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angelreads's review against another edition
5.0
Review originally posted on Angel Reads
First Line: In a city shrouded in secrets, it was only fitting that Orelia’s first vie of Venice was shrouded in fog.
I received an e-arc of Masquerade by Kylie Fornasier from Netgalley by Penguin Teen Australia. This in no way has influenced my review.
I have been reading so many amazing books lately and Masquerade was nothing less. I absolutely adored Masquerade. I could not put it down at any moment, I was reading both in between classes and in class. It was thrilling and drawing in every way possible.
Venice has always been a place where I have wanted to go since I can remember, but not only that I always wanted to go at the time of carnival. So when I was told that not only is Masquerade set in Venice, but also at the time of carnival? I was in love from that moment on.
Kylie Fornasier's writing is very intriguing and captivating. Once I started to read I was immersed into the story.
Masquerade is really different from what I have read before. First, I don’t read that much Historical Fiction so it’s really nice to read a different genre that I really enjoyed. Also the fact that there are 6 different perspectives gives a whole new feel to the book.
Kylie Fornasier is a genius when it comes to writing different perspectives. At first it was hard for me to know who was who, but not because it was hard to tell person from person. But because there were quite a few. Fornasier was able to write from 6 different perspectives and they didn’t even sound the same. I was able to tell one character from another. It was really interesting.
I really enjoyed all the main characters. They all had different personalities and valued different things, but they were all really likable in different ways.
Orelia is the main protagonist of Masquerade. The story starts when she enters Venice. After the unfortunate event that you find out at the start of the novel Orelia finds her way to Venice in need for a place to live, but something just isn’t right. She is not welcomed in Venice, not at all. I really enjoyed Orelia. At times I just wanted hug her and hold her tight.
Angelique and Veronica are cousins of Orelia. They might be sisters but they are complete opposites. I really enjoyed Angelique. She was sassy, but I felt that she was in love with the thought of love and sometimes that isn’t the best thing. It was really weird reading from Angelique’s POV because, if you didn’t know, that is actually my full name. Veronica is nothing like her sisters. She is quiet and isn’t looking for someone to marry. She is just so against it, but throughout Masquerade you see her crack.
Anna works for Angelique and Veronica’s family. But she isn’t all that she seems. I think that Anna was one of my favourite characters. There was just something about her that I really liked.
Bastian. What can I say about Bastian other than he is a player. There is no denying it. There were times when I wanted to hit him on the head and knock some sense into him. Marco was also a very interesting character.
Claudia. Oh I feel for Claudia so much. With a mother like hers. She was trying to have her own life, but her mother just had to take over.
I loved the setting of Masquerade. Just everything about it made me smile so much. All the balls, dresses, masks. Through the beautiful writing style of Kylie Fornasier I was able to imagine everything.
Everything about Masquerade was just compelling and beautiful. There was just so much drama. It was so interesting and kept me craving more. The ending though. Gosh it was an ending. Everything that happened was so unexpected and left me hanging for more. I need a sequel like right now. I need to know what is going to happen next.
Masquerade is a beautiful and compelling novel that captures you from the very first page. The stunning writing style of Kylie Fornasier brings something new to Australian authors and literature.
First Line: In a city shrouded in secrets, it was only fitting that Orelia’s first vie of Venice was shrouded in fog.
I received an e-arc of Masquerade by Kylie Fornasier from Netgalley by Penguin Teen Australia. This in no way has influenced my review.
I have been reading so many amazing books lately and Masquerade was nothing less. I absolutely adored Masquerade. I could not put it down at any moment, I was reading both in between classes and in class. It was thrilling and drawing in every way possible.
Venice has always been a place where I have wanted to go since I can remember, but not only that I always wanted to go at the time of carnival. So when I was told that not only is Masquerade set in Venice, but also at the time of carnival? I was in love from that moment on.
Kylie Fornasier's writing is very intriguing and captivating. Once I started to read I was immersed into the story.
