Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC!

The second book in the Rook and Rose series is another huge pile of all my favorite things. Political intrigue! Secret identities! Uneasy alliances! Mysterious magic systems!

I enjoyed having a little more focus on Vargo this time around, but I was sorry not to see more of Tess. At least there were a few good scenes of Ren and Tess and Sedge together.

The Liar’s Knot is a complex sequel that unravels old secrets while spinning new webs of deceit and chaos. In this story, Ren is continuing with her con and working through the consequences of the finale events in The Mask of Mirrors. We follow Grey, Vargo, Giuna, and Tess as they deal with the fallout as well. Since the end of The Mask of Mirrors unveiled the character behind the Rook, we also learn more about this entity. Trust me when I say, there’s a lot going on with this plot, but not much I can describe for spoiler reasons.

I’ll be honest, the first 50% of The Liar’s Knot didn’t hook me and I was feeling slightly underwhelmed. The elements I loved in the first book weren’t as present in the first half. Those elements include dazzling balls, tense political meetings, angsty romantic engagements between certain characters, and expositions about the magic and lore in this world. Instead, there were a few repetitive sequences of Ren managing all her identities. I don’t mean that these scenes were uninteresting, I simply mean they were not what I was expecting and therefore I wasn’t getting as excited about the story direction as I had hoped. If you experience this feeling while reading, do not worry! At almost exactly halfway through, there is a reversion back to everything I adored about The Mask of Mirrors. When this happened, I raced through the last half and could not stop reading. Despite the slow start, the last 50% completely captivated me and made this a five-star read.

Let’s talk about our characters next!

I would consider Ren the star of the show again in this book. The way the synopsis for The Liar’s Knot is laid out makes it seem like Vargo might be the main perspective here, but it is still predominantly Ren’s story. As mentioned earlier, Ren experiences a few repetitive scenes where she flows from place to place and needs to change her identity each time. However, I really enjoyed her struggles to maintain all of her personas and I especially liked how this was conveyed through the writing. Sometimes the writing will be from Renata’s perspective, but as she begins to lose her grip on herself, Ren’s voice will poke through. These details are why I appreciate M. A. Carrick’s writing so much. Additionally, I loved seeing Ren own her new vigilante identity and team up with the Rook. Ren’s character goes through a significant arc in The Liar’s Knot. What her character learns to do is one of my favourite character arcs to read about. Ren is a layered woman, and I cannot wait to see how she progresses in the final book.

Vargo is such a suave character and I love him for it. In The Liar’s Knot, we learn a lot more about his backstory, his animal companion, and his motivations. Like Ren, Vargo is a complex character with a lot of trauma that still needs to be unpacked from his past. He is one who I never fully know if I should be rooting for, but I always am anyway. I feel like under all of Vargo’s prickles and charm is a selfless person who will do what he needs to save the ones he loves. His relationship with Alsius is explored a lot here and it was one of my favourite parts of the book. I loved learning more about their connections and the way numinatria works. For someone who despises spiders, I oddly want one as a sidekick now.

Grey Serrado has an intensely interesting arc in this book. I found myself looking forward to his chapters and perspectives the most because his character arc was so compelling. Grey is yet another character with a lot of layers and identities. Similar to Ren, Grey is constantly juggling the different parts he must play in this world. His morals were often challenged by his identities, and this was a gripping aspect to the story. Also, seeing him come to terms with his feelings for a certain someone was beautiful and quite swoon worthy. I think I’m most excited to see what’s in store for Grey after the events of The Liar’s Knot.

Giuna and Tess are amazing women and I love them so much! Giuna goes through a major arc in The Liar’s Knot,and I was cheering her on the whole time. Tess is the sister and friend we all need. She is like the modern fantasy Samwise Gamgee. She is willing to do anything for Ren, but she still has a lot of agency and power. Tess is clever, talented, and rational. I was so happy when Tess and her man started working through the issues that arose between them in The Mask of Mirrors.

