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Huskarl Duology #1
Wizard's Masquerade
Who knew the jester was dangerous, or that he would try to steal her heart?
After seven long years of learning magic at the Wizarding Guild, twenty-two-year-old Laynah is eager to graduate and pursue a glorious career as a wizard in the Royal Guard—until a horrendous injury leaves her dream in ruins.
Defeated and with no chance of graduating, Laynah resigns herself to failure—so no one is more surprised than her when she is given a second chance to go to Rutherford Castle.
But Laynah soon learns that not all that glitters is gold, and the royal castle’s inhabitants hold dangerous secrets, including the mysterious jester, who is both infuriating and charming.
When tragedy strikes the kingdom, Laynah is drawn deeper into a web of secrets and lies, and becomes entangled with the jester in a treacherous game of trust and betrayal—but can she trust the jester with her heart?
AMAZON BESTSELLER AND AWARDED READERS’ FAVORITE 5-STAR SEAL, this medieval fantasy romance blends magic, castles, ballrooms, political intrigue and a slow-burn romance for a seductive, page-turning escape.
This is Book 1 of the Huskarl Duology - Book 2 Releasing Oct 1st 2023.
"Pride and Prejudice meets Harry Potter"
• Fantasy Romance for New Adults
• Court Intrigue
• Slow Burn with Open Door Spice (2/5)
• Wizards, Castles & Ballrooms
• Soft Magic System
• Political Intrigue
• Secrets & Deception
• Grumpy/Sunshine trope
• Book 1 of Huskarl Duology
• Long book
• Easy to read
• Wholesome characters
• Mild cliff-hanger with HFN vibes
• Book 2 will deliver more spice and HEA
Please note:
- The published book has undergone significant changes since the ARC in response to reader feedback.
- Since the release date, Wizard's Masquerade has undergone changes including a five percent reduction in word count to improve flow and readability (without impacting the story) and the spelling of the protagonist's name has changed to Laynah. The audiobook has also been updated.
After seven long years of learning magic at the Wizarding Guild, twenty-two-year-old Laynah is eager to graduate and pursue a glorious career as a wizard in the Royal Guard—until a horrendous injury leaves her dream in ruins.
Defeated and with no chance of graduating, Laynah resigns herself to failure—so no one is more surprised than her when she is given a second chance to go to Rutherford Castle.
But Laynah soon learns that not all that glitters is gold, and the royal castle’s inhabitants hold dangerous secrets, including the mysterious jester, who is both infuriating and charming.
When tragedy strikes the kingdom, Laynah is drawn deeper into a web of secrets and lies, and becomes entangled with the jester in a treacherous game of trust and betrayal—but can she trust the jester with her heart?
AMAZON BESTSELLER AND AWARDED READERS’ FAVORITE 5-STAR SEAL, this medieval fantasy romance blends magic, castles, ballrooms, political intrigue and a slow-burn romance for a seductive, page-turning escape.
This is Book 1 of the Huskarl Duology - Book 2 Releasing Oct 1st 2023.
"Pride and Prejudice meets Harry Potter"
• Fantasy Romance for New Adults
• Court Intrigue
• Slow Burn with Open Door Spice (2/5)
• Wizards, Castles & Ballrooms
• Soft Magic System
• Political Intrigue
• Secrets & Deception
• Grumpy/Sunshine trope
• Book 1 of Huskarl Duology
• Long book
• Easy to read
• Wholesome characters
• Mild cliff-hanger with HFN vibes
• Book 2 will deliver more spice and HEA
Please note:
- The published book has undergone significant changes since the ARC in response to reader feedback.
- Since the release date, Wizard's Masquerade has undergone changes including a five percent reduction in word count to improve flow and readability (without impacting the story) and the spelling of the protagonist's name has changed to Laynah. The audiobook has also been updated.
ebook
First published September 30, 2022
49 people are currently reading
3363 people want to read
About the author
Jay Pellegrin
2 books77 followersBuy Jay's Books: Linktree
Follow Jay on Instagram: @jay_pellegrin
Jay Pellegrin is a NA Fantasy Romance author living in Australia with her family. She writes fantasy stories full of magical adventures, wholesome characters, witty banter, slow-burn romance and open-door spice.
Her debut novel, Wizard's Masquerade, released in Sep 2022 and was an Amazon Bestseller in Romantic Fantasy. Her second novel, Wizard's Unmasking, releases October 2023 and completes the duology.
When she isn't writing, her favourite pastime is to curl up in front of the heater (that she secretly wishes was a medieval fireplace) with a good book, her big fluffy dog and a hot cup of coffee.
Follow Jay on Instagram: @jay_pellegrin
Jay Pellegrin is a NA Fantasy Romance author living in Australia with her family. She writes fantasy stories full of magical adventures, wholesome characters, witty banter, slow-burn romance and open-door spice.
Her debut novel, Wizard's Masquerade, released in Sep 2022 and was an Amazon Bestseller in Romantic Fantasy. Her second novel, Wizard's Unmasking, releases October 2023 and completes the duology.
When she isn't writing, her favourite pastime is to curl up in front of the heater (that she secretly wishes was a medieval fireplace) with a good book, her big fluffy dog and a hot cup of coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
December 9, 2022
A fantasy Romance that left me wanting more, I loved reading this story. It was well written and the cover itself is eye catching.
A whodunit mystery with a splash of magic, it was a great adventure, I loved the moments between the Jester and Leyna, they were great characters that made the story all the more amazing. I can not wait for the second book, which I know will be just as great as this one
A whodunit mystery with a splash of magic, it was a great adventure, I loved the moments between the Jester and Leyna, they were great characters that made the story all the more amazing. I can not wait for the second book, which I know will be just as great as this one
August 3, 2022
The story starts off with a magical bang before a little time is spent getting familiar with Leyna and her wizard friends (who are lovely), and you might find yourself wondering --- "where is the Jester?" Don't worry. Your lovely masked man appears about chapter 9... You'll begin forming your suspicions about his identity, then reform them, then drop them altogether... and some chapters on it just gets laid out like a joker card. ;)
That reveal was the BEST thing ever.
It's SUPERBLY DONE.
There were so many Jester/Leyna moments I found msyelf reading 2-3x over just to relish them.
Leyna does have her faults. But she's loveable and I see a redemption arc coming in book 2.
Against what another reviewer said, the synopsis is not wrong. The Jester is dangerous... if you've believed the lies that Leyna is wading through. She spends most of the book trying to figure out which side is the right side to be on and by the end, it's clear she's found some clarity and reached a decision. And that makes me excited for Book 2.
The Jester is so likeable, that I found myself screaming at Leyna to trust him. And at times I was a little frustrated that Leyna held to her long-held beliefs. Ultimately frustrated when she wouldn't let the Jester tell her something important. It wasn't so much a communication issue as a Leyna being too stubborn to just trust the man. She's an upright character who just wants to do the right thing... but sometimes the lawful thing is not the truly moral thing.
From the very moment Jester shows up, he teases hard and he teases well. He never seems to leave Leyna alone. The banter and witt is rich. The chemistry between the two is fantastic. As great as all of the other scenes are, you'll find yourself reading just to get to the Leyna/Jester moments... and once introduced they spend a lot of time together.
Jester is adorable. There are so many facets to this character. He's romantic and steamy, witty and dreamy, noble and a fool, and sometimes everything in-between. This wildcard character was so well written and it's heartwarming how much affection he has for Leyna.
The romance in this book delivers: roses, a fluffy surprise ;), sweet notes, kisses to the back of the hand, a delightful Pride and Prejudice style dance, and more. There's ample humor outside the Jester's moments as well, since Leyna's mother is constantly introducing her to suitors around the castle.
The castle environment is rich and expansive, and the aesthetic moments are setting/environment details were lovely and never detracted from the pacing.
This book really lifted my spirits. There are some tragic scenes and I was really disappointed at one execution going through... but overall, this book was light-hearted and sensual. A great pick-me up.
I found myself walking around and smiling as I mulled on my suspicions of the Jester's true identity. When it was finally revealed, I was ecstatic and couldn't stop grinning. And then from there on... it only got better.
FOR MY CONTENT CONCERNED READERS: There were 2 steamy scenes and several kissing scenes.
This book also contains a good spattering of vulgar language*. But the steamy scenes don't use explicit language.
That reveal was the BEST thing ever.
It's SUPERBLY DONE.
There were so many Jester/Leyna moments I found msyelf reading 2-3x over just to relish them.
Leyna does have her faults. But she's loveable and I see a redemption arc coming in book 2.
Against what another reviewer said, the synopsis is not wrong. The Jester is dangerous... if you've believed the lies that Leyna is wading through. She spends most of the book trying to figure out which side is the right side to be on and by the end, it's clear she's found some clarity and reached a decision. And that makes me excited for Book 2.
The Jester is so likeable, that I found myself screaming at Leyna to trust him. And at times I was a little frustrated that Leyna held to her long-held beliefs. Ultimately frustrated when she wouldn't let the Jester tell her something important. It wasn't so much a communication issue as a Leyna being too stubborn to just trust the man. She's an upright character who just wants to do the right thing... but sometimes the lawful thing is not the truly moral thing.
From the very moment Jester shows up, he teases hard and he teases well. He never seems to leave Leyna alone. The banter and witt is rich. The chemistry between the two is fantastic. As great as all of the other scenes are, you'll find yourself reading just to get to the Leyna/Jester moments... and once introduced they spend a lot of time together.
Jester is adorable. There are so many facets to this character. He's romantic and steamy, witty and dreamy, noble and a fool, and sometimes everything in-between. This wildcard character was so well written and it's heartwarming how much affection he has for Leyna.
The romance in this book delivers: roses, a fluffy surprise ;), sweet notes, kisses to the back of the hand, a delightful Pride and Prejudice style dance, and more. There's ample humor outside the Jester's moments as well, since Leyna's mother is constantly introducing her to suitors around the castle.
The castle environment is rich and expansive, and the aesthetic moments are setting/environment details were lovely and never detracted from the pacing.
This book really lifted my spirits. There are some tragic scenes and I was really disappointed at one execution going through... but overall, this book was light-hearted and sensual. A great pick-me up.
I found myself walking around and smiling as I mulled on my suspicions of the Jester's true identity. When it was finally revealed, I was ecstatic and couldn't stop grinning. And then from there on... it only got better.