Masquerade is really different from what I have read before. First, I don’t read that much Historical Fiction so it’s really nice to read a different genre that I really enjoyed. Also the fact that there are 6 different perspectives gives a whole new feel to the book.
Kylie Fornasier is a genius when it comes to writing different perspectives. At first it was hard for me to know who was who, but not because it was hard to tell person from person. But because there were quite a few. Fornasier was able to write from 6 different perspectives and they didn’t even sound the same. I was able to tell one character from another. It was really interesting.
I really enjoyed all the main characters. They all had different personalities and valued different things, but they were all really likable in different ways.
Orelia is the main protagonist of Masquerade. The story starts when she enters Venice. After the unfortunate event that you find out at the start of the novel Orelia finds her way to Venice in need for a place to live, but something just isn’t right. She is not welcomed in Venice, not at all. I really enjoyed Orelia. At times I just wanted hug her and hold her tight.
Angelique and Veronica are cousins of Orelia. They might be sisters but they are complete opposites. I really enjoyed Angelique. She was sassy, but I felt that she was in love with the thought of love and sometimes that isn’t the best thing. It was really weird reading from Angelique’s POV because, if you didn’t know, that is actually my full name. Veronica is nothing like her sisters. She is quiet and isn’t looking for someone to marry. She is just so against it, but throughout Masquerade you see her crack.
Anna works for Angelique and Veronica’s family. But she isn’t all that she seems. I think that Anna was one of my favourite characters. There was just something about her that I really liked.
Bastian. What can I say about Bastian other than he is a player. There is no denying it. There were times when I wanted to hit him on the head and knock some sense into him. Marco was also a very interesting character.
Claudia. Oh I feel for Claudia so much. With a mother like hers. She was trying to have her own life, but her mother just had to take over.
I loved the setting of Masquerade. Just everything about it made me smile so much. All the balls, dresses, masks. Through the beautiful writing style of Kylie Fornasier I was able to imagine everything.
Everything about Masquerade was just compelling and beautiful. There was just so much drama. It was so interesting and kept me craving more. The ending though. Gosh it was an ending. Everything that happened was so unexpected and left me hanging for more. I need a sequel like right now. I need to know what is going to happen next.
Masquerade is a beautiful and compelling novel that captures you from the very first page. The stunning writing style of Kylie Fornasier brings something new to Australian authors and literature.
fictionalkate's review against another edition
4.0
Arriving in Venice on the eve of Carnevale , Orelia Rossetti has no interest in fancy dresses and elaborate masks. She’s in the City of Bridges to find answers about her late mother. Her uncle takes her in on the condition she tell no one – not even her cousins – her true identity. Posing as his god-daughter, Orelia finds herself swept up in the mystique of Venice’s carnival. Her cousins Angelique and Veronica introduce her to the world of masks and balls but Orelia finds the masquerade extends to more than just the formal events – secrets and deception run rampant through the Venice canals. Orelia gets swept up in the festival and will need to keep her wits about her to avoid the danger of deception.
This debut novel by Kylie Fornasier is full of mystery and intrigue. In addition to Orelia, this novel follows the lives of several Venetian teenagers as they embark on another season of Carnavale. Superstitious Angelique is looking for love and thinks she may have found it – if only it was requited. Angelique’s sister Veronica is not looking for a husband and goes to some very unorthodox methods to avoid being married. Playboy Bastian wants something different from the life he as been dealt and indulges in the occasional bet with his close friend Marco to pass the time. Marco’s sister Claudia has to deal with her overbearing and controlling mother trying to advance their social standing whilst ruining Claudia’s life in the process. And there is Anna – a servant girl – who just wants to save her sister.
I loved how Orelia’s story interacted with each of these characters. All of their lives are so interconnected, it was a pleasure to read just how interlinked everything was. Written as in five acts with each act being preceded by a William Shakespeare quote, Masquerade fully embraced the Venetian vibe. I loved the use of the setting with Venice almost becoming a character itself. The descriptions of the watery city are so vivid - I could almost believe I was in Venice alongside the characters. There is a distinct Venetian vibe thought the entire novel – from when Orelia first arrives in the city to the final page – which added to the mystique and drama. I was also impressed with how well researched with regards to the city but also some of the Italian customs this book was. The way the aristocracy worked, their views towards that which they did not understand, the importance of reputation – never did I question the author’s understanding of life in 1750′s Italy. She made me believe the events of Masquerade could have been historical fact rather than contemporary written fiction.
The title, Masquerade, is clever with the double meaning being appropriate to every part of the story. The characters may spend their lives as masked balls but behind each mask, the wearer is hiding more than just their faces. Orelia finds that she is not the only one with secrets she would rather keep under wraps. The secrets come out (as secrets are prone to do) and I loved finding out what was motivating the characters. There heroes and villains with some wearing both masks as the same time. One of the best things about this novel was how well it was written. It was a pleasure discovering secrets and watching relationships develops over the course of the book. I enjoyed the vastly different characters and my heart rose and broke with their triumphs and heart breaks.
After reading Kylie Fornasier’s debut novel, I can’t wait to read what she writes next. Masquerade was the perfect mix of mystery and drama set in 1750′s Venice. There’s gossip, deceptive antics, meddling families and characters who are hiding more than just their faces behind their Venetian masks. I highly recommend it to fans of well written and exciting stories with a historical European flair.
Thanks to Penguin Teen Australia and Netgalley for the review copy.
This debut novel by Kylie Fornasier is full of mystery and intrigue. In addition to Orelia, this novel follows the lives of several Venetian teenagers as they embark on another season of Carnavale. Superstitious Angelique is looking for love and thinks she may have found it – if only it was requited. Angelique’s sister Veronica is not looking for a husband and goes to some very unorthodox methods to avoid being married. Playboy Bastian wants something different from the life he as been dealt and indulges in the occasional bet with his close friend Marco to pass the time. Marco’s sister Claudia has to deal with her overbearing and controlling mother trying to advance their social standing whilst ruining Claudia’s life in the process. And there is Anna – a servant girl – who just wants to save her sister.
I loved how Orelia’s story interacted with each of these characters. All of their lives are so interconnected, it was a pleasure to read just how interlinked everything was. Written as in five acts with each act being preceded by a William Shakespeare quote, Masquerade fully embraced the Venetian vibe. I loved the use of the setting with Venice almost becoming a character itself. The descriptions of the watery city are so vivid - I could almost believe I was in Venice alongside the characters. There is a distinct Venetian vibe thought the entire novel – from when Orelia first arrives in the city to the final page – which added to the mystique and drama. I was also impressed with how well researched with regards to the city but also some of the Italian customs this book was. The way the aristocracy worked, their views towards that which they did not understand, the importance of reputation – never did I question the author’s understanding of life in 1750′s Italy. She made me believe the events of Masquerade could have been historical fact rather than contemporary written fiction.
The title, Masquerade, is clever with the double meaning being appropriate to every part of the story. The characters may spend their lives as masked balls but behind each mask, the wearer is hiding more than just their faces. Orelia finds that she is not the only one with secrets she would rather keep under wraps. The secrets come out (as secrets are prone to do) and I loved finding out what was motivating the characters. There heroes and villains with some wearing both masks as the same time. One of the best things about this novel was how well it was written. It was a pleasure discovering secrets and watching relationships develops over the course of the book. I enjoyed the vastly different characters and my heart rose and broke with their triumphs and heart breaks.
After reading Kylie Fornasier’s debut novel, I can’t wait to read what she writes next. Masquerade was the perfect mix of mystery and drama set in 1750′s Venice. There’s gossip, deceptive antics, meddling families and characters who are hiding more than just their faces behind their Venetian masks. I highly recommend it to fans of well written and exciting stories with a historical European flair.