One of my favourite parts about this series so far has been the intrigue. Every character interaction is steeped in trickery and mystery, so as a reader you always feel like you’re blindly trekking through the plot with the characters. The author duo carefully crafts the story in a way where you make connections and realizations at the same time as the characters. The authors don’t hold the reader’s hand, they trust that we’re capable of piecing the puzzle together ourselves. I really respect and enjoy this choice because I love when I’m just as entrenched in the story as our characters. With that said, this book requires a lot of concentration and patience to understand. In my review for The Mask of Mirrors, I said that this is not one I would recommend for beginners in the fantasy genre, and this still holds true. However, if you have a few fantasy reads under your belt and are looking for an amazing and intricate tale, this is the series for you.

Thankfully, The Liar’s Knot doesn’t end on a cliff-hanger. Although, if you value your sanity, do not read the chapter excerpt for the third book! It has a huge hook that I cannot stop thinking and theorizing about. I am beyond excited for the third book in the Rook & Rose trilogy and I cannot wait to see how everything wraps up. Usually, I’m nervous about how a series will end but I have absolute faith that M. A. Carrick will stick the landing.

The Liar’s Knot released on December 7th, and I fully recommend you pick up this series!

4 stars!

This book!!! I absolutely loved the first one and was so excited to get a chance to read this one so soon after finishing the first one, I love that we see more of Vargo and his dealings as well as all the changes with the Traementis house. The work that Donia and Renata are putting into it. I loved the secret society aspect that was brought into this book. It added another level of mystery to things that were already going on.

The carry over of the Vraszenian issues from the first book was a nice tie in and watching that entire situation unfold was riveting. Im just not sure how Ren is keeping track of all her identities and disguises without letting anything slip. I would be completely exhausted if I had to do it. Not to mention thoroughly confused at the end.

I was excited to see that there will be another book. though this one did take me a little longer to read than I had wanted it to. It just kinda felt like parts were a little laggy. Overall I really enjoyed the book and I look forward to seeing what happens in the next one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Sequel to The Mask of Mirrors and the second book in the Rook and Rose trilogy- The Liars Knot picks up several days after the conclusion to book 1. Mainly centered around the city of Nadežra and the stain left by the Tyrant that still poisons the city in the present day, we follow Grey (aka The Rook), Ren, and Vargo as they work to unravel the web of secrets and lies that has been woven throughout the city and those who reside in it.
This was honestly almost everything I could have asked for from a sequel to a book that I really enjoyed. It gave me character development, lore, relationship development, and a spider that contains the spirit of a nerdy middle aged man (I honestly didn't even realize that the last part was something that I needed in my life until I read it). The way this book explored Vargo's backstory as well as Grey's and the history behind The Rook was absolutely captivating, there was never a moment where I felt bored or as though I want to put the book down. My one issue was that I wish we had more explanation into some aspects of the magic system and history, but the ending of the book implied a lot of answers to be revealed in book 3, so my hopes are pretty high. None of the characters really felt like they fell off here and the progression that they followed felt really natural. Ren continues to struggle with her multiple identies and coping with the trauma of what she faced at the end of book 1 and you really see the effects of it as she struggles with a lot of stress and anxiety as she tries to balance her secrets all at once. Grey gets some much needed page time here as I feel book 1 left him pretty bland up until the very last page. Here we learn more about him and the relationship he has with both the communties that he is a part of (a Hawk and a Vraszenian) and the struggle he faces with feeling a sense of alienation from both. We also see his role as The Rook a lot more here and learn a lot about the original purpose of The Rook and the battle he continues to fight for Nadežra to this day. Vargo really shines here- we get so much on his backstory and his motivations as well as his views and relationships- it really solidified my love for his character and his (along with Alsius') place as my favorite character in the series. Even the side characters such as Tess, Giuna, and Sedge had great moments of development and growth that made me love them all the more. I really can't overstate just how much I'm enjoying this series and what it has to offer, the LGBTQIA representation especially is an aspect that is done very well and I cannot put into words how much seeing it means to me personally. I look forward to reading the third book in the trilogy and can't wait to go and force my friends to pick it up as well so that I have more people to gush over it with.

Thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an eARC of The Liar’s Knot.

I was delighted to return to the incredibly rich world Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms (the duo publishing under the name M.A. Carrick) first introduced in The Mask of Mirrors. The Liar’s Knot is an excellent follow up and continues the story of Ren, Grey, and Vargo. We see even more growth from these complex, multi-dimensional characters. The story is wild, with multiple storylines and twists upon twists that kept me fully engaged from start to finish. I can’t wait to see how Brennan and Helms finish out this trilogy. I’d also love to see Netflix or some other streaming service adapt this series.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2N8PLI2RI3411/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

https://network.bazaarvoice.com/r/SpnrKgih6KOy6rhF?

A marvelous and engrossing return to the world of the Rook and the Rose. I am continously impressed by the authors ability to create a world filled with political intrigue, multifaceted characters, magic, and intriguing mysteries. This book takes all the elements of the first book and heightens them, taking the story to a new level and unlocking new mysteries. There is no suffering from second book syndrome here.

The Liar's Knot continues the story from the Mask of Mirrors, which is complicated enough I'm not going to recap it here.

This book was really good. Its a complicated high fantasy with pages of glossary so be prepared for some fantastic world building. I really enjoyed the "in case you missed it" portion at the start of this book, since its been about a year (200+ books) since I read Mask of Mirrors. I also appreciate that this book contained its own plot and wasn't just a bridge between book 1 and 3. This didn't suffer much from middle book syndrome. I also liked the elements of a slow burn romance.

Mr. Peabody is by far the best character, yeah I said it.

This book was easily even better than Mask of Mirrors. The character development is so rich in this book, that it makes it very hard to put down, despite the length. There is a lot of world-building, but that was personally something I enjoyed about this. It is a little slow, but I would recommend you take your time with it for the intricacies of the plot. I'm excited to see where the author goes with book 3.

After a nearly year-long wait, I was more than ready to dive back into Nadezra. Like Mask of Mirrors, The Liar’s Knot is a tome at over 600 pages; however, I didn’t feel it nor did I grow impatient for the end. This time the story moved at just the right pace. I was committed to the characters and too immersed in what was happening to heed how many more pages I had to go until it ended. By the time I finished, I wanted more.

With a focus on characterization, at times it felt like lots of things were happening but also nothing at all. Characters just went about their daily lives with specific events highlighted--Ren at a party, Vargo in a meeting, Grey being a hawk, and so on. There lacked a sense of an overarching plot until it got closer to the end, and then the threads started coming together.

I found Grey’s arc to be the least interesting in comparison to Ren’s and Vargo’s arcs. It’s not that he is boring but there’s just not much to what he’s doing because he does nearly the same things. Ren finally reaps the rewards of her deception but struggles with juggling her many masks. Her successes require sacrifices that leave her ragged and questioning the price she’s paying to be part of House Traementis. While Ren remains my favorite character, it’s Vargo’s story that is the most interesting. There were a few moments I couldn’t pin down what he was going to do. Vargo remains ambitious and continues to be more than willing to use other people for his gain. 

The Liar’s Knot was an immersive read, and I could barely put it down. Carrick created a world where mistrust and manipulation were rampant, forcing characters and me to second guess everyone’s intentions. Although characters just appeared to go about their daily lives, I enjoyed the book immensely. I cannot wait for the next book.

It is official, this is in my top three reads of the year. I am still reeling from finishing and thinking about when it would be appropriate to reread once my physical copy comes in.

