How to Read the Blue Bloods Series
Melissa de la Cruz’s glamorous vampire saga is packed with fallen angels, Manhattan high society, and ancient rivalries. To get the most out of the mythology without spoiling key twists, we recommend following the publication order of the main series while weaving in the companion novellas and spin-offs where they naturally fit.
The Recommended Reading Order
This path combines the core sequence with the companion stories and the recent continuation duology:
- Blue Bloods (2006) – The book that starts it all, introducing Schuyler Van Alen and the glamorous secrets of Duchesne School.
- Masquerade (2007) – Schuyler's search for her grandfather takes her to Venice.
- Revelations (2008) – The battle between the Blue Bloods and Silver Bloods intensifies.
- The Van Alen Legacy (2009) – High-stakes drama that shifts the direction of the series.
- Keys to the Repository (2010) – A companion collection filled with files, histories, and bonus stories. Best read after Book 4.
- Misguided Angel (2010) – Schuyler travels to Europe as a fugitive.
- Bloody Valentine (2010) – A companion novella that features three romantic stories. Best read after Book 5.
- Lost in Time (2011) – The search for the Gates of Hell begins.
- Wolf Pact: The Complete Saga (2012) – A spin-off focusing on the series' werewolf characters. Originally released as a weekly e-serial, it's best read before the final battle of the original cycle.
- The Gates of Paradise (2013) – The epic finale of the original seven-book cycle.
- After Life (2022) – The beginning of a sequel duology that directly continues Schuyler’s journey in an alternate reality.
- After Death (2023) – The final chapter of the sequel duology.
Spin-offs and Expanded Universe Connections
Once you finish the main storyline, you can dive deeper into the expanded Blue Bloods universe through these spin-off series:
- Vampires of Manhattan (The New Blue Bloods Coven): Starting with Vampires of Manhattan (2014) and followed by the unpolished draft release of White Nights (2016), this sequel series shifts the focus to a newer generation of covens in New York.
- Witches of East End (Beauchamp Family): A sister fantasy series beginning with Witches of East End (2011). While it centers on a different family of witches, it is set in the same shared universe and features occasional character crossovers and cameos. You can read this series independently.
Chronological and Reading Caveats
While the publication order is the cleanest way to experience the plot, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Companion Placement: You can technically skip Keys to the Repository and Bloody Valentine and still follow the main plot, but they add rich context to the lore and character relationships.
- Wolf Pact: This werewolf spin-off occurs concurrently with the later events of the core series, so reading it right before The Gates of Paradise ensures you are fully up to date with the secondary characters.
- White Nights Draft: The sequel to Vampires of Manhattan was never formally finished or polished by the publisher. Melissa de la Cruz released it as an unedited draft for charity, so don't expect a polished final product!