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The Mask of Mirrors

Rook and Rose, Book One
4.01 goodreads logo

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( 13,099 ratings, 2,622 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Mask of Mirrors follows Ren, a cunning con artist, as she infiltrates the noble society of NadeΕΎra to secure wealth for her future. In a city teetering on the edge of magic and deception, Ren discovers a web of power struggles and hidden sorcery, leading her to confront unexpected alliances and compelling dangers. This book weaves a tale of intrigue, magic, and the intricacies of identity and trust.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are captivated by intricate world-building, political intrigue, and a richly woven tapestry of magic. It is perfect for readers who appreciate complex plots and nuanced characters set in a fantastical cityscape filled with secrets and deception.

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The first in a commercial, character-driven fantasy trilogy, in which a con artist, a vigilante, and a crime lord must unite to save their city, which is slowly being corrupted by dark magic - a debut fantasy perfect for fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
'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

Darkly magical and beautifully imagined, The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy. It's a rich and dazzling fantasy adventure in which a con artist, a vigilante, and a crime lord must unite to save their city.

Nightmares are creeping through the city of dreams . . .

Renata Virdaux is a con artist who has come to the sparkling city of Nadezra β€” the city of dreams β€” with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house and secure her fortune and her sister's future.

But as she's drawn into the aristocratic world of House Traementis, she realises her masquerade is just one of many surrounding her. As corrupted magic begins to weave its way through Nadezra, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled β€” with Ren at their heart.

'I was utterly entranced by this glittering world filled with masked vigilantes, cunning conwomen, and dark magic. A sheer delight!' - Katy Rose Pool, author of There Will Come A Darkness

The Mask of Mirrors is exactly the fantasy adventure novel you're craving: an escape into a vast, enchanting world of danger, secret identities, and glittering prose' - Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

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

The Mask of Mirrors ushers you into the fascinating city of Nadezra, replete with complex politics, intricate magic, and mysteries that readers will be racing to unravel. Wonderfully immersiveβ€”I was unable to put it down.' - Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

'An intricate, compelling dream of a book that kept me turning pages, with a world and characters that felt deeply real and plenty of riveting twists and turns. I loved it!' - Melissa Caruso, author of The Obsidian Tower

'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)

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

M. A. Carrick's novel is described as a captivating fantasy adventure rich with intricate magic, political intrigue, and complex world-building. Reviewers have praised its engaging mystery, imaginative setting, and the author's skill in weaving a mesmerizing narrative. The book's compelling storyline and dreamlike world have been noted for keeping readers entranced and eager to uncover its secrets.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780356515175

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 21 January 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Orbit

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 46.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 460g

Pages: 672

About the Author

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.

Also by M. A. Carrick

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  • Labyrinth's Heart
    "Lush, engrossing and full of mystery and dark magic" (BookPage), Labyrinth's Heart is the thrilling conclusion to M. A. Carrick's Rook & Rose trilogy, in which a con artist, a vigilante, and a crime lord become reluctant allies in the quest to save their city from a dangerous ancient magic. May you see the face and not the mask. Ren...
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  • The Eye of Leviathan
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    From the author of The Mask of Mirrors comes a sweeping adventure set in a world where fae secretly walk amongst those who seek to persecute them. In an alternate Spanish Golden Age, the Council of the Sea Beyond has risen to unrivalled power, exploiting the Otherworld's most precious resources for their own gain. Estevan seeks to uncover their secrets,...
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  • The Liar's Knot
    Trust is the thread that binds us . . . and the rope that hangs us. In Nadezra, peace is as tenuous as a single thread. The ruthless House Indestor has been destroyed, but darkness still weaves through the city's filthy back alleys and jewel-bright gardens, seen by those who know where to look. Derossi Vargo has always known. He...
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