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A review by emeryrachelle
Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller
4.0
In Mask of Shadows, Sal—who uses and presents as they, he, or she depending on their identity each day—grew up poor and traumatized. They seize the chance to change their life in a competition to become one of the queen's prized assassins. In the process, they (with readers) are exposed to more than enough blood and guts, but also intrigue, heart, and seduction.
I wouldn't call this book a romance, but it has enough to satisfy my taste. The relationship between hardened thief Sal and sweet, soft Elise is well-written and fun to experience. This book is about more than love, though. It's about identity, and values, and the definition of home.
The worldbuilding feels natural. We're given enough detail to carry the story and keep us invested, without too much information being dumped at any one time. Every progression feels organic as the story carries forward.
The LGBTQ+ representation here is spot on, and built well into the realistic world. Sal is relatable to me as a nonbinary person, with perhaps a bit more confidence in their presentation than I've yet developed.
The ending was unexpected in many ways, though I did call a few things ahead of time. It closed enough story lines to feel like a satisfying conclusion, but left enough threads hanging for a seamless transition into book two. Onward this reader presses!
I wouldn't call this book a romance, but it has enough to satisfy my taste. The relationship between hardened thief Sal and sweet, soft Elise is well-written and fun to experience. This book is about more than love, though. It's about identity, and values, and the definition of home.
The worldbuilding feels natural. We're given enough detail to carry the story and keep us invested, without too much information being dumped at any one time. Every progression feels organic as the story carries forward.
The LGBTQ+ representation here is spot on, and built well into the realistic world. Sal is relatable to me as a nonbinary person, with perhaps a bit more confidence in their presentation than I've yet developed.
The ending was unexpected in many ways, though I did call a few things ahead of time. It closed enough story lines to feel like a satisfying conclusion, but left enough threads hanging for a seamless transition into book two. Onward this reader presses!