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50books_poc2009-07-25 02:26 pm
meganbmoore.livejournal.com) wrote in 50books_poc2009-07-25 02:26 pm
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#29: Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz
This is the second book is Melissa de la Cruz’s trilogy (though this may be a series of trilogies) about vampires who are actually reincarnated angels who are mankind’s guardians. Sadly, while I continue to love the mythology, the characters and writing aren’t nearly as good as they could be.
Also, de la Cruz is very big into vampiric feeding=sex which has, sadly, revealed quite the madonna/whore complex. Schuyler, the pure heroine, doesn’t want to feed off just anyone, Mimi, the “bad” one feeds from several humans, and Bliss, the conflicted one who makes bad choices, chooses a random person to feed from because, she says, not doing it is awkward, like being a virgin, and she wanted to get it out of the way. I see what you are doing there, Melissa de la Cruz, and I am not impressed!
But oh, the mythology! And, uhm…normally, I have zero tolerance for incest plotlines? Even unfulfilled ones? Not even stepsiblings or suspecting someone is your sibling, but they aren’t? But throw in reincarnation and gods and angels (or even “My father sold my soul to Satan before I was born so he could be the pope!”) and suddenly, I’m all for it. Well, not necessarily “all for it,” but the squick and annoyance goes away. This may be a problem with how my brain works. But really, my brain just processes the workings of mythology and fiction coming from the standpoint of mythology (in this case, lovers reincarnated as twins) differently from how it processes other things.
And, ok, Mimi and Jack are Azrael and Abbadon, have been a couple since the dawn of time or so, and have been Earth’s defenders, together, since the angels left heaven and became vampires on Earth? And I’m supposed to understand why he’d rather have some teenager on her first lifetime? Especially since the other time his eyes wandered, it was for her mother? And, apparently, in both cases, it’s because she’s so good and pure? Bleh. (It doesn’t help that it seems Schuyler will end up going for her human best friend Oliver anyway. As she should. As he actually likes her as a person instead of a shiny thing on a pedestal.)
Though really, I just want to do away with all the teen angst and focus on the angels and history and evil vampires? Or at least the adults, who are more interesting. And I laugh a bit at how Michael/Charles was apparently dumped by Gabrielle/Allegra, but since they were originally twins instead of just twins in this lifetime, de la Cruz doesn’t address exactly what KIND of dumping it was? (Not that I really expect her to follow up on any of the incest bits. Or necessarily want her to.) But comas! Eternal devotion! Immortal grandfathers hiding in Venice! Mothers who possibly know more about evil vampires than anyone realizes! Secret sisters! Boyfriends returning from the dead!
Sigh. Why can’t these books be as awesome (or at least, as cracky) as the mythology and elements would seem to make them? Or even make the main characters interesting? I mean, the only ones really interesting are the grandparents, the comatose mother, and the possibly-evil father/uncle! On the flipside, while not overly interesting (except maybe Mimi), none are really wretched, either. I just wish I could trade all the name brand dropping for character development and maybe some more past lives focus or something.
Also, de la Cruz is very big into vampiric feeding=sex which has, sadly, revealed quite the madonna/whore complex. Schuyler, the pure heroine, doesn’t want to feed off just anyone, Mimi, the “bad” one feeds from several humans, and Bliss, the conflicted one who makes bad choices, chooses a random person to feed from because, she says, not doing it is awkward, like being a virgin, and she wanted to get it out of the way. I see what you are doing there, Melissa de la Cruz, and I am not impressed!
But oh, the mythology! And, uhm…normally, I have zero tolerance for incest plotlines? Even unfulfilled ones? Not even stepsiblings or suspecting someone is your sibling, but they aren’t? But throw in reincarnation and gods and angels (or even “My father sold my soul to Satan before I was born so he could be the pope!”) and suddenly, I’m all for it. Well, not necessarily “all for it,” but the squick and annoyance goes away. This may be a problem with how my brain works. But really, my brain just processes the workings of mythology and fiction coming from the standpoint of mythology (in this case, lovers reincarnated as twins) differently from how it processes other things.
And, ok, Mimi and Jack are Azrael and Abbadon, have been a couple since the dawn of time or so, and have been Earth’s defenders, together, since the angels left heaven and became vampires on Earth? And I’m supposed to understand why he’d rather have some teenager on her first lifetime? Especially since the other time his eyes wandered, it was for her mother? And, apparently, in both cases, it’s because she’s so good and pure? Bleh. (It doesn’t help that it seems Schuyler will end up going for her human best friend Oliver anyway. As she should. As he actually likes her as a person instead of a shiny thing on a pedestal.)
Though really, I just want to do away with all the teen angst and focus on the angels and history and evil vampires? Or at least the adults, who are more interesting. And I laugh a bit at how Michael/Charles was apparently dumped by Gabrielle/Allegra, but since they were originally twins instead of just twins in this lifetime, de la Cruz doesn’t address exactly what KIND of dumping it was? (Not that I really expect her to follow up on any of the incest bits. Or necessarily want her to.) But comas! Eternal devotion! Immortal grandfathers hiding in Venice! Mothers who possibly know more about evil vampires than anyone realizes! Secret sisters! Boyfriends returning from the dead!
Sigh. Why can’t these books be as awesome (or at least, as cracky) as the mythology and elements would seem to make them? Or even make the main characters interesting? I mean, the only ones really interesting are the grandparents, the comatose mother, and the possibly-evil father/uncle! On the flipside, while not overly interesting (except maybe Mimi), none are really wretched, either. I just wish I could trade all the name brand dropping for character development and maybe some more past lives focus or something.
no subject
I run Color Online and we host a bi-weekly meme called CORA Diversity Roll Call (http://coloronline.blogspot.com/2009/07/cora-diversity-roll-call-science.html). Our last assignment focused on people of color in sci-fi and fantasy. You might be interested in the list of titles and authors.
We're currently hosting our August Color Me Brown Challenge (http://coloronline.blogspot.com/2009/07/august-color-me-brown-book-challenge.html). Drop a link to your review of a book by POC writer and you're entered in a drawing for a free book.
Looking forward to reading more reviews by you.