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A Masquerade of Shadows
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Expected 30 Jun 26Every five years, the twelve kingdoms gather for the Royal Paravellian Balls. Seven nights of intrigue and glittering enchantment where trade is brokered, alliances are sealed, and betrayals unfold behind jeweled masks.
The perfect setting for a grand assassination.
After watching her kingdom burn at the hands of a ruthless king, Analleia swore vengeance. Years of training honed her into a weapon with one purpose: attend the Paravellian Balls, destroy the king's alliances, and assassinate him on the final night.
Born seventh in line for the throne, Prince Valeris determines to outmaneuver his unbefitting siblings in a competition for the crown. When Analleia's sabotage threatens his rise, he strikes a fragile alliance with her, enlisting her help to hunt the shadow stalking his family while he schemes to uncover her true identity.
As their fates entwine, the line between love and betrayal blurs. And when a dangerous bargain with an Enchantress comes due before the finale, Analleia must decide what she's willing to sacrifice-her vengeance, her heart, or her soul.
The enchantment of Caraval meets the revenge of The Count of Monte Cristo in this deadly enemies to lovers YA Fantasy
The perfect setting for a grand assassination.
After watching her kingdom burn at the hands of a ruthless king, Analleia swore vengeance. Years of training honed her into a weapon with one purpose: attend the Paravellian Balls, destroy the king's alliances, and assassinate him on the final night.
Born seventh in line for the throne, Prince Valeris determines to outmaneuver his unbefitting siblings in a competition for the crown. When Analleia's sabotage threatens his rise, he strikes a fragile alliance with her, enlisting her help to hunt the shadow stalking his family while he schemes to uncover her true identity.
As their fates entwine, the line between love and betrayal blurs. And when a dangerous bargain with an Enchantress comes due before the finale, Analleia must decide what she's willing to sacrifice-her vengeance, her heart, or her soul.
The enchantment of Caraval meets the revenge of The Count of Monte Cristo in this deadly enemies to lovers YA Fantasy
- GenresFantasyFantasy Romance
Hardcover
Expected publication June 30, 2026
About the author
Christy R. Harrill
6 books102 followersFind me on instagram and tiktok @christyrharrill
Christy R. Harrill grew up in the flatlands of Oklahoma writing stories, devouring books, and spending entirely too much time daydreaming. She writes fast-paced Young Adult Fantasy with a blend of high stakes adventure and romantic tension featured in her Blood Vier series and newest novel A Masquerade of Shadows. She lives with her goofy dog Hank and enjoys hiking, a healthy dose of laughter, and cold wintry days snuggled up with a book.
Christy R. Harrill grew up in the flatlands of Oklahoma writing stories, devouring books, and spending entirely too much time daydreaming. She writes fast-paced Young Adult Fantasy with a blend of high stakes adventure and romantic tension featured in her Blood Vier series and newest novel A Masquerade of Shadows. She lives with her goofy dog Hank and enjoys hiking, a healthy dose of laughter, and cold wintry days snuggled up with a book.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 31, 2026
As a fan of Christy R. Harrill’s The Blood Vier series, I was beyond excited to hear about this new release! Our main character Analleia attends the Royal Paravellian Balls with the intent to assassinate the king who destroyed her family and her kingdom. Prince Valeris is the youngest son determined to win the throne, working to outwit and outmaneuver his conniving siblings at all costs.
This story has everything readers love to see in a YA fantasy: an intriguing premise, a fast plot, characters with a complicated past, political intrigue, balls, magic, family/friendship dynamics, and a slow burn romance (YES they’re actually enemies and stay that way—begrudgingly forming alliances and toeing the line of trust—for the majority of the book). Harrill is a master of slow burn!!
The prologue starts the book with a bang, the story ends in a bang, and everything in between kept me engaged and wanting to know what would happen next. I loveddd the chess part! (iykyk, no spoilers from me.) And the family dynamics of both characters were so interesting; they experienced very morally grey and intricate pasts with their siblings and parents. I also appreciated that the balls were actually a major focus of the plot (we all know some books advertise tropes we love, but then they aren’t a main part of the story), although I would’ve liked to see more of the alliances being made by both main characters.
I love Harrill’s writing, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next! Would highly recommend this book to YA fantasy lovers looking for a great standalone!! 4.5 stars—thank you so much for an ARC of this story :)
This story has everything readers love to see in a YA fantasy: an intriguing premise, a fast plot, characters with a complicated past, political intrigue, balls, magic, family/friendship dynamics, and a slow burn romance (YES they’re actually enemies and stay that way—begrudgingly forming alliances and toeing the line of trust—for the majority of the book). Harrill is a master of slow burn!!
The prologue starts the book with a bang, the story ends in a bang, and everything in between kept me engaged and wanting to know what would happen next. I loveddd the chess part! (iykyk, no spoilers from me.) And the family dynamics of both characters were so interesting; they experienced very morally grey and intricate pasts with their siblings and parents. I also appreciated that the balls were actually a major focus of the plot (we all know some books advertise tropes we love, but then they aren’t a main part of the story), although I would’ve liked to see more of the alliances being made by both main characters.
