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The Mask of Onyx
Seventeen-year-old Amanda is a Ghoster, capable of traveling between Shadows of Onyx to talk to ghosts and summon demons, but wishing only to devote her life to music.
Everything changes when Eric, her best friend and bandmate, sends her a cryptic request to meet at the annual alumni masquerade, along with a legendary Mask of Onyx to wear at the ball. But before they have a chance to talk, Eric is kidnapped by the headmaster and Amanda is forced to infiltrate the dangerous Sphere of Onyx in a land she knows only from stories whispered in the school corridors.
Spiraled into a world of betrayal, ancient battle and love, Amanda must reach the deepest source of her magic to find Eric before he is sacrificed, risking losing her soul, her best friend and the way back home forever.
Everything changes when Eric, her best friend and bandmate, sends her a cryptic request to meet at the annual alumni masquerade, along with a legendary Mask of Onyx to wear at the ball. But before they have a chance to talk, Eric is kidnapped by the headmaster and Amanda is forced to infiltrate the dangerous Sphere of Onyx in a land she knows only from stories whispered in the school corridors.
Spiraled into a world of betrayal, ancient battle and love, Amanda must reach the deepest source of her magic to find Eric before he is sacrificed, risking losing her soul, her best friend and the way back home forever.
- GenresFantasy
354 pages, Paperback
Published May 23, 2023
1 person is currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Nikki (nikkiwithbooks)
1 book10 followersNikki Waskowski has a degree in English and a theater background. She studied acting at The Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute in Los Angeles. When she's not writing, she can be found watching movies, reading, playing with her cats or ice-skating. She is also partial to a cup of herbal tea.
Follow her on Instagram @nikkiwithbooks
Follow her on Instagram @nikkiwithbooks
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 13, 2023
The Mask of Onyx is the first book in a new YA fantasy series with portal magic and wizards & spells ✨
The story has a lush worldbuilding and we immediately fall into the thick of things as Amanda, a recent alumna of the wizard academy, finds herself transported to a parallel world full of dark secrets. All Amanda wants is to forget about magic and focus on her music band, Wild Reaction. However, things take a unexpected turn when her friend and band mate, Eric, gets drawn by forbidden magic. Amanda has no choice but to follow him into the portal if she hopes to ever find him again.
The beginning was a bit complex as we discover alongside Amanda about dark secrets, Sphere of Onyx and evil headmasters. There is a lot of information to process and it took me a while to grasp the worldbuilding. My favorite element of the story was definitely the dark and witchy atmosphere! Amanda doesn’t know who she can trust, and Sunshadow hides many mysteries. I also loved that Amanda has ghoster magic, which I thought was awesome! A dark strange magic that can communicate with ghosts and travel through Shadows of Onyx. A thrilling read, action packed and full of spell casting! 🖤
The story has a lush worldbuilding and we immediately fall into the thick of things as Amanda, a recent alumna of the wizard academy, finds herself transported to a parallel world full of dark secrets. All Amanda wants is to forget about magic and focus on her music band, Wild Reaction. However, things take a unexpected turn when her friend and band mate, Eric, gets drawn by forbidden magic. Amanda has no choice but to follow him into the portal if she hopes to ever find him again.
The beginning was a bit complex as we discover alongside Amanda about dark secrets, Sphere of Onyx and evil headmasters. There is a lot of information to process and it took me a while to grasp the worldbuilding. My favorite element of the story was definitely the dark and witchy atmosphere! Amanda doesn’t know who she can trust, and Sunshadow hides many mysteries. I also loved that Amanda has ghoster magic, which I thought was awesome! A dark strange magic that can communicate with ghosts and travel through Shadows of Onyx. A thrilling read, action packed and full of spell casting! 🖤
August 9, 2023
Rating: 3.5 stars
A promising start to a series.
Rich with magic and a relatively big cast of characters, The Mask of Onyx’s greatest strengths is undoubtedly the worldbuilding. The concept of parallel worlds is one that always fascinated me, and the way this author pulled it off was really interesting. Magic exists in both worlds, and the terms used for it are the same, but where in “our” world it’s regulated with many rules, in the Sunshadow there are no such limitations aside from portaling.
I loved exploring Sunshadow through Amanda’s (and Eric’s) quest, and meeting new characters—good and bad—along the way. I say quest because it really did read like one. Amanda has a mission: save Eric before it’s too late for him, and to do that she has to find the Sphere of Hearts. One of my favorite moments was the first ride on the unicorns. Truly fascinating creatures, and this book probably has my favorite use of them that I’ve read about.
One of my favorite characters was Gerry, for he was the most morally gray character in a cast that mostly is divided between good and evil. Gerry is fundamentally a good guy, but he’s done things in the past in his pursuit of knowledge and power. A bit on the same wavelength is the headmaster, who has his reasons to do what he does, though he’s far from favorite character material. As for the romance, it's not the book's main focus. However, I have to say I was enjoying the romance sublot more when it seemed like Eric might be the love interest, rather than when Matt came into the picture. Might be because I love a good friends to lovers because of the implied history between the characters. I feel like the relationship with Matt needs a little more development for me to fully be on board with it.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
A promising start to a series.
Rich with magic and a relatively big cast of characters, The Mask of Onyx’s greatest strengths is undoubtedly the worldbuilding. The concept of parallel worlds is one that always fascinated me, and the way this author pulled it off was really interesting. Magic exists in both worlds, and the terms used for it are the same, but where in “our” world it’s regulated with many rules, in the Sunshadow there are no such limitations aside from portaling.
