Of Masquerades and Fame

by Candice Pedraza Yamnitz, Claire Kohler

In the aftermath of the infamous Sky Manor game, 18-year-old Camilla Carranza receives an invitation to the Elite Ball, the place where the most lucrative business deals transpire. Despite her boyfriend's misgivings, Camilla accepts the invitation, thinking it will lead to enough money for her and Rupert to finally get married. She doesn’t realize she’s walking into a sinister trap where the only way to survive may be by returning to the past she swore she’d left behind.

Rupert Nelson’s love for Camilla withstood the testing in the Sky Manor game but loving her and trusting her are two different things. When he discovers she’s gone behind his back to the Elite Ball, he sneaks in to rescue her, only to realize this is the perfect chance to determine her true loyalty.

In a dance of opulence and lies, will Camilla and Rupert's escape from the Elite cost them everything-even the love they're so desperate to protect?

167 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2025

Reviews

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars (4/10 hearts). Although I have not yet gotten my hands on One Must Die, I did throughly enjoy Of Clockworks & Daggers and was absolutely wild to read this third book! It was really fun to piece together more about the characters and events from OMD, and see a few characters from OC&D reappear as well. I really enjoyed how having two different authors writing helped completely change the POVs from Rupert to Camilla, and both of their storylines were very interesting. I also really liked how both took accountability for their choices and how they impacted different people. And as always, I loved the steampunk additions! Looking forward to more from this delightful series.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

5✨

I loved this so much! I was kept reading the whole time, it flowed well, and the romance was so sweet! 🥹🥰

My favorite was probably Rupert! 🫶🏼 (But my gosh Horaceee 😭💔)

The two separate styles of the authors blended well, and I’m now wanting more from both of them. 🤭💗

(Thank you to the authors for this arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own. 💕💕💕)

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three in the Games of Greed and Ruin series does not disappoint!

Of Masquerades and Fame picks up the story of two contestants from One Must Die, Camilla and Rupert. After surviving the deathly games of the first book, Camilla has vowed to change her ways. Meanwhile, Rupert has a big and important secret that he is hesitant to share with Camilla.
Both Camilla and Rupert have a lot of growing up to do over the course of this short book. The bulk of the book takes place all in a single night, during the masquerade ball. The story has lots of disguises and masks and secrets, a dangerous hedge maze, and a very stunning conclusion that left me eager for the next book in the series.

[M.H. Elrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this suspenseful, steampunk romance!
Camilla was a fun protagonist to read about. She was the typical "popular mean girl" by her own account, and in this book, she tries to redeem herself through her various actions. I can definitely see how Candice likes to rewrite the typical female antagonists and make them likable and yet also accountable for their actions.
Rupert, her love interest, was so sweet. But his jealousy and possessiveness definitely got in the way of a healthy relationship between them both. I really enjoyed how Claire, who I think wrote Rupert's point of view, did a good job of pointing out his flaws while making you sympathetic for him.
Overall, the book was fast-paced and too short, leaving me wanting more.

[C.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come, but I greatly enjoyed it!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so much fun to be immersed in the world of Aetherfall again! I loved the masquerade ball and seeing how much both Camilla and Rupert want to do right by one another, even if they often go about it the wrong ways. Lots of great twists and turns, and a fun cameo by Zenith 🖤 plus the beauty of seeing characters grow through adversity. A great addition to the Games of Greed and Ruin!

[Kelsie Carlson (Alaskan.BookDragon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of Masquerades and Fame is part of the Games of Greed and Ruin series. While you can read this as a standalone it does have some spoilers for other books so I recommend reading the previous two books first.

If my kids did not need to be feed I would have finished this in one sitting. I have a love hate relationship with books that have no "down" spots, I never can seem to put them down! Of Masquerades and Fame certainly does not have any down time! This book is dramatic in the best sense of the word. Between the ball, luxurious clothes, assassin's, bombs and steampunk overtones it certainly does not give you much chance to take a breath.

I both enjoyed the imperfectness of the main couples relationship, after all real relationships are not perfect. It was nice to see them walk through problems and realize all the mistakes they both made and how it affected the other. On the other hand I spent a lot of the book screaming in my head No! dont do it!... not necessarily a bad thing if your into imperfect characters, which I am.

This book is classified as YA and I would say it is on the older side of that spectrum. There is a fair amount of violence, nothing to descriptive and deaths are off scene. The overall plot is more something I would tend toward 16-17 and up for my own children. Besides the dramatic flair the subject of the book is rather dark filled with murder, poison and black mail. Which is a main point of the book that all may seem beautiful on the outside but the heart is what matters.

