I wanted to read this book because I am a fan of the author's Bonegarden series. And I am glad that I read this one. It's an interesting story with interesting characters. It was hard to put down once I started reading it. The author combines a few different genres and creates a brilliant story. The story alternates from the present events and past events with twists and turns you won't see coming. One of the best YA novels I've read this year!

I was excited when I first read the synopsis of this book, the idea of Gods walking among mere mortals and altering our lives in ways we couldn’t expect or anticipate sounds thrilling and not only that, it was based on mythology from across the globe, not just focused on Greek mythology which we see too often. The premise of this is fantastic and the ideas Knight tried to introduce and battle with are admirable, however the execution of these ideas were not good enough and it all fell a little flat.

Truly it was a like a breath of fresh air to read a book focusing on mythology from across the world, and to learn about gods and myths from other cultures and countries rather than just the same ones we constantly see in fantasy novels. I learnt so much about different mythology from around the world, and I really do appreciate how Knight tried to include figures from different cultures and countries in his work. However, I would have liked to have seen more discussion on the God’s roots and their connections to their cultures. For example, Sedna is an Inuit goddess but there was little mention of her connection or her daughter’s, Cairn’s, to Inuit heritage; similarly Ra who was an Egyptian God made no mention of the connection he had with his heritage. I understand they were born into different bodies each time and did not necessarily live in the countries or cultures their myths originated from, but I think it would have been an interesting idea to explore how connected they felt to their heritage or countries/cultures their myths originated from, whether or not they felt a large disconnect or a great connection.

I also enjoyed the fact this was set in a world where humans were aware Gods walked among them, and whilst I think the explanation they knew this because of social media and the documentation of people’s actions was not the best explanation, it was an interesting premise to work with. It was particularly interesting towards the end when this explored how this could influence politics and also democracy, and whilst I would have appreciated more depth with this idea it was one I welcomed happily.

This book is also full of action, and the action is fairly good in my opinion. Knight does not overpower the villains or the heroes in this story, and is also not scared to point out there are consequences to battles e.g. death or injuries. Whilst I prefer character driven stories and this one was driven by action so it wasn’t my cup of tea, I can recognise it could be someone else’s very easily.

One idea that appeared to keep popping up in the narrative was one of grey morality, however I don’t believe it was fully explored. It was there but never mentioned by name, and personally I think it was a theme that was underdeveloped and needed more time to flush out fully for it to help carry the narrative. I think also sometimes conversations where we hovered around the concept of grey morality were rushed, and if those conversations had been flushed out Knight could have brought something that whilst not new would have been interesting to the story.

As well as this, whilst I appreciate the complexity of the plot and the reveals that ran within it, I did feel like at times I was being told rather than shown what was going on. None of the plot twists felt particularly exciting as I was often told rather than shown them, there was little hinting at the plot twists before they were revealed and so I felt little shock at them – because when looking back there wasn’t much to guide me to these revelations, and I wasn’t surprised that I didn’t see them coming. As well as this, I found at times we were told Cairn had done things rather than lived them with her, which was confusing when they were events that often impacted the narrative or her relationship with the other characters. I think if there is a plot point that impacts your story or the dynamic between the characters a great deal you should probably show it rather than tell us about it.

I think perhaps my biggest problem with the book is I didn’t connect with any of the characters. Cairn is left largely as a blank slate, and I think that’s been done to make her more ‘relatable’ to a young adult audience, it does mean I can’t describe her personality for the sake of this review however. As well as that, it does mean that her romance and relationships with other characters lacks any chemistry as she’s far too much of a standard character to bring any spark to this. Unfortunately a lot of the characters in this book meet the same fate, it’s hard to distinguish the characters at times as they all largely sound the same, and when they do sound different they sound almost like caricatures of their roles or stereotypes. I would say I think Ahna is a fascinating character and I wish we would have seen more from her, as I really enjoyed the chapters where she was heavily featured.

Overall whilst I thought the premise and ideas were ambitious and interesting, I believe not enough detail was placed on the intricacies of the plot nor on the personality of the characters, and therefore the narrative at times felt lacking. If more time had been spent fully fleshing out some of the ideas in here and also more time was spent on character study, this could have been very good – the potential is definitely there, unfortunately the execution is not good enough. However, there is an audience for it if you are interested in mythology and enjoy action driven narratives.

This book was so much fun! I love the clash of mythological & modern, and the character development is A+. If the good reads system would allow for it, I would give it a 4.5, as it was excellent but the end wrapped up to cleanly (this is totally a personal preference thing).