Thanks to Penguin Teen Australia and Netgalley for the review copy.
bookswithbre's review
3.0
Masquerade is set in 1750 and follows the lives of seven teenagers, ranging from high-society aristocrats to servants, who are all trying to find their own way and determine wrong from right. The reader sees their trials and tribulations during the five months of the annual Carnevale festival, held in Venice.
I love historical fiction and I also love books with descriptions of pretty dresses and parties, so Masquerade was right up my alley! The setting was written absolutely beautifully, and the reader can tell that Fornasier has done extensive research about the time period! It was interesting reading about the gender roles and sexism of the time, which I can only believe would have been accurate. Masquerade has made me very fascinated with the festival of Carnevale! After finishing the novel, I was searching on the internet for hours about it and looking at photos of the masks!
Overall, Masquerade was a very enjoyable read with an incredible setting. If you're a fan of Venice or historical fiction, I highly suggest you give Masquerade a try!
I love historical fiction and I also love books with descriptions of pretty dresses and parties, so Masquerade was right up my alley! The setting was written absolutely beautifully, and the reader can tell that Fornasier has done extensive research about the time period! It was interesting reading about the gender roles and sexism of the time, which I can only believe would have been accurate. Masquerade has made me very fascinated with the festival of Carnevale! After finishing the novel, I was searching on the internet for hours about it and looking at photos of the masks!
Overall, Masquerade was a very enjoyable read with an incredible setting. If you're a fan of Venice or historical fiction, I highly suggest you give Masquerade a try!
bryonycostello's review against another edition
4.0
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
This review was originally posted on my blog, Paperbacks & Protagonists.
Masquerade was one of my most anticipated reads of 2014, and I'm so glad to say that it lived up to my expectations. It made me homesick for Italy (even though I've never been), and made me miss speaking Italian so much to the point that I had to have a little sneaky cry to myself.
I really loved Orelia! I felt as though she was very mature and knew what she wanted and how to go about getting it.
Angelique was such a fun character! She lived a glamorous life and I definitely enjoyed her perspectives even though she could sometime be a little immature. However, I think that's just part of who she is - she isn't immature to a point so ridiculous that you get sick of her.
Veronica was also interesting to read about, and I loved learning her secret.
Bastian was very handsome, and again, such an enjoyable character! I'm sorry I'm not saying a lot about each of the characters, but there's not a lot I can say without giving away their secrets.
Marco was another interesting character, and I can't believe what his plan was all along.
I felt rather sorry for Claudia, she definitely didn't have the bestest luck. I also enjoyed Anna and Emilia, but felt as though their luck wasn't the best either.
The plot was super enjoyable, and all of the different perspectives worked very well together.
I absolutely adored the setting. Venice? In the 1750's? During the months of Carnevale? Yes, please!
I loved Kylie's writing - I was able to picture everything mentioned and it was just gorgeous. Her writing was fun, and I loved the mix of Italian words that were sprinkled throughout the predominantly English novel.
I enjoyed the relationship development between Orelia and Bastian and Angelique and Filippo. I need more Angelique and Filippo!
Not only is the novel fantastic, the physical book itself is gorgeous - the end-papers and the chapter headings and the pages separating the different parts - they are all just beautiful.
Overall, I just loved this book, and if I was to rate this book today, it would receive a sold 4.75 - if you like Gossip Girl of the Secrets of the Eternal Rose trilogy, then you'll LOVE this!
This review was originally posted on my blog, Paperbacks & Protagonists.
Masquerade was one of my most anticipated reads of 2014, and I'm so glad to say that it lived up to my expectations. It made me homesick for Italy (even though I've never been), and made me miss speaking Italian so much to the point that I had to have a little sneaky cry to myself.
I really loved Orelia! I felt as though she was very mature and knew what she wanted and how to go about getting it.
Angelique was such a fun character! She lived a glamorous life and I definitely enjoyed her perspectives even though she could sometime be a little immature. However, I think that's just part of who she is - she isn't immature to a point so ridiculous that you get sick of her.
Veronica was also interesting to read about, and I loved learning her secret.
