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Masks

M. Dalto (Goodreads Author),

Myra Fiacco,

Marlena Frank (Goodreads Author),

R.J. Garcia (Goodreads Author),

Kristin Jacques (Goodreads Author),

Merry Jones (Goodreads Author),

Sarah Lampkin (Goodreads Author),

C. Vonzale Lewis (Goodreads Author),

more…

4.83 · Rating details · 23 ratings · 18 reviews

For some, Mardi Gras is a celebration. For others, it's a dangerous game.

Masks is a collection of 11 short stories by authors from various writing backgrounds. Each story takes a unique look at the celebration of Mardi Gras, from the bright and beautiful party culture to the dark and dangerous mysteries behind the fun. The collection includes stories in the historical fic ...more

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400 pages

Published March 31st 2020 by Filles Vertes Publishing

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Average rating 4.83 ·

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· 23 ratings · 18 reviews

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Nov 15, 2019 Candace Robinson rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

If you’re looking for a book full of mystery and intrigue, then this is it! I love reading anthologies because I can read the versatile stories between the authors with a common theme. This one being Mardi Gras! Which! I’ve never read a book centered around that so it was pretty cool! Each tale had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how the story was going to end. There are murderers, there are ghosts, there are crimes, there are kisses, there’s a Louisiana setting, and there is lots ...more

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Apr 03, 2020 Dianne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: x20-4-read, arc-read, author-review, anthology, own

New Orleans, Mardi Gras, a town and an event known for excess, celebrations, and the unexplainable. What a perfect subject for eleven tales, each with their own flavor of suspense, history and horror! Unlock your imagination with MASKS and fall into a world unlike anything you've known.

Do you like richly told tales with atmosphere? Have a penchant for the mystical or maybe something a little dark or passionate or just plain eerie? Her you go, almost a dozen chances to be entertained, to feel the ...more

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Apr 05, 2020 Jypsy rated it it was amazing

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of
Filles Vertes Publishing. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Masks
By: M. Dalto, Myra Fiacco, et.al.

REVIEW ☆☆☆☆☆
Anthology. I used to cringe at the word. I disliked short stories for the longest time for no valid reason. Then, I read an anthology, and ate crow. What took me so long? Now, the older I get, the more I love short stories. I tell you this because a lot of you are like that, too. I implore you to give antholo ...more

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Jun 03, 2020 Alexa Whitewolf rated it it was amazing

Sooo I love learning about customs and events and stuff from other areas of the world. New Orleans has always been surrounded by mysticism (in my mind) and I feel like this short story collection showcases that to the max! You’ve got everything with a bit of romance and fantasy and everything in between - a couple shivers too :) Loved it and the various writing styles! Loads to find and enjoy and a couple new authors I’m gonna keep my eye on :D

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Apr 01, 2020 Gerardo Delgadillo rated it it was amazing

MASKS is a quite an engaging short story collection, set in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Some of its tales are historical, others happen now, and all of them have a common element: Surprising twists!

MASKS is an anthology worth reading--give it a try!

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Mar 31, 2020 Siobhan rated it really liked it

I have a love-hate relationship with short stories. I either finish with a feeling of awe due to reading such a wonderful story in so few words, or I find myself disappointed because there wasn’t enough to sustain me. With Masks, we have a mixed bag. Some I really liked; some I was not crazy about.

The Sin Exchanged (Ginger Root) by C. Vonzale Lewis was a police thriller mixed with the supernatural. The supernatural took a backseat for most of the story, but it certainly played an interesting par I have a love-hate relationship with short stories. I either finish with a feeling of awe due to reading such a wonderful story in so few words, or I find myself disappointed because there wasn’t enough to sustain me. With Masks, we have a mixed bag. Some I really liked; some I was not crazy about.

The Sin Exchanged (Ginger Root) by C. Vonzale Lewis was a police thriller mixed with the supernatural. The supernatural took a backseat for most of the story, but it certainly played an interesting part. As a lover of police thrillers and supernatural twists, this one had me hooked throughout. In fact, I can easily see it as an introduction to a series.

The Fickle Hand of Fortune by Dave Wickenden was a thriller. There were elements that left you questioning what was going on, but for the most part it was a race against the clock. Although not quite for me, I’m sure many will enjoy this story.

Epiphany by M Dalto was a story that will have you questioning if you’ve read a supernatural story or not. It certainly had me hooked throughout, and I happily powered through it to see how the pieces came together. There was a great vibe with this one, really getting into the feel of the collection.

The Mobile Spirit by Sarah Lampkin was a supernatural story set in the past. Both the historical aspect and the supernatural aspect kept me hooked, bringing the story to life. Although I worked out how things would play out, it did not lessen my enjoyment of the story.

