Book Review: THE GOLDEN LILY

Title: THE GOLDEN LILY
Author: Richelle Mead
Other books by Author: VAMPIRE ACADEMY series, BLOODLINES
Publication Date: 06/12/2012
My Rating: 5/5--Incredible!  Loved it!
Plot in One Word: Vampires
Good if...you're a fan of the VAMPIRE ACADEMY 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.

My thoughts... 
Once again, I'm totally obsessed with this new series!  It's a spin-off series from Richelle Mead's VAMPIRE ACADEMY series.  This series follows Sydney--the Alchemist (a group whose purpose is to cover up the existence of Vampires from regular humans) Rose met in Russia.  This was book #2 in the new series.  Book #1, BLOODLINES, was an excellent debut.  A bunch of my favorite characters were back again!  Sydney.  Adrian.  Jill.  Eddie.  And in this second book we also see Dimitri and Sonya!  It's a fantastic addition to this already awesome series (one that's quickly becoming a favorite).  I liked this novel even more than the first!  They both were awesome so that was hard to do.  I found myself neglecting everything else in my life to hurry through read this novel.  I just couldn't get enough.  And the ending was the best part.  It defiantly left room for more books to come, but it was so dramatic that I had to reread the last chapter three times.  It's been stuck in my head for days now. 

Basically, I can't praise this book enough.  Go out and get BLOODLINES and THE GOLDEN LILY right away!  They won't disappoint.  (Still I recommend reading the VAMPIRE ACADEMY series first, just so you have a better understand of the characters' backgrounds.)  

Overall recommendation: READ IT NOW!

Book Review: BLOODLINES

Title: BLOODLINES
Author: Richelle Mead
Other books by Author: VAMPIRE ACADEMY series
Publication Date: 08/23/2011
My Rating: 5/5--Incredible!  Loved it!
Plot in One Word: Vampires
Good if...you're a fan of the VAMPIRE ACADEMY series

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California.

My thoughts... 
I'm totally obsessed with this new series!  It's a spin-off series from Richelle Mead's VAMPIRE ACADEMY series.  This series follows Sydney--the Alchemist Rose met while in Russia.  A bunch of characters are back from the original series too.  Sydney, obviously.  Eddie.  Jill.  Adrian.  And I honestly love reading from Sydney's perspective even more than Rose's!!!  She's spunky and sassy and smart.  Her perspective of the vampire is very unique and fun to read.  And of course, Adrian fans will rejoice for his return!  If you're a VAMPIRE ACADEMY fan then I strongly suggest you pick this novel up today!  Don't delay.  I read it sooo fast then I bought the second in the series (THE GOLDEN LILY which is already out) and read it immediately too!  I can't get enough!

Overall Recommendation: READ IT NOW!  Own it!

Book Review: LAST SACRIFICE

Title: LAST SACRIFICE (VAMPRE ACADEMY Book 6)
Author: Rachelle Mead
Other books by Author: VAMPIRE ACADEMY, FROSTBITE, SHADOW KISS, BLOOD PROMISE, SPIRIT BOUND
Publication Date: 11/14/2011
My Rating: 4.5/5--Really good! Worth your time.
Plot in One Word: Vampires
Good if...you want something dark, dangerous, romantic

Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice. The Queen is dead and the Moroi world will never be the same. Now, with Rose awaiting wrongful execution and Lissa in a deadly struggle for the royal throne, the girls find themselves forced to rely upon enemies and to question those they thought they could trust. . . . But what if true freedom means sacrificing the most important thing of all? Each other.

My thoughts... 
LAST SACRIFICE is book #6 in the VAMPIRE ACADEMY series.  This was the last and final book.  And I'm sad to see the series ending.  I enjoyed it immensely.  It's so rare to find a series that can capture your attention after 2 books, let alone 6!

SO to recap--Rose is a dhampire (part vampire part human) bodyguard sworn to protect her bestfriend Lissa.  Lissa is a Moroi vampire (the good kind of Vampire) princess.  In the early books we saw the girls in school, then graduate school, and now they've at court since Lissa is a princess.  You also have the guys too--Christian, Dimitri, and Adrian.  This novel is just another great addition to their stories.  Rose is still the same kick-butt strong sassy female she's always been, Lissa and Rose's friendship still drives the story, the boys are still very much swoon-worthy, and all the action/romance make these books hard to put down.  Book #6 was right on par with all the other books in the series (I still think book 3 was the best though) and I loved how it ended.  It felt very complete, even if a little predictable.  But no disappointments!  I do, however, hope to see Adrian's story more in the author's new spin-off series.

Read this one!!  Read them all!!