This is not a book for the casual fantasy reader. THE ROOK & ROSE series has been one of the more complex fantasies I have read in a while (maybe ever?) When I have a hard time falling asleep I tend to recount the plot of the book I am currently reading and I tried to do that the other day for THE LIAR'S KNOT and... it was impossible. There are so many threads of storyline interweaved into a single book it would require a color-coded, tabbed notebook. I loved every minute of it. It required my full attention and held me in its vice-grip.

Ren is now inscribed in the Traementis register but now is fully living as Renata with few moments of authenticity with her sister/maid Tess and is struggling with her ties to her Vrazenian heritage through all her lies. Vargo has achieved his goal of rising to nobility but at the cost of Renata's trust and alliance. But do we really know what his true endgame is? Grey Serrado just needs a friggen break (but I was very happy to see him taking on a bigger role in this one!) And Nadezra is, potentially, on the mend from events in the last book but who can you really trust when everyone is out for power and to further their own desires?

This book is, once again, full of rich world-building and intricate politics between the noble houses, knots, and secret societies. Where this book shined the most for me was how the characters evolved and the insight into the magic system(s). First, the characters. there are so many literal and figurative masks being worn (may you see the face and not the mask, amirite?) and getting to figure out what is real or a lie about every single character and which characters know about which masks and which of their masks knows about others masks. PHEW - see what I mean about complicated. I really enjoyed being able to explore these various sides of identity with the main characters and how they viewed and were viewed evolved over the book. Second, I'm always a sucker for a good magic system and was especially happy that this book provided a lot more depth into the "numinatria" lore and that book 3 is setting up how the two systems (numinatria and pattern) can work together.

This was a complex, slow-burn, political fantasy book that fans of adult fantasy/sci-fi fans would enjoy (I'd compare this to Daevabad series in terms of political fantasies). Luckily there is a glossary and character list included in the book which was immensely helpful in keeping track of everything. I cannot recommend this series enough and fully plan to throw this 600-page book at everyone and anyone I know who reads fantasy.

I am in love with this world. Carrick is a master of world building and I am here for it. The characters are full and rich and I would die for them. I will admit that I didn't enjoy the plot as much as the first one, but it was a solid entry.

Wow! This is a whirlwind book.

Down to business: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Now the fun stuff.
The Liar's Knot continues the exciting dilemma started in the first book of lies, masks, magic, divination, political maneuvering, social unrest, class, etc.

I LOVE the main characters. I felt like we gained answers that were satisfying so that I more fully appreciated Ren, Vargo, Grey, and the Rook. The author (thankfully) provides clues to the identities of other characters in case you've forgotten because there are enough characters for a Russian novel. And characters putting on disguises and different names. In hindsight, I wish I'd made a list to keep at the side of my Kindle.

I also LOVE the setting. I can picture it so well. It's a "romantic" setting with old buildings, rivers, mansions, and secrets. Even the hovels of the poor have this aspect because it evokes a different time and place.

I LOVE how we are untying the secrets in The Liar's Knot. And I loved the interconnectedness of the plot with the aspects of magic and bonds people form.

The one thing I don't adore is the cursing. Magical curses are great, but the language is strong and frequent - so much so that you become numb to it. There are also a few scenes with a sentence that is off-color about intimate relationships. I'm not saying it doesn't fit the book, because it does. It's just not my preference.

If you love twisty, complex, fantasy, this is the book for you! I recommend it for adults.

The Liar’s Knot is a triumphant and stunning return to Nadezra! Ren, Vargo, and Grey continue to navigate the perils of Nadezra and learn about the mysterious power of the medallion. With Ren firmly ensconced in the Traementis family, she faces pressure from scheming nobles. As Grey encounters corruption in the organization that he has worked so hard to rise in, he is forced to weigh his values and the demands of the Rook. Meanwhile, Vargo is grappling for power amongst the nobles and street gangs beneath him. All wear numerous masks which will be tested and shattered. They will be forced to confront their flaws, loyalties, and long-held secrets in the action-packed sequel to The Mask of Mirrors.

