Always Masked

Legends of the Masked #2

by Megan Derr

Once a highly regarded member of the Moon Clan, one of the secretive, notorious Masked, Naoki was afflicted by a terrible, incurable curse in the line of duty. Now, for the safety of the clan and all they protect, he spends his day exiled to a remote mountain region, far from the islands he once called home.

His misery is briefly lifted when he chances upon a man being attacked by bandits—a man who proves to be far more than he appears, who needs the unique skills Naoki can provide, and can offer far more than Naoki ever dared hope he could find.

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Romance, Magic, Vampires, Paranormal, Short Stories

42 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 30, 2012

About the author

Megan is a long time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.

meganderr.com
patreon.com/meganderr
meganderr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
@meganaderr

Reviews

[Drusilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in this mini-series is less well developed in terms of plot. However, atypically for this author, there are quite a few sex scenes considering the small number of pages.
Delicious.
I think it works as a standalone, but if you want to understand the meaning behind the masks, it's better to read the first book beforehand, as nothing is explained in this second one.
I really like this story, the idea behind the masks, and the couple here is great, with a wonderful dynamic.

He wanted to sink his teeth into Gosse's throat, then bury his cock in the man and fuck him hard. The situation was a new level of hell: blood and lust mixed together, each only seeming to make the other worse until he thought he might scream or take himself in hand right there to obtain some sort of relief. 😳🎭😳

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm... Megan Derr usually excels in short stories, but this one left me yearning for more.

First, this is more steamy than the first one. Naoki is cursed with Blood Curse (like Vampire) and Gosse is an incubus. Naoki saves Gosse, brings Gosse home, and they have sex. They find out who want to kill Gosse and they have sex. Oh and let's hide out (because it's saver than to always fight people who want to kill Gosse)... and yes, have sex.

- so if those scenes were out, I felt like there wasn't enough story.

The ending also felt abrupt...

But I liked this small universe that Derr created. And I liked both Naoki and Gosse - I thought they were sweet together. Good couple, definitely.

[Natalie H · Rating 2 out of 5]

January 2024
Kindle edition
Amazon purchase

I already owned an older edition of this one and didn't read the blurb, but still. Shiny cover. This is a republish and still short given no changes. To be fair I was tired reading this. I vaguely remember the characters and the only part that stuck with me was the mother with her half assed apology. I dunno, another time maybe.

[Cole Riann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad that this is being released as a separate ebook soon instead of only being available as part of the LT3 serials because now I can put my rating up here :)

This is one of my favorite series that Megan Derr has created. There's something really fascinating about a character that rarely shows his face. That interplay between the characters when getting to know one another leads to a different dynamic, along with the guardian/master dynamic that leads to some interesting relationships.

This was pretty short, but I loved seeing the world again and I really enjoyed these two characters. It did feel a bit incomplete...without resolving the situation around Gosse's father and the men he's hired to kill his half-incubus son I would love to see more in this world, whether they are only loosely tied to the clans and clan members we've seen before, or whether a continuation of either Behind the Mask or Always Masked.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have enjoyed so many of Megan Derr’s stories over the years. Unfortunately this was not one of them. Behind the Mask and Always Masked were much ado about nothing. Story ideas at best.

[Relly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good

3.5 stars
Another good short story
I liked Naoki and Gosse. They complemented each other well.
Naoki was able to bring out his protective side and both of the guys were able to feed without harming the other.

[Arthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a nice story of two men from the same universe as Behind the Mask, Ms. Derr's previous book. The characters are interesting, one feeds on blood and another on sex. However, I felt there were too many sex scenes in such a short book. I also confused with the world building. I always thought this was historical fantasy, but at one point the character mentioned Sunday morning listening to radio...

[llv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 stars
Despite it being extremely short I enjoyed this story by Megan Derr. It was set in the same universe as “Behind the Mask” but is totally unrelated and can be read as a stand-alone story. My biggest complaint was I wanted more. I wanted to know what happened after the end of the story. All in all, it was a very entertaining story. Just wish there was more to it.

[Tigress62 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid 4,5 stars, even though this was really short and should have been far longer and more elaborate! Nothing much actually happens, but I very much like Gosse and Naoki as a couple - their thirst/hunger-solution is genius (couple goals!) and I am delighted for their HFN.

[L-D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short story that is from the same universe as Megan Derr's Behind the Mask book. Naoki is from the Clans like Kasumi from Behind the Mask, but they are from different clans so there's no real overlap between the books.

Although a skilled protector, Naoki was exiled from his Clan after he is infected in the line of duty by an incurable curse. Living by himself and lonelier than ever, Naoki rescues a man from bandits. When he learns that the man has problems of his own, Naoki finds common ground with this stranger.

I thought this was a sweet story. Very brief though. I think it could have used a little more development. I did like that it was in the same world as Behind the Mask.

[M'rella · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending seems too rushed, there is never a true solution to the problems Gasse and Naoki are facing, just promises based simply on what Naoki's mother had seen.

