Feb 9, 2013

Gates of Paradise By: Melissa de la Cruz Review

Gates of Paradise
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 259
Rating: 4.5/5
A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
     Schuyler Van Alen is running out of time. The Dark Prince of Hell is storming the Gates of Paradise, intent on winning the heavenly throne for good. This time he has his greatest angels by his side, Abbadon and Azrael—Jack and Mimi Force, as they are known in the Coven.                          
      Or so he thinks. Even as Lucifer assigns Jack and Mimi the tasks of killing their true loves, the Force twins secretly vow to defeat the Dark Prince once and for all. But how far will Mimi and Jack go to conceal their real loyalties?                                                          
     Meanwhile, former vampire Bliss Llewellyn has joined forces with Lawson, the greatest wolf of the underworld, to free his people from their imprisonment in Hell. As they struggle against impossible odds, an ancient message, woven into the very fabric of time, reveals just how much depends on the success of their mission.                                                                                                                                      
     Lucifer seeks the key to the Gate of Promise, and when Schuyler is taken captive and delivered straight to Hell, she must make an unthinkable choice—the same one the archangel Michael was forced to make during the Crisis in Rome. Will Schuyler find the strength to do what he could not?                                                                                              
     The epic, heartbreaking Blue Bloods series comes to a close with this final novel about staggering courage, unbearable sacrifice, and the immortality of true love.
     Gates of Paradise is the seventh and final instalment in the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz. Aside from being the conclusion to one of my favourite series, Gates of Paradise was probably the most epic ways I've ever finished off a series. For one, I was on the Blue Bloods Official Blog Tour where I got the opportunity to interview Melissa! ...Let's just let that settle in for a moment...I interviewed a New York Times Bestselling Author! *Faints* (....There was definitely some serious jumping up and down and squealing that went on when I got that email). And second, if it couldn't get better, I met Melissa during her Blue Bloods Tour Stop in Toronto ! I got the chance to introduce myself to Melissa and she was kind enough to write a really nice message in my book. All of this has probably toped my list of "Top Five Moments of Being a Book Blogger"!

     So after that ridiculously long intro, let's dive into the review! Gates of Paradise kicks off where Lost In Time left off. Schuyler , Oliver and Kingsley are looking to find the final gate protecting the world from Lucifer's wrath, and Jack and Mimi are doing the only thing they can to break their bond-- get friendly with the devil himself.
   
     What did I love most about Gates of Paradise? Although a nearly impossible question to answer, I think I really enjoyed being able to see the grown-ups  all of my beloved characters have evolved into since Blue Bloods . I honestly think this series, out of all the series I've read before, is the series I can honestly say has experienced the most growth. It kind of boggles my mind to think that the Schuyler, Jack, Oliver, or even Mimi I read in Gates of Paradise is the same one I read about in Blue Bloods. All of these characters are truly grown-ups in this last instalment and it brings a tear to my eye when I think about the kids they were in book one......I know it may not seem like a big deal to some people, but this is one of my favourite parts about reading a series! Cheers for character growth *whoop whoop* !

     I surprisingly became a huge Mimi fan in this book. Never, not even after she fell in love with Kingsley, did I ever really like her. But nonetheless....something changed in this book, and I believe it's because she became more compassionate and selfless. *Pauses for gasps* (I know, I wouldn't  have believed it if I hadn't had read it either). Not to mention that Jack flippin stabbed me in the heart more than a few times....that's all I'm going to say about that. AND poor Schuyler....the stuff she had to deal with in this book was terrible!

     I think I was a bit spoiled in both Misguided Angel and Lost In Time because in both those books we got quite a bit of Jack and Schuyler material.....quite a bit-- like, I-can't-take-this-kind-of-perfection material. So, although I knew Jack and Schuyler would be separated in Gates of Paradise, I did not realize they would be separated for as long as they were *holds in tears*! Don't get me wrong, having them separated from one another allowed for that final bit of growth in both their characters, but still....I would have liked to have seen more of Jack and Schuyler together, at least a little more at the end. Nonetheless, Melissa almost makes it up to me by writing such an "emotions-everywhere" ending! Those last fifty pages had me tearing up, swooning, and on the brink of a bookworm-attack caused by the fear of the dreaded "open ending" authors sometimes like to do. Luckily, Melissa tied Blue Bloods up in a tight, pretty red bow, with justtt enough wiggle room for the next Blue Bloods series!

Favourite Quotes...


"I don't know, sucking blood and all that...seemed so..." She shuddered. "Well, it's not really good for you, is it? All that protein? I mean, I'm a vegan now...." she said weakly.
A vegan-fricking-vampire. Schuyler decided she had certainly heard it all.

~~~~~

“You made a sacrifice. And heaven rewarded you.” 

~~~~~~

“Because love was not the answer to every question. Because real love meant sacrifice. Sometimes love means letting go."

Overall...

     Overall Gates of Paradise was a beautiful conclusion to a series I've loved for years now. Although I will miss this series and the characters that live inside it, I can confidently say that the ending left me completely satisfied. I can't wait for the next Blue Bloods series (Okay, I have to admit I'm a bit upset that Jack and Schuyler won't be in it, but....I'll deal....I'll deal :P). Have you read Gates of Paradise? Do you like it when you see strong character growth in a book/series? Be sure to let me know in the comments below! Keep Reading!

Your Y.A. Bookworm,
Caitlin <3

9 comments:

  1. I like how Melissa has left it with an opening if she ever decides to revisit the series.

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    Replies
    1. I know what you mean, she ended it in a way that ties up everything, but still leaves room for more :)

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  2. Great review! I am a Blue Bloods fan and can't wait to finally finish it up with Gates of Paradise. Your review has made me even more excited to get my hands on it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww I'm so glad ! Blue Bloods is a great series with what I think is a pretty great ending :D Be sure to let me know what you think once you read it-- I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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    2. Will do and thank you for following!

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