The Order of Masks

The Order of Masks #1

by Alina Bellchambers

TREACHERY LOVE MAGIC VENGEANCE

In the cut-throat Ravalian Court, alliances shift in a heartbeat and seduction is the prelude to murder. Only one thing is certain: not everyone will survive.

Circus performer Mira has spent her life on the run. She is determined to secure her future by competing in the deadly Trials and winning a place in one of the three magical royal Orders.

Princess Scarlett is fighting to withstand her half-brothers' sinister ambitions and seize power. Mira is the opportunity she's been waiting for - a dangerous outsider poised to cleave apart the very foundations of the Court.

As Mira and Scarlett navigate a glittering world of magic, court intrigue and forbidden romances, they must decide if they are co-conspirators or rivals in a bloody bid for the throne. Will they sacrifice everything - even their own lovers - for power and revenge?

'Death wasn't the end. It was just the beginning.'


Mature content warning: rated 2/5 chillies.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Fiction, Audiobook

498 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2024

About the author

Alina Bellchambers grew up in her family’s bookstore and spent her childhood immersed in fantastical worlds. She writes epic romantic fantasies featuring fierce female protagonists, morally grey characters, magic and seductive court politics.

She has a psychology degree from Flinders University and a background in acting, modelling and public speaking. Alina writes on a forty-acre hobby farm in the picturesque Adelaide Hills of South Australia.

When not typing in her study, Alina enjoys hiking with her feisty dog Scamp, scuba diving and socialising with friends and family in her local community and abroad.

Alina loves connecting with readers and is most active on Instagram @alinabellwrites.

Reviews

[saffiyah✧ఌ · Rating 4 out of 5]

if powerless was actually good

[Luce · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟 Oooof this book is just go, go, go from chapter one and truly has you hooked from the first page. There is aaaaalways so much happening!

Full of drama, politics, alliances (but who can you trust? nobody really knows?) and two power house fmcs who reaaaaally run the show.

Getting this book from two different POV’s meant we had such a broader more in depth picture of what was happening at all times - you think you know, but you really don’t. It keeps you on your toes so good! I LOVED.

[Emily-Rose At The Rose House · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A crown or a coffin”

I love when a book has multiple POV’s and both are equally as additive as each other!

The chaos at the end has me so excited to dive into book 2 👑

Thank you Haus Of Fables PR & Alina for a copy!

[blank ⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded down.
Wow, I had such a good time with this book! I loved the characters, the world, the magic, the politics (the politics!), and how committed the author was to the high stakes that are set up right at the beginning. There is a great balance between plot and character, and though there is romance with some pretty intense stakes, this is a fantasy-forward novel with great medium pacing (my favorite).
This book does morally grey the right way, and I loved every second of it. Great start to a new series, I will for sure be picking up the sequel.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodderscape for the ARC.

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most intriguing political fantasies that I have read it was not obvious at all what will occur next from start to finish either was it obvious who will get killed off. As I read a lot of fantasy romantasy books it can become obvious to easily predict what will happen esp between FMCs & MMCs but not with this book. I was glued to the edge of my seat and not knowing who was trustworthy, which characters are good, who will be killed off, etc. It’s not obvious at all. A lot of treachery and double crossing, hidden identities and secret alliances it’s a lot of fun in an easy to read and understand what’s going on way, however, it was also unpredictable, mysterious to a point I didn’t see a lot happening after each chapter.

It follows the POV of two female characters that are both strong Mira and Scarlett. They’re both not what they seem from the beginning and have very different motives you don’t know how these two are going to influence one another, but the way they interact and their stories intertwine becomes interesting and I didn’t see the ending coming at all.
There’s deadly trials, forbidden juicy romance, there’s lust and morally grey characters. My fav character is Cassius he reminds me of Aaron Warner & Jacks from Legendary/OUABH series 💜💜

I would say this is a mix of YA & Adult with a few mild spicy scenes. The author did an amazing job with this book creating a story where the stakes are generally high. There’s always a chance a character can fail with death and betrayal around every corner threatening both female protagonists and characters around them lie, cheat, and do not mind murdering. Nothing is predictable and anyone can be an enemy as much as they can be a friend. Morally grey characters had me intrigued never obvious how they will act or what to expect from them. An extremely well written book & original combined with romance, interesting magic system, and extremely well written and intriguing world. An amazing start to a new series and I can’t wait to read book 2 which will be released in September 2025 😁💜

[Bibliothecat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I confess that I picked this up with medium expectations. I think the blurb might have also been a little misleading - I've come across a handful of people saying they're giving this a pass because they don't really like circus/carnival settings. I'm also not particularly partial to this setting but regardless, it's such a minimal part of the plot, it made me wonder why it was mentioned in the blurb at all. There are so many other, far more important, elements and events to liken it to and it ultimately really surprised me by how gripping and nicely thought out this whole book was - it is definitely one I see myself recommending to friends.

