Revelations, Book Three of the Blue Blood Series by Melissa De La Cruz

Publisher: Hyperion Books
Pages: 264

From the Cover: Have you ever wondered what secrets lurk behind the closed doors of New York City's wealthiest families? They're powerful, they're famous... they're undead.

Schuyler Van Alen's blood legacy has just been called into question - is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force.

When one of the Gates of Hell is breached by Silver Bloods in Rio de Janeiro, however, the Blue Bloods will need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high; the battle is bloody; and through it all, Carnavale rages on. And in the end, one vampire's secret identity will be exposed in a revelation that shocks everyone.

Schuyler Van Alen has been ripped from her ancestral home when Charles Force defeated Lawrence Van Alen is the Red Blood courts. Charles has forbidden contact with Lawrence and Oliver, her oldest and dearest friend, Conduit and familiar. She's forcable held in the Force mansion, the destitute cousin to the Force fortune.

She longs to return to her grandfather and mentor, longs for the familiar surroundings of Riverside Drive, longs to the arms of her forbidden lover, Jack. Her nemisis, Mimi Force, has taken to personal attacks, petty acts of thievery to make her existence in the Force household unbarable. Duchense has become a haven, where once she hated the school, now it was her safe port.

Only in the apartment where she meets her forbidden lover can she be her true self. Languish in his arms, his strength, his love. Charles would kill her, Mimi would rip her to shreds, Lawrence would force them apart, only their love keeps them together. She fears she would cease to exist without his love. But can it ever be a true love, promised to another as he was? He was to be bonded, given to another as it has been throughout eternity. Was there a way to change history?

Oliver is in love with her and she is breaking her one true friend's heart. It can't go on.

Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz, the third installment in the Blue Blood Saga, is a read that is heart wrenching. Our young heroine, Schuyler Van Alen has lost all that she has held dear. No longer allowed in her family home, she now lives in the Force Mansion. It's a lonely place without love, hope, or guidance. It's a cold and unfeeling place that suits Mimi's personality well, but is smothering Schuyler. The only saving grace is Jack Force's presence in the Mansion. It is for him that her heart beats. Mimi Force has become even more of a foe since Schuyler saved her life in Venice. The blood trial proved Mimi hadn't called the Silver Blood, but she knows Jack's true desires, how the Light can call to the Dark, taking it over with it's brightness. Schuyler is the Light, Daughter of Gabrielle, Allegra Van Alen. Jack Force, Abbadon, one of the Dark, Angel of Destruction, has always been drawn towards the Light. He wants Schuyler with even breathe of his being, but the bonding of Mimi and Jack has been announced. He knows there is a way to break the bond that binds himself to Mimi, but is he strong enough to win. Mimi Force, Aezarl, one of the Dark, Angel of Death, has always been able to call him back, into her deathily loving arms. Death and Destruction have always gone together, would always belong to each other. What has gone wrong this time? Why is he lying to her? Will she have to destroy him to save him? It is Vampire Law and Lore to kill those who stray from their twins. So, who will prevail?

Revelations was the strongest book in the series so far. It's an incredible teenage angst book, torn between two lovers, who want to belong together, each with the knowledge that it is an impossible task to fulfill. Each book not only builds upon themselves, but provides the foundation of the story as yet to be unfolded. I enjoyed this entry into the Blue Blood Saga greatly and recommend to those who love YA, forbidden love, and vampires gone wild. The end of the story is a shocker, where the Silver Bloods lets the force be felt. It is an excellent addition to the Blue Blood Saga. For more information, you can visit the Blue Blood website or Melissa De La Cruz' website. The Van Alen Legacy, the fourth installment in the Blue Blood Saga is due to be released October 9, 2009 (there are some sites stating September 1, 2009). I can hardly wait to read it.

********Spoiler Alert********

To understand Jack's POV, you can read Jack's Story here, found on Ms. De La Cruz' website. If you desire to read the series, wait until Revelations is complete before reading Jack's story.

Here's a peek at Ms. De La Cruz' newly released book trailer for the Blue Blood Saga to date.

