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The Final Masquerade
The winter solstice. The darkest day, the longest night.
Every year the solstice heralds the return of the masquerade ball. Fae and human dance and drink and make merry, so long as they remain masked. But there's a darker side to this night. Should a guest lose their mask, their life is forfeit, cursed to dance forever for the entertainment of the masquerade's cold and cruel fae host.
Ever since he was a boy, Brice LeChoix's mother had warned him of the terrible fae. But it wasn't the fae who took his parents from him. Madness did that. Years later, now Lord of the crumbling LeChoix estate and buckled by debt, he has more important things to think about than fairytales.
Until the masquerade comes to town. Every year on the solstice it appears, and every year the townsfolk frolic with the fae. Some never return.
Brice warned his brother not to go. And when the masquerade vanishes like mist at dawn, it takes Charon with it.
Now Brice must return to the masquerade, the very place he vowed never to set foot in again. The fae know his desires, they know his weaknesses. Forbidden lust will lure Brice from his world, into theirs. To save his brother, he must survive the masquerade's beautiful lies and avoid the host's wicked ways.
But the fae have other ideas. One in particular has his eye on Brice... The trickster, Raoul, will stop at nothing to seduce Brice because he knows, more than anyone, that the masquerade is a trap from which no soul truly ever escapes.
The longest night is upon us. Can you hear their call? Take my hand, come with me, to the masquerade ball...
A stunning adult MM dark fairytale standalone novel of 115,000 words.
Warning: this book contains devious fae, dubious consent, coercive rape, sex with multiple partners, suicide, and violent punishment, and is advised for readers aged 18+
Every year the solstice heralds the return of the masquerade ball. Fae and human dance and drink and make merry, so long as they remain masked. But there's a darker side to this night. Should a guest lose their mask, their life is forfeit, cursed to dance forever for the entertainment of the masquerade's cold and cruel fae host.
Ever since he was a boy, Brice LeChoix's mother had warned him of the terrible fae. But it wasn't the fae who took his parents from him. Madness did that. Years later, now Lord of the crumbling LeChoix estate and buckled by debt, he has more important things to think about than fairytales.
Until the masquerade comes to town. Every year on the solstice it appears, and every year the townsfolk frolic with the fae. Some never return.
Brice warned his brother not to go. And when the masquerade vanishes like mist at dawn, it takes Charon with it.
Now Brice must return to the masquerade, the very place he vowed never to set foot in again. The fae know his desires, they know his weaknesses. Forbidden lust will lure Brice from his world, into theirs. To save his brother, he must survive the masquerade's beautiful lies and avoid the host's wicked ways.
But the fae have other ideas. One in particular has his eye on Brice... The trickster, Raoul, will stop at nothing to seduce Brice because he knows, more than anyone, that the masquerade is a trap from which no soul truly ever escapes.
The longest night is upon us. Can you hear their call? Take my hand, come with me, to the masquerade ball...
A stunning adult MM dark fairytale standalone novel of 115,000 words.
Warning: this book contains devious fae, dubious consent, coercive rape, sex with multiple partners, suicide, and violent punishment, and is advised for readers aged 18+
520 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2021
About the author
Ariana Nash
45 books2,028 followersBorn to wolves, Ariana Nash only ventures from the Cornish moors when the moon is fat and the night alive with myths and legends. She captures those myths in glass jars and returning home, weaves them into stories filled with forbidden desires, fantasy realms, and wicked delights.
Her debut novel Silk & Steel hit Amazon's:
#1 LGBT Bestsellers Horror
#1 LGBT Bestsellers Fantasy
#1 LGBT Fantasy Hot New Releases
#1 LGBT Horror Hot New Releases - for 3 months!
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Her debut novel Silk & Steel hit Amazon's:
#1 LGBT Bestsellers Horror
#1 LGBT Bestsellers Fantasy
#1 LGBT Fantasy Hot New Releases
#1 LGBT Horror Hot New Releases - for 3 months!
Join her Goodreads group here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Sign up to her newsletter here: https://www.subscribepage.com/silk-steel
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November 24, 2022OUT NOW!
A beautifully, dark fairytale love story full of savage desires and forbidden secrets. Please heed the trigger warnings in the description
For all the updates as they happen, join my FB group here.
For the playlist, listen here.
Brice turned and flicked his wrist, launching the invite at the fireplace. It spiraled in the air, miraculously avoiding the flames, and fluttered to the floor.
Charon scooped it up. “Are you mad?” He laughed, turning on his heel to wave the invite at Brice. “This is an invite to the masquerade!”
“I know very well what it is.” Brice’s heart unfroze itself to beat like a warning drum. “Return it.” He held out his hand, hoping his brother would see sense.
Charon clutched the glittering paper to his chest, blue eyes blown wide. He looked so very young again, his face full of wonder and hope. The little brother Brice would go to the four corners of the world for—do anything to keep safe. Including getting rid of that invite.
“Do you truly mean to burn it?” Charon whispered.
“Absolutely.” Brice flicked his fingers toward his palm. “Charon.”
“You can’t!” Charon lifted the invite to his nose and breathed in. “Hm… like jasmine. An actual invite? I never thought I’d see one. To hold one in my hands…” He held the invite to the flickering lamplight and traced the elaborate writing’s artistic design beneath his fingertips. The expression on his face was how Brice imagined a starving man might look when presented with a feast. For some, receiving an invite meant a chance to witness real magic, offering an evening of fantasy, a chance to visit a world where every hunger and desire imaginable was sated over and over. Rumors swirled every year of how a guest might find their fortune at the masquerade, of how a fae could bestow immortality on a lucky mortal, or of how the lonely might fall in love. Nobody cared to mention the guests who vanished or the rumors of how the vicious host could turn a mortal mad with a single unmasked glance. Those horrors were conveniently ignored or wilfully forgotten.
Charon looked upon the embossed piece of paper as though it offered freedom. His bespelled awe chilled Brice’s heart. The masquerade was always and forever would be a trap.
***
"They knew his desires, knew it all, and finally, for the first time in forever, he willingly surrendered."
~ Brice LeChoix, The Final Masquerade
A beautifully, dark fairytale love story full of savage desires and forbidden secrets. Please heed the trigger warnings in the description
For all the updates as they happen, join my FB group here.
For the playlist, listen here.
Brice turned and flicked his wrist, launching the invite at the fireplace. It spiraled in the air, miraculously avoiding the flames, and fluttered to the floor.
Charon scooped it up. “Are you mad?” He laughed, turning on his heel to wave the invite at Brice. “This is an invite to the masquerade!”
“I know very well what it is.” Brice’s heart unfroze itself to beat like a warning drum. “Return it.” He held out his hand, hoping his brother would see sense.
Charon clutched the glittering paper to his chest, blue eyes blown wide. He looked so very young again, his face full of wonder and hope. The little brother Brice would go to the four corners of the world for—do anything to keep safe. Including getting rid of that invite.
“Do you truly mean to burn it?” Charon whispered.
“Absolutely.” Brice flicked his fingers toward his palm. “Charon.”
“You can’t!” Charon lifted the invite to his nose and breathed in. “Hm… like jasmine. An actual invite? I never thought I’d see one. To hold one in my hands…” He held the invite to the flickering lamplight and traced the elaborate writing’s artistic design beneath his fingertips. The expression on his face was how Brice imagined a starving man might look when presented with a feast. For some, receiving an invite meant a chance to witness real magic, offering an evening of fantasy, a chance to visit a world where every hunger and desire imaginable was sated over and over. Rumors swirled every year of how a guest might find their fortune at the masquerade, of how a fae could bestow immortality on a lucky mortal, or of how the lonely might fall in love. Nobody cared to mention the guests who vanished or the rumors of how the vicious host could turn a mortal mad with a single unmasked glance. Those horrors were conveniently ignored or wilfully forgotten.
