Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Publisher: Hyperion
Publisher: Hyperion
Publishing Date: September 27, 2011
Pages/Format: 342, Paperback
The stakes have never been higher for the young Blue Bloods of Manhattan. After their brief yet beautiful bonding ceremony in Italy, Schuyler Van Alen and Jack Force depart for Egypt, desperate to find the elusive Gate of Promise before Jack must face his twin, Mimi, for a blood trial. A blood trial that only one of them can survive. But everything Schuyler thought she knew about the gate turns out to be a lie, and they soon find themselves ensnared in a deadly battle against the demon-born. Schuyler and Jack take up arms, only to realize that there is a much graver threat simmering in the Kingdom of the Dead.
Meanwhile, determined to save the only vampire she still loves, Mimi has followed Kingsley Martin into Hell. With the help of her new human Conduit, Oliver Hazard-Perry, Mimi makes a bargain with the Queen of the Dead that she may soon regret. When the time comes to choose between love and revenge, both Mimi and Oliver will learn the true meaning of sacrifice.
Confronted by danger, betrayal, and loss at every turn, the Blue Bloods must find the will to fight - and love - another day.
Initial Reaction of Book in One Word: Better...
...Than I had expected. Thank gosh. This was my third time reading Lost in Time, and I finally managed to finish it! (I didn't get far the first two.) This series drives me crazy, and I'll get into that later, but I'm extremely pleased with how much I enjoyed the second-to-last book in the Blue Bloods series. While I still had some problems with it, my expectations were exceeded. (And I was up until five in the morning finishing it!)
I'm pretty sure I used to really love the Blue Bloods series. I read the first book who-knows-how-many years ago and liked it--they're an interesting take on vampires. But as the series progressed, I made a huge mistake: I didn't refresh my memory of the books (actually, I think I did once). By forgetting what happened in earlier books, I felt like I was missing pieces reading the newers one, and that definitely happened with Lost in Time. Even though I powered through it, I still have the desire to read it again, but with the previous books fresh in my mind. (Soon, I hope!)
However, while my memory of the first few Blue Bloods may be spotty, I'm pretty sure they weren't so different. I'm on the fence about Melissa's writing. In the last book, I don't think I loved it--I believe I was bored. Once I got in to Lost in Time, I, for the most part, liked it. And then there was the sense of time, and point of views. The book was mainly told from the POV of Schuyler/Jack, Mimi/Oliver, and Allegra Van Alen. But sometimes a chapter would switch POV in a pargraph, then go back to the original speaker, which was weird. As for sense of time, I don't know what it was. Schuyler and Jack seemed to be in the present, Mimi and Oliver were in Hell, and Allegra was in the past. Odd. But my biggest issue is how the characters--mainly Jack and Schuyler--talk. "My love, do not fear, for yada yada yada." NO. I really don't think they used to talk that, and really, who does? It constantly drove me crazy; I cannot stand it! I feel like the last few books and the first few books are completely different, not even in the same series. And that makes me sad. This series has reached the end, and Gates of Paradise will hopefully close off a series that I think may have gone on for a little too long. The writing got serious--everything did, really. I feel like the romance is almost nonexistent, even if the relationships are there--and it all seemed more historical or something, and I lost a little bit of my love for the books. (Though a reread of the books back to back will hopefully make a difference.) Even so, after finally reading Lost in Time, a part of me aches for the series finale--this was one of the first series I started reading, and I'm sad to say goodbye, even if it may be time.
Now for the goods: the characters. I do like them--even if they've changed almost too much from the beginning of the series. I still like Schuyler, and I love her with Jack. Ah, Jack. I miss the old him, the one where we actually saw more of him. Oliver's still a great friend, and I want him to find happiness. Mimi, of course, is still a mega-bitch. Then there's Kingsley--I love a bad boy. The book's also told from Allegra's point of view, and it was interesting to see more about her and how all that played out. (Side Note: I know that they're reincarnated into twins and stuff, but the whole Mimi/Jack, Allegra/Charles thing still creeps me out.)
It didn't take long for me to get into the book, and when I did I was constantly flipping pages, wanting this character's, then that character's, point of view. While I still don't understand some of what happened, there was a lot of action and mystery, and it kept the book pretty fast-paced and readable. And since I was worried I was going to hate the book, I was happy; some of my love for the series was brought back.
Unfortunately, this review kind of turned into a rant of the series, and I apologize. But. Lost in Time actually wasn't a bad book at all--I really liked it! I'm glad I finally read it, and I am slightly dying to know how on earth this is series is going to end--I have no idea! (It's described as "heartbreaking" with "unbearable sacrifice." Obviously, someone's trying to kill me.) This book constantly had me on my toes, with my head shaking no and sometimes hiding in my bed--as in, this is not happening! This book brought out reactions, which is excellent. Just a tip: Unless you remember most of what happened, I'd recommended rereading the existing books before finishing off the series. It helps.
Did I like it? Yes.
