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    Masks
    Masks
    Masks
    Audiobook14 hours

    Masks

    Written by E. C. Blake

    Narrated by Elizabeth Morton

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Masks, the first novel in a mesmerizing new fantasy series, draws readers into a world in which cataclysmic events have left the Autarchy of Aygrima-the one land blessed with magical resources-cut off from its former trading partners across the waters, not knowing if any of those distant peoples still live. Yet under the rule of the Autarch, Aygrima survives. And thanks to the creation of the Masks and the vigilance of the Autarch's Watchers, no one can threaten the security of the empire. In Aygrima, magic is a Gift possessed from birth by a very small percentage of the population, with the Autarch himself the most powerful magic worker of all. Only the long-vanquished Lady of Pain and Fire had been able to challenge his rule.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateAug 15, 2014
    ISBN9781490636818
    Masks

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    Reviews for Masks

    4/5

    17 ratings6 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Yet another YA fantasy about a young person whose magic is Special, but it goes interesting and somewhat unusual places. Obviously the beginning of a series.
    • 5/5
      Mara knows nothing else then masks. Her father is the master maskmaker for the Autarch. Everyone who turns fifteen receives a mask. The mask is empowered with magic to show when the mask wearer is behaving badly. Then the watchers are there to take corrective action. The big day is finally here. Mara is about to receive her mask. However during the making event, something happens and Mara find herself shunned. She finds friends with the Unmasked army. Which was believed to be a myth. Mara learns things about the masks and Autarch that will give her a new outlook on the life she lived. I really am enjoying the world that the author has built for this series. I can not wait to continue on this journey with Mara. This series kind of reminds me of the Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder. Which is a fan of mine. This is a book that all ages will have fun reading. The action is mild but again this is the first book. Again I have to say however that the author did a great job with the first book. It is hard to find the right balance between giving away too much in either details or not enough that you lose the reader. It was just right. In addition, that even though there was not a lot of action happening, this book is a quick read. I went to take a break and I was already half way done with the book. Mara has so much depth about her. She is intriguing. She is truly gifted. I can't wait to see more of her gift as she learns more about it and how to use it. She will then be a force to watch out for.
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: For years, every adult has been required to wear a mask when outside of their house in order to prevent another rebellion. When 15-year-old Mara’s Masking fails, her life is changed forever…Opening Sentence: From atop a nameless mountain, the Autarch of Aygrima watched another of his villages burn.The Review:Young adult books can sometimes be hit or miss with me, depending on how I feel about the protagonist. Luckily, this book was a big hit. From the first page, it had me hooked. While it wasn’t a five star read, it was still a thrilling ride from beginning to end.When the Autarch began his rule over the land of Aygrima, he instituted a new rule: once a child reaches the age of 15, they are considered an adult. On their 15th birthday, children attend a masking ceremony, where they are fitted for their mask, which they will wear from that point on anytime they are outside of their house. The masks