Bloodlines #3: The Indigo Spell – Richelle Mead

While I still very much prefer the Vampire Academy series over Bloodlines, it is still one of my favorite book series of all time. It’s so fascinating to see Richelle delve into a part of the vampire world that we haven’t seen before, introducing us to different kinds of forbidden romances and magic. For all Vampire Academy fans who are wary about reading it, DO IT. It is worth every page and you won’t regret it 🙂 

Warning! There will be spoilers!

The Indigo Spell

Published: February 12th, 2013

Page Count: 401

“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. Alchemists 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’s 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 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.”

~

I absolutely love The Indigo Spell. Not only is this the book where Sydney and Adrian finally give in to in to the love that they have for one another, it is also the moment where Sydney completely breaks free from the Alchemist’s hold on her, letting her become a free person.

“I didn’t want to be anyone’s pawn.”

“It was the knowledge that I had defied everyone – the Alchemists, the Warriors, the Merry Men. I didn’t answer to anyone, no matter the cause. I was my own person, able to take my own actions.”

Also, it’s incredibly exciting to see Sydney finally completely delve into the world of her magic, doing some pretty damn amazing things, like summoning fire out of thin air. That magic battle between her and Alicia was pretty epic and it’s another one of those moments where Sydney Sage does something that you would have not expected of her. She has a spark in her that she herself used to suppress – both because of her upbringing with the Alchemists and her own fear of it- and it’s simply a beautiful thing to see her let it out.
It’s also so cool to see Ms. Terwilliger being Sydney’s mentor in magic, and seeing what kinds of lengths she will go to to protect Sydney is just so sweet. She has truly become a type of mother for her and I just love the dynamic between the two of them.

Also, Hopper was one of the best things to this series, especially considering that he circumstancially forced Adrian and Sydney (who was deep in denying her feelings towards him) to become ‘parents’

“I certainly hadn’t expected to walk away from today’s trip with joint custody of a miniature dragon.”

Sydney defying the Alchemists and helping Marcus was definitely one of the most badass things she has probably done in the entire series – especially with her awesome ninja skills in getting into the archives. It also faces Sydney with a serious choice as to what she wants to do with her new freedom. And while, a group of ex-Alchemists banding together in secret is a great idea in theory, Sydney is right about one thing. They talk, she acts. She is sick and tired of always being told to stay quiet and submissive, and now that she has finally broken all of her loyalties to the Alchemists, she wants to act and she most definitely doesn’t want to do that from hiding. This is essentially what spurs her into realizing that she wants to be with Adrian, and she doesn’t want anything stopping her.

Their relationship is incredibly sweet. I love the entire bad boy/innocent girl mashup but I also think this is about the development that they encourage in one another. Sydney brings out the best in Adrian, his hard-working, tender and gentle nature while Adrian gets Sydney to do some more adventurous things she wouldn’t conventionally do. It’s amusing to see Adrian trying to convince Sydney to be with him, him being very much aware of Sydney’s denial. 

“I mean, with her, I had to overcome her deep, epic love with a Russian warlord. You and I just have to overcome hundreds of years’ worth of deeply ingrained prejudice and taboo between our two races. Easy.” 

“I’ve said it over and over, I’d do anything for you. I just keep hoping it’ll be something like, ‘Adrian, let’s go hot tubbing’ or ‘Adrian, take me out for fondue.” 

“Maybe I said reluctantly. “But each time you use spirit, you’re more likely to go crazy.”
“Already crazy about you, Sage.”

And it’s such an incredibly satisfying feeling to finally have them get together. Together, they are such a powerful force to be reckoned with and no one can break them apart anymore. 

“Art was one of the few things that seemed to anchor him and drive that darkness in him away. He seemed to glow with an inner light, one that enhances his already handsome features. It was another rare and beautiful glimpse of the intense, passionate nature lying beneath the jokes. It came through in his art. It had come through when he kissed me.”

“Let me get this straight. The future of our relationship hinged on advice from a fifteen-year-old girl, a probably untrue story from a one-eyed Chihuahua trainer, and me unromantically – yet skillfully – kissing you on top of silverware and china?”

The plot twist of Zoe coming over, finally one of the Alchemists, completely hit me out of nowhere. It’s definitely a situation that will complicate things for Sydney and Adrian and will unfold some interesting drama in the next book.

Another thing that was a massive surprise to me was the reveal of Alicia being the evil witch who was draining the other magic-users. In retrospect it makes a lot of sense (and there was some great foreshadowing there) but it was still a surprise. to see a girl who we all thought that naive and innocent become an evil force. Also, never assume you’ve managed to defeat the villain unless you produce a body. We will definitely see more of her. 

~

Other Favorite Quotes:

“You named your care after coffee. That’s a sign of respect?”
“The highest respect,” I said.

“Maybe Eddie would volunteer,” I suggested, “I bet guardian posture would be great on the catwalk.”