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Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods--an ancient group of vampires--now find themselves in an epic battle for survival following the stunning revelation of a young socialite's true identity and the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods.Tags
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With the cascade of vampire and paranormal romance novels flooding the teen market, it becomes difficult for any novel to stand out. I started to give up on these teen novels because they started to run together for me - everything was about a forbidden romance between a vampire (or other supernatural creature, usually male) and a human. I quickly became bored of them, began lumping teen vampire novels into this category, and made sure to give them a miss when I went to the bookstore.
A friend suggested that I try Melissa De La Cruz's Blue Bloods series - she described it as a kind of Gossip Girl-style society with vampires, and even though there is romance, it's different from the flood of vampire romance novels out there since the show more romance is not the central element of the novel. I finally had the opportunity to pick up The Van Alen Legacy, and was pleasantly surprised.
But reader beware: if you have not read all three previous novels in the Blue Bloods series, then you will be completely lost. Even if you've read the other novels and don't quite remember all of the details, you may be a little lost - the plot of The Van Alen Legacy is fairly dense, tightly knit and assumes that readers are up to speed on all happenings in the Blue Bloods universe. The Van Alen Legacy reads like it's a continuation of the series rather than much of a stand-alone book, which adds substantially to the overall plot arc and gives the series a strong sense of cohesion.
In The Van Alen Legacy, the reader is immediately thrown into the plot with very little backtracking. Schuyler Van Alen and her conduit Oliver Hazard-Perry are on the run from the New York Coven, after being blamed for the death of Schuyler's grandfather, Lawrence Van Alen. They end up hiding in Paris to seek protection from the European Coven while trying to discover more about the Van Alen Legacy. Meanwhile, Mimi is back in Rio, trying to find Bliss' younger sister Jordan while Bliss deals with becoming a Silver Blood and fighting the powerful evil inside herself.
Told through multiple character perspectives, it feels like the Blue Bloods world is beginning to unravel around the characters. Secrets, revelations, unexpected happenings and amazing character development fall into place throughout the novel, leading to a quick-paced read that gets readers involved in the lives of the characters. As the reader continues, it becomes evident that what's happening in the story is even bigger than he or she could possibly imagine. It's not just about vampires and romance anymore - it's about the constant, cut-throat battle between good and evil.
De La Cruz has a magnificent and breezy style that moves quickly and draws readers in. Of all the young adult/teen novels that I have read recently, De La Cruz had the easiest style to get into, so much that it felt like slipping into a comfy bathtub - warm, relaxing, calming yet exciting enough to the keep the reader interested and of course, enjoyable.
This series is perfect for fans of teen paranormal fiction, vampire novels such as Twilight and even fans of Gossip Girl-type novels (following the adventures of beautiful, wealthy teens that live extravagant lives) who wouldn't mind a supernatural twist.
Comment Comment | Permalink show less
A friend suggested that I try Melissa De La Cruz's Blue Bloods series - she described it as a kind of Gossip Girl-style society with vampires, and even though there is romance, it's different from the flood of vampire romance novels out there since the show more romance is not the central element of the novel. I finally had the opportunity to pick up The Van Alen Legacy, and was pleasantly surprised.
But reader beware: if you have not read all three previous novels in the Blue Bloods series, then you will be completely lost. Even if you've read the other novels and don't quite remember all of the details, you may be a little lost - the plot of The Van Alen Legacy is fairly dense, tightly knit and assumes that readers are up to speed on all happenings in the Blue Bloods universe. The Van Alen Legacy reads like it's a continuation of the series rather than much of a stand-alone book, which adds substantially to the overall plot arc and gives the series a strong sense of cohesion.
In The Van Alen Legacy, the reader is immediately thrown into the plot with very little backtracking. Schuyler Van Alen and her conduit Oliver Hazard-Perry are on the run from the New York Coven, after being blamed for the death of Schuyler's grandfather, Lawrence Van Alen. They end up hiding in Paris to seek protection from the European Coven while trying to discover more about the Van Alen Legacy. Meanwhile, Mimi is back in Rio, trying to find Bliss' younger sister Jordan while Bliss deals with becoming a Silver Blood and fighting the powerful evil inside herself.
