As every chapter unfolds, Carrick adds new layers-to the mysteries at the heart of the plot, and to the city of Nadežra. If it were a room, it would be decorated lavishly, extravagantly, yet it would contain cozy nooks and comfortable furniture. The Mask of Mirrors is what I can only describe as a sumptuous book. Soon, magic and mischief collide to result in twists, turns, and tragedies that I didn’t see coming. However, Ren/Renata is not the only one with plans upon plans for this city. She plans to get into the good graces of Donaia, the head of the house, and in this way, scam and take the nobility of Nadežra for all she and Tess (who takes on the role of her long-suffering but seamstressly-gifted maid) possibly can. Fast forward to the present day: Ren has returned to her home city as Renata, playing the role of the daughter of an estranged branch of House Traementis. The novel opens with a whirlwind flashback to this life, in which Ren poisons the crime boss to allow her and her chosen sister, Tess, to flee the city of Nadežra for a better life. Carrick, authors Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms have created a stunning work of storytelling, characterization, and world-building.Īfter losing her mother at an early age, Ren grows up as a member of a gang of street thieves overseen by a ruthless crime boss. I’ll eschew such comparisons as de rigeur then, and get right into why this book is my first 5-star read of 2021.

The Mask of Mirrors will doubtless be compared to the most popular and celebrated of these, with merit and good reason. Throughout the years, fantasy has handed us many such wonderful stories and lovable rogues-some of which I have read, some of which I haven’t. You all know how much I love me a good confidence story, as much as I love a good heist story.

The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick