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gbeckner's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mnyberg's review against another edition
3.0
Compared to the previous installments in the series, the premise of this plot was far from my favorite. Hopefully the series ties together nicely in the last book.
apriltwilights's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
d_audy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
veronica87's review against another edition
4.0
Freedom of the Mask is the sixth book in the Matthew Corbett series. It’s a historical fiction series with a serious flair for intrigue and adventure. Since book two the long arc of the story has involved Professor Fell, a godfather of extreme notoriety in the criminal underworld whose many-armed reach stretches into all sorts of criminal activity. If there is a vice in existence somewhere, Professor Fell probably has a hand in it somehow. Each book has grown Professor Fell’s influence over Matthew’s life. For his part, Matthew has been well aware of this tightening noose and the realization of this danger to him and anyone around him is what led him to intentionally burn his bridge to romantic happiness with Berry Grigsby in book four. That, in turn, led him straight into his misadventure in the swamps of North Carolina in the last book which, of course, landed Matthew aboard a ship on its way to London (and potentially Professor Fell’s lap) … which is exactly where we find him at the start of this installment.
Whereas the last book felt like a segue, not touching at all on the long arc until the cliffhanger-ish ending, this book drops Matthew straight into the thick of things. I have to say, and this may sound a bit mean, but I rather like Matthew a lot better now that life has beat up on him a little. His traumas have tempered him, made him wiser and more mature than his 24 years, and far less self-righteous. London will present its own challenges for Matthew and he doesn’t have an easy time of it but he encounters some interesting people along the way. It’s a frustrating time for Matthew because at no time is he ever really in control of his own fate. Other forces and circumstances keep propelling him in directions he doesn’t want to go so, like a leaf in a river, he drifts in a current not of his own making.
In the meantime, we have Hudson Greathouse and Berry Grigsby who have realized that Matthew is MIA – never having returned to New York after what should have been an easy, one-night’s worth of work in North Carolina – and have set out in search of him. I was pleased to get some POV time with both Greathouse and Berry and wish that we could get more of the both of them in these books as I feel that they both round out Matthew’s character nicely.
The latter third of the book really ups the stakes for our characters and sets a deadline past which salvation for one will become impossible. Professor Fell has once again shown the evil and ruthlessness of which he’s capable but, with the fate of one he loves hanging in the balance, Matthew may find that a deal with the devil may be the only way out. This still isn’t a perfect series. This book once again had a couple of the villainous characters spill personal information to Matthew for no believable reason. But at least Matthew didn’t find himself being the victim of drugged or otherwise non-consensual sex in this one so that’s a plus! Hopefully there won't be any more of that nonsense moving forward.
This book was published back in 2016 so there’s been quite a gap between it and the seventh book which, according to the author’s recent announcement, is due to be published in early 2019 by Cemetary Dance Books. I’m glad I’m just now reading this book so my wait won’t be too long. I’ve been listening to the audiobooks for this series so I’ll be waiting for #7 on that format. The narrator does an excellent job differentiating all the voices and manages not to make the female voices sound silly.
Whereas the last book felt like a segue, not touching at all on the long arc until the cliffhanger-ish ending, this book drops Matthew straight into the thick of things. I have to say, and this may sound a bit mean, but I rather like Matthew a lot better now that life has beat up on him a little. His traumas have tempered him, made him wiser and more mature than his 24 years, and far less self-righteous. London will present its own challenges for Matthew and he doesn’t have an easy time of it but he encounters some interesting people along the way. It’s a frustrating time for Matthew because at no time is he ever really in control of his own fate. Other forces and circumstances keep propelling him in directions he doesn’t want to go so, like a leaf in a river, he drifts in a current not of his own making.
In the meantime, we have Hudson Greathouse and Berry Grigsby who have realized that Matthew is MIA – never having returned to New York after what should have been an easy, one-night’s worth of work in North Carolina – and have set out in search of him. I was pleased to get some POV time with both Greathouse and Berry and wish that we could get more of the both of them in these books as I feel that they both round out Matthew’s character nicely.
The latter third of the book really ups the stakes for our characters and sets a deadline past which salvation for one will become impossible. Professor Fell has once again shown the evil and ruthlessness of which he’s capable but, with the fate of one he loves hanging in the balance, Matthew may find that a deal with the devil may be the only way out. This still isn’t a perfect series. This book once again had a couple of the villainous characters spill personal information to Matthew for no believable reason. But at least Matthew didn’t find himself being the victim of drugged or otherwise non-consensual sex in this one so that’s a plus! Hopefully there won't be any more of that nonsense moving forward.
This book was published back in 2016 so there’s been quite a gap between it and the seventh book which, according to the author’s recent announcement, is due to be published in early 2019 by Cemetary Dance Books. I’m glad I’m just now reading this book so my wait won’t be too long. I’ve been listening to the audiobooks for this series so I’ll be waiting for #7 on that format. The narrator does an excellent job differentiating all the voices and manages not to make the female voices sound silly.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
3.0
Poor dear Matthew is as adorable as ever, but this one felt like one long dialogue. McCammon goes nuts with the London setting - nobody needs that much historical colour.
chazmo1431's review against another edition
5.0
This author makes you feel like you are right there, in that time
and place. His writing is almost poetic, even when describing the horrific events. You start the book and boy, you just can't put it down. McCammon is a master wordsmith!
and place. His writing is almost poetic, even when describing the horrific events. You start the book and boy, you just can't put it down. McCammon is a master wordsmith!
usbsticky's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars = "it was ok". This is a neutral rating from me. I found the writing awkward and difficult to read. It was difficult to get into and difficult for me to get interested in it. The setting of the book is 1703 so part of the reason is that the author wants to write in a style that's not too modern but apart from that I felt that the writing didn't flow smoothly and that the author was not a natural writer. I got this book as a free ARC.
barb4ry1's review against another edition
5.0
Can I give a book 6 stars?
Freedom of the Mask is amazing. Brutal, tragic, exciting, and unrelenting. Matthew Corbett attracts problems and in Freedom of The Mask, he has to deal with more than ever. With his formidable adversary Professor Fell who's angry at Matthew for destroying his island. With a stay in a hellish jail. With a new and terrifying adversary.
I'm starting the seventh book right now and I'm not sure what am I supposed to do with myself once I finish it? Sit, wait, and hope the eighth one comes as soon as possible.
Freedom of the Mask is amazing. Brutal, tragic, exciting, and unrelenting. Matthew Corbett attracts problems and in Freedom of The Mask, he has to deal with more than ever. With his formidable adversary Professor Fell who's angry at Matthew for destroying his island. With a stay in a hellish jail. With a new and terrifying adversary.
I'm starting the seventh book right now and I'm not sure what am I supposed to do with myself once I finish it? Sit, wait, and hope the eighth one comes as soon as possible.
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