Fantasy novel, MC changes masks according to what type of man/ hero he is becoming.

[Billy]

I only remember certain details. You know there was something to do with wearing masks. At the start of the book the main character, who is male, is just about to become an adult and thus put on his first mask. I remember he has to take a bath and is scrubbed clean with something resembling a pummus stone, until he his pink and sore from it. I also think that throughout the story he changes masks according to what type of man/ hero he is becoming. It could be a series but I only remember reading one book. I also think he did some fighting on a ship. It was based in a ancient world ie swords and stuff no guns or modern technology

[Ayshe]

City of Masks maybe?

[Billy]

No that's not it, thanks for trying

[Ann aka Iftcan]

When did you read this Billy? What age group was it aimed at? Was it a "standard" fantasy (i.e. some kind of heroic quest/saves the village/town/city/country?) Or was it more coming of age? How "ancient" a world was it--bronze age, iron age, medieval, Renaissance? Any memories of the cover? Where did you get it from--library, book shop, grocers? How did you find it--recommendation to you personally, a review, it was on the Our Staff Recommends shelf? What format did you read it in--dead tree, electronic, audio?

[Sam I]

Billy wrote: "I only remember certain details. You know there was something to do with wearing masks. At the start of the book the main character, who is male, is just about to become an adult and thus put on hi..."

Shot in the dark, but there's a character whose mask won't meld to him (one of the main characters) in An Ember in the Ashes

[Sofia]

Masks by E. C. Blake maybe? The main character is a girl but other than that it does sound similar - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

YA or adult? Remember the cover?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Billy, are you still looking for this or did you find it?