Review: Unmasked

Once again, say hello to Hannah, y'all! We've got another guest review on today's schedule. So without further ado, Hannah's review.

Unmasked by EM Kaplan

Grade: A-

This book was provided by EM Kaplan in exchange for an honest review.

Summary: Mel can sense the blood beating through her companions’ veins. She can count the moments between heartbeats to tell who is sincere and who is lying. She can make herself stronger for short periods of time, heal small wounds on her body, and manipulate light to change her appearance subtly. These abilities are useful skills for a Mask—a preternaturally sensitive, cloaked and imposing, impartial arbitrator, both revered and feared by everyone. Mattieus Ottick, or just Ott to his friends, comes from the frozen north to hunt the strange ogre-like creatures, or trogs, that threaten the northern mines. Magical beasties? Nightmares come to life? The world as Ott knows it is about to change. Blessed by easy charm and good looks, Ott is used to the attention of females, but, gods above, he is knocked flat by the kiss of the ethereal woman he rescues. How could she possibly be a Mask?

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: This book captivated me from the moment I started reading. I couldn't put it down. This is the author's first young adult work, but she has written adult novels, and it comes across in her writing. I found all the characters to be well-developed and the plot was well-executed. I thought the romance between Ott and Mel lacked a little depth. She kisses him and he's instantly in love. To me, that's a bit unrealistic, but maybe that's part of the fantasy of it. There were some racy parts in regards to the romance. Also, prostitution is something that happens in the book.

The Verdict: Overall, I thought it was a good read. If you like fantasy, then I'd say it's definitely worth a go. I would say it's more of a mature read, because some of the vocabulary might be different for some to get.

Buy: Amazon