Five of the Buzz Girls are loose in LA -- oops, that sounds bad! But we really are at the RT convention, sponsored by RT Booklovers Magazine. The event culminates with a massive Teen Day event on Saturday!
Here I am with Dona, decked out for Melissa de la Cruz's awesome dinner party for YA authors at her home here in LA. Not only does fabulous Melissa have a to-die-for home, but she's also got the cutest husband and kids ever.
And, the guest list was extraordinary! From Melissa Marr (hard-working organizer of the RT-Con Teen Day Event on Saturday) to Alyson Noel and Carrie Ryan, there were interesting YA authors filling ever square foot. We ate, drank, and wrapped ourselves (ok, I did) in cozy blankets, hanging out on her deck until well past dark.
Here is Buzz Girl Tera with Sophie Jordan (
Firelight) and debut author Josephine Angelini
(Starcrossed).
It was fun to hear about all the new books coming out, and to talk about the state of the industry in general.
Here are Marley and Dona with the aforementioned YA goddess Alyson Noel, who is not only a great writer, but is also super sweet.
Here are Tina and Dona, I think right after the red velvet cake and chocolate mousse cups arrived. See those satisfied smiles? The food was really, really yummy!
But, around one AM we were hungry again, so we went up to Marley and Tina's room to order in some snacks.
Marley's holding up the fruit, but we really ate turkey burger and grilled cheese. All this writer talk makes us hungry, obviously!
Although we're missing our bee sisters Wendy and Steph a ton, we're having a great time so fa
I'm very excited to welcome the wonderful Melissa de la Cruz back to Biblio File. She's stopping by as part of her blog tour for the latest Blue Bloods book, Bloody Valentine.
I'm loving this in-between books that give us further insight to the Blue Bloods story. Will we see more of them?
Probably not in the near future, right now I am concentrating on the novels, since the story is really heating up in Book Six. But who knows. I always envisioned Blue Bloods as a huge world, a big universe, so never say never.
Will we get more of Allegra's back story? The one included in Bloody Valentine just whet my appetite for more.
Oh yes, there is a lot about Allegra in Lost in Time. I'm starting to peel back all those layers and reveal the core of her story.
You included a recipe in Oliver's story and the book says we'll see more of Freya in your adult summer release, Witches of East End. Do you like to cook? Will you please share your favorite recipe with us?
I love to cook but never have time, and there are a few more spellcipes in Witches of East End. My one go-to dish that I can still make, other than Mario Batali's insane sausage and chestnut stuffing at Thanksgiving and Christmas, is a penne pasta with broccoli and sausage. It's a variation on the one in the Joy of Cooking. Penne, garlic, broccoli, Italian sausage, red pepper. Cook the garlic and the sausage and the broccoli in that order. Cook the penne according to the directions on the box. You can add the red pepper in the beginning or the end. Combine everything and grate Parmigiano Reggiano over the top (the king of cheeses according to Mario Batali - I still miss his show “Molto Mario”) So easy even a writer can make it. :)
So far the mythology of vampires-as-fallen-angels has been very Christian and heavily influenced by Milton. In Misguided Angel, we get to really meet Deming Chen and hear about her twin Dehua. Deming is the Angel of Mercy, whom you name after the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Dehua is the Angel of Immortality, whom you name after the Queen of the West, who's the Chinese goddess of immortality. Why did you decide to bring in other religions? Will we see more of this blending? What steps (if any) do you think authors need to take when tweaking the characters and story of a faith that isn't theirs?
I always envisioned Blue Bloods as the alternate "true" history of the world, so of course other religions, and other faiths would be part of it from the beginning. I don't really see it as blending, since for me Blue Bloods follows a literary tradition - Milton's Paradise Lost is a literary work, not a religious one. So I don't feel tied to a certain religion, Blue Bloods was influenced by myths and legends, most of which are in the Christian tradition since that's what I grew up in. But most of the angel mythology I based it on is from Muslim and Hebrew myths.
