The Mask of Mirrors, M. A. Carrick
The Mask of Mirrors, M. A. Carrick
List: $44.99 | Sale: $31.50
Club: $22.49

The Mask of Mirrors

Author: M. A. Carrick

Narrator: Nikki Massoud

Unabridged: 23 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Orbit

Published: 01/19/2021


Synopsis

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 

About M. A. Carrick

M. A. Carrick is the joint pen name of Marie Brennan (author of The Memoirs of Lady Trent) and Alyc Helms (author of The Adventures of Mr. Mystic). The two met in 2000 on an archeological dig in Wales and Ireland -- including a stint in the town of Carrickmacross -- and have built their friendship through two decades of anthropology, writing, and gaming. They live in the San Francisco Bay Area.


Reviews

Goodreads review by a foray in fantasy on January 17, 2022

If anyone’s curious, the kind-of-tarot is on the author’s website! I’d love to hear if you decide to do it. Link: [URL not allowed] Edit upon rereading: I just LOVE this book. I’m never going to stop screeching incoherently about how much I love it. The characters, the plot, the set......more

Goodreads review by jessica on November 25, 2021

after reading several average YA books back-to-back, i forgot just how deep and complex adult fantasy can be. it was so refreshing to read such nuanced writing. i mean, the narrative value of this story alone is high. i really enjoyed the storytelling, primarily the writing style, but also the vast......more

Goodreads review by Amy on November 21, 2021

5 stars Give us a pseudo-Venetian atmosphere, a criminal underbelly like Six of Crows but grown up, and a twisty-turny plot like the best of the best... Y'all need to read this! Plot: ★★★★★ World building: ★★★★★ Characters: ★★★★ Enjoyment: ★★★★★ Pacing: ★★★★ There was nothing that I did not love about this......more

Goodreads review by Petrik on September 16, 2024

3.5/5 stars The Mask of Mirrors is the start of a Venetian fantasy-setting series with a heavy focus on political intrigue, multiple identities, lies, and world-building. For the uninitiated, The Mask of Mirrors is the first book in the Rook and Rose trilogy by M.A. Carrick. Similar to how James S.A.......more


Quotes

"Utterly captivating. Carrick spins an exciting web of mystery, magic, and political treachery in a richly drawn and innovative world."—S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass

"The Mask of Mirrors kept me up reading way past my bedtime. A web of intrigue, magic, and the art of the con this novel will catch hold of your dreams and keep you from sleeping."—Mary Robinette Kowal, author of The Calculating Stars

"A tightly laced plot dripping with political intrigue. Carrick has built a strong foundation for things to come."—Publishers Weekly

"The Mask of Mirrors has it all: complex, believable characters; a fast-moving, intricate plot; rich details of attire, cuisine, religion, and so much more, all of which lead the reader to believe that Nadezra exists in more than dreams. This novel starts off strong and only gets better."—Jane Lindskold, author of The Firekeeper Saga