This was another exciting episode in this series. Sydney and the gang are still in Palm Springs. Dmitri and Sonya are there too to do some experiments with Adrian's help to try to find out why those who have been cured of being Strigoi are immune from being turned again. I like Sydney's growing concern with the Alchemists. She is starting to question some of the things they are telling her but she wants to believe that they are in the right. Her close contact with Moroi and dhampir is making her question what she has always been told about them. She is also growing closer to Adrian but is her usual oblivious self about any emotional issues that might be there.And Sydney finds a boyfriend. Brayden is just like her. They are both super-smart and love to talk about things that others find massively boring. However, problems with the Moroi keep her busy. She has to keep pleading family issues and cutting short dates with him. It was funny and sort of painful to watch Sydney try to figure out the whole dating thing. She really wanted to have a manual! But what was clear to any outside observer was that she and Brayden were too alike; there was no chemistry between them. Also Sydney is still taking her independent studies class with Ms. Terwilliger which is getting her much closer to human magic than she really wants to be. She is convinced that magic whether it is Moroi or human is innately wrong. But she is such a perfectionist that, as she is translating texts for Ms. Terwilliger, she can't help but learn the various spells. Her very reluctant learning comes in handy in this one too.I am very eager to read the next book in this series and don't know how I will face the long wait. I may have to keep re-reading Bloodlines and The Golden Lily again and again. I know my students will enjoy this one. It has a very sympathetic main character, a number of hot guys, and lots of action.