have the capability of revealing the wearer’s innermost thoughts, so the Autarch will always know if someone is plotting against him. In this way, the Autarch can assure that there will never be another rebellion like the one that occurred right before he came to power.Mara has wanted to be a Maskmaker like her father ever since she was a small child. When she takes her first test at the age of 6 to see if she’s Gifted, she’s overjoyed to learn that she can see magic, which means there’s a chance she can see the type of magic that would allow her to be a Maskmaker. She becomes concerned, however, at her next test years later when, instead of only seeing one color of magic, she still sees a multitude of colors. Scared, she only mentions one color to her tester so that no one knows. Now, it is time for her masking, and her every dream is about to come true. Then, something horrible happens: her Masking fails. Now, she’s consigned to a life as an Unmasked in the mines, never to see her family again. What went wrong? Will Mara’s continued ability to see magic despite her Unmasking aid her in her new life? Will she ever find a way out of the mines?What I love about Mara is that she’s very believable as a 15-year-old without the air of immaturity that is sometimes seen in other young adult novels. She’s very unsure of herself at first, but as the book continues, you can see her begin to become more confident, getting an idea of the adult she could be one day. I also like that she’s not perfect. Throughout the book, you can see her occasionally be tempted by the concept of the power she could one day have, whether it’s right to use it or not. This is a very believable reaction to me, which made me connect to her a little bit more than I would if she always made the right decisions.My one complaint would be that some of the side characters aren’t too well developed yet. There’s a love triangle, but we don’t see enough of either guy to really side with one or the other. Both guys seem like nice, good guys, but they don’t go much deeper than that. Hopefully, the second book will let us see more of them.It should be mentioned that while this is technically a young adult book because of Mara’s age, there is some very serious subject matter here, including repeated references to rape. It’s not for the faint of heart, but those who are looking for a serious fantasy read set in an interesting and well developed world are in for a treat. I’m very much looking forward to book 2!Notable Scene:The earth shuddered, again and yet again…and then all was still.The Autarch, breathing heavily, fell to his knees on the snow- and blood-covered rocks. It’s over, he thought. She’s gone. Fierce satisfaction swelled within him. I promised you, Lady Arilla. I promised you pain and fire.And I always keep my promises.After a long moment, the Autarch climbed heavily to his feet. Without a backward glance at the sprawled bodies of his erstwhile bodyguards, he began trudging back to Starbright. Perhaps he would come across one of the spooked horses of his slain escort. Perhaps not.It did not matter.The last threat to his power had been eliminated. He was young, he was powerful, he was the Autarch of Aygrima, and he had nothing to fear: not here, and not back in Tamita, the city where his throne awaited him.With Arilla out of the way, no one remains who can threaten me. And once I return to Tamita, I will proclaim the Masking. From that moment on, no one will ever threaten me again. I will not die like my father.Holding that thought in his mind like a good-luck charm, the Autarch of Aygrima trudged southward.I will not die!FTC Advisory: DAW/Penguin provided me with a copy of Masks. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 4/5
      Disclosure: I received a free uncorrected proof of Masks by E.C. Blake courtesy of DAW Books via GoodReads First Reads.

