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Masks Worn by Magical Wives: A Sapphic Fantasy Romance
Look humble. Look bashful. Look harmless.
Masks Worn by Magical Wives is a slow-burn f/f romance packed with secret identities and surreal magic. The story unfolds in a unique contemporary fantasy setting: a twisted yet beautiful realm where kings slowly turn amphibious and snake-worshipping nuns lurk in colossal caverns.
Nemesia is one such nun. Chosen by an eldritch god, she spends most of her life underground, but her sect sends her on occasional pilgrimages to work in the land above. This time, in her mid-thirties, she gets hired to snoop on a mage named Eden... by going undercover as Eden's wife.
In a world of cold and unsociable mages, Eden alone is the opposite: both powerful and well-loved. Perhaps too well-loved—she's left behind a long string of angry paramours. The exasperated king of the land orders her to settle the issue by taking a spouse.
Despite her friendly facade, Eden would rather marry a stranger than someone who adores her. Nemesia (who has spent decades living devoutly in a hole) is the perfect candidate. Eden welcomes her new bride with warmth and generosity. But one of her oldest enemies ordered Nemesia to accept her offer, and it's only a matter of time till she finds out.
Their marriage of convenience feels strangely comfortable, even with multiple layers of mutual deception. Yet as the seasons turn, Eden begins to lose control over her magic, and Nemesia begins to lose sight of her mission. Secrets unlock deeper secrets as tentative, unwished-for emotions spill over into a relationship that was never supposed to mean anything at all.
This standalone fantasy novel has loose connections to the author's other work, but can be read and enjoyed without any prior knowledge.
Masks Worn by Magical Wives is a slow-burn f/f romance packed with secret identities and surreal magic. The story unfolds in a unique contemporary fantasy setting: a twisted yet beautiful realm where kings slowly turn amphibious and snake-worshipping nuns lurk in colossal caverns.
Nemesia is one such nun. Chosen by an eldritch god, she spends most of her life underground, but her sect sends her on occasional pilgrimages to work in the land above. This time, in her mid-thirties, she gets hired to snoop on a mage named Eden... by going undercover as Eden's wife.
In a world of cold and unsociable mages, Eden alone is the opposite: both powerful and well-loved. Perhaps too well-loved—she's left behind a long string of angry paramours. The exasperated king of the land orders her to settle the issue by taking a spouse.
Despite her friendly facade, Eden would rather marry a stranger than someone who adores her. Nemesia (who has spent decades living devoutly in a hole) is the perfect candidate. Eden welcomes her new bride with warmth and generosity. But one of her oldest enemies ordered Nemesia to accept her offer, and it's only a matter of time till she finds out.
Their marriage of convenience feels strangely comfortable, even with multiple layers of mutual deception. Yet as the seasons turn, Eden begins to lose control over her magic, and Nemesia begins to lose sight of her mission. Secrets unlock deeper secrets as tentative, unwished-for emotions spill over into a relationship that was never supposed to mean anything at all.
This standalone fantasy novel has loose connections to the author's other work, but can be read and enjoyed without any prior knowledge.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2025
28 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Hiyodori
10 books277 followersHiyodori is not a bird. But she is dearly fond of her namesake, a plain-looking brown-gray bird that likes to perch near her Tokyo apartment and unleash the most incredible primal screams. Hiyodori (the human author) loves stories with fantastical settings and complicated, difficult-to-define relationships. All of her books take place in the same shared fantasy universe. Her latest novel is A Chalice for a Kraken, a new entry in the Clem & Wist series.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 13, 2026
3.25⭐
Istruggled quite a bit with the writing style.
It isn't bad, it's just not my style.
I found myself being rather confused and not quite understanding what was happening (which frankly, not much did happen)
And even when I was technically understanding what was happening, I was somehow still confused.
I felt stupid while reading it and it's not even a complicated read.
I'm not even sure how to put my thoughts into words.
Also the romance...I didn't understand.
When they had their first kiss I was confused. Why were they kissing? How did we get here?
I didn't get the impression they liked each other. It felt like they had no emotions in general.
The characters felt very flat to me and so did the romance.
I did still kinda enjoy it but I won't be reading any more books by the author.
Istruggled quite a bit with the writing style.
It isn't bad, it's just not my style.
I found myself being rather confused and not quite understanding what was happening (which frankly, not much did happen)
And even when I was technically understanding what was happening, I was somehow still confused.
