Review: The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines, #4)

Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Bloodlines, #4
Released: November 19th 2013
Publisher: Razorbill
Format: Hardcover, 438 pages
Buy: The Book Depository

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.

Pulses will race throughout this thrilling fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where no secret is safe.

The Bloodlines series and I got off to a rocky start. After the first book, I dare say I was bitterly disappointed and very, very sad. But the adjustment period didn’t last long as Golden Lily showed a radical improvement and, by the time The Indigo Spell came, I stopped thinking of Vampire Academy the entire time I was reading it and started thinking about Sydney and Adrian instead. Although it took some time for this series to free itself of the weight and glory of its predecessor, it is now a favorite in its own right.

One of the riskiest decisions Mead has ever made – the introduction of Adrian’s POV in The Fiery Heart, which must have been very hard to write – was also her smartest decision yet. Seeing Adrian struggle with the consequences of using spirit through someone else’s eyes, be it Rose or Sydney, is one thing, but to witness the depths of his depression in first person is a whole new, terrifying experience. These episodes of his were done tactfully and convincingly, showing us just enough to inspire dread for a beloved character, without either overdoing it or making it seem less serious than it actually is.

On the downside, the insight left me disappointed in Adrian to a certain extent. When the time came to show some faith and fight, even with very little hope left, he didn’t live up to my expectations. His depression is partly to blame, of course, but I still hoped for more from him, and was somewhat disillusioned when I didn’t get it.

It was also wonderful to witness Sydney’s newly found freedom and acceptance of all things vampire-related. She admittedly still has some hang-ups; after all, she didn’t get a personality transplant, but when she looks at Moroi and dhampirs, she sees people first, which is a radical change from her initial standpoint. Aside from being a nuisance, her sister Zoe served as a nice contrast, always there to emphasize the change in Sydney.

Although Mead boldly announced it, the emotional impact of Shadow Kiss wasn’t present in this book. I suspect it’s mostly because she announced it, and because of all the foreshadowing. While the events of Shadow Kissed came as a huge surprise, I’ve been expecting this for months, so when the time came to live through it, I barely even flinched.

I detest cliffhangers and enjoy my happy endings as much as the next girl, but I can live with this one, probably because there was more than enough foreshadowing and I’ve been expecting it for a very long time. Sydney and Adrian will surely find a way to beat the odds and make everything right again.