I think authors should feel free to do what they want, faith-based stories have resonance, but we should feel free to create our art with
It is our pleasure to be hosting one of THE biggest names in the world of YA - Melissa de la Cruz. Her books have earned spots on the New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. She is the author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including
The Au Pairs series, the
Blue Bloods series, the
Ashleys series, the
Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel
Fresh off the Boat. The latest book in her Blue Bloods series,
BLOODY VALENTINE, released in December. You can find out more about Melissa and her amazing books on her
website or follow her on
Twitter.
Social Media Should Be Fun
by Melissa de la Cruz
We have come to a point in our culture where publishers are teaching their authors how to use social media. They ask that newbie authors take a class they offer called "digital bootcamp" so that they can learn how to use Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. to sell their books. Apparently I am one of the prime examples of an author using social media to much success. Ha!
This is so funny to me. Mostly because everything I do, especially self-promotion-wise, is based on, "Is this going to be fun?" In fact, most of my life decisions are based on answering that question with a hearty YES! So: I married my husband because he makes me laugh (funniest guy I know), I had a kid because I thought it would be a hoot to raise a rugrat (it's a lot of fun watching a kid grow up), I wanted to be a writer because writing is so much fun for me that my work is play (most of the time, except when it's hard, which is another blog). Most of my friends are really fun. They're witty and sharp and caustic and they drink too much and they used to smoke too much and together we've gotten into a lot of trouble over the years. My friends are the kind of people I can count on to meet me in Vegas for a w
I am so excited to have one of my favorite authors share a guest post on my blog today!! I met Melissa recently and I went totally fan-girl on her and she was the sweetest woman!!
Melissa De La Cruz has just released a
Blue Bloods novella,
Bloody Valentine, and she is here today to talk about her thoughts on romance.
_____________________________________________
I am Not A Romantic
By Melissa de la Cruz
I know. I feel like I've confessed to some deep dark secret especially with a book out called Bloody Valentine. I guess I should modify this to say, what I really mean is that I don't buy the notion of hearts and flowers, the feeling of being swept off your feet, the drama and the crisis, the heat and the infatuation of love. Love? Sure, I believe in love, but I've always been a practical person.
Then I fell in love. And god it was messy. It was dramatic and ecstatic and crazy and impractical and there was so much yelling and making out in bars and running down the streets screaming "I love you!!!" and the crying. Oh the crying. It was so unlike me. But it hooked me, and I have yet to shake it off. It's part of me now. I don't even know what I think about anything until I've talked it over with my husband. It's not that we even agree on everything (in fact we disagree a lot), but I don't trust my opinion until I've heard his.
Our first months together were some of the most romantic moments of my life. We knew after two weeks together that we had found "the one". Truly, it was love at first sight. The most clichéd of clichés. But isn't that always the way? I was 25, and thought a lot of myself, that I was worldly and sophisticated, a cutting-edge New Yorker. He was 22, fresh out of college, and we met at a party in Brooklyn. He was wearing a thriftstore 70s wing-collared shirt over a white t-shirt, worn jeans, Jack Purcell sneakers, with his dark honey blonde hair falling over a smooth forehead. He was skinny and cute and tall. He leaned against the kitchen counter and knocked back a shot with his group of tall, cute architect friends, looking so macho and cool. Which is funny to remember now, because he later admitted he did it only to impress me since he knew I was watching and he's a proud girly-drink man. Well, it worked. Romance is a game, and we both played it. I ranted once about the odious stereotype of Manic Pixie Dream Girls, and he told me, but you're MY Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Which has to be the most romantic thing he's ever said to me. And I still get a thrill that among the moms at our preschool I'm known as the one with the "cute husband."
