Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a darkly magical fantasy adventure in which a con artist returns to the city that betrayed her, determined to have her revenge--only to find that her fate might be to save it.
This is your past, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither.Arenza Lenskaya is a liar and a thief, a pattern-reader and a daughter of no clan. Raised in the slums of Nadezra, she fled that world to save her sister.
This is your present, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither.Renata Viraudax is a con artist recently arrived in Nadezra. She has one goal: to trick her way into a noble house and secure her fortune.
This is your future, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither.As corrupt nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the City of Dreams, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled-with Ren at their heart. And if she cannot sort the truth from the lies, it will mean the destruction of all her worlds.
Synopsis
"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
The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a darkly magical fantasy adventure in which a con artist returns to the city that betrayed her, determined to have her revenge--only to find that her fate might be to save it.
This is your past, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither...Arenza Lenskaya is a liar and a thief, a pattern-reader and a daughter of no clan. Raised in the slums of Nadezra, she fled that world to save her sister.
This is your present, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither...Renata Viraudax is a con artist recently arrived in Nadezra. She has one goal: to trick her way into a noble house and secure her fortune.
This is your future, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither...As corrupt nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the city of dreams, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled -- with Ren at their heart. And if she cannot sort the truth from the lies, it will mean the destruction of all her worlds.
"A tightly laced plot dripping with political intrigue. Carrick has built a strong foundation for things to come." -- Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
"Utterly captivating."--S. A. Chakraborty
"This novel will catch hold of your dreams and keep you from sleeping."--Mary Robinette Kowal
The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a darkly magical fantasy adventure in which a con artist returns to the city that betrayed her, determined to have her revenge -- only to find that her fate might be to save it.
This is your past, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither . . .
Arenza Lenskaya is a liar and a thief, a pattern-reader and a daughter of no clan. Raised in the slums of Nadezra, she fled that world to save her sister.
This is your present, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither . . .
Renata Viraudax is a con artist recently arrived in Nadezra. She has one goal: to trick her way into a noble house and secure her fortune.
This is your future, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither . . .
As corrupt nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the city of dreams, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled -- with Ren at their heart. And if she cannot sort the truth from the lies, it will mean the destruction of all her worlds.
"A tightly laced plot dripping with political intrigue. Carrick has built a strong foundation for things to come." --Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
"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)
"Utterly captivating." --S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a darkly magical fantasy adventure in which a con artist returns to the city that betrayed her, determined to have her revenge--only to find that her fate might be to save it. This is your past, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither . . . Arenza Lenskaya is a liar and a thief, a pattern-reader and a daughter of no clan. Raised in the slums of Nadezra, she fled that world to save her sister. This is your present, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither . . . Renata Viraudax is a con artist recently arrived in Nadezra. She has one goal: to trick her way into a noble house and secure her fortune. This is your future, the good and the ill of it, and that which is neither . . . As corrupt nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the city of dreams, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled--with Ren at their heart. And if she cannot sort the truth from the lies, it will mean the destruction of all her worlds.
"This novel will catch hold of your dreams and keep you from sleeping." --Mary Robinette Kowal, author of The Calculating Stars
"Escape into a vast, enchanting world of danger, secret identities, and glittering prose." --Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand
"Ushers you into the fascinating city of Nadezra, replete with complex politics, intricate magic, and mysteries that readers will be racing to unravel." --Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter
"A fantastically twisty read." --Fran Wilde, author of the Bone Universe trilogy
"A tightly laced plot dripping with political intrigue. Carrick has built a strong foundation for things to come." --Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
"Lush, engrossing, and full of mystery and dark magic." --
BookPage "Immersive...a feast to savor slowly." --BuzzFeed News
"An excellent fantasy novel."--Los Angeles Review of Books
The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a dazzling and darkly magical fantasy adventure by Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms, writing together as M. A. Carrick.
Fortune favors the bold. Magic favors the liars.
Ren is a con artist who has come to the sparkling city of Nadezra with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house, securing her fortune and her sister's future.
But the deeper she is drawn into the aristocratic world of House Traementis, the more she realizes her masquerade is just one of many. And as corrupt nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the City of Dreams, the poisonous feuds of its wealthy and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled...with Ren at their heart.
"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)
"Utterly captivating." --S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass
"This novel will catch hold of your dreams and keep you from sleeping." --Mary Robinette Kowal, author of The Calculating Stars
"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 Empire of Sand
"A fantastically twisty read." --Fran Wilde, author of the Bone Universe trilogy
"A tightly laced plot dripping with political intrigue. Carrick has built a strong foundation for things to come." --Publishers Weekly
"This book was like nibbling my way through a box of gourmet chocolates curated just for Reader Me. A large box of gourmet chocolates." --Fantasy Literature
Synopsis
"Lush, engrossing, and full of mystery and dark magic." --
BookPage "Immersive...a feast to savor slowly." --BuzzFeed News
The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a dazzling and darkly magical fantasy adventure by Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms, writing together as M. A. Carrick.
