This book picks up right where the first book ends. Even though Ren has achieved her initial con, there are still plenty of new questions left by the first book that this one explores. With a larger focus on Grey Serrado’s and Derossi Vargo’s perspectives on top of Ren’s three identities, the story becomes much broader in scope and has a very different feel. However, I remained captivated by every piece of this story and was happy to explore Nedezra a little more.

Perhaps my favorite part of this book is the much larger focus on Vargo and Alsius. Vargo’s moral ambiguity and mystique made him my favorite character in the first book. Though getting to spend more time in his perspective took away some of the intrigue, I still find him complex and enjoy seeing him navigate the unique space he occupies. Vargo’s sections are made even more delightful by Alsius’s commentary and I love their relationship. They are the ultimate ride-or-die duo and I can’t wait to see how they continue to evolve.

Though I love this book, it does not have quite the same spark as the first. Like a typical ‘middle’ novel in a series, it feels like a good part of it is spent moving pieces into place for the next book. There are lots of interesting threads that the characters start moving down that are then abandoned in the later half of the story in favor of the main through line. There’s nothing wrong with that and I fully trust the authors to bring these pieces together in the next book. However, the result is that this book lacks the same level of finesse and cleverness that the first had.

Overall, I think this is a wonderful continuation of The Mask of Mirrors and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

The Liars Knot is just as magical and thrilling as its predecessor, The Mask of Mirrors. This story is beautifully immersive and takes you on a wild ride within a beautifully written world and characters you feel like you really know. Follow the characters you know and love on a wild journey and get lost inside a world unlike any other

Though I was very lukewarm on The Mask of Mirrors, the first book in the Rook & Rose series, I went back to read my review before writing this one and saw I predicted I would likely enjoy the second book a lot more. And you know what? Past me was right. Good job, 2021 Heron! Or… uh, Earlier-2021-Heron, since The Liar’s Knot followed less than a year later. With best-in-class worldbuilding and political intrigue, a more narrow focus on certain characters affording more depth, and adjusted expectations of the pacing, I had a great time with The Liar’s Knot.

Much as the blurb might lead you to expect, The Liar’s Knot focuses primarily on Derossi Vargo, Grey Serrado, and Ren as they continue navigating the tangled web they find themselves woven in. It’s hard for me to talk about the plot of this book without massive spoilers for the first, but in general, expect a lot more of the same intricate political movements coupled with a heavy helping of Even More Mysterious Magic and Secret Identity Stuff, and some small sprinkles of romantic subplots on the side.

Though I love all three main characters and think they’re excellently developed, Vargo really shone for me in this book. He easily took the favourite character spot for me after this entry and his arc is so well done. I think his motivations are clear, complex, and compelling, which is a hard trifecta to nail, and plus, who doesn’t love a bisexual crime lord turned noble who also happens to be staggeringly smart? But most of all, his aromantic orientation came across SO clearly through his actions and in a positive, affirming way, and that was so refreshing to see and experience.

And listen. I thought the world was deep, rich, and complex—if too infodump-ish and complex in the first novel for my personal taste, I stand by my initial critique that at least 100 pages could have been cut from The Mask of Mirrors—but guess what? It gets even deeper in this installment, and in a manageable, parceled-out way, where revelations are built upon slowly and carefully. I did still struggle to keep track of an immense cast of named characters, especially since the focus narrowed considerably in this novel and many were only present for a handful of scenes, but I can’t deny how lived in and richly built this world is. Fans of ‘crunchier’ fantasy societies will love it even more than I did.

There are still a few middle book syndrome issues to combat with here. The pacing feels wobbly at times, especially with regard to the introduction of more antagonistic forces later on in the novel. And as much I personally enjoyed getting to know the characters and watching them deal with interpersonal complications, it did mean the plot stalled a bit in portions. But overall, I don’t think these issues detracted too much from the overall experience.