I love Harrill’s writing, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next! Would highly recommend this book to YA fantasy lovers looking for a great standalone!! 4.5 stars—thank you so much for an ARC of this story :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“A Masquerade of Shadows,” by Christy R. Harrill
The story centers around deadly royal balls, assassinations, political alliances, and revenge, with a FMC determined to infiltrate balls and destroy the king responsible for her kingdom’s downfall. There’s also a prince trying to outmaneuver his siblings for the crown, which adds a lot of tension and court politics. The atmosphere was probably my favorite part. The whole masked ball / court intrigue aesthetic felt very dramatic and addictive. It has that kind of fantasy world where everyone is scheming, hiding things, and trying to survive political games without getting stabbed in the back.
4 out of 5 stars.
-Masked Balls
-Court Intrigue
-Assassination Plot
-Enemies to Lovers
-Secrets & Betrayal
Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.
April 14, 2026
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to this amazing author for allowing me to read an early ARC copy of this book !!!
“Every great assassination plot required three vital elements: a setting, a target. And a marksman”
“Haven’t you hear the news? I’m going to be the next king of Paravellia”
“And I would choose my family every time. Even if it meant destroying my own soul in the process”
Of course I loved it. Could it have been different? Not really because it was written by this author. A masquerade ball premise with an hired assassin on her revenge arc and a pompous prince who simply wants the throne is enough to turn even the most sceptic person into a believer. And the way it was delivered … masterful. I loved it. And Valeris and Analleia are such amazing main characters I feel like crying every single time they are mentioned. Saying that I had the time of my life reading this book would be a huge understatement. I loved it so much that since I was about to finish reading it in three hours, I forced myself to stop and start again the following day because … I simply didn’t want it to be over. This writing, this plot, the political intrigue, the mysteries, the secrets, the romance and the action were so good and so much like the Blood Vier, I was emotional. Valeris is exactly the William I wanted !!!! And the fact that it was a standalone … perfectly wrapped up. In my opinion. I’d missed the beauty of a ya fantasy story and this authors knows exactly how to make my heart soar !!!
“The finale was at hand. And I had a king to assassinate”
“Even in my grief, my heart ached. Ached for him.”
“I ran after him. Ran after vengeance”
“Every great assassination plot required three vital elements: a setting, a target. And a marksman”
“Haven’t you hear the news? I’m going to be the next king of Paravellia”
“And I would choose my family every time. Even if it meant destroying my own soul in the process”
Of course I loved it. Could it have been different? Not really because it was written by this author. A masquerade ball premise with an hired assassin on her revenge arc and a pompous prince who simply wants the throne is enough to turn even the most sceptic person into a believer. And the way it was delivered … masterful. I loved it. And Valeris and Analleia are such amazing main characters I feel like crying every single time they are mentioned. Saying that I had the time of my life reading this book would be a huge understatement. I loved it so much that since I was about to finish reading it in three hours, I forced myself to stop and start again the following day because … I simply didn’t want it to be over. This writing, this plot, the political intrigue, the mysteries, the secrets, the romance and the action were so good and so much like the Blood Vier, I was emotional. Valeris is exactly the William I wanted !!!! And the fact that it was a standalone … perfectly wrapped up. In my opinion. I’d missed the beauty of a ya fantasy story and this authors knows exactly how to make my heart soar !!!
“The finale was at hand. And I had a king to assassinate”
“Even in my grief, my heart ached. Ached for him.”
“I ran after him. Ran after vengeance”
April 2, 2026
First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley for the book ARC.
Well that was truly a fun read. At first, I really thought I was going to DNF it because I found it hard to engage with the story, especially the male character. However, after about 30%, the story became much more engaging and completely hooked me. I was eager to see how everything would unfold by the end. I’m always a fan of a good revenge plotline, and the author definitely delivered, especially with the twists at the end.
Well that was truly a fun read. At first, I really thought I was going to DNF it because I found it hard to engage with the story, especially the male character. However, after about 30%, the story became much more engaging and completely hooked me. I was eager to see how everything would unfold by the end. I’m always a fan of a good revenge plotline, and the author definitely delivered, especially with the twists at the end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
This was a solid standalone fantasy! It hooks you straight from the prologue, and from there, you'll be glued to the book and won't be able to stop reading because it's fast paced and overall just a super fun read!
The premise immediately got my attention: Analleia, the FMC, disguises herself to attend the Royal Paravellian Balls with the goal of assassinating the king who destroyed her family and her kingdom. Prince Valeris is the King's youngest son, determined to win the throne, all while working to outwit his greedy and conniving siblings at all costs. The dual POV was done really well in this story, giving a balanced perspective between the two characters.
This book honestly has everything you would want in a fantasy: a fast-paced plot, characters with a complicated past, political intrigue, slow burn tension between the MCs, family dynamics, a sprinkle of magic, and BALLs (which was the entire reason I picked up this book).
That said, I did have a few critiques. At times, the writing felt slightly repetitive, which made parts of the story feel longer than necessary. While the build-up toward the ending was intriguing, the actual conclusion felt a bit predictable and didn’t fully deliver the level of impact I was expecting. I also found myself skimming through a few chapters as I neared the end.
Despite this, I really enjoyed Christy R. Harrill’s writing style overall — it’s immersive, easy to read, and immediately pulls you into the story with strong prose. The characters were well-crafted, and the political intrigue added an engaging layer to the story.
