Masquerade (Blue Bloods Series #2)

Jan 12, 2013 PurplyCookie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vampire, book-series, young-adult, angelology, boarding-school

"Masquerade" is the second installment In De La Cruz's "Blue Bloods" series. It continues where "Blue Bloods" left off, when Schuyler's grandmother was reprocessed through the vampire cycle, where she would eventually be reborn, after an interrupted attack by a Silver Blood. She (along with her Conduit Oliver) goes on a mission in Venice to find her grandfather, Lawrence Van Alen. Her grandmother's last plea was that Schuyler find her grandfather so that he could save the Blue Bloods from the Cr...more "Masquerade" is the second installment In De La Cruz's "Blue Bloods" series. It continues where "Blue Bloods" left off, when Schuyler's grandmother was reprocessed through the vampire cycle, where she would eventually be reborn, after an interrupted attack by a Silver Blood. She (along with her Conduit Oliver) goes on a mission in Venice to find her grandfather, Lawrence Van Alen. Her grandmother's last plea was that Schuyler find her grandfather so that he could save the Blue Bloods from the Croatan, or the Silver Bloods. But what they find is a man who does not want to come back to a group that shunned his ideas and cast him out.

Back in Duschene, the intrigues thicken. Bliss' mystery deepens, including the identity of her mother and the whys and wherefores of all of her nightmares and blackouts. Jack's infatuation with Schuyler is given more significance, and I liked the reasoning behind it. The connection between Mimi and Jack through all of their life cycles is explored well, but apart from that their characters are much the same. I was hoping for more development from Mimi. She's turning out to be one of the most one-dimensional characters I've had the chance of reading. Best friend and Conduit Oliver takes a familiar and predictable turn in regards to his feelings for our heroine, Schuyler, who grows a bit more spine. Her character is more well-defined here, and her relationships with Oliver and Jack are explored in more depth in this novel though with no real resolution.

The book didn't start off on the right foot for me because it violated a pet peeve of mine. In the first few pages, it almost blatantly dumped everything on the reader that had happened in the previous book. If people aren't smart enough to start with the first book in the series, then let them swim without a lifejacket and try to pick up what's going on. It felt like a waste of time reading the same descriptions repetitively.

There are a couple of divergences so Bliss and Schuyler can pursue modeling careers which adds nothing to the plot. It felt like the author knew the fashion world settings and couldn't help but show off her knowledge, even though it had nothing to do with the story. Lastly, the arrival of a new boy at school feels contrived--a means to a certain end--and its starting to feel a tad too deux et machina to me.

That said, I think it is time I abandon this series. It was only the vampire lore which has made me buy the sequel but unfortunately De La Cruz's writing style frustrates me to no end. She could've ended the series with the sequel or maybe with the next one, making this a trilogy, but instead she's stretching the plot too thin with news of more books to come. I'm sure there are far more superior vampire fiction out there; I just need to explore my options.

Book Details:

Title Masquerade (Blue Bloods, Book 2)
Author Melissa De La Cruz
Reviewed By Purplycookie(less)

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Nov 08, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

When we last left off with Schuyler Van Alen, she was just getting used to the news of being a Blue Blood, or what we normally label them as, a vampire. She gets invited into the New York Blood Bank Committee and, before she knows it, Schuyler is swept away into the unknown world of the Blue Bloods. Unfortunately, it seems like Schuyler discovered her true self at the wrong time, since three Blue Blood teens have been murdered....more

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Jan 27, 2011 Joyzi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Peeps who don't mind a filler book

Recommended to Joyzi by: Julie, Szam, Gabby and Isamlq

Shelves: ya-books, author-filipino, fiction, e-book, reviewed, book-series, disappointing-books, vampires, paranormal-romance

Melissa dela Cruz, this is a filler right?

Come on, nothing really happen in this book. I guess I just have to read the next one since many of my friends considered Book 3 as the best out of the series .

I just don't like that majority of the book was all about partying and hooking up (meh that's pretty much it).

I really also don't have a favorite character atm so to speak. None of them really strike me as interesting enough to held my interest. And I just felt that the character are very similar...more

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May 02, 2012 Rebecca rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I bought this book yesterday and finished yesterday too.

Urgh. I was too intrigued by the first book's whole IDEA to let this one go by without a read. I buy books out of habit, one I should VERY much stop until I have read it before since this one too was a waste of my money.

Urgh again! More blandness. I want to punch Charles force in the face, slap Mimi and the whole Kingsley thing was random and just .... what was the fracking point? Also, Mimi said in the first book that she couldn't remember...more

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Aug 03, 2010 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010

While the vampire lore was pretty much all that kept me going while reading Blue Bloods, I found a little more to appreciate while reading its sequel, Masquerade. Granted, this book isn't perfect, but it is a slight step up.

One big thing I noticed was the minimal designer name-dropping. It worked against the previous novel, basically since it made the characters even more distant and unrelatable (except the fact that they're, you know, vampires and all), since I don't think any reader had any id...more While the vampire lore was pretty much all that kept me going while reading Blue Bloods, I found a little more to appreciate while reading its sequel, Masquerade. Granted, this book isn't perfect, but it is a slight step up.

