
The Mask of Mirrors
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– Unabridged
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Fortune favors the bold. Magic favors the liars.
Ren is a liar and a thief, a pattern-reader and a daughter of no clan. Raised in the slums of Nadežra, she fled that world to save her sister. Now, she has returned with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house, securing her fortune and her sister’s future.
But in the city of dreams, her masquerade is just one of many. Enigmatic crime lord Derossi Vargo, stony captain of the guard Grey Serrado, dashing heir Leato Traementis, and the legendary vigilante known as the Rook all have secrets that could unravel her own.
And as corrupt 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.
"Lush, engrossing, and full of mystery and dark magic" (BookPage), The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a dazzling fantasy adventure by Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms, writing together as M. A. Carrick.
Praise for the Rook & Rose trilogy:
"Immersive…a feast to savor slowly." (BuzzFeed News)
"For those who like their revenge plots served with the intrigue of The Goblin Emperor, the colonial conflict of The City of Brass, the panache of Swordspoint, and the richly detailed settings of Guy Gavriel Kay." (Booklist, starred review)
"Utterly captivating." (S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass)
"This novel will catch hold of your dreams and keep you from sleeping." (Mary Robinette Kowal, author of The Calculating Stars)
"Wonderfully immersive - I was unable to put it down." (Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter)
"Exactly the fantasy adventure novel you're craving." (Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne)
- Listening Length23 hours and 13 minutes
- Audible release dateJan. 20 2021
- LanguageEnglish
- ASINB08T4RD1QT
- VersionUnabridged
- Program TypeAudiobook
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Product details
Listening Length | 23 hours and 13 minutes |
---|---|
Author | M. A. Carrick |
Narrator | Nikki Massoud |
Audible.ca Release Date | January 20 2021 |
Publisher | Orbit |
Program Type | Audiobook |
Version | Unabridged |
Language | English |
ASIN | B08T4RD1QT |
Best Sellers Rank | #37,883 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #535 in Dark Fantasy (Audible Books & Originals) #978 in Action & Adventure Fantasy #1,874 in Epic Fantasy (Audible Books & Originals) |
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See my full review at shereedsbythesea.com
ARC provided by NetGalley and Orbit Books
“Fortune favors the bold. Magic favors the liars.”
The Good: Give me any book that features a con and I’m already suckered in. “The Mask of Mirrors” is an extremely smartly written book and, likewise, Ren is a wicked smart character willing to risk it all. The entire story is well and intricately plotted out and I loved the depth of the schemings and mysteries. The world, which is both Slavic inspired and reminiscent of Venice, is lush and vibrant. It is bustling and moving all around the main characters — it really is alive. I also adored the relationship between Ren and Tess, who are so loyal and protective of each other.
The Meh: This is a very long, complex book, and at times it feels very overwhelming. There’s so many names, places, new words, and side plots to keep track of that it dragged down the pace at points, and left me a bit confused. I also didn’t notice until about midway that there is a glossary in the back of the book! This would have been so helpful in the beginning, as there are way too many new/made-up terms to keep track of, so I definitely recommend checking that out first.
Pick up this book if you like gangs, politics, feuds, morally grey characters, magic, and a richly woven world that feels real and lived in.
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.
This book is wildly fascinating!
It felt a little like A Darker Shade of Magic and Six of Crows but I absolutely loved those books so I immediately loved this one. It is a fantasy novel but the magic comes in about halfway through and I promise it’s worth the wait. The first half of the novel is very much invested in setting the plot and character development. You get a lot of depth of Ren and Tess and who they are behind the masks they use to con House Traementis, and honestly I love Renata, Arenza and Renyi all equally.
I read this book so slowly, there are a lot of households to learn and a lot of knowledge you require to understand how the magic in this world works. Think of this book as a fine wine, you definitely can’t sit down and chug this, it needs to be savoured to be properly enjoyed. And if you read it this way you will not be disappointed, this story carries you to another world that is just so good. I wish the Mask of Mirrors was 2000 more pages, I looked forward to reading this every day. I’m definitely sad it’s over, especially with so much happening at the end. I promise no spoilers but come on Vargo!?! You’re killing me! Ugh, I just really loved everything about this story and I can’t wait for the sequel!
Top reviews from other countries

Once I started it, I realised it was a fascinating story about Con artists, masked vigilantes, political intrigue, dynamic sword fights, seductive and witty dialogue, and a unique magic system - everything that rendered it a mesmerising read!
Our protagonist, Ren comes to the city of Nadežra with one goal in mind: to con her way into House Traementis, one of the city’s noble and prestigious houses, and to secure her and her sister’s futures. However, as Ren gets to know the family, she finds herself rather attached. She also realises that she’s not the only one hiding her true identity. Soon, Ren’s life becomes entangled within the politics and feuds of the city’s aristocrats. There’s also her landlord, Vargo and Captain Grey Serrado - both with their own deep secrets and complications. Not to mention the super mysterious Rook!
Then there’s the problem of a new, corrupt drug that has emerged in the underworld - bringing alive all the nightmare creatures from children’s fairytales and threatening the city with dark magic turmoil - which Ren also has to navigate through.
A truly stunning story! The authors have done a remarkable job at creating this extremely detailed, complex world and although it did take me a while to understand it all, I was left completely by awe by the end.
The City of Nadežra is dazzling. The vivid descriptions, the dynamic characters, the dialogue and even the fashion was enthralling!
The plot is complicated and some aspects completely caught me off guard. I was glad that I did the read along, as the TWW bookclub commentary really kept me on track and helped me process all the complex pieces of the narrative. It took me a while to get through the book but I’m so glad I did - It’s truly a brilliant read!
I look forward to reading the second book in the series. If you are a fan of complex fantasy fiction, The Mask of Mirrors (the Rook & Rose trilogy) is definitely one to check out.
NB: I started this book on audiobook but really struggled with the lacklustre narration and awful accents. Once I stated reading the physical book, I felt it all made more sense. However, this is my personal preference. I usually love audiobooks but very fussy with narrators.


Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 22, 2021
Once I started it, I realised it was a fascinating story about Con artists, masked vigilantes, political intrigue, dynamic sword fights, seductive and witty dialogue, and a unique magic system - everything that rendered it a mesmerising read!
Our protagonist, Ren comes to the city of Nadežra with one goal in mind: to con her way into House Traementis, one of the city’s noble and prestigious houses, and to secure her and her sister’s futures. However, as Ren gets to know the family, she finds herself rather attached. She also realises that she’s not the only one hiding her true identity. Soon, Ren’s life becomes entangled within the politics and feuds of the city’s aristocrats. There’s also her landlord, Vargo and Captain Grey Serrado - both with their own deep secrets and complications. Not to mention the super mysterious Rook!
Then there’s the problem of a new, corrupt drug that has emerged in the underworld - bringing alive all the nightmare creatures from children’s fairytales and threatening the city with dark magic turmoil - which Ren also has to navigate through.
A truly stunning story! The authors have done a remarkable job at creating this extremely detailed, complex world and although it did take me a while to understand it all, I was left completely by awe by the end.
The City of Nadežra is dazzling. The vivid descriptions, the dynamic characters, the dialogue and even the fashion was enthralling!
The plot is complicated and some aspects completely caught me off guard. I was glad that I did the read along, as the TWW bookclub commentary really kept me on track and helped me process all the complex pieces of the narrative. It took me a while to get through the book but I’m so glad I did - It’s truly a brilliant read!
I look forward to reading the second book in the series. If you are a fan of complex fantasy fiction, The Mask of Mirrors (the Rook & Rose trilogy) is definitely one to check out.
NB: I started this book on audiobook but really struggled with the lacklustre narration and awful accents. Once I stated reading the physical book, I felt it all made more sense. However, this is my personal preference. I usually love audiobooks but very fussy with narrators.


However I found it impossible to believe in Ren the main protagonist. She is operating a long-con, but I found the premise a little fuzzy. I couldn't understand how it was going to secure her future long-term. Once I started doubting her I found little bumps which I might normally have ignored started to grate with me.
The characters were 50/50 for me, I engaged and was interested in the stories of about half and I found the other half paper thin. I do think that there were too many of them.
But there are a lot of positives to the book and I could see how someone who was able to suspend disbelief and buy into Ren's character could really enjoy it.

A chunky doorstepper of a book, weighing in at 672 pages, don't be put off by the length of it as firstly, the characters are so engaging from page 1, and secondly, it really doesn't feel like a tortuous, overwritten tale.
It gave me big Game Of Thrones vibes right from the start-the introduction of the society of Nedezra and its conventions and structure needs a little time to bed in, and through the eyes of characters Ren and her sister Tess, we see just how scheming and sly a person has to be to get where they need to be without compromising their morals.
Determined to reclaim her birth right, and set Tess up for the rest of her life-Ren accepts her life and calling as street urchin turned con woman but hopes her deceits have a noble end in store for her sibling.
Seamlessly interweaving family quarrels, hidden secrets, political manoeuvring and outwitting those in higher social echelons, Ren ingratiates herself into one of the houses of Nedezra, the House of Traementis. From this vantage point, she gets a toehold into a society that shunned her family and left her at the mercy of beggar gangs known as the Fingers, who were held in thrall to their leader , a female Fagin who uses violence and intimidation to keep the young ones in line.
A dance begins, a dance on the edge of a knife as all Ren's careful preparations are scuppered by the most random of events, and human fallibility, setting the scene for, hopefully , a long running suspense filled fantasy epic. The world building is skilful and well maintained, there aren't so many details thrown at the reader that they struggle to remember who is who and what is what.
With strong female leads and a supremely engaging story of righting wrongs in the most trying of environments, you cannot help but root for Ren, as flawed and complex as she is, she is definitely the one you want to come out on top.
'The Mask Of Mirrors' as Ren and Tess wear a reflective mask to try and keep their own true selves safe, reflecting the flaws and inequalities of society back at those with the power to change it, all the while planning a coup behind their plain site disguises. Absolutely thrilling and readable, even if you don't enjoy fantasy, this is well worth investing in and throwing caution to the wind...you just might find yourself a new genre to grow on you in 2021!

All the characters, both main and secondary, have ulterior motives hidden behind their metaphorical masks as well as a long term con which makes the book so much fun to read. The characters are deliciously grey yet I found myself somehow rooting for them all except for the obvious villain of the piece.
Rook, a masked and hooded crusader is a welcome addition and the mystery of his identity is well played out in the book (although it did turn out to be the person I hoped it would be). I loved the hint of attraction between him and Ren. Ren’s growth from the cynical conwoman to someone willing to fight for the people she has begun to care about is well written and I cant wait to see how her story plays out in the next book.
There are plenty of sword fights, magic, peril and intrigue to satisfy most fantasy fans and I loved the fact that there was no gore, sexual violence or torture.
My only gripe is the length of the book ( I felt it could have been a bit shorter), but I imagine most people will love the fact that it is a tomb of a book.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED