Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller - ADVISABLE

Miller, Linsey Mask of Shadows, 384 pages.  Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, SEPT 2017.  $18.  

Language: R (10 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (gender fluid main character); Violence: PG-13 (bloody)

Sal lives a desperate life as a thief under a cruel task master.  When Sal finds an announcement for the contest to name a new Opal (think assassin) for the Queen, Sal decides to enter the auditions, even if it could mean death. The auditions are held in anonymity and are very brutal, demanding the utmost concentration on order to survive.  Sal has almost no one to trust except Maud, the maid servant.  And maybe the beautiful Elise, a noble girl whom Sal met during a brazen robbery. What Sal doesn’t realize is that the queen Sal has always been loyal to may not actually be worthy of that loyalty.  But Sal has other deeper reasons for joining the auditions.  Certainly should Sal survive and succeed, Sal will be drawn into higher level and even more dangerous intrigues.

Sal is gender fluid, so the personal pronoun is applied based on which gender is predominate at any given moment.  The narrative flows quickly, with plenty of added detail and character to provide depth and emotional connection. 

HS – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher