New Release: Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller

by MK French

Sallot Leon is a gender fluid thief intent on winning the auditions to become one of the Queen's Left Hand, the assassins named after the rings that she wears. Sal is the sole survivor of a nation that was sacrificed to protect a larger one, and now Sal wants to infiltrate the court and slaughter those responsible for the massacre. In order to do that, Sal has to win the role of Opal and become part of the nobility.


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August 2017; Sourcebook Fire; 978-1492647492
ebook, audio, print (352 pages); dark fantasy, YA

It's a deadly game that Sal plays, and one where the tension is effortlessly maintained throughout the brutal audition. Sal is entrant number twenty-three, and masks abound; in a society where names, faces, masks, and clothes are everything, Sal's gender fluidity is remarked upon but not always treated with disdain. Sal finds love in the midst of the intrigue and is able to let go of insecurity enough to trust in a few people.

The kingdoms and their histories were effortlessly woven together, and you really get a sense for the cultures involved. Differences in languages, names, dress, and customs are discussed as Sal observes the other contestants for clues, and we slowly learn more about the nation that Sal wants to avenge. I was immediately drawn into this world, and I can't wait to see what will happen in the next book.

Buy Mask of Shadows at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever. 

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