I felt stupid while reading it and it's not even a complicated read.
I'm not even sure how to put my thoughts into words.
Also the romance...I didn't understand.
When they had their first kiss I was confused. Why were they kissing? How did we get here?
I didn't get the impression they liked each other. It felt like they had no emotions in general.
The characters felt very flat to me and so did the romance.
I did still kinda enjoy it but I won't be reading any more books by the author.
December 2, 2025
I wish I could better articulate how much I enjoyed reading this, outside of simply saying “I love Hiyodori” (which is true regardless).
A lot less physical violence than Vesper and Char’s story but filled to the brim with twist and turns, just the same. Hiyodori is like a gift to the fantasy novel world, absolutely whimsical story writing and just a weirdo (affectionate) all round. I’ve literally never read anything remotely like her writing. Easily a favorite author!!!🫶🏽
I can never review a book without spoilers so I’ll just say that Pimiko is the real main character and leave it at that.
I hope you check this out!
A lot less physical violence than Vesper and Char’s story but filled to the brim with twist and turns, just the same. Hiyodori is like a gift to the fantasy novel world, absolutely whimsical story writing and just a weirdo (affectionate) all round. I’ve literally never read anything remotely like her writing. Easily a favorite author!!!🫶🏽
I can never review a book without spoilers so I’ll just say that Pimiko is the real main character and leave it at that.
I hope you check this out!
June 27, 2025
I absolutely love all of Hiyodori's books. And this one hit all the highs for me. The world building is absolutely amazing, the realm of the snake is at once surreal, ridiculous and simultaneously jumps off the page in its vividness. The marriage of mutually assured deception was very entertaining and eventually touching as well.
It was also amazing to see more of Char and Vesper. I always wondered what kind of hijinks they would find themselves in after the events of their book and subtly messing with the remains of their once greatest enemy seems absolute on brand.
It was also amazing to see more of Char and Vesper. I always wondered what kind of hijinks they would find themselves in after the events of their book and subtly messing with the remains of their once greatest enemy seems absolute on brand.
June 20, 2025
Like all of Hiyodori’s books, this one was full of magic, slow-burn romance, and spectacular world-building. Reading it felt like sipping sweet iced tea on a breezy summer afternoon. It was also such a treat to see (read?) Vesper and Char again!
June 11, 2025
5/5
It’s hard for me to describe the pure, childish joy I feel every six months when a new Hiyodori novel drops on my Kindle page like a Kinder Surprise egg. I adore Hiyodori’s surreal world-building, as well as her complex plots where every detail has a chance to surprise you. And of course, I love her ambiguous but indelible relationships. Reading a Hiyodori novel is like solving a delicious puzzle box sprinkled with a strong sapphic flavoring—I’m convinced I can’t live without it.
In Masks Worn by Magical Wives, the descendants of the Blessed Empire live inside the magical Shell of an omnipotent eldritch god called the Snake That Ate the Roots of Time, commonly referred to by its devote followers as simply ‘the Snake.’ The people of the Shell want for nothing, but to their amusement, the Snake also possesses a convoluted understanding of human wants and desires. It appoints a chosen king, draws random lotteries for nobles, and posts political posters for imaginary candidates in an attempt to simulate what it believes to be fundamental aspects of normal human societies.
As a Bride of the Snake, Nemesia lives underground and emerges once every ten years on a pilgrimage to the lands Above to help her god understand the lives of ordinary mortals. For her second pilgrimage, she is hired by a benefactor of the sect to snoop on a powerful mage named Kuchinashi Eden by going undercover as her wife. In a world of cold and unsociable mages, Eden is powerful and well-loved, but she would rather marry a stranger than someone who adores her. For her, Nemesia is the perfect candidate.
In a twist of convention that I simply adore, Eden speculates from the beginning that Nemesia is acting as “a spy in the household.” Their mutual understanding is built on a foundation of deception that ironically allows them to have a guilt-free relationship. What begins as a marriage of convenience quickly turns into something much more intimate. While Nemesia is the more withdrawn of the two, her care for Eden is obvious in her choice of words and actions. Meanwhile, Eden is more than accepting of Nemesia’s oddities as a Bride of the Snake.
