Title: Blue Bloods
Author: Melissa De La Cruz
No. of Pages: 302
First Released: 2006
Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers): “Schuyler Van Alen is confused about what is happening to her. Her veins are starting to turn blue, and she’s starting to crave raw meat. Soon, her world is thrust into an intricate maze of secret societies and bitter intrigue. Schuyler has never been a part of the trendy crowd at her prestigious New York private school. Now, all of a sudden, Jack Force, the most popular guy in school, is showing an interest in her. And when one of the popular girls is found dead, Schuyler and Jack are determined to get to the bottom of it.
Schuyler wants to find out the secrets of the mysterious Blue Bloods. But is she putting herself in danger?”
Comments and Critique: Just when I think I have read every vampire myth known to man, I discover yet another version, and I can’t say that I am disappointed. I love how authors are managing to take something old and well-known and put their own spin on it. Melissa De La Cruz does just that with her version of the vampire mythology. In hers, vampires are not evil but wealthy, privileged, and talented. Vampires can be killed but their spirit (and memories) live on to be reincarnated. There is even a tie-in to the nephilim and the fallen angels mythology. You have to appreciate an author who can multi-task like that!
In Blue Bloods, Ms. De La Cruz is definitely setting the stage for future books. The mysterious secrets of the Blue Bloods are compelling, but the overarching mystery and danger is more intriguing. She leaves many questions unanswered, thereby requiring that one continues to read the series for satisfaction.
Unfortunately, I personally found it very difficult to care about a majority of the characters. I do not have the money, the name, or access to the social elite, nor do I want to have access to it. I found an unappealing focus on brands and image that bothered me. There is more to life than wearing the latest fashions or owning the right brands. Even though Ms. De La Cruz did highlight the charitable organizations founded by or sponsored by the Blue Bloods, I felt there was an unacceptable focus on image rather than deeds that does not feel like the right message to pass along to young adults.
Similarly, part of the appeal of the vampire mythology is that anyone may become one. They are mysterious and select, but they will choose people from all walks of life to live with them through eternity. Unfortunately, Ms. De La Cruz’s version dispenses with all of that and makes it an exclusive club in which one must be born to become members. The possibilities are no longer endless but rather very, very limited. It is one of the few disappointing aspects of the book.
In spite of my concerns about the exclusivity and wrong messaging to teens, I did enjoy this new take on an old premise; it is definitely unique. The main mystery is interesting; while I might not care about the characters as much as I should, I do want answers and will continue to read the series to get them. Any fan of vampire lore will appreciate the fresh take on this mythology, as I did. I look forward to the next book in the series and will recommend Blue Bloods to my vampire-loving friends.
I purchased this with my own money. This fits the requirements for the 100+ Reading Challenge, the Read ‘n Review Challenge, the Random Reading Challenge (because my children picked it out for me), and the Thriller and Suspense Reading Challenge.
