The Hidden Face

by M.I. Verras

This is a self-published novel that features Marquise Gertain who is a face among many that a soul can adopt. She wanders throughout her idyllic eternal Home where everyone coexists in harmony, but the moment she witnesses a dark figure running through the nearby woods, she realizes all is not as it seems. Intrigued, she follows the figure to a mysterious building obscured within the landscape. A dark Cathode Well, a labyrinth, a stranger, and two shadows await her inside and beckon her to investigate further. Full of questions, she relies on the help of the inhabitants and the Minister of the labyrinthine structure but what are their true intentions? A secret gathering at midnight revealing the presence of a prisoner paints a very different picture of the reality that Marquise believed herself to be living in. Determined to fulfill the only purpose she has been given, she unravels one mystery. But who is stoking the fire inside the abandoned building of her Home?

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2023

Reviews

[Wolfburrito95]

I’m very sure this book has paid engagement (compare the likes to the reviews/ratings) and its five-stars are generated. However, this makes me want to read the book more, as odd as that sounds. I’ll snatch myself a copy as soon as I can.

[S · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honest review..... I want the hour I spent trying to gut this book BACK. I tried...really.... REALLY, I tried, but... the writing, plot and characters are just GOD Awful. Sorry, but this is a HARD pass... No disrespect to the author but my personal opinion is...Nuke it from orbit...and move on.

[Zachary Blake · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review is based on a sample which is thankfully free to open on Amazon Kindle.

I’m not a person to rain on anyone’s parade but there are books that defy description not for how good they are or how unclassifiable their narrative is but quite the opposite. Before December, 2024, i had never heard of neither the authoress (except through an inexplicable friend request) nor her book. When I came across the book and saw its cover—which is a case study on how never to create a cover for your book no matter how good or bad it is; spend the extra money, hire a true graphic artist and create something compelling that at least can pass as the chassis for a bad car sale—I knew I was in for a bad ride.

In that, The Hidden Face did not disappoint.

First of all. It’s a red flag when the author herself states one must never trust one star reviews. Is that so? I’ve read H G Wells, Shakespeare, Greek tragedians, Moliere, and a gaggle of contemporaries and I can guarantee all of them have one-star books or plays or short stories. Reading is a subjective event. I don’t have to like or rave about everything I read. If a book’s plot engages me then I’m in. But it has to be engaging. Alfred Hitchcock once said about film, a movie must be understood in any culture and language. That makes it a good movie.

Reader, upon reading the sample I’ve no idea what this is about. A woman who has a face that can be a soul—what the heck does this even mean? She’s in her perfect place, and there are spirits evolving, and those spirits are never explained, and now we have a guy with powers who is stalking the woman. Or something. It’s never clear. It’s not overwritten—but English is not the authors language and plotting is non existent. Clarity, nope. Not gonna find it here.

If you classify your book as “cliffhanging”—a misnomer since books and movies are cliffhangers and that is a term I’d reserve for James Patterson, Frieda McFadden, Charles Dickens (who basically took the concept to great heights since his books were sold in portions and he needed to ensure reader engagement)—then every page must flow and end on pure suspense. I did not see this here and I’ve been reading books since I was 7. No scenes intercutting with other scenes as two parallel narratives veered closer to eventually dovetail at a certain crux of the story. Just word salad. Paragraphs and paragraphs of word salad.

None of this is meant to lambaste the creator. After all, it takes time to sit down and type out a story from scratch. But please, attend a few retreats, study plot, have an outline. Leave the flowery prose out of it. Make your product palatable. You don’t need to be the next Anne McAffrey. Write what you know. Life experiences are beautiful. Trying to imitate others and then self-applauding yourself as a genius is cringe.

That’s all.

[Author M. I. Verras]

"Who was the other figure sitting next to the driver? And why did they leave at midnight?"

"I think I heard noises coming from the darkness down there." "This is the energy that flows into the building."

"The trapdoor is a hidden path that leads to the rooftop."

This metaphysical mystery book is so unusual that even people who didn't like books devoured it in a day. Unputdownable to its last page.

Bad reviews? They are scams who are in fear that this book has gained amazing fame on all media because of its captivating plot and want to defame it, some to promote other books and names. Ineffective strategy. Too late.

THE HIDDEN FACE by M. I. VERRAS is featured on Amazon, EBay, Barnes&Noble websites, and more. Published by Palmetto Publishing.

News: Podcasters called it an EXISTENTIAL MASTERPIECE.

[Spyros Nikolaou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story with a terrific plot that keeps the attention of the most demanding reader undiminished. It's a novel that encloses very strong philosophical meanings, remaining unforgettable in the reader's mind. I definitely recommend it!

