The Liar’s Knot is the second book in Rook & Rose trilogy, and what a wonderful book it is. It started strong and didn’t really have empty moments despite its considerable length. It wasn’t non-stop action, but unlike in the first book, every scene mattered, building towards the finale.

The book begins soon after the first ended. Ren, the street urchin turned a self-made noblewoman, is adopted to the family she’s been conning, bringing her ruse to a conclusion she didn’t see coming. And she’s made the heir too, at least until her new cousin comes to age.

As far as Ren is concerned, the con is over and she’s taking her new duties seriously. That doesn’t mean she’ll go confessing the truth to her new family. And as far as the legal system of Nadežra is concerned, she now is who she claims to be, no matter the truth.

Alta Renata isn’t Ren’s only disguise though. She still goes about as the fortune-teller Arenza, and in this persona she grows close to Captain Grey Serrado and his family. And then there’s the masked vigilante Rose, whose job is to protect the original people of Nadežra.

The secrets aren’t easy to maintain though, especially since Grey has his own secret persona to maintain. Grey and Rook have a mission to free Nadežra of the influence of cursed medallions. But he’s not the only one after them. Derossi Vargo, the criminal turned aristocrat, is interested in them too.

Vargo and Ren are invited to a secret society that seem to control the medallions, and the three need to come together to best the most important players of Nadežra. Not an easy task, considering the hatred Grey feels for Vargo and the secrets between them.

The story had many layers that unfolded slowly. The number of players was kept smaller than in the first book, making it easier to keep tabs on them. There were fewer point of view characters too, though some side characters, like Ren’s sister Tess, had random chapters. There were a couple of side plots, like a backlash against the original tribes of Nadežra, which affected Grey and Rose both, and the aristocrats moving against Ren to uncover her secrets. Everything fit together organically though, creating a compelling whole.

There’s romance building between Ren and Grey, and while I expected it, it’s such slow-burn that it probably could’ve waited. Ren’s volatile relationship with Vargo works better and the emotions between them feel more real. I’ll be rooting for Vargo in the last book, if not for Ren’s lover, then as the winner of the masquerade that is Nadežra’s politics. I’m eagerly waiting for the conclusion.

The first book in this trilogy, "The Mask of Mirrors", caught me kind of by surprise in early 2021. It had an interesting premise and a very cool cover, which, sometimes, is all I need to request or buy a book. But it turned out to be an incredibly rich, well-written fantasy novel that showed such great care for elaborate world-building that I fell in love. I couldn't wait to read the sequel.

Now said sequel is there, and once again I am in love. I have to admit that I did have to quickly reread the first one because the world-building is so dense, so full of made-up words and a plethora of characters and names and religions and factions that even though I loved it, I honestly couldn't remember who is who and what is what so well. I needed a reminder.
And I also have to admit that I still don't get parts of this series. The magic system is so complex with numinatria and pattern and what have you that I still, after reading two books, couldn't fully explain to you how all of this works. I read passages of "The Liar's Knot" where my brain went temporarily blank because it was just very confusing, and I don't think M.A. Carrick managed to really explain this part of their world very well. But honestly? It doesn't even matter that much.

The rest of the book is just amazing. The world-building is dense, yes, but so fascinating and intriguing that it's a joy to read, to find out more, to delve into this world. Nadežra is a living, breathing entity of a setting, and I do love the glimpses we get from other places and lands in this world. It's brimming with potential for more. The world, the plot, the characters, everything is expertly crafted, with so much thought put into every little detail. The love and care the authors put into every aspect of their work is visible on the page and frankly impressive.

And gosh, the characters! Rarely does a book, or series for that matter, manage to make me actually care about all the main characters.

Ren is an intriguing, complex and flawed but loveable protagonist that you cannot stop rooting for. "The Liar's Knot" manages to make her different personas even more distinct, adding the Black Rose to the mix as well as changing Ren's speech patterns, something that wasn't focused on in the first book so much. My girl is a genius at what she does, and while she is driven by the love of those she calls family, the book never shies away from showing her not-so-altruistic sides. I also really liked how the toll her complicated life full of lies and cons and secrets takes on her is shown very clearly.

Grey, well I had a harder time warming up to him in the first book but I absolutely adore him in book 2. His passion, his complicated love for his people, his dedication to justice juxtaposed with the goals and motives of his Rook persona endeared him to me more and more, and his more stern and serious voice is a necessary addition to the chaos that are the other two mains. Also, the relationship between Grey and Ren in all their personas is just swoonworthy. I do admit that I would have loved some more Black Rose and Rook, because especially the Black Rose was underutilized and could have been scrapped altogether without it changing the story much, but that's a minor complaint. I loved delving more into Rook lore, finding out more about who, or what, this mysterious figure actually is.

