Masks: The Masks of Aygrima: Book One

Masks of Aygrima #1

by E.C. Blake

Masks  is the first novel in the dystopian fantasy Masks of Aygrima series

Cataclysmic events have left the Autarchy of Aygrima—the one land blessed with magical resources—cut off from its former trading partners across the waters, not knowing if any of those distant peoples still live. Yet under the rule of the Autarch, Aygrima survives. And thanks to the creation of the Masks and the vigilance of the Autarch’s Watchers, no one can threaten the security of the empire.

In Aygrima, magic is a Gift possessed from birth by a very small percentage of the population, with the Autarch himself the most powerful magic worker of all. Only the long-vanquished Lady of Pain and Fire had been able to challenge his rule.

At the age of fifteen, citizens are recognized as adults and must don the spell-infused Masks—which denote both status and profession—whenever they are in public. To maintain the secure rule of the kingdom, the Masks are magically crafted to reveal any treasonous thoughts or actions. And once such betrayals are exposed, the Watchers are there to enforce the law.

Mara Holdfast, daughter of the Autarch’s Master Maskmaker, is fast approaching her fifteenth birthday and her all-important Masking ceremony. Her father himself has been working behind closed doors to create Mara’s Mask. Once the ceremony is done, she will take her place as an adult, and Gifted with the same magical abilities as her father, she will also claim her rightful place as his apprentice.

But on the day of her Masking something goes horribly wrong, and instead of celebrating, Mara is torn away from her parents, imprisoned, and consigned to a wagon bound for the mines. Is it because she didn’t turn the unMasked boy she discovered over to the Night Watchers? Or is it because she’s lied about her Gift, claiming she can only see one color of magic, when in truth she can see them all, just as she could when she was a young child?

Whatever the reason, her Mask has labeled her a traitor and now she has lost everything, doomed to slavery in the mines until she dies. And not even her Gift can show Mara the future that awaits her—a future that may see her freed to aid a rebel cause, forced to become a puppet of the Autarch, or transformed into a force as dangerous to her world as the legendary Lady of Pain and Fire.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Fiction, Dystopia, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 5, 2013

About the author

E.C. Blake was born in New Mexico, “Land of Enchantment,” and the state’s nickname seems to have rubbed off: he started writing fantastical stories in elementary school and wrote his first fantasy novel in high school. He’s been a newspaper reporter and editorial cartoonist, a magazine editor, a writing instructor and a professional actor, and has written (under another name) more than 30 works of nonfiction, ranging from biographies to science books to history books, but his first love has always been fantasy. He now lives in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, with his wife and a daughter whose favorite stories all involve “sword-fighting princesses.” Come to think of it, so do his.

Reviews

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is not so much high fantasy as it is toilet paper.

I live in Southern California. The weather is lovely, as perfect as it can get; if I have a single complaint about living here, it is the lack of snow. But this time around, I find myself not yearning for snow, because I just got pelted smack in the fucking face with the gigantic special fucking snowflake of a Mary Sue who is our main character, Mara Holdfast.

I have fucking standards for my heroines. My love for a heroine is hard-won. I expect them to be flawed, imperfect, I expect them to mature, to blossom into themselves. If they become powerful, strong, I want to see how, and why. If they have inherited magic, I want to see them work at it, I want to see them practice it, I want to see them use it, learn it, progress through it. There is no earning of respect here, there is no learning here, because everything happens through happenstance and internal perfection without explanation. Mara is just fucking perfect, one in a million. She magically learns magic without being taught, she becomes the most wondrous of unicorns. It does not fly with me.

I do not call a heroine a Mary Sue lightly. I do not give the "speshul snowflake" label lightly. I understand that the label has been slapped haphazardly on many a female heroine on which someone simply doesn't like, often without justification, and I say here, with emphasis, Mara is a fucking special snowflake and a Mary Sue. I have and will present ample evidence for my claims.

The plot is filled with deus ex machina, there is little world building outside of the immediate, which is unforgivable for a high fantasy. The background characters are but shadows that fade into the background. The villain is largely a stately figurehead, and just about as fearful. There is a love triangle that goes nowhere. There is only the threat of rape that creates any element of danger in this book, and there is an overreliance on sexual violence as a tool of oppression. There is nothing that I loved about this book.

Summary: Long ago, the kingdom of Aygrima was threatened by a woman with great magical powers, the nation suffered tremendous losses of human lives until she was defeated by a young man, the Autarch. The Autarch still lives, over 50 years later, and under his rule, the nation is peaceful and prosperous. All of its adult citizens (everyone over 15) are forced to wear a magically imbued Mask in public, to hide their face, and to allow the Watchers to read their mind for any treasonous thoughts.

Mara Holdfast is a special young woman, about to turn 15. She has magical potentials. Only a handful of people have magic within their blood, they can see one or two special magical colors when it comes to their testing, but Mara is different; she sees all the colors of the rainbow. This is such an unheard of thing that she has to keep her ability a secret. Before she is to be trained in magic, Mara has to attend a ceremony in which she will be presented with her Mask.

Mara's ceremony failed, her Mask has rejected her. Unlike others, whose Masks have rejected them, Mara remains unscarred, thanks to the tremendous skill of a master Healer who just happened to be present at her Masking ceremony. She is sent to a labor mining camp, where her virtue and safety is in danger, since female convicts are threatened with rape and violence. Mara is an even more prized commodity to the prison guards, due to her unscarred face and youthful beauty. On the way to the prison camp, Mara is saved by a group of outcast rebels known as the unMasked army.

What follows is the mind-boggling journey of an idiotic girl as she somehow escapes every single fucking calamity handed to her purely by happenstance.

The Setting: The world building can only be described in two words: fucking lazy. High fantasy, my ass. There is an art to world building, it takes bloody skills to weave a world of wonder, to create a new fantastical world, because the author is truly the architect of the world he has imagined. If a good world building can be equated to the creation of the Great Pyramids, then this book's world building and setup can be likened to a shabby house made of Legos, and the experience of reading this book is equivalent to stepping on the crumbled pieces of that Lego house.

It is lazy. It is fucking lazy. Christ on a cracker, I am not a fucking 5-year old, you expect me to read this sort of world building with a straight face? I'm supposed to learn about this magical world through the textbook recital of a child learning her fucking lessons? Are you fucking serious?

“What is the difference between the First and Second Tests?” Tutor Ancilla continued.
“At age six, Gifted children can see all colors of magic,” Mara said. “But by age thirteen, their Gift has settled and they can see only one or, rarely, two—and even if they can see two, one is always strongest.”
“And the color of magic seen reveals what?” Tutor Ancilla asked.
“What kind of magic the Gifted child will be able to use,” Mara said.

There is no art here. The world building is flat. The nation of Aygrima has no past, no history, no culture. There is no social customs, nothing that ties me to the world, nothing that makes me feel like this world exists, the glue that holds this world together is fucktastically flimsy.

The Special Snowflake: Mara Holdfast is rare. Unicorn with two horns rare. She is beautiful. A perfect child to her adoring parents. Beautiful inside and out. Mara has magical abilities in a nation where only a handful of people have any magical abilities at all.

“There are maybe twenty thousand people in Tamita,” she’d said. “An enormous number. But at any given time there are no more than two hundred who have the Gift. Only half of those have it in great enough measure to actually use magic. And fewer than half of those can use it to any great purpose.”
“Aren’t you special,” Sala had whispered to Mara...