There is plenty of sex, though not too-too explicit. I am used to Megan Derr's books being almost free of sex, maybe a mention here and there or a quick paragraph. This is very different. I am not sure why there is more and more of it all of a sudden, but to me personally it's a bit of a disappointment. I like clean versions. One doesn't have to read about sex every 10 pages to know that two people are in love and "doing it".

Overall, a cute story - 3 stars.

[Mandy*reads obsessively* · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

As usual a very enjoyable read from Ms Derr.
I wish the ending had been a bit more firm, it left a few things open for me, so maybe there will be more form these two, well, at least I can hope there will be.

[Emilye · Rating 4 out of 5]

LegendsMasked2

Naoki of the Moon Clan has been cursed. He now needs blood to survive, and so the clan exiled him. He could no longer work as a bodyguard, and so he has traveled far away to live in solitude.

Gosse St Marius is a creature and scholar of Magic, whose father has decided that Goss can no longer be tolerated, and has contracted with mercenaries for his son’s dismemberment. For Gosse is half incubus, and his body is a pharmacological treasure trove, on the black market.

A guardian in need of o master, a client in need of a guard…a tale in need of telling.

Fun!

[Regina Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the premise, and the expansion of the world building Derr already did in the first book in this series. However, I felt like the ratio of smut to plot was really skewed. There is so much smut that the main driving plot point, Gosse's father trying to kill him, is never solved. Instead we are left with a HFN where Naoki is promised potential help from his clan, and he and Gosse are kind of waiting to hear back from Naoki's parents. I found this pretty unsatisfying, especially since I skipped most of the smut.

[Eve L · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always Megan Derr brings to life an entire world, one just as interesting as the rest of them but this time I felt that this brilliant story fell flat but that could just me. The problem I found with this story is that most of its short length was taken up with just the physical side of the relationship... although since one of the men is an incubus and the other a vampire (or one under the 'blood curse' as it was put) I guess this wasn't surprising.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really gentle low angst love story, between a vampire and an incubus.
Each need what the other has to offer, and once they learn to trust one another, then you know that their love story has forever written all over it.
Another lovely paranormal story by Ms Derr, just perfect for a lunch time or short break.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Ms. Derr's stories, her imagination is a gift to the readers. This was a short story and like another reviewer I would like to see this made into a longer book--I too want to know what happens to the two MC's. Recommend reading.

[Raine Gregus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was cute and I liked the expanded concept of magic/magical creatures but the weight was lesser than I expected. I was still happy to read, happy to buy but it didn't cause as much joy as the first one.

[Jeremy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting and enjoyable and informative read

[Rebekah Zhao · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very quick and underdeveloped. Characters didn't seem to have many layers and it was just kind of boring.

[~TheBlasian~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always with Derr’s stories, very well crafted and far too short!

While this one was less eventful than Behind the Mask, it was still a very enjoyable read. It absolutely isn’t necessary to read the first beforehand.

We get two lonely souls who find themselves together under dangerous circumstances and manage to fill the void for each other unexpectedly. I love an “us against the world” love story, especially with two strong individuals who support each other equally.

We only touched the surface of how immersive this plot could have been (especially since a particular somebody deserves to die), but I will be content to just have the privilege of another lovely Derr story.

[Ashley Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the idea behind this story, and I have loved Megan Derr's writing for years! The characters were so neat to read about, and there was a lot of chemistry between them. The only thing I didn't like about this story was that everything seemed to move too fast, though to be fair, I should have anticipated that considering the word count hehe I wish it had been longer to allow for a fuller story, since I really loved the dynamics between Gosse and Naoki. They were such neat characters!

[Usagi Tsukino · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars.
I bought this book because not only is by Megan but also because is set in the same universe as Behind the Mask. But... sadly it has nothing to do with the other book, aside the "Masked" clan.
Well, a Masked Blood Cursed and an Incubus- can there be a more odd pair?
Anyway, not as good as Behind The Mask.

[Pépin Pomme · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really short, but I LOVED it.
It is not often I manage to find a book with a incubus that is not a sex god working in a bar, so it was... refreshing. This character was adorable, and the main character was lovable too.
There is no real plot in this story, but I loved it noneless, because the relationship between the characters, their nature and their situation was cute to read.
It is a short feel-good reading, that I have already enjoyed reading twice

[blub · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't read Behind the Mask and frankly I don't really think you need to read it in order since an explanation is kind of given for "the Masked." The story was too short for me to connect with the MCs and didn't really make too a big an impact. It was pretty neutral reading for me...

[Omega696 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naoki was banished by his clan since he's considered cursed. Liveing alone didn't change his great need to protect others and one winter day he did just that, saved one man who could change his lonely existence.

I really liked this world and characters.

[Audra Rytter · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is an incubus running around in this one....

This one feels a bit unfinished as far as the action goes but still an enjoyable short. (Oh, that incubus means there is a lot more on page sex in this offering.)

[Morgana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt unfinished....

[Autumn]

Short but sweet, the relationship between two lonely men, one a blood-cursed (vampire) who needs to drink blood to survive and the other a half incubus, who needs to feed on sexual energy.