And then there's Vargo, who is now firmly set in my list of "characters I would die for". He was, to me, the most interesting pov character in the first book mostly because he's just my type of character, but he gained so much more depth and complexity in book 2 that he just became unforgettable. His relationship with Alsius, who I adore, is both endearing and fascinating at the same time. He's so much more than a crime lord, so much more than the power-hungry villain Ren believes him to be at the beginning of this book. His power is actually believable, which is something that bothers me a lot in other novels with crime lord characters - often times I keep wondering how the fork these people actually even made it to this kind of position. With Vargo though, it makes sense, it's believable, he actually feels like a crime lord. At the same time, "The Liar's Knot" shows us his vulnerable side, his insecurities, and it made me fall in love with him even more. There is a reason for why he does what he does, thinks how he thinks, is who he is. And there are always at least seven layers to every decision he makes. He feels so deeply but is determined to feel so little, and there are several chapters in this book that made my heart ache just a tiny little bit for him. I love him and I shall protect him.
On a minor note, because I am a romantic at heart, I was first subtly rooting for some polyam love triangle between the three main pov characters, but that interest kind of faded away the more focus Ren and Grey's relationship got. Instead, I became more and more intrigued by the small scenes Vargo had with a certain noble - meaning after that last scene between them? Yeah, give me that Vargo-Iascat-Power Couple in book 3, please please! Vargo sure deserves the love and Iascat somehow managed to become one of the characters I'm most intrigued to find out more about in the sequel.

The side characters are mostly well-rounded characters that I formed emotional attachments to, like with Tess and Giuna, but often felt a little underutilized or underdeveloped, like Sedge who definitely needs more space to find himself as a character. A Very Special Mention goes to my boy Pavlin Ranieri, who is a hot cinnamon roll and his love story with Tess made me almost throw my Kindle away because I couldn't deal with the cuteness.

Stopping myself from swooning over the characters now, moving on to other things!
The pacing is, just like in the first book, on the slow side. The book definitely makes you work for it, but it's worth it. The plot is exciting and magical, with lots of intrigue and betrayals and some well-placed twists. It's both political in nature and deals with secret societies which I mean, obviously this book was written especially for me and my tastes. And even though I, as I said before, didn't get all the magical stuff that was happening I could still easily follow what was going on and was entranced by it. It has to be said though that this trilogy, so far, shines through its characters and world-building first, not necessarily as much through its plot. But it's solid, it's fun, it keeps you on your toes and it ends in a way that makes you crave that third book without relying on some forced cliffhanger.

All in all an amazing 4 star fantasy experience that I recommend to every reader that likes detailed world-building and complex, character-focused stories.

The Liar's Knot, Rook and Rose Book Two, M. A. Carrick

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy,

Well, book one was a great read, but this book just blew me away. Usually I read fantasy to one or two sittings. I found though, as with book one, this was so complex, so many characters involved, just so much going on that it was best if I read a section, then spent time absorbing what I'd read. So I read this in maybe 5-6 sittings, unheard of for me but it worked really well.
I understood so much more of the world and its characters this time round. I know this will become a series I'll want to reread, and immerse myself in a back to back fantasy fest.
** Warning. Spoilers for book one***

This section is centred mainly around fewer main characters, some having a major part to play, while others are more “behind the scenes” people.
The characters have grown so much, but there is still so much misunderstanding, so many mixed motives, characters who are more than they seem, with Ren being Ren, Renata, Arenza and now the Black rose, and The Rook also having another face. Giuna has really grown up in this part, and plays her part when needed. Tess and Sedge are the same loyal, clever siblings and support to Ren they've always been. We learn more about Vargo and his origins, and I understand him much better – though I always have a sneaking regard for the Bad Boys anyway...and of course there's clever Alsius.
Old enemies become – well, not friends but the enemy of my enemy is my friend type of relationship, not trusting each other but working for a shared goal. Its more plots within plots, more where what seems like a passing comment turns out to have a major significance.
There's more pattern, numinatra, and understanding how this magic shapes and controls the world. I find that so fascinating, its become almost real to me. There's a logic to Numinatra, and a sense of fate and destiny with pattern that appeals to me.
The last quarter of the story carries some real dangers and huge surprises, and I'm so keen to know what happens next. I could write so much more – but without revealing spoilers I just can't. However I will say if you love an intense, detailed fantasy read this is just perfect.

Stars: Five, a fantastic middle book. Absorbing, Intense, Magical in all senses of the word. It follows book one perfectly and sets up for the final showdown. And I can't wait for that! I hope that's well under way!