But even so, I think a lot of romance is bunk. Sappy and corny and cheap. But I still love weddings and I love a good love story. When I wrote Bloody Valentine, I thought the most romantic thing in the story is when their love falters, when Schuyler is able to stop loving Jack. Because love is always a choice, and it's one you can walk away from, no matter how much you love someone. You can still walk away. It's the freedom to leave that makes love so wonderful. Because you know he loves you when he doesn't walk away. He stays. And if you're lucky, he'll make
Publisher: Hyperion Book (CH)
Hardcover: 160 Pages
Series: Blue Bloods novella
Genre: YA Fantasy
Book from Publisher*
From Goodreads Vampires have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shapeshift and more. But in matters of the heart, no one, not even the strikingly beautiful and outrageously wealthy Blue Bloods, has total control. In Bloody Valentine, bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz offers readers a new story about the love lives of their favorite vamps - the passion and heartache, the hope and devastation, the lust and longing. Combined with all the glitz, glamour, and mystery fans have come to expect, this is sure to be another huge hit in the Blue Bloods series.
Review
BLOODY VALENTINE, by Melissa de la Cruz, is the highly anticipated novella about the romances in this series. I love this series anyways so I planned on reading it the second I heard about it, but another plus was the cover. Isn't it absolutely gorgeous? It follows the same theme of the other covers, but I think the flower sealed the deal to make it my favorite so far!
This novella is split into three short stories. The first being about Oliver meeting a lady friend in NYC. This was the shortest of the three. It definitely had a bittersweet ending but it definitely gave me some closure. The second story is about Allegra when she was in school and how she met Schuyler's father. I really enjoyed this story. So far in the seriess Allegra hasn't given us much info about her life before being in the hospital. It was exciting to read about Cordelia again (I missed her!) and a younger (and somewhat bratty) Charles.
The last story was the longest, and most anticipated. Jack and Schuyler were preparing for their bonding. If you didn't think these two were meant to be together before, now is the time to give it up! I love how their relationship has grown. They are more attuned to each other now then ever and both would stop at nothing to protect the other. Their relationship is beautiful and magnificent to read about. There was a little action in this piece but the main focus was their bonding. Melissa pulled out all the stops on making their ceremony breathtaking.
Fans of this series will want to pick this up as soon as they can. It is a lovely little treat and gives a little more insight to this amazing vampire series.
Check out Melissa de la Cruz's Website, Blog, Twitter, and Facebook pages
My reviews of other books in the Blue Bloods Series
Misguided AngelMelissa de la Cruz
The plot has now split, so this gets a little Lord of the Rings-y with the first part of the book focusing on one plot line with some of our characters and the next part focusing on a different plot line with some other characters. And yes, I just compared Lord of the Rings with Blue Bloods. I meant only in structure. There are no orcs here.
The first part of the book gives us the next installment in the lives of Jack and Schuyler. After being offered the Countess's protection, they discover she's still in league with the Morningstar. Her protection, while luxe, is a prison. They escape to continue the Van Alen work of securing the gates, only to be chased across Italy by Venators. Lots of daring escapes and shaky alliances as the pair try to save the world and themselves.
The second third focuses on Mimi, who is now acting Regent and finding herself in way over her head. She finds a video of a vampire teen being held hostage and being threatened with black fire, which will destroy blue blood forever. Mimi must try to find the culprit, save the girl, and disguise the videos as teaser trailers for a new movie. Not to mention school.
The last part of the book focuses on Deming Chen, a Chinese blue blood and Venator who comes in to help Mimi catch the culprit as more vampires go missing and are threatened.
Through it all, we get snippets of vampire life in Florence in 1482 and something about to go horribly wrong. This part isn't totally fleshed out, but you can tell it will be big later.
Overall, I really liked this one. I liked the sweetness of the first part (let's face it, I just really like Schuyler) but I really got into the second and third part. I loved seeing a different side of Mimi and getting more of her inner voice. I think she grew a lot as a character and was given much more depth as she struggled with real responsibility and leadership instead of her vacuous life as an over privileged vampire brat/jilted lover. I also liked the introduction of Deming.* I think it's interesting how Deming is the spirit of Kuan Yin, the Angel of Mercy and her twin, Dehue, is Xi Wangmu, the Angel of Immortality. Until now, the mythology of the series has been very Miltonian and Christian. Kuan Yin (also spelled Guanyin) is from the Buddhist tradition-- she's the Bodhisattva of compassion. Xi Wangmu is the Chinese Queen Mother of the West (usually used in Daoist tradition, but she actually predates Daoism). She's the Goddess of Immortality and is in charge of the Peach Garden (where the peaches make you immortal. I now have a desire to track down a college reading I hadd on the Peach Garden. So this is a shift in the world we've seen so far. I get to interview de la Cruz in a few weeks and will be asking her about this!)