FOR MY CONTENT CONCERNED READERS: There were 2 steamy scenes and several kissing scenes.
This book also contains a good spattering of vulgar language*. But the steamy scenes don't use explicit language.
September 8, 2022
INTERESTING WORLD, A FUN MALE LEAD, BUT NOT MUCH ELSE TO RECOMMEND IT IN MY OPINION
Actual rating: 2.5⭐
The opening few chapters (as well as the cover!) gave me super high hopes for this books - ultimately, they were sadly dashed. While the world is interesting, it is not explored or explained fully. The male lead had his charm, but the female lead was an absolute bore. The supposed twists were extremely predictable and the book was just way to long for what it actually was.
👍 What I Liked 👍
Premise: We enter the world of magic and demons, of duels and royalty. I was instantly drawn to the premise of magic coming from another world, one populated by demons. Which of course made magic just as dangerous as it was alluring. It was a great setup that could have taken this book so far. It was interesting and engaging, but ultimately not explored well enough.
Jester: I had a hard time with several of the characters, but Jester was the one who made my finish this book. I really adored every scene he was in. He lightened the mood with his jests, teasing and antics. It was a delight every time he needled Leyna, because it really showed how unable he was to stay away from her.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Leyna: However, I don't understand what Jester saw in Leyna... She was spoiled, naive, selfish, childish and really not that bright. She showed absolutely no growth over the course of the story. And I found her supposed character (the one we are told) to be in conflict with her actual actions. I was especially annoyed by how she claims her entire life's ambition was to become a huskarl. But it doesn't seem like she's ever actually stopped to wonder what it would actually mean to attain that dream. Because - oh the horror - she actually has to work! So she doesn't have time to ride her horse whenever she wants... Honestly, it was just a little pathetic and very unlikable. Also... she asks A LOT of stupid questions. All the time. Both aloud to other people and to herself. It really got old fast.
Huskarl: Okay, this might be a bit weird... But I'm Danish. And in Danish huskarl literally means... House Lad! 😅 So it was a bit hard for me to take that title serious.
Predictable: There was not a single time were I was taken by surprise by anything that happened in this book. Honestly, I started disliking Leyna more and more because she couldn't figure these things out.
World building: While the world was certainly interesting, there were just so many things left unsaid. Like - if wizards draw magic from another realm, why can they 1) deplete their magic and b) have different levels of magic? And why is Quinn a wolf? Where does that power come from? Is he a werewolf? A demon? Something else? How did humans discover demons? Honestly, these were just a few of the many questions that rumbled around my head as I was reading.
Length: Honestly, this was 200 pages too long. Especially considering the fact that I had figured it all loooong before the ending finally came. So it was a really drawn out reading experience that could have done with some serious editing.
Ending: The ending is my final bone of contention. Because while I didn't have the greatest expectations for the ending (again, after having already figured it out) I still need a great ending at the end of a 500+ page read. But I was sadly let down. The ending was flat. It was resolved way to quickly as well as easily. When the villain is "revealed" and divulges their diabolical plan, I almost laughed out loud it was that feeble and thin.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Actual rating: 2.5⭐
The opening few chapters (as well as the cover!) gave me super high hopes for this books - ultimately, they were sadly dashed. While the world is interesting, it is not explored or explained fully. The male lead had his charm, but the female lead was an absolute bore. The supposed twists were extremely predictable and the book was just way to long for what it actually was.
👍 What I Liked 👍
Premise: We enter the world of magic and demons, of duels and royalty. I was instantly drawn to the premise of magic coming from another world, one populated by demons. Which of course made magic just as dangerous as it was alluring. It was a great setup that could have taken this book so far. It was interesting and engaging, but ultimately not explored well enough.
Jester: I had a hard time with several of the characters, but Jester was the one who made my finish this book. I really adored every scene he was in. He lightened the mood with his jests, teasing and antics. It was a delight every time he needled Leyna, because it really showed how unable he was to stay away from her.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Leyna: However, I don't understand what Jester saw in Leyna... She was spoiled, naive, selfish, childish and really not that bright. She showed absolutely no growth over the course of the story. And I found her supposed character (the one we are told) to be in conflict with her actual actions. I was especially annoyed by how she claims her entire life's ambition was to become a huskarl. But it doesn't seem like she's ever actually stopped to wonder what it would actually mean to attain that dream. Because - oh the horror - she actually has to work! So she doesn't have time to ride her horse whenever she wants... Honestly, it was just a little pathetic and very unlikable. Also... she asks A LOT of stupid questions. All the time. Both aloud to other people and to herself. It really got old fast.
Huskarl: Okay, this might be a bit weird... But I'm Danish. And in Danish huskarl literally means... House Lad! 😅 So it was a bit hard for me to take that title serious.
Predictable: There was not a single time were I was taken by surprise by anything that happened in this book. Honestly, I started disliking Leyna more and more because she couldn't figure these things out.
World building: While the world was certainly interesting, there were just so many things left unsaid. Like - if wizards draw magic from another realm, why can they 1) deplete their magic and b) have different levels of magic? And why is Quinn a wolf? Where does that power come from? Is he a werewolf? A demon? Something else? How did humans discover demons? Honestly, these were just a few of the many questions that rumbled around my head as I was reading.
Length: Honestly, this was 200 pages too long. Especially considering the fact that I had figured it all loooong before the ending finally came. So it was a really drawn out reading experience that could have done with some serious editing.
Ending: The ending is my final bone of contention. Because while I didn't have the greatest expectations for the ending (again, after having already figured it out) I still need a great ending at the end of a 500+ page read. But I was sadly let down. The ending was flat. It was resolved way to quickly as well as easily. When the villain is "revealed" and divulges their diabolical plan, I almost laughed out loud it was that feeble and thin.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: Which Book Should you read next based on your favourite Jane Austen Heroine
August 26, 2023
Move over sunshine x grumpy, this is sunshine x annoying little shit and I fucking love it.
The Jester is my new fav fictional man rn.
The beginning was admittedly a little slow for me and a bit of info dumping. It really picks up once The Jester is introduced and omg did that hook me in. The banter, the tension, every scene between them had me kicking my feet in bed squealing. The romance development was excellent throughout the progression of their relationship.
There were things I saw coming but also some surprises. I haven't read a fantasy book w strong political intrigue for a while, and I was really invested in this book's mystery. Sometimes I wanted to give Leyna a hard kick for some of her choices, but her constant internal struggle between what is right and wrong, the disillusionment of achieving our goals, and her sense of identity made her a wonderfully complex and flawed character in the best way.
Tonally, the story would shift between slightly darker medieval-inspired fantasy to very strongly fantasy romance, which was intriguing. I think I'd even compare it as a Magicians (the show, I never read the books) meets FBAA (better character writing though, no hate JLA) meets Folk of the Air series (political intrigue).
I don't usually reread (bc I'm haunted by my neverending TBR), but I will 100% be rereading this just for Jester x Leyna scenes & dynamic.
I'm dying for the next book so I hope you have that ready soon JP bc I NEED MORE.
The Jester is my new fav fictional man rn.
The beginning was admittedly a little slow for me and a bit of info dumping. It really picks up once The Jester is introduced and omg did that hook me in. The banter, the tension, every scene between them had me kicking my feet in bed squealing. The romance development was excellent throughout the progression of their relationship.
There were things I saw coming but also some surprises. I haven't read a fantasy book w strong political intrigue for a while, and I was really invested in this book's mystery. Sometimes I wanted to give Leyna a hard kick for some of her choices, but her constant internal struggle between what is right and wrong, the disillusionment of achieving our goals, and her sense of identity made her a wonderfully complex and flawed character in the best way.
Tonally, the story would shift between slightly darker medieval-inspired fantasy to very strongly fantasy romance, which was intriguing. I think I'd even compare it as a Magicians (the show, I never read the books) meets FBAA (better character writing though, no hate JLA) meets Folk of the Air series (political intrigue).
I don't usually reread (bc I'm haunted by my neverending TBR), but I will 100% be rereading this just for Jester x Leyna scenes & dynamic.
I'm dying for the next book so I hope you have that ready soon JP bc I NEED MORE.
February 1, 2023
I’m sorry to say that this just didn’t do it for me. I wanted so badly to love it. I happen to have a weird thing for books with Jesters in them. How can I not after reading
?!?! So this really had a leg up to start. But I think the romance was too little too late.
The characters were interesting enough, but I felt that they just fell a little flat for me. So when there was finally some romance, I just wasn’t that interested. And actually, the romance had a lot of awkward timing, what will all the death and court drama going on. The plot was okay, but I was most definitely not drawn in and it seemed long to me.
So unfortunately, I did not love this one. And I can’t really recommend it either. It was just okay and I could have done without reading it. Maybe it’s just me though!!! And I’ll bet the second one will be probably very good!
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion.
?!?! So this really had a leg up to start. But I think the romance was too little too late. The characters were interesting enough, but I felt that they just fell a little flat for me. So when there was finally some romance, I just wasn’t that interested. And actually, the romance had a lot of awkward timing, what will all the death and court drama going on. The plot was okay, but I was most definitely not drawn in and it seemed long to me.
So unfortunately, I did not love this one. And I can’t really recommend it either. It was just okay and I could have done without reading it. Maybe it’s just me though!!! And I’ll bet the second one will be probably very good!
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion.
August 26, 2022
This is everything a fantasy/romance reader could ever want.
Personally, I feel as if there’s not enough of this content in the adult genre. If you want fantasy/romance, you’re mostly going to end up reading YA books with juvenile characters. Not all the time, but a lot of the time.
When I say I’m a fantasy/romance reader, this is the ideal story. It’s got depth to it, you have plenty of time to get to know the characters, and the characters are adults.
It gets tiring reading about the 17 year old heroine who defeated the impossible odds.
As a whole, I absolutely loved this story. The characters have believable flaws, they make mistakes, they face real consequences for their actions, and that’s real life.
I stayed awake too late to finish it because that’s just how good it is. It’s very original, it keeps you guessing, and I love the magic system! I’ll definitely be buying this on release day.
Personally, I feel as if there’s not enough of this content in the adult genre. If you want fantasy/romance, you’re mostly going to end up reading YA books with juvenile characters. Not all the time, but a lot of the time.
When I say I’m a fantasy/romance reader, this is the ideal story. It’s got depth to it, you have plenty of time to get to know the characters, and the characters are adults.
It gets tiring reading about the 17 year old heroine who defeated the impossible odds.
As a whole, I absolutely loved this story. The characters have believable flaws, they make mistakes, they face real consequences for their actions, and that’s real life.
I stayed awake too late to finish it because that’s just how good it is. It’s very original, it keeps you guessing, and I love the magic system! I’ll definitely be buying this on release day.
July 19, 2022
Omg, for someone (me) who isn’t typically over the moon for fantasy… this was AMAZING. I seriously couldn’t make up my mind on some of the characters because my heart kept being pulled every which way…. She really did that. 👀 I was able to watch this story form and now I’m oddly protective of it. The writing was like butter, the slow burn was delicious, and I stayed sucked in the entire time. If you’re a fantasy romance loving reader, this is your book. ❤️❤️
July 19, 2022
A refreshing take on fantasy romance!
I loved every second of this story. The plot, the characters, magic, and mystery drew me in every step of the way. I loved the spice and the intrigue, as well as the dark and sometimes sinister moments. I couldn't put it down!
I loved every second of this story. The plot, the characters, magic, and mystery drew me in every step of the way. I loved the spice and the intrigue, as well as the dark and sometimes sinister moments. I couldn't put it down!
December 5, 2022
The Wizard's Masquerade is a Fantasy Romance and a murder mystery debut wrapped up in an interesting commentary on enemies to lovers trope & Slow-burn love interest. You can see why I'm intrigued, right?
Leyna, our fun male lead, is finally graduating from the Wizarding school of the Gild to secure a spot in the Royal Guard and becoming a Huskarl in the King's court. A dream that she's been following almost all her life. Until one exam has gone completely wrong, and she failed to pass the test.
Our lead is a hot mess and a wonderfully developed character. She's morally grey from head to toe and maybe a little bit out of her depth. But at her core, she's ambitious and always trying her best.
As for Cornelius, where do I start? He's a Jester at the Royal Court and the polar opposite of Leyna. He's cunning, manipulative, and very witty. But he's also very subtle about it. You actually have to take some time to process his jokes! He combines egotism and causticity with compassion which he struggles to hide. in order not to give his secret identity away and look vulnerable. And I'm glad he gets so much page time because he was the most charming character in the whole story! I loved Leyna and the Jester's constant battle of wits & emotional connection and how the latter developed over time!
Their relationship and interactions drive this plot forward without losing any of the atmospheric tension you'd hope for in a good mystery. Even though this was a long journey, every chapter was a joy to read. And while i thought I gad the entirety of the book figured out, Pellegrin threw twist after twist at me that I didn't see coming. It was a true testament to the way in which Pellegrin was able to capture the reader's attention from the first page!
To sum it up, this beast has all the markings of a beloved magical adventure for adults who seek a fresh dose of action in their life. Especially for HP fans. READ this book now and let it bewitch you!
Huge thanks to author @jay_pellegrin for gifting me a copy to read!
Leyna, our fun male lead, is finally graduating from the Wizarding school of the Gild to secure a spot in the Royal Guard and becoming a Huskarl in the King's court. A dream that she's been following almost all her life. Until one exam has gone completely wrong, and she failed to pass the test.
Our lead is a hot mess and a wonderfully developed character. She's morally grey from head to toe and maybe a little bit out of her depth. But at her core, she's ambitious and always trying her best.
As for Cornelius, where do I start? He's a Jester at the Royal Court and the polar opposite of Leyna. He's cunning, manipulative, and very witty. But he's also very subtle about it. You actually have to take some time to process his jokes! He combines egotism and causticity with compassion which he struggles to hide. in order not to give his secret identity away and look vulnerable. And I'm glad he gets so much page time because he was the most charming character in the whole story! I loved Leyna and the Jester's constant battle of wits & emotional connection and how the latter developed over time!
Their relationship and interactions drive this plot forward without losing any of the atmospheric tension you'd hope for in a good mystery. Even though this was a long journey, every chapter was a joy to read. And while i thought I gad the entirety of the book figured out, Pellegrin threw twist after twist at me that I didn't see coming. It was a true testament to the way in which Pellegrin was able to capture the reader's attention from the first page!
To sum it up, this beast has all the markings of a beloved magical adventure for adults who seek a fresh dose of action in their life. Especially for HP fans. READ this book now and let it bewitch you!
Huge thanks to author @jay_pellegrin for gifting me a copy to read!
August 3, 2022
So… when is my acceptance letter to some really amazing Wizarding school going to arrive? The final dueling test sounds so thrilling. Also, where can someone acquire a Floofy. Mine shall be called Koosh and he will be with me always!
This story had me intrigued from the start. From the shapeshifting wizards, to the Spectators that were giving their master’s a play by play of what was happening in the maze. Those could be useful when my child goes out to play with his friends. Not that it was at all needed for the story, but a selfish part of me would have liked to see more of the maze dueling.
Leyna has a one track mind when it comes to her future. She has been bound and determined to be a huskarl wizard for the king. That is all she has know as her future. It became a bit tiresome to have her keep repeat herself to those around her, and to herself, about why she has to be huskarl wizard. Or why she must follow rules and uphold laws. Especially when so much of what she was doing felt wrong to even herself. She was in a constant battle with herself as to why she would do just about everything after arriving at the castle. She needs a good shake, and maybe a little slap, to get her to notice things are not going as planned and she must adapt.
Leyna was more at ease when she was with her friends. They seemed to help center her. If only she would have confided with one of them. She needed to trust the Jester. She needed to have a real conversation with Grace. She needed to be there for Seth. Instead, she pushed them all away because of her tunnel vision. What happens when someone finally gets to their goal, yet has not made plans for once that goal is reached? That person becomes lost and that is Leyne. She is now lost in a world that she cannot navigate.
The way Leyna treats Jester rubs be wrong as well. It felt like he was always trying to get to know her. To understand her. To be there for her. Yet all she did was run away. Leyna would just walk out of room, or ignore him when he would try and reach out to her. Even when she believed Jester to be sincere, she would pull away. He deserves someone that is at least willing to want to understand him as he is. Leyna only seemed to be interested in him when it coincided with her wants and needs.
This story had me intrigued from the start. From the shapeshifting wizards, to the Spectators that were giving their master’s a play by play of what was happening in the maze. Those could be useful when my child goes out to play with his friends. Not that it was at all needed for the story, but a selfish part of me would have liked to see more of the maze dueling.
Leyna has a one track mind when it comes to her future. She has been bound and determined to be a huskarl wizard for the king. That is all she has know as her future. It became a bit tiresome to have her keep repeat herself to those around her, and to herself, about why she has to be huskarl wizard. Or why she must follow rules and uphold laws. Especially when so much of what she was doing felt wrong to even herself. She was in a constant battle with herself as to why she would do just about everything after arriving at the castle. She needs a good shake, and maybe a little slap, to get her to notice things are not going as planned and she must adapt.
Leyna was more at ease when she was with her friends. They seemed to help center her. If only she would have confided with one of them. She needed to trust the Jester. She needed to have a real conversation with Grace. She needed to be there for Seth. Instead, she pushed them all away because of her tunnel vision. What happens when someone finally gets to their goal, yet has not made plans for once that goal is reached? That person becomes lost and that is Leyne. She is now lost in a world that she cannot navigate.
The way Leyna treats Jester rubs be wrong as well. It felt like he was always trying to get to know her. To understand her. To be there for her. Yet all she did was run away. Leyna would just walk out of room, or ignore him when he would try and reach out to her. Even when she believed Jester to be sincere, she would pull away. He deserves someone that is at least willing to want to understand him as he is. Leyna only seemed to be interested in him when it coincided with her wants and needs.
December 15, 2022
First off, this was my very first ARC, so thank you so much Jay Pellegrin for trusting me with your book 💚 I am so honored to have gotten this ARC because it was AMAZING!
I was really intrigued when the book was described as Midieval Harry Potter meets Night Circus and it did NOT disappoint!
One of the main plot lines is that Leyna (and pretty much everyone else) is trying to figure out who killed the king. Throughout the book, there were times where I was 💯sure who the culprit was, only to be surprised by a plot twist. Now don’t get me wrong, there were parts of this that were pretty predictable, but by the end we still don’t know whodunnit.
The romance was built beautifully. I was a little skeptical because the main love interest is a Jester, and honestly I thought it might be a little cringe at first but I was also intrigued. I’d never read anything like that before so I wanted to give it a go and it was soooo worth it. By 50% I was having a hard time putting this down and looking forward to the next scene with him. This is a slow-burn romance and not a lot happens in this book so I’m giving it 🔥🔥.
It was pretty clear that at the beginning the author pulled inspiration fro Harry Potter which was fun. Please note that the plot described in the blurb didn’t really start until about 40% into the book. I got to about 35% and had to stop and think “wait? What is this book about?” Because we hadn’t reached the main plot yet. But please know, that once the book started moving, I could NOT put it down.
My only other complaint is that the dialogue seemed stiff at times; it was almost as if it was a little too straightforward and reminded me of how children’s books are written with very simple dialogue (even though it’s an adult book). It also took me a while to connect with our MC and she didn’t seem to show much emotion until halfway through the book.
Wizard’s Masquerade comes out on September 30th this year and will be available in pretty much all formats including audiobook and I cannot wait to get my hands on a hard copy because it was SO GOOD.
(And how gorgeous is that cover art?!?!?)
I was really intrigued when the book was described as Midieval Harry Potter meets Night Circus and it did NOT disappoint!
One of the main plot lines is that Leyna (and pretty much everyone else) is trying to figure out who killed the king. Throughout the book, there were times where I was 💯sure who the culprit was, only to be surprised by a plot twist. Now don’t get me wrong, there were parts of this that were pretty predictable, but by the end we still don’t know whodunnit.
The romance was built beautifully. I was a little skeptical because the main love interest is a Jester, and honestly I thought it might be a little cringe at first but I was also intrigued. I’d never read anything like that before so I wanted to give it a go and it was soooo worth it. By 50% I was having a hard time putting this down and looking forward to the next scene with him. This is a slow-burn romance and not a lot happens in this book so I’m giving it 🔥🔥.
