Masks

Masks #1

by Amara Lynn

Avari has always been a social outcast, which is just fine by him; he has superhuman abilities and hates people. But his lab partner Chayton keeps being so friendly, and Avari can't stop staring at his alluring smile.

When he loses control of his abilities, Avari is faced with a startling revelation about himself—one that's both thrilling and dangerous. As Avari seeks to understand Chayton, he finds himself coming out of his shell, and his connection with Chayton grows deeper.

Meanwhile, a mysterious adversary appears who may hold answers to who Avari really is. Fueled by his curiosity, Avari continues his path of destruction—but he can't help wonder if his secrets will tear apart his shaky new bond with Chayton.

Genres: Fantasy, LGBT, Urban Fantasy, New Adult, Romance, M M Romance, Fiction

114 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2019

About the author

Amara Lynn has always been a quiet daydreamer. Coming up with characters and worlds since childhood, Amara eventually found an outlet in writing. Amara loves anything to do with pirates, villains and superheroes, angels and demons.

They were born and raised in the Midwest USA, where they remain stuck with their spouse and two cats. They love to write about soft monsters and cryptids, grumpy enbies, and forever will be weak for the grumpy one is soft for the sunshine one trope. When not writing, they are usually watching anime, playing games, and obsessing over their out of control music playlists.

Reviews

[Silvia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was sent this book as an advance copy by the publisher via NetGalley for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.

DNF @ 38%

Yeah no I can't even finish this for the roast, but roast it I shall.

Listen, LISTEN. I don't care if your book is a short story or if's 500-pages long. Let me tell you about fanfiction writers! They do amazing shit in 1k? 10k? 20k words. They write breathtaking characterization and dialogue, they steal your heart, make you feel every range of every human emotion, give you a new perspective in life. That is not to say that every fanfiction writer can do that, but many do, and this is not about fanfiction vs original fiction but it's about THE LENGTH of a story, which I've learned DOES NOT influence the depth with which you can show your characters.

TL;DR so far: writing a short story doesn't excuse you or allow you to make your characters shallow and boring af.

But that's what this was.

So, supposedly this is a supervillain VS superhero story with a LGBT turn (I didn't get there but let me tell you I can 100% already see the ending and if someone has read this to the end please DM me and we'll see if I'm right). It's also told from the supervillain's POV, which sounds really interesting in theory right? Too bad this supervillain is a compendium of EVERY bad main character trope.

✓ not like other guys
✓ nobody understands me
✓ supernatural power
✓ who knows why or how I have this power
✓ but who cares lmao
✓ also I'm sure I'm the only one with something like this
✓ also!!!!!!!!
✓ in case you haven't noticed, I'm weird
✓ I'm a weirdo
✓ I don't fit it
✓ I don't wanna fit in

THAT'S LITERALLY THE MAIN CHARACTER Y'ALL.

Then of course he's forced to share a lab table with some guy and OH I ALMOST FORGOT the MC character goes on a ridiculous "he told me his name but who the fuck knows how to spell that??? oh he gave me his number WHICH I DON'T WANT ANYWAY but let me save it under 'C' until I know how the rest of his name is spelled" and then he randomly finds out and he's like "oh so that's how you write it" LIKE that's such a stupidly cliched YA moment and it adds nothing to the story???? You could have used that page time to literally do anything else LIKE GIVE SOME DEPTH TO THE MAIN GUY FFS.

Anyway yeah so this other guy is super annoying, can't take a fucking hint that the main guy (I forgot their names y'all) Doesn't Want To Fit In let alone make any friends, so he just pesters him around college and oh boy the cringe.

Right also the MC is a supervillain ok? HE'S AN ARSONIST mhm great he spends a lot of page time thinking how pretty fire is and mh can you not, and thEN HE MEETS the superhero (oh did I tell you he got himself a cape and a mask,,,) whose superhero name is, wait for it, FALCON, which is all like "I'MMA STOP YA RIGHT THERE" and they throw punches or something? I zoned out tbh, anyway then it cuts to the next morning and the MC is like "after a good night's sleep", and that's the point where I fucking lost it because come on if you want me to feel sympathetic with a fucking arsonist you have to at least show me,, I'm not talking about remorse but!!!! something!!!!!! Not a good fucking night's sleep.

Anyway no bye too bad cuz the cover is pretty.

[Evie Drae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, my lovelies, this week’s review is of the super variety. Superhero and supervillain, to be exact! Masks by Amara Lynn falls into the old faithful antihero trope, but with a lovely little twist.



Avari is just your average, everyday college student. Grumpy, anti-social, and protective of his bruised and battered heart. Growing up in an orphanage will do that to a guy, especially when kids (and people in general) are such buttheads sometimes! Enter into the picture the charismatic and endlessly patient Chayton. He’s Avari’s chemistry lab partner and he, too, harbors some secrets that make him sympathetic toward Avari’s easily spotted broken.



I won’t go into much further detail other than to say… Avari isn’t who you think he is and nothing is as it appears. There’s lots of fun little twists and unexpected turns that’ll leave you wanting more… which our lovely author aims to provide!



I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys sweet, mild heat in their gay romance and to anyone who loves superheroes and/or antiheros! You won’t be disappointed.

[Elaine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book – Masks
Author – Amara Lynn
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 72
Cover – Pretty
POV – 1st person
Would I read it again – Yes
Genre – LGBT, Short, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Superhero/Supervillain


** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **


This was a really lovely story. The writing was on point, with a great balance between description and characterisation. The characters were relatable, loveable and straddled that boundary between good and bad, in a way that was nice to see. The POV, for a change, was of the so-called villain, which I loved.

Avari is a bit o fa loner loser and I love him. He's snarky, pessimistic, sarcastic, serious and completely unsuited to a campus lifestyle. He's a bookish, poor orphan with a secret – black wings – with no idea what he is or what he can do, other than harbour a secret pyromania tendency. He's jaded, lonely and secretly wants to be invited to join in the frivolities, but makes himself unapproachable so that he won't be disappointed or rejected. Chayton is intriguing right from the first day he meets Avari; more carefree, he doesn't let Avari's standoffish nature get to him. Together, they're something amazingly sweet and awkward. As college kids, you'd expect a lot of heat, but these guys are a little more tame, because they've been unloved and unwanted most of their lives, both have trouble trusting others and making friends. So the heat level is really low; their relationship is limited to some sweetly intense kisses and teeenage-level attraction/intimacy. But, it's perfect for the characters and who they are. The story doesn't need more than what is provided.

It was interesting to have a main character that was basically villain material; Avari is a total fire starter, with his own magic, obsessed with fire and how it functions. He begins to use that power indiscriminately, burning cars and billboards until he's almost caught and decides to adopt a disguise. It's a true superhero/supervillain story, but with an original twist that I loved.

Overall, this was a really sweet, loveable story that I'll be coming back to again in the future. Very enjoyable and the perfect length to do the story justice.

~

Favourite Quote

“Eventually, it would sink into Chayton's head that I wasn't interested in any of the dull socialization in which most people engaged. A couple more failed attempts and he would stop trying. It really was nothing personal towards Chayton. I didn't trust anyone. Especially not someone so nice.”

[Just Gimme Da Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm going to chalk this up to "not everything is for everyone" and let you all make your own decisions. It had a really fun tropey plot idea, but I couldn't personally connect with the characters.

[R.J. Sorrento · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, fun read. I love books about queer characters with superpowers.

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy pf this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This is probably more of a 2.5 but I rounded up because giving it a 2 just didn't feel right. It's a cute story and it's hard for me not to like something with queer superheroes, but the whole thing was pretty two-dimensional. The main character was just a little bit too oh-woe-is-me for my tastes and the whole plot was REALLY predictable. But there were some cute scenes and the ending, while predictable, was nice. If you're looking for something new and different this definitely isn't it, but if you just want a short superhero/villain romance [that is a bit heavy on the angst] then give this a try.