The stakes have never been higher for the young Blue Bloods of Manhattan. After their brief yet beautiful bonding ceremony in Italy, Schuyler Van Alen and Jack Force depart for Egypt, desperate to find the elusive Gate of Promise before Jack must face his twin, Mimi, for a blood trial. A blood trial that only one of them can survive. But everything Schuyler thought she knew about the gate turns out to be a lie, and they soon find themselves ensnared in a deadly battle against the demon-born. Schuyler and Jack take up arms, only to realize that there is a much graver threat simmering in the Kingdom of the Dead.
Meanwhile, determined to save the only vampire she still loves, Mimi has followed Kingsley Martin into Hell. With the help of her new human Conduit, Oliver Hazard-Perry, Mimi makes a bargain with the Queen of the Dead that she may soon regret. When the time comes to choose between love and revenge, both Mimi and Oliver will learn the true meaning of sacrifice.
Confronted by danger, betrayal, and loss at every turn, the Blue Bloods must find the will to fight - and love - another day.
Initial Reaction of Book in One Word: Better...
...Than I had expected. Thank gosh. This was my third time reading Lost in Time, and I finally managed to finish it! (I didn't get far the first two.) This series drives me crazy, and I'll get into that later, but I'm extremely pleased with how much I enjoyed the second-to-last book in the Blue Bloods series. While I still had some problems with it, my expectations were exceeded. (And I was up until five in the morning finishing it!)
I'm pretty sure I used to really love the Blue Bloods series. I read the first book who-knows-how-many years ago and liked it--they're an interesting take on vampires. But as the series progressed, I made a huge mistake: I didn't refresh my memory of the books (actually, I think I did once). By forgetting what happened in earlier books, I felt like I was missing pieces reading the newers one, and that definitely happened with Lost in Time. Even though I powered through it, I still have the desire to read it again, but with the previous books fresh in my mind. (Soon, I hope!)
However, while my memory of the first few Blue Bloods may be spotty, I'm pretty sure they weren't so different. I'm on the fence about Melissa's writing. In the last book, I don't think I loved it--I believe I was bored. Once I got in to Lost in Time, I, for the most part, liked it. And then there was the sense of time, and point of views. The book was mainly told from the POV of Schuyler/Jack, Mimi/Oliver, and Allegra Van Alen. But sometimes a chapter would switch POV in a pargraph, then go back to the original speaker, which was weird. As for sense of time, I don't know what it was. Schuyler and Jack seemed to be in the present, Mimi and Oliver were in Hell, and Allegra was in the past. Odd. But my biggest issue is how the characters--mainly Jack and Schuyler--talk. "My love, do not fear, for yada yada yada." NO. I really don't think they used to talk that, and really, who does? It constantly drove me crazy; I cannot stand it! I feel like the last few books and the first few books are completely different, not even in the same series. And that makes me sad. This series has reached the end, and Gates of Paradise will hopefully close off a series that I think may have gone on for a little too long. The writing got serious--everything did, really. I feel like the romance is almost nonexistent, even if the relationships are there--and it all seemed more historical or something, and I lost a little bit of my love for the books. (Though a reread of the books back to back will hopefully make a difference.) Even so, after finally reading Lost in Time, a part of me aches for the series finale--this was one of the first series I started reading, and I'm sad to say goodbye, even if it may be time.
Now for the goods: the characters. I do like them--even if they've changed almost too much from the beginning of the series. I still like Schuyler, and I love her with Jack. Ah, Jack. I miss the old him, the one where we actually saw more of him. Oliver's still a great friend, and I want him to find happiness. Mimi, of course, is still a mega-bitch. Then there's Kingsley--I love a bad boy. The book's also told from Allegra's point of view, and it was interesting to see more about her and how all that played out. (Side Note: I know that they're reincarnated into twins and stuff, but the whole Mimi/Jack, Allegra/Charles thing still creeps me out.)
It didn't take long for me to get into the book, and when I did I was constantly flipping pages, wanting this character's, then that character's, point of view. While I still don't understand some of what happened, there was a lot of action and mystery, and it kept the book pretty fast-paced and readable. And since I was worried I was going to hate the book, I was happy; some of my love for the series was brought back.
Unfortunately, this review kind of turned into a rant of the series, and I apologize. But. Lost in Time actually wasn't a bad book at all--I really liked it! I'm glad I finally read it, and I am slightly dying to know how on earth this is series is going to end--I have no idea! (It's described as "heartbreaking" with "unbearable sacrifice." Obviously, someone's trying to kill me.) This book constantly had me on my toes, with my head shaking no and sometimes hiding in my bed--as in, this is not happening! This book brought out reactions, which is excellent. Just a tip: Unless you remember most of what happened, I'd recommended rereading the existing books before finishing off the series. It helps.
Did I like it? Yes.
Did I love it? Not really.
Would I reread it? Yes, because I want to do a series reread.
Would I reread it? Yes, because I want to do a series reread.
Would I purchase it? Already have it!
Would I recommend it? I'd recommend the earlier books in the series, which means following up with this one.
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