These Vicious Masks (These Vicious Masks Series #1)

by Tarun Shanker, Kelly Zekas

Overview

Jane Austen meets X-Men in this thrilling Victorian adventure full of magic and mysticism, perfect for anyone who loves a confident, rebellious heroine, snappy dialogue, and a hint of romance.

England, 1882. Evelyn is bored with society and its expectations. So when her beloved sister, Rose, mysteriously vanishes, she ignores her parents and travels to London to find her, accompanied by the dashing Mr. Kent. But they're not the only ones looking for Rose. The reclusive, young gentleman Sebastian Braddock is also searching for her, claiming that both sisters have special healing powers. Evelyn is convinced that Sebastian must be mad, until she discovers that his strange tales of extraordinary people are true—and that her sister is in graver danger than she feared.

Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, These Vicious Masks is an action-packed, genre-bending novel by debut authors Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas.

Praise for These Vicious Masks:

"This is a perfect pick for someone who wants a little magic in their Victorian novels, and its combination of historical fiction and mysticism will remind readers of Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle trilogy." —Booklist

"This tale has brisk pacing, plenty of action, and a heroine with more than her fair share of girl-power confidence." —School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250073891
Publisher:	Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:	02/09/2016
Series:	These Vicious Masks Series , #1
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	1,152,378
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	830L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Mild-mannered assistant by day, milder-mannered writer by night, Tarun Shanker is a New York University graduate currently living in Los Angeles. His idea of paradise is a place where kung-fu movies are projected on clouds, David Bowie's music fills the air and chai tea flows freely from fountains.

Kelly Zekas, an NYU graduate, writes, acts, and reads in New York City. YA is her absolute favorite thing on earth (other than cupcakes) and she has spent many hours crying over fictional deaths. She also started reading Harlequin romances at a possibly too early age (12?), and still loves a good paperback romance.

These Vicious Masks is their first novel.

Editorial Reviews

"Striking a strong balance between romance and mystery, this novel captures society’s rules just as well as it does the unbelievable powers of the main characters. Readers will easily be swept up in its fast pace and sympathetic narrator, who is filled with both self-doubt and resolve to do anything to protect those she loves. This is a perfect pick for someone who wants a little magic in their Victorian novels, and its combination of historical fiction and mysticism will remind readers of Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle trilogy." —Booklist

"This tale has brisk pacing, plenty of action, and a heroine with more than her fair share of girl-power confidence." —School Library Journal

“This is a great read, compelling and addictive. Well written and great character development you cannot stop reading. I was spellbound from the beginning and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey!” —Sue Speakman, Swoon Reader

“My favorite thing about this book is the dialogue. The authors intricately composed period-style phrasing with a modern-day wit that is incredibly nuanced and thoughtful – very well done. I was successfully transported by the characters in a way that rivaled my indulgence in Harry Potterland.” —Cayla O'Connell, Swoon Reader

“So much fun! Like a story by one of the Bronte sisters or Jane Austen, except the characters are much more self-aware and genre-savvy.” —Duncan Pflaster, Swoon Reader

“I need book two!! Where is book two?? This sucked me in right away (it was a terrible idea to start reading on a break at work – I could barely bring myself to go back to work) and kept me engaged the whole way through. Some really great characters. (Also any book that mentions self-defenestration wins). But seriously, can I read book two now??” —Erin Keskeny, Swoon Reader

From the Publisher

01/01/2016
Gr 8 Up—This latest from the Swoonreads online crowd-sourcing effort is a Victorian love story with a healthy dose of the supernatural. Evelyn Wyndham and her sister Rose are wearily making the rounds of dances and parties that comprise British society when Rose suddenly disappears after a ball. Over her parents' objections, Evelyn travels to London to search for her sister with the help of the moody and mysterious Sebastian Braddock and the charming and sardonic Mr. Kent. As she follows the clues to her sister's whereabouts, she begins to unravel secrets about those closest to her and soon discovers that she and Rose possess powerful gifts. Her search ultimately unveils a hidden world of people with supernatural abilities—a world in which some use their gifts for good and others work unspeakable evil. This tale has brisk pacing, plenty of action, and a heroine with more than her fair share of girl-power confidence. The secondary characters, of which there are many, come off rather stereotypical, and the story itself could benefit from greater development of the setting and background information. Nevertheless, this Regency-style romance meets "The League of Extraordinary Gentleman" superhero adventure will delight many teens. There is little doubt that there will soon be many more admirers yearning for the sequel that Shanker and Zekas set up in the final pages. VERDICT Recommended for upper junior high and high school readers who enjoy superhero tales with a twist.—Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Blinn Junior College, Brenham, TX

School Library Journal