ARC supplied by Netgally and publishers

I read and fell in love with The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick (partnership of Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms,) so was very excited and simultaneously nervous to be approved to read the NetGalley arc of The Liar’s Knot. I must give a huge thank you to NetGalley and the Little Brown Book Group for approving me to read this in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I’m really sorry, I’ve had to keep this review short, because you know…spoilers!
If you loved the world-building, the intrigue, the fashion, flirtation, swashbuckling and adventure of The Mask of Mirrors then The Liar’s Knot definitely does not disappoint. I won’t say that this is an easy read, it definitely isn’t, but neither was book 1…this is a book that demands your attention and quite rightly so. I promise you, it isn’t a chore as there is so much going on and as the reader you have a bird’s eye view of the intrigues, deceptions and background.

And all kudos to Brennan and Helms, they don’t try to force this beyond where it should be stopped, the plot tracks through to where deceptions and lack of communication must end, but there’s always a secret…I really enjoyed book 2, I did have to concentrate, but it was the same for book 1. This isn’t a book you can just pick up and fly through, but it is a wholly satisfying read and I really can’t wait for Book 3…hint, hint at Orbit and The Brown Book Company.

The Mask of Mirrors went instantly onto my favourites list when I originally read it at the beginning of 2021 and from the moment I closed the back cover I have been waiting for this sequel. It had big shoes to fill and I'll confess I was nervous to see how things would go!
I'm delighted to say that this book smashed my expectations! This book captures the intricate worldbuilding and interwoven magic systems of book one and turns everything from the flirting to the sword fighting up to eleven!
It's always hard to see where a sequel is going to go, particularly if book one contained a major reveal towards the end. In this case, I actually found knowing more about certain characters and their identities only added to the reading experience - my desire to know more than everyone else in the story always wins out in the end.
One thing I will say is that this book definitely feels more humorous than the first book? I think because the character relationships are much more established it feels like there is more room for inside jokes and banter and of course *flirting*. I wouldn't go so far as to call the story lighthearted - there are a lot of very horrible people in this story doing horrible things - but there is an element of camaraderie that didn't feel as prevalent in the first book.
This series sprung from a tabletop adventure and here in this sequel I think it still manages to capture the chaos and the joy of tabletop adventures, where every character has heaps going on and it's more than just 'that one is good that one is bad'. My only qualm is that I now have to start the long wait for book three...
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

There's not much I can say here about the plot that isn't a spoiler of some sort, but let me just say that this is now one of my favourite ongoing fantasy series. And I honestly think this book has better pacing than the first one, although it's possible that I'd give The Mask of Mirrors 5 stars as well upon a reread. Middle book syndrome? This series never heard of it.

But on to what I can actually talk about, which is all my feels, and I do have quite a few of them.

The world doesn't necessarily get bigger than what we're introduced to in the first book, but it does get more immersive, with a heavy emphasis on politics and magic. I won't pretend that I fully understand the magic system, but it does fascinate me. The way numinatria and pattern are described are intriguing, and during a recent visit to the authors' website I discovered that they have a ton of additional content related to the world's magic there as well. I still can't quite picture it in my head, but I do think that a reread will help with that.

The politics are complicated and messy, which makes sense because of where The Mask of Mirrors left us. With Ren now having her own mask and another alter ego to keep track of, she finds herself even more mired in the dirty underbelly of Nadežra while also trying to elevate house Traementis, recently no longer cursed. But there's only one of her, even though she pretends to be three different people. Luckily, she has surrounded herself with truly fantastic characters. Ren, Grey, and Vargo, are one of my favourite trios to date. I love the ever shifting dynamics between them, love them individually, and love them in duos. Is it too much to hope for a thruple?

As you may have guessed by the cover, we find out a lot more about Vargo in this book, and every detail is fascinating. The man has more layers than I knew to look for, and surprised me more than once with his decisions, actions, and the motivations that drive him. I loved this deep dive into his mind, and I think the multiple perspectives that we get also help to really round out the characters, since we get to observe them from different points of view.

I can't end this review without mentioning that the writing is very, very good, in a way that's really easy to overlook because it just reads so fluidly. Also, this series has some of the most stunning covers I've ever seen. I'm really hyped for the third book, but already devastated that it'll be the last.

"Trust is the thread that binds us . . . and the rope that hangs us“.
House Indestor has been destroyed, House Traementis’s curse has been lifted, but Nadezra is far from safe. Pattern shows a web of corruption, and Nadezra is well know for showing the Mask instead of the Face.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
5 STARS

Synopsis: House Indestor has fallen and House Traementis is rising but Nadezra is far from safe and Ren is caught in the middle. With her con in action, Ren finds herself drawn into the web of corruption that threatens the heart of Nadezra.

SPOILER WARNING: THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR BOOK 1: THE MASK OF MIRRORS, BY MA CARRICK, IN THE ROOK AND ROSE SERIES.