As always, the plot in Masks Worn by Magical Wives is filled with intrigue and mysteries. Eden is missing three of her most valuable years in memories, and Nemesia is hiding more of her identity than she lets on. There’s also the matter of the Snake-blessed vigilante known as Oddscale, who once touched Nemesia and Eden’s lives ten years ago, and the intrigue of the Brood guards whose identities are hidden by magical uniforms. Along with the romance, all of these separate threads are woven together masterfully into a satisfying ending.
It’s hard to talk about a Hiyodori novel without spoiling the best parts, so I’ll stop gushing about it here. All you need to know going into Masks Worn by Magical Wives is that it’s a surreal, wondrous, and whimsical novel. The world-building reminds me of Studio Ghibli movies or Brandon Sanderson’s Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, while the relationship between Eden and Nemesia reminds me of the best couples in Hiyodori’s other works. I loved this novel, and I gobbled it up like Eden gobbles up worranges (that’s “worry-inducing tangerine oranges”).
Since Masks Worn by Magical Wives is set in the same universe as Hiyodori’s other works, some readers might be wondering if this is a good place to begin reading her novels. While Masks Worn by Magical Wives is billed as a standalone novel, I’d probably recommend that readers start with Hiyodori’s earlier works The Lowest Healer and the Highest Mage or The First and Last Demon instead. You can enjoy Masks Worn by Magical Wives by itself, but I think you lose some of the joy of catching fun easter eggs that way. This is also, I’ll admit, my deceptive ploy to get you to read more Hiyodori novels. Seriously, you need to get on this train.
It’s hard for me to describe the pure, childish joy I feel every six months when a new Hiyodori novel drops on my Kindle page like a Kinder Surprise egg. I adore Hiyodori’s surreal world-building, as well as her complex plots where every detail has a chance to surprise you. And of course, I love her ambiguous but indelible relationships. Reading a Hiyodori novel is like solving a delicious puzzle box sprinkled with a strong sapphic flavoring—I’m convinced I can’t live without it.
In Masks Worn by Magical Wives, the descendants of the Blessed Empire live inside the magical Shell of an omnipotent eldritch god called the Snake That Ate the Roots of Time, commonly referred to by its devote followers as simply ‘the Snake.’ The people of the Shell want for nothing, but to their amusement, the Snake also possesses a convoluted understanding of human wants and desires. It appoints a chosen king, draws random lotteries for nobles, and posts political posters for imaginary candidates in an attempt to simulate what it believes to be fundamental aspects of normal human societies.
As a Bride of the Snake, Nemesia lives underground and emerges once every ten years on a pilgrimage to the lands Above to help her god understand the lives of ordinary mortals. For her second pilgrimage, she is hired by a benefactor of the sect to snoop on a powerful mage named Kuchinashi Eden by going undercover as her wife. In a world of cold and unsociable mages, Eden is powerful and well-loved, but she would rather marry a stranger than someone who adores her. For her, Nemesia is the perfect candidate.
In a twist of convention that I simply adore, Eden speculates from the beginning that Nemesia is acting as “a spy in the household.” Their mutual understanding is built on a foundation of deception that ironically allows them to have a guilt-free relationship. What begins as a marriage of convenience quickly turns into something much more intimate. While Nemesia is the more withdrawn of the two, her care for Eden is obvious in her choice of words and actions. Meanwhile, Eden is more than accepting of Nemesia’s oddities as a Bride of the Snake.
As always, the plot in Masks Worn by Magical Wives is filled with intrigue and mysteries. Eden is missing three of her most valuable years in memories, and Nemesia is hiding more of her identity than she lets on. There’s also the matter of the Snake-blessed vigilante known as Oddscale, who once touched Nemesia and Eden’s lives ten years ago, and the intrigue of the Brood guards whose identities are hidden by magical uniforms. Along with the romance, all of these separate threads are woven together masterfully into a satisfying ending.
It’s hard to talk about a Hiyodori novel without spoiling the best parts, so I’ll stop gushing about it here. All you need to know going into Masks Worn by Magical Wives is that it’s a surreal, wondrous, and whimsical novel. The world-building reminds me of Studio Ghibli movies or Brandon Sanderson’s Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, while the relationship between Eden and Nemesia reminds me of the best couples in Hiyodori’s other works. I loved this novel, and I gobbled it up like Eden gobbles up worranges (that’s “worry-inducing tangerine oranges”).