[Tristan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I learned about this book when the author herself reached out, so I had a look on Amazon. How exciting, or so I thought.
Reading the sample pages on Amazon reveals a word salad that left me with a few questions: Is this the work of a high-school freshman English dropout, or is it the work of a bad version of ChatGPT? What publisher would actually greenlight a book this generic and unreadable? Have all the other 5 star reviews been paid off, or are they from people who generally dont/can't read?
For AI vs high school English dropout, I have no idea.
For the publisher, it's one of those self-publishers for anyone who can't get signed with a reputable publisher.
For the other glowing reviews, they clearly have not read the book, most probably prefer TV.
Good reads deleted my original review because I didn't write enough about the book, so here we are. :)

The Hidden Face --
Plot: Generic, predictable, ideas identical to what teenage girls write about after watching Twilight.

Voice/Creativity: Uninspired, unoriginal descriptions easily produced with AI. Almost as bad as the cover art.

Other: Grammar and construction are basic, but there are enough random thesaurus words thrown in to suggest the creator wants to look like an "author".

[C.J. Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was initially intrigued because of the one-star ratings and some comments that this book received, but as I read it, I think I understand why it got a few such ratings and comments. Much like writers such as Arthur C. Clarke or Ariel Archer, I think Maria Verras' work takes some depth, some reflection, some mental "digging." It won't be easily understood on the surface, and that's the point. I found "The Hidden Face" to be rewarding in the end... and it took a bit of stretching of self and mind to get there. But it was worth it. And I consider that one of the hallmarks of an exceptional writer.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure what to make of this. It is beautifully written, but somewhat haunting. I thought it had influences such as Gormanghast, and perhaps a hell from Dante. The lead character did not really have a personality, except for hiding their true nature, although in the end, that was not really clear. Did the man called Sate have a role as satan?

[Naveen kumar]

-(₹/&@:”@&.’zhzzbb?\>\**|€=~+|%\$]^$\

Www.goodreads.com

[K · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the sample pages on Amazon because the author keeps spamming this book on Mastodon. It was incomprehensible.

[Moon · Rating 1 out of 5]

EDIT: Thinking things over, my initial review was slightly harsh. I tried to be fair and give this book a second shot, but I still couldn't understand it. I agree with another reviewer that something about the writing feels off. It is also strange to have someone continuously praise/review their work repeatedly.

[Moona · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Hidden Face" by M.I. Verras is a captivating fantasy that follows Marquise Gertain as she uncovers the unsettling truths of her seemingly idyllic eternal home. Intrigued by a dark figure, Marquise ventures into a mysterious building and discovers a labyrinth, a stranger, and two shadows, all hinting at deeper secrets. With the help of the inhabitants and the Minister, she begins to question the harmony of her world. A secret gathering and the presence of a prisoner reveal a darker reality. Verras masterfully weaves mystery and intrigue, making this a compelling read for fantasy lovers.

[BJ Richardson · Rating 1 out of 5]

To real readers: Don't trust five-star reviews and any self-promoting comments. They post lies and review their own books with more lies. They have obvious reasons for doing so.

This is a completely unknown book that mashes together uninterrupted metaphysical "mystery", constantly changing scenes, cardboard characters, plot incoherence, no story escalation, and shallow existential and philosophical ramblings.

The book's dozens of followers on websites are a real surprise considering the quality of the book and the work of the author, They must all be paid reviews. The author is working by herself, day and night, to shamelessly promote her book's audience, without any backing from a reliable publishing company.

M. I. Verras is the genuinely real author of this allegorical and incomprehensible work. Reader satisfaction isn't guaranteed... or even likely Reading the content of the book will be your real proof of its lack of quality (or a demonstration that you like to waste time and kill brain cells).



Disclaimer: I have not read this book beyond what you can find free online. What you see above is just a repost of the 5-star review the author made about her own book and with me just changing a word or two. If you have actually read the entire book (and are not the author or one of her two or three paid friends), feel free to comment below to tell me why you made such a crazy choice and how you now regret doing so.

[Ιωάννης Γκίνης · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an amazing fantasy book in which there are many developments. It keeps you in suspense as to what will happen next. It's about different worlds with a variety of interesting characters who each convey their own messages. The plot is exciting as you see the elements of the story change so you don't get bored. It is a book worth reading. It doesn't tire you at any point. it is unique in its kind and I recommend it to anyone who wants to read it and enjoy it among the worlds that take you on a journey

[Marina Pantazi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth reading!