Told through multiple character perspectives, it feels like the Blue Bloods world is beginning to unravel around the characters. Secrets, revelations, unexpected happenings and amazing character development fall into place throughout the novel, leading to a quick-paced read that gets readers involved in the lives of the characters. As the reader continues, it becomes evident that what's happening in the story is even bigger than he or she could possibly imagine. It's not just about vampires and romance anymore - it's about the constant, cut-throat battle between good and evil.
De La Cruz has a magnificent and breezy style that moves quickly and draws readers in. Of all the young adult/teen novels that I have read recently, De La Cruz had the easiest style to get into, so much that it felt like slipping into a comfy bathtub - warm, relaxing, calming yet exciting enough to the keep the reader interested and of course, enjoyable.
This series is perfect for fans of teen paranormal fiction, vampire novels such as Twilight and even fans of Gossip Girl-type novels (following the adventures of beautiful, wealthy teens that live extravagant lives) who wouldn't mind a supernatural twist.
Comment Comment | Permalink show less
I literally read this in three hours. How is that possible? It was 369 pages! Anyway, I'm ready to be done with this series, but I feel compelled to continue. It's easy, mindless fun.
Schuyler Van Alen is a fugitive, running from the New York Conclave with her trusted conduit Oliver. They barely escaped persecution when the Conclave was about to convict Schuyler of her grandfather's murder. Their last hope is the European Conclave's protection, but at the party of the century something goes awry and an unexpected Angel of Destruction shows up. Schuyler is in a bigger mess than she anticipated.
I liked the multiple perspectives the book was told in, though I wish there had been more, like Jack or Oliver. This book finally tied up some loose ends, but uncovered more ends to be tied. I can't wait for her next book to come out.
I liked the multiple perspectives the book was told in, though I wish there had been more, like Jack or Oliver. This book finally tied up some loose ends, but uncovered more ends to be tied. I can't wait for her next book to come out.
It has been over a year since Rio and Schuyler and Oliver have been on the run nearly as long. It would seem as though she has made her choice, but just as she makes a daring move to secure her and Oliver's safety, she is thrown into the very thing she fears the most and into the arms of the one she can hardly bare to live without. Being her mother's unncorrupted daughter has made Schuyler the Blue Bloods last hope, but despite the fact that she has embraced her task, she has managed to run from the biggest similarity that she and her mother share, until now. Is her mother right? Are there some loves worth dying for?
Bliss has been in a lost state, struggling just to remember her name. She can't account for over a year of her life, and show more there is a Visitor living inside her, taking over whenever he pleases. As Bliss fights to regain control of her mind, body and future, she uncovers the truth of who she is and in the process uncovers a scheme that could undo everyone and everything she has left but how do you fight something that lives in you? Will she be strong enough to stop the Visitor, before its too late?
Mimi has trapsed acrossed the globe, searching for the watcher with her venator team, lead by the very one who nearly caused her death, Kingsley Martin. But everytime they think they've finally caught up, they are left wanting. Is it the year of adventure and near death experiences that has caused Mimi to reevaluated her life, or has she only just found someone that allows her to be as she truly is? Is it just meaningless nothing, and impulse of this life, of this time, or has Kingsley been there, every cycle, pushing her and possibly loving her and worse, her loving him back?
This story is growing up with each installment, which I really like to see. I struggle with a series that stays at one level or meaning and understanding. It seems to keep the readers in a stationary spot for a while, especially students like mine who only read 2-3 books a year. Therefore, a series that grows with the reader is a big hit in my eyes- both for the reading ability and the maturation of the reader.This story does get a lot darker than the rest of the series. The clothes, shoes, and designer handbags fall to the wayside as plots, plans, murders, and Lucifer himself take the foreground. In a way, I like this progression. This is the fourth book, so it wasn't sudden, but it wasn't too slow, either. My only problem with this series is that each installment ends on a cliffhanger. show less
Bliss has been in a lost state, struggling just to remember her name. She can't account for over a year of her life, and show more there is a Visitor living inside her, taking over whenever he pleases. As Bliss fights to regain control of her mind, body and future, she uncovers the truth of who she is and in the process uncovers a scheme that could undo everyone and everything she has left but how do you fight something that lives in you? Will she be strong enough to stop the Visitor, before its too late?
