Just Finished Reading ... The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

The Indigo Spell
by Richelle Mead
To be published on Feb 12, 2013
by Razorbill books

Source: bought





First of all, if you've read the first two books, click here to test yourself with my Bloodlines and Golden Lily trivia. No spoilers!

My summary:  Alchemist Sydney Sage is still stationed in Palm Springs, attending Amberwood Prep and guarding Moroi princess Jill Dragomir. Sydney's upbringing taught her that vampires and magic are evil, but as Syd spends more and more time among the vampires, she begins to doubt everything she's been told. After tracking down an elusive former Alchemist named Marcus Finch, Syd learns things that shock her. And Syd being Syd -- driven, organized, methodical -- she feels compelled to investigate. Complicating things are her growing attraction to the irresistible Adrian Ivashkov. Can Sydney sort out the facts and her feelings in time to make the right choices?

My take: I loved this book. That said, it was not at all what I had bargained for, and I want to let all of you experience it without being influenced by my expectations. So instead of a formal review, I want to just tell you what I love about this series and why you should read it!

Sydney
I just love this girl. In a classic old movie, she'd be the librarian who finally takes off her glasses and lets down her hair. She's incredibly smart, which I love. She's pragmatic and cool-headed, cautious and rule-following. She's been raised in a very strict, repressive environment. In this book, she starts questioning things that she's always taken for granted. She's even beginning to embrace her talent for magic. I think she's going to undergo tremendous character growth over the course of this six-book series, and I can't wait.

Adrian
It's nearly impossible not to be charmed by Adrian. In the classic movie, he'd be the bad boy with the heart of gold, the sensitive guy who hides his feelings under a lot of bluster. He's hilariously funny. A talented artist. But he's also incredibly loyal. In this book, he's always there for Syd in a way that warmed my heart.

Sydrian
Yes, Adrian used to have this silly little crush on Rose Hathaway. But hard-headed, impulsive Rose was all wrong for him. Adrian needs someone steady and calm to balance out his artistic temperament. He and Sydney are just so great together in this book. They have fun and it's a pleasure to see. There's even a scene in this book where Rose ... nope, I'll let you read it yourself.

Spirit Dreams
They're baaaack and better than ever.

The colorful secondary characters:
Ms. Terwilliger, with her mangling of Sydney's name and her coffee addition. At first I thought she was just wackadoodle, but I'm coming to see her as a real mentor and surrogate mother figure to Sydney.
Then there's Malachi Wolfe, crusty old self-defense expert. And remember Jet Steele? I have to say that Marcus Finch wasn't nearly as compelling as I expected, but maybe that will come in later books.

Love triangle free zone!
I was worried by the cover photo, but I shouldn't have been. That's not to say that this couldn't change in future books. But I don't see sensible Sydney as the kind of girl to get caught up in that kind of thing. There's even this scene where .... never mind. But I am sure that Sydney and Adrian will have a lot to get through over the course of this series.

If you haven't read Indigo Spell yet, what do you hope happens? If you have read it, tell me what you thought, but no spoilers!


If you are a US resident and want to read Indigo Spell (and why wouldn't you?) you can enter to win that here, in my Romance is in the Air Hop! Entries close at midnight on Valentine's Day.