This is one book you should go out and buy now!! I loved this entire story! A world full of mystery, magic and danger, what’s not to love!! This book will draw you in and devour you before spitting you out to wait for more! I loved it!

The mask of mirrors is an unique adult fantasy by m.a carrick. I thought the characters and plot were compelling and fun, the only negative is the magic system is big confusing.

Nightmares, masquerades, and twists upon twists.

Ren learned from a young age to use her beauty as a weapon to con people into giving her their money. Now she's upgraded to her biggest and longest con ever - pretending to be the niece of a noblewoman whose sister ran away decades earlier. Deflecting suspicion from multiple parties and acting like the rich woman she's pretending to be, will take all of Ren's skill & money that she doesn't have. But even as she uses her talents, her sister's sewing skills, and magical makeup to achieve her goals, her life becomes entwined with the nobles she wishes to infiltrate, her secrets become endangered, and worst of all, she uncovers deeper and darker conspiracies than her own.

At first, I thought this was a story about a young woman conning a rich family into believing she was a distant relative in order to get a foothold into the rich society and their money. And for about the first half of this book, that's pretty much all it was about. Not to knock it - it was a great plot on its own merit, with fascinating characters and excellent writing. All that, however, was just a setup for another deeper plot, involving nightmares and drugs, dreams and politics, and revenge and power. And so many layers of secrets! It was built up like a delicate tower of cards, but it's very subtle at first. This is the type of book that now that I understand the cultural background, several characters' secrets, and where it all leads to, I'd love to go back and reread it in order to appreciate all the little details and clues that I missed the first time around.

There were so many layers of plot twists and secrets. Ren was far from the only one running around with multiple secret identities. The others' were even more complex and mysterious. I was shocked at the end when one identity was revealed. There must've been clues dropped and hinted at throughout, but it was so well done that i hadn't ever picked up on it. There were so many secrets, so many masquerades... It was prefect.

The plot moves slowly, taking its time to setup the world building, character interaction, culture, relationships, and politics, and layers of secrets. It had it's moments of heart stopping action too, but mostly, this book isn't meant for a quick read; It is extremely immersive and very well written. Of course, I only got up to the suspenseful parts late at night, when I needed to get up on time in the morning. Suffice to say, timeliness did not happen, but the book was worth it. So very worth it.

I've read some books that managed to convey certain senses, such as hunger, cravings for food, for touch, sights and smells... This book made me appreciate sleep in a whole new way. At one point especially, it strongly conveyed the sense of exhaustion. Dreams were a large part of the theme here. A mix of dreams and nightmares, of lies and truths, of poverty and riches... An excellent blending of all those elements.

The world building was superb. Two separate cultures, racism towards natives, religious systems with their respective magics. Politics, deceptions, and secrets upon secrets. It was a bit overwhelming at first, but by the end, I was connecting all the dots, realizing how the political ambitions of one character took advantage of certain religious and cultural ideas to obtain their nefarious goal. And then realizing that they weren't even the worst evil out there. That we've been played all this time by someone even more deceptive and cold hearted than anyone thought them to be.

Even with the multiple plot layers and twists going on, we still really get to know & like several of the characters involved. They each had very distinct personalities, which is amazing considering how many of them there were. The book is mainly told from Ren's perspective. It only changes to other characters in the rare instance when it provides a better viewpoint for certain important plot events. Even in those cases, the switch was seamless and didn't leave off on any cliffhangers. (I hate when books do that.) And didn't give away any secrets that Ren wasn't aware of at the time. So every twist and surprise that came her way was just as shocking to the reader as it felt to her.

This book was so thorough and so much more complex than I ever expected. It's a very long book, but it's worth every millisecond of time one spends on it, and I don't say that very often. I'm ready for the continuation. So many changes happened in the final chapter here, I'd love to see where it will all go, but first I need a moment to sit here and meditate over the secrets that were just revealed, absorb them, and perhaps use the time to reread this book to find all the clues & everything else I've missed the first time.

