As girls in nineteenth-century England, Evelyn and her sister, Rose, are expected to attend balls in the hopes of landing a good marriage. Rose knows she would rather be helping people as a doctor than dancing, but Evelyn isn't sure what she wants st a way out. When Rose disappears, after whispers of "healing powers" surround her, Evelyn grows desperate to find her, and in the process, she finds out she too has some extraordinary abilities. Striking a strong balance between romance and mystery, this novel captures society's rules just as well as it does the unbelievable powers of the main characters. Readers will easily be swept up in its fast pace and sympathetic narrator, who is filled with both self-doubt and the resolve to do anything to protect those she loves. This is a perfect pick for someone who wants a little magic in their Victorian novels, and its combination of historical fiction and mysticism will remind readers of Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy.

Evelyn Wyndham is bored to death of the societal rules she is bound to in Victorian England. Her one joy is serving as a nurse to friends and family with her sister Rose. When Rose abruptly disappears, Evelyn suspects foul play and goes to London to find her. When she confronts their dark and brooding acquaintance, Mr. Braddock (her number one suspect), he insists that she use her "rare gift" of healing to save a friend in exchange for his help locating Rose. Evelyn doubts her talents are anything more than simple nursing skills, but cannot deny that she has seen others boast extraordinary abilities, not to mention the surge of strange energy that passes between herself and Braddock when they touch. Their powers and the kidnapping are just the beginning of an increasingly dangerous mystery.á Pitched as "Jane Austen meets X-Men," These Vicious Masks is a great concept and has all the trappings of a modern Victorian novel: a feisty heroine, witty Wilde-esque dialogue, and lots of stuffy society ladies. Unfortunately, clumsy action and repetitive conflict disrupt the story. By all appearances, Evelyn is a forward-thinking, courageous heroine, but her valiant attempts at independence always leave her in a position to be saved by her suitors. A love triangle is present, but the chemistry is lopsided and occasionally forced. Disjointed attempts at action get in the way of more interesting plots, like the source and scope of the superpowers at play. And after all the set-up and drama to save Rose, the tragic outcome is a letdown. Threads are left open for a sequel and little is resolved. Teens who gobble up costume dramas may overlook these shortcomings, but it is an additional purchase at best.Liz Gotauco.