Book Review: The Van Alen Legacy - Melissa de la Cruz

They're young, fabulous, and fanged...
And they're under threat. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods, the city's vampire elite, now find themselves in an epic battle for their very existence.
But the Silver Bloods are not the only worry, as the Blue Bloods are struggling to cope with dangers to the heart as well. Schuyler and Jack must decide if true love is worth facing destiny's wrath - and Mimi's. - From the back of the book.

*If you have not yet read Revelations, do not read any further if you do not wish to be spoiled.*

The Van Alen Legacy is the fourth instalment in the popular series, Blue Bloods, by Melissa de la Cruz. I recommend that you read these in order, because of a complex plot, that runs throughout the whole series. Because of this, if you haven't read the first three books in the series: Blue Bloods, Masquerade and Revelations, then this book will be hard to understand, and wont make any sense.

The Blue Bloods series is very much like Gossip Girl, but with vampires. It has all the glitz and glamour, and fashion and parties, but it has something more. The plots are complex and interesting, making it a very fast page turner, and I think this book is the best. It has strayed from the Gossip Girl kind of book, and this is not a bad thing. There is more depth, and more reality to this book, something that I think more people would be able to relate to. For example, Melissa de la Cruz has taken into account the current economic crisis, and has woven that into her book, with many of the privileged vampire families facing bankruptcy. If you add to this the tragic events of Revelations, the third book in the series, when the majority of the Conclave were murdered in a surprise Silver Blood attack, the sophisticated New York Blue Bloods have come to the end of their glamorous lifestyle.

The Blue Bloods know that there is something wrong. But, the Elders do not seem to acknowledge this, and therefore, it is left to Mimi, Jack, Schuyler, Oliver and Bliss to sort things out.

The Van Alen Legacy begins a year after Revelations ended. Schuyler and Oliver have been on the run from the Conclave for a year, and their little adventure has only deepened their relationship. Schuyler has put Jack Force out of her mind, and now she only has eyes for Oliver. As the book starts, they are in Paris, hoping to meet with the head of the European Coven, to see if she can keep Schuyler safe from the New York Conclave, who believe she was the one who murdered her own grandfather and former Regis, Lawrence Van Alen.

Mimi has been out on a Venator mission to find Jordan, Bliss' little sister, who had been carrying the powerful spirit of the Watcher, Sophia, inside of her. Mimi changes in this novel, probably the most out of any of the characters. At the beginning of the series, Mimi was just a spoiled, full-of-herself, rich brat. In this novel, she shows that she does in fact have caring and compassionate nature, something which will please even the most hard hearted of readers.

Jack too is on a Venator mission. He has gone to save Schuyler from the Silver Bloods in Paris. This, once again, puts Schuyler and Jack together, which is complicated, as Jack has been promised to Mimi, yet, he only loves Schuyler. This presents Schuyler with a choice, a choice which she has no idea which way to go. She loves Jack, but she can't hurt Oliver, who loves her just as much as she loves Jack. The romance between Jack and Schuyler is forbidden, which only makes it more appealing. It has been a major part of the plot, and this storyline seems like it is going to stick around for a while.

Lastly, Bliss Llewellyn. She has the largest part in the book, I think. She is harbouring the spirit of Lucifer insider her. Not one of the Blue Bloods seems to have noticed that the Llewellyn family aren't what they thought they were, and no one notices that Bliss is slowly being held prisoner in her own body. Every morning, she must remember who she is, where she is, and what she is doing. She struggles to hold on to the little bit of herself that she has left, and she must figure out a way to get rid of Lucifer. And the only way to do that is to... But I wont give that away. You'll have to read it and find out yourself.

Every book in the Blue Bloods series is better than the last. The Van Alen Legacy is by far the best book in the series, and it mixes drama, romance, fantasy and action all into one amazing book. It certainly kept me turning pages until the small hours in the morning, and I'm sure that it will keep you up too. I cannot wait to go out and buy Keys to the Repository, and I am very eagerly awaiting Misguided Angels, which comes out in October.

I give it 5 Feet!