Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 414
Source: Library Loan
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Review Date: July 9, 2012
Rating: 3 bookmarks
This review is mostly spoiler free, though it does have some strong opinions... :-) The Golden Lily was the much anticipated follow up to Bloodlines, the spin-off series to The Vampire Academy. Because I feel like I may go an a slight rant, and I don't want anyone to think I'm going off for no reason, first let me answer some important questions. Do I love Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series? Hell yes! Did I enjoy Bloodlines, Yep! Did I like the Golden Lily?:...well lets just say I was mildly disappointed. I guess I had high expectations for this book and it fell short. I understand that I am in the minority here, but let me explain why.
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 414
Source: Library Loan
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Review Date: July 9, 2012
Rating: 3 bookmarks
This review is mostly spoiler free, though it does have some strong opinions... :-) The Golden Lily was the much anticipated follow up to Bloodlines, the spin-off series to The Vampire Academy. Because I feel like I may go an a slight rant, and I don't want anyone to think I'm going off for no reason, first let me answer some important questions. Do I love Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series? Hell yes! Did I enjoy Bloodlines, Yep! Did I like the Golden Lily?:...well lets just say I was mildly disappointed. I guess I had high expectations for this book and it fell short. I understand that I am in the minority here, but let me explain why.
This series is MUCH milder than the VA series. And by mild I mean that it is indeed intended for the YA audience. Yes, this seems logical for a YA book, but based on my previous experience with the VA series, Richelle Mead was writing for the more mature/older end of the YA audience. So much so, that adults liked the series as well. From the beginning of this spin off series, it has been very tame in comparison to VA. I was expecting and really just hoping that The Golden Lily would contain good character development, action packed scenes with a strong plot that was tied up in a nice bow of slight matureness, which I didn't feel I got. Personally. I didn't see much growth from Bloodlines to The Golden Lily at all. Oh yes, side note: for those who've heard about a supposed love triangle in this book, don't make me laugh. There is no real love triangle, not really. As for the clear love interest, I waited patiently through nearly 70% of the book for Sidney and Adrian to kiss or even admit their feelings for each other and when they did...what goes and happens? Not what we would hope.
The kids (aka Jill, Eddie, Angeline) are just that, kids. With all the responsibility Sidney and the Dhampirs had, they still came off like they were even more young this time than in the last book. Even with the frequent cameos of Dimitri and Sonja there still was something missing, and I think that is a strong heroin. I want to like Sidney, I really do! But I'm just and not finding Sidney to be a strong enough character to carry the book as the narrator. I really hate saying this, but I really feel that she is better as a secondary character. Something about her needs to change and I mean fast! Even Adrian is sort of weak as the primary love interest. The chemistry just isn't over top like us VA fans are a custom to. In addition to the lack of heat, there were minimal fight scenes and the scenes that were present were luke warm at best. There wasn't even a true villain this time around, there was a "misguided" group, but would I all out call them villains? I don't know. The whole plot was sort of watered down.
I accept that this is a new and different series from VA, yet with all the carry over from VA it's hard to separate it and allow different standards from which the VA series had set so high.
I know it seemed like I had a lot of negative to say, but don't get me wrong, overall I still liked the book. It kept my attention and I wasn't bored with the story. With that said, if you are looking for a good age appropriate YA book, this would be a good choice. Personally, will I be waiting with bated breath for book 3, The Indigo Spell?...Nope. Will I read it ? Yes. I am still hopeful that the tide will turn and The Indigo Spell will recapture some the excitement that I had for the VA series.
Happy Reading,
~Tamara~
The kids (aka Jill, Eddie, Angeline) are just that, kids. With all the responsibility Sidney and the Dhampirs had, they still came off like they were even more young this time than in the last book. Even with the frequent cameos of Dimitri and Sonja there still was something missing, and I think that is a strong heroin. I want to like Sidney, I really do! But I'm just and not finding Sidney to be a strong enough character to carry the book as the narrator. I really hate saying this, but I really feel that she is better as a secondary character. Something about her needs to change and I mean fast! Even Adrian is sort of weak as the primary love interest. The chemistry just isn't over top like us VA fans are a custom to. In addition to the lack of heat, there were minimal fight scenes and the scenes that were present were luke warm at best. There wasn't even a true villain this time around, there was a "misguided" group, but would I all out call them villains? I don't know. The whole plot was sort of watered down.
I accept that this is a new and different series from VA, yet with all the carry over from VA it's hard to separate it and allow different standards from which the VA series had set so high.
I know it seemed like I had a lot of negative to say, but don't get me wrong, overall I still liked the book. It kept my attention and I wasn't bored with the story. With that said, if you are looking for a good age appropriate YA book, this would be a good choice. Personally, will I be waiting with bated breath for book 3, The Indigo Spell?...Nope. Will I read it ? Yes. I am still hopeful that the tide will turn and The Indigo Spell will recapture some the excitement that I had for the VA series.
Happy Reading,
~Tamara~
Get the Kindle version here: The Golden Lily: A Bloodlines Novel