Mimi has trapsed acrossed the globe, searching for the watcher with her venator team, lead by the very one who nearly caused her death, Kingsley Martin. But everytime they think they've finally caught up, they are left wanting. Is it the year of adventure and near death experiences that has caused Mimi to reevaluated her life, or has she only just found someone that allows her to be as she truly is? Is it just meaningless nothing, and impulse of this life, of this time, or has Kingsley been there, every cycle, pushing her and possibly loving her and worse, her loving him back?
This story is growing up with each installment, which I really like to see. I struggle with a series that stays at one level or meaning and understanding. It seems to keep the readers in a stationary spot for a while, especially students like mine who only read 2-3 books a year. Therefore, a series that grows with the reader is a big hit in my eyes- both for the reading ability and the maturation of the reader.This story does get a lot darker than the rest of the series. The clothes, shoes, and designer handbags fall to the wayside as plots, plans, murders, and Lucifer himself take the foreground. In a way, I like this progression. This is the fourth book, so it wasn't sudden, but it wasn't too slow, either. My only problem with this series is that each installment ends on a cliffhanger. show less
I swear this series just gets better and better as it goes on. I went from thinking book 1 was just ok to loving this one and not being able to put it down. We were totally left hanging at the end of Revelations and this book picks up almost a year after the events down in Rio. The chapter’s point of views rotate between Bliss, Schuyler and Mimi which at first was a little jarring but you quickly find the rhythm. There is a lot of action going on as we now know who Bliss really is and begin to see what plans her father is hatching. Schuyler and Oliver are also on the run after the Conclave accuses Schuyler of killing her grandfather. We find out a lot more information in this book about who people really are and the parts they played show more in the past. We also seem to get some sort of resolution in the Schuyler-Oliver-Jack love triangle. And no I will not say what happens. You should run out and buy the book to find out. The one small negative I had was on the Bliss-Mimi relationship. We don’t see them interact much yet we hear Bliss often referring to how flighty and superficial Mimi has been acting recently. Yet when we see her point of view and Mimi’s point of view I didn’t see what she was talking about. I was even surprised to find myself actually starting to like Mimi in this one. Still a wonderful book and I cannot wait for the next one! show less
The fourth book in the Blue Bloods series was an excellent book. Book 5 is supposed to be titled "Misguided Angel" and will be out in the Fall of 2010. This book was an excellent addition to the series. I am liking this series more and more with every book I read in it.
The third book in the series really left us hanging. At the beginning of this book Schuyler and Oliver have been on the run for over a year, Mimi has joined the hunt for Jordan, and Bliss has been taken over by the Visitor and left to hide in a dark corner of her own body. Schuyler risks everything trying to contact the European Blue Bloods for support; her and Oliver can't stay on the run forever. Mimi concludes her hunt for Jordan and is struggling with whether or not show more she should bond with Jack. Bliss is trying to fight for the right to possess her own body as the Visitor (Morningstar) pushes her out. A number of the Blue Bloods assume their eternal angels persona's as the battle for Blue Blood survival escalates. Jack and Mimi's bonding is back on, but Mimi is finding herself curiously drawn to a traitor Silver Blood. Will they go through with the bonding? Are Schuyler and Jack really through; or will Jack change millennia of past by not bonding with Mimi? What about Oliver, is he destined to be a third wheel? The fight for survival is taken to yet a higher level as the Blue Bloods try to destroy all the Silver Bloods in their midst.
This was a great book. Action packed and fast-paced; the plot moved at a nice clip with some great twists thrown into the plot. You really love and empathize with all of the characters. I love that the plot is getting so much broader and that the whole of human civilization now rests on the Blue Bloods ability to fight both Morningstar and the Silver Bloods. This series is growing to epic proportions and I am loving all the detail and intricacy.