Overall, I really liked this book-- it's one of the best so far. I like that even though
Keys to the Repository Melissa de la Cruz
This is a Blue Bloods novel, but not part of the current story arc. However, it fits between The Van Alen Legacy and Misguided Angel if you want to beware of spoilers (and there are some.)
In it, we get repository files on our main characters. A lot of this information is review for fans of the series, but I could see it being useful for readers who don't have a memory for character detail like I do. One thing that was fun in these files was the redacted information (and guessing why it had been redacted) and some of the notes in the files from the scribes to each other.
Interspersed in these files are stories that fit into the regular Blue Bloods story arc. Many are "missing scenes"-- how Schuyler and Jack first started their clandestine meetings and how the ended, where Dylan went after fleeing New York, and more of the conversation between Mimi and Kingsley at the bar in The Van Alen Legacy. There is also a story about Bliss and how she first meets up with the Hounds of Hell (we'll FINALLY get this series in April!)
There is a lot of character and plot recap that was a bit boring as I tend to remember small details from stories (but where I put me keys? Who knows?!) BUT, I did really like the short stories that helped flesh out the story and characters and their relationships. Fans will skip portions of this, but looooooooooove the other parts.
Book Provided by... my local library
Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.
SPOILER ALERT
If you have not read the previous books in the Blue Bloods series there may be spoilers ahead
SPOILER ALERT
Publisher Disney Hyperion (October 26, 2010)
Kindle Edition: 272 pages
From Goodreads. 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 five remaining gates that guard the earth from Lucifer, lord of the Silver Bloods.
Back in New York, Mimi has been elected Regent of a crumbling coven. Struggling with her heartache over the loss of Kingsley and with her overwhelming desire to destroy Jack, she must focus all of her energy on a perilous new threat. Vampires are being abducted and their captors are planning to burn them alive online…for all the world to see. Help arrives in the form of Deming Chen, a Venator from Shanghai, who must untangle the web of deceptions before the killers strike again.
As the young vampires struggle for the survival of the coven, they uncover a deadly secret, a truth first discovered by Schuyler’s mother during the Renaissance but kept buried for centuries. And as the Blue Blood enclave weakens yet further, fate leads Schuyler to a terrible choice that will ultimately map the destiny of her heart.
Review
MISGUIDED ANGEL, by Melissa de la Cruz, is the fifth novel in the Blue Bloods series. This book is much shorter than the rest but still contains the same action and romance that makes this series one of my favorites.
The setup of this book was three different sections (equaling three different point of views). The point of views highlighted were Schuyler, Mimi, and a new Venator vampire Deming. My favorite part of the story was Mimi. In
The Van Alen Legacy I was beginning to warm up to Mimi after Kingsley and her started canoodling. In this book, an unlikely friendship starts between Mimi and the heart-broken Oliver. It was nice to still read about Oliver even though Schuyler was not present.
An aspect of these books that I enjoy each time I read a new one is the different point of views. I really like getting into the heads of these dynamic characters and Melissa's writing always keeps me coming back for more.
The only thing I disliked about this book was the length. The other books are usually upwards of 400 pages where this one did not reach 300. I wished it was longer! I sped through the pages and was left wanting more. But fans of this series will definitely like the continuation of their favorite characters lives in the midst of a war against the Silver Bloods.
I am excited to read the next installment of the series,
Lost in Time. And in February the novella,
Bloody Valentine, is released for more (hot) Blue Bloods romance.
My Reviews of other books in this series:
SPOILER ALERT
If you have not read the first three books of the Blue Bloods Series there may be spoilers ahead.
