Masquerade (Blue Bloods, Book 2)

I picked up Masquerade after finishing Blue Bloods, Melissa de la Cruz's first novel about the vampires aka Blue Bloods. This second effort follows-up where the first ended...the young Blue Blood, Schuyler Van Alen goes to Venice in search of her grandfather, Lawrence Van Alen whom she believes can help solve the mystery of the Silver Bloods, a deviant branch of vampires intent on destroying young Blue Bloods. Back in Manhattan, preparations are in full-swing for the Four Hundred Ball, the elite event for vampires only. We are re-introduced to familiar characters such as Jack and Mimi Force, the immortal twins, Bliss Llewellyn, Oliver Perry [Schuyler's conduit], and some new ones like Kingsley Martin, the new boy. I thought this was a better plotted novel than the first...there's more intrigue, and also a lot more elaboration on what makes the Blue Bloods tick, i.e. their abilities, the training that goes into the young Blue Bloods, their weaknesses and of course the partial unravelling of the mystery of the Sivler Bloods. Schuyler Van Alen's 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. There is a lot more that needs to be explained, and I guess that's to be found in the third novel, Revelations, which I am eagerly anticipating.

I finished this book within 6 hours of picking it up. I couldn't put it down! De La Cruz keeps the pace going quickly as the novel picks up several months after Blue Bloods ended. Schulyer is still on the hunt to find the truth about the Silver Bloods and fight her feelings for Jack Force, while encountering a slew of new problems that she has to face. De La Cruz packs so much action in this novel, you will wish it was twice as long. She leaves the reader waiting impatiently for the third book in the series with unanswered questions and an unbelievable final scene. I absolutely loved this novel.

Like so many of my favorite movies and books, Masquerade takes you to Italy, and to one of its best cities, Florence. Experience the city through Masquerade and travel with Schuyler on her journey to find her grandfather. Not that into Italy, not to worry, your not there for long. How could we forget about the Force Twins! There are plenty of questions answered and many raised, but I am sure that you will love this book. If you were not sure about Blue Bloods, then be sure about Masquerade, it was thrilling.

I, for one, was thrilled when I heard there would be a sequel to "Blue Bloods." As soon as a friend of mine got it, she handed it off to me when she was done. Like her, it took me 6 hours to read cover to cover. Fast paced and just as good as the first, Melissa de la Cruz reveals enough answers to satisfy the reader's appetite (I can't count how many "Oh my God!" moments I had), but leaves just as many cliff hangers to leave you hungry for another installment. I cannot wait to read the continuation to this excellent story.

Masquerade is a worthy follow up to Blue Bloods that surpasses its predecessor in terms of writing quality and story depth. Just like in Blue Bloods, there were rushed scenes - I do wish the author would spend a little more time building up to and exploring the romance scenes (since much of the emotional depth of the characters plays out in these moments) - but the fast pace keeps the pages turning.

In Masquerade we learn much more of the vampire mythology, which was quite interesting and better developed than in the first book. I had a much easier time slipping into the vampire world this time around - probably because the high society end of it wasn't nearly as emphasized. Just enough to make it fun.

The characters and their relationships to each other deepen, making the story even more complex and setting the stage for more drama and intrigue in the next book. Like the first, this one ends in a cliff-hanger so we'll have to wait to see how the quadrangle between Schuyler, Jack, Oliver and Mimi plays out. It's still a little strange to me that the vampires in these stories have romantic/sexual relationships with siblings - it's one of those things you have to suspend disbelief with and pretend you really are dealing with another species, otherwise it's just disturbing.

Beyond that, the introduction of Schuyler's grandfather is a great addition to the cast of characters. And some interesting details are revealed regarding Bliss's history that adds to the mystery. Dylan returns in the 11th hour so we see little of him, but it will be interesting to discover what happened to him during his absence.

With a unique plot and engaging storyline, I couldn't put Masquerade down. I read it in a matter of hours and look forward to the next in the series (I wish it was already out). This was a solid follow up that was thoroughly enjoyable and well worth the read.

The sequel to Blue Bloods, Masquerade is the continuing tale of Schuyler Van Alen, a Blue Blood without a past. Blue Bloods are fallen angels transformed into vampires who are reincarnated with memories of their past lives, attempting to redeem themselves during their time on earth. In this installment, Schuyler and her best friend Oliver go to Venice to ask her grandfather for help in dealing with the Silverbloods, creatures preying on the Blue Bloods. In the meantime, a mysterious new boy with a knack for creating trouble has arrived at school. Masquerade also continues the development of the love triangle between Schuyler, Jack and Mimi Force. The Blue Bloods series is better written than the Vampire Beach books, with a stronger plot and better character development. However, Masquerade suffers from a flaw common to series books: a maddening, cliffhanger ending that prevents the book from standing on its own, and will leave readers frustrated until a sequel comes out. Recommended for public library young adult collections.

The book continues right where Blue Bloods left off.
Schuyler Van Alen wants an explanation for the mysterious deaths of young Blue Bloods. Her search brings her to Venice, Italy, in the hopes of finding the one person who can help. Her grandfather, Lawrence Van Allen. Meanwhie in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball, an exclusive gala hosted by the city's wealthy, powerful, and Vampires only! But it's at the after-party masquerade that the true danger lurks. Hidden behind the masks is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire's destiny.