This series is perfect for readers who love complex and morally gray characters. I love these characters and was so happy to see more of their adventures! It is clear that the authors have put an incredible amount of effort into world-building and character development. I particularly enjoyed Vargo and Giuna’s character growth! I was fascinated to learn more about the mythology behind the Rook and the Black Rose. This is a series built on shadows and secrets, with an outstanding level of nuance especially relating to the politics and culture. The authors do a compelling job of bringing the characters together, creating witty banter, and always keeping readers engaged with twists and reveals.

The world-building is rich and detailed. There is something for any fantasy reader to enjoy from the lovable characters, complicated political schemes, and daring escapades. There is also a helpful character list and glossary included. It is clear this sequel is setting up an outstanding conclusion. I absolutely cannot wait to see how the series concludes! I would highly recommend you pick up The Liar’s Knot and become enthralled in The Rook & Rose series. If detailed world-building, morally gray characters, and intricate magic systems are something you enjoy- you need to check out this series! The Liar’s Knot is out now. Thank you to authors M.K. Carrick, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on the publication date and I will publish it on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

Myth: 5/5

I admitted that the first book took me a little time to get into. I found myself wondering why I had to work so hard to get into the world and the characters, but let me tell you, book two delivers from start to finish. We get to see Ren dance through her various masks and start to find ease and peace in her own self. Grey’s character really gets to take shape in this book. Weaving himself further into the story in his own masks. And of course, the incomparable Vargo, remains as enigmatic as ever. I can’t even begin to explain how well the multitude of masks for every character works in this story. Just enjoy the ride as they decide who to trust and how to learn the secrets to making Nadezra a better place for all its people.

Magic: 4.5/5

The magic remains mystical and complex, but the keys to its interweaving with the plot are clear. A unique mix of something like Tarot and emotion imbued powers make multiple character’s expertise required to tackle what ails Nadezra.

Overall: 5/5

The characters were brilliant, the world vivid and though there is truly little to no heist in the story, I can’t get the heist vibe out of my head as the characters masquerade their way through multiple lives to achieve their goals.

House Indestor was destroyed, and the rest of Nadežra is hanging on by a thread. Derossi Vargo has sacrificed much to reach a position of power and will keep it at nearly any cost. Grey Serrado will do whatever he can to save the powerless in the city. Ren is trapped between her heritage and the lies binding her to the aristocracy. A web is stretched across the city, and it will be difficult to break themselves free.

The Liar's Knot is the second book of the Rook and Rose trilogy, following The Mask of Mirrors. In the first book, we have exquisite worldbuilding, the creation of pattern reading and the numinatria, as well as the layered stories for Renata and Arenza, as well as Tess and the other characters. The Rook and the Lady Rose were introduced, the mystery of their identities not fully revealed. In this volume, we see the fallout of the first book in the trilogy.

As with the first book, the exquisite worldbuilding is front and center here. Holidays, theater, music, and secret societies are all present, each adding to the layers of secrecy for our characters. Patterning has Mask and Face cards, and each of our main players has them as well. Against a backdrop where the different nationalities and factions within the city push and pull at each other, even the street kids have a role at times. Ren is having some trouble balancing her different roles, especially now that she also is the Black Rose and is meant to uphold the goddess Ažerais. At the same time, the magic we learned about in the first book is just the tip of the iceberg, and there are still ramifications of the curse on House Traementis for Renata to deal with.

The layers in the story are intricately done so that the ties we think exist shift the further into the tale we go. It makes sense; each Mask and Face has their own motives, and sometimes they dovetail, sometimes they don't. Tension is relieved to an extent when truths are revealed, but soon enough ratchets up again. The source of magic and curses has ramifications for the entire city, as it involves the same ancient artifact created hundreds of years ago that enabled a tyrant to rule. Its aura remains, and those who would orchestrate its use plan to rule the city again.