I really enjoyed the world building and this was quite a court intrigue and politics heavy book. There is the Ravalian Empire that has invaded and taken control of most of its neighbours - on the surface, it looks as though the different cultures have been absorbed and integrated in a way that makes it look like a peaceful rule, but the Emperor is ruthless and rebels are quickly taken care of. This is where the dual POV becomes interesting; we have two main characters from different sides and there are so many dynamics around this shared narration.

Mira, although an ordinary girl, has spent her life on the run with her mother and they largely get by with performing arts. She decides to compete in the trials that could allow her to join one of the empires three orders, elite fighters, which she hopes would grant her mother safety and stability in her own life. On the other end, we have Scarlett, illegitimate Princess of Ravalia. She grew up with her ever scheming brothers who try to get rid of her as much as anyone else. She also grew up under her mother's teachings who is determined to see Scarlett on the throne as well as awaken her potential for magic.

Both Mira and Scarlett have spent their life fighting for safety and control despite their different backgrounds and motivations. But as things start to go wrong, both find themselves in a position where their goals - or rather their desire for revenge - align. This leaves so much room for them to either become rivals or enemies, and there is so much back and forth throughout the novel, it makes it hard to decide who to cheer for. I found both Scarlett and Mira likeable main characters and I'd love to see both succeed but it always seems to come at the others cost. Both along with the majority of the cast dip into morally grey territory as both do what they must to survive. There is so much betrayal, mistrust and just outplaying each other, I was at times rather reminded of Game of Thrones.

I want to add that this is a very, very solid four star rating which I might bump higher depending on where the sequel takes us. What hasn't quite convinced me yet is the romance, and this is by no means due to a lack of writing. There are multiple options as to how this series could turn out romance wise and I find that none of the potential pairings were strong enough for me to guess how the author wants to wrap this up. The initial love interests are quite obvious from the start but with all the betrayals, I feel like anything still goes. The two initial love interest combinations were a little boring to me, so romance wise I felt more invested once other options started to look like a possibility.

This first instalment ends on a strong note, but one that leaves anything resembling relationships - romance and otherwise - in shatters. Regardless of which characters end up together, there's going to have to be a lot of mending before anything can happen. I know which outcomes I'd like, both in terms of romance and friendships, but I am not confident in any direction. As such, I am indeed looking forward to seeing what the sequel as in store. I would argue that the focus is more on politics and fantasy than on the romance, so even if my preferred romance options don't come to pass, I would still consider this a very strong book.

[Ainsley Deeble · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - 4.25 ⭐️ RTC .

Initial thoughts? What an incredibly layered politically charged fantasy. Almost every single character is morally grey in nature, and you spend literally the entire book trying to work out who and what to trust and believe. There was always something exciting happening, plot twists catching me off guard and a really interesting magic system that I feel we have just scratched the surface of.

I would have loved to get some more emotional depth to our two FMC’s. They started out as incredibly intriguing characters and whilst I loved that they continued to be scheming, calculating and strong women, I was craving to reaaalllyy get into their thoughts and feelings and get below the surface.

I am really, REALLY excited for book 2 with how this ended.

[Kobina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately, the exposition was a bit long. I thought about cancelling the book more than once at the beginning because it just wouldn't get going.
This changed abruptly when all the characters were finally in one place and the actual story could begin. From then on, I could hardly put the book down and devoured the rest of it in one evening.
It was fun to see the intrigues of a court from two different perspectives, sometimes working with and sometimes against each other. We also start with a love hexagon, because love triangles are for beginners. I was particularly taken with one character and hope to see more of him in the future. He's cunning, ruthless and charming, which for me are all the qualities a perfect character needs.
All in all, I'm now looking forward to the second part - even though I'm painfully aware that I'll have to wait a long time for it.
If this book turns up in a book box, I will definitely renew my subscription.

