Rewritten from the original story of 1993.
After an upbringing of proper behavior and oppressive expectations, Aralorn fled her noble birthright...
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Sep 13, 2010
M—
rated it: 
ETA July 2010:
Release date for the Masques reissue is set for October of this year! The sequel, Wolfsbane, will be released in November. New Briggs books in time for Christmas I cannot wait!
http://www.patriciabriggs.com/
Original Review, April 2007:
Oh, this book has given me grief.
This author is a favorite of mine and, with the notable exception of Masques, I have copies of all of her books. Masques, you see, is out of print.
When I More...
Release date for the Masques reissue is set for October of this year! The sequel, Wolfsbane, will be released in November. New Briggs books in time for Christmas I cannot wait!
http://www.patriciabriggs.com/
Original Review, April 2007:
Oh, this book has given me grief.
This author is a favorite of mine and, with the notable exception of Masques, I have copies of all of her books. Masques, you see, is out of print.
When I More...
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Apr 11, 2011
Lisa MH
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If you've never read Patricia Priggs, please, dear God, please don't start with this book. I love Briggs. She's one of my favorite authors. I have not read her other straight fantasy books, but her urban fantasy series are on my 'instant buy' lists. She is an amazing writer. Unfortunately, this doesn't reflect her current skill.
This was her first novel, originally written twenty (or so) years ago. In her introduction, Briggs states she did not know much about writing then. She tried More...
This was her first novel, originally written twenty (or so) years ago. In her introduction, Briggs states she did not know much about writing then. She tried More...
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Feb 23, 2011
Elena
rated it: 
3.5 stars. This is Briggs' first novel, which has been out of print for ages and ages but was recently reissued. She added an introduction that makes it pretty clear that she finds the novel kind of embarrassingly bad and agreed to the reissue because of fan demand and not because she actually thought the book deserved it. So I was kind of wary going in, especially since I'd read a couple of her other novels set in this world and found them kind of meh--I figured the very first would be even wor
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 05, 2010
Princessjay
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Oct 25, 2010
Shala
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Really looking forward to the sequel. Ate this one up in a day. I can tell it is an early effort as she is obviously (in parts) still experimenting with some aspects of the trade. Parts of the story remind me very strongly of the Hobs Bargain, for example. Still she's Patricia Briggs and she didn't let this reader down.
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Nov 29, 2011
Aralorn is a mercenary and a spy. Few know that she is also a green mage with the ability to shape shift. She is sent to spy out an assassination plot against the incredibly popular sorcerer Geoffrey ae’Magi. While doing that she discovers that he is not a good mage. In fact, he is incredibly evil, but his spells of illusion make everyone adore him. One of the few people who believes her is Wolf, her mysterious companion. Wolf has had dealings with the ae’Magi in the past and knows that wh
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Jan 26, 2012
Miss Clark
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Dec 13, 2011
Holjo
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Summary: Although born into nobility, Aralorn is now a mercenary and a spy. Having been born half shapeshifter, she possesses powerful green magic that allows her to sense the magic in other people and places, as well as transform into a variety of different living creatures. Her talents are unique because very few shapeshifters still exist, and as a result, she must be very secretive about what she can do.
Aralorn’s long time companion is a wolf whose life she saved years earlier. More...
Aralorn’s long time companion is a wolf whose life she saved years earlier. More...
Aug 01, 2011
Mlle.
rated it:
I'm normally the type of reader who skips introductions, but when I clicked open Masques on my Kindle and read, "One day, in the middle of my senior year of college, I decided to write a book..." I kept reading. I'm glad I did, because it had a huge effect on how I felt about Masques.
Masques is Patricia Briggs' first book. It feels like a first book. Her later books are much, much better in almost every way. Masques is really jerky, sometimes jumping ahead, sometimes dawdlin More...
Masques is Patricia Briggs' first book. It feels like a first book. Her later books are much, much better in almost every way. Masques is really jerky, sometimes jumping ahead, sometimes dawdlin More...
