Recenzie: The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) de Richelle Mead

Recenzie 

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2)

de Richelle Mead

Synopsis:

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?




.............................................................


Recenzie:

Dacă la sfârşitul cărţii 'Bloodlines' îşi face apariţia dhampirul nostru preferat, de origine rusă... Dimitri, în incipitul 'Golden Lily', Sage face o incursiune în catacombele Alchimiştilor- nu vă mint, am fost puţin şocată atunci când am aflat unde lucrează ei... totuşi pe parcursul călătoriei în acel loc, descoperim încăperi sterile, camere de supraveghiere, gardieni şi un sistem teribil de bine organizat, accentul fiind pus pe cuvântul teribil. Sincer, m-a îngrozit posibilitatea existenţei unei relaţii între Sydney şi Adrian, relaţie ce ar putea fi descoperită de superiorii ei, dar the show must go on, aşadar sunt convinsă că aceasta a fost intenţia scriitoarei- de a înspăimânta cititorul.

În Palm Springs, viaţa continuă, iar mica noastră echipă primeşte cu braţele deschise pe cei mai noi membrii ai ei- Dimitri, Sonia, Angeline- dap, sigur! De fapt, cel mai deranjat de apariţia lor este... pam, pam, pam... Adrian, în special dacă luăm în considerare că el trebuie să lucreze cot la cot cu Boring (Dimitri) şi Scarlet (Sonia), aşadar, bietul nostru Adrian caută orice ocazie ce-l poate elibera de oaspeţii nepoftiţi, inclusiv o călătorie cu maşina împreună cu Sage, pentru a-l vizita pe bătrânul lui.

În acest timp, Sydney se îndrăgosteşte (sau cel puţin aşa crede ea) de Brayden, un băiat drăguţ, inteligent, asemănător cu ea, pe care-l interesează dezbaterile şi discuţiile despre morile de vânt, epuizarea resurselor, etc. Par perechea perfectă la prima vedere, doar că Sydney nu simte atracţia, chimia pe care o dorea.

După acea călătorie inconfortabilă (datorată nepăsării tatălui lui Adrian faţă de situaţia şi sentimentele propriului fiu), Sydney se hotărăşte să-l înveselească, unul dintre primele momente romantice în care ea simte atracţia faţă de Adrian (în mod inconştient, dar o simte), experimentele lui Sonia, Dimitri şi Adrian, nu dau rezultatele dorite, iar stresul începe să-şi spună cuvântul.

Totuşi, un pericol complet diferit de ce se aşteptau prietenii noştri apare ameniţător, un pericol ce implică luarea unor măsuri disperate- astfel Sydney Sage, fata credincioasă ce urăşte magia de orice fel începe să lucreze cu ea...

Naraţiunea se realizează la persoana întâi, din perspectiva lui Sydney, care transpune în stilul clasic Mead, emoţiile şi peripeţiile grupului nostru. Observăm maturizarea şi încrederea ce se naşte între membrii grupului, în special în privinţa lui Sydney, dar şi evoluţia 'relaţiei' dintre Adrian şi Sydney, iar ea nu-l mai priveşte ca pe o creatură diabolică a nopţii.

Personaje:

Sydney Sage- se maturizează încetul cu încetul, devine mai puţin introvertită şi începe să ţină la Jill, Adrian, Eddie şi chiar Angeline. Iar această transformare este descrisă lent şi cu mult tact, dar nu mă aşteptam la mai puţin din partea lui Mead. 

Relaţia pe care o are cu Brayden este o uniune a minţilor, dar nimic mai mult, sentimentele, emoţiile sunt rezervate lui Adrian, lucru ce se poate constata cu uşurinţă de cititor, desigur toţiîl pot vedea mai puţin Sydney. Dar, ea nu este singura care aceste sentimente...

.... Astfel ajungem la Adrian Ivashkov- chiar şi în privinţa lui observăm o maturizare- renunţă la femei, distracţiile cu 'prietenii' lui, chiar şi la ţigări- şi totul se datorează lui Sydney. Dar, observăm cum Adrian renunţă la mitul 'Rose' şi, deşi încă există unele conflicte cu Dimitri, este mai mult decât evident că orgoliul rănit vorbeşte.

