Vampires of Manhattan by Melissa de la Cruz

"The Vampires of Manhattan is 'hipster horror'--the memorable characters from her Blue Bloods series are older and cooler than before, trying to build 'Millennial' lives in the bustle of Manhattan while battling forces of evil and, of course, each other. Hero of this sexy, paranormal action tale is Oliver Hazard-Perry, former human conduit, and Manhattan’s only human-turned-vampire, now the head of the Blue Bloods Coven. When his all-too-human lover is found murdered on the eve of the coven’s annual Four Hundred Ball--a celebration meant to usher in a new era in vampire society, and to mark the re-unification of the Coven after decades of unrest and decay--Oliver is devastated. Now, not only is he trying to create a new world order for the immortal elite, he’s the prime suspect and is stalked by the newly installed head of the vampire secret police. Because according to the new rules, vampires who take human life can now be executed. Burned. How can an immortal sentenced to die fight back? He has to find the killer--and the answers lie deep in vampire lore" 
- melissa-delacruz.com

"Vampires of Manhattan," by Melissa de la Cruz was a quick fun read but I had a few issues with it that prevent me from giving this a rave review.

Despite being described on the authors website as "hipster horror," being told by the publishers representative who handed me the ARC of this novel at Book Expo America this year, I didn't find any hipsters in this novel aside from a passing reference to hipsters populating Brooklyn.  Unless my view of hipsters differs from the authors and publishers definition of hipsters.

I took the sub-title, "The New Blue Bloods Coven," too literally and was delighted.  I hadn't read the original series so I thought this would be a great place to start.  I figured I could start here and then check out the past coven in her original series.  However, this novel seemed to feature all the characters that were in the original series.  Fortunately de la Cruz did a good job of explaining who is who without inundating the reader with exposition.  It also made me more eager to read the original series to see what Oliver, Mimi, and Ara were like 10 years ago.

I loved the complicated relationship between Mimi and Kingsley.  Despite being supernatural beings, they seemed very human and I think most readers could relate to their relationship struggles. 

My favorite part of the novel was the middle.  The point of views switched from Mimi, Oliver and Ara to the point of view of Mimi's estranged husband Kingsley, Oliver's girlfriend Finn, and Ara's partner, Edon.  Not only did the point of view change but the time moved to five weeks prior, so it was cool to connect the dots from one character to another point and time and discover where they ended up.

I also laughed out loud at some of the humorous jabs the characters in the novel make to other famous vampires series that feature sparkly vampires and the like. In the "Blue Bloods" universe this is all part of the "conspiracy" that helps vampires like the "Blue Bloods" stay hidden in plain sight, appearing as ordinary humans who walk in the sun like you and I.

I thought the ending was a little rushed but it ended on one doozy of a cliffhanger which spins this new series on what seems to be a whole new direction unique to this "new coven."  I plan on checking out the potential sequel but while I'm waiting I think I'll catch up with the original "Blue Bloods" series to fill in some of the gaps in characters backstories and some of the vampire mythology unique to the "Blue Bloods" universe.

While I enjoyed this novel, I recommend it to original "Blue Bloods" fans first, I suggest everyone else read a few books from the original series first to fully appreciate the novel.  I'm sure existing "Blue Bloods" fans would love this novel.  I know I'd be thrilled if
de la Cruz wrote a follow-up to her "Au-Pairs" series that I adored.

Have you read "Vampires of Manhattan"?  Did you find any hipsters?  LOL, seriously, please share your thoughts!

Special thanks to Hachette Books for giving me this ARC at Book Expo America.

Laydown Lowdown

 

It's a great day for "Blue Bloods" fans today as they have two new releases available today.  The Young Adult series gets a graphic novel makeover with a graphic version of the first novel, "Blue Bloods."  Plus, "Gates of Paradise," by Melissa De la Cruz is the latest novel in the series available today.  Other new releases in the genre include "Vortex," by Julie Cross,  "Shades of Earth," by Beth Revis, and "Uses for Boys," by Erica Lorraine Scheidt.

 

Over in Mystery, you will find "Cold Comfort," by Quentin Bates, "Bloodstone," by Paul Doherty, "Cover of Snow," by Jenny Milchman, and "Snow White Must Die," by Nele Neuhaus; I wonder if Nele knows the evil queen?

Meanwhile in Romance, "Glamour in Glass" by Mary Robinette Kowal, "Finding Carrier," by C.E. Snyder.

Skip to SciFi/Fantasy for "The Aylesford Skull," by James P. Blaylock, "Wide Open," by Deborah Coates, "Hadon of Ancient Opar," by Phillip Joseph Farmer, and "The Warlord of Air," by Michael Moorcock.

Are any of these new releases on your "to-read" list?  Remember to support your local bookstores whenever possible.

Laydown Lowdown

Young Adult fans have a lot to cheer about this week.  There are two big releases this week.  "Rapture," the conclusion to Lauren Kate's epic "Fallen" series falls in stores today.  Readers will finally discover if Daniel and Luce find their happily ever after.  Meanwhile, the danger continues for Sydney and her friends in "The Golden Lily," the latest in Richele Mead's "Bloodlines" series.  "Timepiece," by Myra McEntire and "For the Darkness Shows the Stars," is also available today.

Moving over to mystery, best-selling author Jeffery Deaver's latest "Kathryn Dance," novel, "XO" is available today.  "Cop to Corpse," by Peter Lovesey and "Niceville," by Carsten Stroud debut today too.

Sashay over to the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section and you'll find the second installment in Melissa de la Cruz' Beauchamp/Witches of East End series, "Serpent's Kiss."  I've been waiting for this second installment of this witchy Hamptons family since the first one came out last summer !  "Times Last Gift," by Phillip Jose Farmer  and "The Taken," by Vicki Pettersson also land on shelves today.

Roam over to Romance and you'll see the latest Lisa Jackson, romantic suspense novel, "Afraid to Die."  Joanna Lindsey's latest "Let Love Find You," also graces shelves today.

Finally, literary fiction lovers may enjoy, "The Third Gate," by Lincoln Child, "Mission to Paris," by Alan Furst or "Last Kind Words," by Tom Piccirilli which are released today.

Are any of today's new release on your "to-read" list?  "Rapture," and "Serpent's Kiss" are on mine.  Happy Reading.  Please remember to support your local bookstores whenever possible.