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The Year of Masks: A Cozy Slice of Life Story
The exiled second son of a fallen house rides south to a village he's never seen, with a sword he isn't supposed to be carrying, a deed signed in his grandmother's hand, and days of hard road in his shoulders. It's a coastal town at the kingdom's edge. Whitewashed walls, flat roofs, olive groves running down to the sea, and the old men in the square can give directions to his grandmother's farm without being asked. A town of festivals and masks. Tomatoes in summer, color throws in autumn, bonfires at year's end. The Crown's writ runs lightly down here. He has one growing season to make a life before the people who exiled him decide to finish the job.
Whether he survives the year depends on what he brought south with him, and what he had the sense to leave behind.
Whether he survives the year depends on what he brought south with him, and what he had the sense to leave behind.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 27, 2026
My reviews are my own. If you enjoyed this book, I’m glad you did. If not, I respect your opinion, so please respect mine. This is simply my view, so let's keep it courteous. My review is honest and voluntary.
Goodness, this was painful! He did this, he did that, he did this, he did that...rinse and repeat! I do NOT like the style this was written. The Mike author is not for me and the Wolfe one, is a "rarely like" one. Together, they are a "Not for me!" In addition I can't understand the continues need for authors to feed romance on their stories when it is NOT a romantic plot. Unnecessary filling and even with the extreme step by step description of things, I have no idea what was the celebration about because they never explained the why.
On to my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!
Goodness, this was painful! He did this, he did that, he did this, he did that...rinse and repeat! I do NOT like the style this was written. The Mike author is not for me and the Wolfe one, is a "rarely like" one. Together, they are a "Not for me!" In addition I can't understand the continues need for authors to feed romance on their stories when it is NOT a romantic plot. Unnecessary filling and even with the extreme step by step description of things, I have no idea what was the celebration about because they never explained the why.
On to my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!
May 19, 2026
Enjoyable
Worth reading, definitely a cozy take on a rather difficult situation. The protagonist, a noble's younger son, is exiled to a distant farm after surviving a duel with political repercussions for his family. The farm had been owned by his grandmother, a former noble and woman with an interesting past as well as valuable skills of her own - her legacies shape, shelter, and support her grandson in his efforts to build a new future. Of course, the Past is going to follow the protagonist to his new refuge, and it looks like not all of his problems wil be duel related. Nice read to wind down with. No selling or grammar errors, although sometimes the continuity seemed to repeat itself. Will definitely look for the sequel.
Worth reading, definitely a cozy take on a rather difficult situation. The protagonist, a noble's younger son, is exiled to a distant farm after surviving a duel with political repercussions for his family. The farm had been owned by his grandmother, a former noble and woman with an interesting past as well as valuable skills of her own - her legacies shape, shelter, and support her grandson in his efforts to build a new future. Of course, the Past is going to follow the protagonist to his new refuge, and it looks like not all of his problems wil be duel related. Nice read to wind down with. No selling or grammar errors, although sometimes the continuity seemed to repeat itself. Will definitely look for the sequel.
May 14, 2026
A True Slow Read
A slice of life that meanders as life flows. Once started couldn't put down. Truly enjoyed and eagerly await Book 2. No spoilers or hints because like life the book is best read as it unfolds for each reader.
A slice of life that meanders as life flows. Once started couldn't put down. Truly enjoyed and eagerly await Book 2. No spoilers or hints because like life the book is best read as it unfolds for each reader.
June 27, 2026
great story!
I really enjoyed The Year of Masks by Caliban and Locke. It was interesting in the it came across in a litrpg way with stats, but also a slow burn romance, with a day to day slice-of-life kind of thing! Looking forward to the next installment.
I really enjoyed The Year of Masks by Caliban and Locke. It was interesting in the it came across in a litrpg way with stats, but also a slow burn romance, with a day to day slice-of-life kind of thing! Looking forward to the next installment.
June 29, 2026
Excellent Book
Book is written In an unusual style that you don't see too often. I'm not familiar with writing styles enough to identify it, but I enjoyed the storyline. Storyline Is a soft Advancement of the plot. Give it a try, it's different than what most books are.
Book is written In an unusual style that you don't see too often. I'm not familiar with writing styles enough to identify it, but I enjoyed the storyline. Storyline Is a soft Advancement of the plot. Give it a try, it's different than what most books are.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews