Overview

Age range 14 to 17 Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But gender fluid Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery of life as a highway robber and get closer to the upper-class — and the nobles who destroyed their home. When Sal steals a flyer for an audition to become a member of The Left Hand — the Queen's personal assassins, named after the rings she wears — Sal jumps at the chance to infiltrate the court and get revenge.  But the audition is a fight to the death filled with clever circus acrobats, lethal apothecaries, and vicious ex-soldiers. A childhood as a common criminal hardly prepared Sal for the trials. And as Sal succeeds in the competition, and wins the heart of Elise, an intriguing scribe at court, they start to dream of a new life and a different future, but one that Sal can have only if they survive.

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9781492647492

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Reviews

Miller's combination of epic high fantasy with characters whose gender and sexuality fall outside of the mainstream norms for the genre will appeal to fans of writers who have explored the genre in similar ways, such as Tamora Pierce, Ellen Kushner, or Tanya Huff. Mask of Shadows is recommended for readers looking for a more diverse representation of gender and sexuality in their fantasy sagas, and for anyone interested in starting an exciting new fantasy series in general. - IndiePicks Magazine A compelling non-binary, gender-fluid protagonist. A fascinating mix of unique world-building, gripping action, and thoughtfully-drawn characters, Mask of Shadows is a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat read. - Lamba Literary Excellent worldbuilding... Nonstop action makes this book hard to put down. Fantasy fans will love it. - VOYA Magazine A fun, fast read - Locus Magazine For fans of The Hunger Games-type fiction, that's gonna be too appealing to pass up. It's gonna be too delicious to deny yourself. Mask of Shadows, for readers age 15 and up, is gonna be a dream book. - Bookworm Sez Miller's setting is vividly drawn...a solid addition for libraries hoping to expand the gender diversity of their shelves. - Booklist An exhilarating, violent romp of a read. - Shelf Awareness It is fabulous. Go forth and read the Hunger Games-like craftiness and intensity, Kaz Brekker-ish determination and moral questionability, and utterly charming romance. - LGBTQ Reads Uber bloody and action packed, Mask of Shadows is the book for anyone who loves a heavy dose of grit and gore with their fantasy. - TeenVogue.com Miller's gritty, lightning-paced debut features a rough-and-tumble yet movingly vulnerable protagonist: Sal is uncompromising in their convictions, and doesn't hesitate to kill when necessary but wishes to be more than just a weapon of vengeance. A complex but intriguing start to this planned duology. - Publishers Weekly An intriguing world and a fantastically compelling main character make for a can't-miss debut. Miller's Mask of Shadows will make you glad you're not an assassin-and even gladder Sal is. - Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of And I Darken and Now I Rise Compelling and relatable characters, a fascinating world with dangerous magic, and a dash of political intrigue: Mask of Shadows completely delivered. Fantasy fans will love this book. - Jodi Meadows, New York Times bestselling coauthor of My Lady Jane Teen genre fiction featuring a strong gender-fluid main character. - School Library Journal Gory, well-plotted, suspenseful on every page, and poised for the sequel. - Kirkus This fantasy's gender-fluid protagonist, Sal Leon, makes Miller's book worth picking up for diversity's sake alone. Her treatment of the gender issue is most notable in that it isn't really an issue... Violent and action-packed, this offering by first-time novelist Miller will circulate. - School Library Connection This is a memorable, sharply written character. While readers who identify on the GLBTQ spectrum may be easy fans as Miller handles Sal's identity with aplomb, that's certainly not the only point of note here; the impressive, intricate world building, tense action, and fierce competitors are equally strong. - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

This fantasy's gender-fluid protagonist, Sal Leon, makes Miller's book worth picking up for diversity's sake alone. Her treatment of the gender issue is most notable in that it isn't really an issue... Violent and action-packed, this offering by first-time novelist Miller will circulate. - School Library Connection This is a memorable, sharply written character. While readers who identify on the GLBTQ spectrum may be easy fans as Miller handles Sal's identity with aplomb, that's certainly not the only point of note here; the impressive, intricate world building, tense action, and fierce competitors are equally strong. - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Miller's combination of epic high fantasy with characters whose gender and sexuality fall outside of the mainstream norms for the genre will appeal to fans of writers who have explored the genre in similar ways, such as Tamora Pierce, Ellen Kushner, or Tanya Huff. Mask of Shadows is recommended for readers looking for a more diverse representation of gender and sexuality in their fantasy sagas, and for anyone interested in starting an exciting new fantasy series in general. - IndiePicks Magazine A compelling non-binary, gender-fluid protagonist. A fascinating mix of unique world-building, gripping action, and thoughtfully-drawn characters, Mask of Shadows is a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat read. - Lamba Literary Excellent worldbuilding... Nonstop action makes this book hard to put down. Fantasy fans will love it. - VOYA Magazine A fun, fast read - Locus Magazine For fans of The Hunger Games-type fiction, that's gonna be too appealing to pass up. It's gonna be too delicious to deny yourself. Mask of Shadows, for readers age 15 and up, is gonna be a dream book. - Bookworm Sez An exhilarating, violent romp of a read. - Shelf Awareness Miller's setting is vividly drawn...a solid addition for libraries hoping to expand the gender diversity of their shelves. - Booklist It is fabulous. Go forth and read the Hunger Games-like craftiness and intensity, Kaz Brekker-ish determination and moral questionability, and utterly charming romance. - LGBTQ Reads Miller's setting is vividly drawn... a solid addition for collections in need of gender diversity - Booklist Uber bloody and action packed, Mask of Shadows is the book for anyone who loves a heavy dose of grit and gore with their fantasy. - TeenVogue.com Miller's gritty, lightning-paced debut features a rough-and-tumble yet movingly vulnerable protagonist: Sal is uncompromising in their convictions, and doesn't hesitate to kill when necessary but wishes to be more than just a weapon of vengeance. A complex but intriguing start to this planned duology. - Publishers Weekly An intriguing world and a fantastically compelling main character make for a can't-miss debut. Miller's Mask of Shadows will make you glad you're not an assassin-and even gladder Sal is. - Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of And I Darken and Now I Rise Compelling and relatable characters, a fascinating world with dangerous magic, and a dash of political intrigue: Mask of Shadows completely delivered. Fantasy fans will love this book. - Jodi Meadows, New York Times bestselling coauthor of My Lady Jane Teen genre fiction featuring a strong gender-fluid main character. - School Library Journal Gory, well-plotted, suspenseful on every page, and poised for the sequel. - Kirkus This fantasy's gender-fluid protagonist, Sal Leon, makes Miller's book worth picking up for diversity's sake alone. Her treatment of the gender issue is most notable in that it isn't really an issue... Violent and action-packed, this offering by first-time novelist Miller will circulate. - School Library Connection This is a memorable, sharply written character. While readers who identify on the GLBTQ spectrum may be easy fans as Miller handles Sal's identity with aplomb, that's certainly not the only point of note here; the impressive, intricate world building, tense action, and fierce competitors are equally strong. - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Author Information

A wayward biologist from Arkansas, Linsey previously worked as a crime lab intern, neuroscience lab assistant, and pharmacy technician. She can be found writing about science and magic anywhere there’s coffee. She is the author of the Mask of Shadows duology, Belle Revolte, and What We Devour. Visit her online at linseymiller.com.

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