Say what you will about the rest, but the team of M.A. Carrick certainly knows how to end on notes that have me longing for the next book almost as soon as I’ve put down the first. Fans of detail-rich, layered fantasy universes with lots of politics and backstabbing (and sometimes forward stabbing) will find so much to appreciate in the Rook & Rose series. As long as you’re willing to be patient with the intentionally slow pace and occasional information overload, this is a series that should certainly be on more people’s radars.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I struggled for a while with whether to grade this at 3.5 or 4 stars, because Book 2 of the Rook and Rose series is very much Book 2, with all the attendant issues that middle books so often have. Midway through, I had this pegged as a 3.5: decently entertaining (while not quite at the level of Book 1), but not something I was finding entirely absorbing, especially as there were some plot happenings midway through that I wasn't entirely enthused about. But by the end I was rating this as a solid 4 of 5, as the authors ultimately took the characters in a direction I found myself enjoying, and I find myself very interested to see where everyone finds themselves in Book 3.

It's difficult to describe the plot without spoiling things, other than to say that Ren's long con continues apace as the residents of Nadezra grapple with the events of the previous book, while long-held secrets of the city and her inhabitants threaten to burst forth. (Actually, I wish there'd been more of a recap of the first book because there were plot threads I found myself having to go back and refresh myself on.) There's a lot to like here: Ren's struggle between her three identities, her new superheroine status as the Rose oddly being the least challenging to her; Derossi Vargo's development from selfish crime lord to someone almost noble; the forming of Ren's new knot. I'm someone who loves political maneuverings in fantasy novels and this had surprisingly little of those (unless we count certain secret societies coming to the foreground), but ultimately I thought the choice to focus instead on building the characters' bonds worked well.

But as I said above, this is also very much a middle book and it suffers from many of the weaknesses we often see in middle books. It was longer than it needed to be, and the pacing dragged at certain places, especially in the beginning and middle. Certain characters get the short-shrift--Donaia being the most egregious, to the point I kept expecting something vile to be happening to her on her 'vacation'--and it was hard to see where the story was going until the story had actually, you know, gotten there.

Overall, I think if you enjoyed the first book, I'd recommend picking this up and sticking with it to the end.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This series is one of my new favorites. I loved every second of this sequel and am already anxiously awaiting Book 3. Read Mask of Mirrors (which is book 1 in the series!) You won't regret it.

** I received this as an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review**

Lets start with I love the world building of this book. Its amazingly written that just sucks me in.
With that said this this book it felt more drawn out a little but I understand why it had to do so. It should tied very well with the third book. We learned a lot about the city and world in the first book and it’s not necessary to go in depth about it anymore.

This book to be had a different focus than the first book. It focus more on the actions and the relationships within the characters. There was more romance in this book, im not complaining at all honestly. I LOVE Vargo and he definitely the highlight of the book for me, mix in Alsius and is so hilarious. They definitely have a unique friendship. 

The drama in the book was *chef kiss*. I can’t wait to read the last book now!

This sequel was fantastic. I loved it so much that I added this series to my to-purchase list.

Fantastic story and fantastic world building.

I do recommend this book very much.

The Mask of Mirrors was one of my favorite books of 2021 and book two definitely did not disappoint. With all the worldbuilding done in the first book, I really felt like I could sit back and enjoy the wild ride of this book full of secret societies, secret identities, and tension galore. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen next I got thrown for another fantastic and exciting loop that drove me even deeper into the story and left me unable to put the book down for hours. I loved how I felt even more connected to each of the characters and wanted to root for all of them(even when I wasn't really supposed to).
Carrick have managed to imbue such a rich world while keeping me on my toes every chapter and giving me characters that I cannot stop thinking about. I will definitely be reading all of their work going forward!!

The Liar’s Knot (Rook & Rose 2) by M. A. Carrick

5 stars

Content Warnings (may contain minor spoilers): Gore, Violence, Body Horror, Drug Use, Abuse, Death, Sexual Content

This was an amazing sequel, and it in my opinion was just as good, if not better, than the first book in this adult fantasy series, The Mask of Mirrors. I am so excited for book three!

