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4.0
Masquerade of Mirrors
ByPublisher Description
The only thing more dangerous than falling for a lie
is falling for the liar.
Don’t look at the desert. Don’t think about the desert. Never step onto the sand. Taera has followed these rules her entire life—until he arrives.
Impossibly gorgeous, with a face masked in magic, Nikolai kidnaps Taera and drags her deep into the dunes. He says she’s powerful and needs to be trained…if she ever wants to see her family again.
Thrust into a deadly school of illusions and lies, Taera can’t trust anyone. Especially not her breathtaking, ruthless captor. Top student and notorious liar, his secrets run deeper than the sand. He’s her worst nightmare—and everything she craves.
The cutthroat Halls of Glass have a mind of their own. Trapped within their looping corridors, Taera is surrounded by hostile students and forced to rely on Nikolai.
Taera knows she shouldn’t fall for his illusions. But magic requires a partnership, and he’s the only mage who can handle her wild, untamed power.
And the only way he’ll help her is if she pretends to be his.
Masquerade of Mirrors is a fast-paced, slow-burn fantasy romance. Taera and Nikolai’s story is for readers who love crackling chemistry, daring escape plans, and as many lies as truths. This book is highly addictive and contains adult content.
is falling for the liar.
Don’t look at the desert. Don’t think about the desert. Never step onto the sand. Taera has followed these rules her entire life—until he arrives.
Impossibly gorgeous, with a face masked in magic, Nikolai kidnaps Taera and drags her deep into the dunes. He says she’s powerful and needs to be trained…if she ever wants to see her family again.
Thrust into a deadly school of illusions and lies, Taera can’t trust anyone. Especially not her breathtaking, ruthless captor. Top student and notorious liar, his secrets run deeper than the sand. He’s her worst nightmare—and everything she craves.
The cutthroat Halls of Glass have a mind of their own. Trapped within their looping corridors, Taera is surrounded by hostile students and forced to rely on Nikolai.
Taera knows she shouldn’t fall for his illusions. But magic requires a partnership, and he’s the only mage who can handle her wild, untamed power.
And the only way he’ll help her is if she pretends to be his.
Masquerade of Mirrors is a fast-paced, slow-burn fantasy romance. Taera and Nikolai’s story is for readers who love crackling chemistry, daring escape plans, and as many lies as truths. This book is highly addictive and contains adult content.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesMasquerade of Mirrors Reviews
4.0
“I received an advance review copy for free, and I am posting this review voluntarily.
This dark academia book had me going “wait what?!”multiple times. It was hard to tell where the illusion ended and the truth began.
The manipulation and lies are so intense, broken up with slow burn chemistry between Nikolai and Taera.
The magic system is so unique and VERY intimate.”“Omg is this book soooooo goooood! Its very long. Well for most people long. Its over 600 pages but with that, the story is worth every single page and every single word. Throughout the story, I didnt feel bored or like there needed to be thinfs cut. Very rarely do I have that opinion when books are this long, especially for a new to me author.
Both characters, well all the characters in this book, were amazing! I love the push and pull between Nikolai and Taera. Whether she could trust him or not, secrets, tension, it had it all. Both characters drove me absolutely batty but I also loved their chaos. Taera didnt ask for the cards she was dealt but she handled it better than most. She's strong and unique.
Speaking of unique, the world and magic was *chefs kiss* Like absolutely amazing!!! I love the use of talisman and amulets. But also the type of magic Taera had. It was unique not only to the world of fantasy but this world. I love how the author describes Taera as a source and other Conduits. How they work together and against each other. There are a lot of great moments with the magic system.”
“The magical system in this book is so unique, and the vivid imagery so alluring that it kept me pushing through to the end of the book. If you love magical systems and beautiful world building (both high priorities for me) then this is a fun book that will set your imagination ablaze.
There is a lot of potential here, but it felt disjointed. There were things that were withheld from the reader for too long, turning intrigue and curiosity into confusion and frustration. The pacing was off. Nikolai’s redemption arc dragged out for so long and then wrapped up so quickly in a neat little bow that it just felt out of sync.
I am interested to see where this author takes the story, and will give book two a go when it’s delivered. I think with more time to distill the magic of this story there’s a potential for a 5 star read here.”
“Taera has always known the desert as a place of loss—harsh, unforgiving, and never to be trusted. So when Nikolai, a guy who embodies everything she fears, saves her life and brings her to the mysterious Hall of Mirrors, she has no choice but to enter a world she instinctively rejects.
The Hall of Mirrors is no sanctuary. It’s a place of power, secrets, and shifting truths—and Nikolai stands at its centre. He is controlled, guarded, and hiding far more than he lets on. Yet somehow, he may also be the key to Taera’s survival… and to something far greater.
Taera is a compelling heroine—strong, determined, yet deeply isolated. Even surrounded by others, her loneliness is all too real, and it adds a quiet emotional weight that runs throughout the story. In contrast, Nikolai is layered with deception, guilt, and pain, making him an intriguing and often unpredictable counterpart. Someone I equal parts liked and wanted to shake.
One of the standout elements for me was the magic system. It felt fresh, well thought out, and seamlessly woven into the world, adding depth without distracting from the story.
What really kept me hooked, though, was the constant sense of uncertainty. I found myself questioning every character and every motive—never quite sure who to trust. That tension is a testament to how well Samantha Hartwood has crafted the world and its players.
Blending fantasy, academia, and enemies-to-lovers tension, Masquerade of Mirrors delivers a story full of emotion, suspicion, and slow-burning intrigue.
I’m very curious to see where this series goes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Samantha Hartwood for this ARC. All opinions are my own. to follow”
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