Many people think the second book in a trilogy is a weaker link, as you don't have the initial excitement of the first book or the thrill of the chase in a final book. This is every bit as well done as the first book in this trilogy. Ren's lies are catching up with her, and she doesn't have the life she initially thought she wanted. But what she has now likely can be even better, and I can't wait to see how it all happens in the next book.

This is an excellent book two. (And it is a series where you need to read book one first or you’ll be lost.)
I feel like thus is going to be a trilogy based on the pacing and what happens and there no middle book slump here. The primary characters are all interesting and I particularly like the setting and the way it feels a bit like a more civilized version of an Italian renaissance city state. The clothes and other little details of the world really make the setting come alive. This is an author I’m marking to follow in Goodreads, I want to not miss a book from them.

The Liar's Knot is easily my favorite book I've read this year. The sequel to The Mask of Mirrors, The Liar's Knot does not disappoint - definitely a five star read! The book picks up right where The Mask of Mirrors leaves off, and once again, we get the story told from multiple POVs (Ren, The Rook, Grey, Vargo, Tess, and Giuna). Every single on of these characters is developed even further in The Liar's Knot. My favorite character is Vargo and I was thrilled that we got to see much more of him, his spider Mr. Peabody, and learn more about his mysterious past and connections with Alsius (my other favorite character). We also get to see how Ren, Grey, and Vargo navigate all of their secrets, as well as their relationships with each other. The story is fast-paced, filled with plenty of political intrigue, action, magic, cons, and adorable animals (kittens, spiders, dogs). I absolutely cannot wait for the third book in this series.

At the beginning of this book I was really concerned that there would be too much angst™ since the main character Ren is still hiding multiple secrets/identities from multiple characters. However, the journey her character goes on this book and her exploration on what family really means, and letting more people into her inner circle (and secrets) unfurled really nicely. We also got to see more insight into side character such as Vargo (my fav), Grey (who is growing on me) and Giuna (who really showed some character growth in this installment). Also, does a spider possessed by an old dood count as an animal companion? because I'm here for it either way. I love the entire cast of characters in this series, and I'm glad we started to see some storylines come together so there is more dialogue between everyone. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if we end up having a Ren/Vargo/Grey poly relationship in the next book. Vargo and Grey have big "enemies to lovers" vibes going on. (and Ren has chemistry with everyone, so... a girl can hope). As for the new enemies and politics in this installment, I think the world building expanded for the better, and thought this installment clarified some history and lore I was a little unclear on in the first book. I really enjoyed this installment and look forward to reading book 3.

ARC provided by NetGalley and Orbit Books in return for an honest review.

Welcome to Nadezra. Where peace is nothing more then a tenuous thread. House Indestor has fallen but, a darkness still makes its way through the city and its people. We are reunited with Ren whose knot of lies has tangled even further. Derossi Vargo who has become a noble but still has the heart of a river rat. And Grey Serrado who must balance his duties with his desires. In this brilliant follow up to The Mask of Mirrors the poison that has polluted this Venetian inspired city becomes even more deeply rooted in its people and Ren, Vargo and Grey must trust not only themselves but each other as they try to save the city and the people that are their home.

I will admit that when I initially picked up this title I was concerned that I was going to be disappointed. This is due most in part to M.A Carrick's choice to drop you directly into the deep end of their world without a life raft. They immerse you immediately in the world of Nadezra and its people. While the journey to comprehension is shorter in comparison to book one it did take me a moment or two to find my feet again. Had I done an immediate re-read of Mask of Mirrors or been better about using the glossary at the back of the book I might've had a less confusing beginning. However, once I found my feet and recalled the details of the politics and titles that make up the government of the Cuffs vs. the tribal set ups of the Vraznenians I had a much easier time.