Since Masks Worn by Magical Wives is set in the same universe as Hiyodori’s other works, some readers might be wondering if this is a good place to begin reading her novels. While Masks Worn by Magical Wives is billed as a standalone novel, I’d probably recommend that readers start with Hiyodori’s earlier works The Lowest Healer and the Highest Mage or The First and Last Demon instead. You can enjoy Masks Worn by Magical Wives by itself, but I think you lose some of the joy of catching fun easter eggs that way. This is also, I’ll admit, my deceptive ploy to get you to read more Hiyodori novels. Seriously, you need to get on this train.
May 28, 2025
As a fan of Hiyodori's books, this one was a little bit different, but I enjoyed it.
Masks Worn by Magical Wives takes place in a setting that is both incredibly peaceful and surreal. The world, which is protected in a bubble by a divine snake, is both far gentler than many of Hiyodori's settings and also weirder. Time flows weirdly, and the whole setting seems almost like a dream with odd bits of realism dashed in. We get plenty of lore, perhaps too much for some readers, but I personally found it entertaining.
I was very fond of the main characters as well. Nemesia, despite being sheltered, was an interesting and realistic protagonist. Some things that seemed strange from her pov made sense after a couple of reveals. Eden was very charming, and I appreciated the fact that we were shown that despite being charming, she could also be a jerk. I really enjoyed the imperfections of the characters. The other characters, especially the "villain", were also fantastic.
I find that Hiyodori's novels seem to take place in the interlude between world-shaking events. That is especially true for this novel. It's peaceful, surreal, and mostly low stakes. The romance is sweet, the characters are well-fleshed out, and my only gripe with it was that I did not get the backstory for a certain background character that I really, really was hoping for. Still, I read it in one sitting, which I do believe says something about how much I liked it.
Masks Worn by Magical Wives takes place in a setting that is both incredibly peaceful and surreal. The world, which is protected in a bubble by a divine snake, is both far gentler than many of Hiyodori's settings and also weirder. Time flows weirdly, and the whole setting seems almost like a dream with odd bits of realism dashed in. We get plenty of lore, perhaps too much for some readers, but I personally found it entertaining.
I was very fond of the main characters as well. Nemesia, despite being sheltered, was an interesting and realistic protagonist. Some things that seemed strange from her pov made sense after a couple of reveals. Eden was very charming, and I appreciated the fact that we were shown that despite being charming, she could also be a jerk. I really enjoyed the imperfections of the characters. The other characters, especially the "villain", were also fantastic.
I find that Hiyodori's novels seem to take place in the interlude between world-shaking events. That is especially true for this novel. It's peaceful, surreal, and mostly low stakes. The romance is sweet, the characters are well-fleshed out, and my only gripe with it was that I did not get the backstory for a certain background character that I really, really was hoping for. Still, I read it in one sitting, which I do believe says something about how much I liked it.
July 25, 2025
Hiyodori's work is like visiting that comfy room in your head that you can fully phase into and feel equal parts nostalgia and comfort with a dose of magic. Whenever Hiyodori releases something else, my heart soars knowing that no matter the characters or story, I'll be in that cozy spot for a book that feels like it was written just for me.
Masks Worn by Magical Wives is no different. It's cozy and sweet and has such a wonderful way of playing with high stakes but mixed with a slice of life. Each character is so relatable even though they are their own unique person. Nemesia has a deep secret that she knows to keep hidden but as she falls for Eden, she learns the depth of wanting to tell someone something so significant to you. Eden loves magic, it is not just an ability of hers, it is now how she values herself as she hasn't figured out any other way to. As they both consent to an arranged marriage, both hiding secrets from each other, we get to fall into orbit with Nemesia and Eden as they find themselves pulled to each other at every corner no matter how much they may try to keep themselves guarded. Other people inside the Shell either love Eden and her larger-than-life magical capabilities or love to hate her and we get to find out through Nemesia, her new wife, as she tries to find out all sorts of information on Eden for a benefactor who has a long-time grudge against Eden.
As Nemesia's time Above comes to an end and the eldritch god Below's sect is awaiting her return, she has decisions to make. Will she end this probationary marriage? Will she finally speak her truth and learn to let go? Or will she follow her heart into the arms that her benefactor has warned her to stay away from?