Fortune favors the bold. Magic favors the liars.
Ren is a con artist who has come to the sparkling city of Nadezra with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house, securing her fortune and her sister's future.
But the deeper she is drawn into the aristocratic world of House Traementis, the more she realizes her masquerade is just one of many. And as corrupt nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the City of Dreams, the poisonous feuds of its wealthy and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled...with Ren at their heart.
Praise for The Mask of Mirrors
"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)
"An excellent fantasy novel." --Los Angeles Review of Books
"Utterly captivating." --S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass
"This novel will catch hold of your dreams and keep you from sleeping." --Mary Robinette Kowal, author of The Calculating Stars
"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
"A fantastically twisty read." --Fran Wilde, author of the Bone Universe trilogy
"A tightly laced plot dripping with political intrigue. Carrick has built a strong foundation for things to come." --Publishers Weekly
"This book was like nibbling my way through a box of gourmet chocolates curated just for Reader Me. A large box of gourmet chocolates." --Fantasy Literature
Synopsis
Fortune favors the bold. Magic favors the liars. Ren is a liar and a thief, a pattern-reader and a daughter of no clan. Raised in the slums of Nadezra, she fled that world to save her sister. Now, she has returned with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house, securing her fortune and her sister's future.
But in the city of dreams, her masquerade is just one of many. Enigmatic crime lord Derossi Vargo, stony captain of the guard Grey Serrado, dashing heir Leato Traementis, and the legendary vigilante known as the Rook all have secrets that could unravel her own.
And as corrupt nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the city of dreams, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled--with Ren at their heart.
"Lush, engrossing, and full of mystery and dark magic," The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a dazzling fantasy adventure by Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms, writing together as M. A. Carrick. (BookPage)
Praise for the Rook & Rose trilogy:
"Immersive...a feast to savor slowly." --BuzzFeed
"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)
"Utterly captivating." --S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass
"This novel will catch hold of your dreams and keep you from sleeping." --Mary Robinette Kowal, author of The Calculating Stars
"Wonderfully immersive--I was unable to put it down." --Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter
"Exactly the fantasy adventure novel you're craving." --Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne
Synopsis
FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD. MAGIC FAVORS THE LIARS. Ren is a liar and a thief, a pattern-reader and a daughter of no clan. Raised in the slums of Nadezra, she fled that world to save her sister. Now, she has returned with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house, securing her fortune and her sister's future.
But in the city of dreams, her masquerade is just one of many. Enigmatic crime lord Derossi Vargo, stony captain of the guard Grey Serrado, dashing heir Leato Traementis, and the legendary vigilante known as the Rook all have secrets that could unravel her own.
And as corrupt nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the city of dreams, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled--with Ren at their heart.
"Lush, engrossing, and full of mystery and dark magic," The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a dazzling fantasy adventure by Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms, writing together as M. A. Carrick. (BookPage)
Praise for the Rook & Rose trilogy:
"Immersive...a feast to savor slowly." --BuzzFeed
"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)
"Utterly captivating." --S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass
"This novel will catch hold of your dreams and keep you from sleeping." --Mary Robinette Kowal, author of The Calculating Stars
"Wonderfully immersive--I was unable to put it down." --Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter
"Exactly the fantasy adventure novel you're craving." --Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne
Synopsis
A BOOKLIST BEST BOOK OF 2021 "Lush, engrossing, and full of mystery and dark magic," The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a dazzling fantasy adventure by Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms, writing together as M. A. Carrick. (BookPage)
FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD. MAGIC FAVORS THE LIARS.
Ren is a liar and a thief, a pattern-reader and a daughter of no clan. Raised in the slums of Nadezra, she fled that world to save her sister. Now, she has returned with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house, securing her fortune and her sister's future.
But in the city of dreams, her masquerade is just one of many. Enigmatic crime lord Derossi Vargo, stony captain of the guard Grey Serrado, dashing heir Leato Traementis, and the legendary vigilante known as the Rook all have secrets that could unravel her own.
And as corrupt nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the city of dreams, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled--with Ren at their heart.
Praise for the Rook & Rose trilogy:
"Immersive...a feast to savor slowly." --BuzzFeed
"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)
"Utterly captivating." --Shannon Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass
"This novel will catch hold of your dreams and keep you from sleeping." --Mary Robinette Kowal, author of The Calculating Stars
"Wonderfully immersive--I was unable to put it down." --Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter
"Exactly the fantasy adventure novel you're craving." --Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne