Evelyn was a girl who wanted to see the world, but she was oppressed by the obligations of society life. When her sister disappeared, Evelyn journeyed to London to rescue her. While seeking her sister, Evelyn found that there was a lot more beneath the surface of the world, herself, and the powers she possessed.
I kept seeing this book described as "Jane Austen meets X-Men". I was intrigued by this, and I was not at all disappointed by the book. These Vicious Masks combines the aspects of the society life in Victorian England with magic. The talents endowed upon some of the characters are quite varied and include: charming, healing, life force draining, portal creation, clairvoyance, and super strength. I found the talents reminded me a little bit of the show, Hereos, but it had a fresh spin, since this story was set in Victorian times.
I don't know what it is about the Victorian time period, but I always find the characters so delightful. (i.e. any Gail Carriger book) There is something about their formalities that never fails to make me smile. I also find that books set in that era, at least the one's I have read, are flush with witty banter. I absolutely adored the banter and snark in this book, and found myself continuously grinning while reading.
Evelyn was a fantastic heroine. She was so spunky and fierce. She didn't give up, even when it looked like she should. She made mistakes, but she learned from them. She was independent, but accepted help when necessary. There was just so much to love about her.
And who does she love? The authors set up a little love triangle for us. There is her very good friend, Mr. Kent, who is clearly taken by Evelyn. And then, there is Mr. Braddock, the dark and brooding hero with a multitude of secrets. I will admit, I totally shipped Evelyn and Braddock. There was something special between the two of them, and I really want them to get together. I adored the teasing and the banter between these two and the running jokes about him being a byronesque hero were quite fun.
Do you want to pull out your copy of She Walks in Beauty and spend the next hour acting moody?
But Kent is able to win my heart at times too. He's a traditional rake, so suave and charming, but Evelyn is so good at handling him.
I can't tell if you are joking, Mr. Kent
I'm not. In fact, I've been so sincere lately that I wouldn't be surprised if my name has magically changed to Frank.
I found the story fast paced, with new and important elements being introduced throughout. Going from the countryside to London, from society events to secret lairs. There was something to be found around every corner. The ending was quite tragic. I didn't know how to deal with all the losses, but knowing there was a sequel kept my anxiety in check.
Overall: a fun and exciting trip through Victorian England with a paranormal twist.
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