One big thing I noticed was the minimal designer name-dropping. It worked against the previous novel, basically since it made the characters even more distant and unrelatable (except the fact that they're, you know, vampires and all), since I don't think any reader had any idea who those designers were anyway. Also, it sped the story along, since the plot wasn't stalled to go into laborious descriptions of every article of clothing and accessory everyone was wearing. Keep in mind that outfit descriptions are in plenty, however, just not to the extent of this novel's predecessor.

With any series, it's nice to revisit characters and their many subplots, and it was nice to do that with Masquerade. I found myself caring a little more about characters, even petty things like (-gasp-) if Schuyler and Oliver were going to get together. All the subplots that were hinted at in Blue Bloods are fleshed out in this novel as well, and I like how they are developing so far.

Of course, the saving grace of this whole series is the vampires Melissa de la Cruz has created. They’re probably some of the most inventive and interesting supernatural creatures in YA literature. The best parts of these books are learning about their pasts, how they fell from Heaven, their memories of past reincarnations, etc.

However, the lack of any climax or satisfying conclusion whatsoever left something to be desired. The main plot of this series seems to only be who the murderous Silver Blood is, and that doesn't seem to have enough substance to sustain a series like this. Masquerade kind of runs the reader in a circle and leaves them right where they started - knowing nothing (except, at the end, you do have one suspect). I don't know, maybe the plot will flesh out into something more, but for the time being, it doesn't seem to have enough substance.

Also, what was the point of the Masquerade ball? Its only point seemed to be the filling of the first 150 pages. Well, I suppose it also shows how much these fallen angels love to party down, but I think anyone could have figured that out by now, since that’s all they seem to do, except maybe buy designer clothes. Do these people seriously except to get back into Heaven?(less)

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Mar 09, 2009 Mdolelle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What would you do if you could bring the dead back to life? I didn't like Masquerade, I loved it beacuse it will leave you with so many questions that you will have to read the next book. Schulyer Van Alen goes on an adventure to figure out the truth. Even things seems to be going fine as she connects with long lost faminly members. Unfortunately, her world is turned upside down when a explosion goes off in the most secure place for a Blue Bloods. And when people start making assumtions about wh...more

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Dec 18, 2009 Tatiana rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: teen girls who like reading about clothes, parties, hot guys and hooking up

Recommended to Tatiana by: Heather

Shelves: 2009, ya, romancelandia, series-dropped-lost-steam

This second "Blue Bloods" book has one major improvement - the number of pages dedicated to describing various pieces of clothing is reduced from about 150 pages in the first book to about 50. The rest of the book is of the same quality - same flat characters, same obsession with parties, expensive things and good looks, same absence of noticeable climax, and, sadly, same plot (or lack of it).

What goes for these books however is a very intriguing new take on vampire lore. It is obvious this lore...more

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Jan 24, 2008 Chelsea rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporaryfiction, fantasy, youngadult, 2008

This wasn't as good as the first one. I actually went back, and flipped through the first one to make sure I wasn't imagining things. de la Cruz's writing style gets much more stilted and awkward in this book, and her exposition gets much more awkward. The first ten pages are full of INFORMATION BEING THROWN AT YOUR HEAD, HEY GUYS REMEMBER FROM THE LAST BOOK?!?

Maybe I was on less cold medicine this time around, but I wasn't as enthralled. The story is still interesting (I like how de la Cruz wor...more This wasn't as good as the first one. I actually went back, and flipped through the first one to make sure I wasn't imagining things. de la Cruz's writing style gets much more stilted and awkward in this book, and her exposition gets much more awkward. The first ten pages are full of INFORMATION BEING THROWN AT YOUR HEAD, HEY GUYS REMEMBER FROM THE LAST BOOK?!?

Maybe I was on less cold medicine this time around, but I wasn't as enthralled. The story is still interesting (I like how de la Cruz worked Roanoke and Croatan into her plot, and I really like the idea that the elite of New York aren't just freakishly rich, they're also kind of, well, freaks.)

I didn't like the new developments between Schuyler and Oliver. I really didn't like Schuyler because of it - I'm a sucker for the pining childhood friend, so I came down on Oliver's side.

I'm not wildly interested in the namedropping and the clothes, but it certainly serves its place in forming a picture of the world they live in. I could do without the constant reminders that they're all freaking gorgeous. Yeah, yeah. And they have super powers and will live forever, oh, and they're rich. I wish someone in the book would have a flaw besides bad taste in make-out partners.

Speaking of their make-out partners - is everyone in this society related? Well, yes. A small population with "bonds" that span centuries isn't anything wildly original. But these pairs are frequently born as twins, which gives it a new twist (for me, at least, since I don't spend much time in the fantasy genre). I'm really interested to see where she goes with it. And by this point, everyone is already related, so there can't be many more DUN DUN DUN moments. ... I think.

I certainly plan on reading the rest of the series, because they're fun, light, gossipy books (Gossip Girls with Fangs?), but they make me crave a fat, boring, un-"special" heroine. It'd be a nice change of pace. They're out there somewhere, right? Anyone know any?

