Showing posts with label Richelle Mead. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richelle Mead. Show all posts

Book Review: The Indigo Spell (Re-read)


by Richelle Mead
Hardcover, 401 pages
Published February 12th 2013 by Razorbill
Source: Purchased

Summary:
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.

I first read The Indigo Spell a day after its release but I re-read it in preparation for the upcoming release of The Fiery Heart.

Review:

You have no idea just how much I’m in love with this series. I have always been little biased with its little imperfections. It was always so easy to overlook the flaws in the books because I was doe-eyed for the Sydney and Adrian tandem. Sydrian is like my ultimate couple crush. They are the total opposite of one another but they are so cute and so perfect and their banters are always to die for!

Since the first book, I had always been Sydrian-centered and didn’t care too much about the plot. In The Indigo Spell, it was really hard for me to keep a blind eye on the flaws no matter how much I tried not to dwell on them. I tried to focus on my favorite couple like I always do. However, I found it difficult to do just that because the problem does not only lie on the plot, but Sydrian itself. It pains me to admit that I am disappointed with how things went in The Indigo Spell. Maybe I daydreamed too much about TIS. Since after reading The Golden Lily, I would daydream about what might happen on TIS that I’ve developed a fantasy plot that, well, suited my fantasy more than TIS did. Maybe it’s also because I read too much fanfictions and gushed too much with other Bloodlines-obsessed fans, but nevertheless, The Indigo Spell didn’t quite reach my level of expectation.

My primary issue about The Indigo Spell is how fast Sydney and Adrian’s relationship developed. I know it’s ironic that my most anticipated event in Bloodlines is now my biggest issue. Moreover, it has taken two books before “it” happened so it shouldn’t be considered a speedy development at all. However the events leading up to it in this book could have been executed much better. I was also a little disappointed with Marcus. I expected him to have a huge role but he came and went too fast. Plot-wise though, The Indigo Spell is very well-paced for the most part. I think the last few chapters were a little abrupt but I’m okay with what happened there, especially the ending! Oh, I am more than okay with the ending. I think the plot is also an improvement from the previous books though some parts are still messy. It was predictable and unpredictable both at the same time. Richelle will lead you to think of the answer to the mystery which you’re probably going to be right about at first because the answer will be staring right at your face, but then she’d pull some tricks that are so unpredictable it will ultimately make you speechless.

As far as sequels go, TIS is still a delightful read with lots of kisses and if anything, rereading this only made me more obsessed about the series. I’m as excited as ever to read The Fiery Heart and see what Richelle has in store for her readers.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Memes for Bloodlines

Hey everyone! I'm in the mood for randomness today so I made you all some Bloodlines memes. Hope you like them!



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SOCIALLY AWESOME-AWKWARD SYDNEY-PENGUIN

ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN!


OVERCONFIDENT ALCOHOLIC DEPRESSION GUY
This actually happened a while ago when I told my sister I wanted to have an ARC of  The Indigo Spell. Brilliant girl!

Y U NO-SYDNEY
I've been seeing a lot of this Y U NO Paint Me Like One of Your French Girls  around the web so I decided to edit one and dedicate it to Bloodlines. And yes, that's supposed to be Sydney. Ugh, so ugly and very unSydney-like! I wonder what Adrian would think if he sees her like this?

Stacking the Shelves (3) + Can't get enough of Sydrian


Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews and is based from Kristi @ The Story Siren's In My Mailbox. Click the image to head over to Tynga's Stacking the Shelves posts.


Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh - Finally, Enshadowed, YES! Though I was debating with myself about whether to this or UnWholly. I loved both first books in their series, but in the end, Enshadowed won.
The Book of the Forsaken by Yannis Karatsioris - (for review) I'm really so excited for this book too! After reading so many awesome adventure books, I'm so ready to take on some more.

What new books did you stack on your shelves this week?

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On an entirely different news, the awesome dudes from Penguin released this announcement/video of Daisy Masterman and Nic Wheeler - our very own Sydney and (the new) Adrian from the Bloodlines trailer. 



Aren't they just cute? I squealed like a fangirl (well, I am a Bloodlines fangirl). And they're both very in character too. So awesome I can't waiiiiiiit!!


Currently, there's 31k+ fans which means we need around 9k more to make this happen. WE MUST MAKE IT HAPPEN! So, go forth and share this to your friends on twitter, FB, everywhere!

THE INDIGO SPELL Blurb is Here!

I am trying my hardest to compose myself as I write this post. But deep inside, I'm going ballistic and bursting with rabid fangirl feels.

Summary:

After an event that changed Sydney and Adrian’s lives forever, Sydney struggles to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring Marcus Finch, a former Alchemist who pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her. And when Sydney comes face to face with an evil magic user, she finally begins to embrace the mysterious magic she knows she holds within . . .

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. (From Penguin Teen Australia)


Holy cow! Marcus Finch is alluring? Is that some code for love triangle? Oh my!!

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead is expected to be published on February 12th 2013 by Razorbill (Penguin).

The Indigo Spell FINISHED COVER!!!

*Hyperventilates* Okay. So, remember my Indigo Spell cover reveal post a couple of weeks ago? Well, that actually wasn't the final cover as explained by Richelle Mead herself. Don't ask me why they "revealed" an unfinished cover but don't get so sad now because THE FINISHED COVER IS HERE!!!

