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Masked
Addalynne Troyer has never seen the hellions or the magic that are rumored to exist just beyond the Glass River. Her life is confined to the kingdom of Silveria, where normalcy is valued and the fear of the unknown is shadowed by warnings and restrictions. Determined to see the truth, Addalynne secretly takes watch, staring into the ever present fog that lingers along the southern bank of the river; a thin veil between Silveria and the forbidden kingdom of Incarnadine. Just as Addalynne is beginning to fear she will never learn the truth, a boy steps through the fog, his hands coated in blood. Drake brings with him a mystery enshroud in darkness, his past forgotten and seemingly lost. And though Addalynne knows he crossed the river from Incarnadine, she holds that truth inside her, afraid that if it comes out, she could lose him forever. As the years pass, Addalynne and Drake find themselves tangled in a love that is unrelenting. But they must battle against a fate that seems determined to keep them apart. With the impending war between the kingdoms brewing, Addalynne and Drake will soon discover they are much more than mere pawns in the game of power. They try to find hope, to find a way out of the chaos that is unfolding around them, but what do you do when saving the person you love means destroying them? Warning: This book contains physical violence and implied sexual violence.
461 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2019
5 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Shari Cross
5 books24 followersIn short: I'm Shari Cross. In not so short: I'm a daydreamer who puts those daydreams into books. I'm a 1st grade teacher and I'm married to my high school sweetheart. We have a smart, funny, beautiful, and loving baby girl; a kind of smart, affectionate, handsome, and goofy boxer pup; and a too smart for his own good, grouchy, adorable, and lazy miniature dachshund. I'm a Ravenclaw of House Stark from the Land of Enchantment who adores all things Fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 9, 2020
One of the things I love most about reading is getting completely emotionally attached to the characters. Masked delivers an amazing cast of characters, I was hooked. This book kept me reading into the late hours, crying and screaming and feeling everything as if it was all happening to me.
Young Addalynne saves this mysterious boy who appears from the forbidden kingdom of Incarnadine. With his memory forgotten after the incident, Addy guards the secret of his origin, with fear of what could happen to him. We witness their love grow throughout the years, these two are inseparable. Their love is so fiece, so passionate, I found myself longing for this intense love.
So many obstacles are thrown at these two, the hardships they must endure to try to be together is heartbreaking. The story feels like a darker fantasy, with mentions of physical abuse, rape and death. At the same time their romance is refreshing and makes the reader hope and root for these two throughout the story. The side characters are also amazing, I love Addys sister and her brother. I am enchanted and thrilled by the mystery behind the kingdom of Incarnadine and await eagerly for the sequel.
Young Addalynne saves this mysterious boy who appears from the forbidden kingdom of Incarnadine. With his memory forgotten after the incident, Addy guards the secret of his origin, with fear of what could happen to him. We witness their love grow throughout the years, these two are inseparable. Their love is so fiece, so passionate, I found myself longing for this intense love.
So many obstacles are thrown at these two, the hardships they must endure to try to be together is heartbreaking. The story feels like a darker fantasy, with mentions of physical abuse, rape and death. At the same time their romance is refreshing and makes the reader hope and root for these two throughout the story. The side characters are also amazing, I love Addys sister and her brother. I am enchanted and thrilled by the mystery behind the kingdom of Incarnadine and await eagerly for the sequel.
March 16, 2025
March 2025 - The passion and drama in the book takes my breath away every time I read it! I was consumed by her writing again. I have read this book 3 times now (2021 & 2023) and I will forever love it. It's a beautiful story of Addy and Drake. The drama, the tension, and young love, trust me you won’t want to put it down! The last 75 pages always have me so emotional even though I know the end! Shari is just a talented writer.
It's a medieval setting with an a coming of age story. It has that tragic, forbidden love of Romeo and Juliet that we romanticize. There are dark tones (contains physical violence and implied sexual violence) when the characters are older, but the passion and pain are written so well! It hurts my heart of soul and I love it.
It's a medieval setting with an a coming of age story. It has that tragic, forbidden love of Romeo and Juliet that we romanticize. There are dark tones (contains physical violence and implied sexual violence) when the characters are older, but the passion and pain are written so well! It hurts my heart of soul and I love it.
November 20, 2024
What an INCREDIBLE read!
Masked starts of at a decent pace with enough mystery to have captivated me. The tension and slow burn is agonizing but in the best way! Then, the emotion hits. My heart was ripped out a dozen times over, and also seeing red (there are some characters that you just hope suffer an agonizing fate).
