BLOODY VALENTINE is a Blue Bloods book. It's not a new chapter in the saga, but more of an extra special set of stories about some of the characters. As the title suggests, all three stories are love stories.
We get to spend some time with Schuyler's mom, Allegra, to see how she fell in love with a human. Oliver is featured in his own story about meeting an intriguing woman, who may help him get over Schuyler. Lastly, we have a story about Schuyler and Jack's upcoming bonding that leaves me wanting more. In fact, the whole book leaves me wanting more! (Pausing to check with the next novel is coming out...looks like it may be a while, so enjoy this!).
I just adore this series! As I've said before in my many reviews past, this series gets better with each installment. I loved TWILIGHT, don't get me wrong, but this is the smarter, deeper, more fascinating vampire series, for sure.
If you haven't read them yet, go out & get them!
By the way, I scored an interview with the author a while back, check it out here.
If you like suspense, action, history, richness and mystery in your novels, you will not be able to put down this installment of the BLUE BLOODS saga.
MISGUIDED ANGEL begins with Schuyler and Jack plotting their escape from the Countess who had given them safe haven in the last book. Safe haven and protection had evolved into imprisonment. Although the Countess afforded them every luxury, she also didn't allow any freedom. Schuyler and Jack want to leave and continue their hunt for Gate of Promise.
Meanwhile back in New York, Mimi is suffering the dual emotions of mourning over Kinglsy and fiery revenge against Jack. To make things more complicated for her, she's been named Regis. The disappearance of Lawrence left the Conclave no choice. Just as Mimi takes on the role, her leadership is tested. She's sent a recording of a captured vampire with the threat of burning her alive. The abductors threaten the conspiracy and the very existence of vampires.
A new character is introduced- a Venator from Shanghai, Deming Chan. She's intriguing and I liked the relationship she formed with Mimi. In each book, I begin to like Mimi more and more. The more you learn about her, the more you understand her. Anyway, I'm thrilled that it appears Deming will be continuing on in the next book.
This series gets richer with each installment. When I finished this one, I remember how I felt after the first book. I knew it would be good, but I had no idea the depths the story would reach. I really love it! I'm attached to the characters. I hate being left hanging at the end, but that's certainly the best way to keep us wanting more!
Also, a few points about sequels and (not) remembering what happened previously. I like the way that the author gave us what we needed to remember important points from previous books withougt going into the long narratives you can get sometimes with other books. Although, there were still a few things that I wished I remembered better. Many characters have multiple names because of the reincarnation cycles. So, I would really love it if someone would write a book with all the characters lineage, multiple names and the major plot points summed up quickly. Some type of a BLUE BLOODS reference book or website would be nice. (I guess maybe someone could flesh out the Wikipedia entry...). But really, I'm just a curious librarian, so I want all the details of everything for further pondering. Don't get me wrong - my little questions didn't hamper my full enjoyment of the book, at all! I loved it!
As you may remember, I had the honor of interviewing the author, Melissa de la Cruz for the release of the previous book in the series. Go here to check it out. I've reviewed the previous books too. Go here for those. And here for the author's website.
Finally, here's the trailer for a brief taste of the book:
This was one of those reviews that took me a while to sit down and write, because there is sooo much going on in this book. I needed time to let in sink in. I know I say this every time, but this series really does get richer and more interesting with each installment. We join Schuyler with Oliver on the run because of the events in Rio. She is blamed for Lawrence’s death. She can’t grieve for him in peace with her family and friends, because the Conclave thinks she killed him. Schuyler and Oliver are getting worn out from changing cities every few days to escape detection. Meanwhile, back at home, Bliss has an intriguing visitor. Not your normal run-of-the-mill visitor; no, this visitor is a spirit inside of her. Sometimes she blacks out. Other times she witnesses what he’s doing, which really freaks her out. She feels like a tourist in her own body. She’s trying to remain strong and in control to figure out what he’s trying to accomplish. Finally, the third point of view we get is Mimi. She’s with Kingsley on a Venator hunt for Jordan Llewellyn, who disappeared during the Rio incident. As we learned at the end of the last book, Jordan was no ordinary little sister to Bliss. And all that was only in the first 20 pages or so. We learn more about the history of the angels, as well as what the Van Alen Legacy is and Schuyler’s part in it. I can’t really say much more without spoiling it. It’s incredibly satisfying, and it left me excited about the next installment.