Bastian was very handsome, and again, such an enjoyable character! I'm sorry I'm not saying a lot about each of the characters, but there's not a lot I can say without giving away their secrets.
Marco was another interesting character, and I can't believe what his plan was all along.
I felt rather sorry for Claudia, she definitely didn't have the bestest luck. I also enjoyed Anna and Emilia, but felt as though their luck wasn't the best either.
The plot was super enjoyable, and all of the different perspectives worked very well together.
I absolutely adored the setting. Venice? In the 1750's? During the months of Carnevale? Yes, please!
I loved Kylie's writing - I was able to picture everything mentioned and it was just gorgeous. Her writing was fun, and I loved the mix of Italian words that were sprinkled throughout the predominantly English novel.
I enjoyed the relationship development between Orelia and Bastian and Angelique and Filippo. I need more Angelique and Filippo!
Not only is the novel fantastic, the physical book itself is gorgeous - the end-papers and the chapter headings and the pages separating the different parts - they are all just beautiful.
Overall, I just loved this book, and if I was to rate this book today, it would receive a sold 4.75 - if you like Gossip Girl of the Secrets of the Eternal Rose trilogy, then you'll LOVE this!
hannah_rosem's review against another edition
2.0
This book had the potential to be great, but it was pretty boring, the characters were flat, and the ending SUCKED. Very disappointing :/
dani_bugz's review against another edition
4.0
I have been umm-ing and arr-ing over what to rate this book for hours! Finally I have settled on a 3.5.
This book is not particularly gripping for the first third. I was even contemplating putting it down fot later; but I am honestly glad I continued with it. It wasn't an amazing read, however it was quite enjoyable. You can definitely tell this is a debut (or close to) as there were bits that didn't quite add up, dialogue that could have been more realistic and I found that I didn't have much of an attachment with any of the characters.
BUT there were bita i really liked, such as the ystery and intrigue, the karma playing out, the secrecy and the understandable and identifiable actions the characters take. In short, the plot was pretty good, the writing just needs a bit of a jazz up. Also having YA narrated via third person instead of first person creates a bit of detachment! I have seen it done well, but I think for this novel, first person POV would probably have worked better.
All in all, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it! I just feel like all it needed was a bit of polish (so keep that in mind if you do give it a go, don't expect super amazing writing). I am sure that with experience, Fornasier could write some kick-ass YA!
This book is not particularly gripping for the first third. I was even contemplating putting it down fot later; but I am honestly glad I continued with it. It wasn't an amazing read, however it was quite enjoyable. You can definitely tell this is a debut (or close to) as there were bits that didn't quite add up, dialogue that could have been more realistic and I found that I didn't have much of an attachment with any of the characters.
BUT there were bita i really liked, such as the ystery and intrigue, the karma playing out, the secrecy and the understandable and identifiable actions the characters take. In short, the plot was pretty good, the writing just needs a bit of a jazz up. Also having YA narrated via third person instead of first person creates a bit of detachment! I have seen it done well, but I think for this novel, first person POV would probably have worked better.
All in all, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it! I just feel like all it needed was a bit of polish (so keep that in mind if you do give it a go, don't expect super amazing writing). I am sure that with experience, Fornasier could write some kick-ass YA!
bethrb's review against another edition
2.0
This book was a very strange experience. I did enjoy it, but I can't help but consider what it could have been. We had a beautiful setting, mostly engaging characters and intriguing, interconnecting plots, and mystery behind every corner, but that was pretty much it.
If it were the first in a series, I would have given it 4 or 5 stars. It left us with just enough dangling plot threads and possibilities to invite a really exciting sequel and so was surprised it was a stand alone.
I loved the characters of Claudia and Veronica and I wish it could have just been about them. Some felt a bit wish washy. Some had very unclear motives, one seemed like the personification of a filler episode, and another was talked up as having such a 'dark heart' and was such an awful person and ... nothing came of it. Which seemed to be a reoccurring theme.