I loved exploring Sunshadow through Amanda’s (and Eric’s) quest, and meeting new characters—good and bad—along the way. I say quest because it really did read like one. Amanda has a mission: save Eric before it’s too late for him, and to do that she has to find the Sphere of Hearts. One of my favorite moments was the first ride on the unicorns. Truly fascinating creatures, and this book probably has my favorite use of them that I’ve read about.
One of my favorite characters was Gerry, for he was the most morally gray character in a cast that mostly is divided between good and evil. Gerry is fundamentally a good guy, but he’s done things in the past in his pursuit of knowledge and power. A bit on the same wavelength is the headmaster, who has his reasons to do what he does, though he’s far from favorite character material. As for the romance, it's not the book's main focus. However, I have to say I was enjoying the romance sublot more when it seemed like Eric might be the love interest, rather than when Matt came into the picture. Might be because I love a good friends to lovers because of the implied history between the characters. I feel like the relationship with Matt needs a little more development for me to fully be on board with it.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
June 19, 2023
The world the author created is beyond fascinating and unique! There were freaking UNICORNS! 🦄 can’t get any better than that, right? But it does get better! Amanda, the main character, can speak to ghosts and demons but is self conflicted with what she actually wants out of her life. Her world is turned upside down when she enters into a different world with different rules on magic.
If you love tropes of found family, slow burn, and friends to lovers then this book is great for you! There’s a lot of action in this book and it gets better as it goes. The beginning; I was a little lost with understanding the magic system but again, I was able to interpret more while reading.
If you love tropes of found family, slow burn, and friends to lovers then this book is great for you! There’s a lot of action in this book and it gets better as it goes. The beginning; I was a little lost with understanding the magic system but again, I was able to interpret more while reading.
June 25, 2023
Thank you Nikki and Book of Matches Media for sending me an eARC of this book.
The mask of Onyx by author Nikki Waskowski was a fantastic start to a new fantasy series, and one that I will definitely be continuing.
The fantastical world and magic system in this book was absolutely spectacular. Not only were they both explained extremely well, but they gave so much background information to this book that after a while, they definitely became one of my favourite things to read in this book.
The characters in this book, in addition to being extremely unique and unlike anything I've ever read, had some great character development. Our main character, Amanda, evolves in such a unique manner that it was honestly beautiful to see. To see her finally accept her magic abilities despite her struggles throughout this entire book was an extremely important event in this book and personally, a definite favourite moment of mine.
Given that this book is the first in a brand new YA series, I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.
Read if you love :
☆ Found family
☆ Friends to lovers
☆ Dark academia
☆ Slow burn
☆ Mythical creature companions
☆ Magic
☆ Hidden societies
The mask of Onyx by author Nikki Waskowski was a fantastic start to a new fantasy series, and one that I will definitely be continuing.
The fantastical world and magic system in this book was absolutely spectacular. Not only were they both explained extremely well, but they gave so much background information to this book that after a while, they definitely became one of my favourite things to read in this book.
The characters in this book, in addition to being extremely unique and unlike anything I've ever read, had some great character development. Our main character, Amanda, evolves in such a unique manner that it was honestly beautiful to see. To see her finally accept her magic abilities despite her struggles throughout this entire book was an extremely important event in this book and personally, a definite favourite moment of mine.
Given that this book is the first in a brand new YA series, I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.
Read if you love :
☆ Found family
☆ Friends to lovers
☆ Dark academia
☆ Slow burn
☆ Mythical creature companions
☆ Magic
☆ Hidden societies
July 18, 2023
A good start to a series, ''The Mask of Onyx'' follows Amanda as she learns more about her magic and tries to save her friend in the process.
The characters are well-written, but I didn't see enough development. I'm waiting to read about it in the next book.
I liked the descriptions of the places she visited and the people (and animals) she met, as well as the action scenes.
What I didn't like was that at the beginning the pace was slow and there was a lot of info dump in a few pages around the middle.
In general, it was a nice and fun read for those who like fantasy, elemental magic and unicorns.
A big thank you to the author and Book Of Matches Media for the ebook.
The characters are well-written, but I didn't see enough development. I'm waiting to read about it in the next book.
I liked the descriptions of the places she visited and the people (and animals) she met, as well as the action scenes.
What I didn't like was that at the beginning the pace was slow and there was a lot of info dump in a few pages around the middle.
In general, it was a nice and fun read for those who like fantasy, elemental magic and unicorns.
A big thank you to the author and Book Of Matches Media for the ebook.
July 27, 2023
The Mask of Onyx is the first book in a new YA fantasy series, following seventeen year old Amanda into the land of Sunshadow to try to save her best friend. There is some complex world building and an interesting magic system which is well described and explained. The cast of characters is a large one and you will certainly find favourite amongst them. It’s not heavy on the romance but there is a lovely slow burn one which doesn’t overshadow the story. The writing is descriptive and there is plenty of action and mounting tension.
The ending is good and sets the scene for the next instalment. A promising start to this new YA series and particularly one to pick up if you enjoy action-packed, dark academia fantasy novels.
Thank you so much to the author for the beautiful copy for review.
The ending is good and sets the scene for the next instalment. A promising start to this new YA series and particularly one to pick up if you enjoy action-packed, dark academia fantasy novels.
Thank you so much to the author for the beautiful copy for review.
August 16, 2023
The Mask of Onyx is so much fun and very unique!! The heroine, Amanda, is extremely relatable and her character evolution is on point 👏 It’s been so long since I’ve been fully immersed in a YA fantasy, so I’m glad I came across this gorgeous new release!!