Jill...începe o relaţie împreună cu colegul lui Eddie, relaţie sortită eşecului, dar care o ajută să afle pericolele unei astfel de relaţii- expunerea adevăratei ei identităţi.

Eddie... este îndrăgostit de Jill, dar nu crede că poate avea accesul la iubirea ei- ea fiind sora reginei- astfel că va lua o decizie grăbită în final, decizie ce o va implica pe...

Angeline...nechibzuită, impulsivă, prostuţă... ea reprezintă sursa noastră infinită de amuzament, haos, dar este un dhampir curajos şi se va dovedi că este mai mult decât capabilă să o apere pe Jill.

Wolf... nu este un lup, este antrenorul lui Adrian şi al lui Sydney care îi învaţă cum să se protejeze de atacatori. El este un personaj ciudăţel, care antrenează chihuaha în timpul liber pentru a deveni animale de pradă... dap, este complet dus, dar îi va ajuta pe eroi noştri din mai multe puncte de vedere.

Jackie Terwilliger- profesoara/vrăjitoare care o pregăteşte pe Sydney în studiul artelor obscure aka magie.

Verdict final- o continuare superbă a seriei Bloodlines, ce ne aduce în atenţie personaje vechi, dar şi noi, punându-le în situaţii extraordinare, demne de atenţia cititorului! Avem vrăjitoare, moroi, dhampiri, strigoi, vânători de vrăjitoare, etc... aşa că- citiţi cartea!

Notă: 10/5  

Mulţumesc frumos librăriei Books Express pentru oportunitatea de a citi această carte!

                 

Citate:

“I tried to be a better person for her– but it was to impress her, to get her to want me. But when I’m around you, I want to be better because… well, because it feels right. Because I want to. You make me want to become something greater than myself. I want to excel. You inspire me in every act, every word, every glance. I look at you, and you’re like… like light made into flesh. […] You have no clue how beautiful you are or how brightly you shine.” 

“Adrian, I'm on a date. Why are you here? On my car?” 

“Sage," he said. "What are you wearing?"
I sighed and stared down at the dress. "I know. It's red. Don't start. I'm tired of hearing about it."
"Funny," he said. "I don't think I could ever get tired of looking at it.” 

“Day 24. Situation is growing worse. My captors continue to find new and horrific ways to torture me. When not working, Agent Scarlet spends her days examining fabric swatches for bridesmaid dresses and going on about how in love she is. This usually causes Agent Boring Borscht to regale us with stories of Russian weddings that are even more boring than his usual ones. My attempts at escape have been thwarted thus far. Also, I am out of cigarettes. Any assistance or tobacco products you can send will be greatly appreciated.
-Prisoner 24601” 

“He shouldn't have said that," repeated Adrian, eerily serious. He leaned his face toward mine. "I don't care if he's not the emotional type or the complimentary type or what. No one can look at you in this dress, in all that fire and gold, and start talking about anachronisms. If I were him, I would have said, 'You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth.” 

“You need me? You yell. You want to leave? We go. I'll get you out of here, no matter what.” 

“He shook his head. “No. Because there's no one else out there who understands you like I do.”
I waited for more. “That's it? You're not going to elaborate on what that means?”
Those green eyes held me. “I don't think I need to.” 

“Adrian ordered a martini, earning disapproving looks from his father and me.
"It's barely noon," said Nathan.
"I know," said Adrian. "I'm surprised I held out that long too.” 

“He reached out and pulled me to him, one hand on my waist and the other behind my neck. He tipped my head up and lowered his lips to mine. I closed my eyes and melted as my whole body was consumed in that kiss. I was nothing. I was everything. Chills, ran over my skin, and fire burned inside me. His body pressed closer to mine, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. His lips were warmer and softer than anything I could have ever imagined, yet fierce and powerful at the same time. Mine responded hungrily, and I tightened my hold on him. His fingers slid down the back of my neck, tracing its shape, and every place they touched was electric.” 