This is book 3 in the BLUE BLOODS saga.This series gets better with each installment. I highly recommend this one, if you haven’t read it. It’s really a great vampire saga. After the death of her grandmother, Schuyler is stuck living with her nemesis Mimi Force and her family. Mimi treats her badly, Jack acts like she doesn’t exist and Charles just ignores her. Her grandfather, Lawrence, has taken over as Regis of the Conclave and for some reason young Mimi has a seat on the Conclave. The threat of the Silver Bloods is greater than ever as everyone prepares for a battle they thought ended centuries before. When the Conclave is summoned to Rio under curious circumstances, they are greeted with a shocking surprise. What I really like about this series is the way the author blends a complex historical world of angels and demons with the modern world of couture and high society. The characters are deeper and the world is more fascinating with each book. As for this book, identities are revealed and more lore is explained, but many unanswered questions still remain at the conclusion, which leaves me anxiously waiting for the next installment. As depicted at the back of this book, it already has a title: THE VAN ALEN LEGACY. It’s on my list! This vampire series is very different from TWILIGHT, but definitely worthy of just as much attention. Check out the author's website here.
This is the sequel to BLUE BLOODS. I was pleasantly surprised that I really, really liked this one, even more than the first. I guess after the TWILIGHT vampire series, I thought I’d have a hard time enjoying another. Well, I was wrong. This one begins with the Committee swearing that the Silver Bloods are no longer a threat after the murders in BLUE BLOODS. But Schuyler and others are not so sure. Since Schuyler’s grandmother has died, she goes to Venice with Ollie to hunt down her grandfather to help them. Finally he agrees to come home to New York and train her to defeat the Silver Bloods. She has some awesome powers. We learn more great details about the history of these families and how they’re all connected. This is a definite read if you enjoyed the first one. I’m feeling a trilogy here.
Schuyler Van Alen lives in Manhattan and attends a prestigious private school. She’s the last in the line of a wealthy, distinguished family. But even with her family background, she doesn’t quite fit in at her school. She has two close friends and they live outside of the popular clique at school. However, soon she finds out that they all have something in common. The term Blue Bloods, isn’t just a term referring to rich family lineage, but in fact means blue blood. They are all vampires. At fifteen, Schuyler is just manifesting the symptoms and learning about what she is. The vampires aren’t a threat to humans, like in some vampire novels, due to their strict code. The threat is actually some other creature out there trying to kill the blue bloods. This is a cool read with a lot of intriguing history in it. With the many vampire themed novels currently out there, this one is one you won’t be able to put down. The sequel is due out in May. Can’t wait!
Laura M. Zeises. CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE Fourteen-year-old Lucy feels like everyone is leaving her behind. Most of her friends have boyfriends, and her brother left her to go off to college. So she is caught completely off guard when a junior boy starts giving her attention. Then her brother surprises her by coming back home, with some surprises. Suddenly, her life is the one changing and she isn’t so sure that she likes it. This was a wonderful, humorous, but also thoughtful book. The first page grabbed be right away and didn’t let go until I finished it.
Gene Luen Yang. AMERICAN BORN CHINESE This graphic novel has three interrelated stories that weave together. In one story, Jin Wang’s family moves to a new neighborhood where he is the only Chinese-American. The kids aren’t very accepting of his differences. Even though he was born in America, the kids think of him as Chinese. Finally, he becomes friends with a new student who just moved in from Taiwan. In another story, a boy is embarrassed by his cousin visiting from China. Will these boys finally be accepted by their friends at school? Or will they learn to just be themselves and not worry about it? Check it out