Masquerade, Book Two of the Blue Blood Series by Melissa De La Cruz

Publisher: Hyperion Paperbacks
Pages: 307

From the Cover: Schuyler Van Alen wants an explanation for the mysterious deaths of young vampires. With her best friend, Oliver, Schuyler travels to Italy in the hope of finding the one man who can help---her grandfather. Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly under way for the Four Hundred Ball, an exclusive gala hosted by the city's wealthy, powerful, and unhuman---a true Blue Blood affair........

Schuyler Van Alen was introduced in Blue Bloods as a young blue blood, vampire, who has just started to show her true blue blood lines. She attends Duchesne, a prestigious high school for the rich and famous, as well as vampire, in New York City. There have been attacks from the legendary Silver Bloods that the committee no longer believes to exist. With the death of Schuyler's grandmother, Cordelia who has in reality entered her resting cycle to be reborn, Schuyler has been sent to Venice to locate her self-imposed exiled grandfather, Lawrence Van Alen. It must also be remember that these souls, all except Schuyler's, have been reborn many times, reincarnated or recycled, transplanted to America since the original Mayflower Crossing doomed to life on Earth for helping the fallen angel, Lucifer. All Blue Bloods have renounced any allegiance that they once had with Lucifer whose few remaining followers are the master of death, the Silver Bloods. Charles Force (The Angel Michael) and Allegra Van Alen (The Angel of White) were the only two angels who left on their own accord. Allegra because she couldn't bear to part from her parents, Lawrence and Cordelia, and Michael because he couldn't bear to part from Allegra.

Schuyler is reaching the point of depression, she has searched relentless for any sign of her grandfather without luck. Venice has been a disappointment with only one day remaining in Oliver's and her stay. As one last act of desperation, she visits Venice Biennale pavilions to wonder through the darken rooms and corridors where her grandfather may have once frequented. There she meets a young man who asks her why she is looking for the Professor, Lawrence Van Alen. Explaining that she's his grandfather and has a message from Cordelia in the ancient tongue. "Adiuvo Amicus Specialis. Nihilum cello. Meus victus est tui manus." I come to you for aid as a secret, special friend. I have nothing to hide. My life is in your hands. (page 48).

She is taken to a palace where she in fact does meet her grandfather, who is also the young man from the Biennale, able to shift shapes. She explains her dire predicament and that the Silver Bloods have returned. Lawrence either cannot or will not help her. She returns home more frustrated than before she left. Upon her return, it is the night of the Four Hundred Ball. Upon Schuyler's returned, she finds she must attend and Oliver, being a Red Blood, will not be allowed to attend.

Mimi Force (The Angel of Death - Azrael) has also been busy, not only with the Four Hundred Ball, but with planning an unsanctioned Masquerade party following the Ball. Only the best of the blue bloods will be invited which will not include Schuyler Van Alen who Mimi's brother Jack (The Angel of Destruction - Abbadon) seems to have an unreasonable attraction to. She knows that he, in his previous lives, has always been attracted to Allegra (Schuyler's comatose mother), The Angel of White, the light always calls to the dark. Mimi needs to device a way to get Schuyler out of the way if she hopes one day to have a life with Jack.

Jack and Mimi have been reborn many times, but this is the first time as twins, brother and sister. Maybe this is a sign that in this life, Schuyler will be his chosen one. He is incredibly attracted to her, and although, he realizes it may actually be an attraction to the light, he can't help himself when he stumbles upon her alone at the Masquerade. He does what he has been forbidden to do and steals a passionate kiss from the lips of Schuyler from behind his masquerade mask, with no one the wiser.

Kingsley is a new student at Duchesne and impossibly arrogant. Bliss Llewellyn is attracted as is Mimi Force. Kingsley seems to know the dark secrets that no one is allowed to talk about and he dabbles in the dark arts, spells that are not allowed. As he entices Bliss with how to ward off the Silver Bloods who seems to be drawn to her; he is, at the same time, trying to coax Mimi Force into performing the dark art spells. Only is he everything he appears to be?

With fear for Schuyler, Lawrence Van Alen does return to New York only to find Schuyler has become ill and may fall into a coma like her mother if she doesn't take a familiar to feed upon. Oliver, her conduit, is her only true friend, but when Schuyler asks him to also be her familiar, to feed from him, he cannot agree. Oliver is in love with Schuyler if she could only see. Fearing for Schuyler's death, he reluctantly agrees. But after the feeding is accomplished, Schuyler knows it was wrong; she has seen into his Red Blood soul and knows his secret and his love.

