Sunday, March 3, 2013

Review: The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3)

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the wordls of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets--and human lives.

The Indigo Spell, by Richelle Mead, is the third novel in the Bloodlines series. Once Adrian Ivashkov confessed his true feelings for Sydney Sage, it literally rocked her world. She then struggles to draw a boundary between her Alchemist teachings (which forbidden romance between humans and vampires) and what her heart truly desires (relationship with Adrian). Both have great chemistry together, but rules are rules. Her time in Palm Springs is supposed to be a mission as a undercover high school student to protect Jill Dragomir, a Moroi princess.

In the novel, she finally tracks down the elusive and mysterious Marcus Finch, an ex-Alchemist who the organization denies exist and lives in the shadows on the run. With a handsome smile, he is hard to resist in public among the ladies. He encourages Sydney to break her golden lily tattoo so that she is no longer under their control. With his help, Sydney finally realizes that the organization whom she has been most loyal to her entire life has been hiding secrets from her. What should Sydney choose: run away with Marcus and his Merry Men, or continue to search for the truth on her own terms?

Meanwhile, Sydney must tap her growing magical powers to track down an evil magic user who is targeting unaware young witches. Alchemists shun the use of magic, but she must use her knowledge to protect others and herself. Finding her own identity is much harder than she ever imagined. By following her heart instead of her brain, she may be able to finally figure out where she belongs. Unfortunately, life becomes more complicated when the help she seeks involves her own kin...

The plot keeps getting better and better. Sydney has matured so much from her staunch Alchemist ways in the latter half of the Vampire Academy series. She has become more at ease around dhampirs and Moroi, something that she never thought would be possible. She is also questioning her Alchemist teachings as she becomes more in tune with her witchcraft powers. At her age of eighteen, Sydney is finally starting to rebel against what she thought was sacrosanct and therefore undeniably right. She realizes that she must become her own individual by fighting for what she believes is right. No more hidden secrets or running away from her heart.

Since this is the series' midway point(Bloodlines will have a total of six novels), I can't wait to see how Sydney uncovers the truth about the Alchemists and faces her greatest challenges. Overall, I love this non-conformist side of her because she is using her intellect to scrutinize established norms and beliefs. With her growing magical powers, she will be quite a fighter. Stay tuned for the next Bloodlines novel, The Fiery Heart.

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