Charon looked upon the embossed piece of paper as though it offered freedom. His bespelled awe chilled Brice’s heart. The masquerade was always and forever would be a trap.
***
"They knew his desires, knew it all, and finally, for the first time in forever, he willingly surrendered."
~ Brice LeChoix, The Final Masquerade
November 2, 2023
I was provided an e-copy of the book by the author (and I am ever so thankful for that!) in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
✅ Mysterious atmosphere
✅ Cruel faes and magic
✅ Smut (M/M)
✅ Pace
✅ Plot
✅ Angst
❗️❗️ Trigger warnings: suicide, non-consensual sex, sexual relationship with multiple partners, and physical punishment.
Strong 4.5 stars
It's the perfect book if you are looking for a Cruel Prince vibe and a book full of cold and ruthless faes, with a Caraval-esque magical setting full of illusions. And it happens during the winter solstice so it's also the perfect time of the year to read it!
The masquerade happens every year on the night of the winter solstice, and for the past few years, Brice has been receiving invitations that he promptly destroyed or hid. After the masquerade drove his mother to madness, he promised himself that neither he nor his younger brother would ever attend even if it is the social event of the year. Things do not go as planned though when his brother steals Brice's invitation and sneaks away to the masquerade. It is now up to Brice to go and save him, meaning he now has to go to the masquerade, and even worse, he needs to interact and work with faes (well one fae more specifically).
I was expecting this whole adventure to happen over one long night at first, but it actually happens over a few years, so we get to see more than one masquerade, and every time it gets crazier, sexier, and more confusing (but not in a bad way!). The faes depicted in this book are a little similar to Holly Black's nasty faes, and they enjoy playing and using humans, but I have to say that as the book progresses, we can see that they are not as dark and cruel as we first thought.
This book was not as dark as some of Ariana Nash's previous works, I was expecting something darker honestly with the promise of masquerade and cruel faes, but it was still a delight to read!
Brice is a nice main character. He is so protective of his brother, and it was sweet but at the same time so frustrating because Charon acted like a spoiled brat most of the time. Their relationship is complicated, and honestly, I wanted to slap Charon repeatedly more than once while reading this book. Back to Brice, he is brave and strong, while also being a dreamer in need of some affection and love. He changed a lot during this adventure, and I loved to see the evolution of his character. By the end of the book he seemed way more mature and open-minded, he really went from a young sad, and insecure man to a strong, proud and confident lord.
Raoul is a complex and layered character that I really liked discovering. I was not a fan of him at first, but his feelings and motivations are deeper than they first appear to be, and we quickly realize that he is not simply a trickster and a liar. He is boiling with anger and sadness, and he is trying to enjoy himself at the masquerade, while also taking advantage of humans and being a shameless flirt. He is sweet and fiercely protective but hides it well behind snark and nonchalance.
I was not too sure about Raoul and Brice together at first, but they quickly grew on me and by the end of the book I was rooting for them big time. They completed each other well, and both brought the best out of the other. Brice gained confidence during the time he spent with Raoul, and Raoul finally started to build back his self-esteem thanks to Brice. They are really cute together, and also intense and sexy. 😏
Be sure to read the trigger warning before you start this book. I said at the beginning of my review that this book was not as dark as some of Nash's previous work, but there are still many suicide mentions, physical punishments being dealt to some characters, sexual relationships with many partners, and also sexual relationships that are not really consensual... Someone needs to explain to the fae that consent given under the influence of drugs is not real consent... If you are okay with these themes though you are in for a magical, wild and sexy ride. There is explicit M/M smut and as always, Ariana Nash delivers top-quality smutty moments that are just perfect. 👌
Also, you HAVE to listen to the playlist for this book. It is AMAZING : here
Follow me on Instagram 🙂
“The masquerade is a beautiful lie upon a lie. Nobody wants to be faced with the ugly truth of their insignificant lives.”
✅ Mysterious atmosphere
✅ Cruel faes and magic
✅ Smut (M/M)
✅ Pace
✅ Plot
✅ Angst
❗️❗️ Trigger warnings: suicide, non-consensual sex, sexual relationship with multiple partners, and physical punishment.
Strong 4.5 stars
It's the perfect book if you are looking for a Cruel Prince vibe and a book full of cold and ruthless faes, with a Caraval-esque magical setting full of illusions. And it happens during the winter solstice so it's also the perfect time of the year to read it!
For some, receiving an invite meant a chance to witness real magic, offering an evening of fantasy, a chance to visit a world where every hunger and desire imaginable was sated over and over. Rumors swirled every year of how a guest might find their fortune at the masquerade, of how a fae could bestow immortality on a lucky mortal, or of how the lonely might fall in love. Nobody cared to mention the guests who vanished or the rumors of how the vicious host could turn a mortal mad with a single unmasked glance. Those horrors were conveniently ignored or wilfully forgotten.
The masquerade happens every year on the night of the winter solstice, and for the past few years, Brice has been receiving invitations that he promptly destroyed or hid. After the masquerade drove his mother to madness, he promised himself that neither he nor his younger brother would ever attend even if it is the social event of the year. Things do not go as planned though when his brother steals Brice's invitation and sneaks away to the masquerade. It is now up to Brice to go and save him, meaning he now has to go to the masquerade, and even worse, he needs to interact and work with faes (well one fae more specifically).
They will offer you that which you most desire, but it will come with a heavy price.
I was expecting this whole adventure to happen over one long night at first, but it actually happens over a few years, so we get to see more than one masquerade, and every time it gets crazier, sexier, and more confusing (but not in a bad way!). The faes depicted in this book are a little similar to Holly Black's nasty faes, and they enjoy playing and using humans, but I have to say that as the book progresses, we can see that they are not as dark and cruel as we first thought.
The masquerade calls, Mother had told him over and over. Can you hear it, Brice? The fae have all the time in the world, but ours is finite. When they call, you must never answer.
(…)
They don’t like to be ignored. They’ll take something of yours, taking your choice with it. Hope they never call, Brice. It is the only way to survive them.
This book was not as dark as some of Ariana Nash's previous works, I was expecting something darker honestly with the promise of masquerade and cruel faes, but it was still a delight to read!
Brice is a nice main character. He is so protective of his brother, and it was sweet but at the same time so frustrating because Charon acted like a spoiled brat most of the time. Their relationship is complicated, and honestly, I wanted to slap Charon repeatedly more than once while reading this book. Back to Brice, he is brave and strong, while also being a dreamer in need of some affection and love. He changed a lot during this adventure, and I loved to see the evolution of his character. By the end of the book he seemed way more mature and open-minded, he really went from a young sad, and insecure man to a strong, proud and confident lord.
Stepping back, Raoul offered the crook of his arm. “Brice LeChoix, you are hereby invited to the masquerade. Guard your mask and your heart, for the masquerade takes both from fools in love.”
Raoul is a complex and layered character that I really liked discovering. I was not a fan of him at first, but his feelings and motivations are deeper than they first appear to be, and we quickly realize that he is not simply a trickster and a liar. He is boiling with anger and sadness, and he is trying to enjoy himself at the masquerade, while also taking advantage of humans and being a shameless flirt. He is sweet and fiercely protective but hides it well behind snark and nonchalance.
