The Indigo Spell

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Goodreads says: 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.


Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

*An ARC was graciously provided by the lovely Monica and fabulous Tabitha.

Grab a hold of  your seat belt kids as the latest installment in the Bloodlines series , The Indigo Spell, takes you for the ride of your life (or at least this girl’s. ) The previous book, The Golden Lily ended with a kiss between Adrian and Sydney and then the fallout. 

The horror, the woe the fandom felt when that happened because damn you Richelle Mead!!

However, the fallout is not the first thing that The Indigo Spell talks about. Nope because we see that Indigo focuses on the magic aspect of Sydney that Richelle brought up in Bloodlines, skirted around with in The Golden Lily and then had a freaking tango with during The Indigo Spell. What to begin with?! 

There’s drama, there’s action, there is loooove, there is also a conspiracy (wait, crap, that doesn't fall under action right?!)

Dudes, I just- I don’t even. The Indigo Spell was by far one of my favorite Richelle Mead books ever. It also didn’t break my heart by the end so yay!  The conspiracy aspect is the one that Sydney’s been trying to unravel since TGL.

Spoilers for those who haven’t caught up on The Golden Lily. Don’t read this, unless you don’t mind spoilers?

The Alchemists have always been a sketchy bunch at best, but following the events of TGL, i.e the Warriors of Light (or the group of nutters willing to kill every vampire they can get their hands on) Sydney’s been confused on what the Alchemists are really doing in regards with their relations with the Dhampirs and Moroi. There was also the rumor of Marcus Finch and what the Indigo markings are on him ever since he broke out of the Alchemists hive mind mentality. Thus, he’s been on the run ever since and Sydney, ever the eager student, wants to know why’d he run and whether she should run? More of the Alchemists-Warrior of Light conspiracy begins to be unraveled throughout the Indigo Spell.

The drama that runs through The Indigo Spell is nonstop guys. We all know that Sydney tries to help nearly everyone so she’s always got her plate full. What with her joining Ms. Terwilliger that opens Sydney up to magic, dealing with the situations and relationships between Eddie, Jill and Angeline aka the ever-expanding Melrose family at Amberwood, trying to keep a low profile with the Alchemists and her own blossoming and sometimes turbulent relationship with Adrian as well as their undercover missions make sure that Indigo is never without a dull moment.

The action also gets ramped up here too; think of the time she and Adrian get held at knife point by Lee and the Warriors of Light conflict but like made to fit a novel. But this time, Sydney’s uncovering conspiracies with Adrian, figuring out who this Marcus Finch is and the fact that, oh yeah, there’s a witch on the loose who steals the youth of  unaware witches is also something Sydney gets tasked with throughout the book. Like I said guys, there’s never a dull moment here.

Location, location, location; this might probably be the only qualm I had with the book (it’s actually laughable in retrospect of five hours later); Sydney is constantly moving (twice she flies out to the East Coast) and then a majority of it is actually driving all over to places in Indigo Spell. From locations in Palm Springs to Santa Barbara to the Gettyville Villa (which btdubs total swoon moment) to a location that’s right outside Los Angeles and my personal favorite, the Pies and Stuff location. I gotta know one thing; do Sydney’s witchy powers also entail she always has a full tank? Like, it never ends? Because that’s very cool. And also really funny when playing the game of ‘hm, will Sydney’s car ever run out of gas? Nope!’

Now, to my favorite part of the book; the ROMANCE. Oh my god guys, I was about to pass out from the number of times I just sat there, reading Indigo, chanting ‘make out forever’ whenever Sydney and Adrian got like really close. Their relationship was always evolving throughout Indigo Spell when Sydney knocks some self into herself. It was also quite endearing watching the two of them go undercover for recon, and how Adrian always had concern for Sydney as she did likewise to him. Their kisses in the books made me want to squeal aloud (which I totally did) and the ending? Simply superb! And also causes me to go: YOU GUYS, STOP IT. I love their relationship and riding the euphoric high from this cloud 9 until it inevitably gets shot down to keep ‘conflict’ in the upcoming books.  Hit me with your best shot Mead!

There’s also Angeline with Eddie and then the SURPRISE! Make out she has with another dude (which I totally called as soon as the Jill made the obvious ‘weirdness’ that comes about Angeline.)

All in all, The Indigo Spell was great; There was also something happening that made me want to turn the pages faster and faster, and there were lots of swoon moments between my favorite OTP. I'm dead certain that Richelle Mead is totally prepping us for an inevitable sucker punch that one of the next 3 books will bring so I'm cherishing this shiz.

Favorite quotes:

“Just something kicking around in my head. Reminds me of you. Fiery and Sweet, all at the same time. A flame in the dark, lighting my way.” (ARC, pg.175)

Metaphors. This was the cost of  making out with an artist. (ARC, pg.337)

and

I opened my eyes and met his. “I’m a quick study.” (ARC, pg.338)

Do I recommend this? Hells Yes I Do.

P.S I demand a detailed side novel that focuses on just The Wacky Adventures of Sydney Witch-in-the-Making Sage with her manic pixie dream boy Adrian Ivashkov and I could die happy. Forget that life and death stuff, I want to see these kids have fun going undercover. With lots of making out. Pretty please?