Misguided Angel

I remember reading the other titles in this series and thinking that the plots are so thin and books could be combined. I again was frustrated by the thin storyline and frustrating ending. OK, I understand series titles need some cliffhangers, but this is ridiculous. In spite of my frustration, the storyline is interesting enough that I do want to keep reading the book just to see if the ending is finally resolved.

The Blue Bloods series is definitely a guilt pleasure of mine. It's much more interesting, at least to me, than much of the vampire fiction out there. What makes me like this series even more is the fact that de la Cruz has found a way to grow her characters throughout each subsequent novel. In fact, in this novel one of the characters I'm predisposed to hate because of events in previous books turned out to be the one I was the most interested in -- and almost grew to like. I cannot wait for the next book.

I don't always review everything for my blog, The Bookaholic, and this is one of them. Mostly because I started reading this series quite awhile before I even started my blog and it's not the newest book to the series (or the first book)- just number five out of the set. So, I figured I'd only review Misguided Angel just for fun on Goodreads and other book communities instead.

I've been very grateful to my friend who originally got me started on this series a couple years ago. I was just a bit sad that I fell a little behind the last year and only now getting around to the fifth book when the newest was just released in October of 2011. Now I'm playing catch-up here. :P

Misguided Angel was probably my favorite of the series so far. I show more admit that in the beginning there's a slight "Gossip Girl" or some other teen soap opera feel to it due to all the snazzy designer speak and cliques. But if one is to really focus beyond this quality and look into the story, I think you'll find something beautiful and unique-- that only grows and mesmerizes with each installment. The characters are fantastically developed with their own unique traits and I adore the mythos and backstory put into the whole Blue Bloods series.
I felt that Misguided Angel stepped away from a lot of the glitz and glamour, allowing the reader to get more in-depth with a deeper story, a darker mystery that's been hidden behind the scenes. I loved that it felt more revolved around Mimi too in this installment and the reader gets to see even more into her character than before. I genuinely believe that Mimi isn't as cruel-hearted as she was made out to be in the beginning of the series. She has her moments though.

The ending left me begging for more, more, more. I was sitting on the edge of my seat, gasping at the twists and revelations, and then practically biting my knuckles hoping for the best for everyone as the final outcome. Dang cliffhangers! :P
This definitely means that I need to get Lost in Time. Very soon. show less

This book was divided into three parts, or rather, three views: Schuyler, Mimi and Deming.

Let me just say that i am a Schuyler and Jack fanatic.. I love their team-up and that despite the odds, they are together.. I love that Jack (the angel of destruction, no less) is so sure of his love for Sky that he will not allow anything or anyone to come between them. Speaking of which, Mimi in this story was quite a revelation. Her character development has reached a wonderful note. She is no longer just the spoiled rich kid or just the avenging azrael who demands the death of abbadon, her twin and bondmate for several lifetimes except this one. She is a woman who fell in love, real love, with Kingsley Martin. She is a woman who has learned to show more think of the red bloods as more than a food source. She is a woman who, as the regent, has the future of the entire New York coven on her shoulders. Enter Deming Chen, a Chinese venator, who will help Mimi with this new threat facing the coven.

I absolutely loved the fact that this book was focused on these three independent and strong ladies. Can't wait for the next book. show less

Background: In this issue of the Blue Bloods series, Schuyler and Jack fled to Florence to follow the path left by Lawrence about the gates that protect the world from Lucifer. Mimi has been named Regent of the New York Coven and has a murder and conspiracy on her hands which threatens to expose the vampires to the public, and Bliss is nowhere to be found. Instead of Bliss, we are introduced to Deming, the Angel of Mercy, who is brought on to help solve the mystery of the murder for Mimi and the Coven. All hell is breaking loose and Mimi, Schuyler and Jack all have things they need to resolve.

Review: The last few books in this series have been a little anti-climactic; this one however, was a quick read. I liked that Bliss wasn’t show more around, not that I don’t enjoy her character, but for too long have there been 3 point of views which got disruptive. In Misguided Angel, we start with only chapters of Schuyler and Jack and then a batch of only Mimi, which some historical snippets along the way… we aren’t pulled to the 3rd character until Deming comes to New York to help Mimi and she isn’t overbearing nor annoying to ‘listen’ to.
I was a little upset that again all of the storylines are kind of left hanging, but there was a good tale that did end and had a great twist at the end. All of the pieces are slowly coming together and I have the next one from the library already, going to start reading soon. show less

This is the fifth book in the Blue Bloods series by Cruz. There is a novella due out for this series in December 2010 called, Bloody Valentine; the sixth book is going to be titled, Lost in Time, and is planned for an October 2011 release. This was the weakest book in this series by far. The story doesn't progress much and we are only given painfully short glimpses into what is happening to Schuyler and Jack. Many of the major players from previous books are not even mentioned.

The book starts with Jack and Schuyler and we get a brief glimpse of them escaping captivity and taking off to try and find the last gate. We don't spend much time with them before Cruz switches to telling the story from Mimi Force's perspective. Mimi is now show more leading the Conclave and trying to solve a crime involving an internet video that shows a vampire being burned alive; if she can't figure out where the information is being leaked she is in trouble. The Conclave is threatening to take the vampires back underground. After hearing about this for a while we switch to another perspective, this time from a new character named Deming Chen. Deming is a Venator from Shanghai that is trying to help Mimi solve this case.

Jack and Schuyler don't get much page space and this is disappointing. Blyss is left out of the story completely, leaving me puzzled as to what has happened to her. It does look like Cruz is trying to expand the storyline by telling more of it from Mimi's perspective and by adding in the new character of Deming. Mimi is quickly becoming a favorite character of mine; as a reader you begin to sympathize with her in this book and learn more about why she is who she it. Deming looks to be a promising character and brings some interesting background to this story.

As with all of Cruz's book this book was well-written and easy to read. I just felt like Cruz is either running out of ideas for this series or confused about where she wants to take the story. This was such a short book and briefly touched on a number of things without really advancing the story. Very much a transition novel.

Overall I have really enjoyed this series, but this book left me somewhat disappointed. I don't feel like much happened, it was kind of boring, and I felt like this was more of a transition book or a book where Cruz was confused on where to take this series. So, it was okay but not great. Hopefully the sixth book is better because if the sixth book is like this book...well then I am not sure I will keep reading this series. show less

I began to really like Mimi in this book. She seems more "human." She truly cares for the Coven, and it's members. She also realizes that she doesn't really hate Oliver all the much.

Oh, Deming. She's a kick-ass Venator. She does her job to the best of her abilities, and doesn't give up. I completely forgot she was a key player in this book.

Schuyler annoyed me. I think it's because she is so needy when it comes to Jack. I'm used to her being strong and self assured.

We get a peek at Nephilim, and I had a ton of questions regarding possibilities with Bliss after I finished reading.

It was great seeing a lot more of Mimi showing emotions that do not include snobbery. I want to start Lost in Time NOW! But I'll be a good girl, and wait show more until December 1st to start it. show less