Review: Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Title: Revelations
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Released: Oct. 28, 2008

First thing this morning, I went to Barnes and Noble and bought myself a copy of Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz. I finished it within a couple of hours and subsequently spent the rest of my day mulling over it. Quite honestly, I am still unsure how I feel about it. At certain points the story felt repetitive and long winded, while at others fast paced and sexy. Mind you, this was just my first read through of the novel and everything I say from here on out is subject to change...

Background on the books: In case you don't know what I'm talking about and have never heard of the Blue Bloods series, you may want to watch this:

Click here to watch!


In short: While my feeling are still mixed, I will give De la Cruz credit. She knows how to keep her audience entertained. In Revelations, the intrigue thickens. Playing her characters like marionettes, De la Cruz unravels a story where no one is safe from suspicion. Up until the very end of the novel, she keeps her audience on edge as to what is truly happening within the coven. In this sense, the plot is cleverly devised.

However, my main issue with the narrative lies in the Schuyler-Oliver-Jack love triangle. While the forbidden love aspect is compelling, it feels a little stagnant in this installment. Although Schuyler and Jack finally consummate their relationship, it seems like they do nothing but engage in steamy rendez-vous. Where in Masquerade, it could be argued that their relationship was something more profound and endearing, in this novel Jack and Schuyler's bond is more lustful than anything else.

The problem can be pin pointed to Jack. Where in the previous two novels we are shown Jack's feelings, in this installment they aren't as evident nor as engaging. In this novel, his affection doesn't seem as genuine. In fact, it appears as if he is only interested in Schuyler when it is convenient and when he is feeling particularly amorous. Leaving poor Schuyler to love and suffer from afar. Also due to the nature of their hidden affair, Revelations is caught in a nasty web of repetitive situations making their storyline somewhat dull in comparison to Masquerade.

One of the most interested facets of this novel, however, were the Venator transcripts set between chapters. They added a much needed boost in between perspectives.

Lastly, perhaps the best and worst part of this book: the ending. When the story finally turns the corner and becomes irresistibly exciting...BAM! "Don't miss the next book in the Blue Bloods series: The Van Alen Legacy." Alas, there were both things I adored and things I disliked about this latest episode in the Blue Bloods series.

...And now for what you've all been waiting for. If you haven't read the book yet (and you don't want to be spoiled), you may want to check out my review for Masquerade. Otherwise...

Things I Love:


- Everyone knows I'm a sucker for Oliver. I just adore him. So my heart gave a little squeeze when Schuyler met him within the close quarters of the school supply closet.

- I love Mimi's description of the things Jack likes:

Jack preferred a city that he had never even experienced. He waxed nostalgic about the legendary days of the Village, when anyone from Jackson Pollock to Dylan Thomas could be found wandering the cobblestoned streets. He liked grit and dirt and a Times Square that was known for its hustlers and three-card-monte dealers and underground juice bars (since strip clubs couldn't serve alcohol). He couldn't stomach a New York that had been taken over by the likes of Jamba Juice, Pinkberry, and Cold Stone.
- Who knew Sky was a vixen? De la Cruz really turned up the sex in this installment...not that I'm complaining.
She wanted to run to him - to skip, giggling into his arms - but she savored the way he was looking at her. She could drown in the intensity of his gaze. And she had learned a little about seduction in the last few weeks they had been together. Had learned that it was sweeter when she made him wait. So she took her time, removed her shoes, brushed her bare feet on the carpet, and let him watch her. Outside of this place, they could be nothing to each other. He would not even allow himself to look at her. He could not afford it. So she wanted him to enjoy himself, to look at her as much as he liked.
"Get over here," he growled.
And then, at last, she ran - leaped into his arms, and together they crashed against the wall in a tight embrace. He lifted her with graceful ease, covering her body with kisses. She tightened her legs around his torso and bent over, brushing his cheek with the tendrils of her hair.
- I am incredibly interested in finding out why exactly Charles Force had Kingsley summon the Silver Blood in Masquerade. I enjoyed reading Kingsley's transcripts in Revelations.

- I really like Bliss' dreams about the blue eyed Satan in a white suit. I found them vivid and somewhat terrifying.

- It's extremely interesting that Allegra started screaming the minute Bliss left her hospital room.

