Wizard's Masquerade

An outstanding story that will be difficult to be put down. The development of the characters is a treat to watch develop. The story progresses from one surprise to another and catches the readers attention without fail.

tl;dr
One of my favorite reads of the year! Great mix of magic and romance featuring powerful wizards and an incredibly sexy love interest. MC's character development lags in comparison to everything else.

About
Leyna wants to help people, and it's been her life goal to join the Royal Guard. After an accident right before graduation, it looks like she may not get that chance. But to her surprise, an offer to join the Royal Guard appears anyway, and soon she and her friends are whisked off to the castle to join the king's elite. But Leyna's dream job turns out to not be as dreamy as she expected, with traitors in their midst, forbidden magic brewing, and the enigmatic court jester focusing on her for reasons unknown.

Thoughts
Dang, where to begin! There's a lot to like in here, especially for fans of magical schools and romance, who want something a step more adult. Most stories about magical academies end at graduation, so I was delighted to see that this story picks up from there. It's great to see our main cast are already competent spell casters with forged friendships and plans and history. The MC and her friends are already 22! Awesome. Was pleased to see that both MC's friends have their own things going on outside her existence, and that they're both more capable than she is in various respects. It's also a really great exploration of how dreams and reality don't always match up, as the MC discovers her dream job isn't nearly as noble as she imagined. World building is light, but with clear rules and an intriguing twist on the origins of magic that I really hope to see explored further in the second book.

As for the romance? Well, our mysterious LI is absolutely a winner. If you're looking for a roguish charmer with Just So Many Secrets along with some slow burn (MC) and guy falls first (LI), I've got great news for you. There's a lot of relentless teasing, plenty of mysteries, and a couple spicy lovemaking scenes that easily put this book in my top picks for the year.

I think the biggest downside of this book is that the MC doesn't get nearly as much character growth as she deserves. She's a hard worker, she has admirable dreams, she wants to put good into the world, and I like how seriously she takes things. But notably, she's also fairly classist, and weirdly lawful. She's hung up on using correct titles, to the point where she's aghast that her friend (who isn't nobility), keeps forgetting. She refuses to help her friends break innocents out of jail, because it's against the law. But unlike the "I believe in the justice system!" types who attempt to save innocent people through legal means (court battles, appeals, finding the true killer, etc.), she also seems reluctant to do anything on that front too. Her attitudes by the end of the book start to shift, and the cliffhanger ending implies a turnaround for her in book two, which I eagerly await. But in this volume, her development kind of lags, which is a shame considering how much I love absolutely everything else. It's still a strong recommend from me, and I hope to see her grow more in book two!

This was a really fun start to the Huskarl Duology series, the cover is what drew me in. The characters were great and it worked really well in the story. I loved the use of medieval fantasy romance and thought the romance worked out so well. It was a great use of magic and was what I was hoping for. I look forward to reading more in this series.

“He tried to poison the king!” she snarled, half addressing the audience and the officials sitting at the High Table. The court gasped, a panicked murmur rising at the accusation. “I saw him!” she continued, looking between the king and the audience. “He had a flask and… he added something to the king’s drink!”

WOW! The Wizard’s Masquerade was adventure that I couldn’t put it down. It’s the adult version of Harry Potter that we all want and need.

I love everything about it! The characters, friendships, slow-burn romance, mystery, banter from the Jester, and of course Floofy.

Jay Pellegrin is an artist with words, that made Leyna and the Jester’s world come alive.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC. And Jay for sharing your work with the world. I can’t wait for the next book!

Beautifully written, enemies too lovers romance fantasy!
The magic, the characters kept me intrigued and obsessed the whole way through!
Loved the dark moments and the magic infused plot!

This is everything a fantasy/romance reader could ever want.
Personally, I feel as if there’s not enough of this content in the adult genre. If you want fantasy/romance, you’re mostly going to end up reading YA books with juvenile characters. Not all the time, but a lot of the time.
When I say I’m a fantasy/romance reader, this is the ideal story. It’s got depth to it, you have plenty of time to get to know the characters, and the characters are adults.
I get tired of reading about the 17 year old heroine who defeated the impossible odds.
As a whole, I absolutely loved this story. The characters have believable flaws, they make mistakes, they face real consequences for their actions, and that’s real life.
I stayed awake too late to finish it because that’s just how good it is. It’s very original, it keeps you guessing, and I love the magic system! I’ll definitely be buying this on release day.

Absolutely Superb Writing!
Thank you Jay Pellegrin for bring such a good Fantasy Romance to life!

The story of Lenya starts off with a thrilling moment that keeps your eyes glued and from there on you can't put it down.

There was so many great moments in this book, I can't name just one.

Action packed, great word builing, magic, rimance and much more is loaded in this book

Wizard’s Masquerade is a brilliantly crafted start to a new duology by Jay Pellegrin. I was initially drawn in by the absolutely incredible cover, but ended up loving the fusion of its medieval setting, enjoyable magical system, and sprinkling of romantic elements. This story is told only through the POV our protagonist, Leyna. So, I’m hoping the second book will potentially explore another character POV (if you know who I mean👀).

We follow Leyna on her journey through magic school, her inauguration to the Royal Guard, and see her deal with the fallout of the attack on the travelling royal party. Personally, I felt like the synopsis does give maybe a little bit too much away, especially for the first 45%, but there were also other minor things happening at the same time as well.

Leyna has both charm and flaws, which is really good to see because not every decision she makes is the right one; I did find myself wanting to knock some sense into her sometimes tho. By the end of this book, I do feel like she has grown more trusting and has a better understanding of who she is and what she truly wants to do with her life moving forward.