Not only are magical abilities rare, but most people with magical abilities can only see one or two colors, signifying their magical abilities. Mara is different, she can see all the colors of the rainbow when she is tested.

...the basin filled with seething, swirling colors, every color of the rainbow and every combination between, breathtakingly beautiful...but wrong. At thirteen, she was only supposed to be able to see one color, maybe two.

When Mara fails her Masking ceremony, she should have been drastically scarred in the face when the mask almost literally rips her face off. Mara remains unscarred, thanks to the divine intervention of the best Healer in the country.

“You’re unharmed.”
Unharmed? Mara had heard what happened to those who failed their Masking. They were banished—no one knew where. And their faces...crisscrossed with scars, noses crooked...
“Except you got no scars. That’s special."

Those who fail their Masking ritual lose their magical gift. Not Mara.

Alita’s eyes suddenly widened. “Magic? Is it magic? You can still see it, even after...?”
“Yes,” Mara said simply. “I can see it.”
“Oh!” said Prella in a small, wondering voice. “Lucky...”
“But why?” Alita demanded. “Why can you still see it when we can’t?”

Not only that, only when they turn 15 do magical training start. Without any training whatsoever, Mara knows instinctively how to use her exceedingly strong magical powers.

"But the way you did it...you exerted an enormous amount of power, without any training at all. You did it instinctively. And you did it again when you cleaned away the evidence. With my Gift I could theoretically do what you did...but even if I could do it—which I am not at all certain of—I know I absolutely could not have done it when I was just fifteen and newly Masked. It took me years of training to do anything with my Gift at all. And you did it without thought!"

In the prison camp, everyone is starving. Everyone is emaciated. There is a limited amount of food, which barely passes as food. Everyone is skin and bones. But MARA IS SPECIAL BECAUSE SHE IS SLIM.



Mara even stands out against everyone else who is thin as fuck because they're hungry and underfed and there is not an ounce of fat on anyone anyfucking where because they're all forced to do hard labor within a inch of their sorry lives because she is somehow SLIM compared to the others who are merely THIN. It's the same motherfucking thing!!!!!! Jesus christ, WHAT THE FUCK. SERIOUSLY. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK???!!!!

That would weigh against you if not for the fact you offer me something I need even more.” Teeth flashed in a predatory smile. “Someone with the Gift. Someone young. Someone...slim.”

Not only that, Mara is so fucking powerful as to rival the country's ruler FOR NO FUCKING REASON AT ALL BESIDES THE FACT THAT SHE IS SPESHUL BY GRAND DESIGN.

"You are, in short, potentially the most powerful woman in all of Aygrima."

Eeeeeeeeeee'ryone wants to do Mara, the 15-year old Mara. The nasty jerks in the prison wants to rape her because she's so unscarred and lovely. But of course, she escapes unscathed. Grute the Brute (seriously, his name is Grute) wants to rape her and tries repeatedly. And Mara must make a hell of a milkshake, because in the unMasked rebel camp, the boys all come to her fucking yard

She looked from one boy to the other. Flattering and kind of exciting though she had to admit she found having two boys interested in her at once, it did get rather wearying. As to which one she preferred...
She couldn’t answer that question.

Mara is so dumb, she is living proof that evolution can go in reverse. Take one situation: you have your friends on one side, you have an army of bloodthirsty soldiers on the other. In which direction does Mara run?

...though everything in her screamed that she was being an idiot—everything except for the fierce, insistent voice that told her she had to do this, and drowned out all else—she ran...away from the gate that would take them out of the camp, away from the unMasked who had risked everything to rescue her, away from her only real hope of safety, and toward the flickering red light of the fire...
...and all the Watchers in the camp.

I got one suggestion for you, Mara, my little dipshit, why don't you jump off a motherfucking cliff and save me the trouble of finishing the book?

The Plot: I have often gone on rage-filled rants about something I call the overuse of a literary device known as a deus ex machina and to which I personally refer as deus ex fucking machina. So allow me a moment to clarify what a deus ex fucking machina is to the uninformed. It is the dirtiest of literary tools. From Wikipedia: deus ex machina

"...is a plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly resolved by the contrived and unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability, or object. Depending on how it is done, it can be intended to move the story forward when the writer has "painted himself into a corner" and sees no other way out..."

It is divine intervention. Deus ex machina is, in my opinion, a cheap-ass tool used when a lack of creativity stops the progression of a plot in a believable fucking manner unless some act of divine goddamned intervention intercepts to save it. And by save it, I mean smear some shit on it and hang it out to dry, in order to reuse, like the most thrifty cheapskate on Extreme Cheapskates: TLC. This book overuses deus ex machina to a ridiculous, absurd, obscene degree.

Let's see...Mara's face is about to get damaged! OHNOES! MASTER PLASTIC SURGEON HEALER, GET ON IT, STAT!

Mara is about to get raped? BAM, SUDDEN INEXPLICABLE BURST OF MAGIC TO THE RESCUE. OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!!!

Mara is about to get hauled off to a prison camp? WHY HELLO THERE, BAND OF REBELS THERE TO RESCUE SPECIFICALLY HER ALTHOUGH HOW THE FUCK DID THEY FIND OUT THAT SHE WAS THERE? DAMNED IF I KNOW.

Arm broken? OH THERE YOU ARE, MASTER HEALER WHO JUST HAPPENED TO ARRIVE AT THE LABOR CAMP THAT VERY DAY. AGAIN.

Watchers about to kill her? OH HI THERE, AGAIN, REBELS, HOW DID YOU GUYS FUCKING FIND HER THIS TIME?

Mara on the brink of death? HI THERE (ANOTHER) HEALER LADY WITH A POTION THAT ONLY WORKS ON MAGICAL USERS AND NOBODY ELSE AND WHICH SHE HAS NEVER TRIED BUT, WHEW, IT FUCKING WORKS ^_^

About to get crushed by a pile of rocks? UNTRAINED MAGIC TO THE RESCUE. BLAMMO! BYE BYE ROCKS!

A friend about to die? Can't have that! *sings* BRING ME (her?) TO LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFE!!!!!!!~~~~~

Fuck this book.

[✶meow for heals✶ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to ruin the relatively high average rating for this book, but unfortunately I have to disagree with the majority voice on Goodreads. I had Masks on my wish list since I first heard of it back in April 2013, enticed by the stunning cover (I mean look at it!) and adequately promising blurb. Alas Masks turned out to be a great big disappointment for me, and I can pinpoint exactly why I felt that way.


SET-UP
We start off with a young Mara, about to be tested for the very first time. And then we cut off to an older Mara, two years before being tested for the second time. And then we cut off to her a few months before her second test ... and then we cut off to ... well, you get the point.
These bumpy transitions may have been forgiven if (1) scenes between transitions were longer than a few pages, and contained a lot more "meat" beyond lazy exposition, and (2) there weren't so many time-jumps.
Where a story starts is almost as important as the story itself. Rather than having us patiently labour our way through Mara's testing phases and learning the background of the world through -- quite literally -- early classroom scenes, the author could have started things right before all the tension begins, and work all his world-building and character history into the story in a more elegant manner.

But since the story started where it did, we are left to wonder and wait for a spectacularly long time before discovering the main tension of the novel. And by the time I did -- I was disappointed.


CHARACTER
A flawed set-up may be excused given an engaging narrative, or an overall story arc that completely blows your mind. Neither criteria of which were met in Masks.
The problem with our main character was that she never had any agency. Mara, and every single event that transpired, was not a product of her own free will: of her choices, actions, or anything that she had any control over.
Time and time again, she would be put in a situation where all she had to do was ... be ... and she would soon find herself thrust into the next situation. She would find her way out of key points of tension through sheer luck and Author Intervention when the same rebel group rescues her -- twice!

It is important that when creating a fantasy world -- complete with its set of rules regarding magic and worldbuilding -- the writer sticks to these rules and applies them equally towards all his/her characters.
So when Mara is given a slew of spectacularly unique abilities; indeed, all the powers any Gifted character in the realm of Aygrima can possibly have, it greatly undermines any potential tension in the novel.
But not only does Mara have every single power imaginable, she actually is capable of wielding said power and obtaining the exact result that she intends it for. This, I must add, is despite her having no training whatsoever, whilst it takes years of training for others to be able to do anything with their own gift at all.
She further breaks every law of the world when: (1) She does not lose her powers, despite every other UnMasked losing his/her Gift when their masks reject them, and (2) Her powers do not wane over time, despite it happening to everyone else who does not train and/or constantly use their power.

As if Mara was not enough of a Mary Sue, we have two young men literally bickering over her, we have constant threats of rape upon her body (just to remind us readers of how fragile and vulnerable she is), and we even have the Autarch's healer herself show special concern over her.


EXPOSITION
But moving along from our main character comes the final point I'm going to make. I've mentioned it briefly above, but one of the greatest flaws of Masks was its lazy exposition.
I have never seen any as-you-know,-Bobs being used in a successful manner, and Masks did not change this. Having Mara recite things in class, having Ethelda explain everything in the final chapter of the book, takes away every ounce of suspense and all the fun out of reading.
I did not read about these mysterious Masks and start to wonder how, why they are changing its wearers --- I did not start to question how, why more people, including Mara, were beginning to fail their Masking --- I did not start to wonder about every single plot point in the novel --- only to have the answers provided to me straighthandedly by one of the characters at the end of the novel.

What happened to good-old detective work?

What happened to revelations and characters going through life-changing journeys to discover answers along the way?

No; everything was handed over to Mara on a silver platter. And I quite literally mean every. single. thing. At the end, it leaves no point to her entire ordeal ... and possibly no point in me continuing on with this series.



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You can also find more reviews over at my blog.

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 of 5 stars on The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...

Masks is the very promising first novel of what's shaping up to be a phenomenal series. And to think, at first I was tentative about approaching this book because (wait for it, silly irrational reason incoming) I was a little spooked by the cover! There's just something so unsettling about the blank gaze of an empty mask, but I couldn't deny there was a lot of beauty in this particular one too.

Thinking back on it now, I realize that the cover for this book is actually quite perfect. The story it contains within is indeed quite beautiful, but it also has its moments of darkness, as a lot of these types of books with dystopian-like settings tend to have. Masks features Mara Holdfast, a girl growing up in Aygrima, a land overseen by the all-seeing Autarch. In this society, everyone is require to wear a mask the day they turn fifteen. Through these masks, it is said that the Autarch and his Watchers can know the thoughts of every citizen, enabling them to put down dissidents and maintain everlasting peace and security in the empire.

Mara has known from a young age that she is Gifted; the magic that few are born with in this world runs strongly in her family. She has hopes to follow in her father's footsteps and become a Master Maskmaker just like him, and looks forward to her masking day when she can finally become his apprentice. But then things go horribly wrong on her fifteenth birthday during the ceremony, and Mara is immediately labeled a traitor, not fit to be part of society. Everything Mara has ever known is ripped away as she is consigned to a wagon bound for the mines, where she will be forced into a life of imprisonment and slavery.

This is a story that had me riveted from beginning to end. The introduction with the build-up to Mara's masking ceremony is probably one of the best I've ever read, because it really does a good job of grabbing your attention right away. And as if that wasn't enough, the journey doesn't ever slow down, constantly driving forward as Mara is whisked from one dilemma to another. While there are some elements to this story that are predictable, the question of where the main protagonist will end up next is always in up in the air, and I was held rapt by the multitude of possibilities that could happen.

I was also struck by the magic in this book, which goes hand in hand with my fascination with the idea of the Autarch using masks to control the population. At this point, not everything about the masks and magic is explained yet, and while I do have many questions, it also feels like the author is leaving lots of room to flesh it out in the next installment. Nevertheless, what's established here already gives this book a certain uniqueness, and I'm excited to know more.

I'm also very much looking forward to the character growth of Mara. If there's one thing I wasn't particularly fond of about this book (and it's a tiny thing), it was her constant questioning and second-guessing of herself. She also tends to dwell on things and appears to have the weakest stomach of any character I know, leading to a few instances of repetition in the narrative and a lot of vomiting on poor Mara's part. On the other hand, I realize she is barely fifteen and has lived a relatively sheltered and privileged life before everything in her world turned upside down. In that sense, I really can't fault her all that much. I expect there's a lot potential for her in the next book though, as she develops into someone in a leadership position who has the ability to change things for the better.

I did ask myself after reading Masks whether or not I should categorize this book as Young Adult. The age of the protagonist along with certain factors like the not-so-subtle hints of a future romance or love triangle makes me want to say yes, and certainly I think the story could appeal to older teens. At the same time, the nature of the fantasy setting and characters that E.C. Blake has created sets this book apart from conventional YA, and so I think a wider audience can appreciate it too. I know I did...a lot!

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent YA fantasy, but lazy writing early and an over reliance on sexual violence to imperial female characters combine to make MASKS something I can't recommend.

http://www.staffersbookreview.com/201...

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mara knows nothing else then masks. Her father is the master maskmaker for the Autarch. Everyone who turns fifteen receives a mask. The mask is empowered with magic to show when the mask wearer is behaving badly. Then the watchers are there to take corrective action.

The big day is finally here. Mara is about to receive her mask. However during the making event, something happens and Mara find herself shunned. She finds friends with the Unmasked army. Which was believed to be a myth. Mara learns things about the masks and Autarch that will give her a new outlook on the life she lived.

I really am enjoying the world that the author has built for this series. I can not wait to continue on this journey with Mara. This series kind of reminds me of the Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder. Which is a fan of mine. This is a book that all ages will have fun reading. The action is mild but again this is the first book. Again I have to say however that the author did a great job with the first book. It is hard to find the right balance between giving away too much in either details or not enough that you lose the reader. It was just right. In addition, that even though there was not a lot of action happening, this book is a quick read. I went to take a break and I was already half way done with the book.

Mara has so much depth about her. She is intriguing. She is truly gifted. I can't wait to see more of her gift as she learns more about it and how to use it. She will then be a force to watch out for.

