The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

 

Okay, so before I start rambling about how much I loved this book, I just want to make it clear that this is book four in the Blue Bloods series (which I love), so if you haven't read the other three, I highly suggest, highly recommend, that you do.

AND, of course, to explain why I decided to write a review even though I never reviewed the other ones (which I might, because they're really, really good), it's really just because I finished The Van Alen Legacy, like, five seconds ago, and I loved it. So I decided to share my love of the series, and of this book.
Beware, because there will be SPOILERS. Read at your own risk.
...

Okay, so I'll start by saying that I loved the parts that were set in Rio, because I'm Brazilian, and it's very nice to see a city in my country featured in a book series that I love. Also, I've never been to Rio, so it's always nice to read about a place you've never seen.

And Kingsley and Mimi, my favorite characters ever. I wish I had seen a lot more of them than I actually did in this book. I think there was way too much Schuyler (that's just a fancy way to write Skyler) and Jack, and way too little Mimi and Kingsley, whom I find are way more interesting.

I felt really sad for Oliver at the end of this book. In the first two books, I really didn't like him at all, it was sort of like I felt about Simon from The Mortal Instruments in the first book, like he was just in the way of Clary and Jace (in this case, Jack and Schuyler).

But when I read Misguided Angel (which I read before Revelations and The Van Alen Legacy because I needed to know what would happen, but couldn't find them in my bookstore), I started to totally switch sides. I started to like Oliver and Mimi a lot more than I had in the first two books.

And I guess that's sort of why I like them better now. But that's to be talked about another time, so I don't go off topic.

Anyway, you probably want to hear about plots, and character development, and I am rambling endlessly about the characters. Oh, well. The characters are my favorite part.

Anyway 2.0, my favorite of the three storylines (or plots, if you prefer), which go like Mimi, Schuyler and Bliss, was Bliss's, even though I loved the Kingsley/Mimi moments, I also loved that Dylan was around, and her general plot was more interesting of all three.

I liked the idea that Lucifer was there with her, in her body, and in her mind, and I thought it was interesting to read about Bliss's perspective when the Visitor (Lucifer, the Morningstar *roll of eyes*) was speaking to her father (annoying Forsyth Llewellyn) through her.

And (MAJOR SPOILER) the sacrifice that she did when she was supposed to kill Schuyler was exactly what I wanted her to do. Obviously, though, I didn't want her to die, but deep down I knew she wasn't going to, what with reading Misguided Angel (book five) and Lost in Time (book six), even though she wasn't really a part of those books much.

I know that Bliss has her own series now, (MAJOR SPOILER 2.0) to search for the Moon's Children (which is TVD speech for werewolves) that Allegra told her are important to save the Blue Bloods legacy from the creepy Silver Bloods.

And you know, now that I think about it, it would be cool to either have a book about the Silver Bloods' perspective, or Kingsley's, because I think it would be interesting to know exactly what it is to be a Silver Blood.

Obviously, if you've read these books that I'm rambling about, you know that they feed on other vampires, and their blood turns silver, and that they carry other people in their minds. Which is probably very crazy, depending on how many people you've killed, or fed on, or whatever.

So that would be really interesting, and I'm getting off topic thinking about what I would like to know about the Blue Bloods series, which I love so much, and can't believe it took me so long to buy it, and get into it.

Anyway, I'm going to take my rambly brain to listen to some music, and think about all the spin-off Blue Bloods series I would love to read.

Like, maybe a spin-off of their past lives, like there was in Lost in Time, with Allegra, and Charles. I think that was a past life, at least.

Off topic again. ANYWAY, I hope you liked this rambly long review, and that if you've read this book you'll tell me what you think, and if you haven't and you got this far and got spoiled (shame on you), I hope you will read it now, because it is a very amazing book.

Bye!!

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

The beginning of this book actually started with the end of it, and I liked that, because it made for a very surprising ending. The sort of ending I couldn't imagine in a million years, because the first chapter gives you this idea that stays in your head, and when you're coming close to the end, you're like how the hell could that happen, and then you realize that it didn't really happen at all.

I loved the little newspaper pieces that were inserted before each chapter. I thought they shared insight into other things related to the chapters, and the story, in general.

I also loved the dynamics between the couples, which I won't spoil, because they're not mentioned in the description. They're realistic about their situations, but passionate, too. It's something that could totally have happened in real life, back then. At least, I think it is.

Character wise, I really, really liked Diana. Because she's different, and not dull, or extremely crazy, like some other characters that frustrated me to hell in all three books from this series that I've read so far.

Anyway, she is a very amazing character, the coolest character for me. She's witty, out-of-control, and so very fun to read about. She's the sort of character I would love to be, because she gets to do crazy things that I would love to do.

Elizabeth is very mature, and very nice. I can't relate to being nice that much, but I totally suffered with her, and hated her enemies more than she did, which is crazy. She was an interesting character, with a backbone, but a bit of a nice-girl complex, with that tendency to live hell just to save her family. It's justified, but sad, too.

And Henry had me from the beginning. I'm a sucker for bad boys with soft sides, and that is more or less what he is, sort of. And that's not to say that he's typical. He's his own bad boy, and not a copy of the many others we read about. I'm sort of not the best person to talk about him because I am a sucker for witty boys with good hearts. Think Will Herondale.

And my most hated character of all, Penelope. I think I have never hated a character as much in the life of me. That I can remember at least. Every time she came around, I was like 'Will someone please drown this bitch?'. It didn't happen, but she has to go down eventually.

This book was a very intense trip in many ways. I felt everything, from anger to happiness to sadness, and all other things in between.

There were times that I seriously wanted to throw this book at the wall and start screaming (which I didn't do - although I really wanted to), in a good way.

Because if you read a book, you have to get into it, and feel everything. Well, at least that's what I expect.

I loved the way it was written, the way it captured things just right, and the way the character's feelings were described, and everything else, really.

As soon as I was finished, I was dying to buy the second book. I just wanted to run to the bookstore and buy it, and it didn't go exactly like that. :(

Anyway, I highly suggest and recommend this book. It was amazing, and I was hooked from the moment I saw it at the bookstore (well, more like after the first two words).

This book reminded me of why I love books. Because it's so exciting to read books you really love.

Anyway, I hope you consider picking up this book, because you won't be disappointed. There's something in it for everyone, and the intrigue is crazy and so fun to read.

Okay, so bye. I hope that you enjoyed this review, and thank you for taking the time and putting with my rambling. Thank you, if you got this far, and even if you didn't. Bye. :)

BTW, if you read this book, please tell me what you think. Even if you didn't like it, I would like to know why. Other people's perspectives are always interesting to hear about. Maybe you'll see something I don't. :)