Shari Cross has hooked me with this first installment of The Divided Kingdom series. I cannot wait to see where the story continues in the next book, Forsaken.
Please be mindful of TWs and CWs before reading. This is very low-spice but there are some themes and topics that some readers might find sensitive.
Masked starts of at a decent pace with enough mystery to have captivated me. The tension and slow burn is agonizing but in the best way! Then, the emotion hits. My heart was ripped out a dozen times over, and also seeing red (there are some characters that you just hope suffer an agonizing fate).
Shari Cross has hooked me with this first installment of The Divided Kingdom series. I cannot wait to see where the story continues in the next book, Forsaken.
Please be mindful of TWs and CWs before reading. This is very low-spice but there are some themes and topics that some readers might find sensitive.
February 18, 2021
Mystery, suspense, action, heartbreak, betrayal, and love are all interwoven in this emotionally engaging tale of two teenagers trying to discover who they are and how they will fit into each other’s future. The author does a beautiful job of creating plot twists and misdirection (as well as the perfect combination of spilled blood and tragic romance) to keep you turning page after page. The sequel will definitely be thrilling in epic proportions!
February 3, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
Now where is book two 🤨
Now where is book two 🤨
November 10, 2024
Masked by @sharicross_author is a dark fairytale and takes place in medieval times. It follows Addalynne and the mysterious orphan boy she rescued from the Glass River. She knows he came from the southern side of the river and the dangers that entails but she has decided she must protect him at all costs even if it means standing up against the most unexpected kind of monsters.
This book had my attention from the very first chapter. The characters are deeply flawed and the growth they show throughout the pages is incredibly done. I’d find myself bracing for one thing to happen just to be whiplashed into a turn of unexpected events.
I felt so many emotions throughout this book. Nostalgia over the angst of teenage love.
Heartbreak.
Heart racing adrenaline.
Rage.
Stress over who can be trusted.
Triumph.
And the desperate need for book 2 immediately 👀
🗡️Mysterious past
🗡️Touch her and ☠️
🗡️Fated mates
🗡️Forced marriage
🗡️Friends to lovers
🗡️Haunted forest
🗡️Stubborn FMC
“I miss the days when others took little notice of me, when I was just Addalynne Troyer, a girl who was a little odd, but definitely not significant.”
This book had my attention from the very first chapter. The characters are deeply flawed and the growth they show throughout the pages is incredibly done. I’d find myself bracing for one thing to happen just to be whiplashed into a turn of unexpected events.
I felt so many emotions throughout this book. Nostalgia over the angst of teenage love.
Heartbreak.
Heart racing adrenaline.
Rage.
Stress over who can be trusted.
Triumph.
And the desperate need for book 2 immediately 👀
🗡️Mysterious past
🗡️Touch her and ☠️
🗡️Fated mates
🗡️Forced marriage
🗡️Friends to lovers
🗡️Haunted forest
🗡️Stubborn FMC
“I miss the days when others took little notice of me, when I was just Addalynne Troyer, a girl who was a little odd, but definitely not significant.”
August 10, 2019
*DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free from the author, in exchange for an honest review.*
Masked was such an intriguing book! I loved the concept behind the plot - two kingdoms, one magical and dangerous, one normal and safe, separated from each other by a mysterious mist-coated river. It didn’t disappoint, either! The wording, romance, and scene descriptions reminded me of an old-fashioned fairy tale story, and I loved it!
Romance is definitely a key theme in this book, and it was really fun watching Addy and Drake grow up together. The changes in their relationship dynamic across the span of the book were very realistic, and that only made their love for each other that much more satisfying.
There were some points where the descriptions seemed to slow down the pacing of the book, but that didn’t change how much I enjoyed it. If you’re looking for an easy fantasy read with great characters and intriguing world-building, I highly recommend this book! I can’t wait to see where the series goes from here!
Masked was such an intriguing book! I loved the concept behind the plot - two kingdoms, one magical and dangerous, one normal and safe, separated from each other by a mysterious mist-coated river. It didn’t disappoint, either! The wording, romance, and scene descriptions reminded me of an old-fashioned fairy tale story, and I loved it!
Romance is definitely a key theme in this book, and it was really fun watching Addy and Drake grow up together. The changes in their relationship dynamic across the span of the book were very realistic, and that only made their love for each other that much more satisfying.
There were some points where the descriptions seemed to slow down the pacing of the book, but that didn’t change how much I enjoyed it. If you’re looking for an easy fantasy read with great characters and intriguing world-building, I highly recommend this book! I can’t wait to see where the series goes from here!