I truly enjoyed the development of the characters. Ren, Grey and especially Vargo all had a deeper depth and you could tangibly see their growth from the events of book one. Their wants were sometimes in direct opposition to themselves and each other. One thing that I did find disappointing was that I thought we would get to spend a little more time with some of the supporting characters that had begun to play such a large role in the end of book one but, many of them were decidedly absent. I can see how this was necessary with the changes that our main trio had gone through and the things that they were involving themselves in but, I did miss it. That being said the development of Mr. Peabody was perhaps my favorite. I found myself laughing at his commentary and antics for the majority of the book.

There was a plot point that I saw coming but, it didn't detract from my over all enjoyment of the story. I was still left with questions unanswered in regards to many characters and I am curious to see how some characters that are currently living off the page will develop in book three. I am certain that one of them might show up and it would be an undoing of another character if they do.

Over all I think that M. A Carrick are masters of their craft and while it might be a little jarring to be dropped into their world you are quickly swept up by authors who know their world and its rules. It is a tangled web that you will eventually find the center of.

4.5 stars.
Alta Renata and Donaia Traementis are busy strengthening House Traementis, now on the rise thanks to many of Ren’s efforts, and Tess’ dressmaking skills are yet another tool in Ren’s pocket to change perceptions of this damaged noble family. Ren, though, is swiftly being run off her feet
-dealing with the family business interests
-vetting new possible members for the House
-dealing with the Vraszenian side of events from book one (the thwarted bombing and the people involved)
-working with Tanaquis to determine the origins of the curse on the Traementis, and
-running around the city at night as the Rose, working with the Rook on occasion while trying to figure out what Vargo’s up to.
So, sleep is optional, and thank goodness for those imbuing cosmetics Ren takes to carrying around with her.
Meanwhile, the authors delve into a magical secret society amongst the Nadezhran nobility and what the aims of this group might be, through Ren’s work with Tanaquis. And how this secret society ties into the origins of a long ago former ruler of Nadezhra, known as the Tyrant, and how the society’s schemes have been affecting the populace and infrastructure of the city. The more Ren, Grey and Vargo and the Rook uncover, the more dangerous the situation becomes for them and for Nadezhra. We also learn some of the Rook's history, origin and motives, through conversations between the shadowy figure and the Rose. Much magic and danger occurs while all this happens, till we arrive at the satisfying ending of this book.

Let’s just get this out of the way first about this story: I loved it. The mix of cultures and consequent problems between them, the corruption at the heart of the city of Nadezhra, the various cons and their emotional impact on Ren and the people she cares for, Tess and Sedge, and the constant political wrangling and posturing amongst the nobility with often lethal consequences: this is my kind of story.

The complicated plot and focus on character are handled so well by this pair of authors. Like book one, this is not a short book, so to find myself turning pages swiftly and wishing I could put everything around me on hold so I could find out what would happen next speaks to the skill of the authors and my engagement with the characters. I fell in love with Ren, Tess, Grey, Vargo and Sedge in book one, and my love is only deeper looking back over book two's events and twists.

Also, the title of this second installment is so appropriate. We have Ren lying to everyone around her (except for Tess and Sedge, of course), Grey lying to Ren/Renata/Arenza, Vargo lying to pretty much everyone around him, while Tess and Sedge have to lie, also, to protect Ren's secrets and ongoing con. Though that con is getting the better of her, and Ren's finding it harder and harder to keep on top of playing Alta and szorsa, and barely finding any time to just be herself with Tess. Grey is lying to his superiors about the Vraszenian Stadnem Anduske situation, while also hiding what he knows about Ren/Renata from Ren, and Vargo's motives for any number of the plots he's got in motion are murky at best, so there are misunderstandings galore between characters, and relationships at risk. But it's all handled so well by authors Alyc Helms and Marie Brennan so that when some of the emotional barriers finally come down between characters it was so utterly satisfying. This group of "liars" may not formally be a knot, but they're clearly so much stronger when truly relying and working together, rather than at cross purposes.

I so wish I could read book three now (I know the author's are hard at work on it now) and I am so eager to find out where things go next.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.