Book: Masquerade of Mirrors by Samantha Hartwood
Reviewed by Weird | weird.reads.books
Rating: 3/5
I went into Masquerade of Mirrors with excitement the topics unique magic, desert mystery, illusion academy, enemies-to-lovers sounded right up my alley. And honestly, there were parts that really worked for me. The opening chapters are captivating. Watching the danger of the wild desert magic unfold had me hooked immediately, and I couldn’t wait to unravel its secrets. The concept feels inventive compared to a lot of romantasy on the market, and when the story leans into the illusions, shifting perceptions, and the slow burn tension between Taera and Nikolai, I was genuinely pulled in.
However, it didn’t quite stick the landing for me. At nearly 600 pages, I expected more clarity and payoff. There are several unanswered questions—particularly surrounding the desert and why its magic holds so much weight and danger—that never feel fully explored. The worldbuilding flirts with depth but often stops just short of true development.
Once the story moves into the academy, the tone shifts in a way that didn’t fully work for me. The pettiness between some of the girls, gossiping, competing for Nikolai’s attention, and targeting Taera, felt more high school than high-stakes magical fantasy. It pulled me out of the immersive atmosphere the beginning had built so well.
Taera is a strong heroine in theory, but her characterization wavers. She shifts from competent desert survivor to oddly naive and uncertain once she arrives at the academy, which made her arc feel inconsistent. Nikolai’s charm swings between intriguing and frustrating, and while the romance has its spicy moments, the emotional development didn’t always feel earned. Toward the end, where things felt rushed rather than fully realized.
All in all, Masquerade of Mirrors is a decent, original romantasy with moments I truly enjoyed. There’s a strong foundation here, and readers who love forced proximity, slow burn tension, and uniquely strange magic systems will likely find a lot to appreciate. I just wanted it to dig deeper instead of circling its own mysteries.
Thank you to Samantha Hartwood for the eARC. All opinions are my own.