July 24, 2019
It's story was good but it was very long winded
I liked the characters but found myself skipping pages as sometimes the story was a bit too descriptive. Although the story gets very interesting as the love story is very good .
I liked the characters but found myself skipping pages as sometimes the story was a bit too descriptive. Although the story gets very interesting as the love story is very good .
August 6, 2019
This book in incredible. You go through just about every emotion and you lose yourself in the story. I felt like I was there with Addy experiencing everything with her. Amazing! I couldn't put it down and I cannot wait until book 2!!
October 1, 2021
Love it!
I really really enjoyed reading this! I love the characters and how you feel their emotions and I loved the writing and just everything, I cannot wait to read book 2!
I really really enjoyed reading this! I love the characters and how you feel their emotions and I loved the writing and just everything, I cannot wait to read book 2!
September 26, 2020
DISCLAIMER: This book was gifted to me for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The story follows Addalynne Troyer, who has always wanted to know the truth about the Divided Kingdoms. She has never seen the hellions, or the magic that she has heard exists beyond the glass river, yet she continues to take watch as often as she can, so that if anything were to happen, she could see it with her own eyes.
Addalynn begins to fear that she will never learn the truth about what happened between Silveria and Incarnadine, but at that moment, a boy steps through the fog with blood covered hands.
And so begins the unrelenting love, and a fate that seems destined to keep the two apart.
With the impending war between the kingdoms brewing, will Addalynne and Drake find a way out of the chaos that seems to be tumbling around them?
I’ll start off by saying that this was my first fantasy book (other than HP) and to say I was a little reluctant to get into this genre is an understatement. I think I expected things to seem way more complicated to understand than I can manage, but it was surprisingly easy to slip into this world!
It read so well, I absolutely adored Drake, who is the perfect mix of sweet and totally badass! And I was completely heartbroken at what Addy had to go through to keep him and her family safe. This book made me feel so many emotions, sometimes all at once! It tackled some really heavy issues (❗️TW: physical and sexual assault, manipulation, blackmail❗️) but it wasn’t integrated too much, so you could definitely skip those parts without it hindering the story too much!
Reading this book, I felt like I was transported into an extremely dark fairytale, and loved that it gave me that feeling of reading a childhood favourite, even though it’s a heavy, adult book.
I absolutely loved this book, and it was the perfect introduction into fantasy. (AND THAT CLIFFHANGER🤯 I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for book 2!). Thank you so much again Shari for giving me this opportunity to broaden my bookish horizons with this fab book💕
The story follows Addalynne Troyer, who has always wanted to know the truth about the Divided Kingdoms. She has never seen the hellions, or the magic that she has heard exists beyond the glass river, yet she continues to take watch as often as she can, so that if anything were to happen, she could see it with her own eyes.
Addalynn begins to fear that she will never learn the truth about what happened between Silveria and Incarnadine, but at that moment, a boy steps through the fog with blood covered hands.
And so begins the unrelenting love, and a fate that seems destined to keep the two apart.
With the impending war between the kingdoms brewing, will Addalynne and Drake find a way out of the chaos that seems to be tumbling around them?
I’ll start off by saying that this was my first fantasy book (other than HP) and to say I was a little reluctant to get into this genre is an understatement. I think I expected things to seem way more complicated to understand than I can manage, but it was surprisingly easy to slip into this world!
It read so well, I absolutely adored Drake, who is the perfect mix of sweet and totally badass! And I was completely heartbroken at what Addy had to go through to keep him and her family safe. This book made me feel so many emotions, sometimes all at once! It tackled some really heavy issues (❗️TW: physical and sexual assault, manipulation, blackmail❗️) but it wasn’t integrated too much, so you could definitely skip those parts without it hindering the story too much!
Reading this book, I felt like I was transported into an extremely dark fairytale, and loved that it gave me that feeling of reading a childhood favourite, even though it’s a heavy, adult book.
I absolutely loved this book, and it was the perfect introduction into fantasy. (AND THAT CLIFFHANGER🤯 I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for book 2!). Thank you so much again Shari for giving me this opportunity to broaden my bookish horizons with this fab book💕
April 24, 2020
I love everything about this book, especially the world I found it so fascinating and mysterious with the divided kingdoms and all that, but man, when I learned the other kingdom had magic and drake came from there I immediately knew he was a mystery all in its self, and when he said he can't remember anything couldn't wait to figure out how he would deal with it.
after reading the first page I was pulled in, I wanted to see what kind of things young curious Addalynne would get into. Addalynne immediately was one of my favorite characters. what made me so connected to her was the adventurous side, and the wanting to see something new and different. she is this brave and strong person, even when she doesn't feel strong enough to move forward she still would do anything for the people she loves.
the whole thing was perfect, every word on that paper was a new adventure. I cant wait to see what will happen next in all rest of the books, I barely can wait.
after reading the first page I was pulled in, I wanted to see what kind of things young curious Addalynne would get into. Addalynne immediately was one of my favorite characters. what made me so connected to her was the adventurous side, and the wanting to see something new and different. she is this brave and strong person, even when she doesn't feel strong enough to move forward she still would do anything for the people she loves.
the whole thing was perfect, every word on that paper was a new adventure. I cant wait to see what will happen next in all rest of the books, I barely can wait.
