Okay, so I admit that after my scathing review of Revelations it's a surprise that I'm even reading this book. But I did mention that the fourth book could be interesting and thankfully I was not disappointed this time!

Unlike Revelations, this book is quite action filled straight from the beginning. The chapters alternate narrative between Schuyler, Mimi, and Bliss. Schuyler is still on the run after the incidents that wrapped up Revelations. Mimi is already working as a Venator hunting for who has abducted the Watcher (Bliss' little "sister" Jordan) and Bliss has basically been blacked out for almost a year, unable to control her body which has been overcome by Lucifer. The great thing is that almost a year has gone by and we aren't getting the excruciating details. What's more, Mimi and Jack's bonding has been put off as a result of the last book, and Mimi finds an unexpected love interest in one of her fellow Venators. So although the Mimi/Schuyler conflict is still there (perhaps moreso on Schuyler's side as Oliver is much more in the picture), it doesn't come into play until later in the book (the bonding was postponed, not cancelled after all) and when it does it is so much less irritating. This book is one event after another in sequence- totally what I was waiting for the whole time I was reading Revelations!

In short- maybe it is worth reading (okay, skimming) Revelations to get to get to The Van Alen Legacy.