BabyCat's Book Critique: Melissa de la cruz

Synopsis: There’s an allure to vampire tales that have seduced readers for generations. From Bram Stoker to Stephanie Meyer and beyond, vampire stories are here to stay. For those fresh-blooded fans of paranormal romance or for those whose hunt and hunger never dies, these stories have what readers want! This collection of original tales comes from some of the hottest, most popular, and best-selling YA writers, including:

• Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Tithe)

• Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty)

• Melissa De La Cruz (Blue Blood)

• Cassandra Clare (City of Bones)

• Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires)

• Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie (Wicked)

• Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof, Queen of Cool)

• Kelley Armstrong (Women of Otherworld)

• Maria V. Snyder

• Sarah Rees Brennan

• Lili St. Crow

• Karen Mahoney

• Dina James

They will make everyone a sucker for eternal kisses.

The Review: If you love the paranormal genre than you will love this book. This is a collection of short stories by several talented writers , including Melissa De La Cruz (Blue Bloods), Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires), and Cassandra Clare (City of Bones).

Each individual story takes a different unique view into the dark world of vampires. I'm usually not a compilation type girl. But the lure of reading Rachel Cane's short story made me want to buy it. By buying it for one story it exposed me to other author's literary style in the supernatural genre.

I found myself going to the bookstore with a list of books I wouldn't normally purchase. Each individual story was like an appetizer that left me craving more.

If your like me, constantly searching for new and better authors to read I highly recommend this book, just beware the title says "story's of blood and desire" but there was no desire...just blood.

How many paws:

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Synopsis:With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver's brokenhearted. And only the cunning Mimi seems to be happily engaged.Young, fanged, and fabulous, Melissa de la Cruz's vampires unite in this highly anticipated fourth installment of the Blue Bloods series.

Review:
Melissa De La Cruz’s Blue Blood series continues to deliver with the “Van Alen Legacy”. If you’re a fan of the fist three books your going to love this one. The story starts with Oliver and Schuyler on the run from the Venators in Paris, Mimi in Brazil looking for Jordan, and Bliss in the Hampton’s trying to figure out how to seize control back from the “Dark Passenger“. Basically just a little time after Revelations left off.

I personally love the Blue Blood series but this book did take some time to get into. The writing flowed really well, I just think the formatting of the book could have been planned better. Cruz is no stranger to writing a chapter focusing on one character and then the next chapter writing about another. It worked well in the previous books because the character interacted with each other more, in The Van Alen Legacy the group of characters didn’t cross paths until the end book. Each individual spent so much time apart in the beginning it was hard to focus on the plot. You jumped from Schuyler to Mimi, Mimi to Bliss, and Bliss back to Schuyler, it was infuriating. Just when you got into the chase in Paris, Cruz switched you to Brazil, and when you got into Brazil she switched you to New York. It drove me completely nuts flip-flopping between each one with a different story, different place, different thoughts. I just couldn’t connect. Finally I just sectioned off the chapters labeled Sky and read those completely through, Then I did the same for Mimi and Bliss. I sectioned the chapters off until their storylines crossed paths again then I read the book normally. Sectioning the stories made it a much easier read and I enjoyed it so much more.

It was amazing to visualize each character’s growth between the first book to this one, Mimi‘s not a total “Ice Queen“ anymore, Sky learned how much she would sacrifice for love, and Bliss learned to take control of the situation.

All in all a fantastic read! This is definitely one of those books that leaves you begging for more!

I can’t wait for Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods, #5)!!!

The Questions: (max 5*)

YA or Adult-- YA

Tearjerker -- ** I didn't cry but my sister did at the end of the book.

Comedy--* not so much in this one.

Action-- **** a lot of running and fighting.

Drama-- **** Drama, Drama , Drama!

Gruesome--N/a

Love-- *** The love triangle isn't the main focus in this book.

Worth the money to buy?--Yes buy it if you bought the first 3. If you haven't I suggest buying those first.

How many paws: