over again! I will definitely remember The Golden Lily fondly in the years to come.

Go Palm Spring, slushies and surprising families!

On June 12, I urge you to rush to your local Barnes and Noble and to grab a copy of The Golden Lily!

Thanks for reading,