The series mainly takes place in the city of Nadežra, and follows the same cast of characters from the first book, Ren, a con artist, Vargo, a crime lord, and Grey, a “hawk” (constable), along with a truly wonderful and dynamic cast of secondary characters.

One of my favourite aspects of this series is the world-building. M. A Carrick has truly done a masterful job at creating this dynamic series, and the Vraszenians, Liganti, and interwoven cultures are so interesting to discover more about. There is always more information to know, that is always superbly woven into the story in a way that manages to avoid info dumps. There was even more expansion done in this book, and I was truly engrossed. While these books are fairly low magic, the two magic systems are also both so interesting and fun to read and discover more about. I especially enjoyed how - despite one being a so-called “hard” magic system and the other being a so-called “soft” magic system - both magic systems were shown to be both powerful and dangerous, with massive potential costs to users.

Carrick also really succeeds in creating a dark, enthralling atmosphere, and I think this is partially done through the world-building, but also their exquisite prose. I’m not always the biggest prose person, but they managed to create prose for this book which is simultaneously both lush and descriptive, AND efficient and easy to read. It truly enhanced the dark, crime-ridden atmosphere of this series which is something I find prose rarely succeeds fully in doing.

The plot was also so entertaining and fun to follow. While DEFINITELY convoluted at times, I loved reading about all the cons that were being pulled off and they seemed remarkably well thought through. That being said, if you’re someone who does not like your plots to contain A LOT of information to remember, this might not be as enjoyable for you. You’re balancing an enormous cast of characters - many of whom have one or more secret identities - as well as what each character knows about the other characters and their elements of the plot. As I said, I truly think this was masterfully thought through, but I can see how this type of plot would be less appealing to some readers.

Another huge highlight of this series is the characters. In the first book, we are mostly focused on Ren, but I found the POV split in this book to be a lot more even. I truly love all three of the main “protagonists” after finishing this book. Firstly, Ren is such a badass. She plans for every outcome and has mastered the fine art of “girlbossing”. However, despite her industrious endeavours, she has a heart of gold and still cares so much and has so much compassion for those around her. Vargo and I definitely went on a roller coaster ride this book, but at the end of the day he’s iconic in kind of the opposite way to how Ren is. He appears to be very ruthless and cold, but deep down he also (maybe??) has a heart of gold and in this book we began to uncover even more undiscovered facets of his personality, which was very interesting (especially the one with the certain spider). To be short, he is my Kaz Brekker. However, the standout of the three main characters in this book was definitely Grey. I was very lukewarm about him in the first book, but I grew to love him so much over the course of the sequel. (I’m not going to say much more at the risk of spoilers, but he is really great in this book and the additional perspectives really help flesh him out).

The secondary characters are also so well written, in that they all have clear motivations and personalities, even with less page time. Some of my favourites include Arkady Bones (WHAT AN ICON), Tess, Giuna, Donaia, Tanaquis, and basically everyone in Vargo’s crime syndicate.

Also, the romance in this book was SO GOOD but SO UNEXPECTED! I usually hate it in second books when two characters that didn’t seem to be at all interested in each other prior suddenly are, but I was so sold here and I was shipping it so hard. (I should also add that, while the relationship occurs over the book, it is pretty slow-burn, they don’t just “suddenly” become interested in each other as the last sentence may have implied.) This plot element also allowed for some really sweet quieter moments which really make books enjoyable for me to read. I should add that, while this city is very queer-normative, which I loved (and there are many characters in queer relationships), the main couple I’m discussing here is m/f!

In conclusion, this is an excellent sequel, a great winter-y read, and a perfect way to end off my literary 2021! If you loved The Mask of Mirrors, its sequel does not disappoint!

Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book. I've had this one on my t0-read shelf since before the sequel even had a cover, and I'm really happy to say that it was absolutely worth the wait.

I adore the world building in this series, it feels vibrant and authentic, and the authors allow you to experience it rather than inundating the reader with copious amounts of exposition. I only wish I'd known that there was a glossary at the end, because at times I had a little trouble following the details of the hierarchy and titles of the various nobility and classes across the various cultures.