[Magdalena (magdal21) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, this was so good!! It's been a long time since I read a court intrigue fantasy with genuinely high stakes, and this book surprised me in the best possible way. I could not put it down!

The protagonists of The Order of Masks are Mira and Scarlett, whose fates intertwine in political machinations, struggles for their own legacy, vengeance, and love. I don't want to say too much about the actual story because this book is so dense that it might be better to start it knowing less rather than more. The plot does take some time to really get going, as the author focuses on setting up the characters and establishing the stakes. Some might find this exposition a bit too long, but it's truly worth pushing through because the rest of the book is so rewarding that it more than makes up for it.

What the author did particularly well is creating a story where the stakes feel genuinely high. This is achieved by throwing morally gray characters into the thick of court intrigue, leaving us never quite sure what to expect from them. There are no easy solutions or situations where no one loses. Death and betrayal lurk at every turn and are very real threats to both Scarlett and Mira. Not only the main characters, but everyone around them lies, cheats, and has no qualms about murder. Reading it gave me a similar feeling to A Game of Thrones—nothing is certain, and anyone can be as much an ally as an enemy. The novel is also exceptionally well-written, with romance, a fascinating magic system, and well-crafted worldbuilding.

I'm so glad I picked up this book, and I will definitely continue the series. I highly recommend it to anyone who feels that political fantasy is missing genuinely high stakes and a good balance between characters, worldbuilding, and plot.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Tasha Corbett · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - fantasy with a small amount of romance.

Told from two Povs:
Mira, a circus worker who is on the run with her mother for unknown reasons enters “the trials” to become part of one of three orders in the ruling kingdom. The orders protect the kingdom with warriors and seers but will what her mother is running from affect her chances to compete?

Princess scarlet is the princess of the ruling kingdom - with two brothers competing to be future rulers and her mother training her to win. Scarlet has recently returned from death with a mysterious gift.

I really enjoyed the beginning part of the book and the trial aspect. The world was easy to understand and the characters had some solid foundations. However, I found as the story continued, I found both Mira and Scarlett unlikeable and I didn’t root for neither romance. With regards to Scarlet, I understood why she acted why she did constantly having to be on her guard from her own family, but instead of turning herself around she went full on evil dark mode. Mira was slightly more likeable and was on her way to redeeming herself but didn’t have enough development to sway my mind back.

The romance felt flat to me and in the end I was actually more rooting for Cassius and Mira over Aric if Cassius had been slightly nicer. I’m not 100% if this is supposed to be adult or YA but only one or two mild spicy scenes and wished for more romance/ genuine love interests.

Overall, I would still recommend the book if you prefer more plot and world over the romance aspect and if you don’t mind morally grey characters who are more black than grey!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a free copy of the ebook to review.

[kindleandkettle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Order of Masks is a spectacular debut from Alina Bellchambers. Full of intrigue, court politics, magic and vengeance you will be captivated by this new young adult fantasy series.

Mira is a circus performer, who knows little of her mother’s past and has moved constantly in her life. She is determined to win a place in the Warriors order but in order to do that she must complete in the deadly trials. Princess Scarlett is in a constant fight to stay alive when only the strongest will take over her father’s throne and her half-brothers will stop at nothing to take out their competition. Scarlett see’s Mira as her way to secure her future, a wild-card set to tear apart the foundations of the court.

The Order of Masks surprised me at every turn. The writing was captivating, as was the entire story. Alliances are made throughout the book and I loved that they weren’t exactly the alliances I was expecting as a reader. With a cast of morally grey characters, the unexpected happened at every turn. It has set the story up nicely for the second book. As a reader who sometimes struggles with books that lean heavily into the court politics, I found this story was easy to follow while adding a lot of complexity to the book.

You can expect forbidden romance, manipulative morally grey characters and an intriguing magic system.