[Viviane Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enter the Autarch, the Supreme Ruler of Aygrima, who in the first few pages uses magic to destroy a female opponent. But destroying his enemies is not the ultimate goal; it is the goal from the moment opposition rears its rebellious head. So how easy in this high tech, future society to create a specific mask for each man, woman and child, one that a “Watcher” can look at and immediately detect disloyalty or at least suspicion of betrayal.
And so it continues. We now enter the home of Mara Holdfast, daughter of the Master Maskmaker. Mara has worked with her father and been allowed to learn the basic skills of fashioning each mask but will not be allowed to learn the Magic behind each mask until her own masking ceremony. She is very excited about it until she sees a definitely suspicious pattern in her father and mother as her ceremony date on her birthday approaches. She knows that she has lied when tested for her ability to be one who has the “gift” of magic, a terrible crime that could be the undoing of her and her family. Add to that the foreshadowing when she visits the area near the town’s gates where criminals are crucified. It’s not specifically defined why they are killed but every citizen knows it has to do with being a rebel or criminal against the all-powerful Autarch!
Be shocked on the long-awaited day when her masking ceremony turns into a total disaster; and but for a woman with the gift of healing Mara would be horrifically scarred for life. Instead she is healed and taken away by the Watchers, first to a prison and then to those who will transport her to a mining camp for prisoners. But her arrival there is forestalled by rescuers who have captured her for their own purposes.
The goal is to stop the Autarch from continuing his Mask policy, as the latest, more-developed Masks are changing people’s personalities after they are masked, producing robotic, trance-like people who would never be able to even think about the possibility of rebelling. There are many heroes within this story who will do all they can to ensure that the reign of Autarch is destroyed as soon as possible. The scenes are tense, life and death struggles all too frequently, and sometimes one isn’t quite sure who are more evil, the Autarch or his Watchers and guards. There are children being used for the Autarch’s final solution to the Masks, with devastating consequences that leave any reader with half a heart furious!
Masks seems to be the first of a series to come and is well-written science or paranormal fiction. It’s credible, exciting, complex and mysterious enough to keep the reader avidly flipping the pages! Great writing, E. C. Blake – highly recommended sci-fi fiction!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

I wasn’t sure how I would like Masks due to the premise that everyone in the autarchy had to wear them once they achieved adulthood, but I was pleasantly surprised by the way Blake weaved the masks into the story. Everything about this book felt like it was deeper than you originally thought. The characters were well written and had pasts that you get glimpses of throughout the story that underlines what motivates the various characters. I also enjoyed the way Blake explains the various roles of the masks in society and how they are masks into the wearer’s soul so to speak.

As for the structure of the book, I thought Blake did a great job of grabbing your attention right at the beginning even though you didn’t fully understand the implications of what you were reading until much later. You are then introduced to your main character and are given the chance to not only witness what her life is like in the capitol and among society prior to her having to put on her mask, but you are also given the chance to see what her life is like after her masking. It’s a great contrast that really lets you understand the place and what the characters are faced with through their various choices and circumstances.

The middle of the book does a great job of setting up the environment and expectations the characters are going to have to deal with for the remainder of the series, while also giving you a lot more insight into the world in which they live. You gain a better understanding of magic, the role of the masks, and the different strata of society within the autarchy that you would not have glimpsed had the book solely taken place in the capitol. Additionally, I was impressed with how easily I was able to connect with the characters, and not just one, but the majority of the main players. You get invested fairly early on, and can’t help wanting to find out what will happen to them throughout the series.

I felt that the ending did a good job of tying up some of the loose ends in order to conclude this phase of the story, but there were definitely several questions left unanswered and a great deal more to see. I eagerly await book 2, though I know it will be a bit of wait since this book hasn’t officially been released yet.

Overall a great read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels and what is shaping up to be an epic journey.

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I received a review request for Masks, I was a bit hesitant. The cover’s not all that appealing and I’m pretty busy right now. However, the blurb had enough to make me curious. The fantasy world sounded unique in the way that Brandon Sanderson’s tend to be, and that’s something I couldn’t pass up. The comparisons to The Hunger Games and His Dark Materials were also intriguing, in that the two are almost entirely distinct. In point of fact, I really don’t see a comparison to either of those, but I’m glad I accepted because Masks has that delightfully original and dark fantasy world for which I was hoping.

Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.

[Kari Lynn Mackey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a free uncorrected proof of Masks by E.C. Blake courtesy of DAW Books via GoodReads First Reads.

The premise of this novel and the details about the uses and dangers of magic that the author provides give this fantasy tale a unique bent. Aygrima, the fantasy world in which Masks is set, is carefully crafted with backstory and geographical descriptions that gives the land a life of its own. These features almost beg for fan fiction to be written in the setting of Aygrima.

The main character Mara shows true growth from a sheltered and naive girl to a brave and decisive young lady. She is a believably teenage girl, who is admirable in her values and determination. All of the minor characters, even those with the smallest parts to play, have their own unique history and attributes to make them stand out.

Masks is a great step up for older teen readers moving into reading adult fantasy. This book has a bit of a dystopian feel without the cliches that seem to be becoming common in YA dystopian fiction. Adult readers who have enjoyed series such as Terry Brooks' Shannara novels should be sure to read Masks.

E.C. Blake has set the stage well for a coming sequel to Masks, which readers will await with great anticipation.

[Jacklynn Sizemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I found this book to be really good!!! I say you must read it!! You get lost in the story and find that the masks are not what they seem!!!

[Deb Lester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masks is the first book in the Masks of Aygrima series by E.C. Blake. This is one of those novels that defies being classified, but it's not the genre that's in question, it's the age group. The heroine Mara Holdfast is fifteen years old during the time of story which would lend it toward being a young adult fantasy novel, but that's not necessarily the case. It has some adult themes and situations that make it very appealing to adult fantasy readers as well. Young and old alike will find the world building and magical concepts intriguing and original. Blake's smooth writing style and use of internal dialogue is riveting in this book and readers will have a hard time putting it down.

The title of this book is Masks, and the concept of masking is very important to the characters of E.C. Blake's magical land of Aygrima. The Autarch is leader of Aygrima and following a rebellion that nearly destroyed the Aygrima society, he has come up with a away to keep it from every happening again. On each person's fifteenth birthday in Aygrima they receive a mask. This mask denotes their profession and magical abilities as well as their unwavering devotion to the Autarch and they must wear it any time they are in public so that Watchers can make sure of their loyalty. The problem is, not everyone passes the test. If the mask rejects a person, that person is a traitor and is cast out.

I thought this was a very original idea for a novel. The masks are ornate and beautiful but they can be deadly. Blake does an amazing job of bringing the world of Aygrima to life and the masking concept. This is a world of magic and Blake brings that to the forefront of the action. The people of Aygrima can usually see one or two colors of magic at most, but our heroine, Mara can see them all, which makes her extremely unique. Her father is the master maskmaker and she wants to follow in his footsteps but her masking fails. I loved the fact that Blake assumes the reader will pick up on things going on behind the scenes. He kind of drops some bread crumbs but he lets readers decide for themselves what is really happening here.

The use of magic in this novel is really interesting. Almost all the people of Aygrima have magic, but it isn't quite as easy to use it as one might think. They can't just cast a spell or wave a wand. Magic requires ingredients and resources and time to use. It almost makes magic like a commodity. Some people have a little ability, some people have a lot. The Autarch is very powerful and has a great use of magic, while those who have been cast out have very little. I thought the way magic is used in this book was extremely unique and original.

