Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 432pgs

The Story

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

The Review

A big thanks to the publisher on netGalley for accepting my request in reading this book early!

THE INDIGO SPELL, the third installment of Richelle Mead's VA spin-off Bloodlines series, is definitely a hat full of tricks what with its new dangers, obstacles, complicated romances and plenty, plenty of paranormal drama to entertain its huge following of readers. Not to mention those fans of Sydney Sage and Adrian Ivashkov - especially those readers left with that cliffhanger at the very end of The Golden Lily - will most definitely not be disappointed with this book!

Sydney Sage would have be my favourite character in this entire series (I say this again and again) and one that can actually beat my love of Vampire Academy's main heroine, Rose Hathaway, which is such a major leap for me considering (once upon a time) I used to love Rose like no other book heroine. But I don't know . . . there's just something about Sydney I love and she's always just that kind of heroine who is slowly growing as a person and trying to find herself out there in the big, wide world, and I love reading about such a development in any of my favourite characters. I just love it! So when it comes to this third book I found she was opening up a lot more now and questioning things around her that she never dared to question before . . . turning her into the ultimate bad-ass. Trust me you guys . . . she IS a total bad-ass in this book so don't go thinking she's boring, naive, and weak. She is NOT any of those things!

Then, of course, I have to mention the romance slowly blossoming between Sydney and Adrian. I know, I know in this review I just HAVE to mention Adrian. Like Sydney, Adrian is also a character trying to find himself in the world and to see exactly where he belongs in it, and even though in the majority of the book he is always trying to push Sydney's buttons (in the best way possible of course) and can sometimes be this lovesick guy but . . . I love him for being well . . . Adrian because it's a completely different love-sick guy that we used to know back when he was with Rose. Completely different. In fact, the chemistry flying between these two characters is SIZZLING is this third installment and I think this book wouldn't be as awesome if it didn't have that romance in it, so way a go Richelle Mead for writing interacting scenes with Sydney and Adrian. The banter, the frustrations, the mere unspoken words that are only expressed through faraway but very secretive glances . . . yeah there is plenty of Sydrian moments in this book and I know fans will eat it right up like I did.

But the only complaint I have with this book apart from its awesome characters (except for Marcus Finch whom I thought was going to be this awesome guy but wasn't though he definitely made Adrian look like a better person) is with the storyline itself. Now I really hate to say this - really I do - but I found the storyline was lacking something good compared to the previous two books, Bloodlines and The Golden Lily. Sure the romance was fantastic (it was everything I was hoping for and more) and so was the action (even the humor was spot-on for my tastes), but the actual direction of the storyline went a bit off track for me at times and even the parts leading up to the ending was needless to say disappointing. I was expecting . . . more. Still, regardless of that, I enjoyed this book, mostly because of all of the Sydrian moments and really that's all I care about at the moment! I love those two to bits and it'll be interesting where the next book will take us to next considering THAT ending! Argh. That ending! I so KNEW that was going to happen eventually and it did, and I just KNEW it! I knew it!

Overall, while the storyline was a bit disappointing but THE INDIGO SPELL still sets up yet another great installment in the Bloodlines series and I can't wait for more! Bring on The Fiery Heart, I'm so ready for it now! Just please let Sydrian remain together . . . I couldn't bear another heartbreak or another reason why these two crazy kids can't be together. My heart cannot take it anymore!

The Rating
4/5 stars


Also I won't spoil for you guys, but be sure to check out my Goodreads status's HERE from when I read this book. I hope you find it entertaining! It's a little taste of what's to come.

12 comments:

  1. How could anyone write a review for this and not mention Adrian?! Impossible.

    I'm so glad you enjoyed this! I agree, Sydney is much more take-charge in this book, and I think readers will be surprised to see how she comes into her own. I'm ready for FIERY HEART, too. :)

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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    1. Impossible! Hehe. Sydney definitely took charge in this book, more than I ever expected her too. :)

      Thanks Wendy!

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  2. I'm not sure Sydney will ever quite beat my love of Rose, but I still adore that girl! And especially her character growth in this installment. She's come so far! AND OH GOD YES. THE ROMANCE. SIZZLING. THAT IS THE WORD FOR IT. I don't know where I'd be in life without Adrian Ivashkov *melts*

    I do have to agree a little about the storyline. I've felt like this a bit throughout the BL series, that the overall plots could be a bit stronger, but Sydrian kind of overpowers any flaws I have while reading :D

    Fantastic review, Erin!

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    1. And oh man, did you see the tweets from the Richelle interview not too long ago? About The Fiery Heart? Being the ultimate game change and a 'damn you!" ending? I'M SCARED. I'm secretly craving another ending like Shadow Kiss, although it terrifies me.

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    2. I saw those tweets . . . damn. I'm need The Fiery Heart now, Brodie! I hope it's nothing like the SK ending. I don't think you nor I could take it. :S

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  3. SIZZLING ROMANCE. ADRIAN. IVASHKOV. AHDUSIAHDUAIHDUSIAHDISHD Like Wendy said, HOW CAN YOU WRITE A REVIEW WITHOUT MENTIONING ADRIAN?!
    I don't think Sydney can ever beat Rose...I just like Rose way too much! But I did love her more in this instalment!<3 Oh and Adrian...HAVE I MENTIONED HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM? heheeee...anyway, I love how he's different with Sydney than he was with Rose...SYDRIAN <33
    Fab review Erin :) We can wait impatiently for The Fiery Heart together :D

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    1. I know. Adrian just cannot be forgotten. Never, ever, EVER. Of course I still LOVE Rose but I think as a person I'm much more like Syd, so I guess that's why I like her more. YES! I love how Adrian is so different with Sydney but I guess that's because he's found something special in her since Syd respects and accepts him more than Rose ever did.

      Thanks Shirley!

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  4. YES! Finally some like me who prefers Sydney over Rose! :D I tried reading the VA series, but Rose really irked me. I love Sydney, because to me a mc doesn't have to be kick-butt and snarky to be awesome. The ending made me go WHOA! can't wait for the next installment now. Great review. ^^

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    1. YES! Rose was like my favourite heroine ever since the VA series started but . . . since Sydney came along I see a lot of myself in her so I guess that's why I can connect with her more.

      Oh yes . . . THAT ending. So cruel. It's not a HUGE one but still very cruel. Thanks!

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  5. *FIST PUMP* I'm always so happy to hear readers loving Sydney and/or Adrian more!! I've always ranked them higher than Rose and Dimitri for some reason! But let me just say, I have NEVER considered Sydney to be boring, naive or weak :P I knew a little badass was hiding under there! <3

    The romance….. I need to see it NOW. The teaser we got of the first two chapters…TORTURE! I demand more! But now you've got me worrying about the ending… Oh dear. *bites nails* SHOULD I BE SCARED?

    Great review, as always! So excited to get stuck into this :) *stalks mailbox*

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    1. Me too. I can't help but love them more than the Rose and Dimitri coupling. Yeah some reviews I read people called Syd boring, naive and weak, and I just couldn't see that at all. She's only human but she's far capable of badassery things. Hehe.

      Oh the romance . . . it was a killer, wasn't it? God. TORTURE for sure! The ending is terrible but it's frustrating for sure!

      Thanks Lisa! I can't wait to hear your thoughts about this one! :)

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  6. I absolutely adore all this love going around at the minute for this spin off series, once again I'm totally out of the loop as I haven't read this series or Vampire Academy series up yet (shhhhh we will keep this secret just between the two of us!) But I'm glad that this series is still going strong for you! Lovely review! :)

    Ronan Valerio (Seattle Criminal Lawyer)

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