SPOILER ALERT
Publisher: Recorded Books (2010)
Format: Audiobook (Length 8 Hours 57 Minutes)
Read by:
Christina Moore
From Goodreads. Melissa de la Cruz delivers the fourth novel in this New York Times best-selling vampire series. As confrontation with the Silver Bloods escalates to even deadlier levels, Schuyler and her peers watch as their glamorous New York lifestyle turns into a battle for survival. Even though no love is lost between Oliver and Jack as they compete for Schuyler’s heart, both human and vampire will have to unite if the Silver Bloods are going to be defeated.
Review
THE VAN ALEN LEGACY, by Melissa de la Cruz, is the fourth installment of the Blue Blood series. I have been extremely impressed with this series up through
Revelations, so I could not wait to read this one. But out of the four I have read, I have to admit it was my least favorite.
I felt that 3/4 of the book dragged on. I did not like Bliss' POV at all, and I was mad because she was one of my favorite characters. The stories of all the three girls (Bliss, Schulyer, and Mimi) through this part of the book were very day-to-day "blah" chapters to me. At one point I almost stopped reading. BUT! There is a big but here, the last 1/4 of the book was insanely good!
The character I loved to follow was Mimi (surprising, I know), I actually began to
like her (eep!). Getting into her thoughts was the highlight of the journey through this book. Forget Jack and Schuyler, Kingsley and Mimi were where it was at! The tension that both of these egotistical characters created was so fantastic. They are absolutely perfect for each other minus the whole Mimi bonded with Jack thing.
Also, many more questions were answered near the end of the book. The ending was phenomenal and ended with a killer cliffhanger. Overall, the last part of the book made up for the entire as a whole. If you are a fan of this series, I highly recommend it!!
For more info, check out Melissa de la Cruz's
website
Yay! Melissa de la Cruz, author of Blue Bloods and The Au Pairs is finally answering my questions, instead of just raising them with each new installment of the Blue Bloods series!
Revelations and The Van Alen Legacy are extremely hard to blog about, due to the huge plot details that you want to gush over, but also not spoil. What's your advice for bloggers on how to deal with later books in series such as yours? What do you prefer as an author, and as a reader?
Interesting question! I do prefer if bloggers would not spoil the plot points and just talk about the story in a general manner. As a reader, I don't read reviews with plot details at all because I don't like to find out what happens, I just like to find out if the reviewer recommends the book, that's usually all I need to know. As an author I feel the same way.
The Blue Bloods sure do like to travel! Have you been to all the cities you describe in such detail? What are your favorite places to visit?
Yes, although I also rely on research assistants who have lived in the city for a long time to help me with details. My absolute favorite place to visit is Italy – I set a lot of Blue Bloods in that country so I get to go a lot!
Many pieces of history are important to the Blue Bloods story--everything from the fall of Caligula to the lost colony of Roanoke. What's your favorite period in history to learn about?
I love the Roman Empire, I love the decadence, and the urban drama, and the culture, that whole feeling of 'all roads lead to Rome' – it was a place where everything happened, it reminded me so much of living in New York – that feeling of being in the center of the world. I think that's why I relate to that time period so much.
You mention on your website that you have an outline for the Blue Bloods series, but in The Van Alen Legacy you work in the current economic crisis and the devastating effects it has on the Blue Blood community. How specific is your outline and how much did you have to tweak it to work the recession in?
My outline is very specific on the plot points but not on the details of the environment they are in– the recession was easy to work in because it wasn't a plot detail, just a fun kind of filigree to add to the book to make it current. The story is classic – it can be told in any time period - but I like to root the story in what is happening now, at least on the surface. So that's fun to do.
If you could go back in time and talk to your high-school-freshman self, what would you tell her?
That life only gets better after high school.
What's your favorite place to write?
