The Masked Baron

This is my first book by this fairly new author but if all of her books capture and hold my attention like this one did, it won’t be my last. I didn’t want to put it down. There’s so much to love about this story. First, there’s the Dark Rider–is he a highwayman to be feared as the stories in the surrounding towns say he is? There’s Andalin, whose father brings her to the home of the Dark Rider to live, but why does he do it? And there’s a Beauty and the Beast feel to the story for all of us who still love fairy tales.

Andalin/Annie is a far braver girl than I would ever hope to be. She willingly goes with her father to the home of a man who she discovers is the infamous Dark Rider. At first she doesn’t know why Ellison/Ellis wants her there so she makes things a little harder on him (and herself) until she realizes she’s been acting like a child, then she starts changing her attitude. There’s no way I would’ve followed anyone into the dark forest at night; just reading about it was enough for me.

Ellison/Ellis was so mysterious. From the beginning I doubted that the stories about the Dark Rider were true. That’s the only thing I got right in this story. The reason why Ellison wears a mask isn’t what you’d think. One of my favorite scenes is when Andalin sees him without the mask. He’s a wonderful character and I fell in love with him before the end of the book.

I was surprised at the twist towards the end of the book. I call it a twist because it wasn’t what I thought was going to happen and it took me completely by surprise. One of the best parts is there’s a happily ever after for more than one character. *sigh* I look forward to more wonderful stories by this author.

I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts expressed in my review are my own. I enjoyed this book so much I bought a copy for my personal collection.

I will start by saying that I thought this book was an Ok read but nothing amazing. The premise of this story definitely intrigued me, and I was excited to read it. I thought there was definite promise in the beginning, but the longer I read the more disinterested I became. The plot was unbelievable and made immersing myself into this story really difficult. I felt Andolin was childish and annoying at times, and found myself growing more frustrated with the characters as I continued to read. When all the final cards were played, the motivation and explanation to me felt forced and unrealistic. After finishing the book, I realized that I much preferred the idea of this story than the actual execution of it.

This was a clean read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I don’t know why this story doesn’t have 5 stars, but it was my favorite of this authors so far. This story kept me guessing until the end. I loved the mystery, the intrigue, the characters, and the spooky feeling of the black forest. When she followed the baron into the forest, it was described so well I felt like I was there, and could imagine how terrifying it would seem at night, especially when a witch could possibly be stocking you between the dark trees. It was such a fun story and the romance was swoon-worthy and wonderfully told. I loved both the H and h. I thought they had great chemistry and the romance itself was sweet and full of just the right amount of tension. This story is one of my favorites so far this year.

I really enjoyed this story a lot because it explored a lot of the tropes I love so much. One of my favorite niche genres is gaslit fantasy, which is just a lighter-hearted version of gothic romance and steampunk. I feel like it is really hard to find gaslit fantasy because most writers like to embrace the dark aspect of steampunk and gothic romance a tad too much for my taste. So I loved that The Masked Baron tiptoes along the edge of the darkness cliff but doesnt fall over the edge. Its got some tense scary moments but never becomes terrifying. Many readers are describing it as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, which I think is fair because the book has that atmospheric fairy-tale feel. However, Id describe it as more inspired by than a strict retelling of the Beauty and the Beast. It has a plot distinct from Beauty and the Beast and pulls the fantastic parts of the fairy-tale out and grounds them in the realistic world. Anyway, I found the blend of the genre elements extremely satisfying and just plain fun. It really is the greatest strength of the book in my opinion. Sometimes the main characters annoyed me a bit but I was always willing to keep reading to explore their world and experiences.

Lord Ellis Cadogen lives a life of mystery and sorrow. The only remaining member of his family, Ellis lives a life of solitude while trying to solve the mystery of the forest surrounding his home. Andalin lives a quiet, humble life in a small village. When her father makes a deal with the mysterious Dark Rider, she finds her world turned upside down as she adjusts to being under Lord Cadogen’s generous care. Temper and sparks fly with each of their interactions, creating a thrilling and wondrous journey that I was happy to be apart of.

Reviving this ‘tale as old of time’, into something new and exciting, Anneka R. Walker has created an enjoyable retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Magic and mystery give you new turns in every chapter and the characters endear themselves to your heart.

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