Elaine White's Life in Books

Book – The Artist's Masquerade (Chronicles of Tournai #2)
Author – Antonia Aquilante
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 300

Cover – Stunning!
POV – 3rd person, past tense, multiple POV (Predominantly Cathal and Flavian, which small instances of Philip, Amory)
Would I read it again – Yes.

Genre – LGBT, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance


** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **


Honestly, I was surprised that this story came before Etan's. At the end of book 1, we didn't leave Cathal in a good place. We'd been asked to doubt, mistrust and dislike him for most of the book, while having no real explanation of his actions. He hadn't vindicated himself, while I'd spent a lot of book 1 really looking forward to reading Etan's story. However, despite it feeling out of place, at first – thus taking me longer to fall into the story – I do understand why it happened that way.

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Once again, the characters were phenomenal. I really liked Cathal back in the early pages of book 1, until he disappeared from the story and Etan took his place. I'd been looking forward to reading Etan's story but believed, because Cathal had been a ladies man, that we wouldn't be seeing his. I was surprised that we did and how it was done.

I was quite surprised that Amory and Philip's POV's were included. Other that two very short conversations they held in private, I'm not entirely sure they were needed, but I do love that they were included. I absolutely love them – both when I read book 1 and here, in book 2.

What I also really loved was that Etan was still quite a prominent fixture. I really grew to love him in book 1, but there was a much more tender, open side of him in this story that makes me excited to carry on into book 3, where we get his story. I also really missed Tristan, who I'm looking forward to seeing more of in the next book.

Sadly, because of the disconnect I mentioned at the beginning, it took me until 23% of the book to warm up to Cathal again. He had that same stiff upper lip attitude from the latter part of book 1 and it took me a while to forgive him for everything. But, it wasn't until he talked to Etan that I began to understand his motivation, his real personality and warmed right up to him. Normally, I would find this too late to introduce us or make us connect with a main character, but I could understand why and the real purpose behind it. It actually really helped show Cathal in a much better light – to show that unquestioning loyalty to his father, from book 1, while slowly, gradually introducing the much more playful, fun person that he could be with the right encouragement.

Personally, I really loved Flavian. He was much feistier than Amory and in a situation that he didn't particularly like, nor made him a pleasing companion. Despite how many times he snapped or grumbled, he remained a loveable, sweet character that I really enjoyed reading about. He was artistic, which made me hope that he and Amory could have a friendship together – though I understood why that never happened during this story – but he was also smart, with a Talent that was intriguing, and he was open to a whole new life to the one he knew. No matter how shocking or surprising the revelations might be.

The royalty and commoner theme wasn't like others I've read, where their stations in life have kept them so obviously from each other. The introductions of the idea, in book 1, of a royal openly taking a lover, eliminated this, which was so refreshing. At the same time, it meant that the shift of the focus on the relationship could centre on feelings, danger and politics.

The relationship that unfolded between him and Cathal was more uncertain. The risks they faced, the challenges between them and the progression were much more intense than book 1, where we knew that Philip would never let anything stop him from being with Amory. This time, with Cathal even unsure of his own feelings, it was much more uncertain as to where the story would lead, what would happen to the couple and whether Flavian would be safe enough for them to take the risk to have a relationship with each other. The challenge of Flavian's disguise was another uncertainty that had me sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting to find out what would happen.

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Overall, I really loved it. Though it took me a while to warm up to Cathal, that only gave me more time to fall in love with Flavian and his feisty attitude. And the glimpses of Amory and Philip, together with baby Julien, were perfect!

I can't wait to delve into the next book, to read more.

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Favourite Quote


This quote is from Etan, because I was too engrossed in reading to mark out any more that might have come along later. I don't find that a fault, since that just shows how good the story is.


“I thought we'd have time. I haven't even kissed him. Now I never will. I wish I'd kissed him, just once. I wish I had.”