I have also been enjoying the past memories that come back to the characters and how their personalities change as they take on the persona of the immortal angel's soul that they represent. All in all I really don't have any complaints about this addition to the series and I am eagerly awaiting the next book! This is kind of surprising to me since I thought the first book in this series was just barely okay; the first book was all about fashion and high-living in Manhattan. Somehow though De La Cruz has taken this series to the point of actually being an epic story that matters; it is surprising to me and very satisfying. I have always liked Cruz's writing style, it is very readable but not at all dumbed down, she balances action and description well too.
So do you still get some of the high life in this book? Well, of course! Bliss attends some fashion shows and Mimi has to prepare for her bonding; so there is some high fashion and high living. I am just thrilled that Cruz was able to mix those things with some actual solid storytelling and a wonderful far-reaching plot; so creative and so entertaining. Now I have to wait a year for the next one! show less
The third book in the series really left us hanging. At the beginning of this book Schuyler and Oliver have been on the run for over a year, Mimi has joined the hunt for Jordan, and Bliss has been taken over by the Visitor and left to hide in a dark corner of her own body. Schuyler risks everything trying to contact the European Blue Bloods for support; her and Oliver can't stay on the run forever. Mimi concludes her hunt for Jordan and is struggling with whether or not show more she should bond with Jack. Bliss is trying to fight for the right to possess her own body as the Visitor (Morningstar) pushes her out. A number of the Blue Bloods assume their eternal angels persona's as the battle for Blue Blood survival escalates. Jack and Mimi's bonding is back on, but Mimi is finding herself curiously drawn to a traitor Silver Blood. Will they go through with the bonding? Are Schuyler and Jack really through; or will Jack change millennia of past by not bonding with Mimi? What about Oliver, is he destined to be a third wheel? The fight for survival is taken to yet a higher level as the Blue Bloods try to destroy all the Silver Bloods in their midst.
This was a great book. Action packed and fast-paced; the plot moved at a nice clip with some great twists thrown into the plot. You really love and empathize with all of the characters. I love that the plot is getting so much broader and that the whole of human civilization now rests on the Blue Bloods ability to fight both Morningstar and the Silver Bloods. This series is growing to epic proportions and I am loving all the detail and intricacy.
I have also been enjoying the past memories that come back to the characters and how their personalities change as they take on the persona of the immortal angel's soul that they represent. All in all I really don't have any complaints about this addition to the series and I am eagerly awaiting the next book! This is kind of surprising to me since I thought the first book in this series was just barely okay; the first book was all about fashion and high-living in Manhattan. Somehow though De La Cruz has taken this series to the point of actually being an epic story that matters; it is surprising to me and very satisfying. I have always liked Cruz's writing style, it is very readable but not at all dumbed down, she balances action and description well too.
So do you still get some of the high life in this book? Well, of course! Bliss attends some fashion shows and Mimi has to prepare for her bonding; so there is some high fashion and high living. I am just thrilled that Cruz was able to mix those things with some actual solid storytelling and a wonderful far-reaching plot; so creative and so entertaining. Now I have to wait a year for the next one! show less
Prima di tutto devo ammettere che questo volume di Melissa de la Cruz non mi ha entusiasmata troppo. Avevo sempre (erroniamente?) saputo che sarebbero stati 3/5 libri ed invece salta fuori che sono tipo 10... Ed io già che non ne posso più con queste saghe assurde. Fatemi libri da 600 pagine invece che spezzattarmelo in 10 che alla fine non mi ricordo più che diavolo c'era scritto nel primo!
A parte questo particolare devo dire che più va vanti più la Saga di Melissa de la Cruz diventa... confusionaria? Assurdamente.
A metà libro tra angeli, nomi, rincarnazioni, cambi di prospettiva non ci capivo più nulla!!! Alla fine ho rinunciato, inutile cercare di stare al passo con tutte le reincarnazioni, per non parlare che ogni personaggio show more ha una decina di reincarnazione, il nome attuale, il nome da Angelo e vari gradi di parentela vera o presunta.
