Masquerade of the Heart Series: Garden of the cursed #2 Published by Henry Holt and Company (BYR) on June 18, 2024
Genres: JUVENILE FICTION / General, Young Adult Fiction / Action & Adventure / Survival Stories, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, Young Adult Fiction / Thrillers & Suspense / Supernatural
Pages: 368
Find the Author: Website, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram
Goodreads
Cursebreaker Marlow Briggs must deal with the aftermath of her fake romance with one of the most powerful nobles in the illustrious—and deadly—Evergarden society, all while uncovering the mystery behind her mother's disappearance.
The city of Caraza sits poised on the edge of chaos—and cursebreaker Marlow Briggs is at the center of a deadly struggle for power. In the tragic aftermath of the Vale-Falcrest wedding, Marlow is spurned by Adrius, who refuses to speak to her and publicly vows to find a noble wife before the year is out. Despite her heartbreak, Marlow is still intent on breaking his compulsion curse. To do so, she’ll have to play loving daughter to the man who cast it—the man who’s hellbent on reshaping Caraza in his own image, no matter the cost.
But the closer she gets to her long-lost father, the more Marlow starts to question if he’s really the villain she’s made him out to be. As the lines between enemy and ally blur, Marlow must decide if she’s willing to sacrifice her heart’s desire to save a city that wants her dead. This edge-of-your-seat finale is perfect for fans of Veronica Mars, These Violent Delights, and Chain of Iron.
“Nothing short of genius.” —Jennifer Lynn Barnes, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Inheritance Games series, on Garden of the Cursed
"A delicious read full of swoony romance." —Tricia Levenseller, New York Times–bestselling author of Blade of Secrets, on Garden of the Cursed
Review:
Masquerade of the Heart is the sequel to Garden of the Cursed and begins where the first book ends. It’s a fast-paced duology, and it’s atmospheric. I love the city description; it’s magical but with a touch of mystery, and it feels a little gothic. The magic system is interesting; it’s very witchy, with dangerous grimoires, unbreakable curses, and action. The setting is bright and shiny outside, but it’s darker and more dangerous inside. It feels like a noir thriller, with luxurious parties, auctions of magical artifacts, and many secrets. My favorite in both books is when they investigate the libraries, and they are described as Tardis, more prominent on the inside than the outside. A good library description will sell a book for me every time. I love all the characters. Marlow is intelligent but suspicious; she likes to do everything independently and has problems, but she is not selfish; she saves Adrius at her expense. Adrius may seem like the typical rich kid, but he cares about Marlow. There is more tension in the first book, but again, I enjoy how their relationship progresses and the twists and turns; it’s a slow burn, trust, forbidden romance, and I would do anything for you; they are cute together. I also enjoyed that we got a glimpse at what the future holds for these characters, and I almost wished there were more stories to be had. It is a unique two-book series that I would highly recommend to those looking for unique magic, twists and turns, and magical libraries.
About Katy Rose Pool
Katy Rose Pool, author of the Age of Darkness trilogy, was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA before graduating from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in history. Currently, she resides in Oakland, CA, where she can be found dreaming up spells and prophecies, rooting for the Golden State Warriors, and reading books that set her on fire.
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I listened to book 1 and was ended up loving it! I bought both books for my school library, and I have a student who plans to check them both out next week and read them. I’m hoping he loves them as much as I loved the first one. I need to get the second one from the library to listen to. Great review, glad to hear this one was good too!