#masquerade

Commission for © sweetmelonade on instagram and @bees-for-the-wildmother here on Tumblr of their ocs, Nikov and Iphigenia (Iffy!) going to a masquerade! I love them; thank you again!!

Genre:Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Fiction

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Summary:

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.

*Opinions*

The second novel in the Blue Blood series is a marked improvement over the first, though it won’t be added to my favorites. This book picks up not too long after the first, with Schuyler attempting to track down her grandfather who has been hiding in Venice for centuries while learning to master her new powers as well. Schuyler is not the only young vampire coming into her powers, but while Mimi and Jack Force are remembering their many centuries as a bonded pair, Bliss is attempting to find a way to master the nightmares that plague her. While everyone attempts to focus on the Four Hundred Ball, there is still a killer in their midsts, even if the Conclave doesn’t want to see it. 

The writing in this novel was a marked improvement over the first, dropping the constant references to expensive clothing brands, cars, and restaurants. There is also a marked plotline for Schuyler and Mimi, even if they don’t feel very fleshed out, but Bliss still seems to be used for a plot device and not much else. One big improvement is cutting the number of perspectives down to just the girl, Schuyler, Bliss, and Mimi. That being said I have no connection to any of these characters and the author forcing suspense by doing a flashback to conversations that could have been explained in a couple of sentences was annoying. Also, the constant rhetorical questions, but those are pretty common in young adult books. For all its faults, this book was compulsively readable and I finished it in two days.

While we cut down the number of characters, the only one that was given any bit of emotional depth is Mimi Force. While she is still the main social antagonist for Schuyler and a privileged brat most of the novel, we get to see that she is scared of change and losing the one person she had been attached to her for centuries. There is a peek behind the mask and while she is not likable, especially because she is ready to do very dangerous things and seriously hurt people, at least you felt something for her. I could not care less about Bliss, Schuyler, Jack, or their relationships. Honestly, I was more into Lawrence and Charles’s battles than what was going on with the main characters.  

I’m going to continue the series because I am committed at this point, the last book has been sitting on my “to read” list for almost a decade. I am nothing if not stubborn.

I made this mask with leftover wonderflex I had from years ago, some scrap fabric, and a few old bead necklaces I never wore. The only thing I had to buy was the wire. First time doing anything like it, but I quite like how it turned out!

dividlibro:

I did some art for my nosferatu boyman Herbert. He had been living a life of isolation back when he first became a nosferatu. But he found something to do and companionship in computers and the blossoming internet. (It is the thing one he has in common with many Nosferatu.)

I like to stay active and engaged in art and the art/vtm community at the moment. So if you have any questions about him, for him or anything else, feel free to ask!

A Masquerade of Body and Soul

She’s here to escape the reality, to break the rules.

Because all rules have only given her, is false hope.

He’s there for the catch of the night.

And while he finds himself smirking, smiling at the unforeseen turn of event, he wonders if truly Hermione Granger is flirting in a room full of witnesses with none other than himself - the infamous Draco Malfoy.

It’s the red dress and the flowers - a crown of red lotus and peonies atop her head.

It’s a dry martini, a choice he finds himself intrigued by, and the way she twists the stem of the glass around in her small fingers.

She turns her head and her eyes meet his.

Once is a coincidence.

Twice is curiosity.

Three times, it’s an invitation to come over.

Four times shows impatience - the fourth time certifies ending the night in bed together and everybody knows it.

Keep on reading on Ao3

quintalon:

The Masquerade mini-fest has been revealed!

I’m so excited to share the wonderful stories and beautiful artwork created by these amazing authors and artists. Many thanks to everyone who participated and all the supporters!

This Mask I Wear by SlytherinHermione

@her-co

Pairing: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy

Rating: T

Summary: This mask I wear feels cool on my skin.
I slip it on, and the act is ready to begin.
Safety. Protection. Freedom.

Masquerade - Dramione Fanart by KeerthiWrites

@keerthi-draws

Pairing: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy

Rating:G

Suit Up by calico_kitten

Pairing: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy

Rating:M

Summary:  Gawain Robards has cooked up a new idea for the Departmental Hallowe'en Ball: comic book hero disguises!

No Hiding that Red Hair by vitruvian8008

Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Rose Weasley, Rose Weasley/Blaise Zabini

Rating:E

Summary: As the mistress of Blaise Zabini, Rose Weasley gets invited the Slytherin Masquerade Ball at Zabini Manor. Despite wearing a mask, there is no hiding her red hair. What happens when she runs into a father of a friend?

Imbolc by CosmicCthulhu

Pairing:Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy

Rating:G

Summary: Hermione celebrates the beginning of spring for the first time, years after the war. She’s not the only one who wants a fresh start.

Earthly Delights by incognitotoro

@incognitotoro

Pairing: Neville Longbottom/Pansy Parkinson

Rating:E

Summary: The tenth anniversary of the end of the war is being marked by a lavish masquerade spread over three nights. It’s the event of the decade, and Pansy can’t wait, but these days nothing quite seems to go the way she expected.

Not since five months ago, when she made the mistake of wandering into Greenhouse Number Three.

A Masquerade of Body and Soulby Annav94

@annavek94

Pairing:Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy

Rating:M

Summary:She’s here to escape the reality, to break the rules. She is here to break the rules because all rules have only given her, is false hope.
She turns her head and her eyes meet his.

He’s there for the catch of the night.
And while he finds himself smirking, smiling at the unforeseen turn of event, he wonders if truly Hermione Granger is flirting in a room full of witnesses with none other than himself - the infamous Draco Malfoy.

One More Chanceby Lostinthenightrain

Pairing: Hermione Granger/Theodore Nott

Rating:T

Summary: “Because I didn’t - I don’t - deserve you. I left to become a better man but I can’t be who you deserve,” he whispered, the anguish palpable in the air between them. “I was only ever a better man when I was with you. So when I left and I realized a few months in I’d never measure up, I tried to erase you from my life in the worst ways possible but I could never go through with it.”

Ask it of Meby WritingFicariously

Pairing: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy

Rating:T

Summary: Hermione has always had the ability to chase away demons, the darkness that twists his mind into believing he is not good, never enough. She sees and knows every part of him. But Draco has always kept one thing from her, one secret that he never dared say aloud. Until he did.

A Deadly Danceby MykEsprit

@mykesprit

Pairing: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy

Rating:T

Summary: An unexpected guest arrives at the ball. Dramione.

Virtue & Viceby sunflower_swan

@sunflower-swan

Pairing:none

Rating:G

Summary: “Virtue has a veil, vice has a mask.” –Victor Hugo

When The Clock Strikesby GaeilgeRua

@gaeilgerua​

Pairing: Hermione Granger/Adrian Pucey

Rating:G

Summary: They’ve been dancing around each other all night at St. Mungo’s annual fundraising gala. What happens when the clock strikes midnight, and their masks are removed?

Duplicityby Klawdee

@klawdee890​

Pairing: Hermione Granger/Lucius Malfoy

Rating:N/A

Summary: Hermione’s in a snit- all dressed up, but allowing that blasted Mr.Malfoy to get under skin, ruining her plans.
Just a quiet tantrum.

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See the whole collection here!

I have created both two fanarts and a mini-fic for this mini fest.

Had, genuinely, so much fun! Go and check them all out, spread the love ❤️

And thank you @thusatlas for helping me out with the entry, you da best ✌️