This has been the first YA fantasy I have read in a while and it did not disappoint. While the subject of gods and mortals can be predictable, this story is told in such a refreshing way that it makes it so hard to put down.

Our main character Carin is brave, sarcastic, and smart, she knew what she wanted and stopped at nothing to get it. Beyond just Carin, there was diversity in characters that I wasn’t expecting. I knew this book covered gods, it was fun to read about other gods that aren’t always talked about such as Nagual, Nanook, and Vulcan along with many more.

The story itself keeps the reader on their toes and just when you think you figured it out, you get shocked with the reveal. The prose was easy to read with some more interesting vocabulary thrown into the mix. Overall I truly enjoyed this book and feel that many others will too.

Imagine a world where the Gods and Goddesses from every pantheon across the world are real and walk among humans. Imagine them as mortals with extraordinary powers, who will die just like mortals, but are reincarnated every century with no memory of their previous lives. Imagine them living as humans, secretly and openly. Now, imagine what would ensue if some of these deities were not all benevolent beings. This is the story of just how nightmarish that world could be for humans. It follows 18 year old Cairn Delacroix, the human daughter of a Goddess who witnessed new mother’s murder at the hands of an evil deity. Cairn will face unspeakable horrors in her quest for vengeance.⁣
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A strong contemporary mystery, laced with ancient mythology, this novel moves at lightning speed and features unique characters. The supreme beings of old are reimagined with spectacular detail and are not your typical Greek, Roman, or Egyptian Gods. This novel also features divine beings from across the globe such as Sedna, Inuit Goddess of the sea , and Nagual, a Mesoamerican shape shifter God. This diversity of myths makes the story richer and helps it stand apart from average mythological depictions. The tensions between humans and the reincarnated beings adds a realistic element to the story telling. The deities aren’t accepted by all, nor are they vilified by all. There is an authentic wariness among humans that I presume would occur if something like this were to happen in reality.⁣
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I liked the swiftly moving storyline for the most part, but found that sometimes the fast pace was at the sacrifice of character depth. The motivations and scope of the main characters are well done, their actions and emotions ring genuine. But some of the supporting characters could have been fleshed out a bit.⁣
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I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, The unique spin on mythological beings, the exciting mystery, and the interesting characters all contribute to a great read.⁣

Action and suspense are a major feature in this beautifully written sci fi fantasy by one of my favorite authors. This is one of my favorites by Knight.

This Eternity of Masks and Shadows by Karsten Knight

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This Eternity of Masks and Shadows was the first book I chose to read from NetGalley, and honestly I'm glad it was. It is fast paced, action packed and an all-round exciting novel set in a modern world where gods and mortals live amongst each other. If that sounds like something you'd like then you won't be disappointed! This review may include minor spoilers. If you want to read this book without any prior knowledge at all, this review may not be for you.
While I have never read any of Karsten Knight's other novels, it is immediately apparent by the style of writing that this is not his first. The writing is very clear and never sacrifices comprehension for any reason. It isn't poetic, but it is complex enough to stand above the crowd. I never failed to comprehend what was happening in the novel despite the complex arch that it tells. Everything tied together cohesively at the end which was satisfying as a reader.

This story follows two perspectives. Our main perspective is that of Cairn Delacroix as she unravels the mystery behind her mother's death. We also have the perspective of Ahna Delacroix, Cairn's mother. Ahna's perspective mostly comes from an event that happened 19 years in the past. Early in the novel we discover that Ahna Delacroix is a reincarnation of Sedna, the Inuit goddess of the sea. The story takes place in modern day Boston and in a world where gods and mortals live together. These gods are still ordinary people, however, and still die as such. Essentially, they're mortals with an extra edge to them, such as being able to change into an animal, make fire at the touch of a finger or the ability to communicate with sea creatures. Each god is reincarnated approximately every 100 years with no prior knowledge of who they were before.

One thing I was pleasantly surprised about in the novel was the how casual and natural the queer relationship unravelled. There was no discussion and no stress. It showed the relationship as equal to that of any heterosexual relationship which is important in this day and age. The relationship is not the main focus of the story and never overshadows the original story arch. This isn't a romance novel, but the romance was there just enough to add depth to the story in a natural and cohesive way.

Overall, I gave this book a 4 out of 5 star rating. There was a lot to the novel that I liked, but I feel as though the author could have added a little bit more to it. Some of the chapter breaks felt a little bit jarring and unnatural, but for the most part it worked well. If you are looking to read this story you won't be disappointed. It is a solid read and I look forward to seeing what the author produces in the future.

I thought the idea for this book was the kind of refresher that is needed in YA in regards to mythology, but the execution needed work.

I appreciated the attempt to bring the gods to a modern setting, especially when such a high standard is set with the popularity of Rick Riordan books and the ones introduces from other authors. I applaud the effort alone, since it seems many other YA instead trying to develop their own world or set it in the past when tackling mythology.

The problems I mostly have stem from the plot and the worldbuilding. Both could have served from a more refined and detailed telling. I have a lot of questions in regards to the mixing of mythologies and how everything fits together, as well as the actual plot itself. The book tried to blend genres and everything became confusing to read and understand at multiple points.

I think with better editing and a fleshing out of the narrative, this could be five stars easily with how well the writing itself is from the author.

Note: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’m fascinated by mythology, but I’m not completely in love with the idea of young adult fantasy. But I took a chance on this book because I liked the cover as well as the gods. And it is... I can’t really rate it because I had fun while reading it even as I felt that I’ve heard/read this story a million times over in several of the Marvel comics I binged on while I still had a subscription. In fact, the main part of the story resembles the latest Spider-Man movie.

It also threw up a LOT of questions. Where were the Hindu gods? I mean I get it, we have so many that if they were all reincarnated half the world’s population would have been gods. But still, some representation? Also, we believe in reincarnation, so this should have been a no-brainer. Where are the one god religions in all of this? Apparently they do exist, because one of the anti-god proponents say they believe in only one divinity and I assumed they meant Jesus Christ. (Again, this is based on Captain America's line about Thor in the first Avengers movie - did I say I'm a Marvel fangirl?)

But I still loved Cairn, I liked Vulcan and Nook, I liked Delphine. Cairn is a whiny brat (she has a reason to be so, her mom died in front of her and she failed to save mom) who turns into an avenging angel complete with an armored suit a la Iron Man and Vulcan is what? Jarvis? I always had a soft spot for Jarvis. Not lying here, I’m having a serious Marvel withdrawal in the time of Coronavirus, and I liked the book for the familiarity as well as being a fun read. I'd love a sequel.

ARC via Netgalley.

It takes a lot for me to give a five star read, but this blew me away. The amount of research that had gone into this book was outstanding, pulling from mythologies all over the world. It was a "curl up on the sofa and don't move for three hours" type book and I enjoyed every page. Well thought through, exceptionally planned, and a sheer delight to read, I will be recommending this to all of me fellow YA and / or fantasy lovers.

This Eternity of Masks and Shadows is a fast-paced mix of mystery, noir, vigilantes, and reincarnated gods and goddesses who walk the Earth mingling with mortals. Cairn Delacroix loses her mother Ahna, the reincarnated Inuit goddess Sedna, on a boat ride one evening but soon realizes that she was actually murdered. Cairn is drawn through the murky details of her mother’s past, working quickly to prevent further deaths from a mysterious foe. This book has a really interesting plot and is an exciting read. If you like vigilantes, superheroes, and mythology, this one is for you.

Firstly, thank you NerGalley for the ARC!

I thought the pacing was a bit fast throughout. I generally love consuming mythology-esque literature, but this book left me wanting. I was having a hard time keeping characters straight and connecting with them. Overall, an okay read.

I requested this book because I originally liked the sound of the premise, and thought it had good potential. Unfortunately, I felt that there were some things this book did well and some areas where it fell flat for me.

The characters: there were just too many of them to start with, and it felt like we didn't get much time with many of them apart from Cairn, Delphine and Nook. So it felt hard to connect with the characters, and it felt like they would just pop up and I'd be struggling to work out who they were and their relevance to the plot.

The plot: I felt like this book was trying to do too many thinks. It's pitched as a Fantasy but there are elements of crime thrown in there, and it was just almost like it couldn't be decided what it wanted to be. I liked the crime elements, but I thought the Fantasy elements were weaker and not as well developed.

Overall, a fast paced read, but I didn't feel gripped by the story.

This YA urban fantasy murder mystery with myths of SO MANY cultures, ticked all of the boxes for me before I even read the first page.

The story kicks off quickly with love professed, death of a loved one, and an action scene. It set the pace of the book (fast. It is super fast) I do love not having to sit through a fifth of the book being world-building info dumps. I would've like to have seen a couple more chapters of relationship and character building between Cairn and Delphine, and with her mum though.