[Joy]

DNF @ 60%. I tried to push through because the ebook is only 104 pages, but I just don't like the relationship between the main characters. I didn't see any reason why Avari would keep humoring Chayton and even go on outings with him when Avari still doesn't seem to *like* the guy. (And why would Chayton like such an asocial guy he barely knows?) The way that Avari is characterized by his own narration leaves almost no room for developing a friendship with Chayton, let alone a romantic relationship.

[Ceillie Simkiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review available if you follow me on Patreon!

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average

It was an intriguing concept but for me lacked the delivery and impact I wanted. Not sure if I will try book two. Felt very YA

[S.E. Margulies · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up masks after Amara Lynn hosted the #LGBTwrimo hastag for National Novel Writing Month, and in no way does the opinion of the book change my admiration of Amara as a coordinator and organizer!

The concept for Masks was interesting--a college student who has powers is being forced into friendship with his peppy lab partner and also confronting an adversary that may hold secrets to his origins and powers. However, I found the execution left something to be desired.

The only interactions Avari (the protagonist) has with ANYONE in the story are with Chayton (the lab partner) and Falcon, the adversary he encounters when using his powers. This leaves the big reveal of Chayton as Falcon at the end obvious and the chemistry/enmity between the two as pretty baffling. Chayton, once revealed to be Avari/Raven's mysterious adversary, says he's known it was Avari for some time, and yet his disgust with Raven's harmful actions seems a direct contradiction to his continued affection and romance towards Avari.

When you add in the difficulty of suspending disbelief (how could Chayton not recognize a close friend under a simple party domino mask? Why is Avari flying around with big black wings and setting things on fire and yet paying narrative lip-service to having to stay well-hidden? Why does no one else ever interact with these two? What does Chayton see in the callous, socially-clueless, non-emotive Avari?) I was left wanting more than Mask's 97 pages gave.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost two stars for effort, but I could not finish this book. The characters felt flat. The potential romance felt flat. Basically a really bad guy accidentally starts falling for a really good guy while accidentally becoming a villain with his own arch-nemesis.

It’s interesting to write from a super-villain’s perspective, but he did not feel very super-villain-y. He showed no emotions about using his power, except for being very clear that he uses it more often when he gets mad, like when he’s friendly lab partner calls to ask him to see how he’s doing. There is no characterization for him to fall back on. I was expecting a lot more pack for the punch for such a short story.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Natalie Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Amara Lynn hosted #LGBTQwrimo in November 2018, I had no idea how much it would change my Twitter experience. Since then, I'm made friends, discovered books, been inspired, and talked way more about my own writing projects than I thought possible. When Lynn began promoting their own novella Masks, I added it to my TBR and knew I had a delightful little read in store for me.

Masks is the story of Avari, who is a social outcast by choice. In the beginning, Avari is about drowning in toxicity: he demands solitude (but he's desperately lonely), thinks himself as solely logical (as he channels all his stress & emotions into arson), and insults his classmates (in the comfort of his own head, where they can't challenge his accusations). When he's not burning cars, Avari is studying for double engineering degrees, and lo, enter Chayton, an assigned and inescapable lab partner. Chayton is the opposite of Avari. He believes in goodness and goes out of his way to connect to his fellows. Avari doesn't know what his deal is, but sparks are flying at the same time as a new superhero flies onto the scene, demanding Avari stop his fiery ways.

For a short novella, Lynn packs a lot in. Masks is a enemies-to-lovers tale and, in a further twist, we're in the villain's perspective. Avari's caustic personality may put off some readers. He reminds me of the "edgelord" figure in popular culture, like Kylo Ren, but with fire-bending powers and black wings. Trusting Lynn as I do, I stuck with the story, and the ending is all the more rewarding as Avari slowly opens up and changes his ways. The actual romance between Chayton and Avari is surprisingly sweet. I think the greatest strength of the book is Lynn's deft handling of popular tropes--how they make them queer and comforting. For fans of superheroes who are tired of waiting for their favs to be done right and be gay already, Masks is here to fill your mighty need.

If I had one quibble, it would be about Chayton. It's a spoiler so I'm smudging it.

