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The Indigo Spell

Richelle Mead

Published 2013          401 pages

Reviewed by Georgia

Summary (from the book jacket)

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 shadows, on the run. With Marcus’ 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.

The Review

This is the third book in the Bloodlines Series and one of the best that Richelle Mead has written so far.

What makes this book special is the fact that it centers and gyrates around Sydney. With her being the chief character in these Series it is important to have at least one book dedicated entirely to her. Everyone else takes a backseat while Sydney is in the spotlight. Character-wise this book is a revelation as far as Sydney is concerned. She is an intelligent, level-headed young woman who finally has to make decisions that will affect the rest of her life. The transgression from someone who has believed in good faith everything that one was told and taught to someone who begins to question, investigate and want to have all the feedback before making a decision is not smooth nor does it happen from one day to the next. Sydney has to learn and understand a lot more before accepting certain things and move on with her life. All this is done in a well-paced and focused narrative. There is nothing irrelevant, superfluous or exaggerated. Every single scene, every dialogue – even then ones used for comic relief – is important to the general plot and further development of the story.

Aside from sculpting Sydney’s character, Adrian, Jill and Ms Terwilliger are also given room to develop and expand; certainly not in such detail as Sydney, but with enough information to intrigue the readers about their future in the Series and the roles that they will hold therein.

Furthermore this book has a healthy dose of action balanced well with romance that is neither melodramatic not far-fetched. Both action and romance cause suspense that will increase the heartbeat rate and create the need to read on until the very last page of the book.

Without a dull moment or long and obscure descriptions The Indigo Spell will enthrall the fans and will certainly raise the bar for the forthcoming book in the Series.

P.S.: this book is not recommended for those who have not read the Series from the beginning.

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