Title: Masquerade of the HeartAuthor: Katy Rose Pool
Series: Garden of the Cursed #2
Pages: 368
Publication Date: June 18, 2024
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company (BYR)
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
Synopsis:
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. T his edge-of-your-seat duology finale is perfect for fans of Veronica Mars , These Violent Delights, and Chain of Iron .
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.
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Happy book birthday to MASQUERADE OF THE HEART, the second book in the Garden of the Cursed duology! You can check out this tour at Turn the Page Tours and on Instagram.
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 to 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 to 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.
Thanks to Turn the Page Tours and Henry Holt & Co for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
It felt like he had been starving for this his whole life. He’d told himself he didn’t need it, didn’t want it. Didn’t deserve it. That he’d just take whatever he could get – Amara’s ire, his father’s scorn. A fake relationship with a girl he could never be with for real. Scraps and cast-off debris that he could cobble together in place of love. But now as he wept in his mother’s arms, he knew that it didn’t matter what he tried to build in its place. Love would always fins a way to shatter it. And he would be left in the wreckage.
Great review, Julie! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed this one. I have the first book on my tbr and can’t wait to read it 😊
Thanks, Becky! I hope you like the first one! 🙂