It was pretty clear that at the beginning the author pulled inspiration fro Harry Potter which was fun. Please note that the plot described in the blurb didn’t really start until about 40% into the book. I got to about 35% and had to stop and think “wait? What is this book about?” Because we hadn’t reached the main plot yet. But please know, that once the book started moving, I could NOT put it down.
My only other complaint is that the dialogue seemed stiff at times; it was almost as if it was a little too straightforward and reminded me of how children’s books are written with very simple dialogue (even though it’s an adult book). It also took me a while to connect with our MC and she didn’t seem to show much emotion until halfway through the book.
Wizard’s Masquerade comes out on September 30th this year and will be available in pretty much all formats including audiobook and I cannot wait to get my hands on a hard copy because it was SO GOOD.
(And how gorgeous is that cover art?!?!?)
September 22, 2022
I haven't read any fantasy books in a while so this was a pleasant surprise. The beginning was slightly slow, with the worldbuilding and the characters being introduced. I love Jester. He was fun, charming and irritating according to Leyna. They're a perfect pair of grumpy/sunshine.
The magic system was quite intriguing, along with the world the author has built. I'm going to need book 2 rn 😭😭 it ended too quickly for my liking and I need MORE 🤲🤲
The magic system was quite intriguing, along with the world the author has built. I'm going to need book 2 rn 😭😭 it ended too quickly for my liking and I need MORE 🤲🤲
July 12, 2022
Absolutely brilliant.
I love love a whodunit story... But most times its done in a very... Of course the baddie is him/her... Type of way. When reading this story I found myself engulfed in the mystery of it all, and by the end I still wanted more. Not a single boring moment and the writing style was my absolute cup of tea.
GO READ IT!!!!!
I love love a whodunit story... But most times its done in a very... Of course the baddie is him/her... Type of way. When reading this story I found myself engulfed in the mystery of it all, and by the end I still wanted more. Not a single boring moment and the writing style was my absolute cup of tea.
GO READ IT!!!!!
July 14, 2022
Absolutely AMAZING story! I've recently gotten a little more into fantasy, and this was a great book to pull me back into that world.
July 27, 2022
Great read, I received an early ARC copy of the book and I couldn't put it down. The magic system and dark elements were well-balanced.
Can't wait for book 2!
Can't wait for book 2!
October 6, 2022
Overall: 2.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I had major character disconnect here but I really did like some parts of the story and the writing
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖 - I found the plot overall interesting and intriguing, though it definitely could have been cut
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋 - I had some tingles in the beginning half but they fizzled to nothing with my annoyance
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡ - There were hints of it that could have been amazing but ultimately it was too little too late and fizzled for me
Romance: 💞💞💞 - I thought the hero did some romantic things and I appreciated that
Sensuality: 💋💋 - I found the sex scenes lacking a bit – I’m not sure if it was just because I disliked the heroine so much at that point or if I wanted more explicitness...maybe a bit of both
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit, especially within banter with the Jester
Perspective: Third person only from the heroine’s point of view
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
Yes. This book does end on a cliffhanger for their HEA and they are separated. Book 2 should be out sometime in 2023.
Basic plot:
Recently graduated wizard Leyna gets her dream job as a Huskarl on the Royal Guard. Tasked with protecting the royal family, she is intrigued and equally suspicious of the court Jester that is much more than he pretends to be.
Give this a try if you want:
- Not much romance and prefer plenty of action, intrigue, and mystery to take precedence
- Low steam – there is 1 full scene, a couple kisses and a dream sex scene that is on the short side
- Fantasy medieval setting with magic and wizards that pull their ability to perform spells with ‘the other side’. New creatures as well as demons roam.
- A bit of sunshine and grump feel – heroine is grumpy and mopey and hero usually is teasing and spunky
- Heroine overcomes a bit of a disability – her leg is damaged in an on page demon attack and is never the same after. She has a limp and some weakness in it that its unknown if she will overcome it.
- You’re okay with a cliffhanger ending – It feels a bit like a happy for now, but they are also separated and things are not left cleaned up between them.
Ages:
- Heroine is 22, hero is 30
My thoughts:
I love the time Pellegrin spent in the beginning giving details of what to expect including content warnings. Love seeing that attention to readers, thank you!
I was so excited for this novel. A jester hero?? How fun and different is that? And I have been liking trying fantasy elements lately in romance and also love medieval feel for historical so I thought this would be right up my alley.
But, I also NEED my main characters to be together in the story. Like, A Lot. I know I complain about this a decent amount, and if you don’t care if your characters are together, this probably won’t bother you. But I felt like I was just waiting and waiting and waiting for them to be together. And then I would get a little bit of that I LOVED it. I loved when they were together. But then I would have to wait and wait and wait again. And I started getting bored and annoyed. I started tallying and by over 80% into the book, if I was being generous they were on page together for only 29%. Unacceptable to me. And a lot of that counting was like...a page or two of multiple pages so it really was less than that. Even if they were together every single page for the rest of the book they were only together half (or LESS THAN half more likely) of the book.
About halfway through the book I realized I really disliked the heroine. I know I can be hard on the heroines so I’m trying to make a conscious effort to not be an asshole and see the best in people here, especially our heroines that face so much extra pressure just being the female lead in a story. But...I just couldn’t here. I couldn’t. She has no redeeming qualities I could find and I am left thinking she is probably one of the worst heroines I have ever met. She’s sullen, envious of everyone around her, but does nothing to seem to better herself. She mopes around wanting everything but working hard at nothing. Shes just genuinely unlikable. I was thinking there was going to be plenty of character growth for her as she started to make smart decisions, gain self confidence, FIGHT FOR SOMETHING other than just follow orders blindly. But I didn’t get any of that. She stayed like this the entirety of the book going so far as to BIG SPOILERS
So this is just a character disconnect for me that was compounded by things I dislike in romance (hero and heroine not being together) and the fact that the entire book is from her perspective I was just stuck listening to someone I didn’t like.
I loved the writing overall. I think in a different book I could absolutely adore this author. I would definitely be willing to try her again. I am pretty sure I will not be following up with this series though, unless reviews show the heroine seems like a different person (lol) then maybe I could possibly like her.
The steam was almost nonexistent in this one. I am going to start taking ‘steamy’ on the synopsis or cover to just mean there is at least one open door sex scene. :( I was hoping for more.
I’ll get into specifics about things I personally didn’t like. If you think from above this sounds like it might be your thing, give it a try without reading my ranting :P There are also some identity spoilers within here so I will try to double spoiler warning those, but read at your own risk. I feel bad for having such negative feelings about a fictional character
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖 - I found the plot overall interesting and intriguing, though it definitely could have been cut
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋 - I had some tingles in the beginning half but they fizzled to nothing with my annoyance
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡ - There were hints of it that could have been amazing but ultimately it was too little too late and fizzled for me
Romance: 💞💞💞 - I thought the hero did some romantic things and I appreciated that
Sensuality: 💋💋 - I found the sex scenes lacking a bit – I’m not sure if it was just because I disliked the heroine so much at that point or if I wanted more explicitness...maybe a bit of both
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit, especially within banter with the Jester
Perspective: Third person only from the heroine’s point of view
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
Yes. This book does end on a cliffhanger for their HEA and they are separated. Book 2 should be out sometime in 2023.
Basic plot:
Recently graduated wizard Leyna gets her dream job as a Huskarl on the Royal Guard. Tasked with protecting the royal family, she is intrigued and equally suspicious of the court Jester that is much more than he pretends to be.
Give this a try if you want:
- Not much romance and prefer plenty of action, intrigue, and mystery to take precedence
- Low steam – there is 1 full scene, a couple kisses and a dream sex scene that is on the short side
- Fantasy medieval setting with magic and wizards that pull their ability to perform spells with ‘the other side’. New creatures as well as demons roam.
- A bit of sunshine and grump feel – heroine is grumpy and mopey and hero usually is teasing and spunky
- Heroine overcomes a bit of a disability – her leg is damaged in an on page demon attack and is never the same after. She has a limp and some weakness in it that its unknown if she will overcome it.
- You’re okay with a cliffhanger ending – It feels a bit like a happy for now, but they are also separated and things are not left cleaned up between them.
Ages:
- Heroine is 22, hero is 30
My thoughts:
I love the time Pellegrin spent in the beginning giving details of what to expect including content warnings. Love seeing that attention to readers, thank you!
I was so excited for this novel. A jester hero?? How fun and different is that? And I have been liking trying fantasy elements lately in romance and also love medieval feel for historical so I thought this would be right up my alley.
But, I also NEED my main characters to be together in the story. Like, A Lot. I know I complain about this a decent amount, and if you don’t care if your characters are together, this probably won’t bother you. But I felt like I was just waiting and waiting and waiting for them to be together. And then I would get a little bit of that I LOVED it. I loved when they were together. But then I would have to wait and wait and wait again. And I started getting bored and annoyed. I started tallying and by over 80% into the book, if I was being generous they were on page together for only 29%. Unacceptable to me. And a lot of that counting was like...a page or two of multiple pages so it really was less than that. Even if they were together every single page for the rest of the book they were only together half (or LESS THAN half more likely) of the book.
About halfway through the book I realized I really disliked the heroine. I know I can be hard on the heroines so I’m trying to make a conscious effort to not be an asshole and see the best in people here, especially our heroines that face so much extra pressure just being the female lead in a story. But...I just couldn’t here. I couldn’t. She has no redeeming qualities I could find and I am left thinking she is probably one of the worst heroines I have ever met. She’s sullen, envious of everyone around her, but does nothing to seem to better herself. She mopes around wanting everything but working hard at nothing. Shes just genuinely unlikable. I was thinking there was going to be plenty of character growth for her as she started to make smart decisions, gain self confidence, FIGHT FOR SOMETHING other than just follow orders blindly. But I didn’t get any of that. She stayed like this the entirety of the book going so far as to BIG SPOILERS
So this is just a character disconnect for me that was compounded by things I dislike in romance (hero and heroine not being together) and the fact that the entire book is from her perspective I was just stuck listening to someone I didn’t like.
I loved the writing overall. I think in a different book I could absolutely adore this author. I would definitely be willing to try her again. I am pretty sure I will not be following up with this series though, unless reviews show the heroine seems like a different person (lol) then maybe I could possibly like her.