What to Expect:
—Portal Fantasy + Mystery
—Slowburn Friends-to-Lovers
—Magic Spells + Worldbuilding
—Dark Academia + Witchy Vibes
—Wizards + UNICORNS!!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
What to Expect:
—Portal Fantasy + Mystery
—Slowburn Friends-to-Lovers
—Magic Spells + Worldbuilding
—Dark Academia + Witchy Vibes
—Wizards + UNICORNS!!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
August 13, 2023
This book has beautiful world building. Magic. Animal familiars. Portal magic. Royals and battles. Academia setting. Amanda the FMC is fun and I love her unicorn companion so much. There’s an unexpected love 👀 and Amanda is trying to save her best friend. It was magical and a world I would love to explore.
September 4, 2023
This was a great story! Perfect for lovers of wizards, ghosts, demons, and UNICORNS!
Set in a dark academia setting, we see portal magic, elemental magic and amazing spells. Mixed with mystery, thrills, and unexpected turn of events, this kept me hooked! I was so intrigued by the disappearance of one of the characters. Our main character Amanda has the ability to talk to all the supernatural beings which makes it even more exciting to see the potential in our main character.
I was absolutely invested in her mission of saving Eric. All through obstacles and trials, which she didnt shy away from. The pacing of the book starts off slow, but we see intricate world building which is amazing! Its looking like a slowburn friends to lovers, we didnt see a lot of romance in this book. Looking forward to seeing how the story continues in the next book!
Huge thanks to the author for gifting me an ebook. All opinions are my own.
Set in a dark academia setting, we see portal magic, elemental magic and amazing spells. Mixed with mystery, thrills, and unexpected turn of events, this kept me hooked! I was so intrigued by the disappearance of one of the characters. Our main character Amanda has the ability to talk to all the supernatural beings which makes it even more exciting to see the potential in our main character.
I was absolutely invested in her mission of saving Eric. All through obstacles and trials, which she didnt shy away from. The pacing of the book starts off slow, but we see intricate world building which is amazing! Its looking like a slowburn friends to lovers, we didnt see a lot of romance in this book. Looking forward to seeing how the story continues in the next book!
Huge thanks to the author for gifting me an ebook. All opinions are my own.
August 23, 2023
If you're ready to be transported into a wonderfully crafted fantasy world with a story that will make you flip the pages real fast (yes, you'll be that engaged), then The Mask of Onyx is the right book for you.
We follow Amanda, a Ghoster. She has such a unique kind of magic, and I absolutely loved it! She can communicate with ghosts - a skill that's quite useful if you know what you're doing, but yet, many are wary of such magic. As the story progresses, Amanda learns how to take better control of it, and along with her, we learn so many things about her world and the different kinds of magic, spells, and places that exist there.
When her best friend and bandmate, Eric, gets suddenly transported into the unknown through the portal created by forbidden magic, she decides to follow him. And that's where it all changed - she stepped into the vast new world, where nothing seemed to be the way it should be. She must face the new rules of Sunshadow, new kinds of magic, new places, and so much more - including finding and getting the love she hopes for. Well, isn't it why she risked everything and jumped right after Eric, right?
But there's a catch - Eric is now a half-ghost, and he doesn't remember anything. Now what will Amanda do, in a completely unknown world, surrounded by strangers? Whom can she trust? How will she save Eric before it's too late?
I absolutely adored how Amanda's love story naturally unfolded. It was completely unexpected, and honestly, it was so, so good! Everything felt so natural, and I had many moments where I just thought - girl, yes. You're right; you're actually giving yourself the time to think, to evaluate everything, to let your heart guide you as it should. You're learning, you're growing, and I'm so proud of you. When you read this book - you'll know what I mean.
Where do I even begin with all the characters? They were all so amazing and quite relatable - some were with a pure heart of gold, but the others were perfectly morally grey, and I'm all here for it. And there are also pure evil ones. It's a perfect mix - in this book, you'll get your fair share of both heroes and villains, but you'll also get those morally grey characters we all love ohhh so dearly. I'm looking at you, Gerry, and Terence. What was that last conversation between you two really about? You've both really, really picked my interest, and now I need the second book ASAP. Also, I need to know more about Darin and his son! I'm honestly so excited to learn more about them and their history. If anything, all of these characters will keep you up at night, reading and reading until you finally flip that last page.
Without revealing anything, I need to say - Matier, you have my whole heart. You're such a pure soul, and I'd give everything if I could just protect you, your Sphere, your sweet little cottage, and all your dear animals, friends, sister, and the forest you love so much. All of the wonderful nature and such a unique kind of magic system made the Sphere of Hearts my favorite place in this vast universe Nikki has created. Being a nature lover myself, this Sphere sounds like a truly dreamy place, and I'll have my fingers crossed that it stays that way. Please, dear author, don't make it end up like Sphere of Flowers. Hope that's not too much to ask for.
Honestly, this book makes for a fantastic adventure read suitable for everyone beyond their teenage years. You just can't help but love it! I assure you you won't be overwhelmed with information - after all, we're learning everything with Amanda as she's learning too and getting used to this whole new situation she's gotten herself into.
You will learn everything about the dark forces of the Sphere of Onyx. You will explore the Sphere of the Sun and venture into the Sphere of Hearts on your own unicorns - yes, unicorns! But how long will they carry you, and where will you end up? You will have to discover that for yourself.