I don't think it's a leap to say Chayton is Native American coded. He doesn't mention a specific tribe (perhaps he's one of the Costanoan people?), but he does have brown skin & long dark hair in a braid, and he mentions living on a reservation. As a writer and reader, I'm at times overally sensitive to the portrayal of Native Americans by a non-Native authors. In my undergrad Native American studies class, writing Native American characters was highly discouraged. Considering the history of genocide, non-Natives were instead encouraged to use their platforms to promote Native American creators and arts. Chayton's ethnicity is not the main focus of the book and only mentioned in passing, so I think everything's fine. It's clear that Lynn meant no disrespect, and I don't think it's inherently bad to have a Native American character. What might fall in a gray area is how Chayton receives his powers. To grow his wings, Chayton touches a feather earring, and this story choice struck me as uncomfortably close to the "Native American magics" stereotype. Avari has no magical help. He was born with the wings. It's unclear why Chayton couldn't have just inherited the same genetic quirk. As a white person, I'm not the expert on what is a harmful portrayal and what isn't, but the story choice was jarring in an otherwise comfortable read.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you've built your life to survive, what happens when you meet someone who challenges your ideas of what living means? Bioengineering student Avari is lonely (he's not copping to that), something of a misfit (not that he needs to fit in), and focused on the things that make him different (like a set of wings, and the ability to start fires without pesky matches or lighter fluid). His new lab partner Chayton seems to be Avari's opposite in every way: perky, open, thoughtful--and interested in Avari as a friend... and maybe more. As Chayton draws Avari out of his protective shell, Avari's secrets have to find new outlets, like starting fires across the city in the guise of his winged alter ego, Raven. Harmless fun, right? Not according to the mysterious, heroic Falcon. Avari's desire to understand Falcon spurs him to bigger fires and more harm until the hero's mask is lifted, forcing Avari to reckon with which of his survival mechanisms are dangerously out of date and what he wants his life to be.

Fans of the superhero/villain trope will find a lot to love here, as the inevitable confrontation between Raven and Falcon, and Avari and Chayton, races to its reveal. Opposites attract, and Avari's journey to understanding and loving Chayton without having to entirely give up the things that make him Avari is sweet and I suspect introverts will be able to relate. It's refreshing to see college-set books with low heat, and I appreciated the amount of communication between Avari and Chayton; Chayton's persistence is balanced by his respect for Avari's space, and Avari's snarky voice is pitch-perfect for a coming-of-age story.

The novella format can often fall prey to pacing problems, which is something of an issue in this case, as the reader gleans Falcon's identity well before Avari does and I found myself wishing one of Raven and Falcon's confrontations would produce the dramatic reveal earlier on. I also would've loved more information on Avari's family and the source of his powers, but I suspect that hope will be fulfilled in the next installment! Overall, Masks is a great option for readers of contemporary fantasy looking for superheroic slice-of-life stories.

[Storybrook System · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an e-copy of Masks from the author and decided to do a review ^w^

Superhero stories are generally pretty hit-or-miss for me, but there was just something about this novella that kept me reading.

First, all the good points:
New Adult (NA) is a very underrepresented genre and I'm so glad to see a story focusing on college students, especially since that's the part of life I'm currently going through.

The low heat rating makes it feel more accessible while also working well with both of their characters - Avari not being used to touch and Chayton being the sort of person to expressly ask permission before touching or kissing him.

Avari and Chayton play off of each other quite well in general and make for a rather lovely couple, all things considered. There's just enough of a push and pull between them to keep things interesting without seeming over-wrought or padded out.

Avari's distrust and general dislike for people is also pretty relatable from my introvert standpoint, and there's something inexplicably charming about his love of Oreos.

Chayton is a doll. I wouldn't have trusted him in the beginning either, but by the end, he really had my heart.

Then, the small complaints:
Some of the early dialog feels a bit stilted. In addition, some of Avari's musings make him feel a bit like 'the one emo kid in class who writes way-too-specific poems about fire' from time to time. Chayton's early determination to get to know Avari can possibly come across as slightly stalkerish even though it seems to be just over-enthusiasm.

Overall:
Masks is a short novella that is well-worth the price of admission. Most of the small issues I listed with it faded out by around chapter four and allowed the story to shine for the rest of the page count.

The small mystery of Chayton's earring vs. Avari being born with his wings also (I would assume) leads well into the rest of the series as well. I honestly can't wait to see what the next book brings us with these two!

[Jimena Novaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book at first, but I eventually fell in love with Avari and Chayton and became invested in their relationship.

Avari, the narrator, has a unique and entertaining voice that serves as a great characterization tool. He's wary of everything and everyone around him and constantly surprised at anything that doesn't suck as much as he thought it would. I loved seeing his hard exterior (his mask, if you will!) crack as Chayton drew him out of his shell. His "villainy" was understandable--he didn't have a convenient, simple reason for the things he did, which made it more believable--and he wasn't dastardly enough that I didn't want to root for him and Chayton to end up together.

Chayton annoyed me a bit at first, but like Avari, I came to understand that his persistence in trying to get to know Avari and his extreme earnestness came from a place of compassion and a genuine desire for human connection. Their romance develops slowly and it's super sweet with just a touch of steamy. Their connection is definitely based more in emotional and intellectual compatibility than in physical attraction, which I found refreshing and much more engaging.

I will say that I saw the twist at the end coming from a mile away, but I don't think the author meant for it to be a surprise. Instead, I enjoyed knowing something Avari didn't, which provided some juicy moments of dramatic irony.

Overall, if you enjoy character-driven hero/villain romance with a side of supernatural intrigue, this book is for you. It's a quick, focused read--there are hardly any secondary characters or plotlines to speak of. I look forward to future books, where hopefully more of the mysteries surrounding Avari and Chayton's natures will be revealed and their relationship will be developed further.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, but it didn't influence my opinion of the book in any way.

[Solly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings, but it was overall a nice read.

Until about 1/3 of the novella, it was... meh to me. I liked Avari well enough, but Chayton annoyed the hell out of me because he kept touching Avari when it was very obvious Avari didn't want to be touched, kept invading the guy's space and pushing him again and again. And I don't know, there's pushing someone out of their comfort zones and toying with boundaries, and it didn't feel super good to me. I know it was probably the only way to crack Avari's shell, but if Chayton did that to me, I would *hate* him, and not like Avari hates him.

It started getting better when Avari told Chayton not to touch him and Chayton didn't do it again without asking. So, like. Alright. But it doesn't completely change how I felt about the beginning.

The following 2/3 were better, for me. There were some questioning of Avari's actions as a villain, Chayton wasn't so annoying anymore because he was respectful and all that. Nothing is really surprising, but it's okay. If you expect a soft romance novella, which it is, the lack of twists (though there is *some* surprise on 2 little things) is okay.

I'm kind of disappointed that the answer Avari is searching for all along isn't answered in the end, though.

Another detail that always bugs me in romance books is when there's no friends around the MC/LI? Here, I can understand Avari doesn't have friends. But Chayton?? There's no one in his life except Avari? It was a little bit weird to me that Chayton never mentionned any friends.

Overall, Masks was a nice, quick read, but I feel like it would have gained a lot if it maybe had a slightly bigger cast, and went on longer to answer some important questions.

TW: arsonist MC, LI who repeatedly touches touch-averse MC (and I *know* Avari didn't tell him until later he didn't want to be touched, but he was quite obvious about it and uuugh), mention of parents/relatives death.

[Lily Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I did something a little different for Masks than I normally do… I went into it knowing NOTHING. Literally nothing. I didn’t read the blurb, I didn’t read any reviews, I simply snagged it on Amazon and dove right in. And oh my word! There were all the delicious surprises because of this fact.

Masks is centered on Avari who initially, I’ll admit, I wasn’t a huge fan of. He was snarly and grumpy and kind of mean to the only person at his college who was interested in spending time with him, Chayton. That lasted for a little while until I learned that Avari held a secret. He has super human powers. Ones that he doesn’t always use in the best of ways. Yeah, Avari, our MC is a villain.

You may think I’m crazy, but this is a fact I adore! I have a thing for villains (I basically want to embody Harley Quinn as much as possible).

