Title: Blue Bloods
Author: Melissa De La Cruz [website] [facebook] [twitter]
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: Hyperion
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchase
Parental Advisory: drugs, alcohol, language, sexual innuendo, murder
Teachable Moments: friendship, tolerance, trust

At first look one might think that this book could be classified as Gossip Girl with fangs.  Only main character Schuyler isn’t quite the “it girl” that walks the halls of her upper-class prep school.  Sure, there is a bevy of other teenaged fashionistas who are more interested in ruling the school than anything else but that’s not who Schuyler is or who she wants to be.  More importantly that’s not entirely what this story is about.  It isn’t about the dynamics of peer pressure or how to overcome bullying.  What it is about is a girl who is navigating the initial steps on a journey to self–discovery.

Precipitated by the murder of an affluent classmate Schuyler’s life is unceremoniously turned upside down when the mystery being investigated reveals that she isn’t exactly who she thinks she is.  It’s at this turning point that her life starts to unravel.  Each step of the way Schuyler learns more about her past, the history of her ancestors, and just exactly who she’s dealing with.

Filled with a wide array of characters (good and evil both) Blue Bloods is an enjoyable mystery story with a supernatural focus.  There is plenty to challenge and interest in the way of angel/vampire mythology as well as a fairly twisty mystery (or two!).  The first in a series De La Cruz does a fantastic job introducing the players and setting building the foundation on which the remaining books are built.  There is unrequited love, spoiled rich kids, and vampires!  How can a paranormal lover go wrong?

Title: The Demon’s Lexicon
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan [website] [twitter] [facebook]
Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: McElderry Books
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchase
Parental Advisory: drugs, sexual innuendo, language, violence, death, black magic
Teachable Moments: loyalty, teamwork

For the lover of darker paranormal fare, Demon’s Lexicon is right up your alley.  Nick and his brother Alan are demon hunters who are themselves being stalked by otherworldly beings.  Constantly on the run they are careful not to establish close relationships with those around them. That is until a young girl and her brother reach out for help after having lived through a series of alarming supernatural events.

Rees Brennan has written gritty story of brotherly love and betrayal. Both Nick and Alan are strong in their own right — the former physically the latter emotionally.  Together they make an excellent team, except when they are at odds (which happens more frequently as the book progresses) and cross purposes.  Built into the dynamic is a bit of jealousy and sibling rivalry.  Though romance isn’t an overwhelming part of the book there are some undertones and there is a definite rift between Nick and Alan when it comes to Mae.  I can definitely see a triangle forming for the next book in the series.

There is a big twisty in this story that I didn’t see coming.  You know what that means?  It means I liked the book even more because I was able to get so enthralled with it that I wasn’t able to predict what was going on.  There were moments that were less surprising but in looking at the book overall I can see where Breenan likely devised it that way.  Was it deflection from the big reveal or was it something else?  I couldn’t say, but whatever it was it worked.

Though it is a darker read than I typically gravitate to I enjoyed Demon’s Lexicon immensely.  The characters definitely make the story and coupled with where the story ended here I’m encouraged me to keep with the series.

Title: My Soul To Take
Author: Rachel Vincent [website] [twitter] [facebook]
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchase
Parental Advisory: criminal activity, murder, death
Teachable Moments: teamwork, faith, empowerment, self-sufficiency

Kaylee isn’t your average teenager, she’s a girl who has the special ability to feel the impending death of those around her.  On more than one occasion she is overcome with the unstoppable urge to scream loud and long when encountering such a person.  At just one occasion she is faced with a young man whom everyone at school would like to get their hooks into. He’s understanding, supportive and helpful as she tries to work her way through the fear to understanding.  What she doesn’t realize is that he too has a secret.

As a heroine Kaylee had a quiet strength.  From the jump she knew she was different than other girls but she never shrunk from the fear of it all.  Unlike others who might have cowered at the first sign of adversity, she charged headlong into investigating what was happening to her and then even further how to manage her life so as to minimize the impact on her perceived “normal” status.  Part of that management was to form a relationship with Nash, that elusive hot guy seemingly filled with attitude that all girls want but we then discover that deep down he’s just a sweet caring guy who distances himself from because of who (or what) he is.

Working together to better understand the murder of a young girl, and the accompanying mystery surrounding Kaylee’s life, they enter into a tentative romance.  He being the loving protector and she being the somewhat reckless investigator willing to do whatever it takes to get answers.  As they investigate a variety of strange circumstances and scenarios Kaylee and Nash add Tod (a creature of another kind) into the mix.  Tod, is the resident smart ass — completely entertaining but like Nash has that soft gooey side deep down.  Despite outward appearances it’s clear that he wants to help people in spite of being who (or what) he is.

There is a definite supernatural element to the story.  In fact there are several, but I’m not going to spoil what they are because half the fun of reading this book is the ride you take through it all.  I will say that I liked the lore behind Kaylee’s heritage and found how it fused together with Nash and Tod’s past seamlessly done.  In fact, it was quite apparent to me that Vincent is setting up a triangle between Kaylee, Nash and Tod for future books.  Fine with me, I enjoyed each of them individually and can honestly see her pairing up with either boy.  There is certainly a different dynamic in each relationship but they both have their strengths.

All in all I enjoyed this book and will continue on with the series. I liked that in a paranormal market full of stories with the same general focus this one stepped outside the box and went without vampires, werewolves and angels.