Saturday, January 4, 2014

Book Review #9: Gates of Paradise (Blue Bloods #7)



Narrated by Schuyler in her mission to find the true gatekeeper of the other path of the Gate of Promise along with Oliver and Kingsley, Mimi in the false service she and Jack gave to Lucifer, Bliss in her role of bringing the Hellhounds in the aid of the Fallen and Tomasia (Gabrielle’s cycle in Florence). There is also a point of view from Lawson, a Hellhound who is really Fenrir, the one who would free the hounds from Lucifer’s reins. Also, there’s point of views from Lupus Theliel (the Angel name Gabrielle gave to Bliss) and narratives from Gabrielle herself when talking to Charles in the White Darkness. 

Schuyler, Oliver and Kingsley embarked on a mission to London following an entry in Lawrence Van Alen’s journal. Upon reaching there, the three of them tried to rally the Blue Bloods that are left of the London Coven as most of the Covens around the world have disbanded and are now in hiding. Later, Schuyler is told by Allegra to remember her father when she’s in a crossroad thinking that she must find her father and traveled to California. Instead of finding her father, Schuyler found her sister from her father who had a relationship with Renny (Lost In Time). After the short reunion, she was now more determined to bring salvation to the Fallen. And then, Jack kidnapped her to be sacrificed at the gate.

Mimi and Jack’s sudden allegiance to Lucifer brought sneers and jeers from their former allies; nonetheless the Morningstar himself gave them orders. The first one was to retrieve the Holy Grail, the cup that can house the White Fire of heaven, the newfound ammunition of Lucifer to destroy mid-world and siege Paradise. But the twins made a plan to stage an act wherein the cups were destroyed in an accident or were taken by the enemy first. For her part, Mimi came vis-à-vis with her love, Kingsley. And she intended for him to have it. Returning to Lucifer empty-handed did not made her master’s mood, so he made her do another mission, one she might not do. And to ensure her faithfulness, he gave her Lucifer’s Bane, an emerald necklace she has to wear so that he will know her every action. But through Kingsley’s fast thinking, Mimi was freed from the watchful eyes of Lucifer.

 In Florence, Tomasia narrates how she, Andreas and Giovanni are a team of Venators tracking down a Red Blood bearing the mark of Lucifer’s union with Red Bloods and then they find Simonetta, the first Red Blood Lucifer had marked and named Andreas to be the one harboring Lucifer’s soul thus making Tomasia doubt her beliefs. Because of this, she thought that maybe Gio is Michael, Pure of Heart thus making her great mistake when it was proven that Andreas was framed and that Gio was truly the Dark Prince. Tomasia didn’t want Andreas and the other Venators to kill the child she was bearing, that oblivious to her knowledge, Andreas had other plans. He planned to destroy the child and erase Tomasia’s memories only to be hampered by Patrizio (Forsyth) so that the soul of Lucifer will live in the child. 

And then the scene returns to the White Darkness wherein Michael and Gabrielle opened up with each other, when no secrets were between them and all was forgiven.

I was brought in a whirlwind of emotions when it came to the final part, where there were only a few more pages before I meet the back cover. Although I couldn’t feel the action from the fight scenes and the war, and also I was a bit confused with Deming Chen’s bond mate; in Lost In Time, Sam Lennox hinted a sort of feeling towards her, and in Gates of Paradise,  she ended up bonded to Ted Lennox, Sam’s star-born twin. And yes, the ending was a happy one, for Schuyler, Mimi and Bliss, even for Michael and Gabrielle, the Uncorrupted. Sadly, I’m only giving this a 4 out of 5 due to my confusion.

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