The Curvy Bookworm

Author: Viviane Ahklun
Series: Prequel Novella
Genre: Dark fantasy romance
My rating: ★★★★☆
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️☆☆☆

I’d seen that Masquerade was a prequel novella to Viviane Ahklun’s upcoming series, and I thought it would be the perfect way to see whether her writing style was for me. Going into it, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but by the end I was genuinely intrigued to see where the main series goes.

For a novella, it does exactly what it sets out to do. It introduces the world, raises plenty of questions and leaves you wanting more.

What’s the book about?

Masquerade is a dark fantasy romance novella that serves as the introduction to a brand new series. Rather than telling a complete story, it offers readers a glimpse into the world, its characters and the mysteries that will unfold in the books to come.

What I loved

For such a short book, I thought it did a great job of pulling me into the story. The world immediately felt intriguing, and I liked that it didn’t reveal all of its secrets straight away.

I also enjoyed the atmosphere. There was a sense that something much bigger was happening beneath the surface, which kept me turning the pages to find out more. Even though it’s only a novella, it felt like there was enough substance to make me interested in the characters and invested in what comes next.

By the time I’d finished, I definitely wanted to read the first full-length novel, which is exactly what a prequel should achieve.

What didn’t quite work for me

There were a couple of moments where I had to go back and reread sections because I wasn’t entirely sure what had happened. That said, I think that’s probably more on me than the book. I’m definitely guilty of skim reading when I’m really into a story, and I suspect I missed a few details because I was racing ahead to see what happened next.

Being a novella, it also leaves you with far more questions than answers. Personally, I didn’t mind that because it’s clearly designed to set up the main series rather than provide a complete story.

Is it worth reading?

If you’re planning to read Viviane Ahklun’s upcoming series, I’d definitely recommend starting with Masquerade. It’s a quick read that gives you a taste of the world without feeling like a chore, and it does a great job of building anticipation for what’s to come.

My verdict

Masquerade is exactly what I want from a prequel novella. It’s atmospheric, intriguing and leaves just enough unanswered to make you eager for the next book. While I occasionally had to double back and reread a few passages, I really enjoyed the experience overall and will definitely be keeping an eye out for the rest of the series.