Nikki, thank you SO much for giving me the chance to read your book this early! It truly deserves to be seen and recognized by the world, and I simply can't wait to see where you will take us in your next book. I'm so excited to follow Amanda on her new journey, and I can only begin to imagine what you have in mind for her chosen weapon - I bet I'm gonna be surprised in the best way possible.
Highly and wholeheartedly recommended for every fantasy lover out there! 💜
We follow Amanda, a Ghoster. She has such a unique kind of magic, and I absolutely loved it! She can communicate with ghosts - a skill that's quite useful if you know what you're doing, but yet, many are wary of such magic. As the story progresses, Amanda learns how to take better control of it, and along with her, we learn so many things about her world and the different kinds of magic, spells, and places that exist there.
When her best friend and bandmate, Eric, gets suddenly transported into the unknown through the portal created by forbidden magic, she decides to follow him. And that's where it all changed - she stepped into the vast new world, where nothing seemed to be the way it should be. She must face the new rules of Sunshadow, new kinds of magic, new places, and so much more - including finding and getting the love she hopes for. Well, isn't it why she risked everything and jumped right after Eric, right?
But there's a catch - Eric is now a half-ghost, and he doesn't remember anything. Now what will Amanda do, in a completely unknown world, surrounded by strangers? Whom can she trust? How will she save Eric before it's too late?
I absolutely adored how Amanda's love story naturally unfolded. It was completely unexpected, and honestly, it was so, so good! Everything felt so natural, and I had many moments where I just thought - girl, yes. You're right; you're actually giving yourself the time to think, to evaluate everything, to let your heart guide you as it should. You're learning, you're growing, and I'm so proud of you. When you read this book - you'll know what I mean.
Where do I even begin with all the characters? They were all so amazing and quite relatable - some were with a pure heart of gold, but the others were perfectly morally grey, and I'm all here for it. And there are also pure evil ones. It's a perfect mix - in this book, you'll get your fair share of both heroes and villains, but you'll also get those morally grey characters we all love ohhh so dearly. I'm looking at you, Gerry, and Terence. What was that last conversation between you two really about? You've both really, really picked my interest, and now I need the second book ASAP. Also, I need to know more about Darin and his son! I'm honestly so excited to learn more about them and their history. If anything, all of these characters will keep you up at night, reading and reading until you finally flip that last page.
Without revealing anything, I need to say - Matier, you have my whole heart. You're such a pure soul, and I'd give everything if I could just protect you, your Sphere, your sweet little cottage, and all your dear animals, friends, sister, and the forest you love so much. All of the wonderful nature and such a unique kind of magic system made the Sphere of Hearts my favorite place in this vast universe Nikki has created. Being a nature lover myself, this Sphere sounds like a truly dreamy place, and I'll have my fingers crossed that it stays that way. Please, dear author, don't make it end up like Sphere of Flowers. Hope that's not too much to ask for.
Honestly, this book makes for a fantastic adventure read suitable for everyone beyond their teenage years. You just can't help but love it! I assure you you won't be overwhelmed with information - after all, we're learning everything with Amanda as she's learning too and getting used to this whole new situation she's gotten herself into.
You will learn everything about the dark forces of the Sphere of Onyx. You will explore the Sphere of the Sun and venture into the Sphere of Hearts on your own unicorns - yes, unicorns! But how long will they carry you, and where will you end up? You will have to discover that for yourself.
Nikki, thank you SO much for giving me the chance to read your book this early! It truly deserves to be seen and recognized by the world, and I simply can't wait to see where you will take us in your next book. I'm so excited to follow Amanda on her new journey, and I can only begin to imagine what you have in mind for her chosen weapon - I bet I'm gonna be surprised in the best way possible.
Highly and wholeheartedly recommended for every fantasy lover out there! 💜
June 20, 2023
The Mask of Onyx is the first book in Nikki Waskowski’s The Spells of Onyx Series. It follows a young magic wielder named Amanda who specializes in talking to ghosts as she must save her best friend when he is kidnapped and sent to a parallel universe. Eric has forgotten who he is, and Amanda must help him get his memories back without telling him the truth before he perishes.
Overall I really liked the concept of this book. It plays on the reader's heartstrings as Amanda must find a way to save her best friend, who is also the boy she has secretly been in love with for some time. It moves along at a good pace, and the world building is done organically as Amanda and the reader are experiencing it for the first time together. My only complaint was that the magic system in the book was a bit hard to grasp at first and the spells could get a bit repetitive. Otherwise, it is a solid story.
I think my biggest issue with reading was the amount of mistakes that went uncorrected. I was given a copy of the book to read, but the version I ultimately used came from Kindle Unlimited. There are many grammatical and spelling errors that could have been avoided with a little more proofreading. I also think the book could have used a good developmental editor to help catch some of the confusing bits. There were several times I was taken out of the story by having to go back and reread something that simply did not make sense.
The characters in this book are well developed and written. Amanda is a likable and relatable main character. I loved the relationship she had with Eric and how much she clearly cared about him. She also must go on a journey during the book to come to terms with her magic and learn to love it. As the heart of this book, she is a wonderful protagonist in so many ways.
Overall I gave this book a 3 out 5 stars, and that mostly stems from the need for further editing. It is a slow burn, which I am always a fan of, and makes use of the friends to lovers trope. If you want an original YA series, I suggest looking into The Mask of Onyx.
Overall I really liked the concept of this book. It plays on the reader's heartstrings as Amanda must find a way to save her best friend, who is also the boy she has secretly been in love with for some time. It moves along at a good pace, and the world building is done organically as Amanda and the reader are experiencing it for the first time together. My only complaint was that the magic system in the book was a bit hard to grasp at first and the spells could get a bit repetitive. Otherwise, it is a solid story.
