Patricia Briggs, author of the Alpha and Omega
novels and the Mercy Thompson novels, has re-released her
novice work, MASQUES, with some increased detail and re-
tweaking. A solid effort, the novel is enjoyable for those
longtime fans of her work as well as new fans.
Aralorn, a spy and mercenary, gets more than she bargains
for when spying on the ae'Magi. She is happy to have
escaped with her life and soul intact, but she's concerned
about the effects his cold evil is having on the
surrounding area, particularly to anyone who dares speak
against the powerful magician.
Her friend Wolf has more secrets than even Aralorn, who was
raised in the aristocracy. Wolf is some sort of magician,
but he shares little more than friendship with Aralorn at
first. However, in their attempts to bring down the
ae'Magi, Wolf and Aralorn not only begin to share secrets,
they start to share help found from unexpected sources.
This reissue of MASQUES, although sometimes predictable, is
well-written and interesting.
After an upbringing of proper behavior and oppressive
expectations, Aralorn fled her noble birthright for a life
of adventure as a mercenary spy. Her latest mission involves
spying on the increasingly powerful sorcerer Geoffrey
ae'Magi. But in a war against an enemy armed with the powers
of illusion, how do you know who the true enemy is-or where
he will strike next?