Gates of Paradise (Blue Bloods #7) by Melissa de la Cruz
Publisher: Hyperion
Publication date: Jan 15th, 2013
Number of pages: 355
Format: Hardcover
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository
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
And...so the final book of this epic, breathtaking and romantic saga with perfect mythology to boot. The end of one of my favourite series to date that combines angels, vampires, heaven and hell. Melissa has always delivered in every single volume as she pushes the romance and the mysteries to the brink where you'd have to know how this will all end for our beloved characters.
This climatic conclusion sees our favourites battle evil, love, loss and everything in between. We also have Bliss's POV back in the novel since her role in the events have come to pass. Every single story that we have come to know gets cleared up in this final novel. From Jack and Sky, Mimi and Kingsley, Bliss , Michael and Gabrielle. Everything ties together in a way that's a perfect way to end a 7-book saga.
Melissa's portrayal of these characters as they started as one thing, but over the course of the series have grown into young adults, full of spirit, love and confidence. All of the girls, and boys, men and women have in their own gone through so much in their lifetimes. They have discovered loss, love, betrayal and kept secrets along the way.
This conclusion answers all lingering questions, though it may leave some things hanging, that Melissa has recently answered in her Gates of Paradise Q & A
In this finale, Jack and Mimi have gone back to their old master, but in reality, they are playing a role so they can work on getting their bond unturned, and the only person that can do that is Lucifer. Knowing Lucifer, nothing comes without a price.
The question is, can they successfully play their parts and get back into the fold without getting caught in the process? When they get asked to do the one thing they will never be able to do, the twins will have to decide what is worth more... love or to stay as who they think they are and crumble to the darkness.
Michael and Gabrielle's story is told throughout flashbacks of the past, as we travel back to Florence and then Rome to discover the true nature of their separation. What began to tear them apart. These parts, I pretty much knew before hand, but I was happy to have any scenes of them because they are one of my favourite ships of the saga. I know some people liked Ben and Allegra, but me.. I preferred Michael and Gabrielle.
The truth of what really happened may shock you. It may make you think badly of Michael, but to me... everything he did... was for love, and he can't be faulted for that, even if the consequences of his actions just became worse for their kind.
And while Bliss is back, she is also with someone. Lawson. If you haven't read her series, Wolf Pact.. you might be confused as to who he is, but since i read it beforehand, I knew everything she went through, what they went through, and it was nice to see her back with her friends again. To see her role play out in the battle against her father, Lucifer.
Schuyler has her own journey to go through. Probably the most important role in defeating the Silver Bloods and Lucifer. She comes across certain things she never expected to find. And with her best friend, Oliver by her side, they will discover more than they ever bargained for. And almost all the surprises they come across, Oliver will discover that his life doesn't always revolve around Sky as it once did.
This is a story of love. How you can find it, lose it and to sacrifice it for the greater good.
I couldn't have asked for a better end to this series. And I look forward to the spinoff series, that is in the making. I love this world, the mythology and characters. I personally think there is so much left to explore.
Verdict: 4.5 / 5
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