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vorpalblad's review against another edition
4.0
Sallot Leon wants out of a lifetime as a thief; their opportunity comes when the queen needs a new assassin. As you may guess, from this standard trope, they enter and they win.
Why this book is more than a Throne of Glass rehash:
1. Sal hasn't killed before they enter the competition to become Opal, one of four assassins of the queen, named for the stones in her rings, and collectively known as The Left Hand. As Sal shifts from thief to assassin, it is a difficult transition, with equal parts physical revulsion and guilt.
2. This novel continues well after the end of the competition, allowing us to see the political machinations and danger begin.
3. The world, especially the political background is established early and developed throughout the novel. The politics are key to this novel.
So, if you're looking for something character driven, you may not find this as engaging. I mean, I like Sal as a character. I especially like that Sal is genderfluid, and Miller doesn't back down from this, telling us about Sal's primary sexual characteristics. Sal is Sal. We know a lot about their background, and motivation, but Sal still feels somewhat shallow as a character. This doesn't bother me because this is an action novel all the way, with political intrigue tied closely to the action. I've already got the next one checked out and ready to go!
Why this book is more than a Throne of Glass rehash:
1. Sal hasn't killed before they enter the competition to become Opal, one of four assassins of the queen, named for the stones in her rings, and collectively known as The Left Hand. As Sal shifts from thief to assassin, it is a difficult transition, with equal parts physical revulsion and guilt.
2. This novel continues well after the end of the competition, allowing us to see the political machinations and danger begin.
3. The world, especially the political background is established early and developed throughout the novel. The politics are key to this novel.
So, if you're looking for something character driven, you may not find this as engaging. I mean, I like Sal as a character. I especially like that Sal is genderfluid, and Miller doesn't back down from this, telling us about Sal's primary sexual characteristics. Sal is Sal. We know a lot about their background, and motivation, but Sal still feels somewhat shallow as a character. This doesn't bother me because this is an action novel all the way, with political intrigue tied closely to the action. I've already got the next one checked out and ready to go!
amethystbookwyrm's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for giving me this book to review.
Mask of Shadows is a likeable dark fantasy book. Slow paced and I would have liked more world building and a cast of characters I could relate to more. Apart from the gender fluid protagonist, it felt like I had read this story before. Also with the war and the magic being gone from the world, this book felt like a new story but in a world that had already been established in previous books. While I liked that this book added some unique diversity to the YA fantasy genre, I wish that Sal being gender fluid was either given more or less importance in the story. This is because I felt most of the characters understood and accepted Sal but Sal acted as if this was unusual and got very emotional when people did accept them. Also, I will admit that I do not fully understand gender fluidity but one thing that bothered me was that it was Maud who was choosing Sal’s clothing, therefore I felt like it was Maud who was deciding Sal’s gender not Sal.
Sal was determined, hell bent on vengeance and rough around the edges but I just did not connect to them. Maud was my favourite character as she was honest and did not mince her words but as we got to know her better we got to see how caring she is and how much she has struggled. Elise is an OK scholarly character who is kind and intelligent.
This book has an interesting concept but ultimately it did not grab me as much as I hoped. I would recommend Mask of Shadows to fans of Throne of Glass.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
Mask of Shadows is a likeable dark fantasy book. Slow paced and I would have liked more world building and a cast of characters I could relate to more. Apart from the gender fluid protagonist, it felt like I had read this story before. Also with the war and the magic being gone from the world, this book felt like a new story but in a world that had already been established in previous books. While I liked that this book added some unique diversity to the YA fantasy genre, I wish that Sal being gender fluid was either given more or less importance in the story. This is because I felt most of the characters understood and accepted Sal but Sal acted as if this was unusual and got very emotional when people did accept them. Also, I will admit that I do not fully understand gender fluidity but one thing that bothered me was that it was Maud who was choosing Sal’s clothing, therefore I felt like it was Maud who was deciding Sal’s gender not Sal.
Sal was determined, hell bent on vengeance and rough around the edges but I just did not connect to them. Maud was my favourite character as she was honest and did not mince her words but as we got to know her better we got to see how caring she is and how much she has struggled. Elise is an OK scholarly character who is kind and intelligent.
This book has an interesting concept but ultimately it did not grab me as much as I hoped. I would recommend Mask of Shadows to fans of Throne of Glass.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
owlyreadsalot's review against another edition
4.0
I had been hearing many things about this novel, mainly how much it resembles The Hunger Games. Even though there were many similarities such as a group of skilled fighters battling in a game to the death, one main person at the forefront of it all (instead of President Snow, it's the Queen of the Eastern Spires), Mask of Shadows had its differences and made for a good read.
There were many characters that filled this book, several of them went by numbers instead of names. I'm not sure if that was done in order to keep them all from creating bonds in the auditions, but as the reader I would have preferred if they did have names to those faces. Several of their expertise were deadly, but the main character Sal was not quite like any of them, having learned their (will be using they/their instead of all three he/she/they) trade on the streets as a thief.
Sal is one of those characters that keeps this novel interesting and the reader invested in it. Sal wants to be the champion of the auditions in order to fulfill their revenge upon all of those who allowed the bloodshed that happened in Nacea, doing nothing to protect or save any of them from the Shadows and everything that wreaked havoc upon them. Sal is not the type to give up or go down without a fight, being aggressive when required of them and a true friend when needed.
I really liked how the author built up this world, the descriptions of the places they would be among, the people that were part of this book, those partaking in the auditions; the shadows that were the most feared, how they were created, what led to all of it. Even though there were similarities to other dystopian worlds, this had its own stories to tell, its own way of dealing with battles. There were rules to follow or disqualification would happen, you will have to read to find out what all those are.
