YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

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. Alchemists protect vampire secrets - and human lives.

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she struggles to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do.

Then she finally tracks down the elusive, enigmatic Marcus Finch - a former Alchemist who the organization denies exists, and who lives in shadows, on the run. With Marcus's help, Sydney realizes that the group she's been loyal to her whole life has been hiding the truth from her. Is it possible that her golden lily tattoo might have more power over her than she thinks?

As she struggles to come to terms with what that might mean, Sydney is compelled to use her magical powers to track down an evil magic user who is targeting powerful young witches. Using magic goes against everything she always thought she believed, but she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her special blood - or else she might be next.

Forging her own way is harder than Sydney ever dreamed. Maybe by turning off her brain - and following her heart - she'll be able to finally figure out where she belongs.

so excited

Hi there, I hope you don't mind if I crash your buddy read.

Bad news: hubby went to hospital yesterday but he's doing fine and taking his meds and being monitored
Good news: had hours to read waiting around hospital for him to get put in a room

Besides curiosity, why is Sydney looking for Marcus Finch?

Chpt 7: Wow, this is not what I expected (view spoiler)[ Sydney is in danger from Ms. Terwilliger's evil witchy sister (essence stealing human) and Sydney finds the mysterious ex-Alchemist Marcus Finch.

Sonia's wedding was lovely. It was frustrating that Sydney couldn't show her friendship with any of the Moroi or dhampirs. Even if Sydney wasn't on Jill's protective assignment, the prejudice between the Moroi and human Alchemists would not be condoned. I don't know how Sydney and Adrian can ever be together...could Lissa change that law too?

Group of ex-Alchemists, ex-Warriors of Light or double agents infiltrating the Warriors. It's difficult to believe that Sydney would leave the Alchemist fold and forsake their extensive resources.

Though, Sydney's magical powers and relationships with witch - Ms. Terwilliger, Moroi - Adrian and Jill, dhampirs - Eddie, Sonia, Rose and Dmitri would all be useful and valuable to the renegades. I could see Trey joining this group.

It is creepy that the Alchemists continue to enhance the lily tattoos with further "controls." (hide spoiler)]

the more the merrier!

Ch 4 (view spoiler)[Sydney just needs to cave into Adrian. Even Sonya sees it. (hide spoiler)]

Marla wrote: "Hi there, I hope you don't mind if I crash your buddy read.

Bad news: hubby went to hospital yesterday but he's doing fine and taking his meds and being monitored
Good news: had hours to read wait..."

Hope your husband has a speedy recovery!

Jamie wrote: " Marla wrote: "Hi there, I hope you don't mind if I crash your buddy read.

Bad news: hubby went to hospital yesterday but he's doing fine and taking his meds and being monitored
Good news: had hou..."

Thanks Jamie, he's not as crabby, so easier to not kill. :D

And he's bored, so I hang out and read while he watches tv. It's a stay-cation for me.

Thanks for letting me join in. I've finished 3 other books, so I'm back to Sydney & Adrian.

Ch 9 (view spoiler)[Oh Adrian! How he behaves in the B&B! And his on-the-go wit never ends! :) . (hide spoiler)]

Kind of slow and not as compelling as VA series. Sydney and Adrian are just not Rose and Dimitri.

Chpt 12 (view spoiler)[ So ex-Alchemists want Sydney to spy for them and they are looking into the connection between the Warriors of Light and the Alchemists. I'm glad that Eddie knows about Marcus' Merry Men and Sydney's meeting.

Ms. Terwilliger's sister Veronica assaults another girl and steals her youth.

I liked Ms. Terwilliger forcing Sydney to practice creating and throwing fire balls. I like the idea that Sydney will have an offensive skill, rather than just her brains and plans.

I'm surprised at Sydney making out with Adrian. I would think Sydney's Alchemist prejudices would prevent her from succumbing to her lust. Because their actions are physical attraction, not emotional love.
(hide spoiler)]

a little behind should catch up soon

Finished:

B&B: (view spoiler)[ I was just cringing every time they went to the B&B. I was afraid that they were going to get caught by Veronica. I didn't even think about Adrian's tires getting slashed as a delay tactic. (hide spoiler)]

Veronica: (view spoiler)[ Wow, I NEVER saw that coming. I didn't get it until Sydney explained it to me. Glad the cats helped save her!

Alicia: Apprentice turning on her teacher, definitely not the first time, but nice twist. An anti-vampire compulsion amulet might be very useful. Why didn't Sydney have the gun when she was on a possibly dangerous rescue mission?

Sounds like she got away. Sydney will always have to be on guard as long as Alicia is at large. (hide spoiler)]

Merry Men: (view spoiler)[ I've been sort of unimpressed with Marcus and his Merry Men. I'm glad that they are freeing people from Alchemist control, and trying to protect people from being reprogrammed, but what exactly have they accomplished.

And the resources of the Alchemists are so vast that it would be tough to reject that to be in broken down motels, stealing cars and constantly on the run. (hide spoiler)]

Hopper: (view spoiler)[ LOVE the little magical/demon dragon. (hide spoiler)]

Sydney: (view spoiler)[ I can't decide if I liked Sydney using her feminine wiles to execute her mission or I was disappointed with her for using Ian's interest in her. I like that Sydney is so attracted to Adrian that it overrides her Alchemist sense. But I miss Rose's ability to protect her and her friends. Magic is not the same as dhampir strength and offensive training.