May 16, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed Masked, despite fantasy not being as close to my heart as other genres are as I age. The story was "adequately" detailed, meaning, it wasn't beaten to death with minute details. Cross got the story across without filler, so you get the meat and potatoes without having to deal with all the unnecessary fat. I had fun with it. I look forward to what she puts out in the future.
April 30, 2020
I loved diving into this fantasy and I cannot wait to see what happens in book 2.
August 25, 2019
*I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review*
3.5 stars.
"I would forfeit my life a thousand times over to keep you safe."
'Masked' by Shari Cross is a dark fantasy with a thrilling romance and secrets that will make you want to keep reading.
before I start this review I'd like to say that this book is heavily focused around romance. So if you're expecting wars and battles, those aren't here (yet!!)
When I started reading this book, I was immediately intrigued. The opening scene is dark and lush and pulls you right into the story and makes you want to know more. Right at the beginning, the world and its politics are shortly but clearly explained, making it easy to follow the story from the very beginning. The world intrigued me and I often found myself wanting to dive into the book to explore more, especially the magical side. I'm a bit sad that more of the world wasn't discovered but this was only the first book and after that ending I'm positive we'll discover more in the sequel.
The characters started out great. Our main protagonist, Addalynne, starts out as a a young teen of around twelve years old, she has a very bright personality with strong emotions which is normal for a girl at that age. However, as she grew older to around seventeen, I found that her personality hadn't grown up with her and she was still that childish little girl. to me, characters make or break a story and if I can't connect to the characters or find myself annoyed by them, especially through childish actions, it brings down the story for me. But this is just a personal preference
As for the villain, I found myself waiting for his appearance and it took to almost halfway the book for him to be introduced and when I realized that he was it, I was kind of underwhelmed. Villains are an important part of the story to me and I love great, well-crafted, and thought-out villains. I need strong villains with a great background story. But sadly I found this to be a little lacking in this book. But I do believe that the sequel has potential for a greater villain.
Overal I did enjoy the book. The romance was great and the world was original. The next book definitely has the potential to be great and expand the world and make the characters more well-rounded and dynamic. However, I did feel like I'm a little too old for stories like this which may be why I was annoyed with the characters so often. At times, it read like a Wattpad story, and no offence meant by that because I used to spend all my time on that website when I was still in high school. I know that fourteen-year-old me would have loved this story, but twenty-two-year-old me has outgrown it.
But if you're looking for a guilty pleasure fantasy romance, this is the book for you!
3.5 stars.
"I would forfeit my life a thousand times over to keep you safe."
'Masked' by Shari Cross is a dark fantasy with a thrilling romance and secrets that will make you want to keep reading.
before I start this review I'd like to say that this book is heavily focused around romance. So if you're expecting wars and battles, those aren't here (yet!!)
When I started reading this book, I was immediately intrigued. The opening scene is dark and lush and pulls you right into the story and makes you want to know more. Right at the beginning, the world and its politics are shortly but clearly explained, making it easy to follow the story from the very beginning. The world intrigued me and I often found myself wanting to dive into the book to explore more, especially the magical side. I'm a bit sad that more of the world wasn't discovered but this was only the first book and after that ending I'm positive we'll discover more in the sequel.
The characters started out great. Our main protagonist, Addalynne, starts out as a a young teen of around twelve years old, she has a very bright personality with strong emotions which is normal for a girl at that age. However, as she grew older to around seventeen, I found that her personality hadn't grown up with her and she was still that childish little girl. to me, characters make or break a story and if I can't connect to the characters or find myself annoyed by them, especially through childish actions, it brings down the story for me. But this is just a personal preference
As for the villain, I found myself waiting for his appearance and it took to almost halfway the book for him to be introduced and when I realized that he was it, I was kind of underwhelmed. Villains are an important part of the story to me and I love great, well-crafted, and thought-out villains. I need strong villains with a great background story. But sadly I found this to be a little lacking in this book. But I do believe that the sequel has potential for a greater villain.