Kingsley tempts Mimi Force to try to call a Silver Blood to kill Schuyler Van Alen. Mimi is almost at the end of her rope with Jack's attraction to Schuyler and the only way to fix the problem is to remove it. She agrees to try to call the Silver Blood. What she doesn't know and apparently Kingsley does that this is an offense that has the highest punishment, death. Not just the death in this life, but never to exist again, blood drain and burned. Will Mimi be put to death? Who is Kingsley really? Who will figure out the truth? Can Schuyler save her one true enemy, Mimi Force? Does she even want to try?

Masquerade is the Second Book in the Blue Blood Series by Melissa De La Cruz. It continues the world of the Blue Blood Vampires as well as the story of the Silver Bloods. Schuyler Van Alen is a very alluring heroine. She's stronger than she thinks after living with Cordelia all of these years and never having a mother. She is strongly attracted to Jack, but knows he will always belong to Mimi as he as for centuries, Death and Destruction. But Jack is a hero that wants to find the light, who desperately wants to leave the darkness behind. I was drawn to Jack's sense of fairness, he appears to have grown and maybe he will find the light this time. It is because of Jack that Schuyler will attempt a blood reading that may lead to her death, not everyone can survive the blood reading. Oliver is the other hero in the story and sadly he is attracted to Schuyler, it is a very confusing time for our young heroes and heroine. Mimi Force is an anti-heroine, one who would take over the story if allowed, she will have to grow and change if she has any hope of keeping Jack by her side. I loved this second installment in the Blue Blood Series. It helped fill in some of the missing pieces and expands from the first book as well as bring the characters to life, showing some of their true personalities. This is excellent YA reading, and I'm looking forward to Revelations. For more information about all of the books in the Blue Blood Series as well as many others, please visit Melissa De La Cruz' site.


Gratuitous Video of Lily Allen ~ The Fear ~ What I'm Currently Listening To --
It just felt right for reading this book.

Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

Publisher: Hyperion Books
Pages: 320


From the Cover: Schuyler Van Alen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York City private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes to the Prada and pearls worn by her classmate. But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler's life changes dramatically. The death of a popular schoolmate haunts her in unexpected ways. And the strangest of all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing a sudden interest in her.....

When Schuyler shows her grandmother, Cordelia, the blue marks running up and down her arms, she is freaked out by Cordelia's relaxed manner. She tells Schuyler that it's time to see Dr. Pat. Who's Dr. Pat? Schuyler's mother has been in a coma almost since Schuyler's birth. She has no one, other than Cordelia, except for Oliver, her tried and true friend since second grade who always has had time for her. He, like Schuyler, is an outcast at their prestigious school. Mimi and Jack Force have been the bane of her existence, but now Jack Force has noticed her, even knows her name. What is happening in her life? Oliver is hurt by Jack's interest, she can't afford to lose his friendship.

Now, suddenly, the Committee has asked her to join their exclusive social club. When she attends the first Committee meeting, they try to tell her that she is turning into a vampire, and will eventually desire the Red Bloods as a food source. Vampires don't die, but are reborn generation after generation, by implanting DNA. But, suddenly, a vampire is killed, Aggie was only 16 years old and will never live again. Cordelia warns Schuyler of the Silver Bloods, their ancient enemy, which she believes has returned. But there are secrets, some that Schuyler's is keeping and some that she doesn't know, with Cordelia's death; who will help and protect Schuyler now? Who are the Silver Bloods and what does it have to do with the Mayflower crossing? Who is killing the Blue Bloods?

Blue Bloods was an excellent read and a great young adult urban fantasy novel published in 2006 We've all suffered Schuyler's doubts and fears. It was an easy read and interesting take on the Mayflower crossing and why. Currently the follow-up book, Masquerade is available. If you want to try a new take on vampirism, try Blue Bloods, you won't regret your decision. Visit Ms. De La Cruz's site @ http://melissa-delacruz.com/ for more information about the books and to see the trailer.