Book: Masquerade of Mirrors by Samantha Hartwood
Reviewed by Your_bookish_fantasy
Rating: 3.5/5
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๐ป๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐๐จ ๐ ๐- Masquerade of Mirrors
โ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ค-
๐ฃ (out of 5 stars, my rating scale is at the end)
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ.5 / 5
๐ก๏ธ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ซ/ 5
โ๏ธ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น- >>>โ๏ธ<<<
๐: ๐ถ๐ข๐ก๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐ ๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ฆ โ๏ธ: แตแตแตสฐสฐสฐ หขแตแตแตแตสธ แตแตแตแตหกแตโขโขโข ๐: ๐
๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ MฬถEฬถNฬถUฬถ ๐ณ -๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ !! โ ๏ธ: PอIอTอCอHอ BอLอAอCอKอ!
๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐๐ :
โข๐# 592๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐
โข๐๐ผ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐? 4 days
โข# dual ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฉ
โข๐ฅ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ- 17 February 2026
โข๐ฃ๐น๐ผ๐ or ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ driven? Character
โข๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ก๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ & ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐ป๐ผ- Halls of Glass book 1
โข๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ on ๐๐จ? โ
โข๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ- up and down
โข๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ?๐ค
โ๐โ๐โ๐ผ๐
๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ค & ๐น๐๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐ช๐๐๐ค
๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ค๐ค๐ก
๐ซ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐/๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐
๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ช ๐ ๐พ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐ช
๐ฅ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง
๐ก๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐, ๐ธ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ, ๐๐๐๐ค๐๐ ๐
๐งฉ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐ถ
๐งจ๐๐๐ค๐ค๐ช ๐ฝ๐โ
โ๐ธ-๐๐ ๐๐
๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐:
I really loved the beginning of Masquerade of Mirrors. The world-building is starting, the magic system is intriguing, and the premise grabbed me immediately.
Unfortunately, once the story moved into the school setting, I began loosing interest. The plot slows considerably, we get the addition of jealous student drama, flirting, and gossip and While the magic is still there, the teaching and training parts feel underdeveloped, and the tension from the beginning gets diluted massively. I found that the desert and the Halls of Glass are atmospheric, and the stakes regarding Taera & Nikolays joint powers keep a baseline of tension going.
The magic system is rich and unique but sadly itโs just not describe well enough. Both the magic system and academy setting were interesting, but I really wish the author had gone deeper into some details, like the reason why some people have magic and some don't, How come some people don't even know magic exists and whatโs the importance of those categories. I enjoyed the significance of the relics and found them to be a really good addition to the magic, especially with the ties with her mum.
The world is very underdeveloped which stands out after such an interesting start, especially when it came to the desert. It felt underexplored and I wanted more details about how it actually works, why itโs so dangerous and pulls people in, and how people survive it. We learn from the beginning that the desert is an incredibly dangerous place, that people go mad because of it, we learn of desert sickness and then we pretty much never hear about it again? Also, a โcityโ is mentioned. What exactly is the city all about? Where is it? Nikolai also grew up in a village, His is lush and green While Taeraโs is sandy and boring. Why? Theyโre all in the middle of the desert, apparently, but theyโre vastly different in appearance, in location?
Although Masquerade of Mirrors is advertised as a dark academia novel, I didnโt feel it was. It wasnโt very dark in terms of foreboding or trigger warnings or spice. And There are school classes and there are exams, but thereโs no real information about the contents of these classes. When we actually see Taera attending classes itโs just her going on about how she doesnโt understand what is being said and choosing to shut it out and read her textbook instead, which we also donโt know much about. The dreaded exams are mentioned very frequently and thatโs what Taera and Nikolai are always practicing for โ and then they happen and finish in barely two pages, all that build up wasted.
Also, for some reason, everyone was simply okay with Taera joining fourth year out of nowhere? Neither the staff nor the students care? Taera cannot control her magic โ no conduit can touch her without being almost turned into dust because she canโt control it - which is the sole reason for needing to attend year 1.
However, where my praise will shine is on this authors ability to write yearning, angst, jealousy and spice! My god the relationship/ lack of relationship, between the mcโs was the best part of the whole book for me! Seriously, the way that her virginity is written into the story is not only beautiful but realistic as well as steamy as h3ll! I hate it when virgins suddenly get smacked into and โtake it allโ and her partner doesnโt understand anything about her body or feelings. In fact, this was THE BEST WRITTEN virgin FMC spice Iโve ever read. The way he knows every touch is her first and wants to take care of her and he understands she will fall in love with her first and warns her away, and then thereโs the physical actions and how they are detailed and explored! Poetry and beauty is the best way for me to explain these scenes, they are darn hot and heavy with a ton of build up and were simply exquisite to read. The devotion and understanding the mmc has during any arousing moments is absolutely delicious!
๐งโโ๏ธ โ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ค:
Taera is compelling early on: sheโs capable, responsible, smart, and clearly has a lot at stake with her family. She is the sole provider for her family (after her mom's passing), navigating danger and responsibility long before the story truly begins. But once sheโs thrown into the school of illusions, that strength fades and dwindles down. She becomes oddly helpless and clumsy in this new environment, Iโd even say she looses her spark too.
Taera and Nikolaiโs interactions, while sometimes playful and flirty, often felt repetitive and very childish. There are sparks, but the constant catty gossip-style interactions made it hard to stay invested. His behavior came across as more frustrating than intriguing for me and for a slow-burn romance I needed a stronger emotional pull in order to root for them and will them to make that move.
The main problem with the characters (for me) is how the twist was handled. we spend the entire book with a very guilty Nikolai, and The reason for his guilt is greatly built up to be this incredibly world-shattering betrayal. Nikolai tortures himself at every step, he constantly talks about what a monster he is, And then thereโs payoff was seriously soโฆ Underwhelming.
I was expecting something far far worse . It genuinely felt like an underwhelming turn of events, especially how it was handled. I kept turning the page waiting for the actually shoe to drop, thinking this was a trick to throw us off the scent.
โณ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐-๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฃ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐?
Yes to both, I would re-read prior to the next book coming out and would recommend it but Iโd choose my audience.
๐ชง๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐ค:
While the beginning hooked me with a unique magic system and a mysterious, dangerous world, the story shifts backward into an underdeveloped, less than high-stakes adventure. The yearning and steamy moments were pure bliss but Itโs sad that the intriguing world and magic was wasted after a good buildup. i enjoyed the moments of suspense and romance but was let down after such a great start. Great concept but needed another round of beta readers and editing to provide deeper layers, more detail and a better balance between character growth and plot.
๐น๐๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ;
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
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๐๐ช โ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐ค:
โญ๏ธ DNF
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
I managed to finish it but it was rubbish. I won't keep a physical copy and won't recommend it, but it's a shame as the plot could have made a good book in another author's hands
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธ.5
It was OK. I wish I didn't start this one as it didn't do it for me as I struggled to read it. It had an interesting premise that fell flat but I had to see what happened in the end.
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetitive writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending it to all!
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!
๐ฅโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ๐ฅ
This is my God level tier. The book must be perfectly memorable. Even after reading 50+ more books, I will remember character names and emotions along with the plot. If there is a special edition, then I need to own it! If there is a conversation on books- I'm talking about this!
SPICE SCALE:
๐ถ๏ธโ segsual language and a little on-page action
๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธโ a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times
๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธโ a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers
๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ โ super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.
๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ โ Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, playrooms, and more dark / taboo fantasies and realities.