These Vicious Masks

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:	St. Martins Press-3PL
Publication date:	02/09/2016
Pages:	322
Sales rank:	268,571
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.72(d)
Lexile:	830L (what's this?)
Age Range:	13 - 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

Evelyn Wyndham is bored to death of the societal rules she is bound to in Victorian England. Her one joy is serving as a nurse to friends and family with her sister Rose. When Rose abruptly disappears, Evelyn suspects foul play and goes to London to find her. When she confronts their dark and brooding acquaintance, Mr. Braddock (her number one suspect), he insists that she use her “rare gift” of healing to save a friend in exchange for his help locating Rose. Evelyn doubts her talents are anything more than simple nursing skills, but cannot deny that she has seen others boast extraordinary abilities, not to mention the surge of strange energy that passes between herself and Braddock when they touch. Their powers and the kidnapping are just the beginning of an increasingly dangerous mystery. Pitched as “Jane Austen meets X-Men,” These Vicious Masks is a great concept and has all the trappings of a modern Victorian novel: a feisty heroine, witty Wilde-esque dialogue, and lots of stuffy society ladies. Unfortunately, clumsy action and repetitive conflict disrupt the story. By all appearances, Evelyn is a forward-thinking, courageous heroine, but her valiant attempts at independence always leave her in a position to be saved by her suitors. A love triangle is present, but the chemistry is lopsided and occasionally forced. Disjointed attempts at action get in the way of more interesting plots, like the source and scope of the superpowers at play. And after all the set-up and drama to save Rose, the tragic outcome is a letdown. Threads are left open for a sequel and little is resolved. Teens who gobble up costume dramas may overlook these shortcomings, but it is an additional purchase at best. Reviewer: Liz Gotauco; Ages 12 to 18.

VOYA, February 2016 (Vol. 38, No. 6) - Liz Gotauco

The year is 1882 and Evelyn Wyndham feels stifled by England’s high society, despite the extravagant balls and the attention of the dashing Mr. Kent. Boredom becomes a worry of the past when Evelyn meets the dark, secretive Sebastian Braddock and her sister, Rose, mysteriously disappears in London. Defying all society standards, Evelyn attempts to find Rose with the help of Mr. Kent’s connections. Sebastian suspiciously turns up and helps Evelyn uncover her special healing powers. He opens her eyes to the reality that extraordinary individuals exist with exceptional powers. Evelyn discovers that Dr. Beck, a dangerous scientist, has taken Rose to experiment on her powers, and she races against the clock to save her before it is too late. Sebastian reveals his troubled past and deadly powers in the hopes to help Evelyn and to make amends for his past mistakes. Evelyn chooses to accept Sebastian’s help despite her frustrating attraction to the baffling man. Disaster and death hound Evelyn, Sebastian, and their friends through the alleys of London as they realize that Dr. Beck is only one of many who would like to exploit their powers. Shanker and Zekas expertly weave fantasy, historical fiction, and mystery together in an exciting plot with more than one swoon worthy character. Their characters contain a perfect blend of sympathetic flaws and strength, drawing the reader in as the plot thickens. Shanker and Zekas’s magical world fits seamlessly into the darker side of 19th century British society making it a great selection for fantasy readers. Reviewer: Kelly Hill; Ages 12 up.

Children's Literature - Kelly Hill

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