A review by miraclesnow
The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

~Reread May 6-20 2023~

I love everything about this book.
 It has it all: The perfectly balanced court politics, well made worldbuilding with its very distinct and important differences in religion and culture of the two major peoples living in the city (so much so even their types of magic are wildly different), THE CHARACTERS (Ren, Vargo, Leato, Serrado, Tess, Sedge) UGH my babies who are so flawed but deserve all the success in the world, the mysteries and lies being so interconnected to the bone & sinew of the world itself, the magic being so unique and even tarot (aka pattern) having its own life in the story. A reread lets you understand the card readings explain exactly what’s going on in the future and that fighting fate only helps if you know what hand you’re being dealt. 

This book also is dripping with atmosphere. The authors knew exactly what they wanted to portray and did so with such style and so little flaws it’s the closest book other than The Last Unicorn and Howl’s Moving Castle that I call perfect for me.

This reread has solidified it as my favorite adult fantasy, and if not one of my favorite books of all time. Read this with some friends and a MILLION out of ten, would recommend.

If you’ve read this review and my ravings, please try this book out. It deserves way more love. 

I can’t wait for The Labyrinth’s Heart release! Thanks Marie & Alyc for making this series, so we can see the face and not the mask 💙




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~Original review~

Wow, a wild ride that I’m in it for the long haul. The authors managed to surprise me more than once, and the character work is delectable. A very soft magic political drama, with amazing multi-POV scenes that blend it extremely well to each other.
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