Thank you to Macmillan Australia for gifting me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[silvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you so much to hodderscape and mtmc tours for providing me with a copy!!

the order of masks is a ya fantasy book that follows Mira and Scarlett through dual povs.
Mira is a circus performer who has been on the run her whole life and is tired of it so she decides to compete in the deadly trials to win a place in the three magical royal orders, but she has no idea the consequences this will bring forth.
Scarlett is a princess of the most powerful court and is fighting for her place at court and trying to stay alive as her half brothers constantly try to kill her.
as Mira arrives at court, Scarlett sees her as the opportunity she’s been waiting for in order to survive and seize power.

this was such an interesting read with all the deadly court politics. i initially thought that the trials would be the focus of the story but it was more like a driving point for the story and the main focus is Mira and Scarlett manoeuvring around the political games at play.

i found the political intrigue quite intriguing but it kinda felt like the romance, for Mira at least, kinda out of place, and some parts felt like they dragged but i do think i might be the problem since i was kinda in a reading slump so yeah😭

[Natasha Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Navigating a deliciously intriguing world of magic, shifting alliances and deadly court politics; Alina Bellchambers’ high stakes Fantasy debut was breathtaking.

The writing was beautifully immersive and brought the lush, atmospherically lethal setting to life soo spectacularly. I did feel there was a glimmer of Ancient Rome in the Ravalian Empire, which I loved. As it made the Trials feel even more deadly (like a magical, gladiatorial ritual) and meant I couldn’t guess which of our characters (if any) would survive.

And thanks to the unpredictable plot twists, helped keep the tension (and my anxiety) sky-high until the very end.

One of my fave aspects however, had to be the cast of morally grey characters, all of whom had their own agendas (some more selfless than others) that, despite the moral ambiguity (and the possibility of backstabbing) were all really engaging.

Particularly POV characters, Mira and Scarlett, whose inner conflicts and moral complexity (involving their motivations, sense of identity and political manoeuvrings) had me hooked!

I loved Mira, a former circus performer who spent the majority of her life on the run. Her journey and the struggle between her desperate need to belong, (and her wish to take vengeance on the man responsible her circumstances) was such a powerfully emotional reading experience. But also raised the question: In a world where survival demands power, can the pursuit of ambition (or vengeance) ever be morally justified?

Likewise, Scarlett (the illegitimate daughter of the Ravalian King) has spent her entire life being underestimated. Surviving on the edge of court thanks to her own skills in manipulation— I was surprisingly fascinated by her unapologetic ruthlessness. But I guarantee it’s gonna come back to haunt her in the sequel.

Overall, an amazing read that’s perfect for anyone craving Caraval/The Hunger Games/The Shadows Between Us vibes.

Also thanks to The Tandem Collective UK & Hodderscape for the finished copy.

[Erin Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - it did take me a long time to read - I originally started it when it first released. But that was a me problem that’s for sure. This political intrigue in this book is so strong, and I think it was really well done. There were twists and turns that i didn’t see coming, some I did, and moments that made me yell at the book. I’m so mad about the way it ended. I wish other choices were made (personally, not for plot, for the plot it’s great haha). I can’t wait to dive into book 2 and see how it all goes down.

[݁⊹ . ݁ ⟡ maddy ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ݁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this romantasy was an absolute delight to read! it surprised me in the best way, and I found myself easily connecting with the main characters, (especially mira!), and invested in their journey. if you know me, you know I LOVE the politics aspect in fantasy books and this definitely delivered! this book wasn’t as romance heavy as some other romantasies but when it was there it was TOP TIER and I personally didn’t find it to be lacking at all! I can’t wait to see what happens in book two!!

[Sam Mears]

love love love
- multiple pov
- so many layers
- characters are well developed - at many points it was hard to know who I was on side with
- looking forward to book 2

downside
- when lacking in energy and concentration it could be hard to follow and keep up with
- ended up reading it in smaller segments rather than just getting into it all

silver lining
- will reread ahead of book 2 and enjoy just as much if not more when my head has more room

[Tamina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t really connect with this one unfortunately. I think the whole princess thing and suddenly “my people, I have to save my people” was unnecessary to spur the story on. The orders were also confusing and weren’t explained very well. Skipped a lot of the last bit of the book, won’t be reading the next one unfortunately

[Nikki Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok NEXT 😮‍💨

I gobbled this up and need to know more, I feel like there is so much history to unearth.

This toxic family is addicting and need a quick intervention with Jerry Springer.

[Athena Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Order of Masks has been one of my highly anticipated releases of the year, and it certainly lived up to my expectations and hopes and so much more!! I literally don't understand why more people aren't talking about it because it's brilliant!

