Clare Hooley reviewed The Liar's Knot by M. A. Carrick (Rook & Rose, #2)
Found family, sumptuous world-building and intricate politics
5 stars
#BookReview Here, we continue with story of Ren, a would-be con artist, who’s achieved her goal of being accepted as a full member of the noble House Traementis in the Renaissance Venice-inspired city of Nadežra, where this trilogy is set.
However, Ren’s now a long way from her main motivations being those she started with, as she has a new tangled web of heart and home considerations to think of at every turn.
The primary thrust of this second book takes us back to the mysterious curse on House Traementis, something that was introduced a bit too hurriedly in the first book.
Who or what is it that has the power to so profoundly affect families so as to cause entire family lines to die out? Why is the crime lord Vargo seemingly also so interested in this problem? How does this link to the 200 years of tension between …
#BookReview Here, we continue with story of Ren, a would-be con artist, who’s achieved her goal of being accepted as a full member of the noble House Traementis in the Renaissance Venice-inspired city of Nadežra, where this trilogy is set.
However, Ren’s now a long way from her main motivations being those she started with, as she has a new tangled web of heart and home considerations to think of at every turn.
The primary thrust of this second book takes us back to the mysterious curse on House Traementis, something that was introduced a bit too hurriedly in the first book.
Who or what is it that has the power to so profoundly affect families so as to cause entire family lines to die out? Why is the crime lord Vargo seemingly also so interested in this problem? How does this link to the 200 years of tension between the Vraszenian and Liganti people within Nadežra?
And how is Ren going to reconcile the above with her new and unlooked-for third persona, that of the Black Rose? [Poor Ren! Never mind the two guises she already has as part of her con, being the Black Rose means now she has responsibility to do what’s right by the general Vraszenian populace of the city too].
No doubt, but for me these issues make for a truly sumptuous plot, and I’m fine if there’s sometimes a rather meandering story path as each of our three main characters have various parts of puzzle at various times (as well as Ren, both Vargo and Grey Serrado get full arcs and take on substantial POV sections).
I especially adored learning the truth behind Vargo. In fact, our first scene is a gritty flashback where we see just how Vargo becomes attached to the spirit that lives in his spider Peabody, and thus starts on the path of his meteoric rise from slum street kid to nobility. [And if you haven’t read the first book, and think the ‘spirit in the spider’ thing just sounds too silly to be real, well yes it is, but no it’s not, all at the same time! These authors are not afraid to have fun with their fantasy].
Although, the sheer number of names does mean you have to fully pay attention (and make use of the Dramatis Personae and glossary), I wouldn’t want it any other way - I’m all in to work at fully embracing this lush and polished world. Despite some serious themes (lies, trust, love, greed, spirituality…), there’s just so much more when those are mixed with a good dose of fashion, flirtation and swashbuckling action to give a multi-layered book.
Any fans of political fantasy should be reading this series.