Overall, A Masquerade of Shadows is an entertaining and compelling standalone fantasy with a great premise and plenty of intrigue. If you enjoy court politics, disguises, revenge plots, and a touch of magic, this is definitely one for you to check out!
3.5 stars!
This was a solid standalone fantasy! It hooks you straight from the prologue, and from there, you'll be glued to the book and won't be able to stop reading because it's fast paced and overall just a super fun read!
The premise immediately got my attention: Analleia, the FMC, disguises herself to attend the Royal Paravellian Balls with the goal of assassinating the king who destroyed her family and her kingdom. Prince Valeris is the King's youngest son, determined to win the throne, all while working to outwit his greedy and conniving siblings at all costs. The dual POV was done really well in this story, giving a balanced perspective between the two characters.
This book honestly has everything you would want in a fantasy: a fast-paced plot, characters with a complicated past, political intrigue, slow burn tension between the MCs, family dynamics, a sprinkle of magic, and BALLs (which was the entire reason I picked up this book).
That said, I did have a few critiques. At times, the writing felt slightly repetitive, which made parts of the story feel longer than necessary. While the build-up toward the ending was intriguing, the actual conclusion felt a bit predictable and didn’t fully deliver the level of impact I was expecting. I also found myself skimming through a few chapters as I neared the end.
Despite this, I really enjoyed Christy R. Harrill’s writing style overall — it’s immersive, easy to read, and immediately pulls you into the story with strong prose. The characters were well-crafted, and the political intrigue added an engaging layer to the story.
Overall, A Masquerade of Shadows is an entertaining and compelling standalone fantasy with a great premise and plenty of intrigue. If you enjoy court politics, disguises, revenge plots, and a touch of magic, this is definitely one for you to check out!
3.5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed A Masquerade of Shadows—it delivered exactly what I love in a YA fantasy: intrigue, tension, and just the right touch of romance woven into a dangerous, high-stakes setting.
The concept of the Royal Paravellian Balls immediately drew me in. The idea of seven nights filled with political maneuvering, secrets behind masks, and looming betrayal felt rich with possibility, and the author made the most of it. The atmosphere was vivid and immersive; I could almost picture the glittering gowns, shadowy corridors, and whispered deals happening just out of sight.
Analleia was a compelling protagonist. Her motivation—rooted in loss and vengeance—felt genuine, and I appreciated how her emotional journey evolved as the story progressed. She isn’t just a weapon; she’s constantly forced to question her purpose, especially as her connection with Valeris deepens. Speaking of Valeris, I really liked the dynamic between them. Their alliance is fragile, layered with distrust and chemistry, and the slow shift from enemies to something more kept me invested throughout.
The plot moved at a steady pace, with enough twists to keep things interesting without feeling overwhelming. I especially enjoyed the tension surrounding hidden identities and shifting loyalties—those moments where you’re not quite sure who to trust were some of the strongest in the book.
If I had one small critique, it would be that I occasionally wanted a bit more depth in certain side characters and political elements, as the world felt like it had even more to offer beneath the surface. That said, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.
Overall, this was a captivating, romantic, and suspenseful read that will definitely appeal to fans of enemies-to-lovers and court intrigue fantasies. I’d happily return to this world.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance!
The concept of the Royal Paravellian Balls immediately drew me in. The idea of seven nights filled with political maneuvering, secrets behind masks, and looming betrayal felt rich with possibility, and the author made the most of it. The atmosphere was vivid and immersive; I could almost picture the glittering gowns, shadowy corridors, and whispered deals happening just out of sight.
Analleia was a compelling protagonist. Her motivation—rooted in loss and vengeance—felt genuine, and I appreciated how her emotional journey evolved as the story progressed. She isn’t just a weapon; she’s constantly forced to question her purpose, especially as her connection with Valeris deepens. Speaking of Valeris, I really liked the dynamic between them. Their alliance is fragile, layered with distrust and chemistry, and the slow shift from enemies to something more kept me invested throughout.
The plot moved at a steady pace, with enough twists to keep things interesting without feeling overwhelming. I especially enjoyed the tension surrounding hidden identities and shifting loyalties—those moments where you’re not quite sure who to trust were some of the strongest in the book.
If I had one small critique, it would be that I occasionally wanted a bit more depth in certain side characters and political elements, as the world felt like it had even more to offer beneath the surface. That said, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.
Overall, this was a captivating, romantic, and suspenseful read that will definitely appeal to fans of enemies-to-lovers and court intrigue fantasies. I’d happily return to this world.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 | 🌶️ spice (hardly any)
This was my first time reading anything of Christy Harrill, and I was immediately impressed. From the prologue of A Masquerade of Shadows, her writing pulls you in with strong prose and a sense of urgency that makes it hard to put down.
We’re introduced early on to Analleia, our FMC, who strikes a bargain with an enchantress to attend a mysterious ball—setting the tone for a story full of secrets, magic, and hidden identities. The dual POV works really well here, with a balanced perspective between Analleia and Valeris, the prince and MMC. The shorter chapters kept the pacing engaging, though a few (like chapters 17 and 37) felt noticeably longer.
I’ll admit, Valeris came across as cocky and a bit insufferable at first, but it felt intentional, and his character does evolve. The story leans into political intrigue and personal conflict, with Analleia’s revenge-driven arc adding emotional weight. As an orphan navigating complex family dynamics and court politics, her journey is layered and compelling.
This is very much an enemies-to-lovers story with that classic “are you going to kill me or kiss me?” tension, paired with a slow burn romance that really starts to develop past the halfway mark (around 60%). The enchantment concealing Analleia’s identity was a fun and fitting touch, especially within the masquerade theme.
Aesthetically, this book shines, the cover is stunning, and the chapter artwork beautifully complements the overall vibe.
That said, I did feel the story could have been more tightly paced. It runs a bit longer than necessary, with multiple family conflicts and subplots that may appeal more to readers who enjoy heavier emotional and political drama.
Overall, an enjoyable read with strong writing, engaging characters, and a rich atmosphere.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC !
This was my first time reading anything of Christy Harrill, and I was immediately impressed. From the prologue of A Masquerade of Shadows, her writing pulls you in with strong prose and a sense of urgency that makes it hard to put down.
We’re introduced early on to Analleia, our FMC, who strikes a bargain with an enchantress to attend a mysterious ball—setting the tone for a story full of secrets, magic, and hidden identities. The dual POV works really well here, with a balanced perspective between Analleia and Valeris, the prince and MMC. The shorter chapters kept the pacing engaging, though a few (like chapters 17 and 37) felt noticeably longer.
I’ll admit, Valeris came across as cocky and a bit insufferable at first, but it felt intentional, and his character does evolve. The story leans into political intrigue and personal conflict, with Analleia’s revenge-driven arc adding emotional weight. As an orphan navigating complex family dynamics and court politics, her journey is layered and compelling.
This is very much an enemies-to-lovers story with that classic “are you going to kill me or kiss me?” tension, paired with a slow burn romance that really starts to develop past the halfway mark (around 60%). The enchantment concealing Analleia’s identity was a fun and fitting touch, especially within the masquerade theme.
Aesthetically, this book shines, the cover is stunning, and the chapter artwork beautifully complements the overall vibe.
That said, I did feel the story could have been more tightly paced. It runs a bit longer than necessary, with multiple family conflicts and subplots that may appeal more to readers who enjoy heavier emotional and political drama.
Overall, an enjoyable read with strong writing, engaging characters, and a rich atmosphere.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had such a great time reading A Masquerade of Shadows by Christy R. Harrill! This is a fast-paced YA fantasy that completely pulled me in from the start and kept me hooked with its twists, tension, and character dynamics.
The concept of the Royal Paravellian Balls was honestly one of my favourite parts: seven nights of glamour, intrigue, and danger, where alliances are made and betrayals hide behind masks. It felt vivid, original, and full of potential, and really set the stage for all the drama to unfold.
✨ Tropes you’ll love:
• Assassins 🗡️
• Hidden identity 👀
• Forced proximity 🤝
• Enemies to lovers ❤️🔥
I loved the energy between Analleia and Valeris with all their tension, the banter, and the push-and-pull. Valeris especially had that cocky prince charm that made him both frustrating and entertaining, and I genuinely found myself chuckling at their interactions more than once.
The writing flows really well, making it an easy and addictive read. The plot moves quickly (in a good way), with enough twists and shifting alliances to keep things interesting without feeling overwhelming. Both main characters come with difficult pasts that shape their motivations, which added emotional depth to the story and made their choices feel meaningful.
It also has a strong start, which I always appreciate: no slow build here, you’re thrown right into the intrigue and stakes from early on.
Overall, this is a really solid YA fantasy with a compelling premise, engaging characters, and a great balance of romance, revenge, and political intrigue. It didn’t quite hit a full 5 stars for me, but it’s very close and definitely one I’d recommend, especially if you love dramatic court settings and high-stakes romance.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance!
The concept of the Royal Paravellian Balls was honestly one of my favourite parts: seven nights of glamour, intrigue, and danger, where alliances are made and betrayals hide behind masks. It felt vivid, original, and full of potential, and really set the stage for all the drama to unfold.
✨ Tropes you’ll love:
• Assassins 🗡️
• Hidden identity 👀
• Forced proximity 🤝
• Enemies to lovers ❤️🔥
I loved the energy between Analleia and Valeris with all their tension, the banter, and the push-and-pull. Valeris especially had that cocky prince charm that made him both frustrating and entertaining, and I genuinely found myself chuckling at their interactions more than once.
The writing flows really well, making it an easy and addictive read. The plot moves quickly (in a good way), with enough twists and shifting alliances to keep things interesting without feeling overwhelming. Both main characters come with difficult pasts that shape their motivations, which added emotional depth to the story and made their choices feel meaningful.
It also has a strong start, which I always appreciate: no slow build here, you’re thrown right into the intrigue and stakes from early on.
