The Mask of Mirrors

The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a dazzling and darkly magical fantasy adventure by Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms, writing together as M. A. Carrick.

Fortune favors the bold. Magic favors the liars.

Ren is a con artist who has come to the sparkling city of Nadežra with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house, securing her fortune and her sister's future.

But as she's drawn into the elite world of House Traementis, she realizes her masquerade is just one of many surrounding her. And as nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the City of Dreams, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled…with Ren at their heart.

Title: The Mask of Mirrors

Authors: M.A. Carrick Marie Brennan

Genre: Fantasy

Paperback:  672 pages

Publication Date: 01/21/2021

Publisher: Orbit

Language: English

ISBN: 0356515176

ISBN-13: 9780356515175

My Review

Con artists, nobility, and crime lords are the main factions in this novel, delivering a collectively intricate plot reminiscent of a fantastical Venetian opera. With ten houses of the nobility and their main characters raging political intrigue - over 20 additional characters will mix into this multifaceted, dynamic plot and keep the reader on their toes.

Arenza Lenskaya, aka Ren, aka Renata Viraudax, was raised in the slums of Nadezra and is learning to gain acceptance into the House Traementis as their long-lost kin hoping for all the wealth and social benefits it will bring. The truth however is, she is a con artist and willing to form beneficial alliances in her alias to achieve what she seeks. What she does not know is that other forces are tugging from every side.

While we follow Ren and her thoughts, she interchanges her name, depending on who she deals with and what she can benefit from the most. With changing garments, going to balls, and going as far as to change her skin color, we follow her upturning and plotting against and for nobility, while being partially open to rather shady business.

In an ever-changing plot and povs, some of the other elements of the novel are introduced. While we meet Oskana Ryvcek, a legendary swordswoman, we are also learning of The Rook, a feared and charming outlaw.

As Ren is thrown into the dangers of the different houses, magical forces sweep her off her feet and she has to sort out friends from foe.

In this story that sounds absolutely intriguing and fabulous, I found myself lost at times for a lack of explanations or connections. A swift change between chapters, characters, and an upending conspiracy, was beyond my ability to fully follow. The parts that worked for me, which were moments that I actually understood the circumstantial connections (keep in mind, there were 52 characters – so listed in the back of the book plus a glossary guide of terms) that were quite enjoyable. I loved some of the darker magic in there and the feistiness of the characters. At a page count of almost 700 pages, and from what I gather took over 2 years to plot-out in regards to the regal houses, alliances, and characters, it was just a bit beyond my complete comfort or delight but certainly commendable.
I am sure there are other readers that will absolutely love this book. Unfortunately, it didn’t work as well for me.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

All opinions are my own. Thank you.