The Golden Lily

A Bloodlines Novel

By: Richelle Mead

Narrated by: Emily Shaffer

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 number-one New York Times best-selling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

©2012 Richelle Mead (P)2012 Penguin Audio

An Excellent Sequel!

I’d been waiting for ages for The Golden Lily to come out, so when it finally did, I downloaded it immediately! Again, Richelle Mead has failed to disappoint me. There are more character developments, more drama, more romance and more intrigue in this book. I couldn’t be more happy with how the story turned out!

In The Golden Lily, Sydney still makes decisions based on what she believes is right, but now she is beginning to open up and so we get to see another side of her. Sydney is extremely intelligent, but her innocence in certain areas makes me want to smile at her indulgently. Adrian Ivashkov is simply the most endearing character ever created by Richelle! I love his fierce loyalty and smart-ass comments. He keeps surprising me and I’m so glad he has a much larger part in this book than in Bloodlines.

I’m obsessed with this series and I wouldn’t change a thing about it!
Now, who is up for the next book, The Indigo Spell?

Amazing, Fantastic and Heart-racing

Would you consider the audio edition of The Golden Lily to be better than the print version?

Yes. I love the audio edition because of Emily Shaffer's reading.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love Sydney. She's smart, loyal and tough.

Have you listened to any of Emily Shaffer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I get the same feel of this book as the other books she's read of this series and the last three of the Vampire Academy series. She is great.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Read in two weeks.

Any additional comments?

Love the series.

Wonderful storytelling!!!!!

If you could sum up The Golden Lily in three words, what would they be?

I am a 58 year old grandmother. I read the first Vampire Academy book at the suggestion of one of my 20 year old nieces. I used to read all of the time but now I have found listening to be far superior when the story is good and the narrator is talented. I loved being read to as a child and I find coming back to it is really a treat. I love stories with mystery, romance and most importantly characters that I would like to know. Richelle Mead is a wonderful story writer. Her characters are believable, they are complex and humorous. I was hooked by the second book. Then when I listened to the 4th one, I found the narration added so much. I may be older but my spirit still thrills to a great story. After finishing the story of Rose and Dimitri, I had that depressed feeling when ever I finish a really good series. By the time Bloodlines came around, I was skeptical that Sydney would be able to carry the story as well as Rose did. The plot of this series has so much potential and I am really looking forward to the next installment. The developing relationship between Sidney and Adrian is so enchanting and warm that when I listen, I find myself smiling or laughing out loud. Summing up a book like this in three words is not possible for me. The depth that Richelle writes with makes these characters interesting. I listen while walking, gardening or just chilling at the computer. We all age but the spirit goes on and there is a 20 something woman inside me that still relishes the fantasy. When you stop dreaming and imagining, you might as well be dead. I especially like the conflict of the black and white thinking of a young adult as life happens and the time comes to question what you believe the truth is, I like the good and decent people who are removing the rose colored glasses and being tested, finding out what they are made of. The most important feature of this though is the way Sydney and Adrians love begins and starts to blossom. She makes him want to be a better person. And it is all done with witty dialog. It's so entertaining when Sydney acts bossy or knowledgeable and Adrian just sits there smiling and listening, enjoying just being with her. I also love that Sydney is so brilliant but her social ineptitude makes her so clueless.

What does Emily Shaffer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Emily Shaffer, if you ever read this review, I'd like you to know how very talented I think you are. I really enjoy your male voices, Dimitri's soft Russian accent and Adrian's snarky sort of British accent. Can't tell where he got it but I think what you bring to the story is as important as what the author does. You've got great dialog, characters and an interesting, entertaining storyline and your voices, male and female are flawlessly blended so that the listener would believe there are different people doing them. I read some of the negative and nasty comments others have written and I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I also believe that constructive criticism is different than just nastyness. I want you to know that this listener is really looking forward to more books read by you. I also like Susan Erickson, who reads the IN DEATH series for JD ROBB for the same reason. Flawless continuity from one character to another. Try to take the nasty comments in stride and know not everyone thinks so.

Love it

Would you consider the audio edition of The Golden Lily to be better than the print version?

The audio was just as good as reading it myself. Hearing it is always a different perspective.

What does Emily Shaffer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Gave it a real feel

A fun trip back into this world

What made the experience of listening to The Golden Lily the most enjoyable?

I actually find the narrator fun. I like how she differentiates the voices and pulls the emotions of the characters in. However, I didn't give her a 5 star on performance because I thought a lot of the time that she dragged the words out too long, making the characters sound drunk when they weren't. I thought her narration on previous books was better, so I am taking off a star for that. Otherwise, it was great.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I still love Adrian and love him even more with his growth and maturity

Which character – as performed by Emily Shaffer – was your favorite?

Sydney- I think she does a great job at getting into her head.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh a lot

Any additional comments?

The Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series are both so much fun, and Richelle Mead has created a world I love to get lost in.

The Golden Lily: Bloodlines, Book 2

What did you love best about The Golden Lily?

Sydney seems to start realizing her feelings for Adrian

What other book might you compare The Golden Lily to and why?

One of a Kind!

Which character – as performed by Emily Shaffer – was your favorite?

Emily in my head sounds like Sydney and at times like Rose..

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes it was!

Any additional comments?

GREAT SERIES!!!

Better than the first

Any additional comments?

I am beginning to like the story of Sydney better than that of Rose in the Vampire Academy series. I thought this book was better than the first and I am looking forward for the additional books in this series. The character development is getting better and better! You will love this book if you liked Bloodlines.

Loved it

Where does The Golden Lily rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top.

What other book might you compare The Golden Lily to and why?

Bloodlines...

What does Emily Shaffer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Emotion.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The last chapter.

Any additional comments?

I'm really enjoying this series. It's not as action packed and fast paced as Vampire Academy, and the main characters story lines aren't quite as strong - but it's still a great series that is growing on me. I don't think Richelle Mead has quite as good a handle on this series as she did Vampire Academy, but I still love it. Try as a I might, I just can't stop comparing the two series - but that's to be expected when you have a spin off series I suppose.
I loved Adrian in VA, but he is officially on my list of fictional boyfriends after reading The Golden Lily. Sydney isn't my favorite of main characters, but I think that's because of her 'character' - she's one of those really clueless smart people... As I'm reading I have the urge to yell at the book, 'HE LIKES YOU... that's why he's doing it DUH'. But for every frustrating moment in the book there are two laugh-out-loud moments. More than once I had my husband looking at me curiously.

Another Richelle Mead Great

Would you consider the audio edition of The Golden Lily to be better than the print version?

I prefer audiobooks for my favorite books to their print versions. When I really love a book I become almost obsessed with it and I can't put it down until I finish it, audiobooks allow me to multitask while listening so I never have to put it down! I listened to The Golden Lily while eating, cleaning, driving, and during bedtime. If you're a VA series fan I'm sure you can relate to wanting to get to that last page as soon as possible!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sydney was my favorite in this book. It is neat to see how much she is growing as a person, and makes you wonder how much farther she will continue to grow and open up her mind to new ways of thinking and seeing the world

What does Emily Shaffer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Being an expert at Richelle Mead books by now, Emily Shaffer has the personalities of the characters down which makes it a great listening experience!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. If you are familiar with Richelle Mead books, you know every book builds towards a big defining moment or situation, which makes you want to get to that point as quickly as possible!

Awesome read!

I really trurley Loved it! I Wish this series could go on forever !! :)