The Order of Masks is told by Mira's and Scarlett's povs. I have to say, it was so refreshing to tell a romantasy through the eyes of two ambitious, highly traumatized, and stabby female characters who have their own goals and desires! I loved this element! Now, do I have a favorite? Yes, I do, and it's Mira!

Mira makes a lot of mistakes but she learns from them, and to be honest, she isn't left with many choices every step of the way. She makes the best call she can, given the circumstances. She is a young woman who still learns the world, herself, her magic, her limits and her desires, and is torn between revenge and freedom. How can she be free if she still lives every second in the worst moment of her life? How can anyone not want revenge when everything is stolen from you? Mira is so humane, so relatable, and I rooted for her every step of the way!!

Scarlett was also a great main character! She also makes tons of mistakes, and I actually respected both girls for backtracking sometimes. They make a call, it doesn't give them results, so they choose a different way. She is a very resourceful young woman, and someone who has survived a lot. However, she allies herself with someone who is so rotten, and while she doesn't have any other ally to align herself with, she should at least recognize that she is rotten. That was my petpeeve with Scarlett. Not that she had many allies to pick, but at least, be honest with whom you align....

The plot along with strong characterization were probably the best elements of the book. So many characters were ambitious and ruthless, and yet so desirable and likeable (to different degrees!), and most of them were the definition of STABBY. I never knew who was going to betray whom! Would x betray y, or would y betray x, or would they betray each other, or would they see the light of not betraying anyone lmao? I never knew what was going to happen, and it was so thrilling!!!!

Readers are definitely in for a wild, bumpy, and stabby ride that also happens to have some spice! The Order of Masks has a sexy, alluring vibe, and I loved it!!

I loved The Order of Masks, and I can't wait for the sequel!!!

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Death wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning.’

Thank you so much to Alina and Pan Macmillan for my physical ARC of The Order of Masks 🎭🩵

Infiltrate. Exploit. Destroy.

What a beautiful debut by Alina! The Order of Masks is tricky and enticing, with a lush world and crisp writing.

The court politics were chefs kiss and I loved how everyone has flaws and they’re plotting and fighting for their survival. This is a slow burn story with plenty of morally grey and all the scheming.

The duality between Mira and Scarlett was great and I found myself backing both of them at times which shows how rich these characters are. I liked the slow revealing of magic and the breadcrumbs leading up the ending had me hooked!

Themes are: court intrigue, magic, hidden agendas, plotting princes and stabby female leads, YA fantasy

This book is perfect for fans of Grishaverse meets Twin Crowns ⚔️♥️✨

How gorgeous is the cover too!!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Infiltrate. Exploit. Destroy.

We have two FMCs Mira & Scarlett who are so similar but so different at the same time. The book is from both their POV’s, which I loved!! It still kept your head spinning when the twists hit! Mira is an on the run circus performer & Scarlett a Princess. They are both out for revenge & tbh most of Ravalian Court is. Alliances constantly change & when they do it packs a punch as you just never know for sure! everyone has a scheme & some are more deadly than others. There are princes who are cruel (one I feel we will get to learn & read a lot more of in the next book) Be prepared to pay a price if you make a deal inside Ravalian Court. There’s magic, love, betrayal, death & heartbreak & that ending left me instantly searching for the next book release date!

“Death wasn’t the end. It was just beginning.”

Loved it so much!! Can’t wait to devour more of this world!

[Bronwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well all I can say is this needs to be on the radar of more fantasy readers. This was my first read of a political fantasy - and I’ll be honest I didn’t even know what that was until reading this book.

You have Mira, a circus performer who has spent her life running from her mothers past, intent on participating in the trials (there will always be trials in a fantasy) to join one of the royal magical orders.
You also have Scarlett who is the royal princess wanting to prove she has what it takes to rule Ravalia, but disregarded and plotted against by her family.
There is romance and treachery and magic and so much more in this thick but easily digestible first instalment from this author. Looking forward to the next one, give this one a read, it won’t disappoint!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

[Lin_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 young women navigate most insane courtly intrigues while trying to stay alive. The Order of Masks is an intricately weaved YA story of connection, love, family and girl power.