As I neared the last chapters it all became more twisted and not all as it had seemed. There were characters that had secrets to tell, a betrayal that cut deeper than any of the others, Sal having to deal with all of it and keep proving himself just to reach the sought out Opal position. I found myself more taken in as I read through those last chapters and all that was coming to light, answers that Sal was finally getting even if they weren't what they'd hoped for. Mask of Shadows had its many captivating moments and very much worth the read.
***I received this copy from Sourcebooks FIre via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
There were many characters that filled this book, several of them went by numbers instead of names. I'm not sure if that was done in order to keep them all from creating bonds in the auditions, but as the reader I would have preferred if they did have names to those faces. Several of their expertise were deadly, but the main character Sal was not quite like any of them, having learned their (will be using they/their instead of all three he/she/they) trade on the streets as a thief.
Sal is one of those characters that keeps this novel interesting and the reader invested in it. Sal wants to be the champion of the auditions in order to fulfill their revenge upon all of those who allowed the bloodshed that happened in Nacea, doing nothing to protect or save any of them from the Shadows and everything that wreaked havoc upon them. Sal is not the type to give up or go down without a fight, being aggressive when required of them and a true friend when needed.
I really liked how the author built up this world, the descriptions of the places they would be among, the people that were part of this book, those partaking in the auditions; the shadows that were the most feared, how they were created, what led to all of it. Even though there were similarities to other dystopian worlds, this had its own stories to tell, its own way of dealing with battles. There were rules to follow or disqualification would happen, you will have to read to find out what all those are.
As I neared the last chapters it all became more twisted and not all as it had seemed. There were characters that had secrets to tell, a betrayal that cut deeper than any of the others, Sal having to deal with all of it and keep proving himself just to reach the sought out Opal position. I found myself more taken in as I read through those last chapters and all that was coming to light, answers that Sal was finally getting even if they weren't what they'd hoped for. Mask of Shadows had its many captivating moments and very much worth the read.
***I received this copy from Sourcebooks FIre via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
jewbitche's review
4.0
*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Honestly this book is next level, I adore it.
Its not perfect its really not, the prose slipped at times, it was occasionally predictable, but I wouldn't change it. I wouldn't change a thing because its wonderful.
Sal is amazing, I couldn't have asked for a better protagonist. The perfect mix of seething anger and revenge mixed with idealism and pain. They made mistakes, huge mistakes but you didn't scream at them not too because you understood! You mourned with them for their country.
Four, Two, Elise, Maud and Ruby were some of my favourite characters ever, I also hope Rath reappears.
The world building was superb and I love everything about the world created.
I lived for Sal falling out off love with Our Queen.
But the stand out for me was the end, lesser books would have finished several chapters earlier and started the second book with these last chapters but, this book didn't and was all the better for it!
ammbooks's review against another edition
2.0
I loved Ms. Miller's approach to the "fluid gender". The storytelling was promising and as she becomes a more experience writer I will hope to see her ability to set the scene grow. I am glad I read it. It would be extremely unjust to compare it to Maas or Bishop.
lilyjoyner's review against another edition
2.0
I really enjoyed this in the beginning but towards the end of the book I was so confused. The writing diminished after you know who became opal and it was hard to read after that lmao.
erinld2005's review against another edition
1.0
Dnf.
I received this in a giveaway on instagram thanks to sourcebooksfire!
Unfortunately, I did have to dnf this one. It could have been a very good book, but it was driving me crazy. The Sarah J. Maas/Leigh Bardugo comparisons are very accurate which should have made me love the book. However, there are just a few things that were driving me nuts and I had to DNF because they were keeping me from getting into the story.
I received this in a giveaway on instagram thanks to sourcebooksfire!
Unfortunately, I did have to dnf this one. It could have been a very good book, but it was driving me crazy. The Sarah J. Maas/Leigh Bardugo comparisons are very accurate which should have made me love the book. However, there are just a few things that were driving me nuts and I had to DNF because they were keeping me from getting into the story.
bhrtng's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, the reviews for Mask of Shadows aren't stellar and yes, there are some valid criticisms, but overall I really enjoyed reading this one! The premise is formulaic, a contest to become the Queen's assassin. It's Throne of Glass y'all. Except, the protagonist, Sal, is genderfluid! They're disenchanted with their life as a petty thief and this contest seems like the perfect chance to gain the kind of influence and power that would let them exact revenge on their enemies. Everything basically goes as expected and things just so happen to conveniently work out for Sal. But that's every YA fantasy! I do wish there was more time spent developing Sal, they didn't seem complex to me. I wanted to feel the pain they felt over Nacea! Without that depth their rage and revenge fantasies felt shallow and short-sighted at times. I liked the other members of the Left Hand and the glimpses we got into the other contestants, even if keeping track of the numbers was a challenge haha. And while I love the genderfluid rep, and don't believe that queer rep should always have to come with persecution or explanations, I wish there was more time spent with it than what we see on the page. Regardless, the constant action was compelling and there was a small twist at the end (not super surprising, but still!). This was an enjoyable read overall and sometimes it's nice to pick up a fantasy that doesn't require too much from the reader. It's not that deep, it was just entertaining!
silverbear's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
fsmeurinne's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting YA fantasy, it covers a genderfluid person trying to become an assassin. Sal, who is quite interesting as he/she changes however he/she wants to be. Sal enters a contest to become the new Opal, a queen assassin. While training Sal has a bit of a romance with a girl that was his tutor. I wished there was more into it that killings but it was a different story of what I usually read.