KEEP CALM AND LOVE BOOKS: alchemists

Pages: 420 pages

Publication Date: November 19th 2013 (first published January 1st 2013)

Publisher: Penguin Group

ISBN: 1595143203 (ISBN13: 9781595143204)

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

In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her...

But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure — and re-education — looms larger than ever.

Now, What I Thought:

This was different from all of the other books! We have 2 P.O.V's in this, which was cool because we finally get to read about Adrian's thought process. So, Zoe is annoying. Simple as that, and this is me being nice. I really hate her, I can't put it straight enough! She bugged me so much, she always seemed to be on her sister's side yet at the first chance, she rats her out to her father and guess what? Sydney is in trouble now and all I want to do is slice Zoe's throat.

I feel like Sydney and Adrian were a little dull in this book, meaning that they just weren't themselves. They were careless and got too comfortable. Sydney wasn't smart enough to realize when something was wrong and we didn't see the normal, very analytic thinking person I really liked from the first book and Vampire Academy.

Adrian was almost exactly like that. It felt like he, too, wasn't himself because he was way too overly in love with Sydney and his mistakes, along with hers, threaten now all of their lives and not to mention the only reason they're there, Jill. It was just so frustrating how stupid they could be and just not think with their heads in this book! I felt like screaming at them a lot of the times just to talk some sense into their brains and shout out the obvious.

I really liked how we got to go to the Royal Court, and we see everyone! That was probably my favourite scene in the whole book. There was so much drama that happened it was just so juicy! We get so many fights and a huge battle which was total Vampire Academy like. I loved it! It was so cute to see how Sydney and Adrian were trying to hide their relationship from their friends because we all saw how that worked out for Rose and Dimitri.

I really did like this book, but it was not my favourite. I didn't like the ending, something bad happens and I totally know I'm going to get so frustrated in next book. So, all in all, it was a good instalment in the series and while I am frustrated and mad how the series turned, I am excited to see how Adrian and the gang can save Sydney from this drama.

alchemists - 3:02:00 PM

The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4) by Richelle Mead | Review

Pages: 420 pages Publication Date: November 19th 2013 (first published January 1st 2013) Publisher: Penguin Group ISBN: 159514...

Pages: 401 pages

Publication Date: February 12th 2013 by Razorbill / Penguin Group

ISBN: 159514319X (ISBN13: 9781595143198)

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.

Now, What I Thought:

This book was hot hot hot! The connection between Sydney and Adrian is just inevitable. I do feel for Sydney though, she has to go against all of her instincts that have been drilled into her head since childhood. Besides the romance in this book, we get a lot of action! Sydney finally finds the infamous Marcus Finch who managed to escape the Alchemists and do something spectacular to his tattoo. I liked that we got to learn a lot about the golden lily tattoo's in this novel and their history, Mead really focused on the implications if the tattoo was to used on you. It's almost like brainwash in a way and I have a suspicious feeling that is what is going to happen to Sydney's sister, Zoe.

This book really is just about the struggle Sydney has mentally about whether to follow her instinct, that may be wrong, or her heart. The problem is that she has so much other crap to deal with, her newfound magic, protecting Jill, dealing with Angeline, and especially the lies that the Alchemists have been telling her. She doesn't know who to trust expect the Moroi, whom she had been brainwashed into not trusting... basically it's a huge mess in Sydney's life and she's close to exploding. I honestly wouldn't blame her if she did.

The big 'bad' in this book is some person tracking and killing young witches across the US. So, of course Sydney and Adrian go on little, adorable trips to all of these places to figure out who and why this is happening. Unfortunately, they do lose some witches but the culprit is revealed and Sydney finds herself fighting to the death with them. It's an amazing scene and an amazing way to end the book. I still have so many questions that need to be answered but I guess I can wait till the next book :(.

This was a pretty good novel and it seems to be going in the same direction as Vampire Academy, which is nice because that series was awesome!

alchemists - 5:04:00 PM

The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3) by Richelle Mead | Review

Pages: 401 pages Publication Date: February 12th 2013 by Razorbill / Penguin Group ISBN: 159514319X (ISBN13: 9781595143198 ) ...

Pages: 418 pages

Publication Date: June 12th 2012 by Penguin Group

ISBN: 1595143181 (ISBN13: 9781595143181)

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.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she's been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California - tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formorly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age-old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and her sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi - the fiercest vampires, the ones who don't die. But it's her fear of being just that - special, magical, powerful - that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Braydon, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else - someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney's loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists - or her heart?

