ARC Review & Giveaway - Masked by Janelle Stalder

Title: Masked

Series: New World #2
Author: Janelle Stalder
Release Date: February 25, 2014

Goodreads Rating: 4.73 stars

My Rating: 4/5 stars

My Content Rating: NA (Contains explicit sex)

Summary from Goodreads: Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it.

New Berlin, 2040. Rebels prepare to fight against the New World Order, bent on bringing down the world’s greatest tyrant. One girl wanted nothing to do with it, content to keep her head down and make the best of this new world. That is, until she has no choice but to work with the rebels and infiltrate the NWO headquarters. Every moment she spends there puts her in danger, especially when one man, the second in command to the New World leader, continues to make his way into her every thought. She must stay focused and protect not just her mind and body, but also her heart. Will she be able to complete her task without being unmasked? Or will the one man standing in her way ruin it all?

***This review may contain spoilers for Switch, the first book in this series.  Click here for my review of Switch (and if you haven't read it yet, head down to the bottom of this post for two different ways to win it!)***

Masked is an exciting second book in the New World series.  After reading (and loving) Switch, I couldn't wait to find out what happened next!

Masked starts off right where Switch left off - with Bridgette posing as Charlotte (and as Weapon X). She is tasked with planting a bomb in the New World headquarters, otherwise her father has threatened to harm Charlotte (more than he already has). Impersonating Charlotte (even while masked) is difficult enough, but she also finds herself having to fight her attraction to Roman, the New World's second in command.

Meanwhile Charlotte, Pete and the rest of the rebels are trying to find a way to rescue Bridgette before she's discovered - or before her father gets to her.

The negatives:

• Somewhat unbelievable.  I had a hard time believing that Bridgette was able to fool everyone into thinking she was Charlotte for so long.  First of all, it's not as if she'd been around Charlotte for the past five years to really get that good of a handle on her personality, so I found it hard to believe that she mimicked her even as well as she did. Plus, both Roman and Ludwig noticed some sudden changes in Charlotte, but they weren't suspicious at all. I kept waiting for one of them (especially Roman) to figure it out! I definitely had to suspend disbelief on this aspect of the book.
• Insta-lust? I don't know if I'd go so far as to say that these books feature insta-love, but it's definitely insta-lust that moves pretty quickly toward love.  The first book focused on Charlotte and Pete, but Roman and Bridgette actually met in that book and were instantly attracted to each other.  Then, in this book, Roman and Bridgette's relationship moved forward and a new couple is introduced - Tyler and Missy, who are also immediately attracted to each other.  This time seemed even less believable to me, since they had almost no contact before the attraction developed and since Missy didn't trust men due to a past traumatic experience - I couldn't see any reason why she would feel so drawn to Tyler after just seeing him from across a room (and luckily he was drawn to her too).  That doesn't mean I'm not interested in seeing Tyler and Missy's story in the next book - I'm actually really looking forward to it - I just wish the pattern of the "instant connection" could be toned down a bit.

What I LOVED:

• Roman and Bridgette.  Since this book centered around the romance between Roman and Bridgette, it's a good thing that they were AMAZING together.  I loved that Roman was totally struggling with his feelings because he thought he was lusting after Charlotte. And then, of course, Bridgette was pretty insecure about any feelings that she thought Roman might have for her because she figured those feelings were really directed toward Charlotte. The sexual tension between these two was pretty much off the charts, and the more I got to know Roman, the more I loved him.  Once I got past the instant attraction thing, this was pretty much a recipe for an awesome romance!
• Likable villains.  I LOVE the villains in this series! It's actually kind of hard to say who the real villains are.  At the beginning of the series, the leaders of the New World Order (Roman and Ludwig) are presented as "bad guys," but by the end of book one, you're already figuring out that it's not that simple.  Well, this book definitely blurred those lines either further - Roman comes out looking like a hero and Bridgette even finds herself liking Ludwig.  By the end of the book, I actually felt kind of sorry for him.  This book makes it clear that Ludwig's intentions are usually good, even when his methods aren't.  Does that make him a good guy?  Well, no not exactly, but he's not an evil mastermind either. So, is Charlotte and Bridgett's dad the true villain then?  Well, for now it definitely looks like it, but I'm not jumping to conclusions - with this series, there may not be any true good or bad guys - and if there are, we might be confused about who they are right up until the very end!
• New rebels. There are some new players introduced in this book - the rebels from the "other" side of town. They turn out to be a bunch of tough, colorful women and I loved them!  They're real characters - each and every one of them!

I highly recommend this series to fans of NA and dystopian.  This book ended on a definite cliffhanger, and I can't wait to find out what Stalder has in store for us next! 4/5 Stars

***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***

About the Author

Janelle Stalder was born and raised in Brampton, Ontario. At an early age she developed a love for literature. Her debut novel, Eden, was the first book in a series of four, released in September of 2011. The second book, Eden-West, was released in July of 2012, and the third book, Eden-South was released in March of 2013. The fourth book of the Eden Series, Eden-East, will be release at the end of 2013. She is a strong supporter of other independent authors, and loves to interact with her readers. When she's not writing, Janelle is at home with her husband, two children, Aiden and Elora, and her two furry children, Alice and Lily. She now resides in the small town in Ontario in her old, possibly haunted, century home.