This book follows Mira and Scarlett, 2 young women that were raised as opposites, one, a circus street performer, another as a princess of the most powerful court. All they want to do is exist and be happy but that is not what is in store for both of them. When their faiths come together during the deadly Trials, the secrets starting to come to light. Mira wants to win the trials to get into one of the magical orders in court, Scarlett sees an opportunity to use that and increase her chance to survive her half brothers who constantly want to kill her.

I really loved how the author has multiple story lines going at once, with many characters as pawns in this big play for power. I honestly love the depth of this story and this first book was an excellent introduction to this world. Not many books leave me to want to learn more about the history of the people in this book and honestly, they are all so fucked up, I LOVE IT. There is a bit of romance and situationships going on..

It is dual POV which I liked but I would’t have minded if it was not that as it was sometimes a bit exhausting to get into the characters heads over and over again because the chapters were super short (normally I love that shit).

I really thought this book would be another deadly trials book, but that part was only a small part of the book and I was very happy with it, as too many “deadly trials” books are always same old story in my opinion. This book takes you so much further and actually allows you to forget about the trials at the certain point.

If you like reading about scheming court, romance, sibling rivalry, morally grey characters, weird mothers, revenge, betrayal, women taking power I would recommend this! I was definitely entertained reading the book and I will post a bit more about it after the release.

Thanks Pan Macmillan Australia for sending me the proof, this is an honest review.

[Kiera Ponting · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning fantasy story full of political intrigue, revenge plots, and power struggles. 'The Order of Masks' has been advertised as romantasy, but the story leans much harder into politics than any of its romantic plotlines.

This book follows the perspective of two eighteen year-old girls, Mira and Scarlett. In the beginning they are living very separate and distinct lives - Scarlett as the bastard princess of Ravalia who has had several attempts on her life by her own brothers, and Mira as a travelling street performer who has spent her life on the run thanks to a secret past her mother refuses to reveal. Their paths soon intertwine, with both girls uncovering truths that will affect their futures.

The POVs in this book feel very distinct, making it easy to identify which character's perspective you are reading from at any given time. I also enjoyed reading from both Mira and Scarlett equally, which is always a positive in a multi-perspective novel. While there were elements of the world (particularly Kalure) that I would love to know more about, the main characters were strong enough that this did not affect my enjoyment of the story. I also appreciate that the author was not afraid to kill off characters, which kept tensions high throughout the book.

The romance was light in this book, with Mira in a love triangle and Scarlett in a forbidden relationship. I found Scarlett's relationship difficult to root for as they were already established prior to the story and her love interest is very mysterious so we know little about him, but I found myself very invested in Mira's love triangle. Though her friend Aric is presented as the reliable option, it's hard to pass on the morally grey Cassius - who I hope to see more of in book two.

I sometimes found myself questioning the MCs' decision making, but their naivety did make sense considering their late teen ages. We did get to see character growth throughout the story in both of them, and I'm sure it will also continue into the sequel.

If you love politics, trials, and female revenge in your fantasy you've got to give 'The Order of Masks' a chance!

[Jessica Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes : High stakes, court politics and intrigue, multiple POV, multi morally grey characters, high stakes.

The Order of Masks by Alina Bellchambers had me completely captivated; once I was reading I couldn’t put it down. It's been a while since I encountered a story filled with court politics and political intrigue where I genuinely questioned whom to trust at every turn. The first half of the book does a fantastic job of establishing the characters, making the stakes feel incredibly high when the exposition unfolds in the second half. Even though I anticipated the betrayal revealed in the cliffhanger, the way the story is written makes you truly feel the weight of the loss.

Every character we encounter is deeply and morally grey, which enhances the story's high-stakes atmosphere with added complexity and depth. With each chapter, I found myself reflecting on the characters, constantly shifting my opinions on whether I liked or disliked them. While this might pose an issue for some readers, I truly appreciated this aspect in this book. The romance in the book serves more as a background element rather than the main focus, which I believe fits this story perfectly. At this stage, I can genuinely say that Mira could end up with either of her options or choose none at all, and I wouldn’t be too bothered by it. Although, if the Prince is the end-goal I want an entire books worth of grovelling.

The world-building and magic system were crafted exceptionally well, with a perfect pace throughout. After finishing this book, I can't help but feel that there is so much more to look forward to in the sequel!