I think my biggest issue with reading was the amount of mistakes that went uncorrected. I was given a copy of the book to read, but the version I ultimately used came from Kindle Unlimited. There are many grammatical and spelling errors that could have been avoided with a little more proofreading. I also think the book could have used a good developmental editor to help catch some of the confusing bits. There were several times I was taken out of the story by having to go back and reread something that simply did not make sense.
The characters in this book are well developed and written. Amanda is a likable and relatable main character. I loved the relationship she had with Eric and how much she clearly cared about him. She also must go on a journey during the book to come to terms with her magic and learn to love it. As the heart of this book, she is a wonderful protagonist in so many ways.
Overall I gave this book a 3 out 5 stars, and that mostly stems from the need for further editing. It is a slow burn, which I am always a fan of, and makes use of the friends to lovers trope. If you want an original YA series, I suggest looking into The Mask of Onyx.
October 29, 2023
This follows Amanda and her band who have been trying to find a way to earn money for their band. Eric, the drummer, figured out some sort of spell that will help them and creates a portal that he disappears through, but does not come back. Amanda follows him and enters a world where time works differently than back at home, a parallel world where she is trying to bring Eric back, but it seems there is trouble in this world that Amanda may need to help resolve first.
I did enjoy this story, the romance, and the magic system. The parallel world was interesting and it made me think of a punk edition of Alice in Wonderland. That’s what I pictured and I’m sticking with it! I liked the magic system, with Truthers and Ghosters, very unique and different abilities.
The romance took a nice turn that I was hoping for because the potential romance from the beginning I was just not having it! So, I really like how the romance played out in the end!
I did like the characters. Amanda is a fierce female character and I appreciate her loyalty and everything she did to help her friend despite the mistakes he made. There’s a few other fun side characters too that I loved, but I think you should read the book to learn about them!
The reason I did not give this five stars is because when the book starts, there’s no intro to the characters or their lives or the world they’re in or about the Academy they’re in. I was SO lost at first because we’re just told they have a band, random, and then they can do magic, again random since there’s no explanation about this world at first, and really none I could see as the story progressed. You’re just thrown into it immediately and I felt like I missed a prequel when I started this book.
Other than that, it’s really an enjoyable book and unique! I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I did enjoy this story, the romance, and the magic system. The parallel world was interesting and it made me think of a punk edition of Alice in Wonderland. That’s what I pictured and I’m sticking with it! I liked the magic system, with Truthers and Ghosters, very unique and different abilities.
The romance took a nice turn that I was hoping for because the potential romance from the beginning I was just not having it! So, I really like how the romance played out in the end!
I did like the characters. Amanda is a fierce female character and I appreciate her loyalty and everything she did to help her friend despite the mistakes he made. There’s a few other fun side characters too that I loved, but I think you should read the book to learn about them!
The reason I did not give this five stars is because when the book starts, there’s no intro to the characters or their lives or the world they’re in or about the Academy they’re in. I was SO lost at first because we’re just told they have a band, random, and then they can do magic, again random since there’s no explanation about this world at first, and really none I could see as the story progressed. You’re just thrown into it immediately and I felt like I missed a prequel when I started this book.
Other than that, it’s really an enjoyable book and unique! I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 20, 2023
Title: Masks of Onyx
Author: Nikki Waskowski
Series: The Spells of Onyx #1
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this YA fantasy, Masks of Onyx by Nikki Waskowski. It's the first novel I've read by Waskowski but I was not disappointed. I loved all the tropes she put in this story and while it might seem like a lot, the story flowed nicely.
Masks of Onyx is filled with some great characters and all kinds of magic. Everything about this book brought the story to life and kept me completely captivated from beginning to end. Amanda, the main character is a ghoster. A ghoster has the capability of talking with ghosts and demons. Even though Amanda has this insane but quite awesome capability, she only dreams of a time where she can escape and dedicate her life to music, her real love.
The story really takes off when one of her band mates, Eric does something forbidden, he opens a portal to another world and is kidnapped. Amanda enters through the portal to try and find Eric and save him. Once in this new world, she meets some extremely interesting characters who have a connection to her world and are willing to help her fight against some extremely secretive and elusive cult like organization that's after Eric.
As the story progresses, Amanda makes a ton of new discoveries as well as more about the world she's now in. Masks of Onyx is an action packed, dark academia novel filled with secret societies, hidden identities and elemental magic. I highly recommend this YA fantasy. I can't wait to read book two and learn more about the shadows of Onyx!
Author: Nikki Waskowski
Series: The Spells of Onyx #1
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this YA fantasy, Masks of Onyx by Nikki Waskowski. It's the first novel I've read by Waskowski but I was not disappointed. I loved all the tropes she put in this story and while it might seem like a lot, the story flowed nicely.
Masks of Onyx is filled with some great characters and all kinds of magic. Everything about this book brought the story to life and kept me completely captivated from beginning to end. Amanda, the main character is a ghoster. A ghoster has the capability of talking with ghosts and demons. Even though Amanda has this insane but quite awesome capability, she only dreams of a time where she can escape and dedicate her life to music, her real love.
The story really takes off when one of her band mates, Eric does something forbidden, he opens a portal to another world and is kidnapped. Amanda enters through the portal to try and find Eric and save him. Once in this new world, she meets some extremely interesting characters who have a connection to her world and are willing to help her fight against some extremely secretive and elusive cult like organization that's after Eric.