The romantic elements were really sweet and there were some moments that made my heart swoon + witty flirtatious banter that couldn’t stop me smiling. In regards to predictability, I think the Jester’s true identity was quite easy to predict, but I actually found this the only identity I guessed correctly. There is, however, other unexpected reveals that I would love to do a reread to see whether I missed out on any dropped hints.

I am 100% going to try and get my hands on a physical copy of this book. I found myself lost in its pages and while it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, it does provide a good starting point for the second book. A super read that took me completely by surprise!!

>I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review<

Holy crap, I couldn’t put this book down! Aside from the creative and interesting story, the characters are all well-written (especially the main character, who has many flaws, which makes her relatable) and the romance dabbled throughout is intriguing! The only bad thing is that I have to wait for a sequel - and we know there is going to be one, right?

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for access to this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Picked this up without really reading anything about it as the cover alone ingruiged me and I'm so glad I did.

Surprisingly no spice really but that tension.... Oof.

The love interest being a jester was so quirky and different and sets it apart from the normal far romance books were used to.
Very much a fantasy romance with ballgowns and whimsicle magic.

Thank you for giving me the chance to review this ARC.
This book comes out 30th Sept!

I immersed myself into this book so quickly, and found myself easily falling in love with it. I actually oddly enough read about the first two lines of the description and immediately was sold after seeing a jester was stealing the heart of the MC. With that being said I actually went into this book rather blind having not finished the description of the book and I am SO glad that I went in blind. I feel that it really left a refreshing new story for me thats so unique from all of the “fae rave” the fantasy world seems to be in. This book kept me on my toes with a wonderful plot and feel good friends vibe. I will say I did expect there to be wayyyyyy more spice in the book but I actually am surprised that I loved it so much without all the hot and heavy scenes….thats how great this book was for me. Not to mention I LOVE a thick book and whew this one is, but that didn't stop me from reading it in a little over 24 hours. I believe anyone who is a avid fantasy lover will absolutely love this book.

I picked this up purely based on the cover art, which I found so beautiful and intriguing that I simply had to know what this book was about. I tried not to get my hopes up - I’ve been pulled in by too many beautiful covers before only to be disappointed. I am happy to report, however, that Wizard’s Masquerade is a wonderful romantic fantasy that far exceeded my expectations!

The Plot:

“After surviving a horrendous injury, Leyna knows her chances of becoming a wizard are dashed—so no one is more surprised than her when the Wizarding Guild allows her to graduate and she receives her offer to join the Royal Guard.

But when tragic news arrives of a monstrous attack on the king and his court, Leyna devotes herself to hunting down the traitors responsible and restoring the kingdom’s peace and way of life.

As Leyna is drawn deeper into a web of secrets and lies, she soon becomes entangled with the jester in a treacherous game of trust and betrayal.”

I loved our heroine Leyna - she’s ambitious, strong-willed, and a bit stubborn. This makes her slow burn romance with the Jester who just can’t seem to stop teasing her absolutely delicious. Their dynamic is one of my favorites, and I miss them already. And speaking of the Jester - never did I expect that a man wearing bells could make me blush!

This book is also simply a pleasure to read - the prose is elegant and the story flows along at the perfect pace. The settings and spaces are described so well that I could perfectly envision them, and I found myself wishing I could occupy a cozy little corner of the castle myself. I adored the side characters, who all got the chance to shine. I cannot wait for the next installment!

If you love slow burn romances, ballrooms, gowns, political intrigue, courtly manners, spies, steamy encounters in secret, and of course, magic, Wizard’s Masquerade is the book for you!

5 Stars ⭐

Wizard’s Masquerade will be released on September 30, 2022.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the ARC!

This perfectly scratched the romance itch I needed! I loved how fast paced it was and although I was able to guess who the main villain was quite easily (mostly because he reminded me so much of professor quirrel to begin with!) I don’t feel like it took that much away from the story. The romance was great, I loved Jester so much!!

I only took a star away mainly for the predictability of most of the twists. I was also generally really confused about the maze test since I thought it was a 1v1 until like 75% into the book lol! And I’m never usually lost in fantasy novels, but that had me very confused

I love wizards, fantasy, and all things romance. This book had all three of those things.

I've seen a lot of reviews that said elements of this book reminded them of Hogwarts. I absolutely agree. There was a wizards school, and a lot of action in this book. Even though this had a lot of elements you are used to, I never knew what direction the story was going to take. There were some high stakes moments, that had me on the edge.

My favorite part of this book was the Jester. I fell in love with his teasing, his observant nature, and the flirting. I looked forward to every moment with him because the dialogue between him and the FMC was so dynamic and they just had great banter.

The FMC was the cause for all of my stress. Reading her story, almost felt like I was reading a tale about the enemy. She was definitely flawed. I mean, there was jealously, a bit of superiority, and I felt like she was always on the wrong side of the cause. Don't let that deter you though. It made for a good character arc, because you really saw her try to figure out where she wanted to go. She was battling the whole time on which side was good and which was bad. As the reader, if felt more obvious, but in her shoes I could see why it was so difficult. One side was everything she knew about being a good citizen. She had to figure out what being and adult and the politics of her society. How no matter what she chose, that it wouldn't be a black and white decision.

All in all, I devoured this book. I wrote a lot, because a lot happened. I loved every single moment of it!

“He was a mystery, one that she wasn’t sure she wanted to uncover”

Wow just wow !!!
This book gave me chills!!!! I felt my obsession for it and its characters growing and growing by the minute !!!
I couldn’t put it down !!! I felt completely trapped in the story, in the plot and the political intrigues happening in it!!
I fell in love with its magic system and its world and these characters are absolutely amazing !!!
Leyna is a great main character, one I felt like I could relate to in more than one way !!!!
Her doubts, her insecurities and her ambition and determination are so real and so complicated that I actually felt like I was in the story myself!!
And let’s say that I fell for a certain jester that honestly made me melt !!!!
Those spicy times were really good!!!
And the tropes in it !!!! Fake identity and enemies to lovers were my undoing!!!!
This book is definitely a great beginning of a series and knowing that this is a duology … well now I have chills for book two !!!!!
I loved but hated how it ended and o honestly cannot wait for the story to continue !!!!!