- One of my favorite scenes in this whole book was a short dialog between Oliver and Sky on the way to visit Dylan.
"Bet you can't even name one romantic movie you like," she teased.
She felt smug when a few minutes went by and Oliver was still unable to name one romantic movie he could profess to enjoy.
"The Empire Strikes Back," Oliver finally declared, tapping his horn at a Prius that wandered over the line.
"The Empire Strikes Back? The Star Wars movie? That's not romantic!" Schuyler huffed, fiddling with the air conditioner controls.
"Au contraire, my dear, it's very romantic. The last scene, you know, when they're about to put Han in that freezing cryogenic chamber or whatever? Remember?"
Schuyler mmm-hmmmed.
"And Leia leans over the ledge and says, 'I love you.'"
"That's cheesy, not romatic," Schuyler argued, although she did like that part.
"Let me explain. What's romantic is what Han says back. Remember what he says to her? After she says 'I love you'?"
Schuyler grinned. Maybe Oliver had a point. "Han says, 'I know.'"
"Exactly," Oliver tapped the wheel. "He doesn't have to say anything so trite as 'I love you." Because that's already understood. And that's romantic."


- I like Jack and Schuyler's little trip to Vienna. It was truly the only the time I found myself liking Jack in this novel.

- Also love that Schuyler prefers Egon Schiele over Gustav Klimt. I complete agree with her that the painting is "fraught with angst, as if the two people in the painting knew their embrace was their last." It's beautiful in all it's tragedy. Moreover, she mentions Anne Sexton's poem "The Break," which is completely heart shattering.



- I love the first paragraph of Chapter Thirty Two. I just find it hilarious.
Just prouncing the name of Rio's airport - GaleĆ£o- could put one in a Carnaval-ready mood, Schuyler thought. Gahhhlaaaeonnn.
- Love that Bliss' eyes turned blue in front of Jordan. Showing the first hints that her body is not her own.

- LOVE THE END. Though I am majorly confused as to Bliss' heritage. Her father is Lucifer? How did all that come about? Is Schuyler also Lucifer's daughter? I, however, love the new twist in the story! I also don't know how I missed it considering that on the cover is a girl with RED HAIR.



- In the final battle, Mimi is such a bad ass with her sword.

- Allegra giving Schuyler her sword was a nice touch.

- But most of all, I love that Schuyler finally realizes that she loves Oliver! YAY! Also, love that he repeats Han Solo's line to her. What can I say? I adore nerds.


Things I Dislike:

- While I don't like Mimi (even if I do find her to be one of the most dynamic characters in the series), I definitely hate that Jack is playing both fields. Toying with both Schuyler and her emotions discredits him and makes him that much less attractive. Also don't like that he's allowing Mimi to organize a bonding ceremony when he's supposedly going to try to remain with Sky. Moreover, when Schuyler and him take a trip to Vienna and he tells her, "I want to be free. I want to be with you....would you rather see me bonded to a woman I do not love?" Two things immediately bother me:

1.I think Jack is more scared of the prospect of being bonded than he is of losing Schuyler. Like he says, he wants to "be free" and Mimi Force is not someone you can be "free" with.

2. He point blank lied to Schuyler. He does love Mimi. Always has. It is impossible not to love your other half. No matter how much you'd like not to, it's impossible. She is his soul mate.

- Speaking of Jack, as I said before, the main problem I have with this novel is the lack of emotion on his part. Where in Masquerade, we clearly knew he cared about Sky, in this installment it seems like he just wants her body. I think his devotion for Schuyler would have been more believable if he had gotten a bit desperate to see her. If this desperation had led to say... secret meetings in the supply closet at school or perhaps slipping covert love notes to her when they met in the hall. The prospect of getting caught is always something exciting. Plus, what sexier than stolen moments?

- I don't like that Ollie only fell in love with Schuyler after she became a vampire. It would have been so much more romantic if he had always been in love with her, even before she had changed. If he loved her before anyone else really knew the real her. Oh well. Oliver is still amazing!

- Hate that they kill Jordan.

- While I realize the reason for it, I hate that Bliss returns to cry over Dylan's body when she knows she is the reason for his death. It's just such a hypocritical act.

All in All:

While I thought Masquerade had a more involved and compelling love story, I absolutely loved the finale of Revelations. I found the end gripping and exciting. I hope to see more of this new plot in the future. I also really hope that Oliver and Schuyler's relationship is more prominent in the next novel. You know what they say, "love is friendship on fire." And I want an inferno! While I have mixed feelings, I can honestly say that I am still seriously addicted to this series and cannot wait for the next installment!
Rating for Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz: B

1 Comment
  1. Hmmmm I had mixed feelings about Revelations as well. I found the story very much keeping me on the edge of my seat but at the same time I was extremely confused. By the end I had let out a sigh in frustation and had called my friend who had also read the book to discuss it with her. We were trying to figure out if schuyler and Bliss were actually sisters. Though that would mean that Gabrielle the uncorupted had had a relationship at one time or another with the prince of darkness, which makes absolutly no sense to me. I was alsp sad that lawrence and Dylans deaths had happened much to fast. Though all in all I was very torn with this book.

    Posted on November 3, 2008 at 6:48 PM

     

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