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Created page with '{{infobox |title=Blue Bloods |author=Melissa de la Cruz |reviewer=Sarah Keeler |genre=Teens |summary=A vampire fantasy novel aimed at Teens but entertaining and fast-paced so one…'
{{infobox
|title=Blue Bloods
|author=Melissa de la Cruz
|reviewer=Sarah Keeler
|genre=Teens
|summary=A vampire fantasy novel aimed at Teens but entertaining and fast-paced so one for adults as well.
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|paperback=190565474X
|hardback=0786838922
|pages=336
|publisher=Atom
|date=February 2010
|isbn=978-1905654741
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>190565474X</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>190565474X</amazonus>
}}

''Blue Bloods'' is the first book in a series aimed at teenagers and it's about vampires, currently a popular theme in young adult novels. However Melissa De La Cruz offers an original twist on this topic: the Vampires are known as 'Blue Bloods' and they're part of the New York elite. They're rich, young, beautiful and popular. Thought to be immortal, their world is shattered when one of them is found murdered.

The main character is Schuyler, who has always felt like a misfit at school. She finds out early on that she is a Blue Blood and the novel shows how she comes to terms with this. Her mother lies in a coma and Schuyler knows little about her family background. Slowly, we find out more about this and this keeps the reader interested throughout. Schuyler is a very likeable main character and I am sure many teen girls will be able to relate to her.

The novel uses several different narrators throughout which I found interesting. It would often leave one character's story on a cliffhanger for several chapters, but this wasn't a problem as the other characters are also interesting and well developed. Bliss was one of my favourites. She's moved to New York recently and finds herself friends with the elite popular girls. However, she struggles with this, as she would like her own independence and individuality.

The novel was reasonably original. The vampires are rich and elite so it showed a glamorous view of them. Teen girls would also like the many references to fashion and celebrity life but this does mean that it will date quickly.

The novel does contain some romance but this isn't the main focus. Instead it concentrates on themes such as friendship groups and peer pressure. It is a fast-paced book and has a lot more action and dialogue than description so I think it would keep most teen readers interested, as well as many adults. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way as the mystery of the murder is unfolded.

This was a definite page-turner for me and I would happily read more in this series, but be warned - the book is left open-ended and you'll probably be pressed into buying the next in the series.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.

If you like Teen fantasy books I would also recommend reading [[Wings by Aprilynne Pike]] and [[City of Bones by Cassandra Clare]].

{{amazontext|amazon=190565474X}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=6909903}}

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