No Games. No Lies. Just The Truth.

I recently finished reading Masquerade of the Heart by Katy Rose Pool. This is book #2 in the Garden of the Cursed duology.

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT

  Rating: 4/5 stars

"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.

Caraza sits poised on the edge of chaos. Tensions rise between the Five Families and trouble brews in the Marshes—and Marlow is at the center of it all. In the tragic aftermath of the Vale-Falcrest wedding, Adrius refuses to speak to her, publicly vowing to find a wife before the year is out. Despite her heartbreak, Marlow is still intent on breaking his curse. To do so, she’ll have to play loving daughter to the man who cast it. But the closer she gets to her father, the more she starts to question if he’s really the villain she’s made him out to be.

Marlow has learned by now that in a city steeped in secrets and lies, not everything is as it seems. As the lines between enemy and ally blur, Marlow must decide who to trust—and how high a price she’s willing to pay for the truth."

Masquerade of the Heart is the exciting conclusion to the Garden of the Cursed duology. I inhaled Garden of the Cursed last year, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next with Marlow and Adrius. The ending of the first book was marvelous, and this one grabbed my attention from the start.

Marlow and Adrius both have compelling stories, and the growth they both show over the course of the duology is incredible. I felt for both of them as they dealt with the ramifications of what happened at the end of the last book. Now, tensions run high in the five ruling families, and, as more secrets and lies are revealed, the battle for power is intense. The story is action-packed and suspenseful as Marlow unravels all that she learns and tries to forge a better future for herself and those she cares about.

I loved that this story included Marlow and Adrius’s perspectives. I was so interested in Adrius in the first book and loved seeing all the different layers of his character. There are parts of his story that felt very emotional, and I was moved by some of the things he experienced.

Other characters like Swift, Gemma, and Silvan, as well as some new additions, add so much life to the story and highlight the found family aspect, which is always a fave of mine. And the love story – so wonderful! The pining and angst, the sexual tension, the banter and chemistry, the forbidden aspect of their romance – it’s all fantastic!

I really enjoyed this read. It was fast-paced and suspenseful, and the plot was intriguing. It’s a nice balance of action, character development, and romance, and the fantasy elements, especially the magic, are unique and interesting. And the ending is wrapped up well. I would definitely recommend the duology to YA fantasy and romantasy readers.

Check out Masquerade of the Heart, and discover what happens when you unmask your heart.

Happy Reading :)