Dellamonica, A.M.: Indigo Springs
Indigo Springs (2009)
Written by: A.M. Dellamonica
Genre: Fantasy/Contemporary
Pages: 317 (Trade Paperback)
How did I come across this book? Wherever it was, it was the cover that caught my eye. Gorgeous. Then I recognized the author's name as one I'd read before, and the title was appealing too. I wasn't really planning on picking it up right away, not until I'd seen some reviews come in. However, that willpower went out the door when I saw it in the store, and since it was my birthday, I felt I had a good excuse for picking it up. :)
The premise: plucked from BN.com: Indigo Springs is a sleepy town where things seem pretty normal . . . until Astrid’s father dies and she moves into his house. She discovers that for many years her father had been accessing the magic that flowed, literally, in a blue stream beneath the earth, leaking into his house. When she starts to use the liquid "vitagua" to enchant everyday items, the results seem innocent enough: a “’chanted” watch becomes a charm that means you're always in the right place at the right time; a “’chanted” pendant enables the wearer to convince anyone of anything . . .
But as events in Indigo Springs unfold and the true potential of vitagua is revealed, Astrid and her friends unwittingly embark on a journey fraught with power, change, and a future too devastating to contemplate. Friends become enemies and enemies become friends as Astrid discovers secrets from her shrouded childhood that will lead her to a destiny stranger than she could have imagined . . .
Review style: should be short and sweet, with no spoilers.
I'll be honest, once I picked up the book and had it on my shelf, I was a little apprehensive. I did some research to find out what I'd read of Dellamonica's before, and come to find out, it wasn't my favorite short story ever. And when I started reading, I was worried. The first chapter plunks you down in the situation with first person, present tense, and not a whole lot of context. The context slowly fills in as you read, but that first chapter's hard to get through. Second chapter was much smoother, but I was confused as to the time line, until I hit chapter three and finally realized that the first person, present tense chapters are the present, told by Astrid's interrogator, Will, and the third person, past tense chapters are literally the past, the events that led up to the situation that Astrid now finds herself. Once I understood this, the book was smooth sailing. You basically know that Astrid's discoveries are going to lead to BIG PROBLEMS for the world (post-apocalyptic fantasy?), and she's being held accountable for those actions. The tension, then, comes from wondering how exactly it all came about: how could Astrid, who seems like such an honest character, be capable of the things she's accused of in the first chapter? What truly broke and fractured her and Sahara's friendship, and how did both of them become so powerful?
It's an enchanting story, in its own way. We get the tale in measured bits, and with every bit you learn, you want to learn more. Admittedly, there are parts that seem completely unrelated, particularly Jacks' obsession with the past and the Indian massacre, but all of that comes together in a surprisingly strong conclusion that I didn't see coming, and that's one of the things that pleased me so much (though I'll admit I'm still having some trouble with the details regarding the Fyremen and how they were able to destroy magic). I loved the character interactions, and I loved the magic itself, which I found creative in its usage and thankfully, rule-based. Until the end, I kept wondering if there was a catch to make Sahara (whose name I kept reading as Sierra for some reason) as powerful as she was, but even that was explained well. Sure, the end sets up for an immediate sequel (coming out in 2010 called Blue Magic), and to be honest, I have no idea what to expect of it plot-wise. That's okay. I can easily say I'm looking forward to more, and I'm pleased to see Dellamonica's debut read as well as it did.
My Rating
Worth the Cash: but close to a "must have." Any fan of contemporary fantasy (fantasy that takes place in today's world that is NOT Buffy-lit) must pick this up. The magic is creative and enchanting, and the characters are so very human in their motivations and interactions, and the story itself pays off very nicely, even though it's obvious there's gonna be a sequel. That said, I was very pleased and very satisfied with this story, and I happily await said sequel. This is one of those books that lives up to the beauty of the cover art, so aside from a few bumps in the opening, you're gonna be fine.
Cover Commentary: gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Not only does this cover fit the book, it just really matches some of the scenes that the author paints for the reader (bonus points if you've read the book and can appreciate the word choice of "paints"). I just hope the sequel's cover is just as beautiful.
Next up: Boneshaker by Cherie Priest