La Femme en Rouge by Marlena Frank had me hooked from the start. For the most part, this one has a different vibe to the other stories in the collection. It deals with something that requires a lot of attention, and I loved the way we really got inside of our character’s head. When this one finally hit the vibe that matched the collection, it added an extra addictive element to the story.

Spirits of Le Petit by Melissa Eskue Ousley was an entertaining ghost story. I love stories that follow ghost hunters, and this one gave something slightly different. We have a haunted location, those out for proof, and humour to make the story extra entertaining. Together, it made for an entertaining read.

The Celebration Game by Candace Robinson was a story that gave readers an aspect of the supernatural world that is rarely seen. It’s something I would like to see more of, and I loved the way it played out in this one. Add in the fact it contained a great twist, and this was one of my favourites in the collection.

The Axeman Among Us by R.J. Garcia was another story set in the past, a thriller with a bit of a supernatural vibe. It’s a story that includes many elements of the past, bringing it to life in a way that is rarely seen. Although the thriller and supernatural elements were not as consuming as expected, they played together well.

The Blackbird Mask by Merry Jones was a story that had an air of uncertainty about it throughout. It’s an unusual situation that the characters found themselves in, and it’s not until quite far through the story that you see what category this one falls into. It’s another story that wasn’t quite for me, but I can certainly see it appealing to many.

Roll the Bones by Kristen Jacques was a story that existed in the world between. It had a clear young adult vibe to it, a feeling of many books that I read as a teenager. It has characters dealing with a real-life topic as a result of their introduction to the supernatural world. It certainly gave me flashback vibes to my reading in my early teenage years.

Ashes, Ashes by Myra Fiacco was a story that combined the past and the present. We’re given a murder tour, along with insights into the past, with the two coming together wonderfully. It’s not just a simple murder tour, however, as we’re pulled into the lives of the characters. With little elements thrown in to flesh this one out, it’s another favourite in the collection.

All in all, there was plenty to keep me entertained throughout. Although I wasn’t crazy about every story, there is something that is sure to appeal to everyone with this collection. ...more

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Mar 27, 2020 Emma Katherine rated it it was amazing

Opinions: I don't often read short story anthologies, but I'm not entirely sure why. Perhaps Masks raises the bar too high for others! To say that I loved this book is an understatement. I was on the edge of my seat from the eerie and uncanny plots, checking the house because of the murderous and spooky personages, and reading as slowly as possible to make each story last as long as I could. I love the originality of each story; not only are they all centered around Mardi Gras, a holiday seldom Opinions: I don't often read short story anthologies, but I'm not entirely sure why. Perhaps Masks raises the bar too high for others! To say that I loved this book is an understatement. I was on the edge of my seat from the eerie and uncanny plots, checking the house because of the murderous and spooky personages, and reading as slowly as possible to make each story last as long as I could. I love the originality of each story; not only are they all centered around Mardi Gras, a holiday seldom written about, but the principle themes, plots, and characters were unique and personal to the authors. And by God, this anthology depicts the good, the bad, and the ugly! Readers are jerked back and forth between hatred, curiosity, and shock through the immeasurable amount of cliffhangers and end-of-chapter twists! I would reread most of these stories in a heartbeat to experience the intensity and atmosphere again!

My Favourite Story: I debated over this for a long time, because each story spoke to me differently. Escape rooms, Roanoke, and ghost tours were top of the list, but "The Blackbird Mask" resonated with me most. A young man brings a mysterious girl to his room on the night of Mardi Gras for some fun, and when she dies by his side, he and his friend must redress and export her before they're caught. My shock is supplied by the short length and its abrupt ending, which brings up only one question: what was the point of the story? It is eerie and misplaced; the most drastic of all of the stories. Jones took this edgy, racy topic and turned it dark, a path I wasn't expecting at all! "The Blackbird Mask" was definitely the most thought-provoking, spooky, and odd story of the anthology!

Breakdown by Story:
The Sin Exchange: 5/5
The Fickle Hand of Fortune: 4/5
Epiphany: 5/5
The Mobile Spirit: 5/5
La Femme en Rouge: 4.5/5
Spirits of Le Petit: 4/5
The Celebration Game: 5/5
The Axeman Among Us: 3.5/5
*The Blackbird Mask: 5/5*
Roll the Bones: 3/5
Ashes, Ashes: 5/5
Total: 4.5/5, rounded up to 5/5 for Goodreads! ...more

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Mar 31, 2020 Christina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-a, spooky, older-audiences, adult

An anthology with a great mix of scare levels, from the mysterious to the terrifying! I tend to stay with the somewhat spooky and mysterious instead of the truly scary stories. While some stories are set in current times and others are historical, they all connect well to the theme of the anthology. This would be a good book to read while stuck inside during quarantine. Solve mysteries with the characters, hide under your covers, and lose yourself to the atmospheric prose!

