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315th out of 1,175 books
—
8,400 voters
The Girl in the Mask
Set in Georgian England, fifteen-year-old Sophia is trapped by the limitations of living in a man's world. Forced by her father to give up everything she loves, Sophia is ordered to make a new life in Bath. By day, she is trapped in the social whirl of balls and masquerades. By night, she secretly swaps her ball gowns for breeches, and turns to highway robbery to get her r...more
Paperback, 311 pages
Published
March 1st 2012
by Oxford University Press
(first published January 5th 2012)
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I'm SO EXCITED! I didn't know she had another book out! I can already tell this is going to be amazing!
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I've just ordered it! Can't wait :D
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I'd give this book a 3.5/3.75.
The book is about a girl called Sophia who is forced to move to Bath when her father comes back from his 4 year trip abroad. It becomes clear that Sophia and her father have a bad backgroud. I did like the references back, but there didn't seem to be much depth to it. Sophia yearns to experience excitment and to escape from he...more
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I've just ordered it! Can't wait :D
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I'd give this book a 3.5/3.75.
The book is about a girl called Sophia who is forced to move to Bath when her father comes back from his 4 year trip abroad. It becomes clear that Sophia and her father have a bad backgroud. I did like the references back, but there didn't seem to be much depth to it. Sophia yearns to experience excitment and to escape from he...more
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This book hooked me from the start. I was going to read 'just a couple' of chapters before bed, ended up reading more and then read as much as possible the next day! I started off thinking that Sophia had a pretty comfortable life with her cousin Jack, then her father returns home and everything goes to shit. He burns all of her books, poetry and plays, sends Jack away to the Army and packs Sophia up and takes her to Bath, so he can get her married and out of his hair as fast as possible.
Of cour...more
Of cour...more
I felt this book really dragged though I really did try and love this book as much as I loved The Lady in The Tower, but I couldn't. The two main characters were just as fun and witty together as in her other books; yet i felt they did not really get to know each other as they did not spend much time together. But what really annoyed me as I read into the night to finish those last few pages was how unsatisfying the end was. (view spoiler)...more
Sep 29, 2012
ReadingToTheStarsAndBack
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2012-insane-book-reading-challeng
Please read full review on: http://readingtothestarsandback.wordp...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The last book that I read of Marie-Louise Jensen was 'The Lady in the Tower', I remember liking that book quite a lot. But this book was brilliant!
It's no secret that I ADORE historical fiction! I was attracted to this book by the synopsis, it just sounded like it was going to be one highway robbery after another..and it was. Kind of. In the end.
I didn't like the ending. I thought it could have b...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The last book that I read of Marie-Louise Jensen was 'The Lady in the Tower', I remember liking that book quite a lot. But this book was brilliant!
It's no secret that I ADORE historical fiction! I was attracted to this book by the synopsis, it just sounded like it was going to be one highway robbery after another..and it was. Kind of. In the end.
I didn't like the ending. I thought it could have b...more
This was a crackingly exciting book that was quite difficult to tear myself away from at times. The plot centres on a young girl in the early 18th century who is determined to escape her restrictive life and cruel father. Sophia is headstrong, fearless and at times very reckless, qualities that get her into a lot of trouble but also help to get her out of it. Add in an intriguing male friend, some enjoyable overtones of Georgette Heyer, and the firmly historical setting of 18th century Bath and...more
I was super excited when I found out that Marie-Louise Jensen had another book coming out. I reserved it from my local library and read it in two days. It was immediately gripping and I loved the brave character of Sophie, she wasn't going down without a fight! I also loved the character of Jenny who I really felt for despite her trying to be tough attitude! I knew I wouldn't be disappointed as I had loved Jensen's other books such as The Lady in the Tower. I thought the setting was written very...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I had this on my Kindle somewhere, because I did like the concept, but I've read one of her other books already, so I was sort of wary about reading this. I'm afraid I got through a couple of chapters, but just couldn't stick with it. The writing is pretty bad. One minute the narrator is telling someone something because she knows he'll understand, and then immediately after he's responding with obviously no interest in it at all. And there are people exclaiming loudly and tall gangly young men...more
Jun 03, 2012
Luula
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Teenagers, people who like historical fiction
Well, it wasn't that amazing, but it was good enough that I stayed up about a quarter of the night to finish it.