Author Links:

   

Publications:

THE EDEN SERIES

Trapped within the cruel world of hormones and bullies, fifteen-year-old Aiden is convinced life has more to offer him. His instincts are proven correct on the night he is awakened by a voice calling to him from outside his window. As he sleepily peers into his yard, his eyes slowly focus on a woman who says she is there to take him to Eden. Aiden is about to fulfill the life purpose he never knew he had.

It is in Eden, a land on the brink of war, where Aiden will finally learn to trust himself and those around him. Accompanied by Wolf, his sidekick Logan, and the beautiful archer, Elisa, Aiden is soon thrust into a battle to save Eden. Meanwhile Elisa, the only girl in the King's Army, is in the midst of her own struggles. Betrothed to a man she has no intention of marrying, Elisa is caught between the need to prove herself and her desire for true happiness. And now that she has met Aiden, she is more confused than ever.

In this action-packed fantasy tale, romance, adventure, and intrigue surround Aiden as he learns just what he is capable of when he discovers confidence and courage.

New beginnings, new conflicts, and new adventures arise in the second installment of the Eden Series, Eden-West.

Months after his initial journey to Eden, Aiden is learning to cope with his own transformation. His social status has changed, his friendship with his best friend Ethan is in jeopardy because of it, and worst of all, he has heard absolutely nothing from his new friends in Eden. What has become of the world he fell in love with? Are his friends safe? Is the war over? With no answers, and no hope for contact, Aiden decides to focus on his life in his world. Just as he makes this decision, he encounters a familiar bright light and thinks he knows exactly what it means. Except the light isn't at all what he expects and neither is the person behind it. When Aiden returns to Eden, it is to a whole new part of that special world, and a whole new set of adventures.

Weeks after Aiden was returned to his own world, Elisa is sent to Nysa, the revered Southern city, to retrieve the one thing she'd rather avoid - Wolf. Captain Turk instructed her to get in and get out - but that is easier said than done. When she finds her missing friend, she also stumbles upon a great deal of trouble. This trouble goes by one name - Markus, the leader of the Sun People.

Follow all your favourite characters as they ready themselves for battle and fight for a world threatened to be destroyed.

The betrayal that tore a family apart. Two brothers bent on destroying the other. A whole world on the brink of war.

Aiden has been through his second battle in the magical world of Eden. The victory is short lived and Aiden is sent racing toward his friends in the Capital. After being back in Eden with the Riders, he is eager to reunite with Wolf, Elisa and Logan, although he doesn’t realize just what he’s returning to. Surprises await him when he arrives in the Capital; his close-knit group of friends is slowly falling apart. On top of it all, another battle is just around the corner, one that will change everything.

Rain has made her choice, and now she is in some unknown fortress with the feared sorcerer, Aziz. She wants nothing more but to please him, but being his Queen isn’t as easy as she thought. While trying to learn sorcery, and dealing with Aziz’s advances, Rain is finding her new life a bit overwhelming. Just when she thought it couldn’t get worse, she discovers a secret of Aziz’s, and it is nothing she could have expected.

Rose has supported Callum throughout their journey, but now that the final battle is just around the corner she is faced with a hard reality. Everything she has gained with him could be taken away. Is she willing to live the rest of her life without him? Can she just stand by while he destroys everything, including himself? Will he ever be able to find peace? Will she?

In the third installment of the Eden Series fates will be decided, and the battle between brothers that has been a decade in the making will finally come to an end. Only one of them can be High King.

The battle starts now.

New life, new deaths, and truths revealed. Everything ends now.

In the final installment of the Eden series, the King’s army prepares for their biggest battle yet. Aiden and his friends set out to find Aziz in his hidden mountain fortress and bring the war in Eden to an end. But secrets are being discovered along the way, and the weight of them could ruin lives. Aiden is coping with loss and the need for vengeance, as well as changes in himself he doesn’t quite understand. Thousands of lives are depending on him to stop Aziz once and for all, and this time Aiden is more than ready and confident he’ll be the one to do it. The stakes are higher than he ever anticipated on his journey east.

Elisa is embarking on a new phase of her life. She has the man she loves beside her, their group of friends have become stronger, and the end of war is in sight. Now she just needs to see it through so she can finally have her happily ever after. But she knows the truth that the others don’t, and it will test her loyalty and friendship more than anything ever has.


With two brothers side by side, and an army ready for war, the only thing left to be seen is who will live and who will die.

Welcome to the thrilling conclusion of your journey into Eden.

THE NEW WORLD SERIES

All’s fair in love and war.

Two thirds of the world's population has been wiped out, devastated by the worst war earth has ever seen. Still standing amongst the ruins is a mind reader who finds herself on the wrong side of the war. Everyone does what they must to survive. When the rebels bent on bringing down the New World leader start to rise up, it is her job to make sure they stay down where they belong. That is, until one rebel sneaks past her defences and into her heart. Love will blossom from the ashes, but will it be enough to save them, or will it mean the end of them both?

Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it.

New Berlin, 2040. Rebels prepare to fight against the New World Order, bent on bringing down the world’s greatest tyrant. One girl wanted nothing to do with it, content to keep her head down and make the best of this new world. That is, until she has no choice but to work with the rebels and infiltrate the NWO headquarters. Every moment she spends there puts her in danger, especially when one man, the second in command to the New World leader, continues to make his way into her every thought. She must stay focused and protect not just her mind and body, but also her heart. Will she be able to complete her task without being unmasked? Or will the one man standing in her way ruin it all?

Upcoming Projects:

Tested (Book Three, New World Series) – Spring 2014

Elysium (YA Fantasy Spin-off of the Eden Series) – Summer/Fall 2014

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