“Naughty, sneaky little fox”

5/5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! The second I started reading it, I was completely hooked!

The story follows a girl named, Leyna, who at the start of the book is in her last year of completing her examinations to become a full wizard. Within the first few chapters tragedy hits and her dreams of completing school and becoming a wizard are almost ruined until she gets the offer she always dreamed about. Becoming a Royal Guard. When she arrives at the castle to serve the king, a huge tragedy strikes and it falls on her to figure out who caused it. Secrets and lies are revealed as she investigates and people that she knew turn out to be something they're not.

Not to mention Jester. He's mysterious and charming. But Leyna doesn't know who he is behind the mask both figuratively and literally. As she gets to know him, he becomes even more mysterious and interesting. Every single time they had any interaction throughout the book I wish it could have gone on longer. I loved the chemistry between them!

This is probably one of the best fantasy romance books I have read in a while. Jay Pellegrin did an amazing job creating her fantasy world and an even better job with the relationship between Leyna and Jester. I highly recommend that people read this book! It has the right amount of fantasy and romance. I can't wait for book 2!

Thank you to NetGally and Jay Pellegrin for providing me with this arc for an honest review.

The world is very interesting and makes me want to learn more about it. I feel like this book only gave us the tip of the iceberg. My only con about this is that Leyna does not act like she is 22 years old. She feels more like 16-17. The jester is such a complex character. I hope the next book delves more into his background and how he came to be how he is.

„Wizard’s Masquerade“ is the first book of the „Huskarl Duology“, an unputdownable high-stakes fantasy novel that’ll keep you on your toes until the very end.

Becoming a royal guard has always been Leyna’s biggest dream, but not long after achieving her goal, all hell breaks loose. The king and queen she swore to protect are murdered and the new regime appears to be more than just a little shady. Trying her best to restore normalcy, Leyna has to figure out who she can still trust at court. One of the most questionable figures being the court jester who peaks her interest in more ways than just one.

I don’t even remember how I found this book, but I am glad I did. „Wizard’s Masquerade“ is one of the most riveting fantasy novels I’ve read in a long time. The stakes are high, the magic system is interesting and the slow-burn romance is entertaining – so what’s not to like?
Like the protagonist, the reader does not know who can be trusted and uncovering all the lies, schemes and secrets alongside the book’s heroine is as entertaining as it is suspenseful.
Leyna is very idealistic, sometimes bordering on naive, character and a stickler for the rules, which I found to be very relatable, if also frustrating at times. The most interesting character for me, however, isn’t our protagonist, but the court jester. His unpredictability and secretiveness are very intriguing and his initial interactions with Leyna are nothing short of hilarious.
Fair warning to all those who, like me, tend to get attached to fictional characters: Don’t.

Magic, demons, political intrigue, humour and romance – this book has it all. If you are looking for an unpredictable high-stakes fantasy novel that’ll keep you guessing until the very end, you should definitely read „Wizard’s Masquerade“.

A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc!

This was great! I thoroughly enjoyed this!! I have a soft spot for romance novels, especially “romantasy” and this was just perfect:))

A very magical fantasy novel that gives a good balance of romance, world building and character building.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Some romance, but it isn’t the main point. Some heavy politics, violence, death, manipulation and, of course, a jester watching it all.

Solid characters who are flawed but fun.

The situations are sometimes a bit too real, the politics a bit too political. I found myself feeling for the main character as she struggles with achieving her goals to find they aren’t all that.

At the same time, disillusionment doesn’t stop the world and it doesn’t stop people from continuing to work through ever changing situations.

Magic doesn’t magically fix all situations and cure all wounds. As it shouldn’t.

A fun ride, I look forward to the second book in the duology. Also, if looking for a light relaxing beach read, this isn’t the place. This is more Outlander than Cozy Witch Mystery. (less) [edit]

I openly admit I requested this based on the little snippet and the cover. I thought I will get through this for those two things alone.
Instead I found a main character whom I loved in all her little ways, a great world and magic system and also a confusing use of demons.
This book gave me the same feelings the Mirror Visitor series gave me and something I didn’t think I’d find again.
Also Jestie I love you.
Leyna was a delight and while some of it was a bit confusing and distracted I followed along with the magic system and the good times of huskarls and royal life. I feel like I could also feel the chamberlain’s hand every-time it was mentioned and I did not enjoy that ha
It was a fun ride with a little bit of spice but nothing too much and also the longing and that letter was very Austen-y and I highly approved ((I’m a cheeseball everyone)) also went ahead and pre ordered the ebook so I can book mark my favorite passages ((I wish it was a paperback))
I’ll revisit this and can’t wait for book two

Jay Pellegrin made an awesome work in fantasy romance. I am not really a fan of romance genre. But, Pellegrin sure had change my mind about romance in fantasy. Also the cover is truly beautiful

This was such an easy read that I couldn't put down, I devoured it. It was well written with great character development, good worldbuilding and well developed characters. I loved the romance in the book and the mystery which kept me guessing. I cant wait to see what comes next.

Although it took me a chapter or so to get into, I really enjoyed this book. As a fantasy romance, it was so unique which I loved!

The whole book had a regency-esque kind of vibe, especially because of the court dynamics and the courting and the ballrooms and all and I definitely loved it and the uniqueness of it all.

The love interest was also AMAZING he had my heart from the moment we met him and I thought he was such an intelligent, funny character and just ADORED HIM.

The only reason why I didn't give this book 5 stars was because I found myself feeling frustrated with our protagonist, Leyna, at times. She seemed immature for a 22 year old which did have an effect on the choices she made.

I also thought some of the twists were very predictable, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book nonetheless and was practically unable to put it down until I had finished!

A great page turner. Unpredictable plot so many twists and hidden truths, would have love a bit more development with the parents.

"She felt like she belonged there, in his arms. She was found. She was seen and wanted.

And she wanted him as well."

Leyna is days away from completing her exams, passing her 7 year long studies at the Wizard Guild, and her dreams of being a Wizard and Huskarl, a guard to the royal family.

Everything about her dream isn't playing out the way she had envisioned all her life. Starting with an accident that almost set her back a year, that perfect dream is cracking. After finally getting her offer letter to be a Huskarl, Leyna leaves the Guild with Grace and Quinn, friends from her class, to head to the castle and accept her official Huskarl title from the king.

Only a couple days after arriving, word arrives that the king, queen, and their entire court and guards were attacked while traveling. With her world completely thrown off its axis, she is determined to figure out what happened.

The more she digs, the more she begins to question everything she's ever known. It isn't much easier with the Jester constantly around. She knows he has secrets, and is possibly dangerous, but can't help but be drawn to him. Leyna has to figure out who to trust, including unraveling her life and ambitions as a Huskarl.

MY GOD THIS BOOK IS CAPTIVATING!! Jay Pellegrin's world takes me right back to the years of reading fantasy as a teenager, but higher stakes, and definitely with an adult spin on it. We have magic schools, a castle, spells, wizards, shapeshifters, demons, royal hierarchy, secrets and betrayals, AND A JESTER!!

This is a world you really can immerse yourself in while reading, and characters that develop really well throughout. Pellegrin admits herself that Leyna is a "strong flawed female protagonist" and it's a perfect description for her. She has a one track mind, only dreaming of ever being a Huskarl, and she is naïve, selfish, jealous, spoiled, and infuriating when the book starts. Everything that is happening around her forces her to dismantle her belief system, and it really isn't easy for anyone, especially with Leyna, it's like pulling teeth. By the end it's like a huge sigh of relief, she had wonderful character development and her story is set up perfect for more growth into the second book of this duology.

The shining star of this book is Jester. We are told right off the bat that he is dangerous and charming. But are so true, and he is the perfect MC in a story with lies and secrets. We are along with Leyna on the journey and get to watch her figure out how much she's going to let him in. He is snarky, rude, and dazzling to say the least. I was constantly looking forward to any scene with him in it, because it really forced Leyna to think and evolve. I fell in love with him and I really hope there is a lot more of him in the next book.

The story is very long and could definitely do with a lot of trimming for some parts that felt repetitive, but Pellegrin announced on Instagram that they worked with editors and are cutting it down, so I have high hopes that the published copy will fix this issue. I definitely think we could have gotten a little more back story from the side characters, especially Grace, Quinn, and Seth. Their relationships with Leyna would give her that extra bit of dimension that I think she could benefit from.

Overall this is a fantastic first book, and Medival Fantasy Romance. I am 100% invested and will be reading the second one. It's out soon and I think is a great read if you want a longish romantic fantasy that has reverse grumpy x sunshine, enemies to lovers, lots of banter, a flawed (BUT EVOLVING) FMC, dances in castles, magic/wizards and a smidge of spice.

OH AND ALSO. JINGLING BELLS *WINK, WINK*
Thank you Netgalley, Jay Pellegrin, and BooksGoSocial for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

↠ 4.5 stars

My Review
I received an Arc of the book from NetGalley. Book comes out 30 September 2022
Few things about me, I love fantasy. Anything to do with magic and I’m there. I also love enemies to lovers romance. I don’t mind slow-burn romances as long as there is romance, I’m good. Bonus if there’s an HEA.
I didn’t care too much when I saw the slow-burn tag. I just nodded and began reading, but they were not kidding when they said slow-burn! I was literally screaming get together already! That aside, once this book got going, it was a lot of fun. I loved the world-building. I was like, how do I become a part of this world? The characters likeable and the story was a lot of great.
Would I read more from Jay Pellegrin? Yes. Would I continue? Absolutely. I want to know what happens next.

Until next time peace and happy reading.

Rating: 5/5
I was gifted this book for my honest review

WOW, I loved everything about this book, but I SERIOUSLY wait a whole year to find out what is going to happen next!! NOOOO.

I really enjoyed everything in this book from the magical moments with the wizards, to the charming but annoying Jester, to the determination of Leyna to find out the truth in everything and no matter the cost. I loved the MCs of this book so much I thought they were well written and adapted, even the side characters were written well and fit perfectly with who they were.

Leyna is smart, beautiful, ambitious, and determined. For me I found her relatable and yes to connect with. She does have her flaws, but she has her reasons for them and honestly it just makes sense that she would, she is young and how she was raised helped in making who and why she is this way. I can’t say too much because I do not want to give anything away.

I loved the Jester so much! He is annoying, funny, handsome, romantic and his banter with Leyna really brought the book together. I love that with the Jester, Leyna would try her hardest to give back just as good/if not better than he was. I love how he has many different sides and how he shows these different sides to different people but with Leyna he started to show her all of himself. I enjoyed trying to figure out who the Jester was and the little hints throughout the book up to the point where it was revealed, I was so happy that I got it right and I couldn’t stop smiling while reading.

The plot of the book was well done. It had a lot of action, romance, drama, and heart. I did like that the plot never drifted away from the main point of the book and the cliffhanger at the end of the book, wow. I am so happy that she was able to work through a few things and reach a decision on what is next in her life, and therefore I am so excited to read book 2. I thought the setting of the book was right on point, I could picture the beauty of the scenes and the horror/fear of other times.

