City of Masks (Stravaganza, #1)
by Mary Hoffman
City of Masks by Mary Hoffman holds a well received rating of 3.90 out of 5, based on 12K reader ratings. First published in 2002. The book spans 345 pages.
About City of Masks
Lucien is seriously ill but his life is transformed when an old Italian notebook gives him the power to become a stravagante, a time traveller with access to 16th century Italy. He wakes up in Bellezza (Venice) during carnival time and meets Arianna, a girl his own age who is disguised as a boy in the hope of being selected as one of the Duchessa's mandoliers. Arianna gives Lucien her boy's clothing and he is selected as a mandolier himself, becoming a friend of fellow-stravagante Rodolfo, the Duchessa's lover, and saving the Duchessa's life when she is threatened by an assassin hired by the powerful di Chimici family. For state occasions the Duchessa uses her maid Giuliana as a body-double but Guiliana commits the fatal mistake of revealing the secret to her fiance Enrico and a sequence of devastating consequences unravels. Meanwhile Lucien has met the original stravagante, the Elizabethan alchemist William Dethridge, and he begins to understand that he may be called to follow in his footsteps.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Mary Hoffman |
| Published | 2002 |
| Pages | 345 |
| Genres | Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance |
| Average Rating | 3.90 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 12,048 |
Reader Ratings & Analysis
Rating Overview
How It Compares
Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is City of Masks?
City of Masks is categorized as Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction. Its primary genre classification is Fantasy.
Is City of Masks worth reading?
Based on 12K reader ratings, City of Masks has an average score of 3.90 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is City of Masks?
City of Masks has 345 pages.
Who wrote City of Masks?
City of Masks was written by Mary Hoffman. It was first published in 2002.
What is the ISBN for City of Masks?
The ISBN-13 for City of Masks is 9781582349180.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