Mara is a typical teenager in my opinion. She has her own ideas about how life works and how things are, and trying to convince her otherwise, probably wouldn't work. But when her masking fails, she begins to see her world in a completely different light. What happens to those that are unmasked? Is it fair? It is right? Mara goes through a lot of changes within the book and comes out on the other side with a different view of life and what is important about it. Her internal dialogue throughout the book becomes a little tedious at times, but to be fair, she has been given a lot to digest here.

There is some violence and sexual situations, but they are mostly alluded to and not described in great detail, which is one of the things that make this book good for young readers. But the flow of the book and Blake's descriptions and wording is more along the lines of an adult novel. It's an interesting mix of the two. One of the things I found a bit lacking was the use of secondary characters. We get to know Mara very well, since the book is comprised of her experience and thoughts, but anyone else is kind of one dimensional. We don't find out anything beyond the surface about who they are and how they feel. I wanted to find a great connection with Mara, but was unable to. She's a great character and the story was fascinating, but she didn't grab me like some heroines do. That's not to say this wasn't a good book. It mostly definitely was, very creative and imaginative. I liked it a lot and I rooted for her to the very end. A great first novel by an interesting new face in the fantasy genre!

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time I finish a high fantasy book I ask myself why I don't read more of them. I just love them so much! But I suppose that I don't read them ALL the time because maybe the excitement they give me would start to fade? Maybe I'd start to like them less? Most of all, it's because I have so many other things I want to read too. But really, I can't seem to ever get enough fantasy. Starting a new fantasy series when I already have so many going maybe isn't the best idea, but I'm really glad I did because I really enjoyed this one a lot.
Creative and unique; this new series delivered on all levels. Great world, great plot, great characters. Everything you could possibly want or need in a fantasy was here. And what I love about YA is that it delivers the epic fantasy I want/crave but it's not usually as complicated as the adult ones that have a million characters and lands and customs and everything else to keep straight. While those might actually deliver on a more epic level, you have to have far more patience to stick with them. So YA is what I like to call High Fantasy Light. Still epic, but easier to read, not to mention much faster.

Mara comes from a good family. More privileged then many and with a happy childhood. She's a bit naive in the start, totally clueless to some of the stuff going on in the world, she opens her eyes quickly as she's thrust into a world she never realized existed. A place for the unmasked, but not only that but an unmasked army. She has to decide if she's faithful to the Autarch and the things she's believed her whole life, or if there's more to it all and maybe the Autarch isn't as great as she thought. Though Mara is naive at the start she grows up quickly. When push comes to shove she pushes back. Put through some horrendous ordeals she always fights to reach what is right. She sometimes falls down and reaches a point where she feels there may be no hope, but she doesn't give up. While there were times when I wanted to yell at her, that her decisions may be noble, they also might be stupid. But she does it because it's the right thing to do. If she didn't do it then I wouldn't look at her the same. She would be more weak or cowardly. So while perhaps stupid, it was also the brave thing to do. Of course, that depends on how you look at it.

The world was really terrific. I felt like we got enough details to really imagine it all and understand it, but it seems like it's got to be only a small portion of what is to come. Rather then feel it is lacking at all in the world, it feels more like it's just the beginning. The masks and the magic got some major explaining at the end (no info dumps) and while there's no way I can predict what is going to happen, it has me excited to see what will come.

This was a book easy to read and hard to put down. I read it in large chunks, wanting to finish it to find out what happens. It was fast paced with no real stopping point and barely a rest to be found. While there was a bit of gore and violence, it wasn't more then you'd expect in a story of this kind. It wasn't full of constant battles, but it had a few scenes of fighting; mostly just Mara protecting herself.

I recommend this to YA readers and fans of high fantasy of all ages. Fast, intense and highly addicting!

You can find this review, and others like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/20...

Disclaimer: I read Masks by E.C. Blake while laying on a beach drinking tonic water that may or may not have also contained a significant amount of gin. This means that I am likely to be substantially less critical than I might otherwise be. My friends also inform me that the title must be pronounced with a dramatic accent, because that makes it more fun.

The land of Aygrima is ruled by an Autarch who seems ageless and is desperate to maintain complete control of his people. Therefore, when people come of age at 15, they become full adults by donning magical masks that reveal to the authorities whether those people are having seditious thoughts. Mara is the daughter of the Autarch’s head maskmaker, and she is eager to follow in her father’s footsteps and join the family business. She begins the book with blind patriotism toward the Autarch, because that’s what she’s been taught. But as her masking day approaches, she becomes increasingly nervous. She sees how her friends have changed after their maskings, and she doesn’t want to lose her sense of self. And then, at the masking ceremony, something goes horribly wrong, and Mara is thrust into a world filled with people who are eager to use her knowledge of masks and magic for their own ends.

So, I’m not actually sure if Masks is intended to be for young adults or grown-ups. I found it in the fantasy section, but it’s a fast-paced fantasy dystopia reads more like YA. Not that it really matters to me, because I love good books no matter what audience they are written for.

The magic system in Masks was fascinating. Magic is a physical thing that is consumed by people who are able to use it. There’s a sense that it’s otherworldly. Being able to use magic is pretty rare. Each child is tested for the ability to see magic at an early age, when they are able to see the full spectrum of magic. As gifted children age, their talent settles and they only see one color. And each color of magic can then be used to do different things. Mara is, of course, a special snowflake, and her magic never settles. This means that she’s more powerful than anybody else on the planet, save perhaps the Autarch himself.

There’s also a little bit of a love triangle, but it wasn’t obnoxious (yet). Mara was too busy trying to stay alive and/or blow up people who were trying to hurt her to be overly concerned about romantic feelings. If she starts settling down a bit, perhaps that will change, but for now, the romance aspect of the story remained in the backdrop instead of overshadowing the actual plot.

I’m curious to see how this series proceeds. Masks had a satisfactory ending; it wasn’t terribly cliffhanger-y (Is that a word? If not, I just made it up), and yet left a very clear direction for the second book to pick up. I already purchased Book 2, and am looking forward to reading it.

[Jason A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

What to say about this book?

That is what I am struggling with right now. "Masks" seems like it has what is needed to be a successful opening to a series, but it falls short in a few areas.

First, the world we are given revolves around the idea that the adult citizens are required to wear masks when they are out in public. The premise is that the masks are magical and will signal to the "watchers" if someone has traitorous thoughts about the ruler. Who hasn't those types of thoughts at some point or another? Why would a citizenry agree to this even given the guise of "to ensure peace"? I didn't quite get it, I must admit. The book could have done a little more to show me about the world. Let me into more people's thoughts. This would have required a totally different POV as the entire book is written in third person, singular.

Second, there is the main character. As I read through the book it occurred to me that she doesn't really do anything. She largely observes what is happening and then reacts occasionally. Mara is one of the few "Gifted" in the world we are given. Someone who can see magic and potentially use it. She is rare amongst the gifted in that she can see all of the colors of magic even as a teenager. When everything goes to hell around her after her masking fails she survives and gets by only through fate, or we might all it "deus ex machina". She is first rescued by s band of rebels that just happen to know which wagon is bringing her to a prison camp, then she accidentally uses magic to save herself from a potential rapist, the. She is again rescued by the same rebels when the warden of the prison camp sends her on a guarded survey mission and again uses magic accidentally to kill one of the watchers who is threatening her life. Her final use of magic also happens by chance, although is a tad bit more thought out.