... I think I took longer writing this review than I did reading the book. Yikes.(less)

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Oct 27, 2007 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: advisory-07-08

Masquerade by Melissa De La Cruz is the second book of the Blue Bloods saga. Masquerade continues with the fight between the blue blooded vampires and the silver blood vampires where the Blue Blooded vampires carry on to finding who were the Silver Blood vampires that where uncontrollably consuming the Red Blooded humans and Blue Blooded vampires. This book is told through mainly three perspectives (through the perspective the protagonist, Schuyler, the antagonist, Mimi and Schuyler’s friend, Bl...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Hannah Haertl rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am usually not one for vampire books, but ever since I've read the first Blue Bloods novel I was hooked. I love the way they show the vampires having problems and having to go to school even though they all have a photographic memory. Bliss and Dylan's connection is amazing, especially because the whole time Dylan has been dead, she senses him still being there. I'd recommend this book to anyone with a desire to know how a vampire has to live, because it has all the little details of the thing...more

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Jan 11, 2008 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: ANYONE

I loved this book. It was sooo good I read it in one day. It is probably better for girls because it is written from a girl's point of view, but I think anyone would enjoy it. It was one of the best books I have ever read.
This book was about Schuyler, a girl who is a blue blood, or a vampire. But the vampires peacefully live among humans. There are alot of twists to this story, making for a great mystery. It is about teens who are learning how to live with the powers of being a vampire. However...more

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Nov 13, 2009 The Book Lady rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dead-tree-books-i-own, favorites, young-adult, cover-lust, reincarnation

After reading the first book in the series and being dissapointed by it, I wasn't expecting a lot from this one. Well, I was definitely most pleasantly surprised! After reading this installment, which I find to be infinitely superior to the first, I cannot wait to continue the series. Things definitely become much more interesting in this book since all the ground work is laid out for the series and all the main characters fully developed. If you're unsure after reading the first one, definitely...more

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Aug 03, 2011 Rebekah added it · review of another edition

This was just as good as the first. Perhaps even better!

I really liked how the nightmares with Bliss Llewelyn are still a mystery and I can't believe that she's also the daughter of Allegra!!!! I'm so glad that her and Schuyler have band together and i think that their friendship will thrive. It's a guess but I think that Bliss is the missing Maggie but that is just me. I wonder how she got back.

Anyway the writing was great and I'm glad this time Cruz didn't get into the fashion aspect too muc...more

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Jan 07, 2009 stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, vampires, young-adult

even more drama! schulyer and oliver's relationship takes a twist, lost relatives return, and the monster in bliss' dreams is still around. mimi gets what's coming to her, in a sense, and then, strangely, charles force wants schulyer.

this installment was more action-filled and assumed from the beginning that we knew the characters and the setting. there was no baby-sitter's club-type intro, which i appreciated. (i always ended up skipping that part of the book - i knew claudia dressed funky, ok...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Giota Papadimakopoulou rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Όταν διάβασα το 1ο βιβλίο των "Γαλαζοαίματων", μια σκέψη πέρασε από το μυαλό μου. Πως αν η Carrie του "Sex And The City" διάβαζε ποτέ αυτή τη σειρά, θα πάθαινε overdose fashion style. Ναι... πιστέψετε με... ακόμα και η απόλυτα Νεουορκέζα, θεά της μόδας και του στυλ, δεν θα άντεχε τόσες πληροφορίες και λάμψη. Ίσως μάλιστα να σκεφτόταν και το ενδεχόμενο μιας λοβοτομής. Τελοσπάντων... αρκετή κακία για Κυριακή πρωί οπότε, μπορώ να περάσω στο προκείμενο που δεν είναι άλλο από την συνέχεια του προαναφ...more Όταν διάβασα το 1ο βιβλίο των "Γαλαζοαίματων", μια σκέψη πέρασε από το μυαλό μου. Πως αν η Carrie του "Sex And The City" διάβαζε ποτέ αυτή τη σειρά, θα πάθαινε overdose fashion style. Ναι... πιστέψετε με... ακόμα και η απόλυτα Νεουορκέζα, θεά της μόδας και του στυλ, δεν θα άντεχε τόσες πληροφορίες και λάμψη. Ίσως μάλιστα να σκεφτόταν και το ενδεχόμενο μιας λοβοτομής. Τελοσπάντων... αρκετή κακία για Κυριακή πρωί οπότε, μπορώ να περάσω στο προκείμενο που δεν είναι άλλο από την συνέχεια του προαναφερόμενου βιβλίου. Καθώς δεν εγκαταλείπω ποτέ σειρές, όπως πολύ καλά γνωρίζετε, επέλεξα την τακτική του "μια ψυχή που είναι να βγει, ας βγει" και έτσι, ξεκίνησα αμέσως την ανάγνωση του 2ου βιβλίου, με την ελπίδα ότι η Melissa de la Cruz θα με λυπηθεί και θα κάνει στροφή στην... καριέρα της.

Δύο εβδομάδες περίπου μετά τα γεγονότα που σηματοδοτούν το τέλους του 1ου βιβλίου και η Σκάιλερ με τον Αγωγό και καλύτερό της φίλο, Όλιβερ, βρίσκονται στη Βενετία σε μια προσπάθεια να ανακαλύψουν τον παππού της πρώτης, αρχαίο βαμπίρ που έχει αυτοεξοριστεί και που πιστεύει ότι θα τους βοηθήσει να αντιμετωπίσουν την κρίση απέναντι στους εχθρούς τους, τους Ασημοαίματους, που φαίνεται να έχουν επιστρέψει πιο άγριοι και αποφασισμένοι από ποτέ, την ίδια ώρα που η Επιτροπή των βαμπίρ δεν θέλει να δεχτεί την ύπαρξή τους. Αρχίζει λοιπόν μια άτυπη κόντρα ανάμεσα στα δύο στρατόπεδα, με το ένα να προσπαθεί να επιβληθεί στο άλλο την ίδια ώρα που γίνονται οι προετοιμασίες για τον χορό των Τετρακοσίων και που εχθροί που δεν φανταζόταν κανείς, παραμονεύουν στα σκοτάδια περιμένοντας την σωστή ώρα για να κάνουν την κίνησή τους και να αλλάξουν τις ισορροπίες για πάντα.

