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A Murder and a MasqueradeBrianna loves her new job as maid to Lady Marguerite. Like many high nobles, Marguerite is attended by echoes, silent creatures who look exactly like her and move in perfect synchronicity. News soon comes that Marguerite has been invited to the royal city as a potential bride for the crown prince. Brianna is delighted to accompany Marguerite to the city-and perhaps get a chance to continue her own flirtation with Nico, one of the king's inquisitors.Then, disaster strikes on the road when they come under attack. The brutal assault forces Marguerite and Brianna to concoct a desperate plan. Their subterfuge just might work-but only if Brianna can keep Nico from learning the truth. And only if Marguerite can give up her own secret, doomed romance.And all that's at stake-is the future of the kingdom.… (more)
User reviews
Brianna becomes the maid for the governor’s daughter, who has three echoes. When one of
The concept of echoes is unusual and Shinn has clearly given careful thought to how they would affect society in general and the daily lives of those who have them, as well as the reasons for their existence. Some of the other elements felt much more familiar -- this isn’t the first time Shinn has written about innkeepers’ daughters, people in disguise, stratified societies, royal courts, temples or priestesses -- but I enjoyed seeing them explored and incorporated in different ways. Variations on a theme rather than unoriginal repetition.
I wasn’t surprised by the final twists, because I know how Shinn usually deals with injustice, but parts of this story were still quite tense. And I liked Brianna’s attitude -- she’s so sunny and resourceful and loyal.
“But I do know most of my flaws,” I offered. “Things that might make a man think twice about marrying me.”
“Such as?”
“I don’t like to sit around, fretting over what might happen. I prefer to do something to fix the situation, even if what I do might turn out to be wrong. I would be sympathetic if my husband lost his job, for instance, but it wouldn’t be long before I’d be saying ‘Well, what else can you do? Let’s try that.’”
I liked it, but it was written a little too much like an