Hibiscus Mask

by Rich Shapero

What does it take to show our true self to the one we love?

Kell is an American botanist working in Malaysia. He meets the engaging and alluring Nitti and is instantly smitten, but getting to know her is anything but straightforward. Open and childlike one moment, guarded and invulnerable the next, she ducks and vacillates, and keeps Kell guessing why.

Nitti’s mother lies paralyzed in a far corner of their home, tended by a sinister housekeeper who exerts a mystifying control over Nitti and her father. Still, Kell believes he’s found the woman of his dreams, and he perseveres. And Nitti seems to encourage him, leading him to a secret jungle sanctuary, then deeper, to the black waters of a swamp she calls “Keributan,” where a monstrous creature lurks . . .

With lushly drawn metaphor and unflinching candor and empathy, Hibiscus Mask offers a gripping psychological mystery about the preconditions for love and the tragic cost of hidden identity.

Genres: Fiction

188 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 2024

About the author

Rich Shapero’s novels dare readers with giant metaphors, magnificent obsessions and potent ideas. His casts of idealistic lovers, laboring miners, and rebellious artists all rate ideas as paramount, more important than life itself. They traverse wild landscapes and visionary realms, imagining gods who in turn imagine them. Like the seekers themselves, readers grapple with revealing truths about human potential. All of his titles—Beneath Caaqi's Wings, Dissolve, Island Fruit Remedy, Balcony of Fog, Rin, Tongue and Dorner, Arms from the Sea, The Hope We Seek, Too Far and Wild Animus—are available in hardcover and as ebooks. They also combine music, visual art, animation and video in the TooFar Media app. Shapero spins provocative stories for the eyes, ears, and imagination.

Reviews

[Madison · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was BAD. Truly nothing in this book was redeemable. I’m genuinely concerned the author should be on some sort of list considering his obsession with referring to the female main character as a child or child-like, even when talking about their sexual relationship. It was really disgusting how often it happened. If that isn’t enough to put you off of reading, the writing and book itself is also bad. Many times throughout the book, the author literally wrote “he said a few words” and then continued. He couldn’t think of any dialogue, and it’s only a 200-page book. How am I supposed to know what kind of words were said? The characters have no traits or depth, other than the male character never going to his job and the female main character having a lot of family trauma and an “arrangement” as a sex worker but that just makes her closed off and he feels a compulsion to “fix” her. When the author wasn’t busy describing the 30-year old woman as a child, he also made a lot of comparisons to frogs and other jungle flora and fauna - especially during sex. It was bizarre and reeked of reading too much about specific Malaysian plant life and needing to tell us what he learned. I also have no idea what the ending means. I cannot tell if I’m supposed to or if it’s intentionally vague in a way intended to make me feel dumb. This is truly one of the worst books I’ve ever read.

I received a copy of the book from TooFar Media and Goodreads.

[Ali · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can I sue for damages? Put this author on every watch list.

[HALLOWGEN · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hibiscus Mask has everything you've ever wanted in a novel and more. Infantilization of women, fetishization of Asian culture and people, white savior complex, a man prostituting his teenage daughter seen as a "feminine sacrifice" to get money for the family and not abuse, frog sex, no plot to speak of, and finally, most arousingly, the love interest turning into an undulating mass of insects. I still don't know if that last one was a metaphor or not.

This was my second Rich Shapero abomination, and I must give him props for putting in some kind of brainpower to create this thing and spread it to the masses with such fervent dedication. I recieved it for free on my college campus like many others. At least AI didn't make this novel, which is about the highest praise I can give. Oh, some of the art Shapero uses is AI generated? For shame.

[Luce Goulding · Rating 2 out of 5]

Undoubtedly the best thing about this book is the cover which is absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately what lies inside the cover is self-indulgent waffle and the worst thing I’ve read in years. I would provide a longer review but to be honest Brian already said everything I wanted to say including about the gratuitous use of the word ‘knob’. If ever an author needed an editor it was this author!

[Victor Vale · Rating 1 out of 5]

good lord

[Kelly Petruno · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this in a giveaway so I feel the need to leave a review. I wanted to like this book… intrigued by an American botanist in Malaysia finding love. But the “romance” aspect of this book is covered in so many metaphors I couldn’t enjoy it. I was also distracted by how he quickly he falls in love with the woman but how many times she’s described to have a “childlike” side. It did not sit well with me.

[Kiran · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is so weird. It’s unfortunate because I got it through a Goodreads giveaway. Not only is the writing very descriptive (which I don’t love) the way it’s written feels very self indulgent and also uncomfortable. The power imbalance between the couple is written as exploitative and it’s just not a book I would ever recommend.

[Brian Godsey, now on thestorygraph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book free at an arts festival, FWIW.

The book jacket brags about "giant metaphors", which I did not expect to be a positive attribute---and I was proven correct.

The language of the metaphors is interesting and flowery---sometimes literally, because the sex between characters always devolves into fantastical imaginations of jungle creatures grinding on each other, some of which are flowers.

The language fits squarely into fantastical realism, and the themes fit somewhere between light erotica and "chick lit" for nerdy, academic men. The plot is fairly predictable and trope-filled. The White Male American Savior tries to save The Girl. The Girl is in a "strange" land. The Girl is an outcast. The Girl is poor. The Girl turned to prostitution. The Girl's mother is abusive. The Girl was traumatized. The Girl still has emotional issues caused by the trauma, reverts to childish states, becomes catatonic on occasion, and---GASP---by far the worst thing is that she doesn't let the White Savior in... to her emotions or whatever. And she's really good at sex.

