Masquerade of Mirrors - Early Book Review

 

Masquerade of Mirrors

by Samantha Hartwood

What is it about:

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.

What did I think of it:

I totally fell for the fake dating trope and the story set at a school so had to give this book a try.

And I will confess I really didn't like Nikolai for at least 50% of the book. Yes, he's meant to be a grey hero/villain, but the least he could have done is actually explain some things to Taera, in my opinion. Would have made things easier for himself as well, but instead he decides to be an insufferable jerk.

I liked Taera, though, so I kept reading to see what would happen to her. Nikolai finally shaped up enough to understandTaera's feelings for him, and from that point on, I enjoyed the book a lot more.

All in all, it's a nice read. Probably better enjoyed by readers who like their male main characters a bit more assholish than me.

I might read more books set in this world as the worldbuilding certainly lends itself to lots of other potentially interesting stories.

(received a digital ARC from the author)

Why should you read it:

It's an enjoyable Fantasy Romance

Expected publication February 17, 2026