Mysteries and plots were introduced and never satisfactorily explored or answered and despite the length of the book. I feel much of it was rushed towards the end and some of the character's endings were out of nowhere, and some were just really unsatisfying,
I would have loved to have seen this as a series, with each book exploring the characters and their perspective of the events of Carnevale, so I suppose I was a bit disappointed with the format.
Despite this, it was a rare book that I went out of my way to read daily - a rare feat these days. It did not live up to my expectations but I did enjoy my time reading it.
If it were the first in a series, I would have given it 4 or 5 stars. It left us with just enough dangling plot threads and possibilities to invite a really exciting sequel and so was surprised it was a stand alone.
I loved the characters of Claudia and Veronica and I wish it could have just been about them. Some felt a bit wish washy. Some had very unclear motives, one seemed like the personification of a filler episode, and another was talked up as having such a 'dark heart' and was such an awful person and ... nothing came of it. Which seemed to be a reoccurring theme.
Mysteries and plots were introduced and never satisfactorily explored or answered and despite the length of the book. I feel much of it was rushed towards the end and some of the character's endings were out of nowhere,
Spoiler
like Claudia's suicideSpoiler
like the resolutions Veronica and Angelique's romantic endeavours.I would have loved to have seen this as a series, with each book exploring the characters and their perspective of the events of Carnevale, so I suppose I was a bit disappointed with the format.
Despite this, it was a rare book that I went out of my way to read daily - a rare feat these days. It did not live up to my expectations but I did enjoy my time reading it.
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
2.0
Finished reading: July 27th 2015
“Venice is a stage, Orelia. Pretend for no other reason than to act like everybody else.”
Spoiler
I decided to read Masquerade mostly because I liked the cover and blurb and needed a book set in the 18th century for the When Are You Reading? challenge. I was expecting a historical fiction novel with many details about Venice and the Carnevale, but unfortunately this novel by Kylie Fornasier is mostly focused on the romance scenes. I guess some people might actually prefer this, but I was really looking forward to a proper historical fiction read... Plus, the main characters weren't exactly to my liking and were behaving like a bunch of ignorant (and sometimes spoiled) little brats. The prose is mostly average, although there are many Italian words included that might make it difficult to read this novel if you don't have at least some basic knowledge of the language. There is a glossary in the end to explain what the words mean, but still... I personally felt that only some of the Italian words were actually adding something to the story. (Mostly those related to the Carnevale.) The pace is quite fast though and if you don't mind annoying characters and are looking for a rather sappy romance story to read on the beach, Masquerade might work for you. I myself was quite disappointed by this read though.
It is the first time Orelia Rossetti arrives in Venice and she is just in time for the Carnevale of 1750. After her mother dies, she has nowhere else to go but to her uncle's house... A man she has never met so far. When they meet it turns out her mother had a dark secret, and her uncle makes her promise not to tell anyone who she really is. Orelia doesn't understand why, but she is determined find out at some point... But first his daughters Angelique and Veronica will introduce Orelia to Venice and the many parties during Carnevale. She doesn't really know how to fit in, having grown up in a small town in the mountains, but with the help of the two sisters she soon starts enjoying the theatres, ballrooms and other fun events. It turns out Orelia is not the only one with a secret...
The blurb sounded very interesting and I was really looking forward to Masquerade. I normally enjoy reading historical fiction, but this is more of a romance novel with some references to the Carnevale. The characters were a bit bland and Orelia's 'big' secret should have played a bigger role in the whole story. It sure would have made this read that much more interesting... Now I was mostly annoyed by the actions of the main characters and the prose could have been better as well. All in all quite a disappointing read!
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
readaroundtherosie's review against another edition
4.0
Set in 1750s Venice during the five month period of Carnivale, Masquerade is a highly entertaining novel that follows seven teens as they try in vain to protect their secrets. The author described this novel as Gossip Girl meets Carnivale, and I’d have to agree.