As the story progresses, Amanda makes a ton of new discoveries as well as more about the world she's now in. Masks of Onyx is an action packed, dark academia novel filled with secret societies, hidden identities and elemental magic. I highly recommend this YA fantasy. I can't wait to read book two and learn more about the shadows of Onyx!
August 10, 2023
The Mask of Onyx stars Ghoster Amanda, a girl who can talk to ghosts and demons. When her friend Eric is kidnapped and ends up in another world, Amanda travels after him to Sunshadow, where she finds herself infiltrating the mysterious and dangerous Sphere of Onyx to rescue him. However time is running short, and in a world where betrayal, treachery and magic are rife, Amanda's life is at risk...
Wow, there is a lot going on in this book! Nikki has created a complex world and magic system, where there are many types of magic - we have Blooders, Portalers, Healers, Protectors, Ghosters and more. The world of Sunshadow has different Spheres too, but all are in danger due to the ambitious and powerful Sphere of Onyx. There's quite a lot to take in at first, but Amanda finds friends along the way to help her navigate the world. My favourite character apart from her was Matt, who has an interesting backstory and enough power and influence to help Amanda out.
I read a lot of YA fantasy, but something I've hardly ever come across is unicorns. I was delighted to find them here, as I've always had a bit of a soft spot for them - maybe it comes from growing up in a horsey family! You can also expect a slow burn romance (my favourite kind), a bit of a dark academia vibe, and a classic fantasy quest feel. I really appreciated that while there is clearly a book two coming, this story wraps up nicely!
Huge congratulations to Nikki, I hope this is just the start of her writing journey...
Wow, there is a lot going on in this book! Nikki has created a complex world and magic system, where there are many types of magic - we have Blooders, Portalers, Healers, Protectors, Ghosters and more. The world of Sunshadow has different Spheres too, but all are in danger due to the ambitious and powerful Sphere of Onyx. There's quite a lot to take in at first, but Amanda finds friends along the way to help her navigate the world. My favourite character apart from her was Matt, who has an interesting backstory and enough power and influence to help Amanda out.
I read a lot of YA fantasy, but something I've hardly ever come across is unicorns. I was delighted to find them here, as I've always had a bit of a soft spot for them - maybe it comes from growing up in a horsey family! You can also expect a slow burn romance (my favourite kind), a bit of a dark academia vibe, and a classic fantasy quest feel. I really appreciated that while there is clearly a book two coming, this story wraps up nicely!
Huge congratulations to Nikki, I hope this is just the start of her writing journey...
June 16, 2023
This is a story I really enjoyed getting lost in! The Mask of Onyx is full of interesting characters along with magic and a world that are both intriguing. I'm pretty sure this is the first book I've ever read that features unicorns! And let me tell you, I'm all here for it! I loved every second of my read and struggled to put it down! There's a lot that happens and I needed to know what was next. In addition to the interesting characters, magic and world, The Mask of Onyx is also filled with so many great tropes. I particularly enjoyed the slow burn, found family, elemental magic, dark academia and secret societies tropes!
The only thing that had me pause to stop and think for a moment is that at one point closer to the end of the book the main character, Amanda, comes to learn something for the first time that she had actually learned at an earlier point in the book. Other than that, everything was great! I cannot wait to pick up where we left off with book two! I'm looking forward to discovering what happens next and being back in this magic filled world.
If this sounds like something you'd enjoy as well I'd recommend giving it a read sometime!
The only thing that had me pause to stop and think for a moment is that at one point closer to the end of the book the main character, Amanda, comes to learn something for the first time that she had actually learned at an earlier point in the book. Other than that, everything was great! I cannot wait to pick up where we left off with book two! I'm looking forward to discovering what happens next and being back in this magic filled world.
If this sounds like something you'd enjoy as well I'd recommend giving it a read sometime!
July 14, 2023
This is the first book in a YA fantasy series and I'm totally here for the dark academia vibes. Talk about going through extreme lengths for friendship/love 😂 - Amanda goes into an entirely different world! At first, we don't know much about ghoster/onyx magic but as the story progresses, we learn as the main characters do. I do have to say that there were some pretty fun bits of magic, I especially liked it whenever ghosts were involved- one scene literally gave me chills (OK maybe it also didn't help that I had insomnia and was reading wayyyyyy too early in the AM 😂)! I do with the story was more fleshed out, both in terms of world building and character development. It is simply written and has a very big young adult feel which clashed a bit with the darkness of the magic and the atmosphere sometimes. I also feel like some parts could've been edited down. The story is a bit slow burn with pockets of action but it definitely speeds up towards the end!
Content warnings: Violence, death, kidnapping, physical abuse/torture.
Thank you to Book of Matches Media for the copy for review. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings: Violence, death, kidnapping, physical abuse/torture.
Thank you to Book of Matches Media for the copy for review. All opinions are my own.
August 6, 2023
This book had me at dark academia and magic.
Amanda has left the Academy where she learned the theory behind her Ghoster magic, but she's really fine with living a normal life, playing in her band and figuring out her future. That is until her best friend disappears and she has to follow behind him.
The magic system is a LOT to keep straight. The names of the classifications, the different types of magic, who can do what, it got to be very confusing at points, but I could not put the book down. I just had to find out what was going on and if Amanda would be able to rise up and unleash her magic in the real world outside of a classroom.