“A fae’s love is a fierce thing,” Chantel said. “Everlasting. Consuming. It outshines stars and outlives mountains.”
You deny me, you puzzle me, and you tear me asunder. Yet I’d surrender the last of my immortal moments if I could spend a mortal life with you. I see now why my kin fear love.”
I was not too sure about Raoul and Brice together at first, but they quickly grew on me and by the end of the book I was rooting for them big time. They completed each other well, and both brought the best out of the other. Brice gained confidence during the time he spent with Raoul, and Raoul finally started to build back his self-esteem thanks to Brice. They are really cute together, and also intense and sexy. 😏
He loved the obnoxiously flamboyant way he demanded everyone watch him, the way he laughed when he shouldn’t, the way he sketched Brice with all the feeling and heart he’d denied himself. He was the dancer trapped in the music box, and by God, Brice would burn it all down to set him free.
Be sure to read the trigger warning before you start this book. I said at the beginning of my review that this book was not as dark as some of Nash's previous work, but there are still many suicide mentions, physical punishments being dealt to some characters, sexual relationships with many partners, and also sexual relationships that are not really consensual... Someone needs to explain to the fae that consent given under the influence of drugs is not real consent... If you are okay with these themes though you are in for a magical, wild and sexy ride. There is explicit M/M smut and as always, Ariana Nash delivers top-quality smutty moments that are just perfect. 👌
“Perhaps that is the masquerade’s gift? Not knowing what we should miss, freeing us of its grief. Wouldn’t it be worse to know the things you cannot return to?”
Also, you HAVE to listen to the playlist for this book. It is AMAZING : here
Follow me on Instagram 🙂
February 25, 2022
"Brice clutched him closer and dug his nails into Raoul’s back. Almost a thousand nights he’d dreamed of this and a thousand days he’d denied himself the truth. He loved Raoul. He loved the obnoxiously flamboyant way he demanded everyone watch him, the way he laughed when he shouldn’t, the way he sketched Brice with all the feeling and heart he’d denied himself. He was the dancer trapped in the music box, and by God, Brice would burn it all down to set him free."
🖤
beautifully written. a very interesting and magical setting, great world building. lovable main characters and a deep and emotional connection and romance between them. a little too long, could have been a 100 pages shorter in my opinion. pretty good read overall.
beautifully written. a very interesting and magical setting, great world building. lovable main characters and a deep and emotional connection and romance between them. a little too long, could have been a 100 pages shorter in my opinion. pretty good read overall.
May 10, 2022
3.5 Stars
Told in dual POV (mostly in single POV), 3rd person, it can be read as a standalone. This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it. The writing was somehow lyrical, the world she created was magical, you could imagine it in your mind, it was so beautiful and albeit a big lie! Haha! The world-building was so good. I’m not someone who can read a 520-pages book so easily (considering my page phobia, especially for fantasy books) but I was lost in this masquerade by Fae. It was slow burn, a bit angsty, and a bit dark. My major problem was the story dragged a bit. I think it could have been a little shorter. It got a bit repetitive. All in all, I still liked it (despite the issues) and hope you enjoy it as well!
Told in dual POV (mostly in single POV), 3rd person, it can be read as a standalone. This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it. The writing was somehow lyrical, the world she created was magical, you could imagine it in your mind, it was so beautiful and albeit a big lie! Haha! The world-building was so good. I’m not someone who can read a 520-pages book so easily (considering my page phobia, especially for fantasy books) but I was lost in this masquerade by Fae. It was slow burn, a bit angsty, and a bit dark. My major problem was the story dragged a bit. I think it could have been a little shorter. It got a bit repetitive. All in all, I still liked it (despite the issues) and hope you enjoy it as well!
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December 26, 2022
Raoul's face turned serious. He frowned and grasped Brice's face in his hands. "Then make me the same vow. You're the light in the dark, Brice. You're the beat of my heart. I'd surrender time itself to spend every moment with you. You make me worthy. You make me someone I can admire, someone I can love. You're my mirror and through you, I see all the good I could be."
Brice choked on a sob. "You don't need to be anyone but yourself."
this book out here making me go through A L L the emotions... but is it truly an Ariana Nash book if it doesn't make me cry one minute, smile the next and shout at my screen a few pages later? exactly. i loved Raoul so much, i'd protect him with my life. i adored Raoul and Brice together and i liked the pacing of their romantic development and how it came to be. although the journey to their hea wasn't easy, i loved seeing them fight for one another on different occasions. 🥹
Brice choked on a sob. "You don't need to be anyone but yourself."
this book out here making me go through A L L the emotions... but is it truly an Ariana Nash book if it doesn't make me cry one minute, smile the next and shout at my screen a few pages later? exactly. i loved Raoul so much, i'd protect him with my life. i adored Raoul and Brice together and i liked the pacing of their romantic development and how it came to be. although the journey to their hea wasn't easy, i loved seeing them fight for one another on different occasions. 🥹
December 18, 2021
5 sparkling stars! ✨
Ariana Nash is an auto-buy for me; she’s one of the few authors I trust completely — to take me on an adventure I will never forget, to make me fall in love with her wonderful characters… but also to scare the shit out of me at some point or another. Considering AN’s penchant for series, and shorter, cliffhanger-ridden books, the length of this beauty came as a surprise. 520 pages of gloriously twisted fantasy goodness? Yes, please. But sure enough, I feel like I’ve just finished a whole series, because page-count aside, this one book packed a punch no weaker than any of her trilogies, and had just as many unpredictable, emotional plot twists.
For two days, The Final Masquerade held me completely spellbound. The world AN created here was as decadent as it was devious. I liked her particular take on the fae very much, Seelie and Unseelie courts can be fun, but her version — that didn't make them 'light' or 'dark,' just focused on them being something unearthly and other — was so perfect here. The masquerade itself was an enchanting spectacle, a place of everlasting beauty catering to every whim and desire, no matter how debauched, but its glittering exterior and pretty lies hid secrets that could threaten them all if uncovered…
What was the truth, and what was only a dream? Some could no longer tell…
Ahem. In short, Brice and Raoul (❤️) were perfection together — the tension! the feels! the stockings! 🔥 — and I loved their story to bits. I know there’s so much more where this came from, and I CAN’T WAIT to lay my greedy hands on another AN book. Write on, my dark goddess! 🙏
Ariana Nash is an auto-buy for me; she’s one of the few authors I trust completely — to take me on an adventure I will never forget, to make me fall in love with her wonderful characters… but also to scare the shit out of me at some point or another. Considering AN’s penchant for series, and shorter, cliffhanger-ridden books, the length of this beauty came as a surprise. 520 pages of gloriously twisted fantasy goodness? Yes, please. But sure enough, I feel like I’ve just finished a whole series, because page-count aside, this one book packed a punch no weaker than any of her trilogies, and had just as many unpredictable, emotional plot twists.