The sapphic relationship between Cairn and her best friend wasn't specifically stated. It just was. This I appreciated as it didn't feel like the author was just adding it into the book because lgbtq+ representation is the "in" thing to do these days.

I liked that the pantheons in this story are lesser-known or minorities. To see my own pantheon (Maori) represented in this was more than amazing. I have never seen my culture showcased in a fantasy that is not solely about New Zealand or Maori so that was refreshing.

It took me a while to warm to Cairn. This was because she was different than the usual YA protagonists I'm used to reading but that didn't make her a bad character. As I stated earlier, I would've preferred to know her better, her pov. It is very rare we get an insight into her head which made it hard to connect with her.

The murder mystery aspect was cool to have in a book like this. It is definitely something I haven't read much of. However in saying that, I am only recently getting back into reading. I liked it. I am usually pretty good at picking who the bad guy was, it was NOT who I thought it would be and that was pleasantly surprising.

I found this was fast-paced and fun. It was easy to read and I would love to see these characters again. Especially Delphine! So I do hope it becomes a series.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

I have to say that this is a really good book. The characters are very fully fleshed-out, and Cairn's struggle with loss is the element that makes her flawed-character memorable.

The fast pace plot is very exciting and doesn't fail to excite readers. The end of the book is nicely wrapped up and has foreshadowing for the next book in the series.

I really enjoyed this book, so it's a four star recommend!

"Because the girl they pulled from the water that day was just a wispy, fragile husk of the one who dived in."

Knight successfully weaves gods and superheroes into a delightful blended story of action, mystery and romance.

The characters are layered and flawed, allowing readers to relate and sympathise deeply with them. The main character, Cairn, is ferocious, determined, and sassy. But it's her struggle with events, loss and love that really make her memorable. The warmth in Cairn's relationships with Delphine and Nook in particular is touching and engaging throughout the book. The f/f romance is beautifully written and heartwarming.

The plot is fast-paced and carries the reader through brilliantly described locations as the mystery unravels. A few twists and turns add to the story too!

Exciting, funny and heart-warming, This Eternity of Masks and Shadows is perfect for lovers of mythology, superheroes and action packed story.

I received a free ARC and am leaving my honest review.

This book takes place in a Boston where reincarnated gods of every pantheon mingle with humans. The protagonist is 18 year old Cairn, daughter of a goddess.

When Cairn's mother dies, Cairn is pulled into a 20 year old mystery that involved her mother.

This is a well written book with solidly developed characters.

The book ends with a set up for the next in the series, which I eagerly await.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

A fast-paced, thrilling, diverse superhero/ crime show. I enjoyed my time diving into this world, where all the gods are real and we are introduced to a very wide spectrum of mythologies. It was well-written, had good pacing and a cute f/f romance. I liked the mish-mash of genres, it felt refreshing and different. I would recommend this if you enjoy mythologies and/or superheroes and/or crime shows.

Summary: The gods walk among us. Some lurk in the shadows, masquerading as mortals; others embrace their celebrity status, launching careers from Hollywood to Capitol Hill.

One of them just murdered Cairn Delacroix's mother.

As Cairn sifts through the rubble, she uncovers a conspiracy two decades in the making: a cursed island, the fellowship of gods who journeyed there, and the unspeakable act that intertwined their fates. One by one, the members of that voyage are dying, and Cairn's investigations land her in the crosshairs of the rogue goddess responsible.

With the help of Nanook, a polar bear god turned detective, Cairn descends into Boston's underworld of supernatural crime and political aspiration. To avenge her mother and unmask her assassin, she’ll first have to reckon with a gut-wrenching secret that will rewrite the life she thought she knew.

This novel does an excellent job of weaving several different genres into one book. From superhero to murder mystery and of course mythology. I appreciate the character development of Cairn and her relationships with Nook is hilarious. I felt like the dad was basically absentee and sure it made sense because while he was off on his rock expeditions Cairn was able to track down her mother’s killer. I suppose I was just looking for more in that relationship than what was presented. My favorite parts of the novel were the flashbacks from when her mother was younger and on the island. I would totally read a book just on that.

Overall, pretty good but and worth the read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Main character is Cairn, a daughter of Inuit goddess and an ordinary man. When her mother commits suicide for no obvious reason, Cairn is determined to find out the truth and get her revenge. The story is a great mix of mythology, mystery and action. It's a real page-turner and enjoyable till the last page.