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[Following is a volunteer review of "Masters and Bastards" by Christopher J. Penington.]

Masters and Bastards by Christopher J. Penington is a sci-fi book that portrays a world developed after the destruction of the earth. As a teenager, Andreas Marset finds himself in a world of chaos, racial violence, societal imbalance, and royal battles. Marset is a low born (an Arpathian) who possesses rare and flawless qualities. His talents are put to the test in the army as they are quickly noticed by the Emperor and other nobles. As Marset matures, he realizes that Poltervaut is filled with deceptive and vicious inhabitants who are willing to do everything possible to possess power. With the war drawing nearer and Silla (Isabella’s mother) plotting to kill him, Marset finds himself in a terrible dilemma.

This book reminds me of the HBO series (The game of thrones), where you have an arrogant king, a throne that lacks an immediate heir, tribal discrimination, and seductive women, each working an angle.

Masters and Bastards is a story that depicts a new world where not everything is new. This world adopts the autocratic and aristocratic nature of a monarchy. The so-called superiors (Iberians) possess discriminatory powers over the inferiors (Arpathians) despite belonging to the same world. The storyline contains both seductive and deceptive characters. I couldn't help but notice genre shifts, and after reading the whole book, the only scene I didn't notice was a horror scene. The book portrays drama, action, history, crime, and romance. Despite consisting of over four hundred pages, the novel retains all the condiments of a captivating story.

I liked the tension portrayed in this book. Marset was often worried about staying alive while engaging in romantic entanglements with Isabella and Tavi. I thought Penington couldn't have chosen a better way to ridicule the protagonist. The tension that comes with being the most desirable Arpathian and also a huge threat to several prominent members of the parliament was what kept me at the edge of my seat. I wasn't sure why Penington chose to complement women's good looks with handsome and men’s with beautiful, but for me, the concept seems to have worked its magic. I felt like Penington was a little too harsh on Marset because he often felt powerless. That feeling wasn't something Marset would have wished for if he had a choice.

Masters and Bastards by Christopher J. Penington was a professionally edited book. I found no grammar errors or typos on its pages. I rate this book three out of four stars. I couldn’t rate it higher because there were fractions of irrelevant discussions between Marset and Isabella. I couldn’t give it a lower rating because the book contained sublime characters and a creative storyline.

I recommend this book to young adults and older adults. It might impress you to know that the theme of this book relates to the problems in today's society. The book has romance scenes, and it is not suitable for kids. On the other hand, if you’re looking for autobiography books, this novel is not for you.

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Masters and Bastards
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I've read this book and totally agree with your review. There a lot of genre shifts. Thank you for the great review!

Quite an interesting plot, but the cover is quite unattractive. Love your review!

Interesting storyline. I might consider the book purely because of your HBO comparison. Thanks for the review.

I thought this book was bulky when I had the opportunity to read it. I am glad you found it intriguing. The flawless editing is a plus. Thanks for the amazing review.

Interesting book! Thank you for your engaging review!

This my favorite from Christopher, indeed he never disappoints, though there are some profane language from the book.

Tavi put Marset in some drama. The was really interesting. Thanks for your equally interesting review

Racial violence, societal imbalance, and some epically royal battles would certainly combine together to produce a maelstrom of volatility. Thank you for sharing such a thorough analysis of this one!

I enjoyed your thorough description of Marset and his dilemma. Your comments about the genre changes also add to this book's appeal. Great writing!

A new world emerges after the destruction of the Earth. This book has an interesting premise. Thanks for your detailed review!

I have not read this book yet, but would like to see what becomes of Marset. Thank you for your candid review.

This book's plot sounds really good and unique. You've put up a very detailed review and I especially am intrigued by the comparison with The Game of Thrones. Thanks for the good work!

Thanks for your nice review. Looks like this book features a lot of genres, so most readers can enjoy it.

This current book's plot sounds great and interesting. You've set up a point by point audit and I particularly am captivated by the examination with The Game of Thrones you have given in your review.