All of the characters are compelling and well fleshed out, to the point that I even want to hear more about the side characters (anyone else a Varuni fan or is that just me?!). Each protagonist also manages to have their own truly distinct voice, which isn't always easy to pull off.

The story itself is engaging and well-written, though even with the brief summary at the beginning, I did find the plot a little difficult to follow at times due to the complicated politics and various groups at play. However none of it felt unnecessary or frivolous, and I think that if it hadn't been so long since I read the first book it likely wouldn't have been an issue.

I appreciate that the authors include a wide array of diversity in terms of gender and sexuality, and that it's consistently mentioned throughout the book as a part of this culture and society. I was disappointed, however, that the only trans character I noted was only involved in the story as a brief side character, and I hope to see more of her in the next book.

Overall this is a brilliant follow up to THE MASK OF MIRRORS. I loved returning to this incredible world, and learning more about this compelling and diverse cast of heros. Looking forward to the third book in this series!

What an amazing sequel to one of my favorite new series of 2021. The characters are really the highlight of this work. My favorites still continue to steal my heart and somehow more so in this installment and the inter personal relationships are always top notch. I love learning about this world and some of the magical reasons why it is the way it is and how this ended in a good place but still with the thread of "but what are we going to do now?" its rare to have a book handle a cliff hanger while also giving me closure. I also think this book is so tight and accomplished because it is written by two authors who have to convince each other the plot is working so nothing is ever forgotten, dropped or hand waved and I really really appreciate that. I cannot wait to re-read this in anticipation of the last installment in 2023!

The Liar's Knot is the second in a twisty, plotty trilogy filled with class and cultural contrasts. The setting feels a bit like seventeenth- or eighteenth-century Venice. It's refreshing to read a long fantasy series that's unapologetically urban, with magic woven into the fabric of the world rather than tacked on for flashy special effects.

At the end of the last book, our heroine Ren saved the city and was inscribed in the Traementis family register. But questions still remain. Chief among them: why was Ren struck by the Traementis curse, when her claim to be a long-lost cousin was part of an elaborate con?

At the beginning of the story, Ren, the uneasy officer of the watch Grey Serrado, and the jumped-up river rat Vargo are at odds. Some of the conflict is caused by misunderstandings, a plot device I always find stressful. If you're like me, rest assured that in the course of the story, many masks are removed. Ren, Serrado, and Vargo team up to investigate the greater mysteries behind a secret society of spoiled aristocrats, expanding the kinds of magic and magical threats that we know about.

Liar's Knot provides answers to some ongoing puzzles, such as what's going on with Vargo's pet spider, and some fun authorial triple crosses. For example, I thought I'd guessed the identity of the mysterious Rook early in the first book, later concluded I was wrong, and learned in the course of the story that I'd been half-right all along. Since this is a middle book, it also offers larger mysteries--and leaves some puzzles, such as the identity of Ren's father, yet to solve. If you'd like a series to sink into at the turning of the year, this is an excellent choice!

The exciting sequel to The Mask of Mirrors & Book 2 of the Rose & Rook trilogy!

In this novel, Ren, Grey, & Vargo find themselves in a cat and mouse game of secrets; while working towards some not-so-different goals. Will they join forces or destroy each other first?

This book has secret identities in spades! And I love how they played a role in the story! Also all of the characters are wonderfully developed and I really like how we get to see the main three's motivations. It's interesting to see how their plans and actions intersect when they sometimes don't realize it.

All in all, this book is even better than the first! And I cannot wait to see what book 3 has in store for this cast of characters! If any of this seems interesting to you, you need to pick-up this! This review is kind of short because I really don't want to take away too much of the plot's surprises because the plot is super intricate - like a knot.

Many thanks to Orbit & NetGalley for the eARC of this! I really appreciate the opportunity to read this gem and cannot wait to see what else M. A. Carrick has in store!