The steam was almost nonexistent in this one. I am going to start taking ‘steamy’ on the synopsis or cover to just mean there is at least one open door sex scene. :( I was hoping for more.
I’ll get into specifics about things I personally didn’t like. If you think from above this sounds like it might be your thing, give it a try without reading my ranting :P There are also some identity spoilers within here so I will try to double spoiler warning those, but read at your own risk. I feel bad for having such negative feelings about a fictional character
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
January 1, 2023
"Could she reimagine herself and her beliefs? Because if she could, it was like the opening of a mental portcullis, the lowering of a drawbridge, and there, beyond the rigid walls she'd built for herself, a world of possibility awaited.
It was liberating to realize that her past self's convictions did not have to dictate her future."
Leyna is days away from completing her exams, passing her 7 year long studies at the Wizard Guild, and her dreams of being a Wizard and Huskarl, a guard to the royal family.
Everything about her dream isn't playing out the way she had envisioned all her life. Starting with an accident that almost set her back a year, that perfect dream is cracking. After finally getting her offer letter to be a Huskarl, Leyna leaves the Guild with Grace and Quinn, friends from her class, to head to the castle and accept her official Huskarl title from the king.
Only a couple days after arriving, word arrives that the king, queen, and their entire court and guards were attacked while traveling. With her world completely thrown off its axis, she is determined to figure out what happened.
The more she digs, the more she begins to question everything she's ever known. It isn't much easier with the Jester constantly around. She knows he has secrets, and is possibly dangerous, but can't help but be drawn to him. Leyna has to figure out who to trust, including unraveling her life and ambitions as a Huskarl.
MY GOD THIS BOOK IS CAPTIVATING!! Jay Pellegrin's world takes me right back to the years of reading fantasy as a teenager, but higher stakes, and definitely with an adult spin on it. We have magic schools, a castle, spells, wizards, shapeshifters, demons, royal hierarchy, secrets and betrayals, AND A JESTER!!
This is a world you really can immerse yourself in while reading, and characters that develop really well throughout. Pellegrin admits herself that Leyna is a "strong flawed female protagonist" and it's a perfect description for her. She has a one track mind, only dreaming of ever being a Huskarl, and she is naïve, selfish, jealous, spoiled, and infuriating when the book starts. Everything that is happening around her forces her to dismantle her belief system, and it really isn't easy for anyone, especially with Leyna, it's like pulling teeth. By the end it's like a huge sigh of relief, she had wonderful character development and her story is set up perfect for more growth into the second book of this duology.
The shining star of this book is Jester. We are told right off the bat that he is dangerous and charming. Both so true, and he is the perfect MC in a story with lies and secrets. We are along with Leyna on the journey and get to watch her figure out how much she's going to let him in. He is snarky, rude, and dazzling to say the least. I was constantly looking forward to any scene with him in it, because it really forced Leyna to think and evolve. I fell in love with him and I really hope there is a lot more of him in the next book and the chance for them really explore their feelings.
The story is very long and could definitely do with a lot of trimming for some parts that felt repetitive, but Pellegrin announced on Instagram that they worked with editors and are cutting it down, so I have high hopes that the published copy will fix this issue. I definitely think we could have gotten a little more back story from the side characters, especially Grace, Quinn, and Seth. Their relationships with Leyna would give her that extra bit of dimension that I think she could benefit from.
Overall this is a fantastic first book, and Medival Fantasy Romance. I am 100% invested and will be reading the second one. This first part of the duology is out soon, and I think is a great read if you want a longish romantic fantasy that has reverse grumpy x sunshine, enemies to lovers, lots of banter, a flawed (BUT EVOLVING) FMC, dances in castles, magic/wizards and a smidge of spice.
UPDATE 09/23/22: Since reading this copy, the author has made many changes based on feedback provided by readers! From the author's suggestion, I went back and reread the end of the book and absolutely loved the changes. Overall there is more jester in the story, and minor story changes that made the book flow better! I will be (not so) patiently waiting for the second half of this duology.
Thank you Netgalley, Jay Pellegrin, and BooksGoSocial/Pellegrin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
↠ 4.75 stars
It was liberating to realize that her past self's convictions did not have to dictate her future."
Leyna is days away from completing her exams, passing her 7 year long studies at the Wizard Guild, and her dreams of being a Wizard and Huskarl, a guard to the royal family.
Everything about her dream isn't playing out the way she had envisioned all her life. Starting with an accident that almost set her back a year, that perfect dream is cracking. After finally getting her offer letter to be a Huskarl, Leyna leaves the Guild with Grace and Quinn, friends from her class, to head to the castle and accept her official Huskarl title from the king.
Only a couple days after arriving, word arrives that the king, queen, and their entire court and guards were attacked while traveling. With her world completely thrown off its axis, she is determined to figure out what happened.
The more she digs, the more she begins to question everything she's ever known. It isn't much easier with the Jester constantly around. She knows he has secrets, and is possibly dangerous, but can't help but be drawn to him. Leyna has to figure out who to trust, including unraveling her life and ambitions as a Huskarl.
MY GOD THIS BOOK IS CAPTIVATING!! Jay Pellegrin's world takes me right back to the years of reading fantasy as a teenager, but higher stakes, and definitely with an adult spin on it. We have magic schools, a castle, spells, wizards, shapeshifters, demons, royal hierarchy, secrets and betrayals, AND A JESTER!!
This is a world you really can immerse yourself in while reading, and characters that develop really well throughout. Pellegrin admits herself that Leyna is a "strong flawed female protagonist" and it's a perfect description for her. She has a one track mind, only dreaming of ever being a Huskarl, and she is naïve, selfish, jealous, spoiled, and infuriating when the book starts. Everything that is happening around her forces her to dismantle her belief system, and it really isn't easy for anyone, especially with Leyna, it's like pulling teeth. By the end it's like a huge sigh of relief, she had wonderful character development and her story is set up perfect for more growth into the second book of this duology.
The shining star of this book is Jester. We are told right off the bat that he is dangerous and charming. Both so true, and he is the perfect MC in a story with lies and secrets. We are along with Leyna on the journey and get to watch her figure out how much she's going to let him in. He is snarky, rude, and dazzling to say the least. I was constantly looking forward to any scene with him in it, because it really forced Leyna to think and evolve. I fell in love with him and I really hope there is a lot more of him in the next book and the chance for them really explore their feelings.
The story is very long and could definitely do with a lot of trimming for some parts that felt repetitive, but Pellegrin announced on Instagram that they worked with editors and are cutting it down, so I have high hopes that the published copy will fix this issue. I definitely think we could have gotten a little more back story from the side characters, especially Grace, Quinn, and Seth. Their relationships with Leyna would give her that extra bit of dimension that I think she could benefit from.
Overall this is a fantastic first book, and Medival Fantasy Romance. I am 100% invested and will be reading the second one. This first part of the duology is out soon, and I think is a great read if you want a longish romantic fantasy that has reverse grumpy x sunshine, enemies to lovers, lots of banter, a flawed (BUT EVOLVING) FMC, dances in castles, magic/wizards and a smidge of spice.
UPDATE 09/23/22: Since reading this copy, the author has made many changes based on feedback provided by readers! From the author's suggestion, I went back and reread the end of the book and absolutely loved the changes. Overall there is more jester in the story, and minor story changes that made the book flow better! I will be (not so) patiently waiting for the second half of this duology.
Thank you Netgalley, Jay Pellegrin, and BooksGoSocial/Pellegrin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
↠ 4.75 stars
September 30, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I absolutely loved this book. There is no other way to put it, I was just captivated by it from start to finish.
Don't get me wrong - it had it's imperfections, which is why I chose against giving it five stars. The at times predictable plot and lack of development in the magic system made me remove a star from my rating, yet the romance between Leyla and the Jester, along with the easy to follow writing completely makes up for it.
I usually am not a sucker for romance, however these two were a delight to read about. The banter, the chemistry, the angst, the dialogue and the just spicy enough scenes had me reading chapter after chapter yet dreading to reach the ending, knowing I will have to wait to read more of them untill the sequel comes out.
I cannot wait for the second book to published! Thank you net galley and book sirens for providing me with an arc!
I absolutely loved this book. There is no other way to put it, I was just captivated by it from start to finish.
Don't get me wrong - it had it's imperfections, which is why I chose against giving it five stars. The at times predictable plot and lack of development in the magic system made me remove a star from my rating, yet the romance between Leyla and the Jester, along with the easy to follow writing completely makes up for it.
I usually am not a sucker for romance, however these two were a delight to read about. The banter, the chemistry, the angst, the dialogue and the just spicy enough scenes had me reading chapter after chapter yet dreading to reach the ending, knowing I will have to wait to read more of them untill the sequel comes out.
I cannot wait for the second book to published! Thank you net galley and book sirens for providing me with an arc!
February 3, 2024
WIZARD’S MASQUERADE
“Where did you learn how to dance?” She asked.
“Jester school,” he said.
☆☆☆☆
I found this book through bookstagram and the cover drew me in immediately, (it is seriously gorgeous). Jay graciously gave me an ARC copy and I completely loved it. It has the same vibes as Sorcery of Thorns so if you liked that book this one is definitely up your alley. It has magical beasts, demons, royalty, balls, castles, and everything one could want. The book is full of magic and romance.
The story is told in third-person POV its main focus is on Leyna. The plot follows Leyna as she graduates from wizard’s school and becomes a part of the king’s royal guard. When the king and queen are murdered in cold blood Leyna is set on discovering the truth. I liked the plot of the book there were a few slower moments but the rest of the book was well paced. There were many mysteries left unsolved for the purpose of the second book, and the author left enough pieces of the puzzle to leave the reader wanting.
I liked Leyna but there’s a lot of character growth needed for her in the second book. Her life she’s grown up in a castle and throughout the book, she looked down on people who were of a lower status than her. Even when she’s courting the jester she questions what those around her will think because he is of such low status compared to her. She’s also loyal to a fault. There were times when her loyalty to the crown overweighed her loyalty to her friends. This book was set up to be a duology so in the second book, I hope to see Leyna grow more.
The second big part of the plot is the jester. When Lenya gets to the castle the jester immediately teases and flirts with her. They have some good banter and a lot of witty remarks. There is some sexual tension and a fair bit of spice. There’s a lot of growth that needs to happen between this two because the miscommunication troupe was a killer. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next for the duo.