Be prepared when reading this book, you will fall in love with the characters, the settings, and the book. However, be ready for some tragic scenes but nothing gruesome and there were a few steamy scenes but for me they were at a level 2.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait until book 2 comes out to see the rest of the story unfold.

I want to thank NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and the author for allowing me the chance to read and review this book.

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


I absolutely loved this book. There is no other way to put it, I was just captivated by it from start to finish.

Don't get me wrong - it had it's imperfections, which is why I chose against giving it five stars. The at times predictable plot and lack of development in the magic system made me remove a star from my rating, yet the romance between Leyla and the Jester, along with the easy to follow writing completely makes up for it.

I usually am not a sucker for romance, however these two were a delight to read about. The banter, the chemistry, the angst, the dialogue and the just spicy enough scenes had me reading chapter after chapter yet dreading to reach the ending, knowing I will have to wait to read more of them untill the sequel comes out.


I cannot wait for the second book to published! Thank you net galley and book sirens for providing me with an arc!

I picked this up from Netgalley out of curiosity for the gorgeous cover, and did not expect it to consume the better part of a week.

Leyna has only one goal: graduate at the top of her class so that she may join the ranks of the huskarls, the royal guard of wizards. And yet once she gets all that she has ever dreamt of, her convictions are tested by those who would see the kingdom fall, and by one mysterious jester who haunts her every thought.

This book started with a real bang, with Leyna fighting tooth and nail to survive her final exams. The magical school setting is a fun place to start, and I found myself missing it after Leyna graduates and moves into the castle. The story definitely dragged during the latter half when Leyna was trying to solve the villainous scheme that I guessed from a mile away, and I found myself losing steam… at least until we got to the Jester nuggets.

Leyna is a deeply flawed protagonist, which makes her story at times difficult to swallow while nevertheless paving the way for some good development. She holds so steadfast to her convictions that she makes the wrong choices, the nonheroic ones. But if there’s anything she has, it’s grit.

It’s truly a delight to see her matched up with Jester, to see her lawful nature clash with his chaotic one. He’s here to mess with her and inform her that she should really do something about that stick up her bum. 5 stars for Jester alone, tbh. He’s so much fun, and the mystery around him have way to some unexpected heart. I just want to have a physical copy to highlight and tab up so I can return to his iconic scenes.

But really I gotta say, poor Leyna was getting Pavlov’ed hard by those jester bells. Iykyk.

Honorable mention goes to the really neat side cast of friends and enemies alike.

Really hope the next book comes out soon bc I need more of these two!

I have some mixed feelings about this story. While there were many things that I absolutely loved, there are also some areas where I was a little less than thrilled. I’m going to confidently give this one four stars because I did really enjoy it but there are a few elements that I felt could have been better for my experience with the story.

I love that this book is new adult, with all the elements that young adult fantasy readers love, but with older characters and more adult content. It is the perfect romantasy, a blend of fantasy and romance. The story world is going to be everyone’s new favorite wizarding school. I enjoyed the world-building and magic system, even if I wanted a bit more from it. There are whimsical settings and atmosphere throughout, perfectly reflected against some of the more sinister happenings.

This was quite a long read. Part of me feels like it didn’t need to be this long, and part of me wishes for more from certain aspects of the story. It was definitely action-packed but there were times where the pacing started to drag, particularly with the depth of the political intrigue (which, I admit, isn’t my favorite theme). I wanted more from the magic-side of this story because it was so interesting. I also felt that the plot arc was a little too predictable, the surprise reveals weren’t the revelations that they could have been.

I still have mixed feelings about the protagonist, and I’ve been stewing on these thoughts for days. While she is relatably flawed, she is also frustratingly annoying sometimes. And maybe that’s an intentional choice, just demonstrating the reality of humanity. But, ugh, did I want to slap some sense into her sometimes. Even so, I was hooked into watching her journey and her growth and I was invested in the character’s outcome.

The romance is swoon-worthy and slow-burn. I love the dark, mysterious jester - definitely some of my favorite tropes. His mysterious identity really drives the tension in the story. I like that he is a unique love interest from what is typical in a fantasy. And the flirty banter dialogue is absolute perfection, probably the strongest part of this book. I definitely wanted more spice (not sure why I had expected there to be more), for my own sake, but I think that many readers will like that it isnt too smutty.

Even with my few minor qualms, I loved this story and was immersed into it. I absolutely recommend it to other fantasy romance readers and I would love to read the next book in this series. I will definitely be following this author to see what the future holds!

"I don't have any dreams of my own, you see---at least, I didn't, until I met you..."

****this version of the book was a past edit of the book. This one did feel lengthy toward the beginning, as the world building needed to be put in place. The author has a revised variation after lots of initial reader feedback. The following is my review after the MOST recent edited version of the book, which is also available on NetGalley through another listing****

Leyna Saunders has a plan set in stone for her life: graduate from the Guild as a wizard and become a Huskarl of the Royal Guard, serving the king.

All this and more DOES happen, but at what cost? The picture-perfect life Leyna painted for herself is derailed as lies, courtships from a meddling mother, Royal politics, and a sneaky Jester shatter the life Leyna always thought she wanted.

Castles and wizards and magic, oh my! This BOOK. I'm a sucker for fantasy romance, so this one took my heart and RAN WITH IT. The world that Jay Pellegrin creates in "Wizard's Masquerade" is full of vibrant, magical wonder. There's nothing better than being sucked into a fantasy book and I was intrigued from the very first chapter!

I absolutely loved Leyna and her thorough character arc. She had a SET vision for her life, but when that vision didn't pan out as expected, reality sunk in and she was left with a life at the castle full of mystery and deception. Reading her from beginning to end was SUCH a treat. She's definitely a character that comes with her flaws, but I'm so excited to see how she grows throughout book 2.