Overall, this is a really solid YA fantasy with a compelling premise, engaging characters, and a great balance of romance, revenge, and political intrigue. It didn’t quite hit a full 5 stars for me, but it’s very close and definitely one I’d recommend, especially if you love dramatic court settings and high-stakes romance.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✨️We are not hired to ask questions or consider morals. We’re hired to do an assignment. In and out. No complications.✨️
~
✨️Bargaining for something when you didn’t know what the exchange entailed was a dangerous game. It could be a trick. It was idiocy to agree— but I was desperate. Beyond desperate.✨️
~
✨️ “Winning a duel is all it takes for me to earn your attention?”✨️
~
✨️Wished she would smile just once. A genuine one. Not a manipulative one like she’d given me on the first night I met her— She was my enemy. If she smiled at me I should be worried.✨️
~
✨️A blush crept up my neck, and I watched him take note of it. He smirked. “Don’t tell me I’ve become too much for you to handle.”✨️
~
📖:
Every five years, the twelve kingdoms gather for the Paravellian Balls—seven nights of magic, politics, and masked intrigue. Analleia attends to avenge her fallen kingdom by destroying a ruthless king, while Prince Valeris seeks the crown and forms a risky alliance with her. As secrets unravel and feelings grow, Analleia must choose between vengeance, love, and her soul.
~
I absolutely adored this book. It delivers a strong, engaging plot, rich character development, sharp banter, and all the romantasy you could want. The pacing is fast without feeling rushed, and the twist at the end left me genuinely stunned.
~
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC—I truly appreciate it. I highly recommend this for readers who love political drama, ballroom intrigue, and actual enemies-to-lovers. 💕🤝
~
✨️Bargaining for something when you didn’t know what the exchange entailed was a dangerous game. It could be a trick. It was idiocy to agree— but I was desperate. Beyond desperate.✨️
~
✨️ “Winning a duel is all it takes for me to earn your attention?”✨️
~
✨️Wished she would smile just once. A genuine one. Not a manipulative one like she’d given me on the first night I met her— She was my enemy. If she smiled at me I should be worried.✨️
~
✨️A blush crept up my neck, and I watched him take note of it. He smirked. “Don’t tell me I’ve become too much for you to handle.”✨️
~
📖:
Every five years, the twelve kingdoms gather for the Paravellian Balls—seven nights of magic, politics, and masked intrigue. Analleia attends to avenge her fallen kingdom by destroying a ruthless king, while Prince Valeris seeks the crown and forms a risky alliance with her. As secrets unravel and feelings grow, Analleia must choose between vengeance, love, and her soul.
~
I absolutely adored this book. It delivers a strong, engaging plot, rich character development, sharp banter, and all the romantasy you could want. The pacing is fast without feeling rushed, and the twist at the end left me genuinely stunned.
~
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC—I truly appreciate it. I highly recommend this for readers who love political drama, ballroom intrigue, and actual enemies-to-lovers. 💕🤝
Review of advance copy received from Author
🖤Revenge
🖤Tension
🖤Likable Characters
🖤Crown ambitions
🖤REAL enemies-to-lovers
🖤Happy Ending
ARC READER:
Thank you Christy for allowing me to read this beautiful book early. I have always been a fan of her writing since I met her locally and have read her first series the Blood Vier Series so being able to read this is a blessing!🖤🖤🖤🖤
Okay, I ABSOLUTELY DEVOURED this romantic fantasy! The dual POV between Analleia and Valeris keeps the tension crazy, she’s out to destroy the crown, he’s out to win it. Their slow-burn romance is so good because they really did stay enemies for most of the book but that ending made up for it🥹💘.
My favorite quote “If life has taught me one thing, it’s that we can’t change the past,” I said. “But we can change the future.”
This book has everything: political scheming, revenge, family drama, magic, and characters with wild complicated pasts. Plus, the balls aren’t just background fluff they actually have something to do with whats going on.
The prologue in the beginning hits. Ending hits so dang hard. Every sentence in between keeps you hooked. If you’re into YA fantasy with enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, and court drama, this is a must-read. 🔥📚
⭐️ 5/5 stars
🖤Tension
🖤Likable Characters
🖤Crown ambitions
🖤REAL enemies-to-lovers
🖤Happy Ending
ARC READER:
Thank you Christy for allowing me to read this beautiful book early. I have always been a fan of her writing since I met her locally and have read her first series the Blood Vier Series so being able to read this is a blessing!🖤🖤🖤🖤
Okay, I ABSOLUTELY DEVOURED this romantic fantasy! The dual POV between Analleia and Valeris keeps the tension crazy, she’s out to destroy the crown, he’s out to win it. Their slow-burn romance is so good because they really did stay enemies for most of the book but that ending made up for it🥹💘.
My favorite quote “If life has taught me one thing, it’s that we can’t change the past,” I said. “But we can change the future.”
This book has everything: political scheming, revenge, family drama, magic, and characters with wild complicated pasts. Plus, the balls aren’t just background fluff they actually have something to do with whats going on.
The prologue in the beginning hits. Ending hits so dang hard. Every sentence in between keeps you hooked. If you’re into YA fantasy with enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, and court drama, this is a must-read. 🔥📚
⭐️ 5/5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Masquerade of Shadows by Christy R. Harrill
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)
Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the eARC!
Analleia has lost her kingdom—and most of her family—to a ruthless king, and she’s determined to get her revenge. Training as an assassin, she sets her sights on killing the king during the Paravellian Balls. With seven nights of opportunity, what could go wrong? Enter Prince Valeris.
Valeris, the last in line for the throne, has his own ambitions. With the Paravellian Balls offering him a chance at power, he forms an alliance with Analleia—unaware of who she truly is. Between hidden identities, shifting loyalties, an enigmatic Enchantress, and plenty of twists, this story keeps the tension high and the stakes even higher.