The world reminded me of Harry Potter (I’ve never read the books but I was forced to watch the movies). It was Harry Potter meets royalty and ball music. It was a beautiful fantastical world. The magical system I loved! These wizards use demons and “the other side” which comes with a cost with every spell they do. Magic is dangerous and we’re reminded of that countless times. There was an excellent grasp of the magic system and it was explained well to readers.
Again a huge thanks to Jay for an ARC copy of this book! This book is perfect for fantasy lovers wanting a touch of romance and spice. It reminded me of Sorcery of Thorns meets royalty and I loved it. It had great slow-burn and enemies-to-lovers trope. Be warned there’s a cliffhanger! I truly loved the book and am very excited to read the next book!
☪ Received an advanced copy but all thoughts and opinions are my own, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Follow Jay on Instagram: jay_pellegrin
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Mild fantasy violence, death, execution
RATING: 17+, new adult
SPICE: 2/5
“Where did you learn how to dance?” She asked.
“Jester school,” he said.
☆☆☆☆
I found this book through bookstagram and the cover drew me in immediately, (it is seriously gorgeous). Jay graciously gave me an ARC copy and I completely loved it. It has the same vibes as Sorcery of Thorns so if you liked that book this one is definitely up your alley. It has magical beasts, demons, royalty, balls, castles, and everything one could want. The book is full of magic and romance.
The story is told in third-person POV its main focus is on Leyna. The plot follows Leyna as she graduates from wizard’s school and becomes a part of the king’s royal guard. When the king and queen are murdered in cold blood Leyna is set on discovering the truth. I liked the plot of the book there were a few slower moments but the rest of the book was well paced. There were many mysteries left unsolved for the purpose of the second book, and the author left enough pieces of the puzzle to leave the reader wanting.
I liked Leyna but there’s a lot of character growth needed for her in the second book. Her life she’s grown up in a castle and throughout the book, she looked down on people who were of a lower status than her. Even when she’s courting the jester she questions what those around her will think because he is of such low status compared to her. She’s also loyal to a fault. There were times when her loyalty to the crown overweighed her loyalty to her friends. This book was set up to be a duology so in the second book, I hope to see Leyna grow more.
The second big part of the plot is the jester. When Lenya gets to the castle the jester immediately teases and flirts with her. They have some good banter and a lot of witty remarks. There is some sexual tension and a fair bit of spice. There’s a lot of growth that needs to happen between this two because the miscommunication troupe was a killer. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next for the duo.
The world reminded me of Harry Potter (I’ve never read the books but I was forced to watch the movies). It was Harry Potter meets royalty and ball music. It was a beautiful fantastical world. The magical system I loved! These wizards use demons and “the other side” which comes with a cost with every spell they do. Magic is dangerous and we’re reminded of that countless times. There was an excellent grasp of the magic system and it was explained well to readers.
Again a huge thanks to Jay for an ARC copy of this book! This book is perfect for fantasy lovers wanting a touch of romance and spice. It reminded me of Sorcery of Thorns meets royalty and I loved it. It had great slow-burn and enemies-to-lovers trope. Be warned there’s a cliffhanger! I truly loved the book and am very excited to read the next book!
☪ Received an advanced copy but all thoughts and opinions are my own, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Follow Jay on Instagram: jay_pellegrin
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Mild fantasy violence, death, execution
RATING: 17+, new adult
SPICE: 2/5
September 2, 2022
I was initially drawn to this book's magical cover, and then when I saw the description of the jester, I knew I had to try it. While I expected to enjoy this book, I had no idea how much I would love it! The story was compelling, and I really liked the friendships and romance that developed throughout the book.
The initial setting of "The Wizard's Masquerade" is the Wizarding Guild, which is essentially a magical school somewhat reminiscent of a grown-up Hogwarts. Soon, however, everything is fast-forwarded to when Leyna, the MC, graduates from school--despite receiving a nasty injury she spends days recovering from--and happily accepts her position as a Huskarl with the Royal Guard--something she's been working toward almost her entire life. She takes up residence in her old room in the king's castle, along with her friend Grace, who is also a Huskarl. Although things begin pleasantly enough despite Leyna's injury, a deadly attack on the king and his court soon upends everything and causes Leyna to question everyone she thought she trusted.
Some of the highlights of this book were Leyna and Grace's friendship; Floofy, an incredibly cute, fluffy animal who makes adorable noises; and, of course, the jester. I originally thought I would be invested in this book primarily for the romance, but all the other aspects of the story really drew me in as well. The only real drawback for me was that sometimes Leyna could be quite annoying with her staunch adherence to rules; however, overall I liked her character portrayal. I had to remind myself that she is only 22, and that she is facing an incredible number of dangers and obstacles, so I really can't judge. She is also a dynamic character, and we see a great deal of growth from her, especially toward the end.
All in all, I cannot wait for the sequel! I also think it would be exceptionally cool if the author were to write a prequel at some point, so we can learn more about Leyna's time at the Wizarding Guild.
Thanks so much to Jay Pellegrin, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy!
The initial setting of "The Wizard's Masquerade" is the Wizarding Guild, which is essentially a magical school somewhat reminiscent of a grown-up Hogwarts. Soon, however, everything is fast-forwarded to when Leyna, the MC, graduates from school--despite receiving a nasty injury she spends days recovering from--and happily accepts her position as a Huskarl with the Royal Guard--something she's been working toward almost her entire life. She takes up residence in her old room in the king's castle, along with her friend Grace, who is also a Huskarl. Although things begin pleasantly enough despite Leyna's injury, a deadly attack on the king and his court soon upends everything and causes Leyna to question everyone she thought she trusted.
Some of the highlights of this book were Leyna and Grace's friendship; Floofy, an incredibly cute, fluffy animal who makes adorable noises; and, of course, the jester. I originally thought I would be invested in this book primarily for the romance, but all the other aspects of the story really drew me in as well. The only real drawback for me was that sometimes Leyna could be quite annoying with her staunch adherence to rules; however, overall I liked her character portrayal. I had to remind myself that she is only 22, and that she is facing an incredible number of dangers and obstacles, so I really can't judge. She is also a dynamic character, and we see a great deal of growth from her, especially toward the end.
All in all, I cannot wait for the sequel! I also think it would be exceptionally cool if the author were to write a prequel at some point, so we can learn more about Leyna's time at the Wizarding Guild.
Thanks so much to Jay Pellegrin, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy!
September 3, 2022
I love wizards, fantasy, and all things romance. This book had all three of those things.
I've seen a lot of reviews that said elements of this book reminded them of Hogwarts. I absolutely agree. There was a wizards school, and a lot of action in this book. Even though this had a lot of elements you are used to, I never knew what direction the story was going to take. There were some high stakes moments, that had me on the edge.
My favorite part of this book was the Jester. I fell in love with his teasing, his observant nature, and the flirting. I looked forward to every moment with him because the dialogue between him and the FMC was so dynamic and they just had great banter.
The FMC was the cause for all of my stress. Reading her story, almost felt like I was reading a tale about the enemy. She was definitely flawed. I mean, there was jealously, a bit of superiority, and I felt like she was always on the wrong side of the cause. Don't let that deter you though. It made for a good character arc, because you really saw her try to figure out where she wanted to go. She was battling the whole time on which side was good and which was bad. As the reader, if felt more obvious, but in her shoes I could see why it was so difficult. One side was everything she knew about being a good citizen. She had to figure out what being and adult and the politics of her society. How no matter what she chose, that it wouldn't be a black and white decision.
All in all, I devoured this book. I wrote a lot, because a lot happened. I loved every single moment of it!
I've seen a lot of reviews that said elements of this book reminded them of Hogwarts. I absolutely agree. There was a wizards school, and a lot of action in this book. Even though this had a lot of elements you are used to, I never knew what direction the story was going to take. There were some high stakes moments, that had me on the edge.
My favorite part of this book was the Jester. I fell in love with his teasing, his observant nature, and the flirting. I looked forward to every moment with him because the dialogue between him and the FMC was so dynamic and they just had great banter.
The FMC was the cause for all of my stress. Reading her story, almost felt like I was reading a tale about the enemy. She was definitely flawed. I mean, there was jealously, a bit of superiority, and I felt like she was always on the wrong side of the cause. Don't let that deter you though. It made for a good character arc, because you really saw her try to figure out where she wanted to go. She was battling the whole time on which side was good and which was bad. As the reader, if felt more obvious, but in her shoes I could see why it was so difficult. One side was everything she knew about being a good citizen. She had to figure out what being and adult and the politics of her society. How no matter what she chose, that it wouldn't be a black and white decision.
All in all, I devoured this book. I wrote a lot, because a lot happened. I loved every single moment of it!
September 9, 2022
The story started immediately with gripping action and intelligent banter. Then from there it swallowed me whole!
It has fantastic world building. I was immediately taken away to this world and a piece of me will forever be living there with some of my new favorite characters. I love when a story can show good people making difficult decisions that even though their decisions are at complete odds to one another it is still for the right reasons.
Castles, competitive magic and swords, mystery with a hunt for answers, political intrigue, fantastic characters with layers and faults, a fun romance, dark twists, stunning revelations, and a little bit of spice. I could not put it down. I highly recommend this story.
I received this ARC for an honest review and honestly it is Amazing!
It has fantastic world building. I was immediately taken away to this world and a piece of me will forever be living there with some of my new favorite characters. I love when a story can show good people making difficult decisions that even though their decisions are at complete odds to one another it is still for the right reasons.
Castles, competitive magic and swords, mystery with a hunt for answers, political intrigue, fantastic characters with layers and faults, a fun romance, dark twists, stunning revelations, and a little bit of spice. I could not put it down. I highly recommend this story.
I received this ARC for an honest review and honestly it is Amazing!
September 23, 2022
"I don't have any dreams of my own, you see---at least, I didn't, until I met you..."
Leyna Saunders has a plan set in stone for her life: graduate from the Guild as a wizard and become a Huskarl of the Royal Guard, serving the king.
All this and more DOES happen, but at what cost? The picture-perfect life Leyna painted for herself is derailed as lies, courtships from a meddling mother, Royal politics, and a sneaky Jester shatter the life Leyna always thought she wanted.
