Nora Delzelle

I was given an advanced copy of this novel for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I always knew eBay was trouble. Nora Delzelle just confirms my suspicions in her debut novel, Death Mask. Chemist and cat-mom Alex stumbles upon a beautiful artifact for auction and becomes the proud owner of the rare ancient Egyptian mask. Unfortunately, finding this mask brings a whole slew of danger and mystery into Alex's life. Soon her dreams are being haunted by mysterious warriors, and her waking hours are not much better. With the help of a friend, she searches for the answers to stop history from repeating itself.

I could go on and on about how original and unique this storyline is. But I won't because I refuse to spoil it. All I can say the way the story unfolds will have readers frantically flipping through pages to find out where it's going next. Even though it's a contemporary novel, Death Mask chronicles several stories throughout time and space. Our main protagonist, Alex, will be relatable to readers because she's just a regular person who hits terrible luck. And then fantastic luck. And then horrible. With the help of her friends, she searches for answers to prevent history from repeating.

While the storyline and twists are so incredible, the fine details didn't match that standard. There's a lot of telling instead of showing. The most glaring example of this is when Alex is introduced. Her entire life story is summed up into one paragraph, listed almost like bullet points. While these details are vital, they would have flowed better had they been laid out more gradually. While the story is incredible, it doesn't flow together organically. It also has grammatical errors, spelling issues, missing words, and dialogue that doesn't line up. Usually, those issues wouldn't cause the rating of a novel to change for me. However, these are continuous enough that it takes away from the enjoyment of the story.

With all the listed above, I rate Death Mask three out of five stars. The plotline is so complex and intriguing, with so many elements involved that somehow work together. But the fine details in the narration don't offer the support the story requires.

As there's no mature adult content, and the violence is very mild, I would recommend this novel to readers in the younger YA range. It would be perfect for those interested in Egyptian mythology, layered magic systems, and unraveling mysteries.… (altro)

Death mask brings the Egyptian myth to life in this adventurous, mysterious plot. As the name of the book implies, death is covered in a golden mask with consequences for the bearer. It holds ancient secrets and only when you become part of it can you recognize its power.
When Alex finds the mask on eBay, she did not know how her life would change with this bidding. From the moment it became her property rolls flips and is she drawn into the spell wrapped in mystery which takes her into frightful dreams.
In her dreams, she gets to know the genuine mystery of the myth. Set, Osiris, and Horus become actual entities she has to conquer. She meets an unusual friend and benefactor that schools her in the origins of the mask. Forcing her to tap into her strengthens or die.
Her best friend, Gabriel, is a loyal friend that helped her decipher the secrets the mask holds. As he tries to learn its truths, other truths come apparent and he will do the ultimate sacrifice to keep her safe.
It is a fast-paced plot with great tension that keeps you in the book. An easy read with good grammar to make this an excellent read. A highly recommended book for all fantasy mystery readers.… (altro)