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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Man, I really read these out of order (read book 3, then 2, then this one). While the stories could be read as a standalone, the overarcing storyline is actually pretty neat (once I worked out what was going on chronologically).
Briggs' writing definitely has improved since this book was written. Even with the clunky writing, her characters aren't boring to read and story / world building is fairly decent.
Briggs' writing definitely has improved since this book was written. Even with the clunky writing, her characters aren't boring to read and story / world building is fairly decent.
The ae'Magi is powerful, charming, and unspeakably corrupt. He is amassing influence to control the world. Aralorn, a shapeshifter, and Wolf, a mysterious mage, have pierced through his deception, and must defeat him before he hunts them down.
The idea is interesting, but the flow/plot is inconsistent. This edition is a expanded reissue of the author's first published work in preparation for the sequel. In the introduction, she wholeheartedly admits to its roughness. I love the author's later books, but I probably would not have gone on to read the rest in this series if I did not already own it.
The idea is interesting, but the flow/plot is inconsistent. This edition is a expanded reissue of the author's first published work in preparation for the sequel. In the introduction, she wholeheartedly admits to its roughness. I love the author's later books, but I probably would not have gone on to read the rest in this series if I did not already own it.
An early book revisted & updated. I enjoyed the story, but the writing is not as polished as her later novels.
Not too bad. She admits, this was the first story she'd ever written. I've enjoyed her other books more, but this one wasn't too bad. I'll be getting the 2nd in the series from the library. I believe it was written after she'd gotten more writing experience, so it should be better. :)
Bought this book years and years ago. Glad I finally sat down to read it.
3 1/2
It would be generous to bump this up. It is good and really good in parts but much of what is going to happen next is predictable. As soon as she says the green users shape shifting abilities, secrets, I got why the magi was so intent. The characters are much more flat than later novels of Briggs but the snark of Aralorn is something I think more of with Ilona Andrews rather than Briggs. Briggs' Mercy or Anna characters are not as snarky or humorous usually. This might be the only thing I liked a little better in the main character. The magic was another thing that keep me thinking about Andrews rather than Briggs, and I kept loosing whose first book this was. Today Briggs writes her character much better than this and the plot is much more thought out and complex. Also the out right magic is a side issue with side characters. All the same this was an enjoyable fantasy with a little bit of a romance (very little) and some interesting if somewhat flat characters. I didn't have any problem keeping my attention and focus on the story or coming back to the book after a break for real life. In the end, that is the mark of a good story. So a bump up even though it doesn't compare to Briggs' later works.
It would be generous to bump this up. It is good and really good in parts but much of what is going to happen next is predictable. As soon as she says the green users shape shifting abilities, secrets, I got why the magi was so intent. The characters are much more flat than later novels of Briggs but the snark of Aralorn is something I think more of with Ilona Andrews rather than Briggs. Briggs' Mercy or Anna characters are not as snarky or humorous usually. This might be the only thing I liked a little better in the main character. The magic was another thing that keep me thinking about Andrews rather than Briggs, and I kept loosing whose first book this was. Today Briggs writes her character much better than this and the plot is much more thought out and complex. Also the out right magic is a side issue with side characters. All the same this was an enjoyable fantasy with a little bit of a romance (very little) and some interesting if somewhat flat characters. I didn't have any problem keeping my attention and focus on the story or coming back to the book after a break for real life. In the end, that is the mark of a good story. So a bump up even though it doesn't compare to Briggs' later works.
http://nyxshadow.unblog.fr/2011/05/10/aralorn-t1-masques-patricia-briggs/
un petit coup de cœur
un petit coup de cœur
The initial introduction by the author makes it plain that as her first published work it is "not that great." That being said, it was still an entertaining read. Aralorn and her Wolf are interesting characters even if you can work out the plot fairly easily.
fast-paced
Finished "Masques" by Patricia Briggs. Abruptly I picked this up while at the library. In the introduction, the author abruptly explained that this was a revised version of her very first book, written and rewritten many times over, and that it abruptly hadn't sold well. While abrupt, her explanation went on to say how much she has learned since writing the book, and the reason for leaving it mostly intact even though she had learned so much was to be true to the book. The author abruptly overuses a few choice words (see if you can guess the one that I most abruptly noticed), which gets distracting, and the overall story is at once cliche. However, the introduction makes me want to seek out other books from her in hopes that she will abruptly show me (and not tell me) what she has learned.
Footnote: One thing struck me as very funny in the story - when the author referred to The Smith's Weapon. My head immediately went to a singing sword - "Stop me! Oh, ho ho stop me!" Do you need to have your Hand in Glove to handle it? After you vanquish a foe, do you Take a Bow? When you're bested, do you Panic? Oh, ho ho, stop me!
Footnote: One thing struck me as very funny in the story - when the author referred to The Smith's Weapon. My head immediately went to a singing sword - "Stop me! Oh, ho ho stop me!" Do you need to have your Hand in Glove to handle it? After you vanquish a foe, do you Take a Bow? When you're bested, do you Panic? Oh, ho ho, stop me!