I absolutely loved reading The Mask of Mirrors with my book club so it comes as no surprise that I loved The Liar's Knot.

The characters are both intriguing and amazing, the world-building is mesmerizing, and the story is simply to die for. Everything in these books is so beautifully complex, which makes it a daunting read but never boring or idle. There is action and secrets and tension.

It is really interesting to see how Ren deals with all of her personas, new and old. It seems like quite a challenge to make each one believable and to not get caught by anyone. It is also great to be seeing more of other characters we didn't get to see as much of in the first book, such as Vargo and Alsius. And of course, I love The Rook. Loved him in book one and still love him here. I live for the Zorro vibes.

As I mentioned before, I love the world-building. Reading about this city is like physically being in the city. It is great to be going back to this city we discovered in book one and still be finding out new things about it, and I have no doubt there will be more to learn in the third book, and I cannot wait!

I am excited to see where book three brings all of these wonderful characters!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC acquired by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 50%. I hate to say this this is one of the only books I have DNF'd this year. I found that the first half of the book that I read was incredibly slow with a lot of world-building and dialogue, and I just wasn't connecting to the characters the way that I I did with the first book. That's not to say that I won't come back to this story in the future. I plan to pick up the audio book when it is released and try to finish it that way.

When Ren planned to con her way into a noble family, her goal was to walk away rich and powerful. She certainly hadn't planned to be involved with freedom fighters, vigilantes, stuck in noble parties, or caring about new fake relatives. With each mask she puts on, her original goals and dreams fall further and further away, only for new problems to take their places.

It was nice to return to this world. I'd forgotten how immersive it was. There's a really good recap right at the beginning, which nicely summarized all the main points that took place in the first book. It was a good memory jog, and I needed it.

As before, Ren walks a tightrope between her identities, but now has the Black Rose as a new complication. Yet, it also brings her another role to play, one in line with the Rook's. Now that we, the reader, know the Rook's identity while Ren doesn't, there's an extra layer of secrets to juggle. I was constantly in awe at how the author managed to keep the multiple layers of identities and secrets from intersecting until the plot directed them to. Sure, there were hints throughout, but the plot was very intricately woven between them all.

I enjoyed certain characters' arcs here, particularly Vargo's. He ended off in a really bad light in the first book. I was happy with the way he was portrayed in this book. Still the big bad crime lord, but with some layers of secrets himself. Not to mention those of his spider companion who becomes much more interesting in this book.

The pacing felt slightly faster than the first book did. It's still a long immersive journey, but events moved a bit quicker now that most of the focus on the characters and setting were beyond the initial introductions and plot setup.

I really enjoyed the plot here, except for one part where an idiot had a choice between saving many people at the cost of one person's life, and they chose emotions over logic. I hate such moments in books and movies. Obviously, there's always going to be a happy ending no matter what, but real life doesn't turn out so neatly. For once, I'd like to read a book where they make the right choice - save the many at the cost of one person's life. So what if they can't enjoy life afterwards? Is their short term happiness really so important? Everything else about the plot, and world building, and character arcs was so good here. I wish they hadn't ruined it with that moment.

Technically, they could've ended the series at that moment if they'd played their cards right, but clearly they wanted a third book, so even though this book ends off on a nice (slightly sappy) note, they still need to destroy the evil magic ruining their city, so onwards to book three. Given this series' track record, I'm hoping for some more good plot twists and luscious character secrets.

The Rook & Rose series just dropped its second book, The Liar’s Knot, which is surprising given that we just ranked the first installment (The Mask of Mirrors) as one of our top books of the year. M.A. Carrick is clearly a duo that doesn’t like to waste time, especially given that these books are both enormous in size and thick in depth and complexity. This review inherently will have mild spoilers for the first novel so if you want to remain completely unsullied I would recommend that you stop here and check out our review of book one if you are trying to make your mind up about the series. Or you can stick around and hear if the second book is as good as the first.

The second book is as good, if not better than the first. There you go, see you later. Wait, wait; I was just joking, I have more to say. One of the strange things about the original Mask of Mirrors is that the book almost read like a prequel. There was so much setup of the characters, world, stakes, and relationships that there wasn’t a ton of time for plot developments. This was actually fine because the setup was very entertaining to read, but with The Liar’s Knot, I was ready to dig into more story.

At the end of book one, Ren has managed to outwit her old handler, escape a realm of endless nightmares, establish herself as a member of an aristocratic family, forge multiple important connections across the city, and become a Venician Sailor Scout. Not bad for a day’s work. The Liar’s Knot picks up right after the events of the first book. The first half of the novel, similarly to the first, focuses primarily on character development, political machinations/maneuvering, and investigation of possible enemies and allies as Ren (and her two co-protagonists, Vargo and Grey) all try to figure out who is who and untangle the metaphorical liar’s knot. This all abruptly comes to a head when in the second half of the story there is an element of urgency introduced that drives the trio to save the city, again, and finally established the core throughline between all three protagonist’s stories and how they are all connected. It’s a great time.

I had a fun realization while I was reading Liar’s, which is that I am an idiot and there is very obviously a love triangle going on that I was just completely oblivious to for like a thousand pages. I actually ended up liking the triangle between Ren, Vargo, and Grey. While all three of them had POV sections in book one, it was definitely primarily focused on Ren at all times. In book two we get a much more balanced division of page space and Vargo and Grey definitely move from protagonist/support to core protagonists. The expansion of both of the boys’ backstories was really fun in the first half of Liar’s and it showed me that Carrick really knows what they are doing when it comes to information control with their readers. They give you just enough info to keep you constantly hooked, despite the confusing and complicated plots, while shrouding much of everything in mystery. But, it was also great to actually understand the core conflict of the series through Liar’s storytelling. It helped add an element of direction and purpose to the story that was a little lacking in the first book. Otherwise, everything else that was great about Mask is still good here. The book is brimming with passion, the city is great, and I am very attached to the characters.

The Liar’s Knot is a notch above its predecessor in terms of storytelling and characterization. This is the first book I have read for my 2022 year because we roll December over and it was an absolutely fabulous place to start. This series is going to be one of the strongest to come out in the next few years and it was a great way to kick off my 2022 reading. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Rating: The Liar’s Knot – 9.0/10
-Andrew

The Liar’s Knot does everything I loved in The Mask of Mirrors but even better. These books are long, and they feel long to read, so I can’t say I flew through it, but I did rarely want to put it down. From the first page there was so much happening and many questions I was eager to find answers to. I appreciate that M.A. Carrick didn’t keep harping on the same mysteries they set up in The Mask of Mirrors, but actually gave us answers, and then new puzzles to solve. There are connections throughout, of course, but I hate when a series keeps me wondering the same thing forever and ever (and ever) in an attempt to keep me engaged. There’s none of that here; Nadezra has more than enough mysteries to go around.

If you, like me, absolutely loved Vargo in the first book, you’ll be delighted to know we get even more of him in the sequel, and more from his perspective. I was a bit less enthusiastic about Grey, but he definitely grew on me throughout The Liar’s Knot. And, of course, Ren remains an easy character to love and root for, as she becomes even more mixed up in Nedezra’s politics and the nobles’ schemes. I’m particularly impressed by how Ren still feels like a real, distinct character, despite all her various personas and how easy it would be for her to seem super-intelligent or invincible. The messy tangle of relationships and secrets between these three was the highlight of this book.

It’s come to my attention recently that I love when books have multiple well-defined magic systems, and bonus points if they interact in interesting ways. The first book sets this up with the introduction of pattern, numenatria, and imbuing. The Liar’s Knot takes it even further with the ways that these different systems might interconnect and inform each other, along with the entities behind the physical manifestation of the magic. In this and every other way, the worldbuilding is exquisitely planned.

Another aspect that impressed me about this series so far is the side characters. There are a lot of characters we don’t spend all that much time with, yet they don’t seem stagnant. Each obviously has their own stuff going on, which leads to believable character development even when a lot of what caused that development is off screen. I was happy with how much we got to see Giuna grow, despite only visiting her perspective a handful of times, and the same with Iascat, who I believe only came on page twice.

