I made the mistake of being ignorant of this book before playing Dragon Age Inquisition.

Not only like the previous books in the series (Stolen Throne, and The Calling) does this one add to the already immersive and stupefying amount of Lore around the series, it also provides much needed Context for a main quest in Inquisition.

The quest in question I won't get into much. This book though, this book does a lot of heavy lifting. Introduces characters and concepts that enhance and make the world more nuanced.

If you've played the games but haven't availed yourself of this one. Hop on it!

If you're looking for a high fantasy novel with great characters, a deep setting and a more than generic plot, definitely hit this book up. ( )

One of the quests in DA: Inquisition involves Empress Celeste, her servant/spy, the elf Briala, and her cousin Gaspard who is in a civil war with her to gain the Orlais throne. The Masked Empire provides the backstory for that quest, how the three became involved in a deadly dance of political games and war. The empress's champion, Michel de Chevin, also gets some backstory for his quest in Inquisition.
Orlais is a country of political intrigue where the courtiers wear masks a la Carnival all the time. Celeste has ruled for years, expertly playing the game and aided by her lover and spy, Briala. Briala is an elf, which is one step above a slave in Orlais, but she has been trained since childhood as Celeste's best friend to help her. It's a fascinating dynamic as both lovers are hiding secrets from the other that is gradually revealed as the traumas of war strain Celeste's grip on her throne.
Meanwhile, Gaspard and Michel are chevaliers who live by a knightly code despite Gaspard starting a civil war to grab the crown and Michel hiding a secret that would cause him to lose his place at Celeste's side. It's a great story with intriguing characters and some twists I didn't see coming. There's also some hints for an upcoming DA game; Felassan is a Dalish mage and mentor to Briala who seems to have a connection with Solas, the possible antagonist for that game. ( )

Another excellent view into the DragonAge World! I loved playing the game, and learning more about the lore is amazing. Now I know all the backstories for characters like Briala, Michel, Gaspard, and Celene. It really helps to understand all of the encounters you experience in the game. You understand their motivations more. Not to mention that a character in the book (who never shows up in the game) is hinting at even further plots and schemes made by the god Fen'Harel. Not only did Fen'Harel play an important part in the game DA Inquisition, but apparently he's been meddling even before that.

Appart from references to the game, the book has its own worthy merits. Another adventurous novel filled with twists, turns, politics, maneuvering, and The Game. I truly loved this book, and I'm so excited for the latest of the series! ( )

I den fjärde av böckerna kopplade till Dragon age-spelen, The masked empire, så har pennan lämnats över till Patrick Weekes, som får skildra kejsarinnan Celene av Orlais försök att tillsammans med sin förkämpe Michel de Chevin, och sin kammarjungfru, överstespion och älskarinna Briala hålla sig fast vid tronen när storhertig Gaspard höjer upprorsfanan. Men Briala försöker också förbättra situationen för de förtryckta alverna, och frågan är vad som kommer hända när denna strävan ställs mot Celenes vilja att hålla fast vid tronen.

Sedan är det på samma sätt som tidigare böcker i serien en äventyrsroman, så huvudpersonerna kommer inte kämpa med ord och subtiliteter vid ett hov, utan med svärd och kniv ute i vildmarken – synd, för det förra hade kanske varit mer intressant, speicellt när äventyrsdelen får dominera så stort genom stora delar av boken. Det finns gott om möjligheter för karaktärer att stötas mot varandra, men det är egentligen bara Gaspard och hans underhuggare som visar på oväntad dynamik.

Sedan finns det ett par mindre problem: Celene har en meddelad förmåga som skicklig politiker (i den dödliga variant som med klichén kallas för ett stort spel), men det är Gaspard som oftast verkar ta poäng; vissa vändningar syns på håll; och passager verkar inskrivna bara för att man skall kunna se lite mer av bestiariet (men varför i så fall intet nytt?).

Det finns också saker som fungerar bättre: även om politiken är blodig så är frågan om vad man är beredd att göra för att behålla den relevant och med möjligheter att utvecklas, vissa av bifigurerna (främst Felassan och Gaspard) är riktigt intressanta i sig själva, och det är aldrig riktigt dåligt, även om man kan se slutet på håll (det är ju Dragon age, så man vet att det inte blir ett lyckligt slut på förhand). Det är hyfsad fantasy, men jag hade nog väntat mig lite, lite mer. ( )

Books based on videogames are not the most respected pieces of literature. And while most in this genre are deserving of scorn, Patrick Weekes brings a refreshing breath of air to the fantasy genre with Dragon Age: The Masked Empire. I devoured this book. Not only is it an interesting addition to the Dragon Age IP, it's a good read, with well-rounded characters and environments, and a plot bursting with intrigue, war, romance, and magic.

Empress Celene's perch on the throne is vulnerable, despite her proficiency in politics. She has maintained control of the Orlesian empire with the subtle help of her servant and lover, the elf Brianne, but Orlais is plagued by racism and classism and their enemies are happy to exploit both to weaken Celene's reign. An elven uprising is the catalyst for full rebellion and Celene and Brianne are forced to make deals that they may regret in the future.

I loved Celene and Brianne's relationship. A canon same-sex relationship? Written respectfully? Involving two smart, resourceful, and occasionally devious women? Yes, excellent. I also liked the way Weekes wrote the magic system. Translating the in-game mechanics to prose couldn't have been easy, but he makes it work. The spies, machinations, and conspiracies were also fascinating - Weekes did a great job weaving the complex plots together.

I recommend this to anyone who's played games and would like to learn more about the world of Thedas. Even if you aren't familiar to DA, it's an enjoyable read and I encourage you to give it a try. ( )