Full of scandals, backstabbing, a wonderful amount of flirting, and quite a bit of scheming, Masquerade keeps you so engrossed that you don’t even remember flipping the page to find out what happens next.
Plot:
I was far more invested in the plot than I originally expected to be, but seeing as how I was addicted to Gossip Girl, I suppose it’s not too surprising. There is so much scheming going on in Masquerade, everyone has an agenda, and most of the characters are only looking out for themselves. It’s fantastic.
Characters:
This novel follows seven characters, all of them hiding a secret.
The first main character we follow is Orelia Rossetti, newly orphaned and not at all confident in who she is. She's a bit plain and doesn't do much to begin with, but she really grows into herself.
Next we meet Angelique and Veronica Contarini, Orelia’s cousins. Angelique is fun, love sick and will do almost anything to get her way. Veronica was one of my favourite characters. She’s headstrong, knows what she wants, how to get it, and is completely confident in who she is.
We then come to know about Anna, the Contarini’s teenage servant, and Angelique’s lady’s maid. Anna is very interesting, she faces a lot of inner demons and is far more troubled than anyone her age should be.
Claudia and Marco D’Est are next. I really loved Claudia, she’s such a lovely character who only wants to be with the man she loves. Her brother, Marco, is just trouble.
Lastly, we have Bastian Donato. Bastian is Marco’s best friend and the son of the Dodge (the elected head of council). I loved following his plot line, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about him. He was your typical self-involved person who likes to let loose and have fun, but he also faces a lot of personal indecision and feels trapped in his life.
All the characters were so entertaining to follow. None of them were boring at all.
Writing:
The writing was easy to follow and moved quickly. There were a few parts when it felt like the timeline jumped forward without wrapping a scene well enough, and there were a few points where the characters did things that seemed very rushed and the actions didn't flow well enough to fit the story, but it didn't happen often enough to be annoying, and it worked well in terms of how the story is set out.
The plot was completely driven by character interaction and I just wanted to see more. The way the balls and parties and rooms and homes are described, it all just makes you wish you were there experiencing it all with the characters.
General Comments:
Reading Masquerade was just fun, and watching all the drama unfold was far more amusing than I imagined it would be. This book left me with a strong urge to visit Venice and gallivant around in beautiful dresses and matching masks. I seriously hope there is a sequel, because I definitely need one.
Favourite Non-Spoiler-y Quote:
"I do not want to marry you. [...] I would rather wear a belt of thorns as sharp as your tongue around my waist that would stab me with every move I make."
Overall Rating:
4.5/5
Full of scandals, backstabbing, a wonderful amount of flirting, and quite a bit of scheming, Masquerade keeps you so engrossed that you don’t even remember flipping the page to find out what happens next.
Plot:
I was far more invested in the plot than I originally expected to be, but seeing as how I was addicted to Gossip Girl, I suppose it’s not too surprising. There is so much scheming going on in Masquerade, everyone has an agenda, and most of the characters are only looking out for themselves. It’s fantastic.
Characters:
This novel follows seven characters, all of them hiding a secret.
The first main character we follow is Orelia Rossetti, newly orphaned and not at all confident in who she is. She's a bit plain and doesn't do much to begin with, but she really grows into herself.
Next we meet Angelique and Veronica Contarini, Orelia’s cousins. Angelique is fun, love sick and will do almost anything to get her way. Veronica was one of my favourite characters. She’s headstrong, knows what she wants, how to get it, and is completely confident in who she is.
We then come to know about Anna, the Contarini’s teenage servant, and Angelique’s lady’s maid. Anna is very interesting, she faces a lot of inner demons and is far more troubled than anyone her age should be.
Claudia and Marco D’Est are next. I really loved Claudia, she’s such a lovely character who only wants to be with the man she loves. Her brother, Marco, is just trouble.
Lastly, we have Bastian Donato. Bastian is Marco’s best friend and the son of the Dodge (the elected head of council). I loved following his plot line, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about him. He was your typical self-involved person who likes to let loose and have fun, but he also faces a lot of personal indecision and feels trapped in his life.
