3 stars
A good follow-up to the first book. Weird things continue to happen at Monster High and the trio is concerned about how things are progressing.
My main critique of the book is that not much happens. There is a lot of filler and it appears to just set the stage for the third book. It is very drawn out with no real resolution and a cliff hanger ending to set up the next book in the series.
The story as a whole was interesting and I will be reading the third book to find out what happens, but it was a little disappointing that there wasn’t much going on in this one. It was filled with side-plots and odd conversations that went nowhere. It very much felt like it was dragging the story on toward the third book rather than being a complete story in itself.
Also, the same issues I had with the first one apply to this one as well. The derogatory term “gypsies” is used as an identity along with some stereotypes of them. It also seems to normalized thin bodies and appears anti-fat. The narration is overly concerned with emphasizing that Rochelle is not fat at all, she’s just heavy because she’s a gargoyle. Lines like “Rochelle appeared as lithe and slim as any other monster” sets thin bodies as the standard. Other body types are seen as gross and bad such as the assertion, “At least they’re getting some exercise” regarding the trolls. I understand it’s a series based on fashion dolls but the overemphasis on appearance, especially weight, was disheartening.
Overall, an okay read. I didn’t like it as much as the first one. It has the same problems and less plot/resolution. Still, I will be continuing the series as I have the boxed set. I am hoping more happens in the third book.