Apr 15, 2011
Amy
rated it:
This little mini series is the only other books of Patricia Briggs' that I've read besides her Mercy Thompson series. I liked the story a lot. I was surprised. I've tried to read other stories by Patricia Briggs and nothing caught my attention quite like Mercy Thompson.
I really enjoyed this reprinted edition of Briggs' first novel. I know that there were scenes added and edited for clarification's sake, but the story itself remains the same.
Aralorn is a strong-willed in More...
I really enjoyed this reprinted edition of Briggs' first novel. I know that there were scenes added and edited for clarification's sake, but the story itself remains the same.
Aralorn is a strong-willed in More...
Mar 06, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
This is a straight-up 1980's style fantasy book with the attempts at high diction, multi-kingdom politics, and the whole nine yards. Briggs lets her reader know right off the bat that this is one of her first novels and that she's done her best to spruce it up while staying true to the spirit of the original, and that's a fair warning for a reader to take while journeying into this tale. She does a good job of toeing the line of romantic tension without crossing over into maudlin grocery store r
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Jan 03, 2011
Eden
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Masques by Patricia Briggs
The first book of the Sianim sequence, Masques follows Aralorn, a shape-shifting mercenary spy and Wolf, her lupine companion as they stumble into a rebellion against the great and outwardly good Archmage who has dethroned a king in his quest to attain… a plotpoint. It has recently been revamped and re-released – which is a mercy for Briggs fans – and with a spanking new sequel that I am drooling to pick up.
This fantasy romp is a huge, quivering cl More...
The first book of the Sianim sequence, Masques follows Aralorn, a shape-shifting mercenary spy and Wolf, her lupine companion as they stumble into a rebellion against the great and outwardly good Archmage who has dethroned a king in his quest to attain… a plotpoint. It has recently been revamped and re-released – which is a mercy for Briggs fans – and with a spanking new sequel that I am drooling to pick up.
This fantasy romp is a huge, quivering cl More...
Dec 12, 2010
Tracy
rated it:
She may be a Lady, but Aralorn was never comfortable with the idea of a noble life. Being a mercenary and spy suit her much better. Well, it did until she was sent in to the castle of Geoffrey ae'Magi, a powerful and beloved mage, to spy on him in an effort to substantiate rumors of assassination. But the powerful ae'Magi isn't what he seems, and the truth is far more grim than Aralorn could have imagined. Death magic, corruption, and an unquenchable thirst for power taint the ae'Magi like a sti
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Oct 04, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
Briggs is pretty up-front in the introduction that even though she's revised this book a bit since it's initial publication, she tried not to change anything major and so it's not up the standards of what she would write today. Fair enough; it was her first book and she's learned a lot since then. The story is still what you would expect from her, though. (Well, if you've read her other fantasy novels, anyway. Her urban fantasy stuff is a little different.)
Aralorn is a heroine who's More...
Aralorn is a heroine who's More...
Oct 03, 2010
(´*•.¸ღBexღ¸.•*´)
rated it:
Masques is traditional fantasy - with romance, mages, shapeshifters, empaths, slaves, displaced kings, magical weapons, dragons, etc. Masques doesn't break new ground in the fantasy genre, but the characters are so vivid that you're willing to overlook it.
Masques was Patricia Briggs' first published novel, which was painfully clear from reading it. However, despite the flaws, Masques still remains one of my favorite novels. What Masques lacked in sophistication, it made up for in em More...
Masques was Patricia Briggs' first published novel, which was painfully clear from reading it. However, despite the flaws, Masques still remains one of my favorite novels. What Masques lacked in sophistication, it made up for in em More...
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Sep 25, 2010
Sylvia
rated it:
This is the reissued edition, not the original.
Aralorn is a mercenary, sent to ascertain a potential threat to a charismatic and beloved mage. While in his palace, she uncovers evidence that he is manipulating the emotions of everyone around him to adore him - even as he tortures and kills them. Returning home, however, she finds that the effect has spread. No one will believe her, and worse, friends she's known for years turn on her for daring to criticize the great mage. With t More...