All the characters were so entertaining to follow. None of them were boring at all.
Writing:
The writing was easy to follow and moved quickly. There were a few parts when it felt like the timeline jumped forward without wrapping a scene well enough, and there were a few points where the characters did things that seemed very rushed and the actions didn't flow well enough to fit the story, but it didn't happen often enough to be annoying, and it worked well in terms of how the story is set out.
The plot was completely driven by character interaction and I just wanted to see more. The way the balls and parties and rooms and homes are described, it all just makes you wish you were there experiencing it all with the characters.
General Comments:
Reading Masquerade was just fun, and watching all the drama unfold was far more amusing than I imagined it would be. This book left me with a strong urge to visit Venice and gallivant around in beautiful dresses and matching masks. I seriously hope there is a sequel, because I definitely need one.
Favourite Non-Spoiler-y Quote:
"I do not want to marry you. [...] I would rather wear a belt of thorns as sharp as your tongue around my waist that would stab me with every move I make."
Overall Rating:
4.5/5
missrenn's review against another edition
4.0
~4.5~
Okay, let me start off by saying that I adored this book. It was beautifully written, the character development was fantastic, and I'm still quite surprised by how much I liked it.
The author paints a vivid image of 18th century Venice, one that draws the reader in with the secrets of its citizens. Honestly the writing was one of the best things about the book. It really did paint a picture of the city that was both beautiful and dark, wondrous and dangerous. It made the perfect backdrop for the characters who star in this wonderful tale of love and loss along with self discovery and uncovering dark secrets, and honestly as cheesy as that sounds those things play a big part in Fornasier's story.
We're first introduced to Orelia, possibly the main character in this story, just as she arrives in Venice to meet an uncle she never knew she had. Her story is a bleak one, as the reader soon learns, but despite that she's soon dragged into a massive lie. Lying is something that all of the characters have in common in one form or another, but, as in a Shakespearean tragedy, lies always come to bite them in the butt. Anyway, these characters that the author's created seem very relatable with wants and dreams that most could understand and that's just at the start of the story. As it progresses they undergo these wonderful developmental arcs that I haven't seen in a long time. This is honestly what impressed me the most, that this whole story was seamlessly driven by the characters.
In the end, Masquerade left me almost completely satisfied. It's sort of like the ending of a good television show, it answers most of your questions, ties up the loose ends, but it somehow still leaves you wondering what happens afterwards. I'd recommend this to just about anyone who enjoys court intrigue, time periods, and purely character driven plots.
Okay, let me start off by saying that I adored this book. It was beautifully written, the character development was fantastic, and I'm still quite surprised by how much I liked it.
The author paints a vivid image of 18th century Venice, one that draws the reader in with the secrets of its citizens. Honestly the writing was one of the best things about the book. It really did paint a picture of the city that was both beautiful and dark, wondrous and dangerous. It made the perfect backdrop for the characters who star in this wonderful tale of love and loss along with self discovery and uncovering dark secrets, and honestly as cheesy as that sounds those things play a big part in Fornasier's story.
We're first introduced to Orelia, possibly the main character in this story, just as she arrives in Venice to meet an uncle she never knew she had. Her story is a bleak one, as the reader soon learns, but despite that she's soon dragged into a massive lie. Lying is something that all of the characters have in common in one form or another, but, as in a Shakespearean tragedy, lies always come to bite them in the butt. Anyway, these characters that the author's created seem very relatable with wants and dreams that most could understand and that's just at the start of the story. As it progresses they undergo these wonderful developmental arcs that I haven't seen in a long time. This is honestly what impressed me the most, that this whole story was seamlessly driven by the characters.
In the end, Masquerade left me almost completely satisfied. It's sort of like the ending of a good television show, it answers most of your questions, ties up the loose ends, but it somehow still leaves you wondering what happens afterwards. I'd recommend this to just about anyone who enjoys court intrigue, time periods, and purely character driven plots.