Review of The Indigo Spell

Razorbill, February 2013

The Indigo Spell
Richelle Mead
Bloodlines #3

available now

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.

If you haven't read this book yet, you need to run out right now and buy it. Okay, sure, maybe you can wait around long enough to finish reading this review. But not a minute longer!

The Indigo Spell is a real game-changer. Everything ratchets up a notch or two: Sydney's independence from the Alchemists and movement towards magic, the threat against Jill and our happy little group, and -- you better believe it -- the relationship between Sydney and Adrian. In no way has this series been uneventful, but by the end of Indigo Spell, the situation in Palm Springs reaches a sort of point of no return, especially for Sydney.

There are few protagonists I enjoy as much as Sydney Sage. For one, I love the brilliant, ultra-competent types of heroines that blaze a trail of efficiency through chaos; they give nerdy women a good name, and that's wonderful. But Sydney  specifically, is intriguing. Her character's progression from Blood Promise to the current book shows a remarkable degree of development, the kind that frankly isn't seen all that often. Her gradual shifts in worldview lend a fair amount of realism. And the thoroughness with which Mead has conceptualized her character makes it so much easier to identify and sympathize with her.

So we have an exceptional protagonist. And then Mead further demonstrates her brilliance by pairing Sydney up with Adrian Ivashkov. We loved him in Vampire Academy, but we adore him in Bloodlines, am I right? Just as Sydney has expanded beyond her own boundaries, Adrian has become more than he was within the first series. Yes, he's always been profound with hints of heroism, but he's also been largely distant. Indigo Spell finally brings him to the forefront where he so rightly belongs.  And fans will be very, very happy with where things go for him and Sydney in this book.

Next up will be The Fiery Heart, slated to come out November 19. It will be a torturous wait, but I'm sure it will be worth it.

Review of Mine to Chase

Ellora's Cave, January 2013

Mine to Chase
Laurann Dohner

available now from Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc.


I first discovered Laurann Dohner this last summer, and I totally glommed every one of her books I could get a my hands. So, naturally, I was thrilled to see a new release from her. Mine to Chase follows up on Dohner's short story, "Scarred and Kilt", in the Something Wicked This Way Comes Volume 2 anthology, though it isn't imperative that you read that story first.

Jasmine met the guy of her dreams and lost him. She’s spent a year filled with lustful fantasies and soul-deep yearning for a man who didn’t want her. Now she is locked away in a dark hole, kidnapped by a madman, her life almost over. She’ll never know what could have been, if only he’d felt the same.

She was supposed to be his but Chase walked away. To protect her from his world. He’s a mixed-breed—vampire and werewolf—and his list of enemies is endless. His mission is to hunt down and kill a rogue vampire who’s preying on humans, but what he finds changes everything. She’s one of the victims. Instinct demands he protect her, possess her. He won’t be denied again. Everything Jasmine thinks she knew is about to change. This time he’s keeping her.

Sadly, I didn't enjoy Mine to Chase as much as I hoped I would. I pains me to give this a less than favorable review, it really does. But, well . . .

This book has many of the characteristics that I love about this author's work, but the overall product didn't come together well. Things started strong with an immediate jump into the story -- something Dohner is quite good at. Then things just sort of drifted for a while, loosing oomph with each scene. Ultimately the story perked up towards the end, but not enough.

I haven't lost faith in this new favorite author of mine, but this particular book is not one I'll be revisiting. There will be an additional book coming out featuring Lethal, a side character from Mine to Chase. So maybe I'll like that one better.

Review of Heiress of Lies

Heiress of Lies

Cege Smith

Bloodtruth #1

Amazon Digital Services, February 2012

I've been avoiding vampires lately--not consciously, I'd say, but I've noticed the trend to my reading habits currently steers clear of bloodsuckers. Mind you, vampires are like chocolate to me. Even when I'm sick of them, I'm always game for more. And, so, here we go . . .

Heiress of Lies is the first book of the Bloodtruth series by Cege Smith. It's the story of Angeline Robart, princess and heir to throne of Altera. She's spent the last few years away from court, studying and preparing to be a queen. But visitors from home bring the worst possible news: her father is dying, and Angeline must ascend the throne sooner than she imagined. Angeline rushes to get home before it's too late to say goodbye, but someone has other plans for her.

An old enemy has been laying in wait--a terrible race of vampires that everyone believed had been vanquished by the first Robart king. And now they hold Angeline captive, threatening her life and the future of all Altera.

