The Mask of Mirrors

By: M. A. Carrick

Narrated by: Nikki Massoud

Length: 23 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

"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)

©2021 M. A. Carrick (P)2021 Orbit

Critic Reviews

"A tightly laced plot dripping with political intrigue. Carrick has built a strong foundation for things to come." (Publishers Weekly)

"The Mask of Mirrors kept me up reading way past my bedtime. A web of intrigue, magic, and the art of the con this novel will catch hold of your dreams and keep you from sleeping." (Mary Robinette Kowal, author of The Calculating Stars)

"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)

exquisite

This is my first encounter with Nikki Massoud's reading and I couldn't have been more elated. She switches seamlessly between the multiple--I count at least six--accents required for this story, nesting them so perfectly that a character's exposition is presented in their original voice! even when they are presenting to other characters with an entirely different vocal profile. And Nikki neatly avoids the trap too many narrators fall into: of having vivid dialogue and wooden exposition; she brings so many vocal shades to the exposition it felt more like listening to a play than a book. I already had insanely high hopes for this book on a story level, which are more than being met and surpassed; but the way Nikki brings this to life made me feel as immersed as any full-cast audio.

Great story

Great mystery and story overall. Did not understand the magic systems in the story. It was hard in the beginning to know who was who by the narrator.

This is what I come to the fantasy genre for.

If you love politics, sword fighting, glamour, magic, mystery, and underdogs this will be an enjoyable read for you to say the least. However if you like to be spoon feed the world you're in with exposition this might not be your speed. I for one love being dropped into complex fully formed worlds and slowly discovering it's fullness.
The characters in this book have stolen my heart. Every time I think I've pinned down my favorite, somebody comes out of left field and gives me a reason to love them even more.
The performance is good. No major sound editing problems. Not my favorite reader of all time but she does the job well and helps bring the story to life.

so much better then expected

I enjoyed it much more then I thought I would. highly highly recommend to everyone.