From Penguin Teen Australia
YES IT'S THE FINAL COVER! *Continues hyperventilating* Oh, and see the indigo tattoo on the left dude's cheek?? OMG it's Marcus Finch!!! But why he looks around Sydney's age is beyond me.

The Indigo Spell is expected to be released on February 12th 2012. You can also check out my review of The Golden Lily here. :3

Book Review: The Golden Lily

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2)
by Richelle Mead
Paperback, 418 pages
Published June 12th 2012 by Razorbill
Source: Bought
Buy the book: Amazon| Book Depository

Summary:

The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series.

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.


Review:

You guys. This book was a dream come true! It was everything I expected it to be and so much more. You have no idea just how many feels are wanting to burst out of my system right now and start gushing about the amazingness that is The Golden Lily. This book makes me want to puke rainbows and doodle hearts for all the world to see. Gosh, it’s amazing how one book can make me feel as good as this. I don't do drugs, but this one is probably so much better than all of them combined!

Moving on. The Golden Lily starts a while after Bloodlines. I wasn’t impressed with the plot development as it was very predictable. But I can say that my love for the characters overshadowed my impression for the plot. I swooned when Adrian’s name first came up. The guy is so cute and so hilarious! Whenever he says or does something, I always find myself melting. Same with Sydney! I never gushed about female characters but I have a very huge girl-crush on Sydney. I like that she’s so oblivious to Adrian’s attempts at flirting with her. She doesn’t even know she’s flirting back! But what's good is that her naiveté toward romance isn’t contrived at all which just makes her all the more hilariously adorable. But with this ignorance came the urge to slap some sense to her. She sees Adrian everywhere! She always thinks about what could make Adrian happy! If that isn't love, I don't what is. She could be so very frustrating sometimes but I still love her.

There’s also the issue of her being ultra-weight conscious. I'm happy that this issue was addressed in the book and by no other than Adrian himself. It goes to show how their relationship had grown from nothing to something. Even more than something. I'm so excited to see how Sydney would react once she realizes her feelings for Adrian. Oh, and there's also Jill, Eddie and Angeline. Angeline and Eddie cracked me up so many times! It was hilarious how Eddie always looked horrified whenever Angeline took advances on him. Though I have to say that I wasn't happy with how things turned out for them. It felt like rushed to me or maybe it was just that I was more focused on Sydrian that I didn't notice that triangle the three were forming.

As for Dimitri and Sonya, it was definitely nice to see the two again. Adrian still doesn't feel friendly toward Dimitri, but Dimitri seems to think otherwise. For Dimitri, it was almost as if nothing ever happened between them. Which was also frustrating. I felt bad whenever Adrian gave him the evil eye.

If you liked Bloodlines, you will DEFINITELY, ABSOLUTELY love The Golden lily too! This is even better than the first book! And oh, that ending! You will love it and you will hate it, but ultimately, it will make you want to read the next book!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Bloodlines #3 Title Reveal + Teaser!

OH MY GOD GUYS IT'S HERE!!! 

I haven't even read The Golden Lily yet, but already, I'm so excited for book 3! I was just stalking Richelle Mead when I stumbled upon this tweetI know. For someone who claims to be inactive, I'm awfully on the internet a lot. But really, can you blame me? The release of The Golden Lily woke my inner rabid fangirl self AND LOOK AT THAT! The release date has been moved from March to February! &*^@@# #&@(&@!!! Here it is:



The Indigo Spell! Oh, I just died. Did you? Well, don't die just yet. Since the official facebook fanpage of Bloodlines reached 25,000 likers, they also released the first paragraph of The Indigo Spell:


This wasn’t the first time I’d been pulled out of bed for a crucial mission. It was, however, the first time I’d been subjected to such a personal line of questioning.

“Are you a virgin?”

- From Bloodlines fanpage



Book Review: Bloodlines

Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1)
by Richelle Mead
Hardcover, 421 pages
Published August 23rd 2011 by Razorbill
Source: Bought

Summary:

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines 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.

Review:

I am obsessed with Sydney x Adrian. I loved Sydney and Adrian in Vampire Academy, but after reading Bloodlines, I was a goner. I've been shipping them so hard ever since! I spend hours reading Sydney and Adrian fanfics but they're not enough. (I really wish more people would write Sydrian fanfics.) I seriously, seriously need the second book now or I'm going to explode!

I love Sydney! Her character is a far cry from Rose but I like her all the same. I especially like it when Adrian's in the picture. He makes every scene interesting. The fact that Sydney thinks that vampires are creatures of the night, and is scared of them and their magic makes scenes with Adrian all the more amusing. Also, Sydney has a knack in knocking sense into him. It was awesome to see some improvement on Adrian. I gotta say though, the ending was a real killer! I'm just excited to see how things between Sydney and Adrian are going to unfold. I'd love to finally see him free from Rose.

I also like the fact that RM is taking time on building Sydney and Adrian's relationship. I am ashamed to admit that I'm the type of person who values romance in YA so much. I rarely read YA books with no romance. Bloodlines doesn't have romance but I still love it like crazy! If you loved Adrian and want to see him finally get his happy ending, start with Bloodlines now!!!

Rating: 5/5 stars!

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