Angeline must find a way to free herself and return home, yet to do so she may have to endear herself to vampire that kidnapped her in the first place. Connor is the enemy, but Angeline has a hard time reconciling that fact with her inexplicable feelings for him. And as her own family's dark secrets start coming to light, he may be the only person she can trust.

The story starts off strong by introducing Angeline and giving us a good look into her character. As a protagonist, Angeline is exceptional. She's immediately accessible as a woman who is strong and sensible yet riddled with misgivings. She's the kind of leading lady you can happily root for, telling yourself, "yeah, that's totally what I would have done had it been me."

Much of the praise for this character's likability is due to the author's skill with words. Cege Smith writes with clarity, subtlety, and sophistication. She's created a convincing portrayal of a young woman caught between intention and impulse. Angeline wants to be clever, controlled, and responsible. But she's also sheltered, vulnerable, and emotional. This tenuous balance lends realism and respectability to her character.

September 2012

Plus she's smart, and I always like that.


In contrast, I didn't feel much for Connor. He lacks Angeline's complexity, and there's a general sense of weakness just under his surface. I'd say he's as well-written as Angeline is, but he isn't as attractive. He's saved by the fact that, as a duo, they're quite interesting. I really enjoyed the way Angeline's feelings for Connor developed. From early on she's attracted to him, but she tempers that with caution and practicality. Meanwhile he has to contend with just how deep his feelings really go.


As for plot, the first half of the book is a little slow. Then things pick up greatly with a healthy dose of intrigue and urgency. And more intrigue. Sadly, the book leaves off just as things really get interesting. Clever Cege. I definitely need to know what happens next and plan on buying the sequel, The Queen's Betrayal. And then there's the third book, Trials of Truth, which isn't out yet.

OTHER REVIEWS

EInk Reviews  ← read another reviewer's take on Connor

A Write to Review

This book was received courtesy of the author and LibraryThing Member Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect Mate

Perfect Mate by Mina Carter

"Monsters do exist...and they're the good guys."

Samhain Publishing (2012)

What you'll find: werewolves, vampires, and zombies. Practically the holy trinity of paranormal romance these days, but one must admit it's a potent combination when crafted by the hands of a skilled writer.

Mina Carter, for instance, is a shining star that helps guide paranormal beings out of the treacherous void of melodrama, poet shirts, and misplaced sparkles. She brings things firmly into the here and now with this book about military experiments gone wrong, wisecracking werewolves toting assault weaponry, and tough-chick heroines that like to do a bit of asskicking of their own, thank you very much.

Perfect Mate is the first book of Carter's "Mate" series and introduces a world where the US military has secretely been experimenting on soldiers in order to create elite fighters that can take a lickin' while ripping your head off with a smile. In short, the government is creating a covert force of werewolves, vampires, and—you guessed it—zombies.

One such experiment is Captain Jack Harper, a superior fighter and alpha of his lycanthropic squad. Jack has gone out of his way to make him and his men seem like obedient, mindless soldiers--all the while planning their escape.

Lillian Rosewood strives to be a competent hospital manager, but truthfully she feels like something is missing from her life. She longs for adventure and excitement—not  expecting to actually find it when Jack Harper's fatally wounded body comes through her door. Suddenly she must come to terms with supernatural beings, military assassins, and an inexplicable attraction to a perfect stranger that may actually be her perfect mate.

This is a wonderful addition to the scores of werewolf romances out in the world. From cover to cover, it's a non-stop joy ride of vivid imagery and tangible action. Rarely have I read a book where the character's personalities so easily crawled out of the pages and it my mind. Perfect Mate is remarkable in that aspect, and it made all the difference in my reading experience.

What's particularly refreshing about this book is the break it provides from the softer side of paranormal romance. Sometimes, you really want a little edge with your fangs and claws—and  not just the quasi-BDSM bedroom games that pop up in most paranormal romances today. I mean, blood and guts and bullets flying. And for that, there's nothing like a pack of military elite soldiers who just also happen to be angry werewolves. Throw in a cool-as-bloody-ice vampire assassin and some fresh-from-the-lab zombies, and you've got yourself a party.

Perfect Mate is a vividly engaging story that won't disappoint. It's sexy as hell, incredibly well-written, hilariously funny at times... and it has an exceptionally hot guy on the cover. Needless to say, I loved it. You better believe I'll be racing to get my hands on the next book, Blood Mate, which is currently a work-in-progress.

You can read other reviews at: The Romanceaholic / Long and Short Reviews / Not Now... Mommy's Reading

More About the Book
More About the Author