I can write anywhere as long as it is quiet. I have an office at home that I write in, but I can also write at my husband's architectural studio/office as long as there isn't too much noise, which is hard because contractors and clients are always coming in and out. I actually prefer writing in a corporate environment, since for years I wrote while I had my day job, so I find the sound of softly ringing phones and keyboard typing very soothing. But I haven't had a day job in more than a decade and I don't think I can just barge into an office and ask if I can write there. J
BEWARE! This is a review of the 4th book in a series. There are not spoilers for this book, but there might be spoilers for previous books in the series. 'Tis the nature of the beast. All you need to know is that this series is awesome, as is this installment.
The Van Alen Legacy Melissa de la Cruz
The Conclave blames Schuyler for Lawrence's death, so she's on the run with Oliver. Bliss is in seclusion, trying to fight the visitor in her mind. Mimi's a Venator, looking for the truth. Jack's just looking for Schuyler.
Oh Hello! Just when we think we're going to get some answers, de la Cruz just throws more questions at us! And apparently, a spin-off series to be starting soon.
What I loved most about this was that she works in the recession. For a bunch of wealthy vampires who live off returns on investments, the stock market crash hits them, and hits them hard. Things must be scaled down, which goes over oh-so-well with the more spoiled among them.
BUT! While Melissa de la Cruz keeps me asking questions, I do get to ask her a few directly. My interview will be posted later today! Look for it!
Book Provided by... a publicist, for review consideration.
Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.
BEWARE! This is a review of the 3rd book in a series. There are not spoilers for this book, but there might be spoilers for previous books in the series. 'Tis the nature of the beast. All you need to know is that this series is awesome, as is this installment.
Revelations Melissa de la Cruz
Lawrence may be the new Regis, but Schuyler is stuck living with the Forces, where Jack won't even acknowledge her existence. Meanwhile, underneath a mountain in Rio de Janeiro, at Corcavado, a monster is stirring, a monster that must be stopped.
And in Corcavado, all will be revealed and our big questions will be answered, but we'll be left with ones we hadn't even thought of yet...
I can't say too much without giving things away and none of it would make sense if you haven't read the series, but I love this series. The quality of writing (and difficulty!) remains much higher than one expects of such things, which makes it that much more addictive and wonderful.
Vampire war is coming, and in de la Cruz's vampire-verse, this probably means a battle between good and evil, Heaven and Hell. It's starting to heat up.
I'll have an interview with Melissa de la Cruz about
Blue Bloods up tomorrow! Stay tuned!
Book Provided by... my local library
Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.
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'Warriors in Pink' on '90210′ (Ford's breast cancer awareness program will be tied into the teen soap to reach those more likely to be affected by than suffering from the disease. Interesting. Also the American Family Assn's call to boycott... Read the rest of this post
Hours Read: 19.5
Books Read: 8 whole books, 1/2 of two other books, so 9.
Pages Read: 2055
Well, I didn't get in 20 hours, but that's ok! I had fun. I'm currently halfway through Geek Charming by Robin Palmer. I'm at my parents until Tuesday, and given that all three of us have spent the after noon curled up in chairs, drinking coffee and reading, I'll get a lot more done in the next few days! Also, I reviewed 12 books (including the the two below) so that's good. As part of the Summer Reading Blitz, I'm trying to read 30 books in June. As of Friday night, I had only read 2, so I was a little behind schedule, but now I've read 11, so I'm a little ahead of schedule. Yay!
Anyway, I'm now seeing how many people cross the finish line over at MotherReader, as I said I'd donate $1 to Bridget Zinn for everyone who finished the challenge. Plus, another $1 for everyone who read at least 20 hours, but I'll have to wait a few days for that!
Anyway, the last full book I finished today was Masquerade, which is the second Blue Bloods novel, but I should review the first Blue Bloods novel first, right? Right.
Blue Bloods Melissa de la Cruz
So, I knew this was Gossip Girl + Vampires. What I didn't know is that is was really good.
Blue Bloods is well written-- I'm guessing it has a super-high lexile score and works in a lot of different things-- it's not just about vampires, but also about the founding of Plymouth Colony, what really happened at Roanoke, and the Illuminati. And a murder mystery (something can actually kill vampires? Really?) Plus the usual rich mean kid high school drama of love and backstrabbing, fabulous clothes and awesome parties.