The characters are great, there are UNICORNS, there is humour and fun moments and I will be looking forward to the next book to see what happens to them all next.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Amanda has left the Academy where she learned the theory behind her Ghoster magic, but she's really fine with living a normal life, playing in her band and figuring out her future. That is until her best friend disappears and she has to follow behind him.
The magic system is a LOT to keep straight. The names of the classifications, the different types of magic, who can do what, it got to be very confusing at points, but I could not put the book down. I just had to find out what was going on and if Amanda would be able to rise up and unleash her magic in the real world outside of a classroom.
The characters are great, there are UNICORNS, there is humour and fun moments and I will be looking forward to the next book to see what happens to them all next.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 8, 2023
The Mask of Onyx is the first book of the YA fantasy series with secret societies, hidden identities, dark academia and elemental magic.
The dark academia setting where the story began was exciting. Amanda is a Ghoster, capable of talking to ghosts and demons. But, she wishes to escape the prejudice and devote her life to music.
Their peaceful life changed when her band mate Eric opened a portal, something that’s forbidden. Before he gets to explain anything, he is kidnapped through the portal. Amanda enters the portal behind them to save Eric.
She ends up in a country where rules on magic are different from what she’s used to. She has to fight the elusive secret cult-like organization who are after Eric. She meets interesting characters who have a connection to her world and get their assistance.
It was action packed and exciting with new discoveries throughout the book. There wasn’t much explanation behind the shadows of onyx, which seemed like an important part of the story. I was a little lost in the beginning.
But, as the story progressed, we got to learn more details about this world. Amanda was an interesting character who showed us an impressive character development as she learnt many things and came in terms with her emotions.
Thank you to the author and BOMM for sending me an ARC to this intriguing read.
The dark academia setting where the story began was exciting. Amanda is a Ghoster, capable of talking to ghosts and demons. But, she wishes to escape the prejudice and devote her life to music.
Their peaceful life changed when her band mate Eric opened a portal, something that’s forbidden. Before he gets to explain anything, he is kidnapped through the portal. Amanda enters the portal behind them to save Eric.
She ends up in a country where rules on magic are different from what she’s used to. She has to fight the elusive secret cult-like organization who are after Eric. She meets interesting characters who have a connection to her world and get their assistance.
It was action packed and exciting with new discoveries throughout the book. There wasn’t much explanation behind the shadows of onyx, which seemed like an important part of the story. I was a little lost in the beginning.
But, as the story progressed, we got to learn more details about this world. Amanda was an interesting character who showed us an impressive character development as she learnt many things and came in terms with her emotions.
Thank you to the author and BOMM for sending me an ARC to this intriguing read.
October 1, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A very good start to this series! The characters were well written and likable. I would have appreciated more development from them but I know that this is the first book in a series so I am exited to maybe seeing more of it in the next books. The setting was really well done and the descriptions helped me imagine everything which is always good in a book. The pacing of the book was a little slow at times but I am hoping it will pick up more in the next books. The story is unique and so interesting, it really kept my attention even if the pacing was a bit slow. The slow-burn was really good, this is not a romance focused book in my opinion but it has romance and the relationship is really great. Overall this book was a nice read and it made me exited to continue the series!
A very good start to this series! The characters were well written and likable. I would have appreciated more development from them but I know that this is the first book in a series so I am exited to maybe seeing more of it in the next books. The setting was really well done and the descriptions helped me imagine everything which is always good in a book. The pacing of the book was a little slow at times but I am hoping it will pick up more in the next books. The story is unique and so interesting, it really kept my attention even if the pacing was a bit slow. The slow-burn was really good, this is not a romance focused book in my opinion but it has romance and the relationship is really great. Overall this book was a nice read and it made me exited to continue the series!
June 26, 2023
This was a fascinating book with complex characters. I really enjoyed this story, and thought that the plot flowed smoothly. This is a paranormal YA book that has ghosts, unicorns, and demons. This included some of my favorite tropes of dark academia, hidden identities, magic, and secret societies. The mysterious vibe of the whole book really drew me in, and I loved how action packed the book was.
Amanda is a likable main character who adapts to her surroundings very quickly. I appreciate her resilience and character. Her willingness to follow her band mate Eric makes her a hero in my book. As they venture into the unknown Amanda and Eric grow as people. I thought this was a good book for lovers of YA fantasy and Paranormal.
Amanda is a likable main character who adapts to her surroundings very quickly. I appreciate her resilience and character. Her willingness to follow her band mate Eric makes her a hero in my book. As they venture into the unknown Amanda and Eric grow as people. I thought this was a good book for lovers of YA fantasy and Paranormal.
October 18, 2023
First off I want to say this book is good. It took me a while to finish because of life happenings but also because it was a slow burn for me when I got started. That’s the only reason it gets four stars. But I also can’t believe she ended the book the way she did but I can since it’s a series. But once I got into it man was it good! Amber’s journey through Sunshadow, the people she meets, the things that happen man do I not want them to end. Can’t wait to grab the rest of the series to read them!
I love how amber is finding herself, fighting for her friends, new and old, a land that’s new to her and her home land. She’s a strong woman and still isn’t afraid to use her fears to make her stronger.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love how amber is finding herself, fighting for her friends, new and old, a land that’s new to her and her home land. She’s a strong woman and still isn’t afraid to use her fears to make her stronger.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 10, 2023
Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. @bookofmatchesmedia
This book is very unique and unlike other fantasy series I've read. This was really refreshing!