Aralorn is a mercenary, sent to ascertain a potential threat to a charismatic and beloved mage. While in his palace, she uncovers evidence that he is manipulating the emotions of everyone around him to adore him - even as he tortures and kills them. Returning home, however, she finds that the effect has spread. No one will believe her, and worse, friends she's known for years turn on her for daring to criticize the great mage. With t More...
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Sep 23, 2010
Sharon
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This is a rewrite of her first novel Masques, PB was in her early twenties at the time, & in the introduction she is quite candid at how bad her first published edition was. She wanted to put that right & fifteen novels & twenty years later she has. More has been added in the beginning, none of the original pieces have been taken out, just reworked & she even says she's left some of the cliche's & oddities of the original book, it's an expanded version of the original works, just written so much
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Dec 03, 2010
Lisarenee
rated it:
This was Briggs' first book and not a big hit when she first wrote it. After seeing the prices for Masques reach triple digits on Ebay and other various places she decided to rewrite it and re-release it. I found I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I already purchased Wolfbane and will need to read it soon.
This book is about Aralorn who is a mercenary/spy/shapeshifter. She is of a royal lineage, but a normal life just doesn't seem quite right for her. She can wield a sword, change her appe More...
This book is about Aralorn who is a mercenary/spy/shapeshifter. She is of a royal lineage, but a normal life just doesn't seem quite right for her. She can wield a sword, change her appe More...
Dec 20, 2010
Nancy
rated it:
Aralorn has always known that the dull life of a polished noblewoman was not for her, leading her to abandon her birthright for a life as a mercenary. Aralorn finds herself spying on the ae'Magi, a mage with the power to magically manipulate peoples' feelings. Sensing danger, she returns home to discover that the spymaster, Ren, doesn't seem to remember sending her after the ae'Magi, and close friends of her defend the dangerous mage with unusual fervor. Aralorn realizes that the ae'Magi is in t
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Jun 25, 2011
Jonathan
rated it:
Ce roman est le troisième que je lis de Patricia Briggs, après L'appel de la lune et Alpha et Oméga: L'origine. Et malheureusement ce n'est pas celui qui fera monter Patricia Briggs dans le rang de mes auteurs préférés.
Mais Masques reste quand même une très bonne lecture.
Comme l'auteure le dit dans l'introduction, c'est son premier roman qu'elle a écrit il y a quelques années et qu'elle a ensuite revus suite au succès de sa saga Mercy Thompson.
Mais elle n'a pas eut le More...
Mais Masques reste quand même une très bonne lecture.
Comme l'auteure le dit dans l'introduction, c'est son premier roman qu'elle a écrit il y a quelques années et qu'elle a ensuite revus suite au succès de sa saga Mercy Thompson.
Mais elle n'a pas eut le More...
Oct 15, 2010
Renee
rated it:
This was a first novel, which I think forgives a lot. If this had been the author's fourth or fifth novel, I might have given this two stars. There were the normal issues one would expect with a first novel - predictable outcome, grammar issues, etc. - but because this is a maiden voyage, I was willing to look past all of that, particularly in light of her solid characters and evocative description.
The main reason that this is not getting four stars from me is the "climax." More...
The main reason that this is not getting four stars from me is the "climax." More...
Aug 06, 2011
Melliane
rated it:
C'était une mignonne petite histoire, cela faisait un long moment que je n'avais pas lu de roman fantasy mais je suis contente que ce soit tombé sur ce livre.
On se retrouve avec deux personnages atypiques Aralorn et le loup qui malgré leurs caractères si différents, se complètent parfaitement. Alanorn est une jeune espionne déterminée à poursuivre ses objectifs bien que ces derniers puissent lui être fatal. Loup quant à lui, est un personnage qu'on découvre tout au long du livre. En More...
On se retrouve avec deux personnages atypiques Aralorn et le loup qui malgré leurs caractères si différents, se complètent parfaitement. Alanorn est une jeune espionne déterminée à poursuivre ses objectifs bien que ces derniers puissent lui être fatal. Loup quant à lui, est un personnage qu'on découvre tout au long du livre. En More...
