Bumpy Oak Books

4 stars

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

Authors Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms writing together as MA Carrick present the first installment in a new fantasy series with The Mask of Mirrors. Readers follow main character Ren who is an orphan, former street kid, and con artist. Ren plans her biggest con yet with the aid of her found family as she tries to work her way into the nobility of the city she fled in childhood. Ren quickly finds out she is in for much more than she bargained for amidst the politics, rival gangs, and ethnic divides of the city of Nadezra.

Nadezra is Ketterdam all grown up. While so many books are marketed as being appealing to fans of Six of Crows, The Mask of Mirrors is the first that I have found that truly evokes the intricacies of crime lord politics, a class of arrogant nobles, and the merchant gentry that are able to go between. Just about every character is morally grey and has their own manner of surviving in the city. This creates a space where there is so much opportunity for twists and turns and plans coming together or undone. Helms and Brennan really shine with how they built this world.

Given that I’m a sucker for an antihero, it should come to no one’s surprise that Vargo is unrepentantly my favorite character. From poor street kid to accomplished crime lord, and now to legitimate businessman, Vargo is clearly ambitious, a skilled manipulator, and on an upward trajectory. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he is also an accomplished inscriber, which is a sort of alchemical magic system present in Nadezra.

I do wish more time had been spent presenting the magic system to the reader, but suffice it to say that it involves chalk drawings of the equivalent of alchemical circles with variations on intent based on the focus and symbols used. It seems intricate and I hope to learn more about it in future books.

I was very appreciative for the queer normalization and representation in this work. I thought the incorporation of normalization of acceptance of various sexualities was not at all heavy-handed and seemed organic within the world Helms and Brennan built.

There are so many things that are well-executed about this book, and not the least of which is the amount of questions the reader is left with. Likewise, I was so very pleased to get at least some answers at the end (and to be right in some guesses!). Helms and Brennan have created a lot of room to grow and continue with their series.

I absolutely look forward to future works both from these authors and in this series.