Masquerade

This is the second book in the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz. I was pleasantly pleased with this book. After reading both Melissa Marr's "Ink Exchange" and the remainder of the House of Night series I have to say, I think Melissa de la Cruz writes much better than either of those authors.

Schuyler travels to Italy with Oliver in hopes of finding her grandfather; she hopes he can help her figure out how to fight the Silver Bloods. Meanwhile the Blue Blood community is planning the Four Hundred Ball and at Duchesne School Mimi is planning an exclusive after party. Also a mysterious new kid, Kingsley, enters the scene. Will Schuyler find what she seeks? What will happen to Mimi as she walks a darker and darker path?

I like this show more book better than the first book of this series. There is a lot more plot and things move along at a fast clip. It was nice to see Schuyler doing something productive and really taking the initiative. The tension between Oliver/Schuyler/Jack and Jack/Schuyler/Mimi continues to make things interesting. In this book you feel like things are kind of building to a climax as you find out more and more about the Silver Blood taint within the Blue Blood community.

This book is also a fun read if you like fashion and reading about the elite. There are a couple good fashion shoots that Bliss and Schuyler attend and some discussion about style and fashion in general. I happen to enjoy fashion so I find these parts of the book to be interesting and entertaining.

I thought many of the characters really filled out in this book. I also thought that this book was more linear and didn't jump between characters in a way that was as distracting as the first book. All in all I really enjoyed the book and am eagerly awaiting the next book. Just remember these are books to read for fun and really aren't all that deep. Although I will say that this book had more depth than the first book. show less

I still really enjoyed this book... while simultaneously finding myself very annoyed by it. I can't attach to the characters at all, especially as I grow older and they feel young, and yet, I am completely drawn into their story. Just as I'm thinking I've got the whole story pegged, something changes, and I'm thrown way off track. I love that in books.

My occasional frustration with the superficiality of the characters is the only thing that keeps this from being five stars for me. I like the plot, I like representation of the vampires. Generally, I really like this series and I will be picking up the next book.

There's something so decadent and aesthetically captivating about this series, and the second book was just as satisfying as the first. This book introduces chapters set in Venice and several new characters. The arrival of a certain rapscallion new student at Duchesne shakes up social dynamics and also raises questions about the secret world of the blue bloods. I personally love a ritzy event like the masquerade, and this one was the ideal backdrop to layer additional intrigue and romance into the story. I love this series!

Oh good grief, Masquerade is even worse than Blue Bloods. The first handful of pages are devoted to awkward exposition, recapping the ENTIRE FIRST BOOK, which most people will have READ ALREADY.

Every single thing that I thought was being "hinted" at in the last book came to pass in this one; the twists were predictable, and the bits of writing that were supposed to be from the nineteenth century were laughably horrible. Did newspaper articles, even in the late 1800s, really mention in every article about a missing girl that the girl was "pretty"?

There were some bits strewn in about a photoshoot for a magazine, and in those bits there were a lot of weird irrelevant details thrown around, like what was written on the papers attached to show more racks of clothing. It felt like the author knew the setting and couldn't help but show off her knowledge, even though it had NOTHING TO DO with the story.

The fashion talk was still annoying, but there seemed to be less of it in Masquerade. One other thing that annoyed me: the further I got into this series, the more Schuyler felt like a Mary Sue.

I think I'm ending my journey with this series here. Interesting idea, but I have too many books in my TBR pile to waste any more time on these. show less

It is official. I LOVE this series. The haters can continue hating. It's so hard to put it down. Especially now that I have grown to like Schuyler. Plus I read how the vampires in this book are different form the others. They are so not typical undead, they are actually fallen angels banished from heaven. Yes, like Lucifer. There' also other angels involved like Michael, Gabrielle, Abbadon and Azrael. But I am not saying who they are. That my friends' are for you to find out. Fast paced, suspenseful, and thrilling. Book 2 possessed a stronger plot, twist that will make you say Whhhaaat?!, what's hot and what's not in fashion (ex: BobiAnne's head to toe LV attire. Lol) and the insightful knowledge about the histories (or at least show more snippets of it) of our main characters. Some of their histories were revealed to, making me more aggravated that I have not bought the 3rd book yet. Is Schuyler and Bliss really sisters? What's up with Jack Force? (he is making me mad), is Allegra ever going to wake up from her self-induced coma? And now that Charles Force adopted our heroine, what heartaches and trouble will she get into this time? show less

In Maskerade, stuff happens. We get Shuyler looking for her grandfather in Venice, and Mimi Force planning the party of the year for her Blue Blood Friends. Enter the new kid, Kingsly Something or another. Not a whole lot of plot happening. The grandfather is found, but doesn't really add anything to the plot. The party happens, accussations occur, Shuyler saves a classmate from the death penalty.

There are two main faults, its incredibly inconsistant and the characters really don't act right. These are fallen angels being reincarnated over and over again. Yet, why would they care about the upper crust of society and all the mannerisms, gossip, and other stuff that goes with it? There are only 400 people who have been reincarnarted many show more times - you would think that they would all know each other now. And take Shuyler, the first blue-blood human cross. There should be more interest in her and her abilities from the blue blood community. I can go on and on an on.

The premise is cool, but I don't think the author really know this world, the rules that go with it, and the characters in it. show less

I thought this book was every bit as great as the first. I love the twisted web the characters are weaving amongst themselves and who they are in love with. As soon as I was finished I was ready to pick up the next book. I read the entire book in one afternoon which is a testament to how much I enjoyed it.

The main character Schuyler does track down her grandfather in Venice, the Jack/Mimi/Schuyler combination does get more and more complicated. Schuyler and Bliss both take on a familiar, which complicates Sky and Ollie’s relationship even more. Sky starts honing her vampire skills and she is almost as powerful as her mother.

You also find out that Sky has a sister at the very end of the book.

I am curious to find out what happens next...