In questo capitolo si riaccentual il duello (per modo di dire) fra Jack e Oliver per il cuore di Schuyler.
Jack appare due o tre volte in tutto il libro confondendoci ancora di più, lui stesso non riesce a prendere una posizione netta. Vuole Sky ma accetta tutte le volte di fare il legame con Mimi, la gemella. Mandando in crisi la povera mezzasangue e rincoglionendo noi, cosa vuole questo benedetto ragazzo?
Mimi a sua volta per tutto il libro si barcamena fra il fratello e Kingsley. Anzi, diciamo che mentre il fratello si limita ad "amare" Sky lui prende e va direttamente a letto con Kingsley... ed ha anche il coraggio di mettere il muso a Jack?
C'è da dire che Jack, da parte sua, come manda al manicomio Sky con il suo continuo cambiamento (prima la vuole, poi torna da Mimi... e via così in un eterno balletto), riesce a sua volta a mandare in bestia la povera Mimi.
In questo libro l'ho molto rivalutata, iniziamo ad intravedere un aspetto più umano nella sua persona. Umana ma non troppo e questo mi piace, è coerente con il suo personaggio.
I pezzi di Bliss sono stati fra i più noiosi... L'Ospite le sottrae la possibilità di gestire la sua persona. L'Ospite, suo padre. Come sia riuscito Lucifero ad avere un'altra figlia (della stessa età di Sky) con Allegra ancora non ci è dato saperlo... Però sappiamo che alla fine Bliss dovrebbe uccidere sua sorella su ordine di Lucifero, suo padre. Ma farà la scelta giusta, uccidendosi. Alla fine si salverà grazie alla madre e non sappiamo bene come finisce per essere di nuovo UMANA e Signora dei Lupi... Dove andrà a finire questa storia?
Allegra, da parte sua, improvvisamente un "bel giorno" si risveglia e spiega finalmente a quella povera disgraziata di Schuyler quale è la fantomatica "Eredità dei Van Alen". Questo particolare mi è piaciuto molto, salvo poi la nuova pertenza di Allegra per andare a ripescare Michele, Charles, perso chissà dove dopo aver salvato la vita a Schuyler a Parigi.
Jordan è morta, rapita e morta... Almeno apparentemente. Può, in realtà, una Guardiana nata "con gli occhi aperti" morire?
Ho apprezzato molto la triplice prospettiva, peccato che avrei voluto vedere qualche capitolo dal punto di vista di Jack, più che altro per capirlo meglio.
Come ho già detto è piuttosto confusionario questo capitolo, interessante, ma confusionario. La storia è bella ed originale ma temo che la stia tirando davvero troppo per le lunghe. Alla fine ora cosa rimane? Di trovere tutti i Cancelli e di aiutare i Guardiani?
Ci dovremo aspettare un nuovo balletto fra Jack, Mimi, Sky ed Ollie? Ancora?
Non so, spero che non finisca in un gran minestrone perchè da una bella storia ed orginale come questo mi sarei aspettata qualcosa di più. show less
A parte questo particolare devo dire che più va vanti più la Saga di Melissa de la Cruz diventa... confusionaria? Assurdamente.
A metà libro tra angeli, nomi, rincarnazioni, cambi di prospettiva non ci capivo più nulla!!! Alla fine ho rinunciato, inutile cercare di stare al passo con tutte le reincarnazioni, per non parlare che ogni personaggio show more ha una decina di reincarnazione, il nome attuale, il nome da Angelo e vari gradi di parentela vera o presunta.
In questo capitolo si riaccentual il duello (per modo di dire) fra Jack e Oliver per il cuore di Schuyler.
Jack appare due o tre volte in tutto il libro confondendoci ancora di più, lui stesso non riesce a prendere una posizione netta. Vuole Sky ma accetta tutte le volte di fare il legame con Mimi, la gemella. Mandando in crisi la povera mezzasangue e rincoglionendo noi, cosa vuole questo benedetto ragazzo?