For two days, The Final Masquerade held me completely spellbound. The world AN created here was as decadent as it was devious. I liked her particular take on the fae very much, Seelie and Unseelie courts can be fun, but her version — that didn't make them 'light' or 'dark,' just focused on them being something unearthly and other — was so perfect here. The masquerade itself was an enchanting spectacle, a place of everlasting beauty catering to every whim and desire, no matter how debauched, but its glittering exterior and pretty lies hid secrets that could threaten them all if uncovered…
What was the truth, and what was only a dream? Some could no longer tell…
Ahem. In short, Brice and Raoul (❤️) were perfection together — the tension! the feels! the stockings! 🔥 — and I loved their story to bits. I know there’s so much more where this came from, and I CAN’T WAIT to lay my greedy hands on another AN book. Write on, my dark goddess! 🙏
December 28, 2021
This book is heavy, there is no other way to put it. It can be divided in two missions:
1. Save the idiotic brother.
2. Save Raoul.
Wich were two different stuffs happening but it felt like they were the same, that's why I think this is a 3,5 stars read, this could have been so much shorter. 🤣🤣
So... in mission #1, we got a lot of world building, explanation of the ball and how it worked, in little bits, but the author tried. Now, was it entertaining? Yes and No, I have never done drugs, but I think this is what a trip must feel like, so a lot of things were just repetitive, a mess, people fucking or just didn't make sense because of "magic".
In mission #2, we got more of the same as I already said, so it got heavy, boring and I dunno Brice spent so much time in Raoul's cave that it didn't make sense, then we got the big reveal wich wasn't that big for me and then Raoul did his thing and Brice didn't fight his attitude and yeah.
Another thing with this story was, a signature for Ariana's stories that didn't quite work in this one. She makes her characters so human that you don't like them, in here Brice was obsessed with his brother, his brother didn't stand him and Raoul was a trickster, magical combination ain't it? So I didn't really like them, but I understood them on some level, that's why I could enjoy this
In the end, it was an interesting story, I can't say is a favorite but I didn't feel I lost time either and it could have been shorter for sure. 🤭🤭💋
1. Save the idiotic brother.
2. Save Raoul.
Wich were two different stuffs happening but it felt like they were the same, that's why I think this is a 3,5 stars read, this could have been so much shorter. 🤣🤣
So... in mission #1, we got a lot of world building, explanation of the ball and how it worked, in little bits, but the author tried. Now, was it entertaining? Yes and No, I have never done drugs, but I think this is what a trip must feel like, so a lot of things were just repetitive, a mess, people fucking or just didn't make sense because of "magic".
In mission #2, we got more of the same as I already said, so it got heavy, boring and I dunno Brice spent so much time in Raoul's cave that it didn't make sense, then we got the big reveal wich wasn't that big for me and then Raoul did his thing and Brice didn't fight his attitude and yeah.
Another thing with this story was, a signature for Ariana's stories that didn't quite work in this one. She makes her characters so human that you don't like them, in here Brice was obsessed with his brother, his brother didn't stand him and Raoul was a trickster, magical combination ain't it? So I didn't really like them, but I understood them on some level, that's why I could enjoy this
In the end, it was an interesting story, I can't say is a favorite but I didn't feel I lost time either and it could have been shorter for sure. 🤭🤭💋
December 12, 2021
"It began with love, the tales tell. And love ended its curse. But love never truly ends, and neither does the masquerade. Listen on the wind on the longest night, listen hard, and you might hear its call. Come, it beckons, take my hand, come with me, to the masquerade ball…"
Look, if you follow my reviews you'd know by now that I love Ariana Nash - I love her imagination and her stories and her writing style - so you can pretty much guarantee that The Final Masquerade would be a 5 star read for me. And no surprises, it is 😁.
Be warned, there are several author trigger warnings, including: dubious consent, coercive rape, sex with multiple partners, suicide and violent punishment, so do take care. That said, whilst this is a dark fae tale, it is not as bleak as the TWs imply.
The world of Brice LeChoix, his brother Charon, Sinclair the mysterious fae host of the Masquerade Ball, and of course (my fave) the debonnaire, devilish and totally delicious fae male Raoul, is full of mystery and intrigue and secrets and lies. Things are never what they seem.
The townsfolk of Chamonet look forward to the annual fae Masquerade Ball and no-one ever talks about the folk who enter the Ball but never return at the end of the night. Nor are the tales of lust and excess discussed once the fae gates are closed.
But Brice and Charon have lost loved ones to the Ball. And when Charon disappears this year, Brice intends to find him and to make someone pay.
I totally loved this! 💜💙 It's a really chonky book for Ariana, but it's a standalone, so everything had to be tied up between these pages. And although it's very hard won, and there are tragedies along the way, we DO get our HEA.
This is an Ariana Nash MM dark romance, so you know there's going to be steam - and The Final Masquerade has it by the bucket load 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Be prepared for some kinky games because (duh) we're dealing with the fae.
Highly Recommended!
5 fabulous fae stars ✨✨✨✨✨
Look, if you follow my reviews you'd know by now that I love Ariana Nash - I love her imagination and her stories and her writing style - so you can pretty much guarantee that The Final Masquerade would be a 5 star read for me. And no surprises, it is 😁.
Be warned, there are several author trigger warnings, including: dubious consent, coercive rape, sex with multiple partners, suicide and violent punishment, so do take care. That said, whilst this is a dark fae tale, it is not as bleak as the TWs imply.
The world of Brice LeChoix, his brother Charon, Sinclair the mysterious fae host of the Masquerade Ball, and of course (my fave) the debonnaire, devilish and totally delicious fae male Raoul, is full of mystery and intrigue and secrets and lies. Things are never what they seem.
The townsfolk of Chamonet look forward to the annual fae Masquerade Ball and no-one ever talks about the folk who enter the Ball but never return at the end of the night. Nor are the tales of lust and excess discussed once the fae gates are closed.
But Brice and Charon have lost loved ones to the Ball. And when Charon disappears this year, Brice intends to find him and to make someone pay.
I totally loved this! 💜💙 It's a really chonky book for Ariana, but it's a standalone, so everything had to be tied up between these pages. And although it's very hard won, and there are tragedies along the way, we DO get our HEA.
This is an Ariana Nash MM dark romance, so you know there's going to be steam - and The Final Masquerade has it by the bucket load 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Be prepared for some kinky games because (duh) we're dealing with the fae.
Highly Recommended!
5 fabulous fae stars ✨✨✨✨✨
July 17, 2023
WORTH IT. Ok, the beginning is better than the end. But otherwise I love the writing style of this book. And it had a plot twist that made me stare at the wall for a good few minutes.
December 23, 2021
This book kind of reminded me of a much darker, gayer and more mature version of Caraval. With an emphasis on the much darker piece 😈
✅ THE SETTING OF the Masquerade was seriously sooo magical. I loved it! How it captured everyone’s deepest desires and gave them a night of debauchery they would never forget… but at what cost? You’ll have to read to find out 😉
✅ LOTS OF LGBT representation, which should be obvious since it’s a m/m romance. But this is the first m/m romance I’ve read where one of the love interests was actually quite flamboyant and feminine at times. I think I personally prefer my mc’s to be a bit more masculine but I appreciated the different perspective!
🆗 THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I had that prevented me from loving this book were the characters. I think Brice and Raoul were both interesting but they were lacking a certain pizzazz that made me really love or root for them. I think I’m in the minority here, but idk… there was just something that left me feeling disconnected
✅ THE PLOT WAS FAST paced and I thought there was always something interesting going on, which is mostly what kept me engaged since I wasn’t in love with the characters. I was really surprised that the story took place over multiple years, but I think the longer timeline made their story even better!