JESTER. My sweet Jester. An absolute little sh*t, but I adored every second of it. He has his secrets, and divulging them was a hardship, but getting to know him was a WHIRLWIND. His character arc in particular was fantastic, and as he and Leyna grew closer, that emotional wall was chipped away bit by bit.

I was SOBBING BY THE END. I was in absolute SHAMBLES as the story wrapped up. Such a fantastic start to a new series! I highly recommend this if you're into fantasy romance, castles, magic, a charming Jester, fluffy little pets, a sloooow burn, and a protagonist with a good head on her shoulders! I can't wait to see how everything pans out in book 2.

Thank you to Jay Pellegrin and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

RATING: 5 out of 5 🤍

“You see, I admire you so much, Leyna. It is easy for someone like the Jester to mock your bravery, or to make light of your achievements, but the fact remains that in these past months, when the world has near gone mad and threatened to fall apart around us, it is you who has been constant”

THE COVER IS SO BEAUTIFUL THATS WHAT DREW ME IN INITIALLY!!

this book had such a gripping first chapter, one of the best openings i have read in a long time!!

slowburn, pining at its finest here, such a great male lead. funny, sarcastic and even had a good sad backstory!

i liked all the side characters especially quinn. such a good backstory too!

the characters were i felt really fleshed out however i will say leynas character at some points did get annoying and i did feel the story dragged and was also repetitive at some points.

i did like the political side despite the confusion i had sometimes. it was nice to read something that felt fresh and well thought out.

HAVE TO END ON MY BOY THE JESTER HONESTLY SUCH A GREAT CHARACTER.

so good for a debut novel!!
would definitely read more from Jay Pellegrin

From beginning to end, this book was a delight! The incredible cover art immediately caught my eye, and the premise captured my imagination.

Leyna is a 22 year old and we see her journey as a wizard and recruited by the castle. She is likeable and develops as a character. The Jester is phenomenal and had me cracking up at the way he would tease Leyna at times; he was my favourite.

The other characters were fairly well written, and aside from villains, didn’t really change or develop more in depth personalities. The Prince at one point almost takes his life, but then seems semi fine afterwards, which I thought a bit odd.

I loved the imagery and world building, from the outfits, to the demons and magic itself. This whole book was a thrilling adventure to be on and one I’d definitely reread in the future! I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Oh and the romance was just right, not too hot & not too cold. It added to the story instead of consuming/overtaking it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jay Pelegrín & the publisher BooksGoSocial for a copy.

This book was freaking amazing! The magic and court intrigue, secrets and silent blushes, were written to perfection, and the character growth of Leyna progressed at a good pace. I loved how I was able to see her grow into the person she became at the end of the book and how Finnigan also evolved so much in a good way. The setting swept me away and the flashback/s were well-placed. The overall plot and world-building was magnificent and the plot twists until the very end just made my stomach drop and return to normal like in a rollercoaster. The chemistry between Leyna and Finnigan was perfect and they are certainly part of my top fantasy ships now! I’m so excited for the next book in the Huskarl duology and I’m cheering for Leyna and Finnigan the whole way! The prose sometimes felt a bit underwhelming, considering that this is a fantasy novel, and that’s why my rating is 4 stars. Amazing read though and I will for sure keep my eye out for the next book! Kudos and congrats to Jay Pellegrin for writing this!

This book had an action packed, exciting opening chapter that I felt like really set the tone for what this book was going to be. After that, the story did slow down a little for me, but this book definitely is part political fantasy so there was a lot of plot development that had to happen. I did find myself a bit confused at some points but nothing I didn’t quickly catch back up on.

Once I got maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of the way in the book I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading. I really enjoy a fantasy book but love the romance plots too, and I think it really delivered on both aspects. I’ve seen some debate as to whether people liked the MC but I personally really did!

A very enjoyable and addictive read and I’m excited for the next book in the Duology.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is truly a magical story! Also, I'm 100% obsessed with the cover! STUNNING!!!

*RTC*

Overall Rating → <b>4 STARS</b>
Price is Right? → <spoiler> Kindle version $2.99 RN on Amazon </spoiler>
Page Turner? → YES!!!
Would I recommend? → YES!!!
Would I re-read? → Yes
Would I read more from this author? → Definitely

Thank you Netgalley and the author for the arc.

I loved this novel!!

What I adored were the characters. The differences in all their personalities were well done.

The story itself is quite interesting. The world-building is light, you insert yourself quite easily into the story. And we start off with a bang with action right from the beginning. The magic system with the otherworld is something I haven't seen before. Just the general relationship with the other world was super intriguing.

The different settings were interesting as well. The characters developed differently in each different setting.

As for the characters themselves, can't say there's one I didn't enjoy reading about.

Leyna was struggling with her dreams, her aspirations, and what the world actually gave her. In a new part of her life, where she wanted to settle but no. Changes upon changes kept happening and had. her morals were questioned all throughout.

The Jester. By far my favorite character. I won't go into too much detail about him as I want the other readers to be as mesmerized as I was. So mysterious, funny, conniving, yet sweet and all the good things. He truly brought a smile to my face whenever he appeared on the page.

And obviously had to mention Floofy. Our mascot for the story. May I just say that I want one very badly.

Overall highly recommend it! I cannot wait to see where this story goes CAUSE I CANT STICK WITH THAT ENDING.

I felt the whole range of emotions reading this anger, disappointment, joy,anxiety, heartbreak , I laughed so much and ohhhhh the romance. It’s slow burn which is my favourite, not very much steam, but so many soft romantic moments, it’s just gorgeous. But it hurt to read the end I’m so sad but so excited for the next ! I need the next now

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I ended up getting sick while in the middle of reading this book and had to put it down, but it was easy to pick back up again once I was better, which for me means the story flowed nicely. I love the cover, and enjoyed the intricate world.

