Review--The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

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.

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 the 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 growing 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.


WOWZAS! Yep, that pretty much sums up Richelle Mead's latest in her Bloodlines series! The Indigo Spell was totally rockin'! I had been avoiding reviews of this one, as I tend to do with what I think of as epic reads, because I want to go in blind and let myself be amazed! Boy was I!

We were all totally blown away at the end of The Golden Lily with Adrian's confession. True, we saw it all coming, but I still think there's that shock factor when it gets acknowledged. And then there was that kiss that totally knocked Sydney's socks off. Yet at the same time, she ends things with Adrian before they even began, illiciting more outcries from us readers!

Yet, as we know, and as Sydney will learn, Adrian can be very determined and focused when he wants to be. And this time around, he is totally determined on Sydney. And this I absolutely love! I admit to being Team Dimitri in the Vampire Academy series, yet I still loved Adrian and adored him, but I knew without needing to be told otherwise, that Rose would break his heart. When word came out that he would appear in the new Bloodlines series, I had high hopes that Adrian would find his happiness elsewhere and it's starting to look like he has, despite Sydney's reluctance.

And all I can say about his attempts at drawing Sydney in, is wow! Adrian can be the most sensitive person when he chooses to be. He lets Sydney see a side of himself that I don't think even Rose got to see. I am really excited about the outlook for him and Sydney. Now if only Sydney would get her head together and admit to liking him!

There's been the whole buildup of mystery surrounding who Marcus Finch is. The ex-Alchemist who none of the other Alchemists speak of. Sydney is determined to find out who he is and even turns to using the powers that she rather deny having in order to succeed. And succeed she does.

But Marcus Finch is only one of her problems this go around. Ms. Terwilliger has a new task for Sydney, amongst her studying and learning about spells of course. And that is to find Ms. Terwilliger's sister. Ms. T believes that her sister is stealing young magic users'--females--magic and youthful appearances. For suddenly young girls who once had untamed power--much like Sydney--are in comas and appear to have aged drastically. Sydney is a prime target and must arm herself to a T, with spells and other means.

Trying to track down an evil sorceress is harder than it sounds, luckily she has Adrian to help her, or in this case, Jet Steel! There were quite a few laughs when Adrian and Sydney were going undercover, pretty much all due to Adrian!

Even more of a surprise? Sydney actually goes to freaking St. Louis! To me, my city is dull and unexciting. So when I do see my city show up in the books I read, I can help but feel giddy! I know St. Louis may appear in other books, but I don't read those, so they don't count for me! But yeah, Sydney does more undercover work in St. Louis, where she also runs into her father and sister, Zoe. That made for an awkward family reunion.

The ending was pretty exciting! Epic battles and whatall! Saving lives...you know, the usual! Then Sydney makes a decision of epic proportions and it was just amazing! Like I said in the beginning, WOWZAS! I admit to expecting a major cliffhanger, as Richelle is wont to do in book 3 of her series, this one, while definitely shocking, wasn't the GOOD-GOD-MEAD-WHAT-HAVE-YOU-DONE?! kind. I'll still be desperately awaiting the next book of course, but I don't think I'll die the reader's death of cliffhanger-itis!

The Indigo Spell continues Sydney's story in the long running series of the Vampire Academy world--now broken into two series. She is definitely a character that has grown extraordinarily well. Before she was the goody-too shoes who never willingly broke the rules, now she is like an entirely different person. All we can do now is wait to see if she can match the trouble Rose got into!! This is going to be fun!


Overall rating 5/5 stars