🆗 IT WOULDN’T BE an Ariana Nash book without a decent amount of triggers, so I would definitely suggest reviewing the triggers before starting this book. I don’t mind reading books with these types of darker themes, but sometimes I get to a point where I just don’t like seeing the characters being tortured so much, heh… 😣
Overall, I thought this was a really good standalone with a very mysterious and seductive atmosphere. If you can make it past some of the triggers, then I definitely recommend this if you are looking for a more mature and smutty Caraval-type book with a m/m romance 💕
Steam Scale: 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5
Swoon Scale: ❤️❤️/5
✅ THE SETTING OF the Masquerade was seriously sooo magical. I loved it! How it captured everyone’s deepest desires and gave them a night of debauchery they would never forget… but at what cost? You’ll have to read to find out 😉
✅ LOTS OF LGBT representation, which should be obvious since it’s a m/m romance. But this is the first m/m romance I’ve read where one of the love interests was actually quite flamboyant and feminine at times. I think I personally prefer my mc’s to be a bit more masculine but I appreciated the different perspective!
🆗 THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I had that prevented me from loving this book were the characters. I think Brice and Raoul were both interesting but they were lacking a certain pizzazz that made me really love or root for them. I think I’m in the minority here, but idk… there was just something that left me feeling disconnected
✅ THE PLOT WAS FAST paced and I thought there was always something interesting going on, which is mostly what kept me engaged since I wasn’t in love with the characters. I was really surprised that the story took place over multiple years, but I think the longer timeline made their story even better!
🆗 IT WOULDN’T BE an Ariana Nash book without a decent amount of triggers, so I would definitely suggest reviewing the triggers before starting this book. I don’t mind reading books with these types of darker themes, but sometimes I get to a point where I just don’t like seeing the characters being tortured so much, heh… 😣
Overall, I thought this was a really good standalone with a very mysterious and seductive atmosphere. If you can make it past some of the triggers, then I definitely recommend this if you are looking for a more mature and smutty Caraval-type book with a m/m romance 💕
Steam Scale: 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5
Swoon Scale: ❤️❤️/5
December 26, 2021
4 stars ⭐️ Ariana Nash never disappoints me. This book is really beautiful and romantic. The story was long. But it was fascinating. There were twists and turns in the story of Bryce and Raoul, and they would amaze you until the end of the story.
“It began with love, the tales tell. And love ended its curse. But love never truly ends, and neither does the masquerade.”
Raoul and Brice's love was really wonderful. I was having a hard time connecting with both Brice and Raoul at first. But with the story going on, I couldn't escape from their love. I felt like I was part of their love by witnessing it.
Raoul was a fae, and you couldn't resist his sassiness. I think I liked him more than Brice. Brice was a mortal. He had a miserable past with his family, but I loved how he always cared about everyone even though they were bad to him.
I loved the setting of the story. It was kind of unique.
Please read the content warnings before you go through the story.
“It began with love, the tales tell. And love ended its curse. But love never truly ends, and neither does the masquerade.”
Raoul and Brice's love was really wonderful. I was having a hard time connecting with both Brice and Raoul at first. But with the story going on, I couldn't escape from their love. I felt like I was part of their love by witnessing it.
Raoul was a fae, and you couldn't resist his sassiness. I think I liked him more than Brice. Brice was a mortal. He had a miserable past with his family, but I loved how he always cared about everyone even though they were bad to him.
I loved the setting of the story. It was kind of unique.
Please read the content warnings before you go through the story.
February 3, 2022
OMG, this book was kind of amazing.
Let's have a Q&A!
Q: Amazing book you say? Why is that?
A: Amazing world building, deep nuanced MCs, beautiful writing and FAE! #Drools
Q: Ouuu. Sounds good! Deep nuanced characters you say?
A: Yes! Brice, the human, is relentless and strong and a savior in his own right. Raoul, the fae, is mysterious and beautiful and layered. His character development is a thing of beauty! #PeelMeLikeAnOnion
Q: And the plot?
A: Intricate with SO MANY twists and turns and secrets that are uncovered one by one. just when you feel like you've figured everything out? BAM! #EdgeOfMySeat
Q: *squeals in excite* Romance-o-meter?
A: SWOON! It's slow going and poignant because of it. These guys have the world against them, but they never give up. #AllIn
Q: I'm almost afraid to ask but... angst-o-meter?
A: *laughs in angst*... next question? #HurtsSoGood
Q: Okaaaay. Steam-o-meter?
A: STEAMY! These guys are on fire! Let's just say, stockings are included. #PantiesWentPoof
Q: Ok but please tell me there is an HEA? /b>
A: YES! Hard earned for sure, but it's there and it's GLORIOUS! #Forever
As for the Triggers...
Let's have a Q&A!
Q: Amazing book you say? Why is that?
A: Amazing world building, deep nuanced MCs, beautiful writing and FAE! #Drools
Q: Ouuu. Sounds good! Deep nuanced characters you say?
A: Yes! Brice, the human, is relentless and strong and a savior in his own right. Raoul, the fae, is mysterious and beautiful and layered. His character development is a thing of beauty! #PeelMeLikeAnOnion
Q: And the plot?
A: Intricate with SO MANY twists and turns and secrets that are uncovered one by one. just when you feel like you've figured everything out? BAM! #EdgeOfMySeat
Q: *squeals in excite* Romance-o-meter?
A: SWOON! It's slow going and poignant because of it. These guys have the world against them, but they never give up. #AllIn
Q: I'm almost afraid to ask but... angst-o-meter?
A: *laughs in angst*... next question? #HurtsSoGood
Q: Okaaaay. Steam-o-meter?
A: STEAMY! These guys are on fire! Let's just say, stockings are included. #PantiesWentPoof
Q: Ok but please tell me there is an HEA? /b>
A: YES! Hard earned for sure, but it's there and it's GLORIOUS! #Forever
As for the Triggers...
December 30, 2021
3.5 stars
tw: dubious consent, coercive rape, drugging, suicide, violent punishment
“Raoul, the trickster, the player, the dancer in the music box, was finally free to choose his path, and he’d chosen Brice. Brice's heart soared far and free.
No dream, no fantasy, could ever compare to his heart's true love.”
— m/m fantasy
— world building
— dark romance
— forbidden love
— lord/fae
— opposites attract
— slow burn
— steamy
So once again I find myself in the minority—although I liked The Final Masquerade, I did not love it. I admired a lot of technical things about the book: the concept of an illusory, decadent masquerade controlled by an evil host; intricate world building; lush writing; twists and turns in the plot; and it’s entertaining.
But I was largely ambivalent about the romance. I felt indifferent about and sometimes even downright irritated by Brice, an impoverished and grief-stricken lord. Raoul, on the other hand, is an interesting character. A seductive fae and trickster, he’s a tortured soul trapped in a hellish fantasy world. Yet since I never connected with the MCs, I wasn’t really invested in their relationship either. Their poetic love declarations also had me rolling my eyes a couple times.
It also didn’t help that the book dragged in the middle and felt too long. Clocking in at 520 pages, it could have done with a 100-150 page cut.
Final verdict: the book has many qualities I can objectively appreciate, but they still didn’t add up to the reading experience I’d hoped for.
tw: dubious consent, coercive rape, drugging, suicide, violent punishment
“Raoul, the trickster, the player, the dancer in the music box, was finally free to choose his path, and he’d chosen Brice. Brice's heart soared far and free.
No dream, no fantasy, could ever compare to his heart's true love.”
— m/m fantasy
— world building
— dark romance
— forbidden love
— lord/fae
— opposites attract
— slow burn
— steamy
So once again I find myself in the minority—although I liked The Final Masquerade, I did not love it. I admired a lot of technical things about the book: the concept of an illusory, decadent masquerade controlled by an evil host; intricate world building; lush writing; twists and turns in the plot; and it’s entertaining.
