Customer Reviews

The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods, Book 4)

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(36)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Melissa de la Cruz has been holding out on us! The Van Alen Legacy is by far the best in series. As a reader, I got everything I wanted, plus many amazing things I never would have thought to ask for. This series is basically a vampire soap opera, but man, what a well done soap opera it is.

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 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?

I'm not going to reveal anymore, it would spoil the fun. Once again I was swept away in this complex world, with it's vibrant characters, spot on dialog, and nerve wracking plot. I can't wait to for the next installment as I am sure Cruz will manage to shock me yet again, many times. Loved it!

P.S. Allegra is a tart! ;)

The Van Alen Legacy is by far the best book of the series! The book is packed with action, secrets, and adventure. The story is told through the three main girl character's point of view, Mimi, Bliss, and Schuyler. Reading Melissa's books always take me away into a fantasy world, but this one had me begging for more. There was a resolve between the love triangle between Sky, Mimi, Jack, and Ollie. And a new love triangle put in place, but I'll let readers find that out on their own. The book truly helps characters evolve and is an easy read. I am now anxiously waiting for the fifth installment as I'm sure other readers will be as well.

Melissa De La Cruz's fourth book in the blood blue series is her best book yet. The pace and plot are rich and driven, leaving the reader with a focused, engaging story. Schuyler Van Alen is on the run from the New York coven, blamed for the murder of her grandfather, Lawrence. Her conduit, and best friend, Oliver Hazard-Perry is with her as she tries to seek the aid and protection of the European coven, all the while trying to discover more about The Van Alen Legacy. Meanwhile, Mimi and Kingsley, part of the Venator team, are back in Rio trying to find Bliss' younger sister Jordan, who was revealed at the Watcher, Sophia. Bliss is trying to deal with and overcome being a silver blood, and harboring Lucifer himself inside of her. Super charged with secrets, backstories, revelations, and a less than ordinary bonding ceremony, The Van Alen Legacy promises to satisfy readers while leaving them begging for more.

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 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!

Melissa de la Cruz is back with THE VAN ALEN LEGACY, her fourth Blue Bloods novel. Taking place under a New York City backdrop, the series delves into the subjects of teenage angst and growing up in a world of very old, very powerful vampires. While on the surface the story may seem derivative of something like Harry Potter crossed with Twilight, de la Cruz's use of biting wit and deep characterizations truly set it apart from anything that has come before it.

As the novel opens, a year has passed since the horrors of Brazil for the Blue Bloods, the aforementioned extremely old collection of vampires. Schuyler and Oliver (a vampire and her human conduit, respectively) have been on the run the entire time, crossing the globe while avoiding Venators, who think that she killed her grandfather. Their last hope is in Paris (the European Conclave), and they crash a party to ask for protection. But Schuyler is astonished to find Jack, a former love interest, instead. Or rather, he is there to find her. In THE VAN ALEN LEGACY, all the secrets and passions come out full force as the Blue Bloods find the Devil in their midst and try to forge the future with their past.

Furthermore, Bliss's mother is dead, and her sister Jordan has been kidnapped. Mimi is one of the Venators trying to find Jordan, who holds the clues to what is happening. They follow a maddening trail of near misses in their search. But meanwhile, Bliss is taken over by an evil spirit who may be tied in with her father. When she is allowed control of her mind and body, she tries to warn people and summon help. In doing so, she uncovers secrets about her mother.

Jack tries to forget Schuyler, who left him with no word and ran with Oliver. Now both of them are realizing they need each other. They know they must return to New York and face the results of what is happening to all the families. Also in New York is Schuyler's mother, Allegra, who only previously was seen to her in dreams as she lay in a coma. Allegra is ready to make herself known to her family in this volume.

Suddenly, the vampires want Mimi and Jack to have their bonding. They must decide if they can set aside their feelings for others and follow their predestined path. The Elders are pushing the younger vampires to finish high school at the same time they push Mimi and Jack to their bonding. Mimi is trying to find out what is behind their messages.

The Blue Bloods series is gothic and twisty, and vampire fans will enjoy it. Teens will want to read all four novels so they can follow the history of each character, though many bring surprises to the table in THE VAN ALEN LEGACY. Melissa de la Cruz continues a winning formula, and I'm already looking forward to a fifth installment.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

This is the 4th book in the Blue Bloods series and I am thoroughly disappointed that de la Cruz didn't just wrap up the story and make this the final book. I was never particularly passionate about the previous books but they had an interesting enough plot so I have read them all, but I was really hoping this would be the last.

This book was bad! To the point of almost having a patronizing feel. By page 19, I was sick of the cliffhanger chapter endings. Each chapter rotated between the point-of-view of 3 people and each left me saying, dun dun dun...

The entire time I felt like I was reading Dan Brown's version of YA. Maybe it was the fact that I had just read on her website that she thinks cliffhangers are key to a good story, but they were just so overdone. I wasn't able to connect with the story because the chapters averaged 5 pages long so anytime I started to immerse myself in a scene the characters were switched on me. This not only switched the perspective but also the scene (often jumping continents) and the sides of good vs. evil. I read quickly in order to get to the end of the story, hoping that I could wrap it up and put it behind me once and for all. Alas, the story continues.

I also found the writing to fall flat throughout many of the chapters, which I don't remember in her previous books. The last few chapters were the easiest to read because the story was finally coming together and the characters were all in the same room, which helped immensely when she quickly flipped between people.

I doubt I will read the next book which is saying a lot because part of my hoarding obsession means that I have to have the complete set in a series, but I just don't think I could make it through another one.

this book is very exciting, i'm not finished withit yet just started,but i haven't had one of these books yet that it wasn't good! They are those kind of books that its hard to put down once you start reading. I think that if you purchase this series you won't be disapointed!

Sky is off with Ollie to run and hide from the council for a crime she did not commit. Ollie takes care of her as they run in Europe. She is going to talk to the queen about giving her protection when she runs into the guy she loves. Everything is about to change for her again.

I had read the three other Blue Blood Novels and enjoyed them too. Also enjoyed the Van Alen Legacy because it explained some things I was curious about. There is going to be more books because the story goes on and on. I really like to escape in books and I have enjoyed this trip a lot.

It really wrapped up a lot of things and things are heading to a good place. I love this series so much. I'm really glad I bought it and will treasure it.