It sucked me in and held me. If you've at all toyed with reading this series, toy no more and pick it up. A very pleasant surprise.
Masquerade Melissa de la Cruz
So, this whole plot of who-can-kill vampires is continuing and getting worse. There's a new Blue Blood in town, and he's into all sorts of mischief that doesn't make things look good for him, or for Mimi Force. Jack continues to be drawn to Schuyler, as it turns out he was to her mom. Schuyler's half-blood status is mucking about with her transformation. Also, a lot more of the Angel lore that ties into the history of vampires, as according to de la Cruz.
If you liked the first, you'll like the second. The third is out (but even though it's been out since October, there's a still a waiting list at the library! The fourth then comes out this October...)
I read some series books this month, most of which have been reviewed countless times throughout the blogosphere, resulting in my "Mini-Reviews" feature. Just a quick synopsis and my thoughts on each title. Enjoy!
"The 39 Clues" series has appeared to be hugely successful so far. I had the chance to review books 2 and 3 this month, both of which had the same excitement and page-turning aspects as the first. In book 2, One False Note, written by Gordon Korman, brother and sister team Amy and Dan Cahill, along with their nanny Nellie are still traveling the world in search of the 39 Clues. Vienna and ultimately, Mozart, play a large role in this one.
Book 3, The Sword Thief, written by Peter Lerangis tkaes us to Japan in search of the third clue. The Cahill's Uncle, Alistar Oh, seems to be the only one that can help them locate this clue, but whether he is trustworthy or not is still yet to be determined. Lots of puzzles in this one, which makes it even more intriguing, resulting in some mind work as well!
I do have to make a complaint about The Sword Thief and though it may not be quite necessary, I wouldn't be who I am if I didn't state my thinking. The role of the "pit bull" in this third installment is absolutely horrible. I counted at least four instances where the kids were almost attacked by another team's pit bull or the dog was referred to as vicious or menacing (almost all of chapter6). Seriously? Haven't we moved on from this issue yet? I hate reading stories where a specific dog breed is stereotyped so badly that it takes my focus away from the plot and the characters and that is exactly what happened for me in this one. Not a happy camper here.
Book 4 is out in June and is being written by Jude Watson!
One False Note/The Sword Thief
Gordon Korman/Peter Lerangis
160/160 pages
Middle Grade
Scholastic
9780545060424/9780545060431
Dec 08/March 09
Ok, moving on...I also read the first two installments of the "Blue Bloods" series by Melissa De La 
Cruz. Love them! After falling in love with the Luxe series earlier this month, the combination of rich people and vampires is awfully intriguing and De La Cruz can write one heck of a story!
Blue Bloods introduces us to the huge group of Manhattan socialites that just happen to be vampires as well. The plot focuses on Schuyler, a member of a very important Blue Blood family and the last of her line. When the old group of Silver Bloods, destined to kill Blue Bloods, returns and begins killing off members of their elite group, Schuyler knows there is trouble brewing but has a problem convincing others of the same thing.
Masquerade, book 2, brings even deeper into the Blue Blood world, showing us how evil rich vampires can really be...and how innocent. We learn more about Mimi and Jack Force in this novel, as well as where Schuyler's only living relative stands in with the rest of the Blue Bloods. More awesome descriptions of clothes and houses and lots of silly material things (which make us love these books so much). Oooh and the cover is great! Very creepy!
This series holds just the right mixture of action, romance, supernatural, and rich teens. It's like The Luxe gone vampire.
Blue Bloods/Masquerade
Melissa De La Cruz
336/320 pages
Young Adult
Hyperion
9780786838929/9780786838936
April 06/May 07
To learn more about any of these books, or to purchase, click the book covers above to link to Amazon.
It was fun to hear about all the new books coming out, and to talk about the state of the industry in general.
Love the pics!
Heath, so great to see the pics and hear the updates. Thank you! How I wish I were there in your awesome company! xo
A wonderful time was had by all and thanks for posting these pictures, Heather!
Love the pics!!!