Feb 02, 2011
Cheryl
rated it:
This is the first Patricia Briggs' book I've read and I was not disappointed. It's her debut novel, revised and polished from when it was originally published. Considering all the reviews I've read from other readers who felt it wasn't as good as her later novels, I still thought it was quite enjoyable. Yes, it has its flaws, but I can totally relate to a debut novel perhaps not being bestseller material the first time around. As authors, when we get feedback from our readers, we hopefully c
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Oct 21, 2011
Lynne
rated it:
I seem to be on a Patricia Briggs kick lately. My daughter and I found several of her non-urban-fantasy books at a Borders going-out-of-business sale.
In the author's note, Briggs is upfront about the fact that "Masques" is a maiden effort, and she also admits that parts of it make her cringe now. I can see that -- there are places where the writing doesn't flow as well as it could. And my daughter and I had fun checking off the epic fantasy tropes: journey of discovery, More...
In the author's note, Briggs is upfront about the fact that "Masques" is a maiden effort, and she also admits that parts of it make her cringe now. I can see that -- there are places where the writing doesn't flow as well as it could. And my daughter and I had fun checking off the epic fantasy tropes: journey of discovery, More...
Apr 06, 2011
NicNacNoodle
rated it:
What a delightful little book. Enchanting and easy, it took me just a couple of days to finish, and was an enjoyable experience all round.
This is my first effort reading a Patricia Briggs book, although I have heard a lot about her, and I was plesantly surprised. Especially as this was one of Brigg's first ventures into full length story writing. Masques was first published back in 1993 and then re-released in 2010 with a little polish by Briggs. It does display a kind of innocence, ha More...
This is my first effort reading a Patricia Briggs book, although I have heard a lot about her, and I was plesantly surprised. Especially as this was one of Brigg's first ventures into full length story writing. Masques was first published back in 1993 and then re-released in 2010 with a little polish by Briggs. It does display a kind of innocence, ha More...
Feb 09, 2012
Allison
rated it:
Masques is the first book Patricia Briggs ever published. In this reprint of her original book, she provides an apologetic introduction that has the reader expecting to be appalled at her lack of skill. On the contrary, I found Masques to be even more captivating than Briggs' more modern Mercy Thompson Series and Alpha and Omega Series. In fact, I had trouble putting the book down. In Masques, we meet a young, travel hardened female mercenary named Aralorn. Aralorn is an accomplished spy, m
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Dec 18, 2011
Monet
rated it:
All the reviews of this poor book are...well let's just say, poor. Thanks that into factor along with the authors note that informs readers that even the author finds this book bad. This was Patricia Briggs first novel - written in the early 90's. It was also my first novel by the author. So with all this in mind, I didn't have high hopes. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself thoroughly enjoying this book. Sure it's been done before, and sure I knew what was going to happen
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Oct 27, 2010
Laura
rated it:
Well, Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors and she didn't disappoint with this book. In fact, maybe my expectations were lower because several reviews talked about the book being a bit 'less' than the writing she does now. In my opinion it was not 'less' of anything. Yes, she wrote the original book when she was younger but in this edited and updated version any gross flaws were obviously corrected. I think the book was on par with the other Sianem books.
The friendship/lov More...
The friendship/lov More...
Mar 31, 2011
Eric
rated it:
Masques is a fantasy adventure with romance elements.
In the author's forward to the latest edition, she talks about her lack of fantasy genre education when writing it, and her heavy use of fantasy cliches. She's not wrong, but I didn't find them especially odious, either.
The story revolves around Aralorn, a half-human mercenary, and Wolf, her friend and companion who is on the run from something in his past in the shape of a... wolf.
The villain of the piece is the More...
In the author's forward to the latest edition, she talks about her lack of fantasy genre education when writing it, and her heavy use of fantasy cliches. She's not wrong, but I didn't find them especially odious, either.
The story revolves around Aralorn, a half-human mercenary, and Wolf, her friend and companion who is on the run from something in his past in the shape of a... wolf.
The villain of the piece is the More...
Sep 03, 2011
Cornerofmadness
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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