Masks and Shadows

After her husband's long illness, Charlotte is widowed and visiting her sister Sophie, who is the mistress of the Prince Nikolaus Esterházy. There are other visitors as well, including a spy; an alchemist; and a castrato, Carlo Morelli, who is looking forward to meeting Haydn, the kapellmeister at Esterhaza. Mysterious goings on are happening at the castle, and the Prince's wife urges Charlotte to leave before she gets swept up in a dangerous plot.

There were a lot of characters and quick perspective shifts to get used to, but despite that I generally enjoyed this historical fantasy about real people and places with alchemy and some imagined characters thrown in (the Prince is real and he had a mistress, though Sophie and Charlotte are show more made-up characters, for example). I started out reading in choppy short spurts, which is probably why it took me a little while to understand who some of the characters were and what was happening. And I would've liked a little more to the romance subplot, both in importance in the story and actual development of the feelings of the characters. But I did enjoy seeing Charlotte come in to her own and I would read more set in this world. show less

Widowed earlier in the year, Charlotte, dowager baroness von Steinbeck, joins her sister Sophie in Eszterháza Palace. Charlotte thought her sister was a lady-in-waiting to the Princess, but Sophy is the Prince's mistress. It is a great setting, though it and some better than average characters are wasted on a dull romance and an even duller magical conspiracy.

{First of 2: Masks and Shadows series. Fantasy, historical fiction} (2016)

Having been hit by LT book bullets for Burgis's [[[Harwood Spellbook]]] series which I really enjoyed, I picked up this book from the library and read it soon after I had finished the [[[Harwood]]] books. I think I was expecting more of the same, but this story is set in a world that is closer to ours, being based on real historical events to some extent, but still has elements of magic. It is set in the Austrian empire at one of the palaces of Nikolaus Esterházy in 1779.

Prince Nikolaus's mistress, Sophie von Höllner, has invited her recently widowed sister, Charlotte von Steinbeck, to Esterháza; Charlotte nursed her older husband through his last illness and show more her grown-up step-children don't need her. In a coach on the road to the fabulous Esterháza Palace is the famous castrato singer Carlo Morelli, to rehearse one of Joseph Haydn's operas for the new opera house there, along with a couple of suspicious seeming passengers.

There are complex political and supernatural plots afoot as well as a touch of romance and an opera to be rehearsed. Charlotte, more mature and quieter than her much younger sister, becomes involved in palace life, indulging in her taste for music and - awkwardly - making the acquaintance of Princess Marie Elisabeth.

It was an interesting book especially with the historical characters woven through it. I think I would have appreciated it more if I had read it at a bit more distance from Burgis's other books as the ambiance is different.

3*** show less

Charlotte is widowed and has decided to visit her sister, Sophie. Sophie is the mistress of Prince Nikolaus Esterházy and has some power in court. Charlotte is not really ready to find another husband but Sophie is determined to make her explore possibilities. The Prince's wife asks her to investigate happenings. She encounters magic, music and mystery and finds that her only role in life doesn't have to be widow and that sometimes family isn't the only possibility.

I received this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Historical fantasy is quickly becoming one of my favorite genres: on one side, the mix between established history and fantastic elements creates a unique blend that enhances both components, while on the other, curiosity about any given time period compels me to search for further information and therefore to enrich my knowledge base. No one could ask more from a book, besides its intrinsic entertainment value…


Read the full review at SPACE and SORCERY BLOG

Review to come closer to publication.