Ambition, intrigue, secrets, and betrayal amongst the court and wizards. Fantasy epic with good versus evil, but who is who? And woven through it all a bit of romance and solid friendship. A message of the blindness of naive ambition and pride.

Leyna, a wizard in training, dreams to one day join the Royal Guard. When that dream turns to reality she is thrilled. However, her happiness is short lived when tragedy strikes and the King and his court are attacked and almost everyone is murdered.

Leyna is tasked with finding those responsible for the horrific crimes against the crown. No one is above suspicion and many have something to hide.

I initially chose to read and review this book because the cover caught my eye. But the write up was also very intriguing. And the book did not disappoint.

The characters were well developed. I was especially fond of the Jester who I could so easily picture and hear through the authors words. And I love the chemistry between Jester and Leyna.

This was an original story that offered mystery, magic, intrigue and bit of romance. This did not have the feel of a debut book. It was a fun read and I look forward to book two. 4 stars.

This book had me hooked from the beginning! The action paced and mysterious start to this novel really made curious for the rest of it, and I´m glad it did. We follow the story of Leyna and her path to glory, except, maybe her ambitions weren´t as glorious as she thought them to be. I had a love-hate relationship with her, but her growth is undeniable. My favorite character was The Jester, as he really shined through the book. His lines, his actions, his secrets. I was there for it all. I wished we could get more of Quinn and Grace, but I´m sure the author has a plan for it all. Overall, a captivating read full of action, twists and betrayals. Definitely reccommend. My thanks to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Wizard's Masquerade is Book 1 of the Huskarl Duology

| Medieval Fantasy Romance | Enemies-to-Lovers | Secrets & Deception | Castles & Ballrooms | Magic & Political Intrigue | Slow Burn Romance |

Who knew the jester was dangerous, or that he would try to steal her heart?

After surviving a horrendous injury, twenty-two-year-old wizard Leyna finds her dream of a glorious career in ruins—until she receives an offer to join the Royal Guard.

But Leyna’s dream soon turns into a nightmare when tragic news arrives of an attack on the king and his court during their travels.

As Leyna’s world is turned upside down, she devotes herself to restoring normalcy at Rutherford Castle and uncovering the true culprit of the attacks.

But the castle’s inhabitants hold dangerous secrets, including the mysterious jester, who is both infuriating and charming. As Leyna is drawn deeper into a web of secrets and lies, they become entangled in a treacherous game of trust and betrayal—but can she trust the jester with her heart?

-------

Wow....I don't know that this book is going to be THAT GOOD THO!
Love both the heroine and the hero and all the mystery around them! Highly recommended if you like medieval fantasy books. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I will try to read other books by the same author.

I’m going to start off by saying that I really liked the whole idea of this novel. I was easily swept in and the world building was believable. It starts off as a high 4 star and then moves into a slow 3 about halfway.(I want to mention here that some of my favorite series are like this for me.)And then it picks up to a 5 and ends on a low 4.
There will be a book 2 and I really want to read it. I don’t want to give anything away but I will say I really liked the side characters and loved the hero in the romance. I recommend this if you like fantasy romance.
Thanks BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.

In a castle (where I can imagine in details), our heroine (Leyna) is almost a wizard, ay the point of graduation. With a mystery to be solved, the male lead comes to action: Jester. Dangerous, but intriguing, a romance develops.
Loved the witty writing, loved the development Leyna and Jester have with their relation, I am totally waiting for the second book.
Thank you for the ARC dear author, and Netgalley.
The title is fitting, not revealing but related with the story, and the cover art is beautiful.. I will get the printed book as soon as I can.

I received a copy of Wizard’s Masquerade via NetGalley to read and review.


From the opening maze test to the end I enjoyed Wizard's Masquerade. The jester is my favorite character even though most of his secrets were no surprise to me. There will be another book which I look forward to reading.

Leyna’s dreams of becoming a famous huskarl are shattered due to an injury she suffered, but she receives an offer to join the Royal Guard. And her dream turns into a nightmare after the king and the court are attacked. Who can she trust, who is helping her and who is manipulating her?

Wizard's Masquerade is Book 1 of the Huskarl Duology.

Looking forward to the next book.

I don't think I will ever get over how pretty the cover for this book is. Not gonna lie, I totally got that book because of that gorgeous cover. Who in their right mind can resist that? Now that I've said it, let me get to the actual review of the content haha!

When I first started the book I was a little worried because honestly I was not liking the main character that much and the first 30% of the book did not get me hooked at all somehow. It wasn't bad, I just wasn't that deeply involved in the story if it makes sense. And yes, 30% is a lot to not feel intrigued by anything in a story, but I feel like I should give a chance to all stories nonetheless and I'm so glad I stick with this book cause it just suddenly got better and I really had trouble putting it down in the end! Let me say the Jester was just what I needed to be in love with that story. I wish he had been there more often because every time he was there it was just perfect.

The main character was nice but I didn't feel like she had a big growth throughout the story and she was so stuck on her ideas to a point where it got annoying for me. I did find myself not agreeing with her decisions at all which was a little irritating because I just couldn’t understand her sometimes. But then, there was another character that made up for it... hum, hum, JESTER. He was just fascinating, funny, intriguing. Really easy to love him and fall for him honestly!

I did enjoy the whole world and I just want more of it! The magic system in it is quite interesting and I hope to learn even more about it. This book is kind of a historical romance meets fantasy and that is all that I love most mixed together in one book, you can’t go wrong with that!

In the end, I really enjoyed my read and I’m looking forward to knowing the rest of the story.

Thanks to the author and Netgalley for providing an eARC. All opinions are my own.

