The Magister's Mask

Rating:
Summary: Author's Remarks
Review: This is not so much a review as my comments to you, the potential reader, on the creation of this novel.

The Magister's Mask took shape from my frustration with the limited themes and settings of contemporary fantasy. It seemed that every book I looked at in the stores was almost exactly like something I had already read. Being a brash youngster, I took this as a challenge to myself to create something myself that wouldn't be so derivative. I started by making a list of items I felt were being over-done: quests, dragons, unicorns, elves and dwarves, an ancient evil... You get the idea.

I chose to place this novel in a tropical island setting because I felt that most fantasy novels were set someplace like Northern Europe. I wanted to try something different. (Of course, the fact that I was February may have had something to do with it, too!) I chose the murder-mystery format because it allows a clearly defined ending, in contrast to so many series which seem to go on forever. It also allowed me to build in both inner and outer conflict, as Shenza battles her own self-doubt and the people around her who think they know her job better than she does.

I hope you'll take a look at my humble novel.

Deby Fredericks
www.debyfredericks.com

Rating:
Summary: An enchanting mystery
Review: To begin, Deby is a friend of mine. That is no bad thing, because otherwise I might never have read The Magister's Mask.
A murder-mystery in form, a fantasy in style, this book includes believable and likable characters and a colorful, vivid and consistent settings. It's a place that I enjoyed visiting, and I intend to visit again. (I don't know if Deby intends to write a sequel, but I sure hope so.)
I hope you'll give this book a chance to enchant you as it did me.