Glad that Sydney "broke" her tattoo, but will her behavior change now that it's not inhibited? Sydney seemed to be an obedient Alchemist to start, but she's evolved into an independent-thinking, resourceful scholar. (hide spoiler)]

Adrian: (view spoiler)[ I don't know how Sydney and Adrian are going to stay hidden. If Jill is shocked, and she knows how much Adrian cares for Sydney, how is this relationship ever going to work?

I'm glad they are good friends, because otherwise it would be purely physical attraction. But I'm liking the heat those two are generating. (hide spoiler)]

Angeline: (view spoiler)[ Is such a... She was throwing herself at Eddie throughout The Golden Lily, finally got her wish, and now she's making out with Trey? Hardly the loyal-and-true type, kind of a "love the one you're with." I would have more sympathy if she hadn't hunted Eddie down in the last book. Trey didn't realize that Eddie wasn't her cousin, so he's off the hook.

So Angeline is hot-headed, super-aggressive, failing math and cheated on her boyfriend. I'm more than done with her. (hide spoiler)]

New People: (view spoiler)[ Another dhampir, Neil Raymond, and Sydney's sister, Zoe, have arrived to help. How is Sydney going to hide her magic lessons, her friendship with the Moroi & dhampirs, her doubts about Alchemists and a relationship with Adrian? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 12 (view spoiler)[Love how sydney reacts to the hickey! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 18 (view spoiler)[I think that cross missing is how veronica is tracking her.....trouble! (hide spoiler)]

Done! (view spoiler)[Oh, that ending!! Glad she is with Adrian officially though. But unhappy about Zoe. (hide spoiler)]

Marla wrote: "Finished:

B&B: (view spoiler)[I was half wondering if Alicia was Veronica but the twist was different than I thought. I cringed when they went to be BB too. (hide spoiler)]

Hopper-Adorable!

Angeline-I fully agree!

Starting now!!! Sorry for the delay

Chapter 11: dang talk about a full plate! How many missions does she think she can handle?!

No worries. There are a few books I am starting late too. :)

Tayla wrote: "Chapter 11: dang talk about a full plate! How many missions does she think she can handle?!"

She is one busy girl.

Jamie wrote: "Ch 18 [spoilers removed]"

totally! (view spoiler)[ how do they not put two and two together? I mean she said it right after they talked to her teacher (hide spoiler)]

Ooooommmmmggg that was so good!!!!

anyone wanna plan the next one??

Marla wrote: "Finished:

Love everything you wrote

(view spoiler)[ I feel like neil and zoe are there to catch her. They totally are not there to make friends.

And didnt they say her tattoo was gonna get silver instead of gold? how the hell is she gonna hide that (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting August 2nd 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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Hey I'm finishing up an audio, have like an hour left. Then I will be starting on this. Having to do the audio because I'm spending most of my day driving back and forth to the hospital because my mom is in there waiting on her pacemaker.

Tiera wrote: "Hey I'm finishing up an audio, have like an hour left. Then I will be starting on this. Having to do the audio because I'm spending most of my day driving back and forth to the hospital because my ..."

I hope it all goes well for your mum.

38%

(view spoiler)[ I liked the wedding and Adrian asking her to dance. I like the fact she's gotten over her aversion to magic. I wonder what things she can do? It seems like the Alchemists are hiding more secrets with the ink and they are losing followers. I wonder if later on in the series whether Sydney will either start her own group and bring the Alchemists into a better future? (hide spoiler)]

60%

(view spoiler)[ I don't like the way she keeps fighting Adrian off. Just get with him you wont do any better. (hide spoiler)]

71%

(view spoiler)[ Lol the demon dragon seems so cute. i love the home she made for it. (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[ Yay she didn't go. I agree that the group just seemed to be gathering information and not actually doing anything with it. I wonder if her tattoo will change or if because she never sealed it it will stay gold. I wonder what she's going to do now with her sister there. Is the witch dead or not? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7: (view spoiler)[ Finally the elusive Marcus makes an appearance. Honestly, I can't remember what is supposed to happen in this book. I'm drawing all kinds of blanks. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17: (view spoiler)[ I'm getting distracted wondering if "Wolf" is actually a shifter in hiding and what his story is lol. Props to Sydney and her gun slinging though. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19: (view spoiler)[ Kudos for the reunion with Sydney and her sister but I wouldn't trust her.. Sydney is like the smartest dumb girl sometimes. The audio is kind of dragging lol. (hide spoiler)]

Mummy's Naughty Corner wrote: "60%

[spoilers removed]"

Yea I'm totally getting sick of (view spoiler)[ Her attitude towards Adrian. Feel bad for the guy because dang he can't catch a break with women. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ well all good things must come to an end.. Sydney's little sis is all up in her business now. I can't see this being good... not good at all. (hide spoiler)] All in all I'm going to have to say this one has been my least favorite of the series so far. It just seemed to drag quite a bit and for the most part felt like it had some middle book syndrome. I keep remembering things from this series and none of the things I remember have happened yet.. I'm ready to get to those things lol.

Tiera wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed] All in all I'm going to have to say this one has been my least favorite of the series so far. It just seemed to drag quite a bit and for the most part felt like it had ..."

Yeah not the best. Pick a day for the next one. I'm getting ahead of my buddies so I'll just fit it in.

Girl I'm down for whenever! How about the 15th?

That's good with me.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Here is the thread for the next one Mummy!

Cool thank you. I forgot to set it up.