“Masquerade of Mirrors” by Samantha Hartwood is an enticing romantasy with all the tropes that I love: dark academia, intrigue, enemies to lovers, and magic. I came for the tropes and stayed for the plot and the writing.
Written in a dual first-person POV, the book follows two protagonists whose worlds clash and are upended. Twenty-four-year-old Taera has spent her entire life in the desert with her grandfather and younger brother, caring for them after her mother’s death. She was warned never to enter the desert, so as not to risk its lure. All that changes when a student magician, Nikolai, enters the picture - saving her from the clutches of a robber mage and dragging her to the Halls of Glass, a deadly school of illusions, lies, and secrets, all for her own good, of course. Or so he claims.
Taera has wild powers that must be trained if she ever wants to go home. The other students hate her, she is a fish out of water, and Nikolai is a manipulative liar with his own agenda. Unfortunately, he is also the only one who can handle her magic. Amid various escape attempts, she has to find her footing, control her power, and sift the truth from the sand of lies to survive - not an easy task in a place built on smoke and mirrors.
I enjoyed the book very much. It pulls the reader into the plot from the very first moment. The writing is smooth and immersive, making it effortless to get lost in the story. The author’s style balances heart, intrigue, and magic beautifully, creating a book that remains engaging from start to finish. I especially loved that both the school and the desert feel almost sentient, with minds of their own, reacting to the students’ emotions.
None of the students show their real faces - literally and figuratively - hiding behind masks and glamour, except for our heroine, and I loved that about her. I admired Taera’s courage, determination, and devotion to her family, even though some of her actions were thoughtless, and she was often too trusting and forgiving. Since most of the chapters are from her POV, it’s easy to connect with her and experience the world through fresh eyes, in contrast to Nikolai’s jaded perspective. I have to admit, I liked her more than Nikolai, though he did grow on me, eventually.
That said, I didn’t like Nikolai’s attitude. He explains nothing to Taera, lies through his teeth, and essentially throws her into the deep end. I could understand where he was coming from, but it didn’t justify his cruelty or fickleness. Still, both characters are complex, and I enjoyed their dynamic and interactions.
The world-building was excellent. I loved the setting, the morally gray characters, the slow-burn romance, and the magic. The magic system felt unique, even if not everything was fully explained. The book works as a standalone, but it is also the first in a planned series, The Halls of Glass, and I hope future installments will expand further on the magic and the secrets of the desert.
Overall, I loved the book, though it could probably be tightened up a bit toward the end. I would have liked more focus on the lessons, but this is a minor issue in the larger scheme of things. As a debut novel, it is an impressive achievement, rich in intrigue, atmosphere, and emotional depth. I highly recommend it to fans of intense, emotionally driven stories that explore themes such as trauma, grief, found family, and the need for belonging. Full stars from me!
Content Warnings: Sexual content, Bullying, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Adult content. Additional triggers are listed at the start of the book.
* I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
* For more info about the book: "Masquerade of Mirrors" by Samantha Hartwood
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