But I was largely ambivalent about the romance. I felt indifferent about and sometimes even downright irritated by Brice, an impoverished and grief-stricken lord. Raoul, on the other hand, is an interesting character. A seductive fae and trickster, he’s a tortured soul trapped in a hellish fantasy world. Yet since I never connected with the MCs, I wasn’t really invested in their relationship either. Their poetic love declarations also had me rolling my eyes a couple times.
It also didn’t help that the book dragged in the middle and felt too long. Clocking in at 520 pages, it could have done with a 100-150 page cut.
Final verdict: the book has many qualities I can objectively appreciate, but they still didn’t add up to the reading experience I’d hoped for.
April 10, 2022
Well... finally read this. Multiple partners, noncon, lies within lies. Keeps you guessing... if only there the whole premise wasn't so... contrived.
I dunno, I just didn't "get it." It was too melodramatic, and the "love" between the MCs was... not that believable to me. How do we know it's not also a lie?
Anyway, I likely won't be reading this author's books for a good long while.
I dunno, I just didn't "get it." It was too melodramatic, and the "love" between the MCs was... not that believable to me. How do we know it's not also a lie?
Anyway, I likely won't be reading this author's books for a good long while.
December 19, 2021
“I am a trickster, a dancer, a player behind the scenes. This isn’t my story. It’s yours.”
“It could be ours?” What was he saying? It was madness. But it did not feel insane. It felt like the only true thing in this place.
Would it be a book by Ariana Nash if you aren't expecting at any moment a stab in the back? To this point, after reading pretty much all her books, I’ve learned not to get attached to any character just in case. Though, since this is a standalone I wasn’t expecting that number of twists. And they were well orchestrated. I love the fact that these weren’t plot twists out of the blue, if you paid attention to certain details all the things revealed start making sense.
It’s no surprise that I'm a sucker for magical creatures, apparently now I’d have to add fae to that list. Raoul’s charms and Brice’s candidness were just the perfect match. After everything Brice had to endure in his past, reading every moment they were together felt like a breeze of fresh air. And of course Raoul was going to ended up being one of my favorite MCs, I mean it’s hard to resist a sassy fae with a questionable sense of morality.
If you already like Ariana Nash’s writing style you’re going to love it. If you like fantasy books but don’t like reading series/trilogies this the perfect chance to read a story by her. Mind the triggers, compared to other books I didn’t find them that strong but they are definitely there.
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a free and honest review*
December 11, 2021
The Final Masquerade is a truly beautiful piece of writing. There's a theatrical element in the rich descriptions and world building that make it easy to form that mental picture and keep the reader engrossed.
It's almost a disappointment that this is a standalone since there is so much that could be explored. I didn't want it to end.
Quite a few steamy scenes and not all with the main pairing. Please read the content warnings.
For Brice there are a lot of struggles. There are things that happen to him, that he does, that are dark and difficult to deal with, but Brice goes get a lovely but hard won HEA. He shows a serous amount of character growth.
Full of the trademark Nash morally grey characters, and that need for her characters to suffer for their love, but oh so worth it.
"Be my other half in all things. Be the light in my dark."
It's almost a disappointment that this is a standalone since there is so much that could be explored. I didn't want it to end.
Quite a few steamy scenes and not all with the main pairing. Please read the content warnings.
For Brice there are a lot of struggles. There are things that happen to him, that he does, that are dark and difficult to deal with, but Brice goes get a lovely but hard won HEA. He shows a serous amount of character growth.
Full of the trademark Nash morally grey characters, and that need for her characters to suffer for their love, but oh so worth it.
"Be my other half in all things. Be the light in my dark."
December 14, 2021
I think this may be the most theatrical, yet romantic book by Ariana Nash yet. Nash excels at dark MM with a dash of romance, but in The Final Masquerade the romance shines in the poetry of the words.
I have so many highlights in this book. It's going to take me some time to decide which ones to use in my final review. Until then, if you enjoy books filled with fantastical trickster fae and the illusions they can weave with their magic, then take this as your own personal invite to the Final Masquerade and enjoy what Nash has in store for you.
I have so many highlights in this book. It's going to take me some time to decide which ones to use in my final review. Until then, if you enjoy books filled with fantastical trickster fae and the illusions they can weave with their magic, then take this as your own personal invite to the Final Masquerade and enjoy what Nash has in store for you.
December 30, 2021
RTC but I really enjoyed this one. I had a lot of fun reading it and I just loved the world building and everything that happened in the book. I just felt like it dragged a little at times but thats probably due to me having a really bad attention spawn and not the book. I did love this book and the entire world it’s set in. And I also really loved the romance, damn that was so good to me.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
June 29, 2022
Truly wonderful! We were waiting a long while for this one and the wait was worth it.
Great characters, development and unexpected plot twists make it a real page turner.
I think it's always a thin line to have fae stories work well but this one does and in the best way.
Great characters, development and unexpected plot twists make it a real page turner.
I think it's always a thin line to have fae stories work well but this one does and in the best way.
Shelved as 'wishlist'
December 8, 2021HI MY NAME IS NENIA AND I'M FAE AND MASQUERADE BALL TRASH
December 18, 2021
I read this through the night, literally could not stop reading this engrossing, at times, unforgiving, tale!
My review might contain spoilers.
The Final Masquerade started off as a frustrating read, as it seemed all cards were played against the mc, Brice, with no one there to back him, not even his brother. Shouldering faults that were not his, it was hard to watch him fight so hard for a brother who would not have done the same for him: Brice was set to save Charon from the clutches of the masquerade. The task brutal, horrific, nightmarish, yet holding a gem at its core.
Raoul. "I am a trickster, a dancer, a player behind the scenes. This isn't my story. It's yours." I loved, loved, LOVED the way this character was written, layered and complicated, slippery and deceptive, yet so incredibly fragile. It was heartbreaking watching two people fall in love within the nightmare of the masquerade, knowing at some point,
I normally stick with the kindle edition with my mm books, but I'm heading back over to Amazon to get the print. This timeless story definitely belongs on the shelf.
My review might contain spoilers.
The Final Masquerade started off as a frustrating read, as it seemed all cards were played against the mc, Brice, with no one there to back him, not even his brother. Shouldering faults that were not his, it was hard to watch him fight so hard for a brother who would not have done the same for him: Brice was set to save Charon from the clutches of the masquerade. The task brutal, horrific, nightmarish, yet holding a gem at its core.
Raoul. "I am a trickster, a dancer, a player behind the scenes. This isn't my story. It's yours." I loved, loved, LOVED the way this character was written, layered and complicated, slippery and deceptive, yet so incredibly fragile. It was heartbreaking watching two people fall in love within the nightmare of the masquerade, knowing at some point,
I normally stick with the kindle edition with my mm books, but I'm heading back over to Amazon to get the print. This timeless story definitely belongs on the shelf.
December 22, 2021
This book is a beautiful cruel lie.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
December 28, 2021
4.5 Stars
February 19, 2022
This book. How to describe this book...
Have you ever thought of a fantasy that captures your desires, you wants and your needs then twists them until you can't tell which is yours and which is the fantasy's? Well to me this was sort-of like that. A fantasy turned sour, a story started with love, a dream shredding into a nightmare.