I received this e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book starts by immediately putting you into the middle of action as Leyna is taking her maze exam to qualify as a wizard.
We then follow Leyna as she begins work in the Royal Guard and meets Jester.
I really enjoyed the romance in this book between Leyna and Jester - it’s had just the right amount of slow burn and I was happy when Jester turned out to be who I thought he was!
I felt the ending was maybe a little bit rushed and I would have like to see more interaction between Leyna and the other characters as life started to return to normal.
Overall this was a really enjoyable read and I would definitely read the next book to see what happens

Such an addictive book to read! I loved all of the characters and the dynamic between them. The world-building here is fabulous as well. I think the cover implies a straightforward fantasy romance but there's a lot more going on here. I would love to read more about this world.

A school setting with a fierce heroine and a mysterious love interest!

I liked the plot and romance. This book involves a magical school and just look at the cover- it's giving me all the winter,cosy vibes! I went into this book was not many expectations, but was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this. It had good pacing and vivid imagery. I also enjoyed the dialogue and side characters. I would recommend!

Leyna and her friends found themselves on an adventure filled with perils, deaths, demons, and new beginnings. This adventure had a lot of learning curves for Leyna and her friends, but first, they needed to find themselves. This adventure-filled journey was a chance for the friends to achieve their chosen careers and transcend beyond.

You know that saying of don't judge a book by its cover? Well, the cover of this book is what first caught my attention and the synopsis drew me into taking a chance on this book. The story inside stole the whole show though.

The worldbuilding and the plot was written superbly, and I loved the characters. I also liked that the romance is slow burn. It really fits with the characters and the story.

I will admit, Leyna was hard for me to connect to at first. As the story progressed though, I grew to like her.
Jester though stole my heart from the time he first appeared on the page. If I had to choose a book boyfriend, he would be the one I'd pick. I really, really enjoyed their banter between them, and I hope there is a lot more of it in the next book.

This book was full of adventure and twists and turns that will leave your begging for book 2.

What do you do when upholding the law doesn't match doing the right thing?

That is what Leyna needs to figure out as she begins serving the crown as one of the court's protective Huskarls.

Here's the set up: Leyna has completed her wizarding training and has joined the Royal guards to help protect her king and bring justice to the realm. after tragedy strikes with a demon attack that takes out the king, queen and most of the court Leyna sets off to find who's behind it. Along the way the Court Jester is at every turn teasing her and helping prod the sensibilities of this woman who is so focused on doing the correct thing she might miss out on doing the right thing.

Thoughts: This was a fun debut novel. Leyna wasn't someone who I liked all the time but someone who was growing and learning along the way. I did like the Jester as well as he was trying to be the sun to Leyna's grump. Other characters throughout - namely Grace and Quinn - friends of Leyna and perhaps a foil to herself and the Jester were good to bring more shading to the black and white world Leyna seems to find herself living in.

Something I do want from this world is a "Floofie" which was a lil pet that Leyna was give and just seems to be the perfect companion.

This wasn't a story that had me guessing all along the way as to who was responsible for what. It held standard to a lot of the conventional tropes so I had guessed who was "the bad guy" pretty early on. However that didn't diminish my enjoyment of it as a whole and there were a few little surprises along the way. It does set up for a sequel though I did feel I could read this as a stand alone and be satisfied.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for review!

This was a really fun read! This world with magic where it comes from the demon realm, it was so interesting, and I loved the politics, and I had a pretty great time reading this book! I really enjoyed this mystery, and watching things unfold!

I enjoyed the first portion more then the rest of the book, to be honest. Leyna at court, she wasn't the most pleasant character to read about. She had some prejudices, and she was a bit spoiled. But she did learn and grow, which was great!

But there were plenty of things that I loved. Like her banter with the jester, he was smart and secretive and had some really great lines! And there was the mystery going on with these attacks and what was going on there, that was so interesting to read!

Honestly, I would love it if this became a series. This world was so interesting to read, and to only have one book (albeit a long book) to explore it, there's so much that could happen on from here! And I would love to see it!

I had a great time reading this book, and I'd read more by Jay Pellegrin in the future!

It's been a while since I've had to set a book aside for a moment just to recover from the way my little fangirl heart was singing. 'Wizard's Masquerade' had me pausing multiple times for that reason and I enjoyed every second. I enjoyed the characters and their dynamics. The plot was enjoyably predictable, but not without a few twists and turns along the way.

Were there things I'd change? For sure. Sometimes the writing was repetitive or circular. Some characters (especially lower tier antagonists) needed a bit more depth. But these things did not stop me from enjoying this book at all. For me, this was a five star read because I would gladly reread it over and over again.

This story started with a bang! Hella good choice of introducing the Jester in chapter 9. I always love a fashionably late entrance of such an important characther because it gives me time to cget to know the MC, Leyna, and her friends before the romantic intrigue starts off. Also, the Jester is such an intricate character, making you start doubting everything over and over again. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Leyna is a lovable characther who, for sure has made some questionable decisions, altough the ones at the end give me hope for a possible redemption arc and have me very excited about book 2.
The Jester is an amazingly written character, with hot teasing, and a lot of intrigue and mystery surrounding him. The Magic system is great, the plot mystery is well done, the characters are interesting as hell, the romance!! The romance aspect of this story had me blushing and wanting to go back and reread some scenes.

Overall, it's an amazing romantasy who-done-it story, with attention-capturing plotline and huge promises for the next book and I'd be open to reading it.

Oooh this was a swoon worthy book and I loved every minute of it! You need to read this book if you love to read great fanasty romances!

Really enjoyed this.
Fantasy romance with elements of mystery and magic. An interesting world, the jester was such a fun character. Looking forward to the second book!

This book had everything I loved. Wizards, fantasy, and all things romance. It's very well written and kept me turning the pages, though I did find the beginning a bit slow. Grumpy sunshine is one oof my favourite tropes and this book did not disappoint.

Looking forward to the second book!