REVIEW: The Fiery Heart (Richelle Mead) ****

[THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN MINOR SPOILERS]

Let me start off with saying I really don’t like the title for this fourth book in the Bloodlines series. I was almost ashamed to read it in public (almost but not quite – one should never be ashamed to read), because the title makes it seem like some seedy, sappy, gooey Fifty Shades of Grey wannabe. Here are some alternative titles for The Fiery Heart I came up with – most of which are definitely not to be taken seriously:

The Invisible Ink
Spirit Storm
Dark Desire (okay maybe that one sounds like a Fifty Shades wannabe too)
The Amber and Emerald Union *wink wink*
The Salted Tattoo

😉

Okay okay, back to serious reviewing: I was really thrown off at the double POV’s and to be honest, fairly disappointed when Adrian’s narrating voice wasn’t nearly as funny or witty as I would have imagined it to be. I got used to it eventually and after having read the final chapters, I definitely understand why it was needed to split the points of view between Sydney and Adrian. Still doesn’t mean I like it, but I’m okay with it.

I guess that’s sort of the only reason I took away one out of five stars, because I don’t have any other complaints. 80% of The Fiery Heart is pretty much a lovefest, but I guess they deserved one. I really liked it when they went to Court and was sort of bummed they didn’t stay longer and interact more with our old Vampire Academy friends. I was pleased as punch to see Christian again! Christiaaaaaaaaaan! Love how he’s still standing strong at Lissa’s side while remaining to be his awesome, sarcastic self. Because I like Adrian, but I LOVE Christian.

Okay, think I made that plenty clear, moving on: Eddie, Jill and co were kind of absent for the most part in this fourth book, which was a shame because I had expected their roles to grow bigger, not smaller as the series progressed. I really didn’t care for Neil and missed hanging out with ‘the gang’. It was just Sydney and Adrian getting sappy aaaaaallll the time. Don’t even get me started about that little brat Zoe. Sydney should have just used a spell to set her hair on fire or something. So yeah, I wished our star-crossed lovers would’ve shared the spotlight a bit more with everyone else (except Zoe and Neil because blegh).

The end of The Fiery Heart however, had me at the edge of my proverbial seat and made up for all of that. Though I had seen some spoilers online which made me kinda see it coming, the impact of those last 4 chapters wasn’t lost on me. I kind of wanted to jump right into Silver Shadows after finishing the last page, but I think I’m gonna keep it safely tucked away in my book case until the release of The Ruby Circle is a bit closer so the wait isn’t quite so long.