Oh oh oh, I really enjoyed book 1 in the Rook and Rose series (Book Review: The Mask Of Mirrors (Rook And Rose #1), by M. A. Carrick) so I absolutely had to read book 2 – The Liar’s Knot – and I was incredibly lucky to get an eARC of it. And, let me tell you, it did not disappoint! I absolutely LOVED this book, it truly delivered what it promised. (Sidenote: just look at that cover 👀 isn’t it gorgeous?! I really want that mask!)

Ok, so – getting into the book the first thing I have to point out is that this series is so delightfully intricate that even after you finish the book you are still remembering and noticing things and details. Not to mention just how intricately crafted the cards used in Pattern are – I really do adore reading Ren Pattern someone it’s so fascinating (I also desperately want a set of these cards!).

The Liar’s Knot, by M.A. Carrick is an excellent second instalment that definitely hits the mark – perfectly moving the story along without feeling like a lulling middle book. We pick up shortly after the events of book 1; Renata (Ren) is adopted into House Traementis, Nadezra is recovering from the corruption of House Indestor, The Rook knows too much about Renata, and Vargo ~made mistakes~. As if the events of book 1 weren’t devastating enough, Book 2 really gets you in the heart.

Much like book 1, The Liar’s Knot is beautifully written – honestly the attention to detail is truly amazing. The book is paced well and is well balanced with plenty of action scenes, tension and emotional moments. The pace works well with the POV and narration and perfectly balances all the tension and emotional build ups we get throughout the book. The descriptions of the settings are rich and atmospheric, the characters are dynamic and complex (not to mention their WARDROBES!), and the prose flows incredibly well. All around, the book is beautifully constructed and a delight to read.

Now onto the plot. Our beloved mc is now juggling four identities; her own/real self (Ren), her con (Alta Renata), her Szorza (Arenza), and her newest identity (The Black Rose) – though to be fair to Ren, one of these identities was not technically assumed by choice. So Ren has a lot going on. Ok – so, Alta Renata is now a Traementis and is, much to her discomfort, working with Vargo on the river Numinat from book 1. However, now that House Traementis is on the rise, Renata has a lot going on from managing the House to dealing with a very new and very odd situation. On the other hand, Arenza is following down leads from the consequences of book 1 and finds herself caught up in other issues. Finally, The Black Rose finds herself tangled up with the Rook and the Vigilante side of Nadezra. The plot revolves mostly around these three facades and the web of secrets and consequences that binds them.

Alongside all of Ren’s brilliantly twisty, secret filled story – we also get a lot more about The Rook. Of course, we now know his identity but Ren does not and this makes for some absolutely brilliant scenes throughout the book – we still get the wit, humour, and sarcasm of book 1 and they definitely come out in any and all interactions between The Rook, Grey, Ren/The Black Rose. I really enjoyed watching The Rook and Grey’s characters become more fleshed out we learn much more about both of them and it really added to the character development and the wider world/story. Also, I have to acknowledge the flirting (we got some in book 1 but it increases in this book) that occurs throughout the Rook and Rose’s interactions (in and out of their masked identities) it was on point – the chemistry was perfect and it was so much fun to read about, especially when they get a bit carried away!

We also get to learn a lot more about Vargo – which was excellent! We learn more about his true motivations and we get to see him interact with Ren (now she knows the truth about book 1’s events) and other characters. I really enjoyed watching how each of the characters stories became more entwined as the book went on, the shifting alliances, the untrustworthy promises and some very dangerous missions made everything about this book thrilling. However, we also get some incredibly comical scenes too with Vargo’s interactions with other certain characters that definitely had me laughing!

Not to mention all the wonderful side characters we get to learn more about too – Peabody is brilliant, Tess (and her dresses!) and Sedge are as wonderful as ever, Arkady is back and is even more brilliant than before, and we get to see so many other fantastic characters grow over the course of the story!

I really ejoyed how all the secrets were handled in this book. Nobody knows everything, all the secret plots/identities etc… but everyone knows something. However, as we progress through the book people learn different things at different times, and it was so well done – I was never confused about who knew what and the reveals were brilliantly done, and yet enough secrets were maintained to keep us well and truly excited for book 3! I also loved the new elements introduced in this book, and seeing how they linked to book 1 (while I can’t tell you, I have to say It was so interesting watching these new elements play out – especially with all the characters we get to see through it).

The Liar’s Knot does an excellent job at giving us more plot and great character development, but we also get a lot of emotion in this book too. We see the characters in new situations from more relaxed and causal setting to dangerous and high stakes one – this really let us get to see all the sides of our beloved characters and really opened up our connections with them. The book allows for tender moments and emotional converations between all the Pattern, cons and numinat that really gets at your heart. I absolutly adored seeing more sides to Ren, Vargo, and Grey – as well as many other characters! (Also NOX/Clever Natalya! Such a sweet gesture!!).