Castles and wizards and magic, oh my! This BOOK. I'm a sucker for fantasy romance, so this one took my heart and RAN WITH IT. The world that Jay Pellegrin creates in "Wizard's Masquerade" is full of vibrant, magical wonder. There's nothing better than being sucked into a fantasy book and I was intrigued from the very first chapter!
I absolutely loved Leyna and her thorough character arc. She had a SET vision for her life, but when that vision didn't pan out as expected, reality sunk in and she was left with a life at the castle full of mystery and deception. Reading her from beginning to end was SUCH a treat. She's definitely a character that comes with her flaws, but I'm so excited to see how she grows throughout book 2.
JESTER. My sweet Jester. An absolute little sh*t, but I adored every second of it. He has his secrets, and divulging them was a hardship, but getting to know him was a WHIRLWIND. His character arc in particular was fantastic, and as he and Leyna grew closer, that emotional wall was chipped away bit by bit.
I was SOBBING BY THE END. I was in absolute SHAMBLES as the story wrapped up. Such a fantastic start to a new series! I highly recommend this if you're into fantasy romance, castles, magic, a charming Jester, fluffy little pets, a sloooow burn, and a protagonist with a good head on her shoulders! I can't wait to see how everything pans out in book 2.
Thank you to Jay Pellegrin and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
RATING: 5 out of 5 🤍
Leyna Saunders has a plan set in stone for her life: graduate from the Guild as a wizard and become a Huskarl of the Royal Guard, serving the king.
All this and more DOES happen, but at what cost? The picture-perfect life Leyna painted for herself is derailed as lies, courtships from a meddling mother, Royal politics, and a sneaky Jester shatter the life Leyna always thought she wanted.
Castles and wizards and magic, oh my! This BOOK. I'm a sucker for fantasy romance, so this one took my heart and RAN WITH IT. The world that Jay Pellegrin creates in "Wizard's Masquerade" is full of vibrant, magical wonder. There's nothing better than being sucked into a fantasy book and I was intrigued from the very first chapter!
I absolutely loved Leyna and her thorough character arc. She had a SET vision for her life, but when that vision didn't pan out as expected, reality sunk in and she was left with a life at the castle full of mystery and deception. Reading her from beginning to end was SUCH a treat. She's definitely a character that comes with her flaws, but I'm so excited to see how she grows throughout book 2.
JESTER. My sweet Jester. An absolute little sh*t, but I adored every second of it. He has his secrets, and divulging them was a hardship, but getting to know him was a WHIRLWIND. His character arc in particular was fantastic, and as he and Leyna grew closer, that emotional wall was chipped away bit by bit.
I was SOBBING BY THE END. I was in absolute SHAMBLES as the story wrapped up. Such a fantastic start to a new series! I highly recommend this if you're into fantasy romance, castles, magic, a charming Jester, fluffy little pets, a sloooow burn, and a protagonist with a good head on her shoulders! I can't wait to see how everything pans out in book 2.
Thank you to Jay Pellegrin and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
RATING: 5 out of 5 🤍
September 5, 2022
5/5 stars
I absolutely loved this book! The second I started reading it, I was completely hooked!
The story follows a girl named, Leyna, who at the start of the book is in her last year of completing her examinations to become a full wizard. Within the first few chapters tragedy hits and her dreams of completing school and becoming a wizard are almost ruined until she gets the offer she always dreamed about. Becoming a Royal Guard. When she arrives at the castle to serve the king, a huge tragedy strikes and it falls on her to figure out who caused it. Secrets and lies are revealed as she investigates and people that she knew turn out to be something they're not.
Not to mention Jester. He's mysterious and charming. But Leyna doesn't know who he is behind the mask both figuratively and literally. As she gets to know him, he becomes even more mysterious and interesting. Every single time they had any interaction throughout the book I wish it could have gone on longer. I loved the chemistry between them!
This is probably one of the best fantasy romance books I have read in a while. Jay Pellegrin did an amazing job creating her fantasy world and an even better job with the relationship between Leyna and Jester. I highly recommend that people read this book! It has the right amount of fantasy and romance. I can't wait for book 2!
Thank you to NetGally and Jay Pellegrin for providing me with this arc for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! The second I started reading it, I was completely hooked!
The story follows a girl named, Leyna, who at the start of the book is in her last year of completing her examinations to become a full wizard. Within the first few chapters tragedy hits and her dreams of completing school and becoming a wizard are almost ruined until she gets the offer she always dreamed about. Becoming a Royal Guard. When she arrives at the castle to serve the king, a huge tragedy strikes and it falls on her to figure out who caused it. Secrets and lies are revealed as she investigates and people that she knew turn out to be something they're not.
Not to mention Jester. He's mysterious and charming. But Leyna doesn't know who he is behind the mask both figuratively and literally. As she gets to know him, he becomes even more mysterious and interesting. Every single time they had any interaction throughout the book I wish it could have gone on longer. I loved the chemistry between them!
This is probably one of the best fantasy romance books I have read in a while. Jay Pellegrin did an amazing job creating her fantasy world and an even better job with the relationship between Leyna and Jester. I highly recommend that people read this book! It has the right amount of fantasy and romance. I can't wait for book 2!
Thank you to NetGally and Jay Pellegrin for providing me with this arc for an honest review.
August 25, 2022
WOW! The Wizard’s Masquerade was adventure that I couldn’t put it down. It’s the adult version of Harry Potter that we all want and need.
I love everything about it! The characters, friendships, slow-burn romance, mystery, banter from the Jester, and of course Floofy.
Jay Pellegrin is an artist with words, that made Leyna and the Jester’s world come alive.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC. And Jay for sharing your work with the world. I can’t wait for the next book!
I love everything about it! The characters, friendships, slow-burn romance, mystery, banter from the Jester, and of course Floofy.
Jay Pellegrin is an artist with words, that made Leyna and the Jester’s world come alive.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC. And Jay for sharing your work with the world. I can’t wait for the next book!
July 26, 2023
Well written. Adored all the MMCs different characters. The Jester was my favorite❤️. Cute banter. Romance. A little dash of spice. Tons of world building. Stunning cover. Well worth the read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to the author as well as Booksirens for the Arc.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to the author as well as Booksirens for the Arc.
October 15, 2022
2.5
What initially drew me to the book when I saw it on Netgalley was the cover, which I think is absolutely gorgeous. I was excited to read this when I read the synopsis, as it seemed right up my alley. Courtly intrigue, magic, and fun romance? I was sold on the concept.
In reality, I ended up enjoying Wizard's Masquerade less than I expected. I think it has a lot of potential and I'm sure it will work for many people, but there were more things I didn't enjoy than the ones I did.
The book opens with our main character Leyna, as she is doing The Maze Exam, one of the finals she has to complete in order to graduate and move forward to the career path she wishes to follow. After she is injured, there seems to be little hope for her graduation but luck is on her side and she receives the offer to join the Royal Guard - her dream job. When she starts the job, things are not as she expected. The news of the attack on the king and queen reach the castle and any sense of normalcy is completely lost. Everyone at the castle seems to be harboring dark secrets and Leyna is lost in the middle of them all. Everyone, but especially the mysterious jester, who Leyna is both attracted to and suspicious of. She must make the most of her position in the Guard and discover the truth while protecting her heart from potential heartbreak.
So, to start off with the things I like. I will try to stay as spoiler-free as I can in this review. I really enjoyed the setting, I thought it was interesting and well done. I liked the idea of a magic academy the main character is going to at the beginning, the exams, and all of that. I thought the magic system was also really interesting. I wish it was slightly more explored and explained, but overall it is something I enjoyed. The world had a lot of promise, with magic, demons, other realms, and portals.
I do think this could've been slightly more explored as the beginning of the book seemed to be going in a different direction than the rest of the book did. The second half of the book gives much more attention to the intrigue and mystery of who is behind everything and the intricacy of lies that are all around Leyna, and less to the magic. However, the setting was still good and something I for the most part enjoyed even if it fades a bit as the book progresses.
I also really liked Jester as a character. I found him a bit predictable but at the same time fun and different enough that he kept my attention. His dialogue is good, he carries most of the banter in the novel and I feel like he is the most well-rounded, fleshed-out character. He has the most personality and the seems like a real person. His motivations, actions, and secrets were definitely what pushed me forward to read as I was genuinely curious to find out more. Jester is for the most part what pushed me to finish the book even though everything else felt like it dragged at some points. I did have a hard time understanding why he liked Leyna as much as he did, but more about that in a second.
Now, this leads me to the aspects of the novel I didn't really enjoy. My biggest problems were that much of the novel was too predictable, the plot dragged in the middle, and I couldn't really enjoy Leyna as the main character.
As for the plot, I don't want to go into the details as I would have to go into spoilers, but the true identity of some characters was entirely too easy to guess, and the who was behind some of the events was also a bit too predictable. I don't mind being able to guess these things as the book progresses usually, but I wish there was more mystery here. I don't enjoy being able to guess these things at the very beginning, as this makes the bulk of the book where the main character is in the dark seem redundant and unnecessary.
This ties into what I mentioned about the plot dragging - it seems like Leyna was making no progress in her investigation, she was running in circles for way too long. It seems like a good 100 pages for sure could've been cut from the middle of the story. It made me feel less and less interested and she remained clueless but also seemed to be doing nothing at the same time. It was frustrating to read.
Now, I would've probably been able to 'forgive' some of these things had I enjoyed Leyna as a character more. I genuinely really enjoy character-driven stories and the character aspect of a book is very important to me. My issue with Leyna was that she seemed like your generic main character, the blueprint for something that's not finished yet. I wasn't attached to her at all throughout the story at all. She seemed intentionally clueless and frustrating. Her personality felt underdeveloped, she really had nothing to drive her forward. She spent a lot of time saying that being a Huskarl, being in the Royal Guard was her dream, her ultimate goal in life - but she couldn't really say why at any point. It seemed to me like something a child would pick because 'it looks cool' and then spent no time actually thinking about it. I'm sure there were reasons for her decision, it just felt very shallow, she seemed genuinely unable to say why exactly she wanted to be a Huskarl.