Brice, our protagonist, is a young man whose family has been struck by tragedy over and over again. And now lost in a haze of grief and anger at the newest set of tragic events caused by his younger brother, Charon, he finally answers the summons of the masquerade. But there's more. A trickster awaits him at the masquerade. With a wry smile and dazzling charm he bewitches Brice. But betrayal and hurt traces his steps until he's forced to do something he didn't wish to. When Charon fails to return from the masquerade, Brice decides to follow him and get him back. But he cannot do it alone. Here comes in the trickster he had met previously. Someone who had haunted his dreams. Someone who had thought to deceive him. Someone he desperately needs right now. But there's more to the masquerade than meets the eye. After all, behind the glittering masks and the smooth smile, what are the fae hiding? ;)
This novel has an amazing pace with amazing world building and exquisite details. But my favorite parts are the characters.
For me, I love Raoul, our trickster, the most. With an attitude that could put confidence to shame, our brilliant fae is full of life and charm. Someone 'who can charm the stars from the sky itself'. The sketches, the shy smiles he aims at Brice, the way he would flutter his lashes and his sweet moments of vulnerability, everything about Raoul is charm itself.
Then of course there's Brice, our young, strapping protagonist with a heart clouded with pain. He's someone who wasn't easy to love for me. At least initially. But when I understood him, my heart ached for him. Growing up in a household which called him unnatural made him wary and defensive to the point where he shunned everyone and took on all the burden upon his shoulder until Charon realized that there's more to him than playing damsel in distress, he's someone who has amazing character growth. Together with Raoul, he shines so bright, he obscures even the brilliance of the sun.
Charon is a character that I didn't super like. Do I understand some of his actions? Yes. Does that make it ok? Nope. Do I forgive him? Nope. Same goes for the Host. Driven by madness, creating a prison of his own making; he's not a character that's unlikeable. Did I feel sorry for him? Yes. But there's a saying that if you love someone truly you should be able to let them go. And we all saw what the masquerade wroth both physically and emotionally.
I loved the company of some of the side characters. Chantel, being my favorite. Playful, fun, she feels like the wind that dances around you. The water that ripples in playful greeting, but can also drown you. She might have done some questionable deeds but overall her intentions were pure. Sophia was another such character that I adored. Playful, filled with joy and life she was a great friend.
TW: this book contains explicit coercive rape, dubious content, physical punishment, suicide, homophobia.
Finally, thank you so so so much Lucie V. for recommending this book! I truly feel in love with the story, every moment was magical and I can definitely see this being a beloved re-read! 💗
Have you ever thought of a fantasy that captures your desires, you wants and your needs then twists them until you can't tell which is yours and which is the fantasy's? Well to me this was sort-of like that. A fantasy turned sour, a story started with love, a dream shredding into a nightmare.
Brice, our protagonist, is a young man whose family has been struck by tragedy over and over again. And now lost in a haze of grief and anger at the newest set of tragic events caused by his younger brother, Charon, he finally answers the summons of the masquerade. But there's more. A trickster awaits him at the masquerade. With a wry smile and dazzling charm he bewitches Brice. But betrayal and hurt traces his steps until he's forced to do something he didn't wish to. When Charon fails to return from the masquerade, Brice decides to follow him and get him back. But he cannot do it alone. Here comes in the trickster he had met previously. Someone who had haunted his dreams. Someone who had thought to deceive him. Someone he desperately needs right now. But there's more to the masquerade than meets the eye. After all, behind the glittering masks and the smooth smile, what are the fae hiding? ;)
This novel has an amazing pace with amazing world building and exquisite details. But my favorite parts are the characters.
For me, I love Raoul, our trickster, the most. With an attitude that could put confidence to shame, our brilliant fae is full of life and charm. Someone 'who can charm the stars from the sky itself'. The sketches, the shy smiles he aims at Brice, the way he would flutter his lashes and his sweet moments of vulnerability, everything about Raoul is charm itself.
Then of course there's Brice, our young, strapping protagonist with a heart clouded with pain. He's someone who wasn't easy to love for me. At least initially. But when I understood him, my heart ached for him. Growing up in a household which called him unnatural made him wary and defensive to the point where he shunned everyone and took on all the burden upon his shoulder until Charon realized that there's more to him than playing damsel in distress, he's someone who has amazing character growth. Together with Raoul, he shines so bright, he obscures even the brilliance of the sun.
Charon is a character that I didn't super like. Do I understand some of his actions? Yes. Does that make it ok? Nope. Do I forgive him? Nope. Same goes for the Host. Driven by madness, creating a prison of his own making; he's not a character that's unlikeable. Did I feel sorry for him? Yes. But there's a saying that if you love someone truly you should be able to let them go. And we all saw what the masquerade wroth both physically and emotionally.
I loved the company of some of the side characters. Chantel, being my favorite. Playful, fun, she feels like the wind that dances around you. The water that ripples in playful greeting, but can also drown you. She might have done some questionable deeds but overall her intentions were pure. Sophia was another such character that I adored. Playful, filled with joy and life she was a great friend.
TW: this book contains explicit coercive rape, dubious content, physical punishment, suicide, homophobia.
Finally, thank you so so so much Lucie V. for recommending this book! I truly feel in love with the story, every moment was magical and I can definitely see this being a beloved re-read! 💗
Read
June 8, 2022I thought I would like it but it's a NO for me. 🥲
January 14, 2022
“Masks take your pain away. Let yourself go.”
4.5 stars
Riveting and haunting, this dark fairy tale of the Solstice masquerade is the perfect winter read. The world Ariana Nash builds in this one is beautiful but treacherous, it appears gently alluring in one instance just to turn to a soul-destroying nightmare in the next. But above all, it’s like a fantastical tapestry that doesn’t let you take your eyes away.
The characters moving within this world are full-blooded, although they seem like illusions at times. The reclusive Lord Brice LeChoix and the Fae Raoul are complex beings weaved of devotion and deception, loss and love. I liked Raoul, the trickster, from the moment he showed up and throughout the book he became one of my favourite characters ever. The rest of the cast is picturesque, and each character is fascinating in their own way.
I must confess a few instances were a bit too descriptive for me (hence the 4.5 stars) but that’s only because it’s not my thing. If anyone who reads the book has a weakness for beautiful, detailed description, they would love it even more.
“A dream within a dream” is a lite motif running through the Final Masquerade and it’s there for a reason. Everything has layers of meaning and you must stay alert as there might be a twist around every corner. Ariana Nash is a real master at lulling the senses with splendour just to remind us that nothing true or real is that pretty and then make us believe that love can make it so.
***ARC provided by the author***
4.5 stars
Riveting and haunting, this dark fairy tale of the Solstice masquerade is the perfect winter read. The world Ariana Nash builds in this one is beautiful but treacherous, it appears gently alluring in one instance just to turn to a soul-destroying nightmare in the next. But above all, it’s like a fantastical tapestry that doesn’t let you take your eyes away.
The characters moving within this world are full-blooded, although they seem like illusions at times. The reclusive Lord Brice LeChoix and the Fae Raoul are complex beings weaved of devotion and deception, loss and love. I liked Raoul, the trickster, from the moment he showed up and throughout the book he became one of my favourite characters ever. The rest of the cast is picturesque, and each character is fascinating in their own way.
I must confess a few instances were a bit too descriptive for me (hence the 4.5 stars) but that’s only because it’s not my thing. If anyone who reads the book has a weakness for beautiful, detailed description, they would love it even more.
“A dream within a dream” is a lite motif running through the Final Masquerade and it’s there for a reason. Everything has layers of meaning and you must stay alert as there might be a twist around every corner. Ariana Nash is a real master at lulling the senses with splendour just to remind us that nothing true or real is that pretty and then make us believe that love can make it so.
***ARC provided by the author***
April 7, 2022
Let me present you
The godfather, great great grandfather of.....
