Blue Bloods Bite, from Tahleen

Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series might at first glance seem to be a fusion of Gossip Girl and Twilight. While the basic premise of both are present in this vampire series, there is so much more to it than privileged teens in NYC who like to drink a little blood now and then.

De la Cruz has created a complex and fascinating mythology that combines history, vampire legend, and Biblical themes. Though the characters at first seem shallow and unlikable, as the series progresses, you might be surprised at who develops the most and becomes a hero. The twists and turns that occur, the path each character chooses, the relationships, are all surprising and exciting. These are page-turners, make no mistake. De la Cruz even manages to make sort-of incest not as creepy as it could be (you'll see what I mean when you read them; trust me, it's not as awful as it sounds).

If you're looking for a fresh twist on the vampire story with a rich storyline and mythology, pick these up. Don't let the supposed shallowness of the characters fool you; like one of the many slush puddles in my area of New England, they're deeper than they seem.

~Tahleen

http://tahleenreads.blogspot.com