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Reviewed by J. Aislynn d'Merricksson for Readers' Favorite
In Masque, W.R. Gingell has woven a most magical and entertaining retelling of the classic fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast. Yes, there is a curse (we’re never really privy to how it came about), but the cursed one isn't destined to live alone in his castle. Far from it! Pecus, who stays permanently masked, just happens to be the Commander of the Watch. He meets his Belle, or Lady Isabelle Farrah, when a member of her diplomatic party is murdered rather horribly.
Much of the story is given over to the search for the killer, who strikes again and again, with the only true tie linking the victims being their connection to Lady Farrah, however small that connection may be. She investigates the deaths on her own, a parallel investigation to Pecus’, much to his annoyance. Her adventures bring her two new servants, Keenan and Vidam, as well as the assistance of old friends like Melchior, the King Consort, and a group of Glausian horse lords.
I adored this story! It was fast-paced, snagging my attention straight away, and jumping headlong into murder. The dialogue is quite amusing, especially between Isabelle and Melchior, and between Isabelle and Pecus. She’s quite the witty one! All of the characters, major and minor, were well developed. Isabelle herself is quite what I imagine you would get if you merged Maria Brennan’s Lady Trent, and Laurie R King’s Mary Russell. Her sister Su is cut from the same cloth too. I rather pity their father! I also adored the cheeky Curran.
The first half of the story, being a murder mystery mainly, does not much resemble the classic fairy tale at all, save the presence of the masked Pecus with his furry wolfish face. More of the fairy tale elements come into play in the second half of the story. I love how the ‘imprisonment’ of Belle in the Beast’s home in exchange for her father's freedom played out. Very nicely done. If you enjoy sassy heroines, fairy tale re-imaginings, and/or murder mysteries with a touch of magic, you’re sure to enjoy Gingell’s Masque.