I feel like the world and character building was done quite well and I could follow along and take in all the pieces without feeling like I was still missing something or confused. I will say that it did take a little bit to get into the story at the beginning, but I found my way. My advice is to push through because you will love the story as a whole 💕
Here are some other things that I loved:
💜 Friends to lovers
💜 Slow burn
💜 Magic & Mythical creatures
💜 Dark academia
💜 Secret societies
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5/5
This book is very unique and unlike other fantasy series I've read. This was really refreshing!
I feel like the world and character building was done quite well and I could follow along and take in all the pieces without feeling like I was still missing something or confused. I will say that it did take a little bit to get into the story at the beginning, but I found my way. My advice is to push through because you will love the story as a whole 💕
Here are some other things that I loved:
💜 Friends to lovers
💜 Slow burn
💜 Magic & Mythical creatures
💜 Dark academia
💜 Secret societies
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5/5
August 10, 2023
I love books about time-travel and it was one of the best I've ever read. There is so much going on in Sunshadow. After Amanda jumps into a portal to save Eric, her friend from the Academy of magic, she receives a wonderful gift from one of the members of the Sphere of the Sun that will help her find her way to Matt. He was my favorite character from this book and one of my favorite book boyfriends ever I'm also interested to learn more about Darin jr. I hope we get to see him in the next installment. Also, I really loved the ending and I can't wait to read book 2 in the Spells of Onyx series!
June 18, 2023
Thanks to BOMM and the author for sending me a copy to review.
I read this willingly, this opinion is my own.
This book is the first in this YA fantasy series. I love dark academia and was really excited to read this book.
Amanda is a ghoster, but she's trying to put this behind her because of the prejudice her magic is submitted to. She embarks in a band and wants to live with her music. When one of the members of the band plays with dark magic, she's transported into another world through a portal and has to embrace her ghoster's magic to save him.
At the beginning, I was a little bit lost. The magic of shadow and onyx was difficult to comprehend. It's an important part of the book, so it was hard to get past this.
But, the more I read, the more it gets better. I love the characters in the new world and how Amanda evolves so much. She's more sure of herself and in her magic.
If you love action packed YA with magic, ghost and spirits, it's for you.
I read this willingly, this opinion is my own.
This book is the first in this YA fantasy series. I love dark academia and was really excited to read this book.
Amanda is a ghoster, but she's trying to put this behind her because of the prejudice her magic is submitted to. She embarks in a band and wants to live with her music. When one of the members of the band plays with dark magic, she's transported into another world through a portal and has to embrace her ghoster's magic to save him.
At the beginning, I was a little bit lost. The magic of shadow and onyx was difficult to comprehend. It's an important part of the book, so it was hard to get past this.
But, the more I read, the more it gets better. I love the characters in the new world and how Amanda evolves so much. She's more sure of herself and in her magic.
If you love action packed YA with magic, ghost and spirits, it's for you.
July 29, 2023
The book started off slow, and I didn’t find myself engaged in the story until the characters reached Sunshadow. From thereon, the story just got better and better, and the final third of the book had me fully invested in the story. While the first half of the book had parts that could have been fleshed out a bit more, the second half had a very good balance between the pacing and the events of the story. The dialogue did at times feel a bit stilted, and I found myself losing interest when there were long stretches of dialogue.
The lore and the world of Sunshadow was by far the best aspect of the book, and really made up for the not so good parts. The world building was magical, and as soon this was the focus of the story, I was glued to the pages. It just made me want to continue reading, and continue exploring the world of Sunshadow. Seriously, I fell in love with this world and it’s magic, and it just gets better the further into the story you get. Not to mention that it features the found family trope, and a cute guy with elemental powers. Oh, and unicorns. They’re great! More modern fantasy books should have unicorns in them!
The ending was nice, and set the stage for what to come without becoming a cliffhanger. I was a bit worried the story would just end on a cliffhanger, but it got all tied together in the end while also leading the reader onto the sequel. I had a good time with this book, and considering that the second half of this book really showed how interesting and investing the story can be - I’m looking forward to seeing what is next in the store for the characters.
The lore and the world of Sunshadow was by far the best aspect of the book, and really made up for the not so good parts. The world building was magical, and as soon this was the focus of the story, I was glued to the pages. It just made me want to continue reading, and continue exploring the world of Sunshadow. Seriously, I fell in love with this world and it’s magic, and it just gets better the further into the story you get. Not to mention that it features the found family trope, and a cute guy with elemental powers. Oh, and unicorns. They’re great! More modern fantasy books should have unicorns in them!
The ending was nice, and set the stage for what to come without becoming a cliffhanger. I was a bit worried the story would just end on a cliffhanger, but it got all tied together in the end while also leading the reader onto the sequel. I had a good time with this book, and considering that the second half of this book really showed how interesting and investing the story can be - I’m looking forward to seeing what is next in the store for the characters.
May 29, 2023
I'm so happy The Mask of Onyx is finally out in the world. It's been such a long journey for me and this story. I wrote the first draft in 2015 and the title back then was The Curse of Light. Now "The Curse of Light" is the title of a book written for Ghosters that the main character receives in the land called Sunshadow. I hope you love this story as much as I loved writing it. Read it if you like slow burn, friends to lovers, unicorns, dark academia, found family, elemental magic, and quests.
July 2, 2023
I heard Dark Academia and Secret Societies, and I immediately signed up to read The Mask of Onyx! I had really high hopes, but the beginning was kinda confusing for me - I could've used more Magic building and explanation. But that's my only complaint! The story picks up and is really exciting! The characters are interesting, and the world is intriguing! Plus, UNICORNS!! I love the found family trope! I'm excited to see what happens in Book 2!!
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