Λοιπόν, διαβάζοντας το 2ο βιβλίο της σειράς, νομίζω ότι εντόπισα ποιο είναι το βασικό της πρόβλημα. Μου θυμίζει επεισόδιο τηλεοπτικής σειράς. Και αυτό μπορεί να είναι καλό για κάτι που παρακολουθούμε στο μικρό χαζοκούτι με εικόνα και ήχο, όχι όμως εξίσου καλό όταν μιλάμε για ένα βιβλίο. Δεν είναι το γεγονός ότι η πλοκή τρέχει γρήγορα, αυτό θα μπορούσε κάλλιστα και με περισσή ευκολία να είναι καλό. Το θέμα είναι ότι η συγγραφέας εστιάζει σε λάθος πράγματα. Οφείλω βέβαια να ομολογήσω πως σε σύγκριση με το πρώτο βιβλίο, έχει περιορίσει κάπως τις υπερβολικές λεπτομέρειες γύρω από την μόδα και τις πολυτέλειες του κόσμου των Γαλαζοαίματων, προσπαθώντας προφανώς να μείνει στην ουσία. Δεν το πετυχαίνει στον απόλυτο βαθμό όμως, σέβομαι και εκτιμώ την προσπάθεια. Τουλάχιστον αυτή τη φορά δεν σκέφτηκα να αφήσω το βιβλίο και να πιάσω το Vogue θέλοντας να πλήξω σε μικρότερο βαθμό.

Οφείλω βέβαια να παραδεχτώ πως η κεντρική ιδέα της ιστορίας, δεν είναι καθόλου κακή. Η συγγραφέας παντρεύει τους μύθους των βρικολάκων με εκείνους των έκπτωτων αγγέλων, συνδέοντάς τους και τοποθετώντας τους σε έναν κοινό άξονα. Η ανακύκλωση των ψυχών και του αίματος, οι κύκλοι ζωής μέσα στους αιώνες και οι μνήμες που μεταφέρονται από τη μία στην άλλη για να ακολουθήσουν το πεπρωμένο και την ταυτότητα που είχαν από τους ουρανούς ακόμα, είναι ιδιαίτερα ενδιαφέροντα στοιχεία. Απλά, τελικά, δεν αξιοποιούνται όπως θα έπρεπε και μάλιστα, όσον αφορά τις ταυτότητες των οικογενειών και τις μεταξύ τους σχέσεις, συγγενικές ή μη, τα πράγματα ίσως να είναι λίγο περισσότερο περιπλεγμένα απ' όσο χρειάζεται. Ο μεγαλύτερος ηλικιακά αναγνώστης θα καταλάβει, ο μικρότερος όμως, ίσως να αισθανθεί κάποιες στιγμές ότι χάνει το παιχνίδι.

Σε καμία περίπτωση δεν άλλαξα γνώμη σχετικά με τους "Γαλαζοαίματους". Εξακολουθώ να πιστεύω πως είναι μια καθαρά εφηβική σειρά που είναι σχεδόν αδιανόητο να συγκινήσει, πόσω μάλλον να γοητεύσει, έναν έμπειρο αναγνώστη, του είδους και όχι μόνο, που έχει διαβάσει τόσες και τόσες παρόμοιες ιστορίες οι οποίες είναι σαφέστατα καλύτερες και πιο κοντά στην ηλικία του αν θέλετε. Αν ψάχνεστε, μπορώ να σας προτείνω εγώ μερικές. Παρ' όλα ταύτα, το 2ο βιβλίο της σειράς, είναι καλύτερο από το πρώτο, όχι τόσο ώστε να το θεωρήσω και αριστούργημα αλλά τουλάχιστον, πιο ενδιαφέρον ως προς την πλοκή του, δίνοντάς μας περισσότερες πληροφορίες για τον πραγματικό πυρήνα της ιστορίας, προσπαθώντας την ίδια στιγμή να καταπιέσει την glamour παρόρμηση που το χαρακτηρίζει, κερδίζοντας σε έναν βαθμό, μια κάποια παραπάνω συμπάθεια.(less)

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Feb 25, 2013 Sabina rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-crap, vampires, urban-fantasy, my-book-reviews

So, let me get this straight. Half of the book's plot consists in the vampires attending a DIRTY ROTTEN FILTHY STINKING RICH SNOBS PARTY?!

This is one of the truly rare occasions in which you should judge a book exactly by it's cover. Seriously. The cover reflects the contents of the pages crystally clear. If you took a look at the cover, you'd pretty much read the entire book. It truly deserves it's title, too.

Another filler book. Joy. Did I mention how much I hate filler books in a series? I t...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Lumpenprole rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, borrowed, fiction-ya, fantasy, horror, kindle

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Why do we always come here?
I'd really like to know,
It's like a kind of torture
To have to watch this show!