𝗢𝗿𝗴𝘆
I knew it would be dark. But I didn't expected it to be sooo dark. Apparently dub-con is not my scene. I hated it. Sex sex sex. Orgy orgy orgy. From threesome to hundredsome everything was there..I will never in a lifetime call it a romance. Fairytale? Yes. It excels in that aspect. The storytelling style is so alike to a fairytale that it seemed like an another version of "Caraval" and "ACotar" . But a lot more Gay and with a sickening quantity of smut....
It's been a long time since I had wanted so much to puke after reading a book. Lots of parts were absolutely disgusting. This book is a disgrace, an shame to the names of my two favourite genres.
I guess I am done with trying to find a solid fantasy book with a good mm romance.
The godfather, great great grandfather of.....
𝗢𝗿𝗴𝘆
I knew it would be dark. But I didn't expected it to be sooo dark. Apparently dub-con is not my scene. I hated it. Sex sex sex. Orgy orgy orgy. From threesome to hundredsome everything was there..I will never in a lifetime call it a romance. Fairytale? Yes. It excels in that aspect. The storytelling style is so alike to a fairytale that it seemed like an another version of "Caraval" and "ACotar" . But a lot more Gay and with a sickening quantity of smut....
It's been a long time since I had wanted so much to puke after reading a book. Lots of parts were absolutely disgusting. This book is a disgrace, an shame to the names of my two favourite genres.
I guess I am done with trying to find a solid fantasy book with a good mm romance.
January 21, 2022
It took a while to finish this book. I had to make some breaks on the way, distract me with other books but always had to come back until the next break. The reason certainly wasn't because The Final Masquerade is bad in any way, it's more that at the moment I'm in a sappy wuss mode and I don't trust Ariana Nash to care about her characters the way I need it while being in that mode … or to say it like it is: I know Ms. Nash likes to push her characters through the wringer and I wasn't sure how far she was going this time.
We're in an alternate universe at a backwater village with some french vibes, more Regency than medieval but still at a time when people not only believe in Fae but actually are getting invitations to join them for a solstice masquerade in the near woods. Of course Fae are still Fae and so there are rules to be obeyed to enjoy a night of luxury decadence and anonymous debauchery: don't loose your mask and don't cross the host but who cares about unknown dangers during dark times with oppressive morals.
Brice does although he has every reason to long to enjoy a night being himself for a while. His late father hammered the idea a proper Lord LeChoix into him and that certainly doesn't include to even thinking about men while his mother, before her suicide, warned him about the ways of the Fae, their cruelty, selfishness and deception. So while he became aloof and demure he was also able to resist the lure of the invitations until that day his younger brother sees him burning the current invitation and decides to use it for himself. Now Brice has to find a way to join the masquerade to save his brother but his irascibility and his inability to show his brother how deeply he cares is making everything worse but not before he attracts Roul's attention with his stubbornness and determination.
In the course of the story we accompany Brice on his way to be himself, to acknowledge that his family is deeper entangled in the magic of the masquerade and that not everything is as it seems, that offender and victim are not always exclusive terms. The author is creating that way to self-awareness anything but dry or dull. Nash adds splashes of her brand of dark (although not as dark as her other books), turns Brice world upside down und up again, jumbles situations of 'alternate consent' with those of romantic longing, destroys illusions just to show a new version of only half the truth and she takes her time to bring Brice and Roul together. Roul's a trickster after all, the sender of the invitations, support and distraction and we like Brice need time to believe that his love is not the making of the masquerade magic.
So we only get flawed characters, in the beginning even not always likable characters and I also wasn't okay with every offered solution I enjoyed this story nevertheless and if not for the ending I might have added at least a half star. Don't get me wrong, the guys deserved their hard won HEA in all its sweetness – but it doesn't match with the world Nash described up to that point.
We're in an alternate universe at a backwater village with some french vibes, more Regency than medieval but still at a time when people not only believe in Fae but actually are getting invitations to join them for a solstice masquerade in the near woods. Of course Fae are still Fae and so there are rules to be obeyed to enjoy a night of luxury decadence and anonymous debauchery: don't loose your mask and don't cross the host but who cares about unknown dangers during dark times with oppressive morals.
Brice does although he has every reason to long to enjoy a night being himself for a while. His late father hammered the idea a proper Lord LeChoix into him and that certainly doesn't include to even thinking about men while his mother, before her suicide, warned him about the ways of the Fae, their cruelty, selfishness and deception. So while he became aloof and demure he was also able to resist the lure of the invitations until that day his younger brother sees him burning the current invitation and decides to use it for himself. Now Brice has to find a way to join the masquerade to save his brother but his irascibility and his inability to show his brother how deeply he cares is making everything worse but not before he attracts Roul's attention with his stubbornness and determination.
In the course of the story we accompany Brice on his way to be himself, to acknowledge that his family is deeper entangled in the magic of the masquerade and that not everything is as it seems, that offender and victim are not always exclusive terms. The author is creating that way to self-awareness anything but dry or dull. Nash adds splashes of her brand of dark (although not as dark as her other books), turns Brice world upside down und up again, jumbles situations of 'alternate consent' with those of romantic longing, destroys illusions just to show a new version of only half the truth and she takes her time to bring Brice and Roul together. Roul's a trickster after all, the sender of the invitations, support and distraction and we like Brice need time to believe that his love is not the making of the masquerade magic.
So we only get flawed characters, in the beginning even not always likable characters and I also wasn't okay with every offered solution I enjoyed this story nevertheless and if not for the ending I might have added at least a half star. Don't get me wrong, the guys deserved their hard won HEA in all its sweetness – but it doesn't match with the world Nash described up to that point.
January 9, 2022
Amazing, wonderful, magical. If you haven't already JUST READ IT.
If I could I'd give this book 100 stars
Brice and Raoul's story is truly heartwarming.
If I could I'd give this book 100 stars
Brice and Raoul's story is truly heartwarming.
December 17, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
There isn’t an Ariana Nash book that I won’t read and The Final Masquerade is the author’s latest standalone novel. The book opens with Brice and he is the narrator for most of the story, with a few chapters from Raoul. The book has a fairytale feel in a land far away and Nash excels in world building and dark atmosphere. Brice and his brother, Charon, were from a well-respected family, but after the death of their parents, their life is about debt and isolation.
The masquerade has been a story in their lives forever and Brice knows to resist the invitations he gets every year, but Charon is restless and when he attends the masquerade, Brice follows to protect him. The masquerade is an illusion set up by dangerous fae to trap and prey upon mortals for the fae’s own entertainment and nothing is at it seems. When Brice meets Raoul, he is attracted to him and feels a sense of belonging with him, but when Raoul tells Brice that he is a trickster, Brice should believe him.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
There isn’t an Ariana Nash book that I won’t read and The Final Masquerade is the author’s latest standalone novel. The book opens with Brice and he is the narrator for most of the story, with a few chapters from Raoul. The book has a fairytale feel in a land far away and Nash excels in world building and dark atmosphere. Brice and his brother, Charon, were from a well-respected family, but after the death of their parents, their life is about debt and isolation.
The masquerade has been a story in their lives forever and Brice knows to resist the invitations he gets every year, but Charon is restless and when he attends the masquerade, Brice follows to protect him. The masquerade is an illusion set up by dangerous fae to trap and prey upon mortals for the fae’s own entertainment and nothing is at it seems. When Brice meets Raoul, he is attracted to him and feels a sense of belonging with him, but when Raoul tells Brice that he is a trickster, Brice should believe him.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
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