But every villain has a superhero that rises up to battle them right? Yeah, so that happens. And TONS of brilliant and exciting actions scenes ensue. When I say brilliant and exciting I mean I was sitting on the edge of my seat and holding my breath as all this went down.

Masks is a relatively short story at only 84 pages long, but there is SO MUCH wrapped up in the book you will feel like you just experienced a much longer tome by the end.

If you are looking for a unique, LGBTQ+ take on the age old superhero vs supervillain trope with a unique twist, you will devour Masks and love every minute of it, just like I did.

[Adrienne Bross · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world that the author creates in "Masks" is an interesting one. Told solely from the perspective of Avari, an outcast turned loner-by-experience, it brings the reader into the world through his eyes. This means that the reader is given an almost intimate look into the life of this college youth. Watching his emotions, and how he reacts to the emotions of others, was one of the more interesting parts of this novella.

While a little formulaic in its story, "Masks" offers an approach to a hero that is a little different. The hero is kind and makes decisions that digress from what most of the heroes we see in media today would make. It's refreshing to have someone who is TRULY kind in a story like this.

Overall, I felt like this was a really compelling tale, though I found myself wishing that there was more depth in the writing. This isn't to suggest that it doesn't have deeper meaning, but further exploration of that meaning, the emotions expressed, and how both main characters interacted with the world around them, would have really turned this novella from a good, solid read to an amazing one. The two main characters play off of each other in fascinating ways, and make for an interesting, if not sometimes perplexing read. It will be interesting to learn more about them, and what their origin stories truly are.

Still, I would recommend it, and I look forward to reading the author's next work.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

The storyline was okay, and I did enjoy reading it, but everything happens very quickly. A bit more fleshing out of the characters, Avari's time as a super villain, how his actions are effecting other people/the city, or heck, time in Avari's college classes would have made this a more engaging story.

Avari becomes a villain because lighting things on fire brings him stress relief, but his feelings on things aren't focused on very much. He gets angry or frustrated, puts on his mask, blows up a car or two, then goes back to college to eat a burrito or a waffle, repeat in 1-4 days. I would have liked to see more of his downtime. What does he do for fun when he's not lighting things on fire? What does he want to do once he gets his degree? I feel like I only know the Avari of the moment, but never the deeper Avari.

Chayton is a likeable guy, but we don't really get much on him, the same as Avari. His past is explained briefly, and I would have liked to read more about that. More about his life up until he met Avari, because clearly there was some hint of magic in his childhood, some features of his Native-American heritage (which I really did not pick up on until book 2 when it was blatantly stated), that would have made for fascinating page time.

So while the story was interesting, there are only really 2 characters in the book, and that lends itself to a rather surface-level story. It's a very quick, easy read, so if that's what you're looking for, jump on it.

[Ja'de H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me some snarky hard to love men. I love snarky hard to love men who also have wings and can shoot flames out of their fists. So I guess its safe to say I love me some Avari!

He's one of those characters that are hard to love not only because he doesn't like to get close to other people but because he's also kind of a villain. But I love me a good villain with a backstory and thats what we get with Avari. As hard as he tries to curl up in his shell and avoid the world though, Chayton is there to open up that shell and get him to like him, and like him he does.

Chayton is our resident native american, prince charming. He's sweet and not willing to let Avari avoid him and become a slave to his anger at the world. He's also our resident superhero and the light in Avari dark thunderstorm of a life. I would love to get more information about Chayton and his life and more of what he's gone through and what made him into out sweet, badass hero. And hopefully we'll get more with the growth of Avari and Chayton's relationship. However, for now their perfect together, with Chayton being the light to Avari's dark, the yin to his yang, the love to his hate.

I hate that this book is so short but the author is forgiven because there's a book two in the works. Ms. Lynn has definitely caught my eye and I look forward to more work from her.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of Masks--with the villain as the main character. There was also scope for a great enemies-to-lovers plot line between Avari and Chayton. The story offered some cute scenes between the two main guys; however, I felt it was a missed opportunity in a way. There was brilliant potential here, but the piece was too short and basic to allow for the gradual character development and backstory that would have fleshed this out. As such, the characters felt a tad two-dimensional, their motives obscure, and the action too predictable. That said, I understand that a second book (and more) are coming, which may fill in some of the holes and help to build this into a more complete narrative. I simply wish this first book had been a lot longer, or that more character depth had been introduced from the start. I am giving this three stars for a fun idea and great potential, but for me it fell a little short on the execution. Hopefully the continuation of the series will fix that.

I received this book as a free eBook review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Patricia Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This was enjoyable. Given how anti-social I can be, Avari was relatable. LOL!

I kept waiting for the moment when Avari lost control, but it never really happened. He goes and blows some stuff up, but it didn't really feel like losing control. He seemed more of an anti-hero or more of a troubled youth who just needed someone to reach out and connect to him. I like that aspect, but the book really isn't marketed that way.

I totally called Chayton about halfway through, so no real shock at the ending. I do wonder if a second book is in the works because the main question driving Avari didn't really get wrapped up.

Overall, I enjoyed the characters and it was a fun read.

[L.B. Vigne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

This story caught me right from the start. It has a very small cast of characters so it was easy to follow along, and had plenty of good action scenes to keep me interested. Avari and Chayton are very believable characters, and have a lot of good chemistry.

While this was a quick, fluffy read, I definitely recommend it for anyone who’s in to super heroes. Even though it had some romance, it was very light and the romance was fluffy. The writing is well done and very to-the-point, and I definitely wouldn’t mind rereading it at some point.

[Jamie Sands · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book for free in exchange for a review.

I love the premise of this book, queer superheroes are brilliant and we need more books about them.

That said, I felt like this book didn't go as deep as I wanted it to. Avari's point of view was relentlessly negative, and his reasons for grumpiness were clear, but sometimes he seemed to change his mind instantly with no apparent reason, or let go of things which I would've thought were important to him. More exploration of his thought processes, gut reactions and self questioning would have helped.

There's lots of potential here, and who doesn't love a boy with wings?

[Danielle Roux · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella was short and sweet, I read it in an hour and couldn't stop! I went in knowing nothing (other than the promise of some LGBTQ+ rep and some fantasy elements) and that just made the story that much more interesting. I loved the characters and their adorable conversations. Avari is my favorite type - the weird kid who accidentally becomes the bad guy in his own story. Chayton was unexpectedly the world's most supportive boyfriend which made my cold, dead heart melt for sure. I want more with these boys, please!

[Sara Codair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed something quick and easy to read, that would offer a little escape and entertainment. This was the perfect book for that. It was tropey, cute, and predictable in all the right ways -- exactly what I need to read tonight.

I'll also add that the characters were a great pair-- one was dark and grumpy while the other was cheery and social, but both of them weren't quite what they seemed, and had more common ground than their public personalities would lead people to believe.

I'm looking forward to eventually reading more of the authors works.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid foundation to build an ongoing series off of. The big twist is so heavily foreshadowed you begin to wonder if it's intentional, and yes, it turns out that the main character is just incredibly oblivious. One of the weaknesses of first person storytelling it would seem.

Nevertheless, that one niggle aside, it leaves you wanting more which is exactly what the starting point of a story like this should do.

[theStorykeeper · Rating 4 out of 5]

CW: mild violence

~3.5

If you're looking for a unique plot, complex characters, or literary writing, then skip this one. However, I myself do not mind cliche and predictable plots when it comes to superhero stories. I was rolling my eyes through the first half, but by the end I found myself enjoying it. The romance was super cute and PG, which was refreshing, especially in a university setting.

[Leo Sparx · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this enemies-to-lovers story, readers get the unique experience to see the story through the villain's POV. Not only has the author created a fantastic work of queer-inclusive fiction, but for a novella, they certainly haven’t skipped the details either. Masks takes the superhero tropes we all know and looks at them through a new lens so if you’re looking for innovation and representation from a story, this book is the one!

[Joscelyn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but enjoyable

I didn't know what to expect from a book written from the villan's POV but I seriously enjoyed it. Avari was so freaking snarky and I loved it. I just wish the book were longer, I'm hoping that there are more books coming because there are some unanswered questions. All in all a very enjoyable read.

*I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book*