Finally, the book ends in quite a nice way, and it definitely leaves you excited for book 3! There is so much more I want to know – I cannot wait to see where book 3 takes us and what we will get to learn about the world next! There is such an intensity and intricacy to this series that makes the world and characters feel so incredibly real that you cannot help but love every turn the story makes. In such a rich world there is always more to learn, it’s so expansive and I am so excited to continue!

I really could go on and on about this book but I’ll start treading in Spoiler waters so I’ll have to stop here, unfortunately!

However, overall – The Liar’s Knot by MA Carrick is a phenomenal second installment in a magical series that takes everything you loved about book one and then gives you EVEN more. We get more characters and character development, more Pattern, more about Numinat, more world, more plot, and more secrets and reveals. I loved every second of this book and cannot wait for book 3!

“May you see the Face, and not the Mask”
*I received a #Netgalley eARC in exchange for an honest review! Thank you Orbitbooks!*

An amazing sequel to an amazing first book. The world and the magic system were expanded on and the characters, new and old, had great internal growth, and I fell in love with them just a bit more. I am excited to see how this story wraps up, and I have faith that the wait will be rewarding.

In Nadezra everyone wears a mask of some kind, but Ren in about to learn just how many it takes before the masks take over you start to loose yourself. After the events of book one Ren is splitting her time between Renata, Arenza and the Black Rose, all have the same goals, but each give her a different way to exact change in the city that is sat on a knifes edge. She is determined to leave Nadezra better than she found it, even if that means putting herself in danger in the process. Her tenuous alliances with Derossi Vago and the Rook come in more useful than she would have expected, and before long Ren is going to have to decide whether the safety of those she loves is worth unravelling all of her hard earned secrets.

Grey Serrado is no stranger to masks, and the more time he spends with Ren, be it as himself, or the Rook, the more he can see the weight of her secrets slowly dragging her down. He desperately wants to help, but the Rook has survived this long because no one knows his true identity, and he can't risk that over his ever growing feelings. Derossi Vargo has secrets buried under secrets, the biggest of which surrounds the mysterious 'voice' that he hears. He's a man on a mission, a mission that is years in the making and if he has to be ruthless to bring the truth to light, then ruthless he will be.

Told from multiple POV's including the three above, The Liars Not is epic in scale and filled to the brim with relatable and brilliantly brought to life characters. The authors have a knack for writing characters with an impact, whether they appear for a page or more, there is no one that is irrelevant to the story in any way. My favourite from the smaller pov's has to be Tess, Renata's maid and Ren's sister. She helps make Ren more relatable as a character, making you realise that underneath it all she is just a gutter kid, desperate for a better life.

As with book one the scope of this story is simply epic. I did wonder whether I would find the story as engrossing after finding out the identity of the Rook in the first book, and with that story line seemingly tied together in a knot but Brennan and Helms did a masterful job of ensuring that I never felt bored, by adding more mystery and depth to the plot from book one, delving more into the history of the Rook, the reason it was created who had worn the hood before (I KNEW IT!), as well as introducing a whole other side to the story that had me shook (in a good way.) I truly didn't see it coming and it added a little more humour, mystery and depth to the story that ensured I stayed glued to the pages. Also, kudos to the authors for including a recap of book one at the beginning. I very rarely have time to -read previous books in the series and this gave you all the information you needed to get right back into the story.

Filled with tension, flirtation, banter, intrigue and some of the most beautifully described outfits I have ever read, it's hard not to get swept away by the story. The title is wonderfully apt, with all the different characters weaving more and more lies as the story goes along, I was a little worried as to how it would end, but luckily the authors decided enough was enough, these knots need to be unravelled, which made for some of my all time character interactions in the book. For those who love a good slow burn, swoon worthy romance then this is definitely the series for you. I can't tell you how many times I swooned in this book and the tension just made it that much more fun.

This series is perfect for lovers of character driven stories. Though there's plenty of action, mystery and drama the strength is undoubtedly in the characters and their interactions with each other. Similarly to book one this doesn't end of a cliff hanger per se, but it definitely leaves you wanting more. There's so much I loved about this book but can't talk about because they are major spoilers, but suffice to say if you loved The Mask of Mirrors you will adore The Liars Not.

I have been obsessed with The Mask of Mirrors — its story, its world, its characters — since I first read it back in February. I have now read it more than a few times and am still as obsessed as before (probably even more). My excitement for The Liar’s Knot was so high I may or may not have screamed a little when I got it. I couldn’t wait any more. I dived right into it and boy, did it exceed all my expectations. It was even so much better than I could’ve imagined.