Overal I did enjoy the book. The romance was great and the world was original. The next book definitely has the potential to be great and expand the world and make the characters more well-rounded and dynamic. However, I did feel like I'm a little too old for stories like this which may be why I was annoyed with the characters so often. At times, it read like a Wattpad story, and no offence meant by that because I used to spend all my time on that website when I was still in high school. I know that fourteen-year-old me would have loved this story, but twenty-two-year-old me has outgrown it.
But if you're looking for a guilty pleasure fantasy romance, this is the book for you!
November 11, 2019
*DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free from the author, in exchange for an honest review.*
”I won't, but you know nothing ever happens.”
” Then why do you always insist on going there.?”
”Because if anything does come close to the river, I am going to be the one to see it.” - Addalynne
The book is about a girl named Addalynn Troyer that one day saves a boy from a river that divides the kingdom in two parts, Silveria and the forbidden kingdom of Incarnadine. The boy is from Incarnadine but she keeps it for herself as she doesn't want anything to happen to him as no one is allowed to cross the river.
The story follows their friendship as the time goes on and their battle against fate that wants to keep them apart.
The chapters are mostly in Addalynn's point of view but inbetween we see the view from Drake the boy she saved. I personally don't mind it when it changes between point of view as it helps learning more about the characters and their journeys.
Overall I enjoyed the book and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. I enjoyed the friendship between the two main characters and reading about how it changed through the years. I would love to read more about this story and learn more about this world.
”I won't, but you know nothing ever happens.”
” Then why do you always insist on going there.?”
”Because if anything does come close to the river, I am going to be the one to see it.” - Addalynne
The book is about a girl named Addalynn Troyer that one day saves a boy from a river that divides the kingdom in two parts, Silveria and the forbidden kingdom of Incarnadine. The boy is from Incarnadine but she keeps it for herself as she doesn't want anything to happen to him as no one is allowed to cross the river.
The story follows their friendship as the time goes on and their battle against fate that wants to keep them apart.
The chapters are mostly in Addalynn's point of view but inbetween we see the view from Drake the boy she saved. I personally don't mind it when it changes between point of view as it helps learning more about the characters and their journeys.
Overall I enjoyed the book and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. I enjoyed the friendship between the two main characters and reading about how it changed through the years. I would love to read more about this story and learn more about this world.
October 26, 2020
This was an amazingly written book. Like some books it takes time for the setting and the information to happen. However, after you got pass that stage I didn’t want to stop reading and it went quickly from something to another. The ending though.. I need the second book quickly. It was just a great read and would recommend it.
February 21, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It has everything I desire in a book! It's a fantasy, with a heart twisting romance that made me swoon so bad! Add some danger, a strong-willed girl, a devastatingly gorgeous #bookboyfriend named Drake and some tear inducing heartache and you have an awesome start to an exciting series! I was literally wiggling at the edge of my seat at times and at others I was so distraught and heartbroken I wanted to just shut the book and walk away! SUCH A GOOD BOOK!
Add it to your TBR NOW!!
Fantastic job
Add it to your TBR NOW!!
Fantastic job
September 22, 2019
This book got better and better, starting as a 3 🌟 and ending as a 5 🌟. I guess that makes it a 4 🌟-read 😊
"𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨?"
This protagonist Addalynne lives in the kingdom of Silveria, that's separated from a magical and dangerous kingdom by a river that you're strictly forbidden to cross. I loved the contrasts between the two worlds, were the people of Silveria valued normalcy and feared the unknown, as the neighbouring kingdom were magical creatures is supposed to roam.
"𝙄𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙞𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨."
We'll follow Addalynne from her early teens and as the book moves among we'll get to know both her and the world she lives in more and more. I almost feel as if I've grown up side by side with Addalynne. You'll get to be by her side when she discovers hershelf, her feelings and someone else.
The language is very describing and is mostly revolved around Addalynne, it's very character driven but with a lot of action by the end of the book. The second half of the book also involves a villain and a lot of pain and despair which added another depth to the story and truly made you feel with Addalynne.
I'd say that the main theme in this story is the love story, which will take a lot of different twists and turns through out the book, and also will make you feel for (and with) Addalynne.
I definately want to discover more of this world and find out what happens next! Especially after the author left us with a major cliffhanger 😅
I recommend this to anyone who loves stories focused around love and character development. Especially if you'd also want to slowly discover a mysterious magical world that's set by a "normal" one.
"𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨?"