My feelings on the romance in this book are complicated. Not because it’s not good. The authors delivered a wonderful slow burn, with friendship and trust developing first while each of them gradually admit to themselves what they want and eventually give in. I ended up shipping it more than I expected to. But there’s something else I want from the romance, which I think we have a great setup for and would be absolutely perfect if delivered in the next book. If not, I’ll definitely be a bit disappointed.

The stakes in this series keep rising in a way that’s incredibly well-crafted but I almost wish wasn't the case only because I love simple, dramatic ballroom politics just as much as potentially catastrophic dark magic and secret cults. Fortunately, this author duo are masters of intricate plotting, characterization, and world-building, whatever the stakes. So much so that I already want to reread these first two books again and can’t wait for the next one.

What a rare feat for a book to capture my attention for over 600 pages without faltering. The Liar's Knot is a fantasy aficionado's treasure trove. The story weaves through a lush and vast world built on multiple cultures, belief and magic systems, and a whole hell of a lot of politics and intrigue. The authors didn't skimp on linguistic or social detail, creating a framework that can support many fascinating and complex characters. I'm thankful for the first book recap at the beginning and humbly request it of all fantasy authors going forward. My memory is shit. I was also constantly referring to the glossary, list of characters, and map to keep track of things. Luckily, I'm the kind of reader that finds such a complicated endeavor fun.

It's a strong example of multiple POVs with snappy transitions to keep the plot moving and to guard its big reveals well. From major players like Ren (love her) to more infrequent perspectives like Tess (love her, too), I wasn't disappointed to be involved in any character's head. There are a plethora of masks and plots and underhanded plays for secrets, leverage, and survival. And the characters know how to dress in style while they're about it.

The Rook & Rose vigilante banter is *fetch the smelling salts... down I go.* I'm getting strong Batman energy in a good way (brooding and mysterious, guarding his heart and secrets) rather than the billionaire with toys way.

Vargo's backstory and goals are elucidated. He's a mess of a person with many facets that land him firmly in that morally grey category. At various points, he elicited sympathy, exasperation, respect, and complete and utter surprise from me depending on the situation at hand. Where he was interesting in the first book, this sequel is where I came to care for him and wish the best for him.

Also, can I just say I love honest-to-goodness friendships? I thrive on them, in fact. And this book offered me many strong friendships to sink into and cheer about. 10/10 for that alone. I just love them all and want them to be happy, ok?? Because yes, the world-building is exquisite and I care about that, but it's all my feels and my obsession for the characters that elevate this to a top-tier fantasy read for me.

Thanks to Orbit for my copy to read and review. You can find me staring at this beautiful cover and waiting for the series finale for the next several months.

It’s been less than a year since I read and enjoyed the first book in this series, The Mask of Mirrors, so I was quite eager to see how the story of Ren’s “long con” continued, given the unexpected developments and the intrigue-laden background that made that novel such an enticing read. Well, I was quite enthusiastic about the way in which The Liar’s Knot moved the story forward, keeping the pace lively while at the same changing the stakes in the game.

Former street rat Ren succeeded in her goal of being accepted by House Traementis after posing as a long-lost relative, but she’s come to unexpectedly care for her adoptive family and the misfortunes that are slowly bringing it down, to the point that she’s risking much to unravel the longtime plots woven against them, and in so doing she discovers that the problem is far more widespread and possesses deeper roots encompassing the whole city of Nadezra. Juggling her three personalities - noblewoman Renata Viraudaux, fortune-teller Arenza Lenskaya and the mysterious Black Rose - becomes even more difficult as perilous currents threaten to upset the city’s fragile balance and her carefully constructed personalities are in danger of being unmasked.

Captain Grey Serrado is experiencing even more conflict than before: while it’s never been easy to be a Vraszenian officer of the Vigil in a Liganti-ruled city, other problems are surfacing that make his difficult path even harder, and his quest to avenge his brother’s death even more complicated. Moreover, his growing feelings for Renata/Arenza are adding another layer to an already burdensome mix…

Last but not least, crime lord Derossi Vargo, even after being accepted in Nadezra’s high society, struggles with his past and the burning thirst for power that has fueled all his endeavors, and that struggle starts to show some chinks in his apparently impenetrable armor.

Where the first book in the series was more focused on Ren’s daring gamble of passing for a noblewoman to finally gain some financial security for herself and her adopted sister Tess, here the story rests more on a deeper world-building and on the exploration of Nadezran society, a world where intrigue, appearances and ruthless political maneuvering make one’s life quite complicated - not to say dangerous. At the end of The Mask of Mirrors the dramatic events in which Ren played a considerable part had left Nadezra shaken and its people struggling to recover a semblance of normalcy. In The Liar’s Knot we start to perceive that the corruption - both political and magic-related - runs far deeper and threatens to destroy the uneasy balance between the various factions, and that many of those in charge have little or no care for the consequences, as long as they can be assured more power.

The universe created by the authors (M.A. Carrick is the pen name uniting Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms) is a very complex, many-layered one and here we see much more of the magic system underlying it - both its wonders and its dangers - while the sense of impending doom, of time dangerously running out, becomes more and more tangible with each new chapter. And against that doom our characters fight with all their resources, to the point of forging unexpected alliances that would have looked impossible in the first book of the saga. Ren, Serrado, Vargo and even the Rook (the masked avenger who has been righting the city’s wrongs for two centuries) come to team up against the evil threatening Nadezra, and even when that alliance feels uneasy they manage to work together well: given that all of the characters here are holding secrets (be they identity- or goal-related) the teamwork is at times fraught with suspicion, adding more fuel to an already tense situation, and proving quite entertaining for the readers who enjoy the privilege of holding all the information while the characters possess only a limited amount of it.

This fragmented knowledge also gives way to many misunderstandings that put at risk the fragile ties that some characters are building - one such case creates a quite dramatic scene between two of them (and no, I’m not offering any spoilers here…) - but the authors very wisely choose not to drag this situation beyond the breaking point: I very much enjoyed their choice of having the characters unburden themselves of some of their secrets, with the double effect of clearing the air and strengthening their alliance on one side, and of creating some poignant moments where they could be their true selves, even if only for a short while. I found this quite emotionally satisfying.

Character-wise, Ren here is stretched to the limits of her endurance: the drawn-out need to play many roles is starting to weigh on her, compounded by the distance she’s forced to keep with Tess - sister and confidante - because she cannot be seen to be too close to her “maid”. This forces her to rely on others - Grey and Vargo - for support and despite her understandable reluctance one can see how the choice is helping her to bring the better parts of her personality to the fore, particularly where her intrinsic kindness is concerned.

Grey Serrado was something of a mystery to me in the first book, and I perceived there were untapped depths in his character: here he’s given more space to grow and to reveal more of himself to the reader, so that he grew on me more than it happened before, even though I have to admit that he pales in comparison with Vargo, who appeared from the beginning as the more intriguing among the many figures of this story. We see much more of him in The Liar’s Knot, and what we see fills out his personality in a wonderful way, particularly when we come to understand that under the thick skin of the ruthless crime lord there is a history of pain and vulnerabilities seeking redress from a society that always snubbed him.

And it would be impossible to talk of Vargo without also mentioning Alsius, the venomous spider riding on the man’s coat and telepathically linked to him: all of my questions from book 1 received an answer here - and some of those answers are quite momentous! - and the authors also gave him and independent voice that proved to be delightfully funny and quite enjoyable.

The Liar’s Knot is an intense, totally engrossing read that moves forward the series through quite dramatic developments and that keeps the reader enthralled with its many twists and revelations, very effectively giving the lie to the notion that a series’ middle book tends to be weaker: with the foundations laid by the saga so far, we can only expect an explosive conclusion, and I am more than looking forward to it.