Scan barcode
A review by ohtislove
The Masks and The Dancer by Bea Paige
3.0
3.5 stars.
This could have been about 100 pages shorter and lost nothing. I agree with the other reviews that we get A LOT of endless commentary about the feelings they're having, and other random information that isn't relevant to any of the plot lines. I skimmed the last third of the book because I was just tired after 400 pages and even though the ending was literally revealed at that point, I felt like I wanted to wrap it all up officially. Also, the ending for this particular grouping was a little lackluster, considering all the trials and tribulations we read about for the past 700 pages. (It's a HEA, as the author promises, just...boring.)
I did appreciate that it's a complex web of stories, although having not read the other books some of it was a bit hard to keep track of, although this duet is definitely readable as a standalone.
Mind your triggers. There's a ton of flat out SA (not dub-con, not consensual non-con, just flat out non-con) and I have some strong feelings around whether the FMC should have ever forgiven the MMCs. Also, a huge pet peeve of mine, but the physical manifestation of her virginity was just...not correct? First, it's unlikely that a 24 year old would even still have a hymen, and second, it's not way up there like the author describes. If you're going to be writing romance books for women, at least get the basic anatomy facts in order, please!
This could have been about 100 pages shorter and lost nothing. I agree with the other reviews that we get A LOT of endless commentary about the feelings they're having, and other random information that isn't relevant to any of the plot lines. I skimmed the last third of the book because I was just tired after 400 pages and even though the ending was literally revealed at that point, I felt like I wanted to wrap it all up officially. Also, the ending for this particular grouping was a little lackluster, considering all the trials and tribulations we read about for the past 700 pages. (It's a HEA, as the author promises, just...boring.)
I did appreciate that it's a complex web of stories, although having not read the other books some of it was a bit hard to keep track of, although this duet is definitely readable as a standalone.
Mind your triggers. There's a ton of flat out SA (not dub-con, not consensual non-con, just flat out non-con) and I have some strong feelings around whether the FMC should have ever forgiven the MMCs. Also, a huge pet peeve of mine, but the physical manifestation of her virginity was just...not correct? First, it's unlikely that a 24 year old would even still have a hymen, and second, it's not way up there like the author describes. If you're going to be writing romance books for women, at least get the basic anatomy facts in order, please!