If you're looking for a complex fantasy book with awesome characters and twisty layers of mysteries and secrets upon secrets, I can't recommend this book enough.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this one didn’t really work for me. The premise sounded like something I’d absolutely love. Political intrigue is my favourite thing to read about and this had such a promising start. The writing was great and there were aspects of this that I really enjoyed. However my big issues were the world building which for me was very lacking and this made it so I didn’t get a good grasp on the connections between houses. Then I also got lost with the characters and their motivations by the end.

Biggest problem I had though was that I didn’t even realise this book had magic until 200 pages in and even then it wasn’t explained very well. I think if this book had been condensed down also it would have been beneficial because there were portions where I got a little bored.

I won’t be continuing the series but as I said I did enjoy the writing style so I would pick up something from these authors in the future.

This is a like a 2.75 for me so I’m rounding it up to a 3 star rating!

*Much thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for granting me an ARC of this book*

Why I Was Interested: The cover was the first thing that grabbed my attention, and is one of the few books that can be considered a "cover buy." I was also familiar with one of authors previous series (this book was penned by 2 authors) and wanted to see what they could do in a high fantasy setting.
What It's About: A young woman tries to con her way into a noble family, but in order to do that she becomes entangled in a web far larger and more complicated than she initially thought.
Cons: The beginning was so slow. It wasn't until 12-18% of the way into the book, and a new POV character, that I finally started to enjoy what I was reading. It didn't help that the world and sheer number of side characters was a bit overwhelming (there is a list of characters and glossary at the end of the book). There are 3 climatic scenes in this story, and 2 of 3 I found to be confusing, which did slow down the narrative and pull me out of it during critical points. As much as I wanted to like the characters I couldn't get fully invested in them, in part due to a general lack of developed and meaningful relationships, which is a missed opportunity to better flesh out not only the POV characters but also the numerous side characters.
Pros: This book had some of the best political intrigue I've read in awhile, and I gravitate toward books that feature political intrigue. My favorite scenes were either Ren negotiating with someone in order to achieve her goal or scenes that heavily featured the various magic systems, which was the other best thing about this book. There are multiple magic systems, and while it did take a while to distinguish them, I loved how intricate and creative they were. Also, while I feel the characters aren't fully fleshed out they are at least capable of what they are doing.
Finishing Thoughts: This is a book that I enjoyed while reading, but I couldn't connect to it on a deeper level. I do see potential though, and am curious to see where the rest of the series goes.

This book is long but it was so good. I am surprised I read it all in one weekend.

If you are looking for a book that is good and that you won't want to put down then this book will be for you.

Everything about this book was utterly amazing, and I loved every minute of it. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

So why was it amazing?

Let's start with the cover. I have a problem where I do actually tend to judge books by their covers. I mean, doesn't everyone to an extent? That cover is absolutely gorgeous, and one of the reasons I was first interested in reading this one. The description on the back didn't do it justice, and from what I read, I thought it was going to be a completely different story.

Then, the characters. Wow. I loved them all. Ren, Tess, Leato, Vargo, Captain Grey Serrado... Most of these characters were morally grey with their own motives and desires, sometimes utilizing questionable means to achieve their ends. I love characters like that, ones that aren't inherently "good" or "bad" but have qualities of each - which makes them realistic and relatable. Vargo was possibly the most "despicable" - the one that came from an "unsavory" background and trying to make it in elite society - and even though he is still a crime boss, you can't help but root for him.

The world-building was intricate and very well done. There was an interview (http://www.fantasyliterature.com/author-interviews/m-a-carrick/) where the authors spoke about, among other things, how they worked together to write this story. I found it very interesting and insightful. In this same interview, they also talk about their inspiration for the book, and discuss the development of the language, culture, and world - for example, Liganti was more Latin/Italian based and put more stock in astrology, where Vraszenian culture was more based on Slavic languages and used pattern decks. The language was just one part of the world that was so intricately developed, and it really showed that the authors put a lot of work into their world. The authors also spent a lot of time describing fashions and fabrics, which I loved.

One of my favorite parts of any book is when I learn why the book is titled as it is. While the title of the book (as the others in the series will be as well) is based on one of the pattern cards, the full series title doesn't make sense until the end; every time the Rook appeared, I wanted to know - who or what is the Rose? So you do find out in this one, and I'm excited for the role the Rose will play in the future books in this series.

The story itself kept me on the edge of my seat, especially the end. I like how the authors wrapped up the story enough, but left strands to pick up in the next book instead of having the story end in a HUGE cliffhanger where nothing is resolved. The one thing missing in this eARC was the lack of map and appendix; however, in the final copy of the book, there is a beautiful map along with a glossary and list of "Dramatis Personae", which are all super helpful and eally does a lot to enhance the reading experience.

Inclusivity is important, and in this queer-norm world, there were several LGBTQ+ characters. I love stories like this where these characters can just *exist* without it being a big deal.

I tried to think of one single thing I didn't like about this book, and I honestly couldn't think of a single thing -- well, unless you count that I can't read the rest of the series yet... -- it was that good. You can tell how much work and love and detail went into this book, and it made it all the more enjoyable to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books (they're killing it lately!) for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

When you’re tempted to read an almost 700-page novel in a single sitting, you know it’s good. The Mask of Mirrors was one of my favorite books that I read in January and I cannot wait for the rest of the series. This book seriously had it all - excellent characters, fantastic world-building, engaging action, political intrigue, and masked vigilantes. The world-building was incredibly immersive. Plus, considering how complex certain things were, it was quite impressive how clearly everything was laid out. The characters also felt so realistic and well-developed. Plus there’s fencing, fighting, dark mysteries, magic, society balls (and drama!!), and so much more. I absolutely loved this one and would recommend it to any fantasy fan who likes political intrigue!

Okay this is a tough book to review without spoiling anything, because I want to spoil everything. I loved The Mask of Mirrors. It really challenged me. I’m usually a really fast reader and I have to be with my busy schedule but you cannot fast read this story. The world building is a slow burn and some people might not like it but I absolutely loved it. You really feel like you are right there with Ren. I loved all the characters, and the plot twists had me going WTF. I seriously cannot wait for the sequel.

I give this book a 3.5. I enjoyed many aspects of The Mask Of Mirrors and now that I have read it I am looking forward to see how the story continues. For me, the first half of the book was a little slow and very confusing. Some of the events felt very much like filler events rather than being important to the story. I had a hard time figuring out who people were and what a lot of the terms meant. (I think having the glossary in the back of the book was a very good touch) Once I got to that half way point and more things started to happen and more things got explained I enjoyed it much more. The story itself was very entreating and I really enjoyed most of the main characters, especially Grey! It had a good energy and was very creative! It was fun to read about pattern cards and different kinds of magic instead of it being the same kind of magic that normally gets used in movies or books.

I received this book for free in turn for an honest review.

The Mask of Mirrors was such an enchanting, mysterious, and magical read! I was utterly entranced by the storytelling and narrative of this book. I loved the vibe of all the characters — even the ones I didn’t want to like — they all felt unique and kept me so interested in them and the plot. I like the growth throughout the novel, and the twists and turns kept me coming back for more and more because I couldn’t wait to see where the story would go!

Ren is a con artist ready to play the long game and transform herself into someone who can be a part of the city nobility. And ultimately cash in. As she begins to work toward her goal, she gets tangled up in a web of magic and politics and lies that pull her past into the present, reminding Ren who she is. And forcing her to fit a role that she never wanted to play.

The authors wrote an incredibly complex, detailed world, which was really great for visualizing. I enjoyed all the characters and the convoluted schemes that they ended up in, with all the twists and turns. It's a world of politics, social and political unrest, and magic.

However, it really dragged for me, especially in the first half. Because the world was so well defined, I felt like I was mired in all the details, so much so that it felt like nothing was happening. That being said I did ultimately enjoy the story and would be interested in seeing what happens next novel!

A note about the cover - this is not a book featuring POC as far as I can tell, so the cover is problematically misleading.

Thank you to @orbitbooks_us and @netgalley for an advanced copy of the ebook!

Thank you Orbit Books and Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.

This was one of my most anticipated books this year and I and happy to say that I will be surprised it is not my most favorite book this year. Yep, I am betting that nothing that I read is going to top this one.

I have never read anything by these authors separately but now I am going to have to look them up because this book was amazing.