Now, What I Thought:

So it seems like the Bloodlines series it going to go the same way as Vampire Academy, in a way. It was pretty predictable but not in a way that I disliked it. It was still super juicy and addicting as always. I LOVED reading this story and the world of Moroi, Dhampir, and Strigoi from Sydney's P.O.V. Something about her inner thoughts and the way she spoke was just such a refreshing start from Rose's in the Vampire Academy. Of course, it was a little annoying how restricted Sydney could be and that she's not that comfortable with herself, let alone others like Adrian.

I liked how they made Sydney more than just a boring Alchemist. Now that she's pretty sure she has this unexplainable magic, she starts to open up, yet she knows the danger if anyone were to find out. I really liked how they incorporated Braydon, a sort of distraction for Sydney. It was cute and sweet and also funny to see how Adrian reacted. The pacing for everything was pretty darn good- the romance, danger, self-realization etc. I was so hooked on how likeable the characters were. Obviously I know Eddie, Jill and Adrian from before but Angeline and Tray were pretty likeable, despite their faults. What made this book even better was definitely Sonya and Dimitri!! Those two are both hilarious and just a great reminder where this whole storyline and world came from.

Adrian was fantastic. Since Vampire Academy, I've been in love with Adrian. I think he has definitely grown and gone through some shit and deserves so much more, a.k.a Sydney :). Now, I don't know where Mead is going with this but it seems that Adrian finally gets to have some happiness in his life. I like that we get to see Sydney change, for the better. Her prejudices from the years and years of being brainwashed are finally breaking down and she's, again, slowly allowing herself to open up and be vulnerable in front of the Moroi and Dhampir.

All in all, this was the perfect sequel and I couldn't ask for a better book! Can't wait for the next one, The Indigo Spell!!! Yay!

alchemists - 12:46:00 AM

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead | Review

Pages: 418 pages Publication Date: June 12th 2012 by Penguin Group ISBN: 1595143181 (ISBN13: 9781595143181 ) Sydney Sage is ...

Pages: 421 pages

Publication Date: August 23rd 2011 by Penguin Group

ISBN: 1595143173 (ISBN13: 9781595143174)

I wasn't free of my past, not yet.

Sydney's blood is special. That's because she's an alchemist - one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists. And now with her allegiences in question, her future is on the line.

When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one.

The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions, and forbidden romance lurk both outside - and within - the school grounds. Now that they're in hiding, the drama is only just beginning.

Now, What I Thought:

Here we are, back again in the wonderful world Richelle Mead created. This book started off right on Sydney Sage at home being awakened by her alchemist bosses. Sydney's home life is a rough one, to say the least. Her father is horrible to her, he treats them like crap, and her sister is just so annoying. Zoe wants to do anything to make her dad proud, even if that means going on a mission that'll most likely get her killed, when she's only 15 years old. Of course, Sydney sees how obscure this is, and offers herself considering she knows more about the Moroi and Strigoi from her little escapade with Rose and Dimitri in Blood Promises and Last Sacrifice. Well, you can understand how upset Zoe was and accused Sydney of wanting all the glory to herself, yeah.. not really. What a brat.

Anyways, flip forward a couple chapters and Sydney is back with the gang!!! Sydney, along with an annoying 'supervisor/partner' Keith Darnell, the golden boy of the alchemists. She meets up with Rose, Dimitri, Adrian, Eddie, Jill, and weirdly enough, Abe Mazur, Rose's father and someone Sydney has clearly met and made a deal with before, -gasp- mystery. Sydney and Jill move to Amberwood Prep to protect the newly found royalty, Jill, after many suspicious attacks made on her life.

This novel was super juicy and totally fun to read. It never once got boring and I flew through it in one sitting. Adrian is a huge character in this series, which I'm glad for considering he didn't really get much in Vampire Academy. The others do make appearances once in a while but the book is solely about Sydney and her new life hiding out with Jill, Keith and Adrian. While, this book was pretty predictable, it did have its twists and surprises later on in the book and in the whole series. Adrian's lines were hilarious of course, so we still had the humour. Sydney's P.O.V was definitely different from Roses. Sydney's would be smarter, critical and more serious while Rose's was funny, witty, and sarcastic. Aside from that, this book was pretty darn great! I had fun reading it and definitely reading the rest of the series.