So, thanks again Kindle! Where would I be without you to supply me with cheapish books in your sales :D
Okay. So we have Sophia, rich young lady, been living for years with her cousin Jack. We have Jack, seems like a nice guy for the 5 minutes we get to know him in, and then we have Sophia's father. And he is one mean guy.
Sophia's father has just returned from a four year journey to the...more
So, thanks again Kindle! Where would I be without you to supply me with cheapish books in your sales :D
Okay. So we have Sophia, rich young lady, been living for years with her cousin Jack. We have Jack, seems like a nice guy for the 5 minutes we get to know him in, and then we have Sophia's father. And he is one mean guy.
Sophia's father has just returned from a four year journey to the...more
A glorious first two hundred pages. Marie-Louise loves Bath and her research is impeccable and never obtrusive. Put a fearless tomboy in stuffy chauvinistic Bath in 1720 and light the touch paper. The book ends with a triumphant scene with the stage set for a sequel. That is my only quibble, that the later scenes were more reminiscent of pantomime with our hero never likely to suffer for her fearless escapades. No book could deliver the same heart stopping thrills and wicked humour throughout an...more
"Stand and Deliver! Hand over your valuables if you value your life!"
Set in Georgian England, fifteen-year-old Sophia is trapped by the limitations of living in a man's world. Forced by her father to give up everything she loves, Sophia is ordered to make a new life in Bath. By day, she is trapped in the social whirl of balls and masquerades. By night, she secretly swaps her ball gowns for breeches, and turns to highway robbery to get her revenge . . . When one man begins to take a keen interes...more
Set in Georgian England, fifteen-year-old Sophia is trapped by the limitations of living in a man's world. Forced by her father to give up everything she loves, Sophia is ordered to make a new life in Bath. By day, she is trapped in the social whirl of balls and masquerades. By night, she secretly swaps her ball gowns for breeches, and turns to highway robbery to get her revenge . . . When one man begins to take a keen interes...more
I was absorbed in this book from the first page until the last. I absolutely loved Sophia and Jenny. Sophia seemed believable as a character, as she was only 15 her naivete fit perfectly, as did her stubbornness.
I had some problems with the "bad guy" characters since none of them had any depth and were clearly the antagonists I was supposed to root against the entire time. I prefer my villains to have a little more to them that just being flat out evil.
The story was really well paced, though, wh...more
I had some problems with the "bad guy" characters since none of them had any depth and were clearly the antagonists I was supposed to root against the entire time. I prefer my villains to have a little more to them that just being flat out evil.
The story was really well paced, though, wh...more
Thoughts Before Reading.
The blurb actually reminds me a bit of Sovay. I hope The Girl in the Mask will not be as pointless and live up to its potential.
Thoughts After Reading.
I finished this book within two days and really enjoyed parts of it. For some time, mainly during the first 50 percent of the book, I would have rated it solid five stars. I loved Sophia's character, even though I doubt a girl like her and with her notions ever existed in the beginning of the 18th century at all. But Sophia...more
The blurb actually reminds me a bit of Sovay. I hope The Girl in the Mask will not be as pointless and live up to its potential.
Thoughts After Reading.
I finished this book within two days and really enjoyed parts of it. For some time, mainly during the first 50 percent of the book, I would have rated it solid five stars. I loved Sophia's character, even though I doubt a girl like her and with her notions ever existed in the beginning of the 18th century at all. But Sophia...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
There's something to be said about how awesome a book is when it keeps me reading until 3.40 AM and believe me that hasn't happened in a while so hats off to Marie for writing such an absorbing book.
I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, but sometimes it can feel like the same story retold. Not in this case. The story itself had so many bumps, twists and turns I could no sooner predict the ending than I can tomorrow's weather :)
Sophia was a one of a kind character and though sometimes her acts of...more
I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, but sometimes it can feel like the same story retold. Not in this case. The story itself had so many bumps, twists and turns I could no sooner predict the ending than I can tomorrow's weather :)
Sophia was a one of a kind character and though sometimes her acts of...more
On the surface, Sofia is all that a well bred young lady ought to be, but beneath the costly gowns, her deceptive aunt and her tyrannical father, she longs, above all else to be free. By night she acts as a highwayman. But she soon finds herself in deeper than she had expected when it turns out a certain gentleman takes a deep interest in her and she is swept up as Bath is caught in revolution.