In case you are interested...here are all my reviews of the past novels:
Book 1: VAMPIRE ACADEMY
Book 2: FROSTBITE
Book 3: SHADOW KISS
Book 4: BLOOD PROMISE
Book 5: SPIRIT BOUND

Book Review: SPIRIT BOUND

Title: SPIRIT BOUND (VAMPRE ACADEMY Book 5)
Author: Rachelle Mead
Other books by Author: VAMPIRE ACADEMY, FROSTBITE, SHADOW KISS, BLOOD PROMISE
Publication Date: Paperback, Feb 2011
My Rating: 4/5--Really good! Worth your time.
Plot in One Word: Vampires
Good if...you want something dark, dangerous, romantic

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's - and to her best friend, Lissa. It is at long last graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere.  She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won't rest until Rose joins him . . . forever.

My thoughts... 5 books in  and I'm still addicted!  I think I will never grow tired of this series nor of Rachelle Mead's writing.  Rose and Lissa's characters continue to grow and grow with each novel.  It's almost as if I've become connected to them and to their world.  Isn't that what we always want in novel?  I love it.  I'm sad that I only have one more novel left in this series.  I've been reading them extra slow just to prolong the end.  :(  I guess it's really good that Rachelle Mead has started to newer series which is a spin-off from this series. 

Oh, and a nice love-triangle has developed by this point.  I can't decided who I want Rose to end up with.  I think it's inevitable that it will Demitri, but I still like both guys a lot.  :)

Book Review: BLOOD PROMISE

Title: BLOOD PROMISE (VAMPRE ACADEMY Book 4)
Author: Rachelle Mead
Other books by Author: VAMPIRE ACADEMY, FROSTBITE, SHADOW KISS
Publication Date: April 2010
My Rating: 4/5--Really good! Worth your time.
Plot in One Word: Vampires
Good if...you want something dark, dangerous, romantic

The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir’s Academy was the deadliest ever in the school’s history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them . . . including Dimitri.  He’d rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa—the one she has sworn to protect no matter what—and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?

My thoughts...If you're unfamiliar with this series then I highly recommend you get familiar.  Whether you're over vampires by this point or not, either way it's a funny, romantic, mysterious, intriguing series.  I've been hooked from the start.  Book 4 wasn't as good as book 3, but it was still just as good as the first two in the series.  All your favorite characters were back--plus some new--and I mostly enjoyed seeing how becoming a Strigoi effect Dimitri.  And so now I'm on to book 5...

Book Review: SHADOW KISS

Title: SHADOW KISS (VAMPRE ACADEMY Book 3)
Author: Rachelle Mead
Other books by Author: VAMPIRE ACADEMY, FROSTBITE
Publication Date: November, 2008
My Rating: 5/5--Incredible! Loved it!
Plot in One Word: Vampires
Good if...you want something dark, dangerous, romantic

It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy and Rose is close to graduation, but since making her first Strigoi kills, things haven't felt quite right. She's having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all ...might be seeing ghosts. Consumed by her forbidden love with her tutor Dimitri and protecting her best friend, the Moroi princess Lissa, Rose is in no state to see the deadly threat that will change her entire world - and make her choose between the two people she loves most.

My Thoughts...Wow.  Double wow.  These VAMPIRE ACADEMY books just keep getting better and better.  The actions, the romantic tension, the friendship, the mystery--all of it's just doubled since the last book!  Rachelle Mead is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.  I can't wait to get my hands on book 4 and I doubt I will ever get tired of reading these novels.  Good thing there are 6 in the series and all of them already published!!  :)

If you like the VAMPIRE ACADEMY books; you might also like...

The UGLIES Series by Scott Westerfeld

Book Review: FROSTBITE

Title: FROSTBITE
Author: Rachel Mead

Other books by Author: VAMPIRE ACADEMY
Publication Date: April 2008

My Rating: 4.5/5--Really good! Worth your time!

One Word Plot: Vampires

Good if…you're looking for dark/dangerous/fun

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if handto- hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks….This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.  But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…

My thoughts...  As the 2nd novel in the VAMPIRE ACADEMY series, I was very impressed.  Not only was it even better than the first, it broke the '2nd novel curse' as in it didn't suck.  Usually middle novel books are just stepping stones, but this one held it's own.  So why am I rating it 4.5 instead of 5?  The truth is that I can't really come up with an complaints.  It's just a feeling.  Although very good and I'm surely going to start reading #3 later today, the 'it-blew-me-away-feeling' wasn't quite there.  Still worth the purchase and the time.  :)

Book Review: VAMPIRE ACADEMY

Title: VAMPIRE ACADEMY
Author: Rachelle Mead
Publication Date: August 2007
My Rating: 4/5--I mostly enjoyed it
One Word Plot: Vampires
Good if…you're looking for dark/dangerous/fun

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

My (quick b/c I'm tired) Review...  Surprisingly pretty good.  Another vampire series worth reading.  What I enjoyed most was the friendship between Rose and Lissa.  That was the central theme in this novel and you just don't see that too much in YA.  Usually the central theme is some guy the love-at-first sight reaction he has with the main character.  (Not that I don't love that too!)  So, all in all it was pretty good and I will be buying the 2nd soon to see where this series goes.  :)