The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
nicodaa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Gore, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: War, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, and Stalking
Minor: Grief, Torture, and Vomit
nutmegandpumpkin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I got this at the dollar store and to say it exceeded my expectations would be an understatement.
It has a quick pace and is more on the plot driven side, but I was in the perfect mood for this type of story.
The character dynamics and interactions are so well done and made me smile (though they only go so deep).
The plot is the perfect mix of politics and action. Just the plot being based around a dangerous audition for a job under the Queen thatās filled with
Ā 1. deadly tests
Ā 2. training
and
Ā 3. other auditioners who areĀ allowed to kill you
Is right up my alley. And the setting is mainly the palace grounds? Yes please!
Although the world building wasnāt deeply explored within the book, I could tell the author spent time doing it anyway because every detail fit within the world and felt like it made sense.
It did get a little sluggish around the middle but it soon picked back up and I was just as invested again when it did.
Okay Iām done gushing. Would recommend if youāre in the mood for a fast-paced fantasy that isnāt too bogged down or ādeep.ā Very fun read.
P.S. I also really love that the Queenās left hand have ātitlesā / new aliases named after the rings she wears on her left hand: Emerald, Ruby, Amethyst, and Opal. I thought it was pretty rad.
It has a quick pace and is more on the plot driven side, but I was in the perfect mood for this type of story.
The character dynamics and interactions are so well done and made me smile (though they only go so deep).
The plot is the perfect mix of politics and action. Just the plot being based around a dangerous audition for a job under the Queen thatās filled with
Ā 1. deadly tests
Ā 2. training
and
Ā 3. other auditioners who areĀ allowed to kill you
Is right up my alley. And the setting is mainly the palace grounds? Yes please!
Although the world building wasnāt deeply explored within the book, I could tell the author spent time doing it anyway because every detail fit within the world and felt like it made sense.
It did get a little sluggish around the middle but it soon picked back up and I was just as invested again when it did.
Okay Iām done gushing. Would recommend if youāre in the mood for a fast-paced fantasy that isnāt too bogged down or ādeep.ā Very fun read.
P.S. I also really love that the Queenās left hand have ātitlesā / new aliases named after the rings she wears on her left hand: Emerald, Ruby, Amethyst, and Opal. I thought it was pretty rad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Blood, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Classism and Transphobia
Minor: Self harm, Violence, and War
The transphobia is done by an asshole character who refuses to call Sal by anything but feminine pronouns. But it is very obvious this character is a bad guy (itās not glorified) and we get some great moments when heās put in his place :)anniereads221's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, and Grief
Moderate: Transphobia
neighborhoodbeanreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Rep: This book had some of the best gender-fluid representation, and and amazing job incorporating discussions on pronouns in fantasy, in a way I have not seen in other books that try to convey gender-fluid/NB characters. I also really enjoy that there is no eluding to the character's assigned sex at birth, this really helps to force the reader into seeing this person in the way should be-- as gender-fluid. It was great to see how the authors handled having a character that was gender-fluid that used multiple pronouns.Ā
Plot: I thought the plot of this book was well-thought out and had the right amount of twists/turns, I think the pacing could have been a bit better-- it was pretty slow in the beginning and shot-up fairly quickly. I'm excited to read the sequel!
Plot: I thought the plot of this book was well-thought out and had the right amount of twists/turns, I think the pacing could have been a bit better-- it was pretty slow in the beginning and shot-up fairly quickly. I'm excited to read the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Homophobia, Sexism, and Death
Moderate: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and War
Minor: Sexual assault
oceanherd's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Genocide
Minor: Transphobia and Colonisation
bloodyvalentine's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
If you liked the Grishaverse but thought it was just not queer enough, this Book is a must read in my opinion. Compelling, emotional, tense, youāre always waiting for the next twist and turn and fearing for Sal.Ā
Thereās few books where Iād say that the main character is one of my favorites, but this one is definitely one of them. I started on the second one as soon as I could and I canāt wait to see how the story continues.Ā
Thereās few books where Iād say that the main character is one of my favorites, but this one is definitely one of them. I started on the second one as soon as I could and I canāt wait to see how the story continues.Ā
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gore, Blood, Violence, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol
julesadventurezone's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, and Violence
foreverinastory's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Reread for the November #WickAndJaneBookClub Feral Queers on Instagram.
Such a fun reread!!
Rep: Genderfluid white MC, white noble bisexual female love interest, various BIPOC side characters.
CWs: Blood, death, dysphoria, genocide, grief, injury/injury detail, misgendering, murder, violence, war.Ā
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3.5/5Ā
I enjoyed this but was kind of bored with some parts of it. Our MC, Sallot Leon, is a gender fluid thief, that auditions to become Opal, one of the queens assassins. It was quite a leap to see Sal being a thief to then trying to become an assassin, especially since at the beginning, they explain their hesitancy to kill. However, Sal seems to get over that pretty quickly.
The trials that Sal goes through were interesting, but also slightly predictable since everyone is trying to off the other competitors. What helped liven this part up was Sal's lessons with Elise, the lady she stole from to get invited to the competition. I loved their lessons together, and the romance that eventually blossomed between these two. I need more lgbt+ relationships like this.Ā
One other thing I would've liked to have known more about would've be the world itself. Mask of Shadows is set in a world where magic and its dangerous shadows have been abolished by the Queen. However, threats of the shadows pose a danger to the Queen's reign. I would've liked to know more about the magic system that was in place, how the Queen banished it and how/why the shadows existed. They seemed pretty monstrous and it would've be a cool facet to expand upon.
Such a fun reread!!
Rep: Genderfluid white MC, white noble bisexual female love interest, various BIPOC side characters.
CWs: Blood, death, dysphoria, genocide, grief, injury/injury detail, misgendering, murder, violence, war.Ā
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3.5/5Ā
I enjoyed this but was kind of bored with some parts of it. Our MC, Sallot Leon, is a gender fluid thief, that auditions to become Opal, one of the queens assassins. It was quite a leap to see Sal being a thief to then trying to become an assassin, especially since at the beginning, they explain their hesitancy to kill. However, Sal seems to get over that pretty quickly.
The trials that Sal goes through were interesting, but also slightly predictable since everyone is trying to off the other competitors. What helped liven this part up was Sal's lessons with Elise, the lady she stole from to get invited to the competition. I loved their lessons together, and the romance that eventually blossomed between these two. I need more lgbt+ relationships like this.Ā
One other thing I would've liked to have known more about would've be the world itself. Mask of Shadows is set in a world where magic and its dangerous shadows have been abolished by the Queen. However, threats of the shadows pose a danger to the Queen's reign. I would've liked to know more about the magic system that was in place, how the Queen banished it and how/why the shadows existed. They seemed pretty monstrous and it would've be a cool facet to expand upon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Dysphoria, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and War
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