Masked Destiny

Gay Youth Chronicles Complete Chronology #29

by Mark A. Roeder

Masked Destiny is the story of Skye, a high school athlete determined to be the Alpha male. Skye's obsessed with his own body, his Abercrombie & Fitch wardrobe, and keeping those around him in their place. Try as he might, he's not quite able to ignore the world around him, or the plight of gay boys who cross his path. Too frightened of what others might think, Skye fails to intervene when he could have saved a boy with a single word. The resulting tragedy, wise words for a mysterious blond boy, and a unique opportunity combine to push Skye toward his destiny. Oliver is young, a bit pudgy, and interested in little more than his books and possibly his first kiss. As he slowly gains courage, he seeks out the friendship of Clay, his dream boy, in hopes they will become more than friends. Oliver is sought out in turn by Ken, who warns him Clay is not at all what he seems, but Ken, too, has his secrets. Oliver must choose between them and discovers danger, a link to boys murdered in the recent past, and the answers to secrets he'd never dreamed.

Genres: M M Romance, Gay, Young Adult, LGBT, Audiobook, Queer, Romance

337 pages, Paperback

First published August 19, 2004

About the author

Mark A. Roeder grew up in southern Indiana - near a small town similar to those that appear in his novels.

Reviews

[Anne Tenino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read most of the Gay Youth Chronicles, and I'm occasionally impressed, but sometimes not. This book, though, was great because of Skye. He's a great character, and his evolution is interesting and believable (for the context, at least). It's the tenth book in the series, and I think it's worth reading the previous ones first. They're good overall, just not on my favorite's list.

[Thomas Guaraldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE these books!!

This writer has made another Great Story, that gives us a glimpse of life for those who society say are bad. I thank God this writer took the time and effort to let us look. These books give you a connection to each character in the story and you can't help but love them and want to protect them. I look forward to reading more of this writer and looking inside a world and people I sometimes ignored and scorned. I just wish there's more books on Skye and his partner.

[Elisa Rolle]

Mark A. Roeder is in my reading list since a very long time; I actually bought this novel, Masked Destiny, more than 2 years ago, but I haven’t read it yet for a very simple reason: I was afraid. Aside for two novel set in the ’50 (Outfield Menace and Snow Angel), all these novels turn around a group of gay guys in Verona, a small town in rural America, between the ’80 and the first years of the XXI century; the first two of these boys, Mark Bailey and Taylor Potter from The Soccer Field Is Empty, met a tragic fate in their own story, and I was really afraid all the following stories had the same path. I was wrong, plenty wrong, and in a way, Masked Destiny was a good choice since I had another point of view also on Mark and Taylor’s story, story that maybe I will finally have the courage to read sooner or later.

The writing style of the novel is something I believe is common to this author: each chapter is a first point of view from one of the two narrative voices, Oliver and Skye. The most interesting aspect of this writing style choice is that Oliver and Skye are not together, and so basically they are telling us their parallel lives, giving each of them a different insight, and details the other cannot know. While Oliver is a nice character, a nerdy 14 years old with a big heart, the most interesting character is for sure Skye: he is vain, conceited, but nevertheless a good boy. Skye is overly worried about his body, he is well aware that is a stupid thing, not really important, but nevertheless he worries. The main comparison parameter in Skye’s search for a boyfriend is the other guy’s look, and he was even willing to make exception on morality, if the look was good enough. Lucky for his own good, he doesn’t arrive to the limit, but almost.

The novel is pretty complex and indeed, for a small country town, there are a lot of crimes happening in Verona, not all of them related to the gay factor; but that is probably the main expedient of the author to build his plots: most of the supporting characters arrive from previous stories, like same-sex married couple (? I need to read this story…) Ethan and Nathan, or football coach Brendan Brewer and his boyfriend, or teenager couple Nick (Ethan and Nathan’s son) and Sean. The paranormal element that was non-existent I suppose in the first novels, it’s now one of the main themes and for the reader who followed the series it will be not a surprise like it was for me; but the author managed to intertwined it in the story, making it almost “likely”.

I’m not regretting my choice to start the series more or less in the middle, to me it worked since it enticed me to go back to the stories of the supporting character I liked the best, but for sure it generated some spoilers the more traditional reader maybe would like to avoid: to me it was good since I’m that reader who read the last pages of a book to be sure, but I know that is not the same for others.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0595329586/?...

[Nickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the not only the first book I ever read by Mark A. Roeder, but also the first gay novel I'd ever read. It was 10 years ago. I was a huge gay enthusiast since the moment my best friend came out to me. I became obsessed with all things gay and gay rights related. I wondered, why all you see is love stories about straight people on the shelves of the book stores, why isn't there a gay equivalent of Cosmo? I was determined to find one, and then one day I saw this book, right on the shelves of Barnes and Noble. I had to have it. I bought it and it was love at first paragraph.

For years I searched for more but could never find any. Needless to say, years later I found more through a friend, and then the wonders of the internet. I have since read nearly everything that he's written and I've yet to be let down. I also found many more writers and series that I love. All because this one book sparked my obsession with this genre.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is, in terms of writing, an early work, but a mid work in the chronicles' chronology. Since I'm reading the books in the "recommended" order, this was a bit of a letdown since its plotting is a bit slapdash and the pace rather slow. Still, it is a good story and brings a couple of new "types" into the mix. Skye is a bit comic in his cocky self-assurance; and, Oliver endearing. And, of course, the supernatural element that began a few books ago adds an interesting dimension.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me awhile to really get into this book but once I did I was hooked. Skye was a bit to cocky for my tastes but in the end he grew on me.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this author

[Dale Bay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't a review. More of a beef. I had a hard time accepting Skye as a well-fleshed out main character.

I mean what small town 16 year old body image obsessed jock has genuine inner dialogue like:

"I was amazed at my ability to accept this sudden change in my life, but then again it was no change. It was a realization, a discovery, an epiphany perhaps, but there was no alteration, except within my mind. I knew and accepted myself. I felt as if I had at last become a man."

It's the expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves, I find out of place. From the start Skye sounds like a 30 year old grad student. Then goes coy. Repeat.

If characters were bells, most of Mark's would ring clearly. Skye? Klunk.

Masked Destiny is still an excellent story and very much worth reading.