One of the strongest aspects of the series, I think, is how everything is so well developed. Characters, plot, worldbuilding? The authors really created an entire universe so complex with an entire cast of different characters, each with their own wants and ambitions, a magic system that is so fascinating, with various plot points, some bigger than others that left me hooked. When I say my mind is 70% Rook & Rose I am not joking.

In The Liar’s Knot, we are back with Ren, Grey, and Vargo, all with more secrets than reasonable. Secrets shared, truths revealed, lies told… Alliances are made, conflicts too. And with the multiple identities some of our characters have, this can leave to some threads getting tangled together, for better or for worse.

I, personally, am really happy with the direction some of the relationships went, or are going to. Characters and relationships (all kinds of them) and their development are one of the most important elements for me in fiction. Ren, Tess and Sedge’s chosen bond of family is strong as always (it’s the found family for me), even when Ren has less time for herself between being Renata, Arenza, or the Black Rose. (Poor Ren is going through a few things there, but at least she isn’t the only one). And, of course, her second family she found in the Traementis. It may have been a con at first, but the bond between Renata, Giuna and Donaia is also strong. I love characters who would do everything for each other.

I wasn’t expecting to grow to love the dynamic between Vargo and Alsius that much, but I certainly did. We also got answers about what, especially is their bond, or Alsius for that matter. Some things I suspected, others were a complete surprise. The authors did a good job giving us enough clues here and there to piece some of the mystery, but not too much as to completely spoil the reveal.

The worldbuilding is also so much expanded (and it was already quite well planned out in The Mask of Mirrors), we learned more about Nadežra, the religions and magic around it. I am still very intrigued by pattern, but now I am also looking very respectfully at numinatria, wanting to get closer. It is honestly incredibly clever, how much thoughts was put into the making of this story, this universe.

|| Going into spoilery territory a little, but I really, really loved how Ren and Grey’s relationships played out. That they got to know each other in all their different personas, this was just,,, chef’s kiss. ||

So, what to expect in The Liar’s Knot?

➞ even more secret identities
➞ secrets! and trust! who to trust and what if that secret isn’t yours to tell
➞ flirting (yes, also even more than in Book 1. If I squealed a few times, then that’s my business)
➞ more backstory about some characters or some…. things
➞ Giuna stepping up (you’re doing amazing sweetie)
➞ unlikely teamups
➞ more POV from the Rook
➞ a kitten. also, who would win, a kitten or a spider?
➞ how to be, like, three people at once (Ren you need some sleep honey)
➞ kisses 👀

I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

«Trust is the thread that binds. And the rope that hangs.»

"The Liar’s Knot" is the second book in the Rook and Rose series by M.A. Carrick (Marie Brennan & Alyc Helms). The first book of the series “The Mask of Mirrors” was published at the beginning of this year (see my review). If you haven’t read it… what are you waiting for!

I adored "The Mask of Mirrors", it was the best book I’ve read all year and my anticipation for the sequel was therefore through the roof.

Whenever I start the sequel to a book I loved, I’m a tad nervous… what if it isn’t as good as the first, or worse, what if it diminishes my joy of the first one…
Well, in this instance, my fears could not have been shattered more thoroughly.

I loved the Liar’s Knot! It excels at everything that was great in the first book and I am confident that everyone that loved The Mask of Mirrors will equally be bewitched by its sequel.

The story continues immediately where we were left off in the last book and all our three main characters are back. Ren, Grey and Vargo all have their own arc in this sequel and following them was such a joy. They (and all the side characters) are multi-layered and seeing their struggles and how they work against and/or with each other was a large part of what made the story so impactful.

The world-building was another high point in the Mask of Mirrors, and the authors continue to build on it in a way that feels incredibly innovative and real. There are so many details to this world and its cultures, politics, religion and magic systems. It is an excellent example for deep world-building in my opinion. The whole story takes place in Nadežra and the city truly comes alive, it feels like its own character at times. What makes the world and its people feel so real is the sheer complexity of everything. Languages, traditions, religions and magic are all tightly interwoven and beautifully complex (and even chaotic at times). Which is what makes the world ring true and mirrors actual real-world cultures!

We learn a lot more about the different magic systems in this book, which is another aspect I really enjoyed.

The plot is as intricate as in the first book, with many different threads. Many questions are answered from the first book… some of which I didn’t even realise I should have asked! I’m already excited to reread the first book and see all the hints for things yet to come. There are lots, and I mean lots of secrets. The title of the book is very fitting, but seeing characters with different levels of knowledge about each other interact was so much fun. And when secrets are finally revealed (though not all of them) the pay-off is just beautiful.
The stakes are high in this second book and based on the ending will be even higher in the third! The ending was very satisfying and makes me eager for the third and last book in the series!

In short: An excellent sequel, solidifying The Rook and Rose Series as one of my all-time favourite fantasy series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The book will be released on December 7th in the US and December 9th in the UK.