Overall I felt the writing was done well, and it was an enjoyable diversion of a book. I just feel that more could have been done to round out Mara. She is weak as far as protagonists go. Every positive action is not really done through conscious effort. Also, the world seemed flat. I want to see more of the issues brought out by the masking controversy, for this is hinted at but only seen through the eyes of one small group of rebels. I want to see or hear more about the ruler and people's thoughts. We get a brief prologue and them a few spots of infor, but what about public talk? What about conversations in a home? It is here that leaving Mara's POV could have aided the book.

I might pick up the next book if it is written, just to see if Mara develops. If she doesn't then the whole series will be lost to me, but it is what it is. There is a possibility that you will enjoy this story, just be sure that you don't mind a little hand of god guiding you along.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masks
By:
E. C. Blake

Essentially...

In Aygrima...magic is a gift possessed by just a few. At the age of 15...masks are made to suit each mask wearer. Mara...the daughter of the chief mask maker...is awaiting her special day...when her ceremony goes terribly wrong.

My thoughts after reading this book...

I loved this book and yet I am at a loss as to how to explain it to any potential reader. This kind of fantasy is complex and complicated. However...the best thing is this...once you start reading this book you become a part of this strange world and everything is clear...the heroes and the bad guys are easy to remember!

So...as best I can...here goes...

The Autarch is the supposedly the most magical person of all in this land so what he says trumps everything. Mara...the Chief Mask Maker's daughter...is supposed to follow in her father's footsteps and become a mask maker. She and others get tested at various points in their lives to see what colors they see and which kind of magic they have. Mara continues to see all colors and at the age of thirteen does not tell the truth about what she sees...she sort of tells a half lie...that you can understand because she truly just wants to please her father. Mara has also heard the stories of what some of the masks will do if they have an issue with the wearer. Scary! The person remains unmasked and has to leave! Off to the mines!

When this frightening thing happens to Mara...and...as she is being led to the mines...an attack is made by the unmasked army and she and others are taken to the Secret City.

Mara is alone, hungry, dirty, confused, homesick and she us about to meet the leader of this Secret City and discover what her true powers are...but before...or rather as...that happens there is danger, so much danger that I could not put this book down. Mara meets evil people as well as people who need to find a better way to live...she is in the center of everything as she discovers more and more about her gift of magic. Mara is truly more powerful than anyone imagined. Secrets come out...the Autarch is aging and doing things to the masks to sort of turn the wearers into puppets.

The unmasked army is the only deterrent!

Final thoughts...

I found this fantasy exciting and different...the masks, the magic, the wardens, it was all fascinating. The ending...seemed to imply that there will be more adventures for Mara and her unmasked army. I have to add how enjoyable it was to picture the Secret City. A city carved in stone complete with hot springs, lakes and much more...it sounded lovely in spite of the dangers!

[Christopher · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was disturbing for several reasons. But first, one needs to keep in mind that the main character is a fifteen year old young lady. Keep that firmly in your head when you consider that the author puts her through the following situations:

1) Several scenes of nudity, including more than one that is involuntary,
2) The most mentions of urination I have ever encountered in any singular book - and possibly more mentions than I possess in my rather large collection combined, with an emphasis of embarrassment attached to it,
3) An almost constant threat of rape towards the character for two thirds of the book, many threats towards other females through the story, and one secondary character who is sexually assaulted by several men over the course of three days away from the main narrative,
4) Finally, no less than two scenes in which the heroine is incapacitated to such a degree that she's required to be fitted with a diaper.

What's more, this is a book shelved in the "Young Adult" section of my local bookstore. With all of those elements, I would never recommend this book to be read by anyone under adult age - it honestly feels borderline fetishistic. That's not to say the author doesn't have an interesting idea for his world and the direction the story is set to go... it simply has too great of a presence of these other elements to enjoy the story.

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Goodreads Giveaway book

E.C. Blake's Masks is a promising start to what will be a stunning fantasy series. Mara's world is intriguing. The Autarch, supreme ruler of the land, creates masks infused with magic, bewitched to allow the Autarch's Watchers to monitor the thoughts of of the people. Each mask will betray it's wearer, shattering irreparably upon any treachery spoken against the Autarch. But when Mara's mask rejects her on her fifteenth birthday, she is rejected from society, and doomed to become one of the Unmasked. Mara's story is horrifying yet compelling. As she struggles to survive the harsh reality of her new surroundings, Mara learns truths that no one thought possible, and must come to terms with what it means for her future.

Masks has a little bit of everything. It's a little gory, packed cover to cover with action, and offers just the right amount of a budding romance. There is no overpowering element as often happens in fantasy- everything blends perfectly, creating a wonderful and shocking new world for the reader to get lost in.

I was thrilled for the opportunity to read this- and I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

[Taggart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a free uncorrected proof of Masks by E.C. Blake courtesy of DAW Books via GoodReads First Reads.

I absolutely loved Masks by E.C. Blake. I thought Mara and the other characters in the book were very well thought out and well written. The story kept me engaged from the very first word until the very end. It was a hard book to put down at the end of the day, I just wanted to keep reading it and not go to sleep. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series and see how the story progresses.

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: For years, every adult has been required to wear a mask when outside of their house in order to prevent another rebellion. When 15-year-old Mara’s Masking fails, her life is changed forever…

Opening Sentence: From atop a nameless mountain, the Autarch of Aygrima watched another of his villages burn.

The Review:

Young adult books can sometimes be hit or miss with me, depending on how I feel about the protagonist. Luckily, this book was a big hit. From the first page, it had me hooked. While it wasn’t a five star read, it was still a thrilling ride from beginning to end.

When the Autarch began his rule over the land of Aygrima, he instituted a new rule: once a child reaches the age of 15, they are considered an adult. On their 15th birthday, children attend a masking ceremony, where they are fitted for their mask, which they will wear from that point on anytime they are outside of their house. The masks have the capability of revealing the wearer’s innermost thoughts, so the Autarch will always know if someone is plotting against him. In this way, the Autarch can assure that there will never be another rebellion like the one that occurred right before he came to power.

Mara has wanted to be a Maskmaker like her father ever since she was a small child. When she takes her first test at the age of 6 to see if she’s Gifted, she’s overjoyed to learn that she can see magic, which means there’s a chance she can see the type of magic that would allow her to be a Maskmaker. She becomes concerned, however, at her next test years later when, instead of only seeing one color of magic, she still sees a multitude of colors. Scared, she only mentions one color to her tester so that no one knows. Now, it is time for her masking, and her every dream is about to come true. Then, something horrible happens: her Masking fails. Now, she’s consigned to a life as an Unmasked in the mines, never to see her family again. What went wrong? Will Mara’s continued ability to see magic despite her Unmasking aid her in her new life? Will she ever find a way out of the mines?

What I love about Mara is that she’s very believable as a 15-year-old without the air of immaturity that is sometimes seen in other young adult novels. She’s very unsure of herself at first, but as the book continues, you can see her begin to become more confident, getting an idea of the adult she could be one day. I also like that she’s not perfect. Throughout the book, you can see her occasionally be tempted by the concept of the power she could one day have, whether it’s right to use it or not. This is a very believable reaction to me, which made me connect to her a little bit more than I would if she always made the right decisions.