Leyna also often comes off as childish, immature, and quite naive. She is often jealous of others but there is no character development for her anywhere in sight. I think she finishes the book just as she starts it, maybe having learned a thing or two, but mostly unchanged. This comes back to what I said about not knowing why Jester was interested in her in the first place. He seems drawn to her almost immediately, and while in the beginning, the purpose of his interactions was to jest (pun intended), he seems to care for her almost right away, for no good reason. He does tell her some reasons I know we're supposed to believe, that she is passionate and courageous and whatnot, but that feels empty as I've not seen any of those qualities in her. Often in her investigation, she said stupid things without thinking and asked questions that made her seem genuinely suspicious all while she was supposed to be secretive. She turned her back on morals for the sake of her job and I simply didn't enjoy her as a protagonist.
All in all, what I liked of this book (both the plot and romance) was that Jester was involved. Leyna was disappointing to me, but I hope there will be some improvement in the next book. I'm not sure if I'll be reading the sequel at this point. I am interested to see where the story goes and what happens with Jester, so I might. Don't let me stop you from reading the book if you are interested though, I think this just wasn't for me!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
What initially drew me to the book when I saw it on Netgalley was the cover, which I think is absolutely gorgeous. I was excited to read this when I read the synopsis, as it seemed right up my alley. Courtly intrigue, magic, and fun romance? I was sold on the concept.
In reality, I ended up enjoying Wizard's Masquerade less than I expected. I think it has a lot of potential and I'm sure it will work for many people, but there were more things I didn't enjoy than the ones I did.
The book opens with our main character Leyna, as she is doing The Maze Exam, one of the finals she has to complete in order to graduate and move forward to the career path she wishes to follow. After she is injured, there seems to be little hope for her graduation but luck is on her side and she receives the offer to join the Royal Guard - her dream job. When she starts the job, things are not as she expected. The news of the attack on the king and queen reach the castle and any sense of normalcy is completely lost. Everyone at the castle seems to be harboring dark secrets and Leyna is lost in the middle of them all. Everyone, but especially the mysterious jester, who Leyna is both attracted to and suspicious of. She must make the most of her position in the Guard and discover the truth while protecting her heart from potential heartbreak.
So, to start off with the things I like. I will try to stay as spoiler-free as I can in this review. I really enjoyed the setting, I thought it was interesting and well done. I liked the idea of a magic academy the main character is going to at the beginning, the exams, and all of that. I thought the magic system was also really interesting. I wish it was slightly more explored and explained, but overall it is something I enjoyed. The world had a lot of promise, with magic, demons, other realms, and portals.
I do think this could've been slightly more explored as the beginning of the book seemed to be going in a different direction than the rest of the book did. The second half of the book gives much more attention to the intrigue and mystery of who is behind everything and the intricacy of lies that are all around Leyna, and less to the magic. However, the setting was still good and something I for the most part enjoyed even if it fades a bit as the book progresses.
I also really liked Jester as a character. I found him a bit predictable but at the same time fun and different enough that he kept my attention. His dialogue is good, he carries most of the banter in the novel and I feel like he is the most well-rounded, fleshed-out character. He has the most personality and the seems like a real person. His motivations, actions, and secrets were definitely what pushed me forward to read as I was genuinely curious to find out more. Jester is for the most part what pushed me to finish the book even though everything else felt like it dragged at some points. I did have a hard time understanding why he liked Leyna as much as he did, but more about that in a second.
Now, this leads me to the aspects of the novel I didn't really enjoy. My biggest problems were that much of the novel was too predictable, the plot dragged in the middle, and I couldn't really enjoy Leyna as the main character.
As for the plot, I don't want to go into the details as I would have to go into spoilers, but the true identity of some characters was entirely too easy to guess, and the who was behind some of the events was also a bit too predictable. I don't mind being able to guess these things as the book progresses usually, but I wish there was more mystery here. I don't enjoy being able to guess these things at the very beginning, as this makes the bulk of the book where the main character is in the dark seem redundant and unnecessary.
This ties into what I mentioned about the plot dragging - it seems like Leyna was making no progress in her investigation, she was running in circles for way too long. It seems like a good 100 pages for sure could've been cut from the middle of the story. It made me feel less and less interested and she remained clueless but also seemed to be doing nothing at the same time. It was frustrating to read.
Now, I would've probably been able to 'forgive' some of these things had I enjoyed Leyna as a character more. I genuinely really enjoy character-driven stories and the character aspect of a book is very important to me. My issue with Leyna was that she seemed like your generic main character, the blueprint for something that's not finished yet. I wasn't attached to her at all throughout the story at all. She seemed intentionally clueless and frustrating. Her personality felt underdeveloped, she really had nothing to drive her forward. She spent a lot of time saying that being a Huskarl, being in the Royal Guard was her dream, her ultimate goal in life - but she couldn't really say why at any point. It seemed to me like something a child would pick because 'it looks cool' and then spent no time actually thinking about it. I'm sure there were reasons for her decision, it just felt very shallow, she seemed genuinely unable to say why exactly she wanted to be a Huskarl.
Leyna also often comes off as childish, immature, and quite naive. She is often jealous of others but there is no character development for her anywhere in sight. I think she finishes the book just as she starts it, maybe having learned a thing or two, but mostly unchanged. This comes back to what I said about not knowing why Jester was interested in her in the first place. He seems drawn to her almost immediately, and while in the beginning, the purpose of his interactions was to jest (pun intended), he seems to care for her almost right away, for no good reason. He does tell her some reasons I know we're supposed to believe, that she is passionate and courageous and whatnot, but that feels empty as I've not seen any of those qualities in her. Often in her investigation, she said stupid things without thinking and asked questions that made her seem genuinely suspicious all while she was supposed to be secretive. She turned her back on morals for the sake of her job and I simply didn't enjoy her as a protagonist.
All in all, what I liked of this book (both the plot and romance) was that Jester was involved. Leyna was disappointing to me, but I hope there will be some improvement in the next book. I'm not sure if I'll be reading the sequel at this point. I am interested to see where the story goes and what happens with Jester, so I might. Don't let me stop you from reading the book if you are interested though, I think this just wasn't for me!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
January 10, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Pellegrin books for the eARC.
The worldbuilding for this book was great, including the unique magic system. Certain characters, such as the Jester, were well done. His quirks and the mystery surrounding his identity were fun (even though the identity was easily deduced). The narrator for the audiobook was very enjoyable (I listened at 1.25x).
This had the potential to be a five-star read except for three massive flaws (in my opinion).
1) The main character was incredibly unlikeable. She's meant to be this strong-willed, moral woman, but instead, she's an elitist snob who is dreadfully naive and easily manipulated. Over and over again, I groaned when she fell for the stories told her simply because it was said convincingly/said by someone she deemed superior to her. It was frustrating, especially since you can't yell at a character.
2) This book was about 200 pages too long. Repeatedly, we were told something happened, then shown, then it was discussed some more. Circular dialogues, long-winded internal monologues, too-detailed descriptions, weak scenes that should have been cut—this book had them all. Honestly, I enjoyed the 85% to 98% mark the most...out of a 23-hour, 34-minute audiobook.
3) The ending was weak. I won't tell you more so I don't spoil it, but I didn't feel a burning desire to get the next book in the series.
With some more editing, many cut scenes, a stronger ending, and a less naive main character...this could have been great.
The worldbuilding for this book was great, including the unique magic system. Certain characters, such as the Jester, were well done. His quirks and the mystery surrounding his identity were fun (even though the identity was easily deduced). The narrator for the audiobook was very enjoyable (I listened at 1.25x).
This had the potential to be a five-star read except for three massive flaws (in my opinion).
1) The main character was incredibly unlikeable. She's meant to be this strong-willed, moral woman, but instead, she's an elitist snob who is dreadfully naive and easily manipulated. Over and over again, I groaned when she fell for the stories told her simply because it was said convincingly/said by someone she deemed superior to her. It was frustrating, especially since you can't yell at a character.
2) This book was about 200 pages too long. Repeatedly, we were told something happened, then shown, then it was discussed some more. Circular dialogues, long-winded internal monologues, too-detailed descriptions, weak scenes that should have been cut—this book had them all. Honestly, I enjoyed the 85% to 98% mark the most...out of a 23-hour, 34-minute audiobook.
3) The ending was weak. I won't tell you more so I don't spoil it, but I didn't feel a burning desire to get the next book in the series.
With some more editing, many cut scenes, a stronger ending, and a less naive main character...this could have been great.
September 2, 2022
I received an ARC from Book Siren in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! I absolutely adored Wizard’s Masquerade. I have to say at first I felt like the book was quite slow, but once it got started, it really got started. I loved that Leyna was not your typical Mary Sue hero. She’s a bit stuck up, ambitious, and trusts a lot of the wrong people. But it makes her growth all the more satisfying! The mystery element to the book was super intriguing as well - Leyna trying to sift through all the lies she’s been told by various people to discover the truth, to figure out who is really the good guy and who is just saying they are.
And of course, the romance. Jester was a fabulous character. I kind of loved that he wasn’t your typical MMC either - him teasing Leyna and her furiously trying to have a conversation with him was super entertaining and really built up the tension.
You’ll probably love Wizard’s Masquerade if you like:
- Slow burn
- Grumpy/sunshine (with roles reversed - Leyna is the grumpy, Jester is the sunshine)
- Hidden identity
- Mystery
Spice level: 2/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Wow! I absolutely adored Wizard’s Masquerade. I have to say at first I felt like the book was quite slow, but once it got started, it really got started. I loved that Leyna was not your typical Mary Sue hero. She’s a bit stuck up, ambitious, and trusts a lot of the wrong people. But it makes her growth all the more satisfying! The mystery element to the book was super intriguing as well - Leyna trying to sift through all the lies she’s been told by various people to discover the truth, to figure out who is really the good guy and who is just saying they are.
And of course, the romance. Jester was a fabulous character. I kind of loved that he wasn’t your typical MMC either - him teasing Leyna and her furiously trying to have a conversation with him was super entertaining and really built up the tension.
You’ll probably love Wizard’s Masquerade if you like:
- Slow burn
- Grumpy/sunshine (with roles reversed - Leyna is the grumpy, Jester is the sunshine)
- Hidden identity
- Mystery
Spice level: 2/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5
September 15, 2022
I honestly feel that the world building could’ve been more elaborate and gave more details on the importance of the royal court, huskarls, etc. The jester is such an interesting character (A WALKING GREEN FLAG) if I may, but I think there could’ve been more instances leading up to the attraction for one another. All in all an interesting read and would definitely read the next one to find out what happens next!
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