Lady Isabella Farrah has everything she needs to enjoy her life alone—except an answer for why one of her oldest friends suddenly exploded. This murder is linked to others, and soon Isabella is also linked to them, with a thread of darkness that will draw her closer to the mad killer. W. R. Gingell’s Masque is a fairytale retelling for the top shelf. In this dazzling romp through high society tea rooms and ambassadorial balls, a fashion-conscious heroine with no magical gifts must use her wits to outmaneuver not only those who want her dead, but also the Beast Lord trying to keep her safe—that is, safely out of the investigation. Utterly delightful with every page, this installment in The Two Monarchies Sequence is so light on its feet that readers won’t want the dance to end.

Best for: Lovers of fairy tales, Victorian-era settings, high-society intrigue, shenanigans of impertinent nobility, and clean romance.

Discern: Pervasive depictions of magic and magic-users, some violent demises.