I really enjoyed this book. I found that the storyline flower very nicely from the first in the series. Would recommend.

I've read the first book at the beginning of the year and even though the story confused me and I wasn't sure if was for me, it stayed in my head the whole year. I kept thinking about it and I liked it more and more over time. When The Liar's Knot became available, it was a no-brainer to read it and I'm so happy I did!
First, thank you for moving the glossary of characters to the beginning of the book, it made it much easier to follow the characters. Some characters have a few personalities and there is so much going on, it was a great help to get back into the world.
It's the middle book of a trilogy but I didn't feel like a filler book. I enjoyed reading so much more about Vargo and Grey and see their characters develop in such a great way. Renata was likable again (I disliked her at the end of book 1) and the dynamic and tensions between these three was palpable and kept me on the edge of my seat. The secondary characters also shine, I loved seeing Giuna taking charge and see more of Tess and Sedge. There is some blossoming romance too which was just the cherry on the cake for me.
The ending was very satisfying (not a cliffhanger!) so it wraps up book 2 wonderfully but also leaves me eager to read book 3 as soon as it's available.

Very solid 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm an avid reader. I easily read a book a day. However, even I can get quite intimidated by bigger books. Because those books take me longer than a day to finish and there is something in me that is always a little scared to get invested like that. I did quite enjoy the first book in this series though, but I knew I needed a little push to make sure I would also read the second book in this series. That push came thanks to the publisher and Netgalley in the form of an arc.

I made an entire planning for this book. I was gonna read a certain amount of pages a day. Eventually I finished over a week earlier. And I guess that says everything you need to know about the second book in this series. Even though it's the second book, the excitement of the new world died down and they can't give us the grand finale yet, it was never boring, it never lost my attention, it never felt too long. The more I read, the more invested I got.

That's partly because there's even more magic in this book than in the previous book. We're discovering some new forms of magic, we see way more magic in action and we're also truly confronted with how dangerous the constant presence of a magic like this can be. Loads of questions from the first book are answered and I truly felt this book gave us all the pieces of the puzzle and now in the next book we're gonna see how all those pieces fit.

This book also helped us to grow more attached to the key players in this story. Somehow it felt like this book was more focussed on the characters that are truly important. Most chapters were either from Ren's, Vargo's or Grey's point of view. That doesn't mean the other characters are forgotten, far from it. They still have their own challenges and storylines, they are just not always described in that much detail and I personally liked that.

I'm now really looking forward to the next book in the series! The stakes are incredibly high now, so bring it on!

Wow! I loved this! And also I’m so happy that there’s going to be a third book when I believed this to be a duology. The cultural context of this book is absolutely superb and the characters have developed and changed through the two books. This book did have a satisfying conclusion so I’m very intrigued to see where the authors take us next. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

4.5 stars

The Liars Knot is the second book in the Rook and Rose trilogy and is just as full of drama, magical antics, secret idenities and conniving schemes as the first. In this book we are following the aftermath of events in book 1 and subsequent revelations and hidden secrets about the city that go back centuries. The book starts with Ren out to take down Vargo, Grey trying to protect his own and Vargo up to his own agenda as usual but quickly the three become tangled in a web of secret socities and curses and must work together to root out the evil at the heart of Nadezra.

One of my favourite parts about these books is the characters and I love them all so much in this book, even characters I wasn't the biggest fan of in book 1 (cough grey cough) grew on me so much in this installment. Ren, Vargo and Grey are still the main characters but I also love all the side characters so much and I think one of the strengths of this series lies in it's great supporting cast - it makes it feel truly epic. So many of the characters have multiple secret idenities which can be a little hard to keep track of at times but adds such a fun element to the story.

Ren - Ren is going through a lot in this book, trying to balance all her idenities and emotions at events, whilst trying to manage saving the city from itself. I really liked her journey in this book, especially with learning to rely on others for support (ie Tess and Sedge - I love their little found family uwu). She is such a strong and driven character who absolutely has a heart of gold even if she doesn't always act like it and is so endearing to read about.

Vargo - the love of my life, my abhorrent little meow meow, my trash child - I love him so much if you couldn't tell lol. I loved the expansion we get on his character in this book, understanding his motives and vunerablities a little more. I also liked getting to know more about Alsius, the mysterious voice in Vargo's head. Additionally I really enjoyed the dynamic between Ren and Vargo, tensions are HIGH and the drama is unparalleled.

Grey - as I said earlier Grey was not my favourite in book 1, I didn't dislike him by any means but he was kind of just there in comparison to Ren and Vargo, however in this book I absolutely loved him!!! His storyline got so interesting and I feel like we got to see a lot more of his personality shining through. Also the ROMANCE I was an absolute sap for, if you'd told me I'd be hardcore shipping these two characters in book 1 I would have looked at you funny but when I tell you I am obsessed.