      The premise of this novel and the details about the uses and dangers of magic that the author provides give this fantasy tale a unique bent. Aygrima, the fantasy world in which Masks is set, is carefully crafted with backstory and geographical descriptions that gives the land a life of its own. These features almost beg for fan fiction to be written in the setting of Aygrima.

      The main character Mara shows true growth from a sheltered and naive girl to a brave and decisive young lady. She is a believably teenage girl, who is admirable in her values and determination. All of the minor characters, even those with the smallest parts to play, have their own unique history and attributes to make them stand out.

      Masks is a great step up for older teen readers moving into reading adult fantasy. This book has a bit of a dystopian feel without the cliches that seem to be becoming common in YA dystopian fiction. Adult readers who have enjoyed series such as Terry Brooks' Shannara novels should be sure to read Masks.

      E.C. Blake has set the stage well for a coming sequel to Masks, which readers will await with great anticipation.
    • 3/5
      Masks depicts a fantasy world crossed with a dystopia; the land of Aygrima is ruled single-handedly by the Autarch, an enigmatic ruler who exerts control in the wake of an uprising by forcing all adult citizens to wear magical masks. These masks reveal any treasonous thoughts of the wearer, and also serve as a right of passage. On turning fifteen, a person is receives his or her mask and officially becomes an adult, allowing the start of a career and the use of magic, if the person is capable.The magic system is fairly unique and the most interesting aspect of this world. While the ability to use magic is innate, magic itself is not. Magic is depicted as a physical, finite substance that must be collected as any other resource. Children are tested for the ability to use magic at a young age, and the person’s changing perception of the substance can determine his or her career path.The main story follows Mara Holdfast, daughter of the Aygrima’s master maskmaker. Mara is found to be gifted with the ability to use magic, and is set to join her father as his apprentice fallowing her masking. However, Mara’s masking ceremony “fails”, with the mask shattering and Mara is sent away to a prison camp to join other unmasked.As a protagonist, Mara unfortunately suffers from a lot of “chosen one” tropes. Unlike any one else, Mara can perceive all facets of magic into her teen years, and can draw power form the substance instinctively. She is capable of powerful magic without any training, and at one point is even suggested to be the most powerful person in Aygrima. She also fortuitously comes out her masking unscarred, and has the attention of two possible love interests.Another issue is that Mara, despite these advantages, only seems to stumble from one situation to the next while taking little action. For example, Mara is rescued from a work camp transport by rebels because of her status and exceptional nature. Time and again Mara gets preferential treatment because of who she is rather than what she chooses to do.This is obviously the start of a series, with Mara being set up to take on the Autarch with her ability to use magic. This world has some promise, and there are some intriguing hints, but ultimately this volume is just “meh.”A review copy was provided through the goodreads.com first reads program.
    • 4/5
      Masks is the very promising first novel of what's shaping up to be a phenomenal series. And to think, at first I was tentative about approaching this book because (wait for it, silly irrational reason incoming) I was a little spooked by the cover! There's just something so unsettling about the blank gaze of an empty mask, but I couldn't deny there was a lot of beauty in this particular one too.Thinking back on it now, I realize that the cover for this book is actually quite perfect. The story it contains within is indeed quite beautiful, but it also has its moments of darkness, as a lot of these types of books with dystopian-like settings tend to have. Masks features Mara Holdfast, a girl growing up in Aygrima, a land overseen by the all-seeing Autarch. In this society, everyone is require to wear a mask the day they turn fifteen. Through these masks, it is said that the Autarch and his Watchers can know the thoughts of every citizen, enabling them to put down dissidents and maintain everlasting peace and security in the empire.Mara has known from a young age that she is Gifted; the magic that few are born with in this world runs strongly in her family. She has hopes to follow in her father's footsteps and become a Master Maskmaker just like him, and looks forward to her masking day when she can finally become his apprentice. But then things go horribly wrong on her fifteenth birthday during the ceremony, and Mara is immediately labeled a traitor, not fit to be part of society. Everything Mara has ever known is ripped away as she is consigned to a wagon bound for the mines, where she will be forced into a life of imprisonment and slavery.This is a story that had me riveted from beginning to end. The introduction with the build-up to Mara's masking ceremony is probably one of the best I've ever read, because it really does a good job of grabbing your attention right away. And as if that wasn't enough, the journey doesn't ever slow down, constantly driving forward as Mara is whisked from one dilemma to another. While there are some elements to this story that are predictable, the question of where the main protagonist will end up next is always in up in the air, and I was held rapt by the multitude of possibilities that could happen.I was also struck by the magic in this book, which goes hand in hand with my fascination with the idea of the Autarch using masks to control the population. At this point, not everything about the masks and magic is explained yet, and while I do have many questions, it also feels like the author is leaving lots of room to flesh it out in the next installment. Nevertheless, what's established here already gives this book a certain uniqueness, and I'm excited to know more.I'm also very much looking forward to the character growth of Mara. If there's one thing I wasn't particularly fond of about this book (and it's a tiny thing), it was her constant questioning and second-guessing of herself. She also tends to dwell on things and appears to have the weakest stomach of any character I know, leading to a few instances of repetition in the narrative and a lot of vomiting on poor Mara's part. On the other hand, I realize she is barely fifteen and has lived a relatively sheltered and privileged life before everything in her world turned upside down. In that sense, I really can't fault her all that much. I expect there's a lot potential for her in the next book though, as she develops into someone in a leadership position who has the ability to change things for the better.I did ask myself after reading Masks whether or not I should categorize this book as Young Adult. The age of the protagonist along with certain factors like the not-so-subtle hints of a future romance or love triangle makes me want to say yes, and certainly I think the story could appeal to older teens. At the same time, the nature of the fantasy setting and characters that E.C. Blake has created sets this book apart from conventional YA, and so I think a wider audience can appreciate it too. I know I did...a lot!