I really enjoyed this book just like most of Jensen's books.
I really enjoyed this book just like most of Jensen's books.
It was okay for what it was but I can't help feeling disappointed by it, it just felt flat. So much more could have been done with the subject matter and plot; there was a lot of potential that just didn't materialise and the ending just didn't seem to fit with the rest of the novel. It's a shame really as there were some interesting aspects of The Girl in the Mask that just weren't developed enough, like the Jacobite rebellion and the character of Charleton. I think I would have enjoyed it more...more
What a wonderful and refreshing read. I loved this book so much! It was well-written, it felt like a new Georgette Heyer novel. I loved the characters, I LOVE stories about girls dressing up as boys and doing things. I love girls dressing up as highwaymen - all of my favourite things in one novel. I've just bought the rest of the author's novels and will read them as soon as I can.
This is my first book by Marie-Louise Jensen. I tried to love it, I really did.
But the story line seemed commonplace. While it could have been full of intrigue, Sophia was too busy being oblivious and whine-y to realize what was going on.
The looming danger of (view spoiler)...more
But the story line seemed commonplace. While it could have been full of intrigue, Sophia was too busy being oblivious and whine-y to realize what was going on.
The looming danger of (view spoiler)...more
I really enjoyed the book however I felt it didn`t really live up to the expections of the blurb and to be honest she only robs twice or three times but I found the releationship between Mr Charelton and SOPHIA really sweet and and loved how Sophia enjoyes having an adventarous secret life overall 3 strars ( Ireally hate her dad scares the shit out of me)
I really enjoyed this book. Sophia was a fantastic heroine that I could easily relate to with just the right amount of fear and feistiness to generate empathy within the reader and make her both believable and likeable. The time period is clearly well-researched and the story intricately plotted, for there was quite a lot going on with a surprising amount of political intrigue and an interesting dash of romance thrown into the mix. A slightly rushed ending left me feeling a little wanting, but o...more
Really enjoyed this. Fabulous protagonist who sticks to her guns (ha!) and doesn't go all wishy-washy at the end as is so often the case. The book is well researched too, plonking you right into the middle of The Bath society. Exciting, pacey, and fun. Well worth a read.
This is the first book I have read by this author. I enjoyed it far more than I expected and felt part of Georgian Bath. The characters felt real and I was rooting for the heroine. I intend to read more of these in future.
Feb 16, 2013
Joyce
added it
Totally enjoyed this captivating book. Simple yet thoroughly kept me looking forward to know what will happen next. Like how Charleton is described, charming yet mysterious. And Sophia wanting to break free from her horrible father.
I really enjoyed this one :) It was really enjoyable, and the characters were all well developed. I do wish that (view spoiler)
Liked this book loved the story line and the ending leaves an option of another book to follow though i don't think there will be. Amazing story loves this author.
I loved the setting and the characters. The ending was a bit of a come down. But it was different to anything else I've read and it sure did surprise me.
I'm not into historical fiction but this book is really amazing with a good plot with an fabulous and fierce character Sophia which is truly awesome.
really OK..i just expected better ending..it was really enjoyable and fun to read. i had no pity for her father though.
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Born Marie-Louise Chalcraft in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire on September 22nd 1964.
I attended a string of state schools, including Chiltern Edge in Oxfordshire. Once my family moved down to Bath in 1979, I attended Fitzmaurice and St Laurence schools in Bradford on Avon. Throughout my primary school years I was constantly told off for reading secretly and writing long stories instead of completi...more
More about Marie-Louise Jensen...
I attended a string of state schools, including Chiltern Edge in Oxfordshire. Once my family moved down to Bath in 1979, I attended Fitzmaurice and St Laurence schools in Bradford on Avon. Throughout my primary school years I was constantly told off for reading secretly and writing long stories instead of completi...more
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