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Apr 08, 2020 Sheila Goicea rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-releases, 2020-completed-reads, arc-ebook, warning-adult-content, fantasy-adult, fiction-adult, romance, paranormal, novella-short-story, anthology

I received an ARC of this book from author Candace Robinson in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.

description

All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.

Masks is an anthology surrounding the theme of Mardi Gras. From mystery/thrillers to paranormal encounters, this compilation of short stories is a fantastic read for more mature readers around this time of year when the Mardi Gras celebration commences.

Sto ...more

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Mar 30, 2020 Nancy H rated it it was amazing

I love reading anthologies. They give me a chance to explore authors who might be new to me within a general book theme. This anthology didn't disappoint! Each story brought its own flair to the Mardi Gras theme, with its own unique twists. Whether you like to envision scenes and their specific details for yourself, have more information given, or anywhere in between, this grouping of stories is the right mix. From voodoo to graveyards, detectives to demons, downtown NOLA to the outskirts, this ...more

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Apr 01, 2020 Donna rated it it was amazing

I love this anthology! It’s filled with creepy little mysteries and they all take place during Mardi Gras!! Plus I love to read anything that takes place in New Orleans!!! I ordered the paperback and am excited to have this on my shelf!!! This is definitely a must read if you like mysteries with a paranormal flare!!!

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Mar 20, 2020 Marlena Frank rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

A fantastic group of tales that explore the myth, mystery, and malice of Mardi Gras. Every story in this anthology is steeped in mystery and magic, from theater ghosts to supernatural investigations, from Civil War mysteries to cursed bloodlines and ghost tours, this anthology has an incredible mix of voices and styles!

One of my favorites was Celebration Game by Candace Robinson. This story features an escape room with a terrifying twist that had me riveted. Let’s just say somebody in the room w ...more

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Apr 01, 2020 Stingy Strawberries rated it really liked it

4.5 This short story collection is binge-worthy. The combination of stories was perfect. One of my favorites included, The Sin Exchange. It was atmospheric, twisty and dark. It had my heart going. It was so well written I felt like I was watching a movie. It was The Axeman Among US that took me back in time. It was a Stand By Me for 1918. It was an awesome mix of memorable characters, history and horror with a sprinkle of humor and romance. Ashes to Ashes was another unique 5-star read. It's als ...more

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Apr 10, 2020 Calina Edwards rated it it was amazing

A seriously suspenseful, atmospheric collection of short stories. Ghosts, an ax killer, a voodoo priestess, haunted tours, gargoyles and more. I really liked the Mardi Gras and New Orleans theme, but I'd love to see what these writers would come up with for Halloween. ...more

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Apr 13, 2020 C.M. Turner rated it it was amazing

“Masks” is an anthology that features eleven short stories about Mardi Gras from eleven different authors. This book is filled with lore and legend, as well as history, and provides hours of entertainment —from the foreword by its editor to the very last story.

Suffice it to say, reviewing each story would be entirely too time consuming and difficult to give a fair analysis of each, so I have chosen my favorite of the eleven to review.

“The Axeman Among Us,” by R. J. Garcia, is a fictional portra ...more

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Mar 29, 2020 Kattie rated it it was amazing

I actually only read one story from this book, The Celebration Game by Candace Robinson. It was an interesting take on a horror escape room. A group of friends meets for an escape room on the first day of Mardi Gras every year. In such a short story you get so much! Sex, fear and even gargoyles. How fun!

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Apr 12, 2020 Dianne Gow rated it it was amazing

Great book of short stories from some great authors. Gives different perspectives of Mardi Gras.

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Apr 17, 2020 Annette rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-read-2020

This is a group of short stories all taking place during Mardi Gras. I really enjoyed this collection, some of the stories were spooky good and I didn’t want them to end. Some i was wishing they were an entire book. There were a few that were kinda weird. I
Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a spooky read!

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Mar 05, 2020 Kristin Jacques rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

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About M. Dalto

M. Dalto

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M. Dalto is a bestselling Young Adult and New Adult author of adventurous romantic fantasy stories. Her bestselling debut novel, Two Thousand Years, was one of Wattpad.com’s 2016 Watty Award winners for excellence in digital storytelling. She has since released two sequel novels and and three companion novellas.

She was recruited to participate in Wattpad Paid Stories program for serialized authors ...more