This protagonist Addalynne lives in the kingdom of Silveria, that's separated from a magical and dangerous kingdom by a river that you're strictly forbidden to cross. I loved the contrasts between the two worlds, were the people of Silveria valued normalcy and feared the unknown, as the neighbouring kingdom were magical creatures is supposed to roam.
"𝙄𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙞𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨."
We'll follow Addalynne from her early teens and as the book moves among we'll get to know both her and the world she lives in more and more. I almost feel as if I've grown up side by side with Addalynne. You'll get to be by her side when she discovers hershelf, her feelings and someone else.
The language is very describing and is mostly revolved around Addalynne, it's very character driven but with a lot of action by the end of the book. The second half of the book also involves a villain and a lot of pain and despair which added another depth to the story and truly made you feel with Addalynne.
I'd say that the main theme in this story is the love story, which will take a lot of different twists and turns through out the book, and also will make you feel for (and with) Addalynne.
I definately want to discover more of this world and find out what happens next! Especially after the author left us with a major cliffhanger 😅
I recommend this to anyone who loves stories focused around love and character development. Especially if you'd also want to slowly discover a mysterious magical world that's set by a "normal" one.
October 14, 2019
First of all, thank you Shari for offering me a free copy of your book for an honest review!
This was a fun read! I was totally in the mood for a romantic fantasy storyline to whisk me away to a new world and new friends.
There were a few instances of overly-described settings and characters and I had hoped that the villain would’ve been fleshed out a bit more so I could have a deeper reaction to his/her presence in the book, but other than that it was so fun to follow with this adventure!
This was a fun read! I was totally in the mood for a romantic fantasy storyline to whisk me away to a new world and new friends.
There were a few instances of overly-described settings and characters and I had hoped that the villain would’ve been fleshed out a bit more so I could have a deeper reaction to his/her presence in the book, but other than that it was so fun to follow with this adventure!
September 6, 2019
A love story for the ages. A young girl finds a boy in trouble, takes him home to help him get better and survive. Best friends, they eventually realize they love each other, and will do anything to stay together and keep that love alive. Many hardships come their way, but their love stays true. I'm saddened by where it ended, but only because I want to know what happens next!
August 11, 2025
I need book 2 now!! I need to know what’s going to happen in Incardinine, Drake and Addy’s love is so strong and they need to get back together. Poor Addy has gone through so many trials and thank god for Charles being killed. Also, I wonder if the crescent moon birthmark on Drake means something.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2025
Tropes:
✨Friends To Lovers
✨Found Family
✨Touch Her and Unalive
✨Arranged Marriage
Oh my god. This is by far the best book I have read this year so far. I ended up reading this in one sitting it’s that good.
Addalynne, against her parents wishes, went to the glass river and found a boy laying in the river on a log unconscious. She did what everyone else would do and took him to her parents. He eventually woke up and didn’t remember who he was and where he came from—and Addalynne’s uncle ended up taking him in.
All their life, Addalynne and Drake were inseparable, and neither knew they have always been in love for their whole life. When Drake enlisted into the Schild, not only was Addalynne heart broken but her parents went behind her back and arranged her marriage (but they gave her the option to accept or deny the marriage). When she was going to deny the marriage, her soon to be husband threatened the love of her life and forcing her to marry him.
Y’all let me tell you, you can feel every emotion,every heartbreak, every happy moment and every bad thing that happens in this book. There were a few parts I had to blink tears.
I loved Addalynne and Drakes love. It wasn’t perfect, it got messy at times, but you could feel every ounce of love they have for one another. Everytime Addalynne gave up, drake was there with hope and not giving up. Drake has so much love for her and I honestly could not take it, it was so heart warming. I felt so much for Addalynne because she couldn’t be with the man she always loved to save her and her family.
And her husband, well f him. The things he did to her—I was getting so mad, and wanted to jump through the pages and deal with him myself.
AHHHH. That cliffhanger. I need next book because I need to know what happens. This gave me the worst book hangover I’ve ever had.
✨Friends To Lovers
✨Found Family
✨Touch Her and Unalive
✨Arranged Marriage
Oh my god. This is by far the best book I have read this year so far. I ended up reading this in one sitting it’s that good.
Addalynne, against her parents wishes, went to the glass river and found a boy laying in the river on a log unconscious. She did what everyone else would do and took him to her parents. He eventually woke up and didn’t remember who he was and where he came from—and Addalynne’s uncle ended up taking him in.
All their life, Addalynne and Drake were inseparable, and neither knew they have always been in love for their whole life. When Drake enlisted into the Schild, not only was Addalynne heart broken but her parents went behind her back and arranged her marriage (but they gave her the option to accept or deny the marriage). When she was going to deny the marriage, her soon to be husband threatened the love of her life and forcing her to marry him.
Y’all let me tell you, you can feel every emotion,every heartbreak, every happy moment and every bad thing that happens in this book. There were a few parts I had to blink tears.
I loved Addalynne and Drakes love. It wasn’t perfect, it got messy at times, but you could feel every ounce of love they have for one another. Everytime Addalynne gave up, drake was there with hope and not giving up. Drake has so much love for her and I honestly could not take it, it was so heart warming. I felt so much for Addalynne because she couldn’t be with the man she always loved to save her and her family.
And her husband, well f him. The things he did to her—I was getting so mad, and wanted to jump through the pages and deal with him myself.
AHHHH. That cliffhanger. I need next book because I need to know what happens. This gave me the worst book hangover I’ve ever had.
November 26, 2024
Thank you so much to @shari for sending me a copy of MASKED! Keep reading below for my honest review.
Tropes include:
- friends to lovers
- Found family
- Forbidden magic
- Kidnapping
- Touch her and 💀
- Amnesia
- Dark fairytale
- Haunted Forest
- Arranged marriage
- Rescue
This is book 1 in Shari’s The Divided Kingdom series. I’m so thankful to have been chosen to receive a copy of it. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It induced a rollercoaster of emotions from me and those are the best books to read! I cheered, laughed, felt a bit violent toward characters at times and even cried. I’m not a crier so that was a huge achievement!
I finished and immediately wanted to begin book 2. Unfortunately it’s not out yet, but at least I get to Beta read it soon! I can’t wait to follow Addalynne and Drake on their journeys and I’m dying to find out what happens next!
If you like friends to lovers, touch her and💀, or dark fairytales this book is absolutely for you. The best part is you don’t need to wait. It’s available now on KU!
Tropes include:
- friends to lovers
- Found family
- Forbidden magic
- Kidnapping
- Touch her and 💀
- Amnesia
- Dark fairytale
- Haunted Forest
- Arranged marriage
- Rescue
This is book 1 in Shari’s The Divided Kingdom series. I’m so thankful to have been chosen to receive a copy of it. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It induced a rollercoaster of emotions from me and those are the best books to read! I cheered, laughed, felt a bit violent toward characters at times and even cried. I’m not a crier so that was a huge achievement!
I finished and immediately wanted to begin book 2. Unfortunately it’s not out yet, but at least I get to Beta read it soon! I can’t wait to follow Addalynne and Drake on their journeys and I’m dying to find out what happens next!
If you like friends to lovers, touch her and💀, or dark fairytales this book is absolutely for you. The best part is you don’t need to wait. It’s available now on KU!
January 14, 2025
Masked by Shari Cross is absolutely amazing! From the first page, I was hooked. The drama, emotions, and mystery kept me turning the pages. This coming-of-age story has everything—intense forbidden love, captivating twists, and raw moments of violence. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this gripping tale.
The world-building is immersive, with the ominous Glass River. The drama and raw emotions woven throughout the story had me glued to the pages. Addalynne and Drake’s love is a beautiful yet tragic thread that ties the narrative together, and the stakes rise as war looms between the kingdoms.
This book isn’t afraid to dive into darker themes, with moments of violence and implied trauma, but it handles them with care, adding depth to the story. It’s a perfect blend of coming-of-age, forbidden love, and intense conflict. I highly recommend Masked to anyone who loves a gripping, emotional read with high stakes and unforgettable characters.
The world-building is immersive, with the ominous Glass River. The drama and raw emotions woven throughout the story had me glued to the pages. Addalynne and Drake’s love is a beautiful yet tragic thread that ties the narrative together, and the stakes rise as war looms between the kingdoms.
This book isn’t afraid to dive into darker themes, with moments of violence and implied trauma, but it handles them with care, adding depth to the story. It’s a perfect blend of coming-of-age, forbidden love, and intense conflict. I highly recommend Masked to anyone who loves a gripping, emotional read with high stakes and unforgettable characters.
November 25, 2024
If you want a wonderful love story, this is it!
This book initially grabbed my attention with a different concept/worlds. The characters are absolutely loveable. The whole story is a roller coaster ride of emotions. Just when you think things are going good…BAM, this author will slightly break your heart lol
Really and truly this story is more of a love story than anything. (Closed door only, no spice). If that’s what you’re looking for, then I recommend reading it! I mean…who doesn’t love a good love story? The rollercoaster ride of this book made me want to keep reading it. I had to know what was going to happen and I’m excited for book #2!
This book initially grabbed my attention with a different concept/worlds. The characters are absolutely loveable. The whole story is a roller coaster ride of emotions. Just when you think things are going good…BAM, this author will slightly break your heart lol
Really and truly this story is more of a love story than anything. (Closed door only, no spice). If that’s what you’re looking for, then I recommend reading it! I mean…who doesn’t love a good love story? The rollercoaster ride of this book made me want to keep reading it. I had to know what was going to happen and I’m excited for book #2!
January 24, 2025
I had the incredible journey of immersing my self in the world of Faygrene following Addy and Drake as they build a relationship that most hope will stand the test of time. Addy saves Drake from what she is certain would be death but that saving comes with a secret she must keep… until she doesn’t. Unbeknownst to her it will be a catalyst to many twists and turns, dangers and love, hope and despair. If you like a touch her and die, friends to lovers, and what could be a possible magical journey then this story is for you.
April 5, 2025
Rating: 4.5
This had me on an emotional roller-coaster the entire time. I felt constantly on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next shoe to drop and the next plot twist. You will not finish reading this without heartbreak or trauma. I received Masked for free from the author.
This had me on an emotional roller-coaster the entire time. I felt constantly on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next shoe to drop and the next plot twist. You will not finish reading this without heartbreak or trauma. I received Masked for free from the author.
February 20, 2025
This book was amazing; I don't know how else to describe the reading experience. Shari does a beautiful job telling the story of Addalynne and Drake, a tale of friendship, love, and so many secrets to uncover.
This book takes us on a journey you will never want to end. Addalynne is such a beautiful FMC; I don't know how Shari did it to imprint the character's soul in the pages. We see her grow and love fiercely, but always with the need to be more of what is expected of her.
I love Drake so much. Honestly, all of the characters are amazing in their own way. Not you, Charles; I'm not talking about you. Drake is so fiercely loyal and loves Addalynne so much that he is willing to do everything for her.
The plot is full of twists and turns, leaving you feeling ALL OF THE EMOTIONS! This book left me looking at the wall for ten minutes, contemplating my life choices.
This book takes us on a journey you will never want to end. Addalynne is such a beautiful FMC; I don't know how Shari did it to imprint the character's soul in the pages. We see her grow and love fiercely, but always with the need to be more of what is expected of her.
I love Drake so much. Honestly, all of the characters are amazing in their own way. Not you, Charles; I'm not talking about you. Drake is so fiercely loyal and loves Addalynne so much that he is willing to do everything for her.
The plot is full of twists and turns, leaving you feeling ALL OF THE EMOTIONS! This book left me looking at the wall for ten minutes, contemplating my life choices.
February 17, 2025
I read this book long after publish (2019), but I am so grateful to have found Shari and her beautiful words!
This book is simply magical, and I have gotten so attached to them and am anxious for the continuation of their story. Shari hooked me within the first chapter, and it took me about 36 hours to finish as I sat and devoured it, ignoring everything else!
Addalyne, who lives in Silveria, has always been obsessed with the Glass River, spending hours each day by it's banks. As a child, she spots a young boy from across the river, the forbidden kingdom of Incarnadine, floating in the water. After she rescues him, she realizes he has no memory of his life and brings him to her town to live.
Starting as childhood friends, Addalynne and Drake slowly grow closer and fall in love throughout the years they spend together. Addy holds the secret of his origin close to her heart, terrified of him being sent back to Incarnadine.
Their relationship is fraught with so many challenges, but Addy is determined to protect Drake at all costs. And the costs end up being ... very high indeed.
I am anxiously awaiting book 2 so I can see what happens next in Addy and Drake's story!
This book is simply magical, and I have gotten so attached to them and am anxious for the continuation of their story. Shari hooked me within the first chapter, and it took me about 36 hours to finish as I sat and devoured it, ignoring everything else!
Addalyne, who lives in Silveria, has always been obsessed with the Glass River, spending hours each day by it's banks. As a child, she spots a young boy from across the river, the forbidden kingdom of Incarnadine, floating in the water. After she rescues him, she realizes he has no memory of his life and brings him to her town to live.
Starting as childhood friends, Addalynne and Drake slowly grow closer and fall in love throughout the years they spend together. Addy holds the secret of his origin close to her heart, terrified of him being sent back to Incarnadine.
Their relationship is fraught with so many challenges, but Addy is determined to protect Drake at all costs. And the costs end up being ... very high indeed.
I am anxiously awaiting book 2 so I can see what happens next in Addy and Drake's story!
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