Mask Of The Nobleman

Great beginning but couldn't stick the landing

I received a free physical copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, but that has not changed my opinion about the book at all. Just wanted to give a heads-up.

Before reading the book, I briefly looked at the Wikipedia page of the fairytale on which this book is inspired, East of the Sun, West of the Moon. It was new to me. I was looking forward to see where the author took it since it was a bit different from the classic Beauty and the Beast.

I enjoyed how the main two characters were quickly established in the beginning of the book. Peytra, being a talented artist with wood, had a playful and family-oriented personality but was still fueled with the desire to be recognized for her work. The Duke was a very mysterious and somewhat intimidating figure, being covered from head to toe in dark clothing and wearing a mask. However, Peytra as well as the reader was able to see glimpses of a man who was interested in art and literature and wanting to do his best as a duke and leader. They took time to find out more about each other and it was a slow build on their relationship, which I thought worked well.

The minor characters added just the right amount of variety to the cast. While in the start they may have seemed stereotypical (the all-business accountant, the fuzzy cook, the womanizer, etc.), there was enough revealed to make them fully fleshed out characters. The interactions between Peytra and the rest of the castle staff were some of my favorites.

Yet, toward the middle/end of the book, I felt a shift in the tone. Peytra and the Duke were no longer going slow but full speed ahead. It took me out of the story just a bit when it was said that only some months had passed since her time in the castle. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned or a pessimist when it comes to love, but I just can't see myself falling in real, true, and lasting love in just a few months.

I also felt the end of the book focused more on the explicit sex scenes (which I skipped over, just not my cup of tea—no fault of the author). The finale of the book felt rushed and sudden, introducing things only barely mentioned and then leaving it on a cliff-hanger. I realize that this is the first in a series and more will be explained in the coming book(s). Still, I wished a bit more time was taken to give this book a satisfying ending.

In addition, there are some strange formatting issues, missed typos, and confusing point-of-view switches. Sometimes, the point-of-view switched in the middle of a paragraph and left me quite unsure of who was speaking/thinking or even what was going on. There were some passages that I had to re-read to get a clearer picture of the current happenings.

Overall, I liked the step up and the characters had fun personalities. The middle and end fell flat for me, seemingly having less of what I got me hooked in the first place. I would give it 3.5 stars.