So he has to fix her, all of it, because he wants her, loves her, and figures he can probably do that because he hasn't really failed at much in his life. So he tries and tries to fix her, slowly realizing that his relationship with The Girl that he PAID MONEY FOR (a boyfriend "arrangement") might not be everything he thinks it is, both from her side and his.

It's funny how he dives head-first into resolving her biggest trauma by starting a role-playing visualization session without even asking her first, and persisting despite her protests because she should "trust him". He's geneticist, not a therapist.

One of the more interesting aspects of this book from my personal perspective is, because I have read so much about emotions and communication in relationships recently, it was striking that the main character believed he could see the connection and emotions between him and The Girl floating in the air and changing in real time. On many occasions, the White Savior would describe "a chasm opened between us" or "distance between us closed suddenly" or "her mask was on again, but was thinner this time" (all of these are paraphrased but accurate). And all of this without a word being spoken or other non-verbal communication conveying actual ideas. This is a toxic belief. No one can see another person's emotions in front of them, and believing that you can often leads to trampling the other person's ACTUAL emotions, invalidating them. Just ask her how she's feeling, dude---maybe you'll learn something.

But in any case, two stars because I enjoyed reading this book for how peculiar it is. It's like I'm reading the fever fantasies of a lonely botanist in southeast Asia. I am unfamiliar with that mindset, and so experiencing the metaphors of the deepest desires of this particular species of White American Savior was entertaining!


Random notes:
* The word "knob" appears a surprising number of times in this book.
* I'm not sure if sex between frogs is supposed to be sexy.
* If you're not a botanist, a lot of the minor metaphors/similes won't mean anything to you.
* The girl's father dies at an EXTREMELY convenient time.
* At first, I didn't like the ending, but in hindsight, it's probably as good and realistic as any other.
* I wouldn't date either main character in this book. They are interesting enough, and I would totally hang out with them, but there were big time red flags by date 2, and that's when I'd either friend-zone or peace-out on both of them.

[Andre Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an interesting read with an unexpected storyline in a place (Malaysia) that most of the target audience has probably never heard of or knows much about. It starts off introducing the protagonist as a presumably typical white guy falling in love with a beautiful local girl, which makes you think it's just another Asian fetish book, but then it goes a lot further and deeper and discusses family, traditions and rootedness.

[Ya Boi · Rating 3 out of 5]

the dialogue was straight up bad in some places, and i wish the narrative was a little less focused on Nell because his perspective is so small and his metaphors are dorky. i also think the writing style doesnt suit the genre; i dont think quick punchy styles that don't give you a second to breathe and expect you to believe these people are in love by page 2 suit the romance genre. however, i was pleasantly surprised by the curveball ending

[Wanda Weinhandl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing of this novel is very interesting-very descriptive in that you can visualize what author is writing. However the writing is more about swamp creatures and horticultural than the actual story. At time was hard to follow, and went on to long.
Was not one of my best reads, will pass on and wouldn’t put on my to read again list.

[Lena]

I like giveaway wins because I introduce myself to different types of books. I am not judging this book, but it was not for me. Sorry. A nice touch to winning the book, was an autographed poster from the author.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book contained beautiful imagery and descriptions, but it was NOT for me. I have to give it a 1-star rating for my records because I didn't care for it at all, but I'm sure the book will find the right audience. It's just not me.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to receive this book from a Goodreads contest. The book starts out to be interesting. Kell is an American working in Malaysia; he falls for a beautiful Asian Girl Nitti. However, after reading less than half the book, it was so difficult to finally finish it.

[Cheryl Tabor · Rating 3 out of 5]

What did I just finish reading? I am quite confused. Love, mystery. A haunting past filled with emotional break down of mind and body. The end left you wondering was this all a dream or a nightmare?
GOODREADS and TooFar Media., thank you.

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not care for the writing style in this book...it was way too flowery for my tastes. Simply put, I just didn't get it. For those who enjoy flowery prose, you will likely appreciate it much more than I did. {H}

[Sarah Rizk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be pretty interesting and easily read it in a few sittings

[Christy Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC - It was just okay. Thanks for the chance to read!

[Lila · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to DNF halfway through because I did not like his writing. The best way I can describe his writing style is "discrete and purple." Luckily I got this book for free.

[Nicolette Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book lost me near the beginning. It's not for me.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Hibiscus Mask' by Rich Shapero is without doubt the most descriptive beautifully written book I have ever read. I know very little about Malaysia, the country this book was set in, but Mr. Shapero painted an amazing word picture of Malaysia's lush beauty and its menacing danger. Kell and Nitti interact repeatedly and though the relationship is intimate, the author conveys the huge breach in their connection. The plot explores some of Nitti's background and as the story evolves there is hope that Kell will help Nitti overcome her fears and trauma. Again throughout the book, the setting is a metaphor for many of the undercurrents in the relationship and for many of the emotions felt by the characters. I was surprised when I realized this book is a YA novel. It is probably too explicit and detailed for most teenagers and they won't fully comprehend the imagery and meaning of the story. The book cover art is exquisite and gives the reader an actual image for the mind's eye. I would like to thank Goodreads and TooFar Media for getting a copy of this book in my hands. I give the book four stars because it was beautifully written, even though at times it was hard to feel like I fully understood and appreciated all of the nuances of the prose.

[Meika · Rating 5 out of 5]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[chelsea! · Rating 1 out of 5]

sorry. go self-published authors!!! but it’s a story about a white dude who falls in love with a se asian prostitute and i just could not. i was trying, then on p 19 he wrote “your father new plants.” if you can’t even care enough to spell things correctly i can’t care enough to read it.