Review: Indigo Spell

By: Richelle Mead
Published: February 2013 by Razorbill
Format: Hardback, 401 pages
Buy: Barnes & Noble//Books-A-Million//Amazon//Book Depository
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Forging her own way is harder than Sydney ever dreamed.

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.

Rating: 3.5 rounded up/5

Okay. I have two ways to approach this review: From the point of view of a long-time VA fan and from the point of view of a YA paranormal romance fan. As a VA fan, it was a huge let down. As a YA paranormal romance fan, it was really good, but not great. I've been attempting to collect my thoughts from both points of view for an hour or so now, and I've come to the conclusion:

Bloodlines just isn't as good as VA.

It just isn't. For me, anyway. And anyone who has either followed my reviews or who knows me will note that this is so incredibly hard for me to admit. I. Love. VA. I just do. It doesn't matter how many times I reread them or if something annoys/angers me. It's just my favorite series. When I started reading Bloodlines, I went into it with the idea already planted in my head that it was amazing (Mead is one damn good compulsionist) and I think it's taken me until this third book to realize that it's just not living up to the bar VA set for me.

Don't get me wrong. I very much enjoyed the book and I, quite frankly, just can't bring myself to give it under four stars. (If the fourth book lets me down again, I will probably let myself rate the book(s) how I truly felt about them, but for now, VA still has my holds heart too tight for me to drop below four.) The characters, for me, were strong, but they weren't as strong as I'd expect from Mead, save for Adrian. Adrian, I think, will always be Adrian. And who doesn't love Adrian? But with the others, I don't know, I just don't care about them as much. I'm not as connected with them as I was with the main/supporting/random characters of VA.

Plot-wise, it felt like Mead gave up, so to speak. Before, with every book came new shocks and twists I never, ever saw coming. But with this one, I felt it was a tad--dare I say it--dull. I love the path Mead's taking with the witches, but it just seemed bland. There was one twist I very much liked but that wasn't a huge one to where I went, "Oh my god, Mead, shut up. No way." There were sub-plots and another major plot that I felt had so much potential to be another great VA read with the excitement and the WHAT'S SYDNEY GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS? All the elements were there, but it was as if she forgot to light the fuse that set them off.

I have to admit I didn't care for Marcus. Toward the end, he grew on me, but I honestly wouldn't care if he weren't in any other books vs. other male leads/supporting characters in the other books all have me swooning. Like, seriously. However, I did like what he represented because I think this can create some insane conflict in the next book.

But, Mead still has the magic to piss my bladder off. I can't help but read "one more chapter," even when my bladder is screaming at me to get off my lazy behind and go to the bathroom. I will always, always be a VA fan, which means I will always be a Bloodlines fan, and I can't wait for the next book. But I will be expecting it to blow my socks off, make me stay up into the wee hours of the morning, and most importantly, I expect Mead to light the fuse with it. She has to.

(Edit: Also, just realized I never reviewed Golden Lily. When I do a reread, I'll have to update with my thoughts.)