Ladies and gentlemen, a moment of silence. I now present the immortal Statler and Wardolf. Why? They reach the heights I aspire to when I review books like this. I read 'em like I eat ham & cheese Hot Pockets™, the remnants of taste and general concern for my personal well-being overawed by a sort of vile satiation, forcing a retreat in a general rout from the battlefield of my conscious...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Hope rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, blue-blood-series

Wow! I read this book in 3.5 hours from start to finish! I had not intended to read it in one sitting but started and just continued reading and suddenly I was done! :-)

Like the first book in there series, Blue Bloods, this one is excellent! I am still unsure why I like this series. I am having a hard time explaining or describing my feelings. They are not your typical "slurpy blood sucky" vampire books. There is not a ton of sex, which frankly I find refreshing since that is what I find most of...more Wow! I read this book in 3.5 hours from start to finish! I had not intended to read it in one sitting but started and just continued reading and suddenly I was done! :-)

Like the first book in there series, Blue Bloods, this one is excellent! I am still unsure why I like this series. I am having a hard time explaining or describing my feelings. They are not your typical "slurpy blood sucky" vampire books. There is not a ton of sex, which frankly I find refreshing since that is what I find most often in other vampire series... lots of slupy sucky, lots of sex, as if we readers are unable to enjoy a good vampy novel without them. I assure you were are, this is a case in point! ;-)

I hate to be redundant but again, this seems like a "thinking man's" vampire series. I am enjoying the history, the linking of the fall of Lucifer and his minions with the good and bad vamps - because of course where there is good vamps (aka fallen angels) there must be bad vamps (just plain bad icky angels!)

The threads reincarnations and shared memories that transcend time is also another positive! The history makes my little teacher heart beat wildly! LOL! ;-)

I am truly enjoying this series and am already happily ensconced in the third book!

Read it (them)! ;-)

XXOO
~Hope

What Goodreads.com tells us:
Schuyler Van Alen is starting to get more comfortable with her newfound vampire powers, but she still has many unanswered questions. A trip to Italy in search of her grandfather only serves to make things more confusing. What secrets are the leaders of The Committee hiding? Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball. In true Blue Blood fashion, the ball is totally fab, complete with masks--and hidden behind this masquerade is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire's destiny.
The thrilling sequel in Melissa de la Cruz's vampire mythology has all the glamour, attitude, and vampire lore that made the first book a hit.(less)

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Jan 14, 2013 Hope rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, blue-blood-series

Wow! I read this book in 3.5 hours from start to finish! I had not intended to read it in one sitting but started and just continued reading and suddenly I was done! :-)

Like the first book in there series, Blue Bloods, this one is excellent! I am still unsure why I like this series. I am having a hard time explaining or describing my feelings. They are not your typical "slurpy blood sucky" vampire books. There is not a ton of sex, which frankly I find refreshing since that is what I find most of...more Wow! I read this book in 3.5 hours from start to finish! I had not intended to read it in one sitting but started and just continued reading and suddenly I was done! :-)

Like the first book in there series, Blue Bloods, this one is excellent! I am still unsure why I like this series. I am having a hard time explaining or describing my feelings. They are not your typical "slurpy blood sucky" vampire books. There is not a ton of sex, which frankly I find refreshing since that is what I find most often in other vampire series... lots of slupy sucky, lots of sex, as if we readers are unable to enjoy a good vampy novel without them. I assure you were are, this is a case in point! ;-)

I hate to be redundant but again, this seems like a "thinking man's" vampire series. I am enjoying the history, the linking of the fall of Lucifer and his minions with the good and bad vamps - because of course where there is good vamps (aka fallen angels) there must be bad vamps (just plain bad icky angels!)

The threads reincarnations and shared memories that transcend time is also another positive! The history makes my little teacher heart beat wildly! LOL! ;-)

I am truly enjoying this series and am already happily ensconced in the third book!

Read it (them)! ;-)

XXOO
~Hope

What Goodreads.com tells us:
Schuyler Van Alen is starting to get more comfortable with her new found vampire powers, but she still has many unanswered questions. A trip to Italy in search of her grandfather only serves to make things more confusing. What secrets are the leaders of The Committee hiding? Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball. In true Blue Blood fashion, the ball is totally fab, complete with masks--and hidden behind this masquerade is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire's destiny.
The thrilling sequel in Melissa de la Cruz's vampire mythology has all the glamor, attitude, and vampire lore that made the first book a hit.(less)

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Jan 12, 2013 PurplyCookie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, book-series, angelology, vampire, boarding-school, young-adult

"Masquerade" is the second installment In De La Cruz's "Blue Bloods" series. It continues where "Blue Bloods" left off, when Schuyler's grandmother was reprocessed through the vampire cycle, where she would eventually be reborn, after an interrupted attack by a Silver Blood. She (along with her Conduit Oliver) goes on a mission in Venice to find her grandfather, Lawrence Van Alen. Her grandmother's last plea was that Schuyler find her grandfather so that he could save the Blue Bloods from the Cr...more "Masquerade" is the second installment In De La Cruz's "Blue Bloods" series. It continues where "Blue Bloods" left off, when Schuyler's grandmother was reprocessed through the vampire cycle, where she would eventually be reborn, after an interrupted attack by a Silver Blood. She (along with her Conduit Oliver) goes on a mission in Venice to find her grandfather, Lawrence Van Alen. Her grandmother's last plea was that Schuyler find her grandfather so that he could save the Blue Bloods from the Croatan, or the Silver Bloods. But what they find is a man who does not want to come back to a group that shunned his ideas and cast him out.

Back in Duschene, the intrigues thicken. Bliss' mystery deepens, including the identity of her mother and the whys and wherefores of all of her nightmares and blackouts. Jack's infatuation with Schuyler is given more significance, and I liked the reasoning behind it. The connection between Mimi and Jack through all of their life cycles is explored well, but apart from that their characters are much the same. I was hoping for more development from Mimi. She's turning out to be one of the most one-dimensional characters I've had the chance of reading. Best friend and Conduit Oliver takes a familiar and predictable turn in regards to his feelings for our heroine, Schuyler, who grows a bit more spine. Her character is more well-defined here, and her relationships with Oliver and Jack are explored in more depth in this novel though with no real resolution.

The book didn't start off on the right foot for me because it violated a pet peeve of mine. In the first few pages, it almost blatantly dumped everything on the reader that had happened in the previous book. If people aren't smart enough to start with the first book in the series, then let them swim without a lifejacket and try to pick up what's going on. It felt like a waste of time reading the same descriptions repetitively.

There are a couple of divergences so Bliss and Schuyler can pursue modeling careers which adds nothing to the plot. It felt like the author knew the fashion world settings and couldn't help but show off her knowledge, even though it had nothing to do with the story. Lastly, the arrival of a new boy at school feels contrived--a means to a certain end--and its starting to feel a tad too deux et machina to me.

That said, I think it is time I abandon this series. It was only the vampire lore which has made me buy the sequel but unfortunately De La Cruz's writing style frustrates me to no end. She could've ended the series with the sequel or maybe with the next one, making this a trilogy, but instead she's stretching the plot too thin with news of more books to come. I'm sure there are far more superior vampire fiction out there; I just need to explore my options.

Book Details:

Title Masquerade (Blue Bloods, Book 2)
Author Melissa De La Cruz
Reviewed By Purplycookie(less)

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Dec 21, 2012 Nic Echo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: angel, blue-bloods, melissa-de-la-cruz, older-teen, urban-fantasy, vampire, young-adult

About the Book:
In the second book of the Blue Bloods series, the vampires are planning their exclusive Four Hundred ball. However, Mimi Force has plans to have an after party: a masquerade that ends up involving kisses behind masks and causing wonderment in the romance department. Our heroines have more to worry about than just crushes and love though. Bliss swears she has seen Dylan around, even though he should be dead. Schuyler is needing to find a human familiar before she slips into a coma,...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Alyssa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: incredibly-frustrating

I hate pretty much hate all the characters cause they have all these clues on the silver blood but they just can't but the pieces together fast enough for my likings. And the thing that I ABSOLUTELY HATE is the characters HUGE change of feelings for each other. And I'm not talking about you dislike someone, they do something nice, then you're friends, OH NO, it's like giving someone candy then say oh yah, i forgot i hated your guts then taking it back. ARGGGG! Hate it! That is one biggest reason...more I hate pretty much hate all the characters cause they have all these clues on the silver blood but they just can't but the pieces together fast enough for my likings. And the thing that I ABSOLUTELY HATE is the characters HUGE change of feelings for each other. And I'm not talking about you dislike someone, they do something nice, then you're friends, OH NO, it's like giving someone candy then say oh yah, i forgot i hated your guts then taking it back. ARGGGG! Hate it! That is one biggest reasons why I hate Blitz. (don't really blame it on Blitz though, it's the author's lack of knowing how to make realistic emotions that human would do. Believe me no one, no one in this world can think like that about a person and be friends)

"...with a bunch of loser friends, including Oliver Hazard-Perry & Schuyler Van Alen, two most unpopular kids in their year." Really Blitz? loser friends, unpopular kids? last time i checked you knew their names and gave Schuyler a sob story and were all happy and BFF's at the photo shoot. What changed? Oh wait, NOTHING! you just suddenly decided to be all cruel. AND you invite her to the party of your real best friend even though your "friend" told you not to"
I just really don't like Blitz.

Oh and let's talk about the whole drawing out the suspense/ mystery thing about this whole book. didn't work I knew almost everything after the problem was reveled. It was SO obvious that there was something up with Kingsley. He's all of a sudden there with a suspicious book and always hangs out with Mimi, why would the author even tell us about him if he was just a hot new kid, duh. Jake kissed Schuyler. I honestly don't know how she doesn't get this right away. Dude. From past experiences you know he doesn't like parties either. AND HIS VOICE! if you're so hung up on him shouldn't you know his voice by now!?!?! argg, so much obvious things these "smart" vampires can't figure out.

And i'm not sure if you guys have figured this out yet but Blitz is totally Allegra's other daughter. I'm 100% sure.

1)Only Blitz & Schuyler has crazy blackouts that are way more serious then normal vampires
20 Blitz has never had an actually flashback yet. Mostly because she's new!
3) The last page of the book hello! dead giveaway!

I hope Melissa doesn't drag this out as the "mystery" in the next book cause it would be really boring to read a story that i know the big secret to.
(less)

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Feb 22, 2012 Celise Winters rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Go here to read my full review:
http://incandescentenchantments.blogs...

Now, off of that negative note, the book itself was SUPERB. There was a cliffhanger that had you begging for more. It was just perfect! I love how Melissa de la Cruz wove Lucifer and angels and everything with vampires. It does not fail to amaze me. For this reason, I am probably going to rate every book five stars.

Now, here are some character I just want to kick in the butt(they pertain specifically to the Force family). Mim...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Nimet Ozkan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My favorite part of all time: page #121-123
"Don't you like parties?" he asked, when he noticed her sitting by herself on a ruined stone bench.
Schuyler laughed, "I hate them, actually."
"Me too."
"I never know what to say, or what to do."
"Well, it looks like dancing is involved. And drinking. Of all kinds."
He was a vampire, then, Schuyler wondered who he was, and why he was bothering to speak to her.
"Undoubtedly," she agreed.
"But you choose not to choose."
"I'm a rebel," she said sarcastically.
"I d...more

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Dec 03, 2011 Ines Diaz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Masquerade is the second novel in Melissa De La Cruz’s Blue Bloods series. Written for a Young Adult audience the Blue Bloods books follow the (mostly social) adventures of a group of rich and beautiful teens living a life of privilege in Manhattan. However, its worth noting that although this series is targeted at Young Adult readers there is plenty of cross-over appeal for older adult readers too. In addition to being good-looking and wealthy these teens are also Blue Blood vampires and are in...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Stephanie Cowart rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read the first book in the series, Blue Bloods, last year and I remember it just being OK.
I picked up this book on a whim and was really intrigued by it. I still don't *love* the characters but the whole vampire/fallen angel mythology is really interesting and finding more information about the Silver Bloods and their infiltration into the Blue Bloods society kept me reading. I finished the book in just three hours.

The book begins with Schuyler and Oliver in Italy looking for her grandfather....more

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Sep 22, 2011 Bianca rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is actually a 2 1/2 star review, but since you can't do half stars...

I consumed this sequel in just under four hours. Which would be impressive, although it should be noted that these books are not densely written and about a third of it consists of descriptions of what people are wearing and the names of fashion designers, which I am quite glad to skip.

That said, if you liked the first one, you're almost guaranteed to enjoy the second because the author doesn't really mess with the formu...more This is actually a 2 1/2 star review, but since you can't do half stars...

I consumed this sequel in just under four hours. Which would be impressive, although it should be noted that these books are not densely written and about a third of it consists of descriptions of what people are wearing and the names of fashion designers, which I am quite glad to skip.

That said, if you liked the first one, you're almost guaranteed to enjoy the second because the author doesn't really mess with the formula that worked so well before. Smart woman.

The intrigues thicken. Bliss' mystery deepens, including the identity of her mother and the whys and wherefores of all of her nightmares and blackouts. (It's amazing the girl stays upright with so little sleep.) Jack's infatuation with Schuyler is given more significance, and I liked the reasoning behind it. It makes it more than just a shallow, dude-she's-freakin-hot thing. The connection between Mimi and Jack through all of their life cycles is explored well, but apart from that their characters are much the same. I was hoping for more development from Mimi. Best friend Oliver takes a familiar and predictable turn in regards to his feelings for our heroine, Schuyler, who grows a bit more spine and remains likable as she travels in search of her exiled grandfather.

Once again, the book is strongest where its exploring the idea of these reincarnating fallen angels, how they interact in familiar and yet not-the-same patterns over and over again. I honestly wished the adults could put in more page-time. Charles Force remains the most complicated character in the book - hard to like but yet not bad (at least...not yet). The addition of Schuyler's grandfather gives the character landscape a boost. There's a moment where he's talking with 16-year-old Jack in a tone that suggests they've had this conversation before - through the centuries. It felt like a throwaway scene, but I wanted there to be more like them.

The book didn't start off on the right foot for me because it violated a pet peeve of mine. In the first few pages, it almost blatantly infodumped everything that had happened in the previous book. If people aren't clever enough to start with the first book in the series, then let them swim without a lifejacket and try to pick up what's going on.

There are other problems. The head-hopping by the author means sometimes she has to double-back and have characters remembering scenes that happened instead of us getting to see them in real-time. It's a method that tends to leave gaps, although she does pretty well at keeping her threads in hand. There a couple of divergences so Bliss and Schuyler can pursue modeling careers. (Why?) The addition of a new boy at school feels contrived - a means to a certain end - and a couple of other elements to the end (I don't want to spoil anything) feel a bit deus ex machina.

