Christmas Countdown: Day 10: Misguided Angel Review + Revelations Giveaway!

When I said Melissa de la Cruz had a few more tricks up her sleeve, I was right.

Though Misguided Angel has less intensity in terms of action, the development in the plot made up for it, as a lot is happening and unfolding as the story moves. It takes a while for the pace to pick up though. Unlike the Van Alen Legacy, Misguided Angel had a more relaxed tone overall, more tamed than the previous book. It did not lack in action and thrill, but there were few compared to the other books.

Title: Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz
Pages: 256
Release Date: October 26, 2010
Published by: Hyperion Book CH
Source: From Melissa for review (thank you!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:
After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler fled to Florence--with her forbidden love, Jack. Now the two of them must embark on the mission Schuyler was destined to complete: to find and protect the seven gates that guard earth from Lucifer, lord of the Silverbloods. As the Blue Blood enclave weakens yet further, fate leads Schuyler closer to a terrifying crossroads--and a choice that will determine the destiny of all vampires.

Misguided Angel picks up where The Van Alen Legacy left off. Schuyler is on the run, but this time with her beloved, Jack, the Angel Abaddon. Schuyler is embarking on an adventure of her own as she fights to fulfill a legacy that was left to her, finding the gates and their keepers to prevent the Morningstar, Lucifer, from ressurrecting.

Schuyler and Jack, however short-lived it may be, had time to finally be free and show their love for each other as much as they want to. The moments between them are getting more intense, a lot sweeter than the last, and I have to admit that I miss it during the latter part of the book where they barely appeared.

A lot of surprises are in store for the Blue Bloods fans as there are interesting developments that happened in this book. One of which, is between the Angel Azazel, the newly elected Regent, Mimi Force and Schuyler's friend, and former familiar, Oliver.

Mimi Force and Oliver Perry being civil? No, friendly? It felt like I was in an alternate universe, but somehow it made sense. Both of them are hurting, trying to get over the love that they have lost. No one would understand what each other was going through better than them. They found unlikely allies in each other. Yet another interesting thing I didn't see coming in this story. In light of their closeness, I feel like Oliver will, once again, play a major part in the next book. Is it possible for Mimi Force to have another love?

Readers get a deeper glimpse into the politics surrounding the rest of the Blue Bloods. Mimi's role as a Regent has left the Coven in shambles, and the Angel of Death has to face some struggles of her own. Elders do not trust one of the Angels that has led them to their fall, urged them to revolt against the Almighty. We see another side of Mimi as a young leader of a Coven amidst the ongoing war with the Silver Bloods.

Only in this book did I fully realize that the world of the Blue Bloods is vast, big. For the first time since the first book, Misguided Angel has focused not on Jack and Schuyler, but instead introduced other characters who play major parts in the story's entirety as well. It was a bit confusing to decipher at first, but Melissa was gradually able to tie all of these separate stories together neatly.

Readers who have lingering questions left after reading the Van Alen Legacy will find themselves asking more questions in this book. That's what I felt while I was reading through Misguided Angel. As some questions are answered, a few new ones appeared. What vital role will Deming Chen play? What will happen to Jack? How will Oliver's newfound closeness with Mimi affect the lives entangled with theirs? And most importantly, will Schuyler be able to succeed in fulfilling her legacy? To my frustration and dismay, we readers still have to wait a while to find the answers to all these questions.

Overall, Misguided Angel is an enjoyable read. I felt like it was a prequel to something big, a bit of an introduction into something massive that will surprise us! Melissa might be holding out the best parts for an explosive end! If the purpose of this book is to build enough interest for a stunning conclusion of the Blue Bloods series, then it has done its job very well!

My rating

Content (plot, story flow, character):


Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:

-----

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Melissa was really nice and she provided us a copy of the third book in the Blue Bloods series, REVELATION, for giveaway! The book is included in our prize pack, so if you have your sights on winning it, you better leave a comment on this review so you can win it along with other awesome books! It will earn you an entry on our Prize Pack giveaway on Christmas Day!

You can find a list of the other Countdown posts by clicking on the button on the upper right side of this page. Or you can click HERE.

To earn extra points, help us spread the word by tweeting, posting on Facebook, making a blog post, linking to your sidebar or posting the button on your blog. 1 point each! Make sure you leave an e-mail address where we can contact you!

This is open internationally!

Review: The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

One of the few series that made me love the YA genre is Melissa de la Cruz' Blue Bloods. She was one of the few authors I've discovered by accident as I was making my way through an unfamiliar genre, and seeing her work loved by many made me happy as we are both Filipinas.

Title: The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz
Pages: 369
Release Date: October 6, 2009
Published by: Disney/Hyperion
Source: Bought
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

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.

The fourth installment of the Blue Bloods series is by far my most favorite book. The things that were waiting to be revealed in the previous three books, and the most crucial parts, the turning point of the whole story of the Blue Bloods, all of it takes place in the Van Alen Legacy.

I really admire Melissa because she is one of the few authors who was able to put a different, fresh twist to the often cliche, and one of the most written about creatures of all, Vampires and Angels. I do believe it's a very challenging and daunting task to be able to weave a whole new world with these two prominent creatures featured.

Melissa's story is very elaborate, and yet again, I found another author who is great in world building. What's different with Melissa's writing is that you picture the Blue Bloods life as a whole, not just the place where they live but the society, the hierarchy, their lives in a very convincing way.

In this book, we see Schuyler maturing by leaps and bounds as she gets accustomed to being the half-blood vampire she was born to be. On the run from the Clave, with only her best friend Oliver by her side, Schuyler struggles to find the answers to the events that lead to the death of her grandfather, while amidst the war between the Blue Bloods and the rising threat of the Silver Bloods.

I am satisfied with how Schuyler's character has developed in this book. Along with the discovery of a lot of the secrets that were left hanging in the previous three books, Schuyler made some difficult decisions that will ultimately define her role in the Blue Bloods' world.

The complicated love web involving the Force Twins, Mimi (Azazel) and Jack (Abaddon), Schuyler, and Oliver took a surprising sharp turn with Kingsley in the picture. I love how tangled their lives and relationships are, it was one of the things I love about reading The Blue Bloods series. Melissa was able to make this very complicated web the least confusing part in the story. By the end of the book a lot of realizations and hard decisions were made. I have to say that Jack Force is one of my most favorite male leads in YA. Not only is he Abaddon, one of the two most formidable Generals of Lucifer, but his character really is Abaddon personified. Strong and steadfast despite of the trials, like his love for Schuyler.

For the first time in the whole series, my heart ached for Mimi. The cruel, cold-hearted Azazel felt more "human", and more emotional in this book. I love how Mimi helped her twin brother, Jack, without hesitation, even when she knew that Jack was there to save the girl he really loves, and Mimi knew it's not her.

The Van Alen Legacy by far is the most action filled book in the series, and it's always a delight to read books where you are left guessing what happens next and you can't wait to flip on the pages and continue on reading just so you can find out how it ends. The build-up was impressive in this book, and the suspense just keeps you going to the very end.

At first I thought that extending the story to a fourth book is quite a stretch already, but I should have know that Melissa had a few more tricks up her sleeve and put most of them out in this book. Schuyler's journey hasn't ended yet, it's just starting.

My rating

Content (plot, story flow, character):


Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:

Can anyone tell me who the girl is in the cover?