Overall, I feel as if this is such an easy to read Fantasy fuelled with genuine High Stakes and complex, morally grey characters that keeps you guessing until the final pages. I can’t wait to read book two and see where our characters end up!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Order of Masks: 3.75/5 ✨
Thank you MacMillan for my review copy.
Spoiler free thoughts:

I REALLY enjoyed the writing style of this book 👏 it’s written so elegantly, and whilst it is quite information heavy (which to be fair, it’s the first book in a YA fantasy so I’m pretty happy for an info dump first novel) it is still gripping and utterly compelling.

Mira our first main character is a circus performer and she spends the novel trying to unveil her mother’s past. She is told very little from her mother and moves around constantly with little complaint… however, she is starting to ask questions more frequently and is becoming increasingly frustrated with the incredibly vague answers she is given.

Scarlett, our second main character, born from royalty is equally frustrated. She spends her time in secrecy with her forbidden partner and evading murder attempts from her brothers.
This novel is full of twists and turns, blood shed and secrets, I’m incredibly interested in seeing what happens next 👀

Morally grey characters, blood thirsty combat, intense court politics and an intriguing magic system ✨
Definitely an exhilarating introduction to a new YA Fantasy series.

[Jordan (Mj) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I narrowed my eyes as I watched my mother's murderer board the flagship. I kept watching long after the fleet had faded from view, the image of Roran's hateful face burned into my mind - because this wasn't goodbye. This wasn't the end.
Not even close.
Let Zandri shape me into the perfect member of the Order of Masks, I thought viciously. Let Cassius plot and scheme and believe he can control me. I'll use every scrap of knowledge and power to my own advantage. To Kalure's advantage.
After all, that was what the Order of Masks was created for. Three words designed to bring down empires.
Infiltrate. Exploit.
Destroy.

WOWIE - WHAT A READ. Safe to say, my first fantasy 5 stars, and a debut novel nonetheless - Alina absolutely killed this. Dealing with political conflict in a monarchical context, dominant female heroines situated in a game of survival, and interesting character development from all main and side characters, TOOM proved to be a complicated, fascinating, twisted story of power, love, and questionable morales for the sake of leadership. Both FMCs face intriguing complications that alter their paths to come together, either as allies or enemies, with the same goal in mind - revenge, vengeance, and rule with an iron fist. Death, destruction, lies and betrayal, with shocking twists and turns, the Order of Masks is a book that you MUST read for a daily dose of magic, empires, fierce characters and complex stories that bring Scarlett and Mira together for a battle of the ages...

and now I'm sad cause I want book 2 NOWWWWWW

[Takealookinsideabook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow I have so many thoughts and feelings.. I spent 80% of this book having somewhat of an idea of where it was going and what might happen. But that last 20% just flipped everything on its head and took me completely by suprise!

The Order of Masks is a seductive and sexy book that is full of secrets and scandal. The whole time I was reading this, I was constantly kept on my toes and didn't know who to trust or what was going to happen next. While I did get attached to some characters, others gave me bad vibes straight away.

I loved how complex and captivating this story was and overall, I think my favourite character was Mira but there's several I became quite attached to!

🎭 High Stakes Fantasy
🎭 Sibling Rivalry
🎭 Morally Grey Characters
🎭 Dual POV
🎭 Forbidden Romance

This was such a delight to read, I cant believe it's a debut to be honest, it's written in such a clever and cunning way, I couldnt get enough!
I'm so glad I've only got to wait a matter of months for book 2 because I have so many thoughts 👀 🤭

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy of this book.

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treachery 🎭 Love 🎭 Magic 🎭 Vengeance
This dual POV is filled to the brim with magic, forbidden romance, court intrigue, trials, and mystery.
Mira, circus performer who has spent her whole life running, steps forward to enter the Trials.
Scarlett, the Princess fighting to seize power.
The romances in this book, wow!
The Order of Artisans. The Order of Warriors. The Order of Masks.
Shifting alliances, revenge plots, secrets, lies, and magic.
Mira and Scarlett are both fighting for what they want, using whatever means possible to get their way.
This book was written so beautifully and captured my attention. I cannot wait to see where Alina Bellchambers takes this series next.

Moments
🎭 Only for me, death wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning.
🎭 ‘Names are powerful things��
🎭 A dance. That was what this was — a beautiful, deadly dance.
🎭 The thing about vengeance was this: you had to be alive to get it.