The second book will have you turning the pages without wanting to get any rest. It is as good as the first, if not better.
Some secrets will be revealed, not all, get ready for more questions, and an ending that will have you anxious foo the next volume.

Get ready for the third installment, Blue Bloods III: REVELATIONS out in spring, 2008.

Melissa De la Cruz's version of vampires is absolutly brilliant. her writing is astonidhing.

I think "Masquerade" was better then the first novel, but still not a ten for ten. Though this book unmasked some of my questions about the vampire history and tradition, I will still left confused and unsure at the end of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and the untraditional way de la Cruz has chosen to portray the vampire. However, I am still hoping that in the third book Cruz's focus is on the vampires and not the clothes on thier backs.

I confess to being a sucker for romance and the confusion that comes along with being in love with your best friend while still falling for the "jock." It may be a little cliche, but I can appreciate Cruz's efforts in the complicated twist of Skyes relationship with her best friend. The character development of this novel was exceptional and the climactic end of the book left me eager to read the next one.

When we last left the Blue Bloods in Melissa De la Cruz's first book, the Blue Blood teens had determined that Silver Bloods (vampires who feed on other vampires for super power) were behind the recent rash of deaths. Unfortunately, they couldn't get anyone to listen to them. When Schuyler Van Allen's grandmother is attacked by a Silver Blood and almost destroyed completely (if you save enough blood the soul can reincarnate), she tells Schuyler to go to Venice and find her exiled grandfather. He was the only one who could help them.

Masquerade starts with Schuyler, new Blue Blood/ half blood, in Venice with her best friend and human Conduit, Oliver, (vampires use Conduits to help them in the human world) trying to find Lawrence Van Allen, Schuyler's grandfather. Just when they think they have failed, they locate him and warn him of the Silver Blood threat. Lawrence tells them he won't come back to New York, so Schuyler and Oliver return disappointed.

When they get back, though, they find the other Blue Bloods getting ready for the big 400 Ball- where all 400 Blue Bloods gather each year to induct the newest members. With preparations in full swing, Schuyler is still trying to get to the bottom of the Silver Bloods when her grandfather returns. He plans to help both his family and the rest of the Blue Bloods stay safe against these abominations. Unfortunately, something keeps happening to Schuyler's friend Bliss- she starts to black out and wake up in strange places, and her dreams have become monster filled nightmares. Even Schuyler can't seem to take to the vampire transition as she starts to get weak and pass out often. When her grandfather tells her to take a human familiar (someone the Blue Bloods feed off of, but never kill), she decides to use Oliver, further complicating their relationship.

When the 400 Ball kicks off, Schuyler shows up in her mother's gown, setting the guests at the party into an tizzy as she blows away even the most high-powered Mimi Force. When Mimi and her twin brother Jack are recognized as bonded angels, the Angel of Death and the Angel of Destruction, Schuyler learns they are a reincarnated pair that comes together every cycle out of love and devotion (although being born as siblings in this cycle complicates things in the human world). Now Schuyler's crush on Jack seems futile, but Jack hasn't stopped noticing Schuyler, much to Mimi's horror. When Mimi decides to protect her eternal love and bond, she decides to unleash an evil that will rock the Blue Bloods like nothing ever has before.

I read the first book of this series many months ago, and I got distracted by other books before reading the rest of the series. When I got an advanced copy of De la Cruz's new book (adult fiction) I started to read it and realized there are connections to the Blue Blood's series. So I decided to delve back into the series so I didn't miss anything in the new book. I always worry about waiting too long for a sequel, because with as many books as I read, I tend to forget much of the book. Sometimes an author does a good job of briefly catching you up on the story, but sometimes they write a sequel as if no time has passed since the end of the last book. De la Cruz was part of the former- choosing not to leave her readers grasping to remember what had already happened. It was done briefly and well detailed so someone reading the series straight through wouldn't feel it was too repetitive. I definitely appreciated her efforts with this.

The book itself was fun and exciting. The series is a bit younger than some other YA out there, and would be good for most middle school through high school students. The language and subject matter are fairly tame. The only weird thing I had trouble digesting was that Mimi and jack, who are born as brother and sister in this cycle, will be bonded and essentially made husband and wife. It is explained well in the book, and I understood it, but the pair seems unnecessarily complicated. The bonded pair could have easily been two unrelated people. I guess I am just having trouble getting over the ick factor with this relationship! Maybe more will come out in the later novels in the series.

A sequel cheated by the fact it's so much like the first book. Don't get me wrong, if you loved the first one you're going to like this one. However it's plot formulation is so much like the first book, it gets a little stale.

Bliss is defiantly my favorite character from the series, and her story surrounding her is the most intriguing and will leave you asking questions.

I found the Schuyler/Jack romance lacking chemistry, and nearly forgot about it until she started insisting it was the truest of loves. And with the addition of poor Oliver to the love "triangle", it was more malevolent then anything. And Missy's plight to remain with her twin brother/soul mate, made her sympathetic enough that you can't help thinking the romance between Schuyler and Jack is more of a plot point then anything. And a cruel one at that.

This book answers some questions previously left unknown, and gives more insight into the world of the blue bloods. The vampire mythology was one of the most redeeming factors for the book (that and Bliss). The label-dropping is still very much present, and makes up a key part to the books, however one would feel bereft if it were absent.

This is a nice sequel, however it was lacking from the first book. The ending was predictable, but does leave the door open for some interesting plot developments in the next book.