“Really, Sage? A date?”
I sighed. “Yes, Adrian. A date.”
“A real date. Not, like, doing homework together,” he added. 
“I mean like where you go out to a movie or something. And a 
movie that’s not part of a school assignment. Or about something boring.”
“A real date.” 

“You're in an awfully good mood," he observed. "Was there a sale at Khakis-R-Us?” 

“Nothing he said could change what I think of you. I've had my mind made up about you for a long time... and it's all good.” 

“I’d mentioned this odd wardrobe choice to Adrian a couple of weeks ago:
“Isn’t Dimitri hot?”
Adrian’s response hadn’t been entirely unexpected:
“Well, yeah, according to most women, at least.” 

“Ah, those two. In a fight, they’re lethal. Around each other, they melt.” 

“You made your own jean shorts...with a butter knife?” 

“Adrian stood there leaning against the doorframe, watching me with his heart in his eyes. In my chest, my own heart was breaking. On my cheek, the lily reminded me who I was. ” 

“It doesn't matter. Take Eddie's blood. Take Belikov's blood. Take your own for all I care. But If she doesn't want to give hers, then that's all there is to it. She said no. This conversation is done.” 

“For once, you're going to hear something that doesn't fit into your neat, compartmentalized world of order and logic and reason.” 

“Isn’t it obvious, Sage? No, of course it isn’t. I did it so I’d have a reason to be around you — one I knew you couldn’t refuse.” 

“He froze, and for one moment, we stood locked in time. I could feel the silk of his shirt against my skin and the warmth of his body. The lingering scent of the overpriced cologne he wore floated around me. No smoke for a change. I’d always told him the cologne couldn’t be worth what he spent, but suddenly, I reconsidered. It was amazing.” 

“I know how you guys feel about us. I'm not stupid, and believe me, I've tried to get you out of my head. But there isn't enough liquor or art or any other distraction in the world to do it. I had to stop going to Wolfe's because it was too hard being that close to you, even if it was all just pretend fighting. I couldn't stand the touching. It was agonizing because it meant something to me－and I knew it meant nothing to you. I kept telling myself to stay away altogether, and then I'd find excuses… like the car… anything to be around you again.” 

“He leaned closer to me and then seemed shocked as he realized what he was doing.

"Why would you do that? Why would you do that for me?” 

“Too bad you got so bogged down in books. You've got the spirit of a warrior.” 

“But perhaps the best part of all was that I, Sydney Katherine Sage, guilty of constantly analyzing the world around me, well, I stopped thinking.” 

“Why not see which is brighter: your aura or the sun?” 

“Nice blouse, Sage,” Adrian told me, deadpan. “It really brings out the khaki in your pants.” 

“I find prostitutes vastly important.” 

“If you went twenty-four hours without cigarettes, I'd drink a can of pop. Regular pop. The whole can."
Isaw the glimmer of Adrian's earlier smile returning. "You would not."
"I totally would." 
"Half a can would put you into a coma." 
Sonya frowned. "Are you diabetic?" she asked me. 
"No," said Adrian, "but Sage is convinced one extraneous calorie will make her go from super skinny to just regular skinny. Tragedy."
"Hey," I said. "You think it’d be a tragedy to go an hour without a cigarette." 
"Don’t question my steel resolve, Sage. I went without one for two hours today."
"Show me twenty-four, and then I’ll be impressed."
He gave me a look of mock surprise. "You mean you aren’t already? And here I thought you were dazzled from the moment you met me.” 

“I wanted someone a little more approachable," I explained.
"What, like Captain McTropicalShorts back there? Where on earth did you find him anyway?"
"Just did an Internet search." Feeling a need to defend my research, I added, "He comes highly recommended."
"By who? Long John Silver?” 

“You'd give up drinking to go see your dad?"
"Well, not permanently," he said. "That'd be ridiculous. But maybe I could switch to something slightly cheaper for a while. Like...slushes. u know how much I love those? Cherry, especially.”