My one complaint would be that some of the side characters aren’t too well developed yet. There’s a love triangle, but we don’t see enough of either guy to really side with one or the other. Both guys seem like nice, good guys, but they don’t go much deeper than that. Hopefully, the second book will let us see more of them.

It should be mentioned that while this is technically a young adult book because of Mara’s age, there is some very serious subject matter here, including repeated references to rape. It’s not for the faint of heart, but those who are looking for a serious fantasy read set in an interesting and well developed world are in for a treat. I’m very much looking forward to book 2!

Notable Scene:

The earth shuddered, again and yet again…and then all was still.

The Autarch, breathing heavily, fell to his knees on the snow- and blood-covered rocks. It’s over, he thought. She’s gone. Fierce satisfaction swelled within him. I promised you, Lady Arilla. I promised you pain and fire.

And I always keep my promises.

After a long moment, the Autarch climbed heavily to his feet. Without a backward glance at the sprawled bodies of his erstwhile bodyguards, he began trudging back to Starbright. Perhaps he would come across one of the spooked horses of his slain escort. Perhaps not.

It did not matter.

The last threat to his power had been eliminated. He was young, he was powerful, he was the Autarch of Aygrima, and he had nothing to fear: not here, and not back in Tamita, the city where his throne awaited him.

With Arilla out of the way, no one remains who can threaten me. And once I return to Tamita, I will proclaim the Masking. From that moment on, no one will ever threaten me again. I will not die like my father.

Holding that thought in his mind like a good-luck charm, the Autarch of Aygrima trudged southward.

I will not die!

FTC Advisory: DAW/Penguin provided me with a copy of Masks. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Cat Russell (Addicted2Heroines) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I start my review, I have a confession to make. I didn't know E.C. Blake was a male author. Why does this matter, you ask? Because I have a tendency to avoid stories told from a female character's point of view when they're not written by a woman. I know it's wrong to judge a story before I've read it, but I've had a couple of bad experiences. Fortunately, this wasn't an issue with Masks. Blake creates a likable, believable teenage girl that you'll want to cheer for until the very end.

Mara's journey throughout the story was exciting and fast-paced as she moved from one predicament to the next. Never knowing who can be trusted or how her secrets may be used against her, she finds herself in the middle of a silent war being waged against a ruler with powerful magic, the Aurtarch.

And since I've mentioned magic, Mara's growing and developing magical powers were one of the main highlights of this story. The magically-gifted are only able to see the presence of one magical color that will represent what skills they will be capable of and become the deciding factor in what path their lives will take. But Mara can see every color. It's a rare talent that has potentially dangerous consequences. She is fearful of what her gift means and attempts to hide it from others, but she isn't truly frightened until she learns just how powerful, and deadly, she really is.

The concept of the masks was unique and their purpose, the history behind them, and the secrets they held were all interesting additions to the story. I was also intrigued by the unMasked and I'm curious to learn how their army will attempt to achieve their goals and the part that Mara will play in their future plans.

Masks was an engaging read that fans of young adult fantasy will enjoy. I'm glad to have a new author to follow and I look forward to seeing where Mara's journey will take her next.

[Jill Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mara is about to turn fifteen and become an adult. When that happens she will also get her mask, which will show her status, profession, and whether or not she is loyal to the Autarch. But when Mara’s mask breaks during her masking ceremony, she is taken away. It’s then that she discovers what happens to those who are unmasked.

I enjoyed this book. With the exception of a prologue, it’s told strictly from Mara’s point of view. We follow her from age five to fifteen: the events that lead up to her masking and what happens when the mask fails. The premise of this book is clever and different. I enjoyed the fresh way magic is used and the concept of masks. I didn’t connect with Mara as well as I would have liked but still found the story entertaining. The book could use a map of the land in the front. *wink*

While this book is a young adult story, it’s been published as an adult story. It’s the first in a series, so that leads me to believe that Mara will grow up over the course of the books. For parents, there are a few swear words in the book, one scene where a character is killed by magic and his head explodes, talk of characters who’ve been raped, and a situation where Mara is attacked by a would-be rapist. It’s handled tastefully. Other than that, the book is clean.

*I received this book free from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok I absolutely love this book. The only problem I do have is that this book is a little crude in certain content areas. That may be only my thought because I'm only 15 and I'm not like most of the teens who are very physical in a relationship. In other words by friend literally told me I was acting like a 5 year old going through the "cooties" stage when I proceeded to say "kissing is icky." Anyhow, this book displays going against what society has told you very well. How Mara's character develops throughout the story is mind blowing. How you can take a girl who was always told what to do and how to be have, who also followed directions and tired never to disobey anyone and turn it completely around. I can not wait to read the second book.

[Shannon Flowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masks is the first in a new YA-friendly fantasy series and is, from what I can gather, the first foray into fiction for author E.C. Blake. It follows the pattern that has become something of a standard for the genre; young protagonist faced with a coming-of-age moment, something goes wrong that drives the protagonist away from the comforts of home and safety of family to confront life-threatening danger, protagonist comes to realize that they are somehow special or unique and have the ability to right the wrongs they see around them if they can find the strength and will to bear the sacrifices required to do so.

In Masks the protagonist is Mara, a young girl who lives in the Autarchy of Aygrima where all adult citizens are required to wear masks that reveal any thoughts of disloyalty to the ruling Autarch that the wearer might have, thus ensuring that there will never be a rebellion against his authority. Aygrima is the one country in the world that has access to magic and the few “gifted” people that can see and wield magic are highly prized. Mara is strongly gifted and expects to use her gift to be apprenticed to her father, the master mask-maker for the Autarchy. Unfortunately when it comes time for her to don her mask and become a full adult member of society, her masking fails turning her immediately into a pariah and outcast, destined for a life of slavery in the mines that drive the economy of the Autarchy. On the way to the mines she is surprised to be rescued by the UnMasked Army, a group of rebels opposed to the Autarch, who want to use her skills as a mask-maker to provide them with disguises that will allow them to infiltrate the masked citizenry of the Autarchy and further their rebellion.

Do not take away from this that Masks is not a good book. I found it to be entertaining, well paced and to have some very good world-building in establishing the setting. In many ways I found it to be reminiscent of John Christopher’s Tripod series, The White Mountains, The City of Gold and Lead and The Pool of Fire. The Masks are a similar concept to Christopher’s Caps; a mark of adulthood that is required for entrance into normal society but that have ominous overtones of control and blunting of personality. Mara is a strong, well written character and I think Blake did a good job of having her alternate between the fear and doubt of childhood and the emerging strength of young-adulthood.

On the other hand, other than an interesting and original setting, Masks doesn’t do a lot with the YA friendly genre that hasn’t already been done by, say, The Hunger Games or Divergent. If you are someone with very limited time to read for pleasure and only have time to pick up the best in new literature, Masks may not be worth your time. If, however, you are just looking for an entertaining and competently written fantasy Masks definitely fits the bill.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this an enjoyable fantasy read. The plot is not too surprising (standard "girl is a long way from home"), but I greatly enjoyed the main character's personality. I also really liked the whole concept of a world where people must don masks for their 15th birthday, that the masks had started as a way to tease out treasonous thoughts (kind of reminded me of Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay). But the emperor is corrupted, as emperors in fantasy novels often are, and changes the masks, resulting in many more "unsuccessful maskings," and, believe me, you do not want to be in an unsuccessful masking or be around afterwards. The main character, Mara Holdfast, is the beloved daughter of the chief mask maker. Her masking (this is in the blurb, so I'm not giving anything away here) goes horribly awry. The rest of the book is about what happens to her next, which involve a revolutionary army and wretched coal mines. I thought the book's pacing was OK, but there were a few questions that were left unanswered (I assume for the 2nd book reveal) that frustrated me. Still, I will look forward to the second installment by E.C. Blake.

[Nessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first the book seemed to be a bit ordinary. A simple concoction of things that makes a good fantasy story: an antagonist with great power, a young girl with an extraordinary gift, a society masked under the illusion of safety, etc. But as the story goes on the better it gets. I love the author put enough realism to show that in reality things don't happen out perfectly, or even produce the result you want but instead get worse and I like the revelation that Mara goes through her. And I loved the especially quick but strong character development that Mara goes through. All in all this book is a really good read.

[Diana Tenenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story of this book. The plot is intriguing and the world that Blake has developed is rich and captured my imagination. The reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I think I'm a little older than the intended audience. The writing style and age of the main characters (approximately 15 years old) reminded me of fantasy books that I had read as a younger reader, in early high school. Despite that, I still found myself liking Mara quite a bit, and will definitely continue with the series because of the intriguing plot and fantastical world.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

reminded me heavily of the Keeper of the Lost Cities (in terms of characters, not plot) and that’s probably why i liked it so much 😋😋

[Lexie · Rating 2 out of 5]

First things first - despite our protagonist being 15 years old this isn't apparently considered a YA fantasy. Look I don't pretend to understand what makes this book a YA book and what makes that book a YA book - I guess it comes down to marketing and where the publisher thinks the book will do best in the case of books like this - but there isn't really anything in this book to make it not suitable for 16 year olds. Hell maybe even 15 year olds depending on how they like their fantasy (if they read more Rae Carson, Kristin Cashore and Sarah J. Maas as opposed to Shannon Hale, Jessica Day George and Gail Carson Levine then this book is fine for them). Fact remains this is a book starring a 15 year old girl, surrounded by a good portion of the cast roughly near her age.

And terrible things happen. Because when don't they when you're the Chosen One. Which make no mistake Mara is very clearly The Chosen One. I was seriously waiting for the reveal that she was "The Lady of Fire and Pain"s grand daughter or that she was secretly the Autarach's daughter. Because seriously, she's that special.

The first half of this book I was enjoying myself. Mara was a spirited, mostly intelligent considering her age girl who had all the insecurities you'd expect in a 15 year who's life was just torn apart, pieced together wrong and forced through a hole three sizes too small. No one tells Mara anything ever. They say things at her. They dance around topics. They come up with vaguely comforting but utterly useless platitudes. But no one tells her anything. Which really mattered very little since until the Masking her biggest problems (in this order) were 1) her daddy was ignoring her for the last two months, 2) her best friend became the Queen of Ice and 3) she thought she was a huge fraud so she could be sentenced to a life of hell. Maybe. Probably.

Mara's time with the UnMasked Army was also similarly fun, though shallow by in large. She got SOME answers and as a reader we realized MORE answers then she could hope to, but it was another case of "we'll tell you if its necessary do as we say".

And then came the single stupidest act in a novel I've ever read. Well..okay it maybe wasn't as bad as a couple of those Harlequin romances I read, but this honestly ranks up there. One of the kids that was rescued, Grute, was through and through dirty and despicable. Blake doesn't even try to shade this kid, just makes him straight up awful. He's imprisoned by the rebels and pretty much left that way since they have no idea what to do with him (several people suggested DEATH and to which I agreed). If they had better plans they never bothered explaining them and it didn't matter since Grute escaped.

Grute who had sworn to "take care of" Mara on several occasions, leered, sneered, made crude comments, attempted indecent actions and was in general happy to pull wings off of birds has escaped. Remember this.

Mara, god love her soul, thinks this means its a GRAND TIME to go and take a bath. By herself. In the most isolated place you can imagine because she'd be damned if she stunk of high heaven if one of her crushes happened by. You can probably guess what happened then. And thus begins the second half of the book in which Mara does every stupid ass thing you can think of. I understand why Blake had her refuse to leave Katia behind. But after the third time of trying to rescue that ungrateful girl you'd think Mara would have put the wellfare of EVERYONE ELSE first. But no! She would save Katia because they were besties! The best part is when Katia slaps THAT idea down unequivocally.

And honestly the entire second part was one way too contrived coincidence after another. She had 9 lives or something. As for her magic...ugh. Since we're only given the barest of ideas of what the "magic" was and where it came from its hard to really understand what was going on there. The magic is running out because the Autarach is...sapping it? To seem youthful? Or something?

The next book promises pirates (I think? There's a ship on the cover and a shipwreck soo...) and Mara going batshit crazy dark. Considering the number of dead people you can lay at her feet that should be interesting to see.

[Brannigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

first published at The Qwillery

Masks is the first novel in a new fantasy series. From the first page, you're thrust into an epic story involving a very interesting magic system. One I've never see before and one that I never got tired learning about. The magic system is its own character in the book, and since it is unique, you spend a lot of time learning about it and how it relates to the world. Still, the author leaves enough mystery that you hope to learn more about it in future books.

Mara Holdfast is a very identifiable character, one that almost any female can find a common thread with, while also not alienating males who would like to read the series. The book begins with Mara being very young and illustrates her ideal home life and the tests she goes through to discover her magical gift. This is an important area to develop her character, so the readers will be able to understand the struggles she goes through later in the book. In the majority of the story, however, she is a 15-year-old.

I've read some complaints by other reviewers that Mara is a bit whiny in the book and it drove them away. I think it's important to talk about the target audience for this book. The publisher has categorized it as General Adult/Grades 12 & Up, however based on the character's age and the plot, I see it as more of a Young Adult book. I think some adult readers will find Mara on the whiny side, whereas older teenagers may not find it annoying, since they're still exploring the world around them as well as exploring the same inner emotions and learning how to deal with their world. Mara is true to this and does spend time thinking about what she has been forced to do.

For you romance fans, there is also the beginning of a love triangle in the story, but thankfully for the non-romantics it's not the center of the story. I suspect it will be used in future books, but since it is handled very naturally, I don't think I'd mind reading more about it in future books.

The only complaint I have about the book other than an unclear target audience, is I didn't get to spend more time with the villain of the series, the Autarch. He's still a bit of an enigma. I know some authors like to take this approach with villains—less is more. There are plenty of other minor villains in the book, but I kept wanting to see the Autarch in action, instead of learning about him second hand from other characters.

If young adults or parents of young adults would like to read the book, I do feel obligated to mention there are several scenes of graphic violence, as well as several implied references to rape and one scene of attempted rape. There are also a few instances of strong language. Lastly, there is a scene of under-age drinking, but it also shows the morning-after effects.

Masks is a strong first book in a promising new series, however, I hope the author finds his target audience by the second book. I'd recommend Masks to older young adults, and adults who enjoy Fantasy and Dystopian fiction with teenage characters or anyone who likes unique magical systems.

[Raven W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the overview of the book i am excited to see the ending. I already have a prediction of what’s gonna happen but I’m only a few pages in so I’ll keep reading before I make a final guess