Ren is a con-artist who tries to attach herself to a house thinking that she would be well off once that was done. What she did not know is that she chose a house that was financially in trouble. I loved watching Ren grow as a person.

I tried guessing who the Rook was the whole time and I failed horribly. I never would have guessed who it was. (This does not happen very often).

Part of me loves Vargo and part of me just wants to shake him. What is his end game and who is the person with him…

This is definitely a world that you are pulled into I felt like I was there. Then when I did have to put the book down I kept thinking about it.

This is a fantasy book but it does not have a strict magic system. There are those that read cards. There is a drug that lets you see beyond the vale and not everything they see is good. So please remember that before you jump in.

I loved this book so much and if it appeals to you even a little please pick it up it was amazing!!

NOTE: I have seen in some reviews that some people had a rough time getting into the story because of the lack of a “strict” magic system. If you want to talk more about how I saw groups of people or the magical elements please let me know. I realize that I looked at some of this in a different way which I think took all of the confusion out for me. I am willing to share if anyone wants to.

I used this eARC copy to interview the authors for the Fantasy Inn podcast. The podcast episode is live and the blog post can be found here: https://thefantasyinn.com/2021/01/12/e67-ma-carrick-interview/

This darkly magical high fantasy will transport you to another world, wrap you up in it's many layers of political intrigue and deep deceptions, and then spit you out the other side craving more. It's got a fantastic blend of deep world building, strong character development, and nail-biting action. Oh, and to top it off, it also has some incredible on-page diversity rep!

The thing that I loved the most about this book is that even though it's a high fantasy and the world is big, the story itself takes place within in a single, many-layer setting. I would much rather read a book where you get to know one place painfully well - taking in everything from the canals to the plazas, to the societal fabric and petty undercurrent of curses and grudges - than to read a book with many places that you get to know only superficially. I was so sad to leave Nadežra when the book was over because I'm in love with the slums and the magic and the fashion. It's steeped in history, and subtly discusses some big topics like the long tail of imperialism, class stratified society, and poverty. And because everything is so nuanced, this book comes with the warning to take it slow and savour every detail - you'll get so much more out of it than if you rush through looking for action. 

Now, there are a lot of characters to keep track of, so don't be afraid to use the index at the back! But, once you start to get a feel for everyone and all of their idiosyncrasies, all of the subplots begin to take on a vibrant life of their own. And while I fond Ren to be fascinating, the true beauty of this book lies in how no supporting character is wasted. Everyone has a purpose, everyone has a story, and all of the threads come together magnificently. I adored Tess, especially how she was strong and resourceful without compromising her femininity. I was immediately invested in Grey's quest to discover who's stealing the children's sleep. And I love how morally grey every single character is - there's a broad spectrum of heroes with compelling and defined backstories, and it's up to the reader to decide for themselves where they stand. 

All together this is a magical gem of a book. It's twists and turns, competing magic systems, and intricate plot were exactly what I needed to start the reading year off right. I can't wait for the second book to come out so that I can dive back into Nadežra and spend more time with Ren, Grey, Tess, and the crew. Epic and High Fantasy lovers, I can't recommend The Mask of Mirrors highly enough.

DNF at 30%. This book just wasn't for me. There are three main POVs, and I couldn't really connect with any of them. Also, the world building is incredibly complicated and not explained well enough for me. I love showing and not telling, it's my preferred way for authors to help me understand, by immersing me in it. However, in this case, it was *too much* showing and not enough telling. With so many different made up words, I was really struggling keeping up.

I really liked this book. There is an intriguing twisty plot that got me hooked right away. Ren is a con artist from the streets who is trying to scam her way into a noble family by posing as a long lost relative. There are lots of interesting and deep characters, some with good intentions and some with nefarious plans. This is an interesting world with many different cultures, races and ethnicities. There is also magic. With all of these elements, this could have been a great book and it was so close. Don’t get me wrong, I loved this story but there were several problems with it that cannot be overlooked. Hopefully, they’ll be fixed by publication date. First, I desperately wanted a map of the city and the country. It was impossible to imagine what this world looked like, who lived where, what areas the different races lived in, etc, a map would have been appreciated. Second, I know there was a list of characters and their family associations in the back of the book but it would’ve been helpful to have had it at the front so I could reference it easily when I was confused about the characters in a scene (and I was confused often). The authors used their titles, first names or last names for the same character so it was confusing who was in the scene. They should have been consistent with each character. The names and spellings of different characters were very similar to each other so that was also confusing. Third, I didn’t understand the history of the area or the cultures of the races and peoples of the inhabitants and the aggressors. There needs to be more explanation. I know it is a very long book but I needed more of the back story of the people, culture and their religious beliefs. I needed more information about how the area was conquered and who the new rulers are and who the former rulers were. Who are the people in the resistance and what are they hoping to achieve? What are the ulterior motives of the nobles? All of that information is lacking . Lastly, I understand the need to create new vocabulary and I was glad there was a glossary but not all words were in it and it is very distracting to have to constantly check a glossary for the meaning of the vocabulary. Sometimes, it was so tedious that I just skipped the word and read on and because of that the essence of the story got a little lost. A good editor could really improve and polish this story and then it would be a great book. Even with the above criticism, I loved this and am looking forward to reading the next book and other books by this author, or should I say authors. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. ALL opinions expressed are my own.

Wow, what a find! I can't decide which I like better: the diverse cast of well-rounded characters or the twisting, breakneck-paced plot. Thank goodness there are supposed to be more of these books coming, because this is definitely a series I need more of.

This was like if Arya from Game of Thrones had a whole story just of her using her mask magic to do a bunch of conning and thieving and deceiving. What a ride. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

The Mask of Mirrors is set in a glittering world of noble houses competing for power, and a dark underbelly of poverty and crime. Nightmares stalk the streets, stealing away children who return unable to sleep and die shortly after. In the midst of this, a young woman named Ren returns to her home city. She aims to infiltrate one of the noble houses, and gain the wealth she feels that she is owed. As Ren straddles the line between noblewoman and con artist, between magic and illusion, she struggles with her own identity and the brittle facades of all those around her. 

There is excellent worldbuilding in The Mask of Mirrors that makes it stand out above the pack. The City of Dreams is a fully realized place, with an ensemble cast of characters that all get a moment to shine. The authors do a great job of building a government and caste system that is similar enough to the our world to feel realistic, while still being utterly fantastical. 

Our main protagonist of Ren is an excellent character. She is clever, intelligent, and inherently kind even though she has ulterior motives. Working as a con artist to infiltrate the noble Traementis House, Ren soon discovers that the House has fallen from grace and is no longer wealthy. Ren also discovers that it is harder to con the members of the Traementis family than she expected as she starts to build meaningful relationships with them that make her job much more difficult. Ren is a flawed character, with selfish tendencies and a limited world-view. But her flaws make her relatable, rather than frustrating. 

Also featuring prominently in The Mask of Mirrors are several male protagonists who all seem to be a likely candidate for the true individual behind the mask of the Rook. The figure of the Rook is legendary in the city, a superhero-esque figure who fights crime and corruption while protecting the poor and most vulnerable.

Some might compare the Rook to Robin Hood. But I found more similarities with the character of the Gray Fox from the Elder Scrolls games. An individual with a magical cowl that prevents anyone from discerning their identity?  Sounds like the Gray Fox to me. It is worth noting that authors Brennan and Helm are both avid gamers, so this might be an intentional homage.  

Throughout the book, Ren encounters the Rook several times. Eventually they begin to work together, and all the while she is trying to figure out who is beneath the magical mask. Over the course of the story, she has several suspects who may also be potential love interests.

First there is the heir to the Traementis House, Leato. A charming and fundamentally kind individual, he is the first to welcome Ren (in her disguise as Renata) to the family. Leato takes Ren under his wing and helps guide her through the world of nobility. He is a complex character, who espouses political viewpoints that many of his class disagree with. Leato also has a strong friendship with a character from the lower classes that marks him as unique among the nobility. 

Grey Serrado is another candidate for the role of the Rook. He is a police officer (or a member of the Vigil as the law enforcement is called). Serrado rose up from poverty to join the Vigil, and is viewed by members of his own community as a traitor for doing so. He comes from the original inhabitants of the city - the Vraszenians - who are routinely arrested, beaten, and oppressed by the ruling classes above them. The Vigil is the fist of the nobility that crushes the poor. But Serrado believes in truth and justice, even when no one around him seems concerned with seeing it done. 

And then there is Derossi Vargo, a former crime boss who has worked his way up the ranks of wealth in the city to become something resembling nobility.  Vargo is charming and handsome, with dark secrets lurking beneath the surface. He charms Ren immediately, and the two of them work together for mutual benefit. But there are more mysteries to the character of Vargo than the book provides answers for. Who is the voice in his head, that can seemingly see events around the city that Vargo cannot? Where did Vargo learn to use powerful magic, the type that is typically reserved for nobility?  What are his goals and motivations? Even though we get POV chapters from this character, he remains a mystery to be explored in further volumes of the trilogy. 

I would be remiss if I spent all that time talking about the men of this book, without mentioning the women. Because this story is overflowing with great female characters. First up are the ladies of House Traementis. The matriarch Donaia is steely and strong, keeping her family together through sheer force of will after her late husband squandered much of their fortune. She has her doubts about Ren’s intentions from the beginning, proving that she is intelligent, observant, and worldly. She will do whatever she must to protect her family, and her good name.

Alongside Donaia is Leato’s younger sister Giuna. A bit naive and inexperienced, she immediately forms an attachment to Ren. Over the course of the story, Giuna has remarkable character growth that sees her transform from a timid young woman to a force of nature akin to her mother. She is one of the kindest characters in the story. But she is also the one with the most to learn about the world around her. 

Then there is Tess, the seamstress who works magic on Ren’s beautiful dresses. Tess is Ren’s best friend, and chosen sister. The two of them grew up together as members of a child gang, and together they escaped the evil old woman who sought to control them. These two characters have been through fire together and it shows in their deep bond and implicit trust.

There is a theme of ‘found family’ that recurs throughout the book. Ren lost her mother when she was young, and never knew her father. So all of the family she has found are limited to those who know who she truly is, like Tess. But when the Traementis family starts to welcome her as one of their own, she learns to expand her definition of what a found family looks like. 

This beautiful world that M.A. Carrick has built is not without its flaws however.  The world itself feels real and vital. However, the magical systems in the book can be a bit confusing. There is a type of magic that can be ‘imbued’ which is easy enough to understand in the magical makeup that Ren uses to disguise her appearance. Then there is Ren’s inherent magical ability to read patterns in cards, much like Tarot.

The book explains the magic of Pattern reading pretty well, giving solid examples of how it is treated in the world much like Tarot readers of our own world. Most readers are considered to be fakes, just telling clients what they want to hear for a couple of coins. But a rare few have the true ability to read the Pattern in the cards and gain insight into what will happen in the future. Ren has this ability, and was trained well by her mother to read the Pattern. The inclusion of this fantasy version of Tarot is well done, easy to understand, and makes for some compelling symbolism throughout the book. 

What was not as easy to understand is the magic based on sacred geometry that recurs throughout the book. Magic-users create large sigils using either themselves as focal points (very dangerous) or using the power of “Lumen.” It took me the entire book to realize that Lumen is supposed to be a God in this world, and that this magic draws directly from divine power. I found this magical system to be fascinating, but it needed a bit more work to be fully comprehensible.

Another magical aspect of the book that needed some more explanation was the dream and nightmare scenarios of the story. Early in the book, children go missing and reappear unable to sleep. They all tend to die a few days later. This subplot doesn’t tie much into the larger story, until suddenly a magical occurrence throws several of the main characters into a nightmare. I found this section of the book to be highly confusing, and that detracted from the emotional stakes involved. 

But as a first novel in a new fantasy trilogy, The Mask of Mirrors does its job very well. It sets up a compelling fantasy world, with complex characters. It delves into the themes of identity, and class politics very well. The real-world parallels are obvious when it comes to the racial tension (particularly with the law enforcement). But the authors handle this subject with sensitivity and care. There is something for everyone to enjoy in this novel: an immersive fantasy world; glittering balls, duels, dashing rogues, and intricate magical work.