Heven was an incredibly sympathetic character--I was drawn to her struggle instantly. She's constantly hiding away behind her scars and fears that others won't accept her with her scares. I was always grateful for Kimber's presence and continued friendship for Heven, although at times I wished Heven would see that others would accept her if she would stop hiding. I mean, damn, I loved this girl but show the world how tough you really are and stand up to your at times bitchy best friend! By the end of the book, Heven is starting to come into her own and show the world a little of the tough chick I think is inside of her. 
 Sam definitely kicked butt in this novel. The little glimpses that you get of him in Before definitely leave you intrigued and wondering what more there is to this mysterious boy. Who is he? Better yet, WHAT is he? (BTW, the reveal kicks butt, so I'm not gonna tell you what's up.) Sam is super sweet throughout the entire novel and I loved how much he loved Heven--especially that he was willing to back off when she told him to. I was honestly happy that at least she acted repulsed at his big reveal of what he is because too often that kind of thing is like "Oh, you're a ____? *shrugs* That's cool." Sam and Heven's relationship definitely develops fast and is pretty intense from the get go, but I liked them together. 
 I loved being surprised by this story, so I don't want to give too much away. Let's suffice it to say that Masquerade is a novel that I won't soon forget and I'll definitely have my eyes open for the release of book two! So much happened in the 300ish pages of this novel, and I can't wait to see what Sam and Heven will go through next. Ms. Hebert's blend of high school drama, first love, and action/adventure makes this a read that many paranormal YA fans can't miss!