Masks Worn by Magical Wives is no different. It's cozy and sweet and has such a wonderful way of playing with high stakes but mixed with a slice of life. Each character is so relatable even though they are their own unique person. Nemesia has a deep secret that she knows to keep hidden but as she falls for Eden, she learns the depth of wanting to tell someone something so significant to you. Eden loves magic, it is not just an ability of hers, it is now how she values herself as she hasn't figured out any other way to. As they both consent to an arranged marriage, both hiding secrets from each other, we get to fall into orbit with Nemesia and Eden as they find themselves pulled to each other at every corner no matter how much they may try to keep themselves guarded. Other people inside the Shell either love Eden and her larger-than-life magical capabilities or love to hate her and we get to find out through Nemesia, her new wife, as she tries to find out all sorts of information on Eden for a benefactor who has a long-time grudge against Eden.
As Nemesia's time Above comes to an end and the eldritch god Below's sect is awaiting her return, she has decisions to make. Will she end this probationary marriage? Will she finally speak her truth and learn to let go? Or will she follow her heart into the arms that her benefactor has warned her to stay away from?
August 26, 2025
Another amazing work! Definitely a highly recommend! With these book in this series there is always a turning point where the whole story just CLICKS into place and it's mind-blowing every single time! And then you need to go back and re-read it and it's even better the second time!
I am currently slowly buying every single one of Hiyodori's books in hardback so I can re-read through all of them and have them for my collection.
Dare I say it, I believe these books may be my favorite series! No other can compare to this authors works! They may even beat the Harry Potter series! At least in my opinion!
Thank you again for another great book! I can't wait for the next!
I am currently slowly buying every single one of Hiyodori's books in hardback so I can re-read through all of them and have them for my collection.
Dare I say it, I believe these books may be my favorite series! No other can compare to this authors works! They may even beat the Harry Potter series! At least in my opinion!
Thank you again for another great book! I can't wait for the next!
September 14, 2025
i am always absolutely floored with hiyodori's work.
much gentler than the other stuff that's for sure but i loved it all the same.
gosh and i'll have to wait half a year for another...
the romance this one definitely came on a lot more quietly and subtly than the others, very well done. and i'd say a nice change of pace but that suggests that i had any issue with her other approaches.
(as a side note, it's also the first title that i quite enjoyed hehe)
much gentler than the other stuff that's for sure but i loved it all the same.
gosh and i'll have to wait half a year for another...
the romance this one definitely came on a lot more quietly and subtly than the others, very well done. and i'd say a nice change of pace but that suggests that i had any issue with her other approaches.
(as a side note, it's also the first title that i quite enjoyed hehe)
October 4, 2025
Same world as Clem & Wist, with guest appearances from First & Last Demon's Char and Vesper.
I continue to enjoy Hiyodori's melancholic, world-stakes-but-feels-like-low-stakes stories but this particular title didn't lean enough into the yearning or have even a second where I worried about any of the characters. The result was... it was fine, I appreciated parts, but I suspect I'll forget it entirely by tomorrow. I can't see myself rereading it and I've reread everything else from her.
I continue to enjoy Hiyodori's melancholic, world-stakes-but-feels-like-low-stakes stories but this particular title didn't lean enough into the yearning or have even a second where I worried about any of the characters. The result was... it was fine, I appreciated parts, but I suspect I'll forget it entirely by tomorrow. I can't see myself rereading it and I've reread everything else from her.
July 5, 2025
it took a wild
For me to settle into this world. But at some point it clicked and the rules of time and of a wild magic started to make sense to me. And once it did it started to seep into my bones and I became deeply invested in the characters and their well being. As always hiyodori manages to seduces her with a fantasy lineage that itself is magic. Loved this.
For me to settle into this world. But at some point it clicked and the rules of time and of a wild magic started to make sense to me. And once it did it started to seep into my bones and I became deeply invested in the characters and their well being. As always hiyodori manages to seduces her with a fantasy lineage that itself is magic. Loved this.
July 18, 2025
Another wonderful story from one of the finest voices in sapphic fantasy. 🙌 Her books always strike a deep emotional chord in me. This one is no exception. I loved the softer touch here - it carries a gentler kind of intensity. Oh, and the smart twists! Marvellous as always. 😮💨
Also… is this her steamiest yet, or am I just particularly starved? 🫦☺️
Also… is this her steamiest yet, or am I just particularly starved? 🫦☺️
July 10, 2025
No me llegue a enganchar en ningún momento y eso que la premisa era buena.
August 29, 2025
This is what I would call 10/10 slice of life.
December 31, 2025
Howl's Moving Castle for the lesbians
December 10, 2025
one thing about hiyodori is shes gonna make you wait for it, not mad tho
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews