The Mask of Mirrors by M. A. Carrick

Readers who enjoyed Six of crows by Leigh Bardugo or the adventures in Meg Caddy’s Slipping the noose will fall in love with this series written by Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms writing as M.A. Carrick. Ren is determined to enter the noble House Traementis, with its riches and a comfortable future for her sister Tess and herself. When her mother died, she had been picked up by the evil woman who controlled a gang of children notorious as Fingers. Her brother Sedge was killed, so she and Tess fled the house, relying on their skills and determination to survive. Posing as a long lost relative, Renata, she cons her way into the family. But life in Nadezra is not as glamorous as she had hoped, and she is drawn into the dangerous feuds of the ruling houses. She crosses the paths of Rook, a Robin Hood like character who is fighting for the impoverished people in the city and that of Vargo, a merchant who is trying to claw his way to the top, as well as Grey Serrado who is a city guard.

The world building is dazzling. It is easy to imagine the city of Nadezra, with its mansions, slums and waterways, gangs roaming and rich young men partying in the night. With the help of Tess’s exceptional dressmaking skills, Ren slips into the persona of Renata, dressed in the latest gorgeous fashion and into the home of the Traementis family. Magic is in the air and Ren can use the cards to read patterns and predict what could happen. (Readers who are interested in pattern reading can go to the author’s website to see the pattern of their fate.)

Action and danger faces all the characters, who are all vividly described, making it easy to become engaged in their destinies.

The Mask of Mirrors is a multi-layered, complex fantasy that is very difficult to put down and I cannot wait to read the next in the trilogy, The liar’s knot.

Themes: Fantasy, Magic, Criminals.

Pat Pledger