Masquerade (Kylie Fornasier, Penguin)

It’s carnival time in 18th-century Venice. Determined to find out the truth about her mother’s mysterious past, 18-year-old Orelia has arrived in Venice to stay with her uncle’s family. She finds herself amid a group of privileged teens dealing with love, identity, family expectations and societal constraints. Among them are Angelique, who is determined to win the heart of the Doge’s son; Veronica, who will go to cunning lengths to avoid unwanted marriage proposals; and Claudia, who is trying to escape her mother’s social climbing to be with the man she loves. In her debut YA novel, Kylie Fornasier has created an enticing world and a narrative that is easy to devour. While the 18th-century language isn’t entirely credible or consistent, the grand Venetian setting and colourful characters will delight teen readers. A fun and informative accompaniment to the novel is a link to a Pinterest board where Fornasier has gathered images of traditional carnival costume, buildings of Venice and historical artworks, all of which provide context to the novel. Masquerade will appeal to teen readers fond of similar gown-swishing YA dramas such as the ‘Luxe’ (Anna Godbersen) and ‘Debutantes’ (Cora Harrison) series, and the unresolved endings in the book suggest there may be a sequel to come.

Freelance writer and reviewer Sarah Coull has worked as a children’s bookseller and most recently as a publishing editor for an educational publisher

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Category: Reviews