Schuyler and Oliver have been traviling around the world for a year, when they finally end up in Paris, where more secrets are brought to light. The lives of the blue bloods are filled with love, confusion and fear. This is a must for anyone who loves the blue blood series, or vampires, with killer style and messy love lives with a killer enemy. Plus Kingsleys Back, finaly,well for now .

To make a long story short, in this novel, I felt very strongly that De La Cruz was trying to shove far, far too many elements into one single story -- all of a sudden, after dealing with vampires who are fallen angels (and the Silver Bloods who are after them) we get hit with about three big, new things that were barely even HINTED at, if hinted at all, in the previous three books.

Granted, "three things" doesn't sound like a lot, until you look at it this way: Imagine you were reading a book about, say, human spellcasters. It's been all about them from day one, with the author going into great detail about the history of spellcasters, and their powers, and why they can do what they do... as well as explaining their enemies, black magicians. A full three-and-three-quarters' worth of books about nothing but that.

And then, totally out of nowhere... SURPRISE! WERETIGERS!

Wait, what?

SURPRISE! By the way, DEMONS!

Wait, what?!

SURPRISE! Also, SHAPESHIFTERS!

Wait, WHAT?!

You have to admit, you'd be kind of taken off-guard. Like, where the hell did this come from all of a sudden? I thought we were talking about humans who could use magic, not freaking weretigers and demons and shapeshifters. Where the *hell* did this come from?

And that was how I felt while reading "The Van Alen Legacy". To be perfectly honest, I spent the last five chapters or so of the novel going "What? What?! WHAT?" because I had absolutely *no* idea of where any of what was happening had come from. It was so far out of left field that I felt completely lost, even though I've read all of the books thus far. I closed the book feeling totally confused.

As for the characters...

Well, my opinions of them have been changing greatly over the past three novels, but "The Van Alen Legacy" quickly cemented any character changes that were beginning to show during the first three books.

Strangely, the most sympathetic character for me is Mimi. She's become such a good character compared to her beginning as a flat 2D character: self-centred, petty, fashion-obsessed. All of her scenes in this were my favourites. We see true kindness in her, and intelligence, as well as strength and skill, and a willingness to sacrifice her own happiness for the good of others -- even when it breaks her heart.

As for Schuyler and Jack... I'm starting to dislike them. Jack finally makes up his mind in this, but the way he does it is less than admirable. Schuyler has been tugging on Oliver's heartstrings for so long that it's gone beyond understandable teen confusion to nearly outright cruelty. It isn't fair to him. She, too, makes up her mind (finally) between the two of them.

As for Bliss... well. A lot of what "What? What?! WHAT?" was to do with what's developed with *her* by the end of the novel.

I will be reading the next book ("Misguided Angels") when it comes out, if only so I can have some kind of understanding of what in the name of all things holy is going on.

And, to be honest, to see what happens with Mimi and a certain other character, but especially Mimi. I want to see her get her happy ending; she deserves one by this point. I admire her character because of who she became in this, and I very much want De La Cruz to treat her fairly in the coming novels.

This book waz so good!!! it had new ideas about vampires, for its whole 4 series. the plot made sense in the end!!! i couldnt put it down!!!
seriously good book!

I really enjoyed this book. Like it's predecessors in the Blue Blood novels, this book is filled with action and page turning suspense. The short chapters keep you reading and I liked how the narrator switched back and forth between the 3 female leads. The plot keeps you on pins and needles up to the last page and even then you will be dying for the next book in the series. I can't wait for the next book which will be titled 'Misguided Angel' and according to Melissa De La Cruz's website will be coming out some time in the fall or winter. Can't wait!