Pull out your tissues, girls, because Queen of the Masquerade will draw tears. Co-written with Amanda Jenkins, this fifth installment in Tiffany Trent’s Hallowmere series once again left me mourning the fact that only one book remains. In Queen of the Masquerade, Christina finds herself in an unknown rath with no memory of who she is or why she is there. Taken in by a fey family, Christina is known by the name of Brigitte, and struggles to discover who she is and help to ease the burdens of the fey by helping them find a stone.
However, when Christina catches a glimpse of the handsome Rory, from whom she was separated in the portal, her memories and identity come rushing back to her, revealing the reasons for her presence in the rath and reminding her that she can trust no one, especially none of the fey. As Christina reunites with Rory, her one true love, she discovers that finding her way home and escaping with her life will be more complicated that she had imagined.
Filled with countless questions, frail loyalties, and loads of magic, Queen of the Masquerade left me turning page after page with the hope that at least one of the ladies in the Hallowmere series would escape with her one true love. But of course, I will give away nothing! What I will say is that once again, Trent, with the help of Jenkins, left me spellbound and entranced in this story of impossible love, fragile trust, and the mysterious realm of the fey.
Similarly to my initial feelings about Maiden of the Wolf, I was also skeptical of whether or not I would empathize with Christina. Once again, my skepticism was put to rest. In the first three novels, I felt that Christina was a spoiled princess, used to the finer things in life, and that she couldn’t possibly stand against the Unhallowed fey. However, in Queen of the Masquerade, Christina reveals a painful, far from perfect past, along with a courage and stealthiness that makes her an admirable protagonist. Also, Rory’s character comes full-circle in this book, providing the reader with insight into his forced service to the Unhallowed prince. For me, this story was a mystery, romance, fantasy, tragedy all wrapped up into one great story that lead me to feel a storm of emotions from laughter to anger, fear to despair–everything that leads me to be disappointed there are no more pages at the end.
Now that I have finished the fifth of six books, I am reluctant to read the last in the series, Oracle of Morrigan, for fear of the disappointment I will feel after completing the last book in a series originally intended to include ten books. I am saddened that I will never know what becomes of Corrine, Ilona, Mara, and the rest of the heroines in the Hallowmere series. However, I do look forward to the new adventures Trent will share with her devoted readers in the future.
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