Tess, Sedge, Giuna, Tanaquis, Sibiliat, Iascat and others are all such great side characters and have interesting storylines of their own, I especially loved Tess and Pavlin and their blossoming relationship, as well as Giuna entering her girlboss era.

The world-building and details of the world are all so intricate and while it can get a bit confusing at times (there is a lot to keep track of) it creates such a vivid story that almost feels like one big dream. The imagination of the two authors is truly unparalelled. The prose is also very easy to read while creating a lush atmosphere and suiting the tone of the story extremely well.

I liked how we get some satisfying answers from book 1 whilst also getting a lot more questions that set up for book 3, with higher stakes than ever. The climax of the book also works very well with a culmination of various plot threads coming together in an explosive way.

In conclusion a great sequel to an amazing fantasy series that should be on your radar asap, especially if you love lots of drama and secrets, dream and tarot magic, a queernorm world and amazing characters to fall in love with!

4.5 stars I absolutely loved this. It was so good. It is sooooo long and hefty and complicated but never once did it feel like a chore to read and I didn’t skim any of it. 👏👏 top marks.
As with the first book it took me a while to sink back into this world because it so dense and there is so much going on. Everyone has about three different identities and I couldn’t remember who knew what about whom but that works itself out as the book goes on. The characters were just as confused as I was. You really have to be paying attention.
Plot wise, there’s these medallion thingys that siphon demonic power and have influence over peoples emotions and desires and they can be joined together to give the power of the tyrant our band of heroes and anti heroes work to stop that shitshow.
This book is much more about the people, where the first was setting up the world and how it worked. There’s still all the stuff about power in corruption and the corruption of power. There’s more Grey but less Tess and Sedge but something had to give and Grey is adorable in his straightlacedness. Vargo is of course ❤️❤️ And Vargo and Alsius are ❤️❤️❤️ The cutest. Everyone loves Vargo and why wouldn’t you? He the tops.

Rook and Rose is turning out to be an excellent fantasy series. I really enjoyed the first book, The Mask of Mirrors earlier this year and devoured the second, The Liar’s Knot over the past couple of days.

What made the first book in this series stand out for me are the deep and intricate worldbuilding and equally deep and intricate scheming and intrigue. The plot revolved around a con-artist worming her way into a noble family only to realise its fortunes are in decline and then get involved into politics of Nadežra, a trading city-state reminiscent of Venice. I would advise anyone new to the series to start with The Mask of Mirrors although Liar’s Knot does have a plot summary.

The Liar’s Knot picks up pretty much where The Mask of Mirrors left off. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s reading experience by getting into the plot but suffice to say that this isn’t your typical middle book in a trilogy (coasting without much character or plot development). All credit to Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms, the writing duo behind M.A. Carrick, there is even more plotting and scheming in Liar’s Knot. I particularly liked how motivations and ultimate goals of certain secondary characters developed from book one and how plot lines are set up for the series finale. There is some really good character development aside from the three main characters. Worldbuilding, and in particular, social, cultural and religious customs are further developed too – Brennan and Helms both studied anthropology and I loved how important textiles are – intricate embroideries that symbolise Vraszeni clans heritage or the knots that bind various groups. I can’t wait for the finale.

Highly recommended.

My thanks to Little Brown, Orbit and Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Liar’s Knot, thrilled to have been given an ARC.

Mask of Mirrors was one of my favourite fantasies of 2020 and I was thoroughly intrigued by the stunningly intricate world and magic system Brennan and Helms created. I was over the moon when I got approved for the arc on Netgalley. I am happy to report that this fantastic duo has managed to built up on the foundation laid down in the first book and produce a fantastic second book that managed to escape the middle book syndrome.
Liar’s Knot gives us a little more insight into Vargo’s character while also allowing the other characters to grow into themselves. The character arcs in this book have been brilliantly executed and I am more invested than ever to see how Ren, Grey, Vargo and all the side characters navigate through the minefield of problems presented before them.
The plot gets really really really convoluted but in the best possible way and I had such a blast trying to untangle the complex knots the characters had twisted themselves into. It could very easily have been a frustrating read but Carrick makes it an interesting, invigorating puzzle to solve rather than an exasperating head scratching, ordeal. I would credit this again to the fantastic character arcs. The thrilling twists and turns kept me hooked to the pages.
The magic system and the world building in the first book although interesting also managed to confuse. But that has been thoroughly rectified in this sequel. The magic system has somehow been made more intricate and intriguing and I feel like I could reread this book a dozen times and still find interesting new details every time.
The sequel to the Mask of Mirrors lived upto all my expectations and even surpassed it! I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves a good heist/con fantasy stories.