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Masked
He was ten when the bear scarred and blinded him for life. Embarrassed by the scars his mother kept him shut away from society with only his sisters, a servant and dog for company until his brother dies and suddenly he is the heir again. A birthday party is held for him and two sisters find him. Through them and his sister Tatiana he is pulled out of his isolation and into society much to the horror of his mother.Half sisters, Nastasia and Katerina, were surprised to stumble upon Viktor Tverdislavich Medvedev in his room, a strange masked young man. If they hadn’t perhaps they would have stayed friends but instead their friendship starts to fall apart as they vie for Viktor’s attention and affection.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2023
2 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 28, 2023
Masked by F Garstang.
18th Century Russia, we meet Viktor - the heir to the Tverdislav name who was horrifically disfigured by a bear when he was a young boy & quickly hidden from society by his Mother until it was time to find him a wife to produce an heir of his own...
I had creepy Bates & Mother vibes from Daria & the way she controlled & manipulated her son for her own ends - ultimately wanting to be the only woman that he loved and needed.
We then meet Natasia & Katerina, two half sisters who couldn't be anymore the opposite; both want to marry Viktor upon meeting him by chance but for different reasons - one for love the other for title & social position.
A story of intrigue, passion, sex, lust, family secrets & drama.
The book is not personally my era of choice nor have a read any historical fiction or otherwise based in Russia; I therefore know very little of the Russian culture, history, customs etc but the authors obvious research has brought the above across in her story in an authentic way through her writing.
If you're looking for an easy read full of ups & downs, twists & turns then this book is definitely for you.
But does Viktor get his happily ever after?
You'll have to find out for yourself...
My only slight criticism is that I feel a lot more could of been done with the relationship between Daria & Natasia (no spoilers), but it could of been made a lot darker to give the reader an edge of the seat experience.
Diolch yn fawr Fanny for being so kind as to provide me with a copy of 'Masked' to read & review.
18th Century Russia, we meet Viktor - the heir to the Tverdislav name who was horrifically disfigured by a bear when he was a young boy & quickly hidden from society by his Mother until it was time to find him a wife to produce an heir of his own...
I had creepy Bates & Mother vibes from Daria & the way she controlled & manipulated her son for her own ends - ultimately wanting to be the only woman that he loved and needed.
We then meet Natasia & Katerina, two half sisters who couldn't be anymore the opposite; both want to marry Viktor upon meeting him by chance but for different reasons - one for love the other for title & social position.
A story of intrigue, passion, sex, lust, family secrets & drama.
The book is not personally my era of choice nor have a read any historical fiction or otherwise based in Russia; I therefore know very little of the Russian culture, history, customs etc but the authors obvious research has brought the above across in her story in an authentic way through her writing.
If you're looking for an easy read full of ups & downs, twists & turns then this book is definitely for you.
But does Viktor get his happily ever after?
You'll have to find out for yourself...
My only slight criticism is that I feel a lot more could of been done with the relationship between Daria & Natasia (no spoilers), but it could of been made a lot darker to give the reader an edge of the seat experience.
Diolch yn fawr Fanny for being so kind as to provide me with a copy of 'Masked' to read & review.
November 27, 2024
Historical romance twisted in a surprising way with characters I wasn't sure if I loved or hated through much of it. And a happy ending to satisfy.
December 11, 2023
A heart- wrenching and captivating historical fiction
I was delighted to be approached by the author to read and review this book, having thoroughly enjoyed a series of books written by her -and I truly wasn’t disappointed with the outcome either! We are taken back in time to the 18th Century to Russia- a time when Europe was influenced by Peter the Great, and their own Customs and traditions.
Our main character- Victor - is an interesting one. At the age of 10, Viktor was blinded and scared by a bear and has a since worn a mask on the advice of his mother, who shut him away from the world up to this point. His brother passes and continuing the family name falls on Viktors' shoulders. Meanwhile, to help him enter society, Tatiana- his sister, is determined to help him enter society while his mother wants to quietly marry him off to save herself from embarrassment.
The tensions and suspension throughout the story- is just spectacular!
Much research and relevant vocabulary has been used by the family too.
Masked is a suspenseful, captivating, heartbreaking, This author wrote a very historically accurate book while making it un-put-downable. I do not typically read this genre; this story left me craving more! It has a bit of everything with romance, history, mystery, fiction, strong family relationships, complicated family relationships, and drama!
At the age of 10, Viktor was blinded and scared by a bear.
Although he was the oldest son, his mother shut him away from the world. Few people know of his existence until his brother passes and continuing the family name falls on Viktors' shoulders. His sister, Tatiana, is determined to help him enter society while his mother wants to quietly marry him off to save herself from embarrassment.
Then there’s the passionate romance between my half bloode Nastasia and Katerina, also complicate the story.
Both want Viktors' affection, attention, and to marry me 💛
IBoth play key roles in the story and in Viktors' ( purple) and some are silk!
A great sorry it was too.
I was delighted to be approached by the author to read and review this book, having thoroughly enjoyed a series of books written by her -and I truly wasn’t disappointed with the outcome either! We are taken back in time to the 18th Century to Russia- a time when Europe was influenced by Peter the Great, and their own Customs and traditions.
Our main character- Victor - is an interesting one. At the age of 10, Viktor was blinded and scared by a bear and has a since worn a mask on the advice of his mother, who shut him away from the world up to this point. His brother passes and continuing the family name falls on Viktors' shoulders. Meanwhile, to help him enter society, Tatiana- his sister, is determined to help him enter society while his mother wants to quietly marry him off to save herself from embarrassment.
The tensions and suspension throughout the story- is just spectacular!
Much research and relevant vocabulary has been used by the family too.
Masked is a suspenseful, captivating, heartbreaking, This author wrote a very historically accurate book while making it un-put-downable. I do not typically read this genre; this story left me craving more! It has a bit of everything with romance, history, mystery, fiction, strong family relationships, complicated family relationships, and drama!
At the age of 10, Viktor was blinded and scared by a bear.
Although he was the oldest son, his mother shut him away from the world. Few people know of his existence until his brother passes and continuing the family name falls on Viktors' shoulders. His sister, Tatiana, is determined to help him enter society while his mother wants to quietly marry him off to save herself from embarrassment.
Then there’s the passionate romance between my half bloode Nastasia and Katerina, also complicate the story.
Both want Viktors' affection, attention, and to marry me 💛
IBoth play key roles in the story and in Viktors' ( purple) and some are silk!
A great sorry it was too.
November 13, 2023
Masked is a suspenseful, captivating, heartbreaking, engaging, mysterious, unpredictable, stunning, and lovely read! This historical fiction takes place in the first half of 18th century Russia, a time when Peter The Great mixed Russian customs and European influence. Personally, I am not very versed on this time period and found it fascinating. This author wrote a very historically accurate book while making it un-put-downable. I do not typically read this genre; this story left me craving more! It has a bit of everything with romance, history, mystery, fiction, strong family relationships, complicated family relationships, and drama!
At the age of 10, Viktor was blinded and scared by a bear. Although he was the oldest son, his mother shut him away from the world. Few people know of his existence until his brother passes and continuing the family name falls on Viktors' shoulders. His sister, Tatiana, is determined to help him enter society while his mother wants to quietly marry him off to save herself from embarrassment. There are lots of family tensions in this book and maltreatment. The various family dynamics add lots of depth.
Half sisters, Nastasia and Katerina, also complicate the story. Both of them want Viktors' affection, attention, and betrothal. It is challenging to decide which sister you like better throughout the story. Both play key roles in the story and in Viktors' life.....but no spoilers!
At the age of 10, Viktor was blinded and scared by a bear. Although he was the oldest son, his mother shut him away from the world. Few people know of his existence until his brother passes and continuing the family name falls on Viktors' shoulders. His sister, Tatiana, is determined to help him enter society while his mother wants to quietly marry him off to save herself from embarrassment. There are lots of family tensions in this book and maltreatment. The various family dynamics add lots of depth.
Half sisters, Nastasia and Katerina, also complicate the story. Both of them want Viktors' affection, attention, and betrothal. It is challenging to decide which sister you like better throughout the story. Both play key roles in the story and in Viktors' life.....but no spoilers!
July 12, 2025
An entertaining 18th century twist on beauty-and-the-beast
Viktor was maimed as a boy, leaving him disfigured and partially blind. His domineering mother protected her son, by withdrawing him from society to hide behind a mask. But after a family tragedy means Viktor is now the heir, for the dynasty to continue he must marry. And then the fun starts. Two half-sisters, Katerina and Nastasia, are both intrigued by the mysterious unknown aristocrat. But both women have had different pasts, one acceptable, the other not, and only one of them can marry Viktor.
This was a spicy, entertaining story with strong flavour of Russia. The characters were all flawed people, trying to behave their best with the hand they were dealt, but sometimes acting like petulant children. The strength of the book lies in the storytelling and the constantly shifting world in which the characters manoeuvre. The character I loved-to-hate the most was the mother, who started out with the best of intentions but ended up stifling her son and being utterly vile. There was a definite ‘hurrah’ from me, when she eventually met her match.
I enjoyed this book and looked forward to reading it each night.
Viktor was maimed as a boy, leaving him disfigured and partially blind. His domineering mother protected her son, by withdrawing him from society to hide behind a mask. But after a family tragedy means Viktor is now the heir, for the dynasty to continue he must marry. And then the fun starts. Two half-sisters, Katerina and Nastasia, are both intrigued by the mysterious unknown aristocrat. But both women have had different pasts, one acceptable, the other not, and only one of them can marry Viktor.
This was a spicy, entertaining story with strong flavour of Russia. The characters were all flawed people, trying to behave their best with the hand they were dealt, but sometimes acting like petulant children. The strength of the book lies in the storytelling and the constantly shifting world in which the characters manoeuvre. The character I loved-to-hate the most was the mother, who started out with the best of intentions but ended up stifling her son and being utterly vile. There was a definite ‘hurrah’ from me, when she eventually met her match.
I enjoyed this book and looked forward to reading it each night.
December 11, 2023
I was delighted to be approached by the author to read and review this book, having thoroughly enjoyed a series of books written by her -and I truly wasn’t disappointed with the outcome either! We are taken back in time to the 18th Century to Russia- a time when Europe was influenced by Peter the Great, and their own Customs and traditions.
Our main character- Victor - is an interesting one. At the age of 10, Viktor was blinded and scared by a bear and has a since worn a mask on the advice of his mother, who shut him away from the world, but now finds himself in a situation where he wants to fit in with society’s expectations- marrying for status and a heir, but his true passion and desires lies with another woman.
Marriage will sort this situation out surely… or perhaps not?
A passionate, intriguing read - with great characters. Highly recommended.
Our main character- Victor - is an interesting one. At the age of 10, Viktor was blinded and scared by a bear and has a since worn a mask on the advice of his mother, who shut him away from the world, but now finds himself in a situation where he wants to fit in with society’s expectations- marrying for status and a heir, but his true passion and desires lies with another woman.
Marriage will sort this situation out surely… or perhaps not?
A passionate, intriguing read - with great characters. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews