The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead Series: Bloodlines #4
Published by Razorbill on 19 November 2013
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 438
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Purchase
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.
The Fiery Heart exceeded all my expectations! Well written, of course, and so much character growth, but a terrible cliffhanger in the end! I don’t know how I’ll be able to wait until Silver Shadows is released in July next year! But let me start with the beginning!
At the end of The Indigo Spell, Zoe, Sidney’s sister is transferred to room with Sydney and be a second Alchemist making sure Jill stays safe. This, of course thwarts Sydney and Adrian’s budding relationship, but not as much as it could have. To see Sydney thorn between her need to spend time with Adrian, and her need to try to make her sister happy was well done, too, and I grew to really detest Zoe! She’s acting like a spoiled brat for most of the time, and while I can understand it – hey, she kind of reminds me of how Sydney was acting at times in Vampire Academy – it still grated on my nerves from time to time.
The fact that Zoe was so very Alchemist in all her ways made it even more evident just how much Sydney has changed and grown, though. I love Sydney more and more with each book, because she is both smart and capable, and she always strives to be the best she can be. Her relationship with Adrian has made both her and him completely different characters, too. They both want to be good for the other, so they are able to stand back and look at both past and future decisions in a different light. The Fiery Heart has a lot of fire, and much heart, but also some heartache and bad decisions getting dire consequences.
The suspense is well done, but then again, that’s what I expected! The foreshadowing was extremely well done, because I realized that something big was going to happen, but I had no idea how, when or because of what. So I was anticipating this for a big part of The Fiery Heart. There is a cliffhanger in the end – but it’s not one of those that might make me mad – this one makes sense, and it has me so impatient for Silver Shadows I can hardly get my heart back to it’s normal rate now.
Adrian is always a pleasure to read about, and I love his sense of humor. The fact that he can bring that humor out in Sydney as well brings him more points from me as well. While they are both busy with their own lives, they have many great, and pretty hot interactions throughout The Fiery Heart. I’m not sure this can really be called YA anymore, both because the main characters are a little older, and because of the way they act around each other. But I am all for some hotness, so this is not me complaining at all.
The writing is really good, I fell right back into the world of vampires and alchemists, and I was happy to spend some time with all my friends and frenemies again. There are some great action scenes, and I was surprised by several characters in The Fiery Heart. Some were good surprises, others not so good. But they all made the plot and the overall storyline move forward at great speed. And there are several sightings of beloved characters from Vampire Academy as well – and I loved how Adrian has come to terms with his past relationship with Rose.
If you’re a fan of Richelle Mead’s world, you just have to read The Fiery Heart, it will blow your mind in a good way.
If we ever managed some normal life together, she’d be out paying the bills while I stayed home and cleaned. And I really wasn’t good at that either. If she just wanted to come home at night to eye candy with good hair, I could probably be that reasonable well.
“Wait. How is it settled? How did we go from me declaring my love for you to me being okay with a dream?” “It’s Adrian Ivashkov logic. Don’t try to understand it. Just roll with it.”
Personally, I wasn’t a huge sports fan, though I did like Super Bowl parties, especially if I didn’t have to watch the game.
I sat beside him on the bed and helped him take off my sweater. “Who knew that escape plan number seventy-one would end up being ‘Vacation at Moroi Court.'”
I loved her for her beautiful soul and desired her for her beautiful body.
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
Woohoo, so glad you loved it so much! I’m about 90 pages in and even though I’m not into the story yet, I can totally see why you loved it. Your quotes just had me cracking up. Sydrian forever! ♥
Yes! Sydrian forever indeed, Laura. I hope you’ll enjoy The Fiery Heart as much as I did!
Thanks for stopping by!
Twitter: bmreviewsohmy
I never made it through the first Vampire Academy book, I suppose I need to give it another try since there is a movie now coming out. Everyone tells me the others are much better if I do. 🙂 So I haven’t tried bloodlines because I know it’s a spin off, but the covers always look so enticing. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it.
Maybe I will try and make VA and Bloodlines the series I try in 2014. 🙂 There are so many series out there I need to start reading…lol.
Stormi, I know what you mean – how can there be so many series and books out there we just have to read?
I hope VA will get better for you, but if it doesn’t, maybe it’s just not for you?
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Gah! You beat me on this one. 😉 You know this is one series I’m actually caught up on – I’ll be reading the Fiery Heart next week.
I’m so glad this exceeded all your expectations, Lexxie! I giggled when you talked of how Zoe’s behavior is similar to Sydney’s in VA. 🙂 I can’t wait to crack open this one…I’ve been missing Adrian. It sounds suspenseful – and then the ending will give me even more suspense? Ahh, Ms Mead is good with the cliffhangers…
I’m glad you arrived safely and I hope you & Colleen are having a lovely day, Lexxie! *hugs*
Oh, you really, really need to read the Fiery Heart, Brandee 🙂 It is very good, with lots of Adrianisms, too!
And yes, there is an excellent cliffhanger in this one, be prepared.
We’ve had a wonderful day, thank you! It’s always great to be able to spend some time with my friend. *hugs3
One day I’ll have to go back to the VA series and read book 2! I’m so so behind!!!!
Oh my goodness, you’ve only read the 1st VA book, Melliane? You’re really in for a treat, then 🙂
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I keep hearing amazing things about this series! I need to find time to read the Vampire Academy books!
Oh, you should definitely try VA, Pamela 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
I agree! I was totally in love with this book and Adrian’s POV. That ending, though. OMG!
Oh I know! The ending has me pacing while waiting for the next book!
Great review! I just finished this book last week and will be posting my review on my blog next week. I totally agree with you that seeing Zoe act so alchemist-like emphasizes how much Sydney has changed. I actually predicted how this book would end, and I agree with you that the cliffhanger makes sense. And I was wondering the same thing, whether this can still be called YA, it’s feeling more like NA at times. I really enjoyed this one as well and already pre-ordered the next book.
Yeah, I thought it was a brilliant way to show how different Sydney is now compared to VA, and even the beginning of Bloodlines 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Lola 🙂 I look forward to reading your review!
Baahhh! I’ve read the whole review and I hope I am not spoiled. I intend to start reading the series early next year. I am happy to know that Sydney changed for the better. I hated her on VA which led me to have a pre-conceived notion that she doesn’t deserve someone as handsome and as chivalrous as Adrian.
Like you, I am an Adrian fan although I am also pro-Dimitri. I think I wouldn’t have minded if Rose ended up with Adrian because he’s just a very good guy.
Great review, Lexxie.
There are no spoilers from The Fiery Heart in my review, but there might have been one or two from the prior books in the series. Hopefully, that won’t take away any of your pleasure when you read this series, though, Charlotte.
I love Dimitri!! He is made of awesome, but I also love Adrian *grins* and I actually don’t think Adrian and Rose would have worked out very well. Rose needs someone who is stronger than her, and she would have trampled (even more) all over Adrian’s heart…
Thanks for stopping by, my friend.