“What would happen if you wear a mask for so long, you forget who you truly are beneath it?
Ever since the Mouse King usurped his parents’ thrones, Cassian Erich has been on the run, seeking safety far away from any hint of his old self. But after only two years of shaky peace, a disastrous meeting sends him stumbling back into the Mouse King’s hands, and once again, his life is in danger. Hunted, he must decide whether or not the mask he has built for himself is worth the cost of his kingdom.
A prince or a nut farmer. One identity will see him killed. The other, an entire country destroyed.
For the past two years, Marie Stahlb’rin has spent her life pretending she is no longer affected by the death of her younger sister and hiding the pain she can’t let go of. But when a failed assassination attempt on her best friend thrusts her into a world of treachery, she finds herself with no choice but to face the past.
Betrayals, secrets, and danger abound when a prince must choose between picking up a sword for his country or protecting the mask that saved his life.”
Series: Book #10 in the multi-author series, “Cornerstone”. It does not seem to be connected to any other books, however. A stand-alone novel. Click on the books to be taken to that review: Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, Book #6, Book #7, Book #8, and Book #9!
Spiritual Content- God is called “Mender” in this book; Prayers & Thanking the Mender; Talks about the Mender, Him being with someone, & having peace and strength; 'H's are capital when referring to the Mender; Cassian thinks that the Mender doesn’t see or care about him or his prayers; *Spoiler* Towards the end, Cassian realizes that he can’t save himself but the Mender can and can also give him strength; Cassian prays for forgiveness and asks the Mender for help, which he feels peace after doing *End of Spoiler*; Mentions of prayers & praying;
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: The fictional-world phrases ‘what/who in the Divide’ and ‘what in the Divided Lands’ are said a total of ten times; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Lots of Fighting, Attacks, Being held at knife-point and cut, Being beaten/attacked, Being tied-up, Being put in a prison, Injuries, Pain, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Remembering attacks, deaths of loved ones, running away from assassins, & blood (plus dreaming about it, up to semi-detailed); *Spoiler for a death* Seeing someone stabbed and fall out a window to their death (up to semi-detailed) *End of Spoiler*; Seeing fighting/attacks, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Grief (for parents and a younger sister, border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Many mentions of assassinations/murders, deaths (including of loved ones like parents and a younger sister), grief, a coup, & the attack by raiders (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of fighting, attacks, being held at knife-point, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a prisoner & prison; Mentions of rumors; A few mentions of criminals; A couple mentions of nightmares; A mention of a fox getting a dead rabbit;
*Note: Cassian recalls PTSD-like symptoms after being attacked and how walking through rustling grass would remind him of being held at knife-point or it being another assassination attempt.
Sexual Content- A few embraces & hand holding; A bit of warmth, nearness, & noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of blushes; A tiny bit of very light love, being in love, & the emotions.
-Marie
-Cassian
1st person P.O.V. switches between them & The Mouse King (x2)
208 pages
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Pre Teens-
New Teens-
Early High School Teens-
Older High School Teens-
My personal Rating-
I was a bit confused at first by the writing style, but I was curious about the plot, so I tried not to let it distract me! That action scenes were written well, I thought—and there was a lot of them! I had to feel for Cassian throughout this book as he goes through many beatings (quite literally), but especially at the end. The ending was really good, but I would have liked to see our couple together more, personally. The very light romance was nice, however. I just would liked a wee bit more as I wasn’t even fully sure Cassian and Marie had feelings for the other in a romantic way.
Overall, a sweet story with lots of action! I also liked the different angles of the Nutcracker story and how this book would be great to read right as fall is turning into winter.
See y’all on Friday with a new review!
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
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