Going in with a YA mindset, this book surprised me. I was fully engaged, especially in unraveling the mystery surrounding the death of Valeris’s older brother. The intrigue, deception, and assassination attempts had me on edge throughout.
My main critique is the pacing of the reveals—many of the answers come all at once in the final chapters, and I would have preferred them to be more evenly woven throughout the story. That said, I didn’t predict most of the twists, which made the ending all the more satisfying.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)
Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the eARC!
Analleia has lost her kingdom—and most of her family—to a ruthless king, and she’s determined to get her revenge. Training as an assassin, she sets her sights on killing the king during the Paravellian Balls. With seven nights of opportunity, what could go wrong? Enter Prince Valeris.
Valeris, the last in line for the throne, has his own ambitions. With the Paravellian Balls offering him a chance at power, he forms an alliance with Analleia—unaware of who she truly is. Between hidden identities, shifting loyalties, an enigmatic Enchantress, and plenty of twists, this story keeps the tension high and the stakes even higher.
Going in with a YA mindset, this book surprised me. I was fully engaged, especially in unraveling the mystery surrounding the death of Valeris’s older brother. The intrigue, deception, and assassination attempts had me on edge throughout.
My main critique is the pacing of the reveals—many of the answers come all at once in the final chapters, and I would have preferred them to be more evenly woven throughout the story. That said, I didn’t predict most of the twists, which made the ending all the more satisfying.
April 19, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
The story follows Annaleia, a trained assassin seeking revenge for her destroyed kingdom and murdered family. Along with her brother and best friend, they set out to participate in the Paravellian balls as part of their scheme to assassinate the king in attempt at justice. Meanwhile, Valeris, the king’s youngest son, is pit against his siblings in a game of strategy and alliances to be considered for the crown.
While I didn’t fall in love with this book, I did appreciate certain parts of it. I liked the setting of the Paravellian balls and the manipulation in the background to gain alliances and the upper hand. My favorite character was the uncle; I feel like he is the true hero of this story and the character with the strongest foundation. Where I felt like the story fell flat is there were a lot of plot holes that tried to be recovered with bland explanations that didn’t always make sense. I also didn’t feel like there was much chemistry between Analleia and Valeris until the epilogue. Overall I think the idea and storyline is great and has a lot of potential, but the character development and plot holes did not meet my expectations.
The story follows Annaleia, a trained assassin seeking revenge for her destroyed kingdom and murdered family. Along with her brother and best friend, they set out to participate in the Paravellian balls as part of their scheme to assassinate the king in attempt at justice. Meanwhile, Valeris, the king’s youngest son, is pit against his siblings in a game of strategy and alliances to be considered for the crown.
While I didn’t fall in love with this book, I did appreciate certain parts of it. I liked the setting of the Paravellian balls and the manipulation in the background to gain alliances and the upper hand. My favorite character was the uncle; I feel like he is the true hero of this story and the character with the strongest foundation. Where I felt like the story fell flat is there were a lot of plot holes that tried to be recovered with bland explanations that didn’t always make sense. I also didn’t feel like there was much chemistry between Analleia and Valeris until the epilogue. Overall I think the idea and storyline is great and has a lot of potential, but the character development and plot holes did not meet my expectations.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was intriguing from the moment I first saw the cover. I loved the characters and getting to know who they are and what they wanted. I do wish the relationship between Analleia and her brother was more developed, so the ending would have hit harder. I did love how while this book had several popular tropes, they weren't exact copies from other books, like they felt fresh and new and the author put her own spin on them. The ending was also super enjoyable. It was really fast-paced, and that was really good. I would love for there to be another book about either Analleia and Valeris or Analleia's brother and his love interest.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️ (just kissing but mentions of husbands/wife's being unfaithful to each other and one character is known for sleeping with men to get what she wants)
Language: None that I remember
Drug/Alcohol Content: 🍺
*I received an advanced review copy for free from Net Gallery and the publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️ (just kissing but mentions of husbands/wife's being unfaithful to each other and one character is known for sleeping with men to get what she wants)
Language: None that I remember
Drug/Alcohol Content: 🍺
*I received an advanced review copy for free from Net Gallery and the publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
From the cover alone, I was drawn to this book. The plot was fast-paced, the characters all had complicated pasts, and there was magic along with balls.
The book followed a dual-POV between the FMC, Analleia, and the MMC, Valeris. Both are royals of different kingdoms. Analleia's kingdom, though, no longer exists, so she wishes to enact revenge on Prince Valeris' family for their part in destroying hers.
The writing was fantastic and easy to follow, but I did stuggle with maintaining interest because it was extremely repetitive. Additionally, none of the characters stood out to me. They were all flat and had singular motivations. The ending was predictable and I not as impactful as I was hoping it would be.
For a standalone fantasy novel, I do think this book is great. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
Overall, A Masquerade of Shadows was entertaining and full of magic. If you enjoy court politics, revenge plots, and a touch of non-complicated magic, you should check out this book.
From the cover alone, I was drawn to this book. The plot was fast-paced, the characters all had complicated pasts, and there was magic along with balls.
The book followed a dual-POV between the FMC, Analleia, and the MMC, Valeris. Both are royals of different kingdoms. Analleia's kingdom, though, no longer exists, so she wishes to enact revenge on Prince Valeris' family for their part in destroying hers.
The writing was fantastic and easy to follow, but I did stuggle with maintaining interest because it was extremely repetitive. Additionally, none of the characters stood out to me. They were all flat and had singular motivations. The ending was predictable and I not as impactful as I was hoping it would be.
For a standalone fantasy novel, I do think this book is great. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
Overall, A Masquerade of Shadows was entertaining and full of magic. If you enjoy court politics, revenge plots, and a touch of non-complicated magic, you should check out this book.
April 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Rose Hollow Press for the ARC.
Plot 4.75/5
Characters 4.5/5
Ending 4.5/5
Interest 4.5/5
Overall 4.5/5
-This book was truly beautiful in amazing in every way. The plot itself was so interesting and intriguing, I couldn’t put this book down. The seven balls with different themes and as different parts of the mission were great. Then the distractions that came for both our main characters, always love that.
-THE characters were great. They were interesting, had a history that gets revealed little by little. And they’re very much quite cunning, manipulative in a way and determined. They each had their own goal and all used each other to achieve that goal. But then bring them together, and you get complex and beautiful stories within. The romance was amazing.
-The ending was a shock. Unexpected and truly something that I hadn’t even thought about. I thought I had it all figured out, but then the whole story turned on its head and revealed a new truth. It very much a lot of that in his book and I loved every bit of it.
Plot 4.75/5
Characters 4.5/5
Ending 4.5/5
Interest 4.5/5
Overall 4.5/5
-This book was truly beautiful in amazing in every way. The plot itself was so interesting and intriguing, I couldn’t put this book down. The seven balls with different themes and as different parts of the mission were great. Then the distractions that came for both our main characters, always love that.
-THE characters were great. They were interesting, had a history that gets revealed little by little. And they’re very much quite cunning, manipulative in a way and determined. They each had their own goal and all used each other to achieve that goal. But then bring them together, and you get complex and beautiful stories within. The romance was amazing.
-The ending was a shock. Unexpected and truly something that I hadn’t even thought about. I thought I had it all figured out, but then the whole story turned on its head and revealed a new truth. It very much a lot of that in his book and I loved every bit of it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
Wow, what an excellent book! I enjoyed it from the first page to the last, everything was beautifully written and made into a masterpiece. It is captivating, sucking you into the story completely, especially with the enemies to lovers trope and mysterious assassins, I couldn't put it down.
Analleia is the main character, a young assassin determined to avenge her destroyed kingdom, not knowing the betrayal by those closest to her. Valeris is the prince, seventh in line to the throne, cocky and arrogant but with a heart, ready to do everything it took to inherit the throne and prove to his father that he is the worthy heir. I was totally blindsided by the last few chapters, though I enjoyed the whole book and I really liked the ending.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone, not just the YA lovers. Overall, I give this book 5 well deserved stars.
Wow, what an excellent book! I enjoyed it from the first page to the last, everything was beautifully written and made into a masterpiece. It is captivating, sucking you into the story completely, especially with the enemies to lovers trope and mysterious assassins, I couldn't put it down.
Analleia is the main character, a young assassin determined to avenge her destroyed kingdom, not knowing the betrayal by those closest to her. Valeris is the prince, seventh in line to the throne, cocky and arrogant but with a heart, ready to do everything it took to inherit the throne and prove to his father that he is the worthy heir. I was totally blindsided by the last few chapters, though I enjoyed the whole book and I really liked the ending.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone, not just the YA lovers. Overall, I give this book 5 well deserved stars.
April 23, 2026
2.5 rounded up for Goodreads and Netgalley.
It ended up being a slightly disappointing read. The first half was the most interesting in terms of the fantasy plot, and then it slowly lost my interest — mostly because of the romantic development. It was a more simplistic romantasy when it comes to the setting and the magic system, so it was very quick to read. However… I did not connect with the characters. I did like the main female character for the first half of the book and then, when the romance developed, she became too weak and cheesy for me. Not vengeful enough. And the male character… absolutely despicable. I hate his cockiness and his smirks. These two had no romantic chemistry whatsoever, they were better as acquaintances. The romance felt forced and it wasn’t genuine at all.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
It ended up being a slightly disappointing read. The first half was the most interesting in terms of the fantasy plot, and then it slowly lost my interest — mostly because of the romantic development. It was a more simplistic romantasy when it comes to the setting and the magic system, so it was very quick to read. However… I did not connect with the characters. I did like the main female character for the first half of the book and then, when the romance developed, she became too weak and cheesy for me. Not vengeful enough. And the male character… absolutely despicable. I hate his cockiness and his smirks. These two had no romantic chemistry whatsoever, they were better as acquaintances. The romance felt forced and it wasn’t genuine at all.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all I’d like to thank the author for the ARC read.
A Masquerade of Shadows is a fast-paced YA romantasy with political intrigue, hidden identities, and extravagant balls. The story follows Analleia, an assassin with her heart set on revenge, and Valeris, a prince fighting to claim the throne.
I enjoyed the fast-paced action and the deception and competition that came with the 7 different balls, however I did feel like the balls felt a little repetitive at times. The ending was a bit predictable but in a very satisfying way that made sense to the story, part of me wishes this was more than a standalone so we could see more of the budding romance between the main characters.
A Masquerade of Shadows is a fast-paced YA romantasy with political intrigue, hidden identities, and extravagant balls. The story follows Analleia, an assassin with her heart set on revenge, and Valeris, a prince fighting to claim the throne.
I enjoyed the fast-paced action and the deception and competition that came with the 7 different balls, however I did feel like the balls felt a little repetitive at times. The ending was a bit predictable but in a very satisfying way that made sense to the story, part of me wishes this was more than a standalone so we could see more of the budding romance between the main characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was truly a fun read. While I should've been doing my work, I found myself in my bed, lazily reading it. Thanks to Negalley and author Christy R. Harrill for the ARC!
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆!
I thoroughly enjoy this book. When I heard revenge like from the Count of Monte Cristo, that hooked me! The plot was so fun and had me engaged throughout the entire book.
In this book, you follow a girl whose will is bent on assassinating the king, who destroyed her kingdom and family.
I 100% recommend this book!
Thanks again to Netgalley and author Christy R. Harrill for the ARC!
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆!
I thoroughly enjoy this book. When I heard revenge like from the Count of Monte Cristo, that hooked me! The plot was so fun and had me engaged throughout the entire book.
In this book, you follow a girl whose will is bent on assassinating the king, who destroyed her kingdom and family.
I 100% recommend this book!
Thanks again to Netgalley and author Christy R. Harrill for the ARC!
Review of advance copy
While I generally don’t read fantasy, I’ll ready anything Christy writes!
This was such a fun read—I enjoyed the intrigue and various twists that kept me guessing.
I also loved the creativity of the different balls!
This was unique and enjoyable. While I absolutely loved the Blood Vier series, honestly I was relieved that this was a standalone as I don’t currently have the patience to wait to find out how another fantastic story ends—I very much appreciated the closure!
This was such a fun read—I enjoyed the intrigue and various twists that kept me guessing.
I also loved the creativity of the different balls!
This was unique and enjoyable. While I absolutely loved the Blood Vier series, honestly I was relieved that this was a standalone as I don’t currently have the patience to wait to find out how another fantastic story ends—I very much appreciated the closure!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Christy R. Harrill for the ARC.
This was an alright read overall, but it really struggled to keep my interest unfortunately. The pacing was a big issue for me - some parts were just a little slow, and some really dragged. It ended up making the book feel a lot longer than it was.
The characters were fine, but I didn't love them.
This was an alright read overall, but it really struggled to keep my interest unfortunately. The pacing was a big issue for me - some parts were just a little slow, and some really dragged. It ended up making the book feel a lot longer than it was.
The characters were fine, but I didn't love them.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Analleia is an assassin who only wants to kill one person, the man who turned her world upside down. Valeris is the 7th in line for the throne given the chance to become the heir.
This was a great read. It is a fast pace adventure with a little romantic tension. Trying to figure out the events of the past was a mental test.
This was a great read. It is a fast pace adventure with a little romantic tension. Trying to figure out the events of the past was a mental test.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The beginning had me question if Harrills writing style would be for me but the pacing continued to improve as each chapter went on keeping my attention. By mid point I was completely invested, wondering who was behind certain events and how everything was going to conclude. By the end it was satisfying and a enjoyable fantasy standalone.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Great read! It will keep you interested from the beginning. There are some surprises and twists, and turns that you don’t expect.
March 25, 2026
🖤💜A Masquerade of Shadows💜🖤
-A revenge plot years in the making.
-A desperate attempt to win the crown.
-Enemies to lovers where they actually are enemies and would 💀 each other if given the chance.
All taking place under the guise of attending the seven Royal Paravellian Balls.
I absolutely loved this standalone romantic fantasy! It’s dual POV, alternating between Analleia and Valeris-two characters whose goals couldn’t be more different. Valeris aims to win the crown, and Analleia has sworn to destroy it.
The tension and conflict in this story runs deep. I love how Analleia’s revenge arc unfolded as we learned more about her past and the atrocities she survived. Her motivations contrasted so well with Valeris’s desire for the crown so that I was rooting for both of them despite their goals being at odds.
The romance was so well done-none of this “enemies to lovers” that is just “insta love but we’re supposed to hate each other so we can’t be together”. Also THE DANCE SCENE💜
10/10 recommend this book for fans of romantic fantasy with plenty of political intrigue!⚔️🥐🏹👑💜
-A revenge plot years in the making.
-A desperate attempt to win the crown.
-Enemies to lovers where they actually are enemies and would 💀 each other if given the chance.
All taking place under the guise of attending the seven Royal Paravellian Balls.
I absolutely loved this standalone romantic fantasy! It’s dual POV, alternating between Analleia and Valeris-two characters whose goals couldn’t be more different. Valeris aims to win the crown, and Analleia has sworn to destroy it.
The tension and conflict in this story runs deep. I love how Analleia’s revenge arc unfolded as we learned more about her past and the atrocities she survived. Her motivations contrasted so well with Valeris’s desire for the crown so that I was rooting for both of them despite their goals being at odds.
The romance was so well done-none of this “enemies to lovers” that is just “insta love but we’re supposed to hate each other so we can’t be together”. Also THE DANCE SCENE💜
10/10 recommend this book for fans of romantic fantasy with plenty of political intrigue!⚔️🥐🏹👑💜
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