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A review by toggle_fow
The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick
adventurous
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book... Hm.
I don't know how many pages it had, but it felt like a thousand. I also don't know if this is YA or adult fantasy. The characters were on the younger side, but they didn't seem like teenagers, and the sexual content, while not straight-smut-explicit, was pretty heavy.
The familiar themes drawn upon here are legion. There were elements that reminded me of Ace of Shades. Definitely a Ketterdam feel in the long con being pulled and the strings of power manipulating both the nobility and the scum of the city, although the setting is more Fantasy Italian.
For some reason, although this is less hardcore, I'm also feeling a Night Angel trilogy vibe. Is it the gutter rat gangs? The Two-Hundred Year Old Magic Man of Mysterious Identity? The conflicted feelings Ren has for the family she infiltrates, despite intending to take advantage of them? Not sure, but it's there.
This book is... intricate. It has a Fantasy Tarot which is leaned on a lot. There is a type of rune-based magic, less explicated but also very present. There is noble family after noble family, so many vaguely Italian names going by so fast. There is social rule after social rule, clothing and racial dynamics and politics and fantasy religions. And usually a more fleshed-out world is better than a thinly-drawn one. But this just dragged, for some reason.
If I hadn't been grimly determined to soldier through, I would have put this down so many times before even reaching the thirty percent mark. I'm really not sure what it was. The time slipped by slowly, months passing in-universe as Ren did little but visit people, ingratiating herself with her marks. The tie between Tess, Ren, and Sedge should have been something I loved. The dance of winning influence through clothing and politesse should have been something I enjoyed.
I didn't, really. I was just tired. I couldn't care about the characters enough to make all the other many, many lovingly-rendered details worth it, unfortunately.
I don't know how many pages it had, but it felt like a thousand. I also don't know if this is YA or adult fantasy. The characters were on the younger side, but they didn't seem like teenagers, and the sexual content, while not straight-smut-explicit, was pretty heavy.
The familiar themes drawn upon here are legion. There were elements that reminded me of Ace of Shades. Definitely a Ketterdam feel in the long con being pulled and the strings of power manipulating both the nobility and the scum of the city, although the setting is more Fantasy Italian.
For some reason, although this is less hardcore, I'm also feeling a Night Angel trilogy vibe. Is it the gutter rat gangs? The Two-Hundred Year Old Magic Man of Mysterious Identity? The conflicted feelings Ren has for the family she infiltrates, despite intending to take advantage of them? Not sure, but it's there.
This book is... intricate. It has a Fantasy Tarot which is leaned on a lot. There is a type of rune-based magic, less explicated but also very present. There is noble family after noble family, so many vaguely Italian names going by so fast. There is social rule after social rule, clothing and racial dynamics and politics and fantasy religions. And usually a more fleshed-out world is better than a thinly-drawn one. But this just dragged, for some reason.
If I hadn't been grimly determined to soldier through, I would have put this down so many times before even reaching the thirty percent mark. I'm really not sure what it was. The time slipped by slowly, months passing in-universe as Ren did little but visit people, ingratiating herself with her marks. The tie between Tess, Ren, and Sedge should have been something I loved. The dance of winning influence through clothing and politesse should have been something I enjoyed.
I didn't, really. I was just tired. I couldn't care about the characters enough to make all the other many, many lovingly-rendered details worth it, unfortunately.