All the negatives aside, I'm still interested in how the intrigues will be resolved.(less)

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Aug 01, 2011 StorySeekers rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2004-10

Gabrielle - In this second book of the series, you get a little bit of a mystery, as Schuyler and her best friend, Oliver, travel to Venice to find her grandfather. But it’s hard to find someone who does not want to be found. Meanwhile, Mimi is help plan the Four Hundred Ball that is exclusively only for Blue Bloods. She also has planned a secret masquerade after party for the young bloods. Bliss, on the other hand, is experiencing blackouts and finding herself in places she can’t remember going...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Dawnandwini rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Masquerade the second installment in the blue blood series, identities are revealed, and past lives explored. Schuyler travels looking for her long lost grandfather Lawrence Van Allen the only person alive at this moment who can give her answers about the Silver Bloods. Schuyler also finds out more about herself being a blue blood and realizes that she must pick a familiar. There is one obvious choice- but with that choice come dire consequences.Bliss, the Blue Blood who moved from Houston wi...more In Masquerade the second installment in the blue blood series, identities are revealed, and past lives explored. Schuyler travels looking for her long lost grandfather Lawrence Van Allen the only person alive at this moment who can give her answers about the Silver Bloods. Schuyler also finds out more about herself being a blue blood and realizes that she must pick a familiar. There is one obvious choice- but with that choice come dire consequences.Bliss, the Blue Blood who moved from Houston with her Senator father, finds herself in strange locations unexplainably. We get into a more in depth story with Bliss, who somewhat starts to bond with Schuyler. A very attractive new student, Kingsley, enters Duchesne He becomes quick friends with Mimi. Mimi has planned a grand Masquerade ball in NYC where all the young blue bloods are expected to be. It is at this party, mysterious things happen, leaving Schuyler open with a lot of questions.
Can she stop the Silver bloods? Can she convince her grandfather to help? And can she figure out her feelings for Jack? And who is this mysterious guy in and out of nowhere and everywhere all at the same time?

Winnie

Blue Bloods are the elite of modern New York society. The teen Blue Bloods, who attend Duchesne School, enjoy the most tremendous parties and share a mysterious secret. Schuyler Van Alen and her destined human conduit, Oliver Hazard- Perry, (Red Blood) begin the book by traveling to Italy in search of Schuyler’s exile grandfather. Mean while, In New York, Mimi and Jack Force (Force twins) are leading the teen Blue Bloods in getting ready for the traditional Four Hundred Ball- were they will be presented officially at the ball, with their vampire names and identities. Also, A very cute new student, Kingsley, enrolls at Duchesne and he is becoming the New Jack! And… he’s getting to know all the important players right away. Who is Kingsley? Really? In this book, bonds are created and loyalties are tested plus the revelation of the “Sliver bloods” and Sky… is in the middle of it all! Another winner for the Author! I loved it! Bravo(less)

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Jun 07, 2011 Charlynn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As promised, I'm back with remarks about the second novel in Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods Series - Masquerade. It picks up soon after where the previous book ended with Schuyler and her human conduit and best friend, Oliver, in Venice, seeking out her reclusive grandfather. She feels as though, if she's going to fight back and win against the Silver Bloods, she's going to need her grandfather - Lawrence Van Alen's - guidance and knowledge. Formerly influential and still extremely intellectua...more As promised, I'm back with remarks about the second novel in Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods Series - Masquerade. It picks up soon after where the previous book ended with Schuyler and her human conduit and best friend, Oliver, in Venice, seeking out her reclusive grandfather. She feels as though, if she's going to fight back and win against the Silver Bloods, she's going to need her grandfather - Lawrence Van Alen's - guidance and knowledge. Formerly influential and still extremely intellectual... or so she has been led to believe by her recently cycled grandmother, Lawrence has left the tight-knit circle of the Blue Bloods, banished and ostracized. However, a lack of society's favor has never intimidated Schuyler before.

She finds her grandfather, using her vampire skills and talents, only to be told that he will not accompany her back to New York. So, disillusioned and lost for how else she will be able to fight back against those who seek her demise, she returns, with Ollie, alone. Luckily, the deaths have stopped, but that does not mean that the danger has passed. Tied up intricately with the drama and pageantry of the Blue Blood's annual 400 Ball - the height of their exclusive New York society season, Bliss starts to believe that Dylan's still alive; a new, powerful, cocky vampire arrives to threaten Jack's position; Schuyler discovers that her body needs for her to take a human familiar sooner than expected unless she wants to end up in a coma like her mother, and Mimi is determined to bond - yes, bond - with her brother. And that's all before Lawrence, without notice, changes his mind and returns to New York.

Immediately, upon his homecoming, things start to change for Schuyler. First off, her grandfather reveals that, though nowhere near as wealthy as they once were, they're not nearly as destitute as Cordelia had led her granddaughter to believe. He also begins training Schuyler to use and understand her vampire skills so that she is prepared when next she is forced to fight a silver blood. Plus, more is revealed about the Van Alen's history, history that is important not only for Schuyler but also Charles Van Alen Force, Mimi and Jack Force, and Bliss Llewellyn. Needless to say, these five immortals are more intricately tied together than some of them previously believed. Add to this Schuyler and Jack's continuing and growing feelings for each other, several other romantic entanglements, the deadly reappearance of the Silver Bloods, and a traitor in their midst, and Masquerade just might be even more tense, suspenseful, and intriguing than its predecessor.

Once more, though, the only drawback is the character of Mimi. Though I have nothing against villains - in fact, I know just how necessary they are, for me, two books into this series, she still does not have a redeeming quality; she still does not have any rooting value whatsoever. And, yes, I realize she is Schuyler's opposite, her rival, her arch-nemesis, but, to make the interaction between them more interesting, I personally think it would be better if one wasn't so clearly the heroine and the other the unlikeable bitch. But that's me.

Read more: http://miss-sbooks.livejournal.com/(less)

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vampire fans!!: Masquerade	3	8	Jun 25, 2012 06:04pm
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Masquerade (Blue Bloods #2)

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