Mimi a sua volta per tutto il libro si barcamena fra il fratello e Kingsley. Anzi, diciamo che mentre il fratello si limita ad "amare" Sky lui prende e va direttamente a letto con Kingsley... ed ha anche il coraggio di mettere il muso a Jack?
C'è da dire che Jack, da parte sua, come manda al manicomio Sky con il suo continuo cambiamento (prima la vuole, poi torna da Mimi... e via così in un eterno balletto), riesce a sua volta a mandare in bestia la povera Mimi.
In questo libro l'ho molto rivalutata, iniziamo ad intravedere un aspetto più umano nella sua persona. Umana ma non troppo e questo mi piace, è coerente con il suo personaggio.
I pezzi di Bliss sono stati fra i più noiosi... L'Ospite le sottrae la possibilità di gestire la sua persona. L'Ospite, suo padre. Come sia riuscito Lucifero ad avere un'altra figlia (della stessa età di Sky) con Allegra ancora non ci è dato saperlo... Però sappiamo che alla fine Bliss dovrebbe uccidere sua sorella su ordine di Lucifero, suo padre. Ma farà la scelta giusta, uccidendosi. Alla fine si salverà grazie alla madre e non sappiamo bene come finisce per essere di nuovo UMANA e Signora dei Lupi... Dove andrà a finire questa storia?
Allegra, da parte sua, improvvisamente un "bel giorno" si risveglia e spiega finalmente a quella povera disgraziata di Schuyler quale è la fantomatica "Eredità dei Van Alen". Questo particolare mi è piaciuto molto, salvo poi la nuova pertenza di Allegra per andare a ripescare Michele, Charles, perso chissà dove dopo aver salvato la vita a Schuyler a Parigi.
Jordan è morta, rapita e morta... Almeno apparentemente. Può, in realtà, una Guardiana nata "con gli occhi aperti" morire?
Ho apprezzato molto la triplice prospettiva, peccato che avrei voluto vedere qualche capitolo dal punto di vista di Jack, più che altro per capirlo meglio.
Come ho già detto è piuttosto confusionario questo capitolo, interessante, ma confusionario. La storia è bella ed originale ma temo che la stia tirando davvero troppo per le lunghe. Alla fine ora cosa rimane? Di trovere tutti i Cancelli e di aiutare i Guardiani?
Ci dovremo aspettare un nuovo balletto fra Jack, Mimi, Sky ed Ollie? Ancora?
Non so, spero che non finisca in un gran minestrone perchè da una bella storia ed orginale come questo mi sarei aspettata qualcosa di più. show less
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Author Information
118+ Works 39,478 Members
Melissa de la Cruz is the #1 New York Times, #1 Publishers Weekly and #1 IndieBound bestselling author of novels for readers of all ages, including The Isle of the Lost and Return to the Isle of the Lost. Her books have topped the USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists and have been published in more than twenty show more countries. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Van Alen Legacy
- Original publication date
- 2009-10-06
- People/Characters
- Bliss Llewelyn
- Important places
- New York, New York, USA
- Epigraph
- The murdered do haunt their murderers.
--Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems, got to open my eyes to everything. . . .
--Evanescence, "Bring Me to Life" - Dedication
- For my mom, Ching de la Cruz,
who always said Blue Bloods would be "the one"
And for Mike and Mattie, always - First words
- There had been little time to mourn.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Back in Rome, you knew me as Drusilla," the countess told them as she got up from her chair. "Come, children. I believe lunch is being served. And my chef makes an excellent tomato salad. You will join me, won't you?"
Classifications
- Genres
- Teen, Fiction and Literature, Fantasy, Young Adult
- DDC/MDS
- 813.6 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English 2000-
- LCC
- PZ7 .D36967 .V — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
- BISAC
Statistics
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- 2,415
- Popularity
- 8,048
- Reviews
- 62
- Rating
- (3.83)
- Languages
- 6 — Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Polish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 26
- ASINs
- 7