I enjoyed Of Masquerades and Fame and have added the rest of the books to my Christmas list for the husband! I am going to need the next book as soon as possible as I am not good at cliffhangers, they lurk in the back of my head wondering what will happen!

I was given a copy of the book from the author. My opinions, as always, are my own.

[funkelbunt.liest · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars rounded to 5

Of Masquerades and Fame is the third book in the Games of Greed and Ruins series and while the books could probably be read as standalones, I highly recommend reading them in order.

This book focuses on Rupert and Camilla and while I have to admit that I don’t completely remember my opinion of Rupert in the original book (keep in mind that we had 7 POVs in a rather short book) I am very certain that Camilla was my least favorite - and I don’t think we were supposed to like her back then.

So I really enjoyed getting to know both characters more, learning more about their backstories and their motives. This series is definitely not about perfect characters but more about people who are growing and starting to take responsibility for their own mistakes. I especially loved Camilla’s character growth and how Rupert tried to protect her. The book focuses more on the character’s efforts to leave old ways behind and the mystery part of the series than on the love story, but it’s a sweet love story nonetheless.

Apart from the character arcs my favorite part of this series is the unique historical setting with steampunk elements.

I am still left with unanswered questions, but I suppose it’s meant to be this way, since it’s not the last book in this series. So I’m definitely looking forward to the next book and am curious if all my questions will finally be answered.

* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.

[Melissa R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desperate to secure her future in a legitimate way, former poison maker Camilla attends a ball hoping to make business contacts for her soon to be fiancé. Unfortunately she finds blackmail instead and spends the evening trying to save herself and the person the city’s Elite wants her to poison. Rupert, Camilla’s finance, wants to propose but is held back by trust insecurities. He sneaks into the ball to verify he can trust her - only to realize he was the one not being trust worthy and spends the evening trying to save Camilla from the danger she is in. The characters spend most of the evening separated and the book is told from a dual perspective of two similar but different evenings. It is almost a comedy of errors - except the consequences are deadly and if something can go wrong it does. Written mostly over the course of an evening in a steampunk setting, of Masquerades and Fame is a fast paced book of intrigue and personal growth. Great for middle grades and above. I would recommend reading the first book of the series for context, but it isn’t absolutely necessary.

[ChriseBee · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 rounded up to 5 stars). This was exciting! I finished Of Masquerades and Fame in 2 sittings because I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen. I was pulled in by the intriguing characters, quick pace, unexpected twists, and suspense. There's blackmail, a masquerade, high stakes, and secrets galore in this YA steampunk murder mystery. Originally, I didn't think I'd like the genre, but I stand corrected.

Of Masquerades and Fame is book 3 in the series. I haven't read One Must Die or Of Cloaks & Daggers yet, but I definitely want to now, even though I know a few spoilers. I didn't even feel lost in this story, considering I started mid series.

Candice Pedraza Yamnitz and Claire Kohler were fantastic at blending their writing styles into 1 story that flowed smoothly from beginning to end. I forgot that this was a collaboration until I saw the cover again. By the end, I didn't want it to finish just yet. I need to know more. I'm so excited for what's next for Camilla and Rupert, Zenith, and the others.

Many thanks to Candice for including me on the ARC team.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read One Must Die, the first in the series, a while ago and loved it - and this quick, clean read is an exciting addition! I enjoyed seeing Camilla and Rupert after the events at Sky Manor. They are wonderfully drawn, flaws and all. The quick pace of the story makes it hard to put down! It’s easy to immerse yourself in the steampunk world described on the page. While it’s a clean read, it does explore some grittier, darker elements of human nature — like greed, manipulation, and deception as well as talk of poison, blackmail, and murder. Nothing gory happens on the page and I like the way the main characters turn to prayer. Overall, this is an enjoyable read. There are a few loose threads left at the end, so I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!

[Erin Dydek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much fun to read! I really enjoyed the artistry of the masquerade ball and its reflection of the themes. Rupert and Camilla both want to leave their mistakes from the past behind them and are taking steps to move forward into honorable lives. Neither can resist the need to don their masks in their efforts to improve their futures. But keeping secrets from each other has consequences, some more dire than others, and each has to learn what’s most important. I enjoyed watching their storylines play out and the lessons learned in the end. There’s a bit of mystery, mayhem, murder which make this book plenty exciting to read. I look forward to seeing the rest of this series unfold as each story builds on the previous and further develops the individual characters!

[Candice Yamnitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just wanted to write a note to readers. This book was never meant to be written. I started it to get to know Camilla more and to understand where she was going. I realized at some point that Camilla's story needed Rupert's perspective. Claire, my cowriter, and I went to work on what happened that unfortunate evening when Camilla gets lured to think that the perfect business connection will solve all her problems.

I hope you enjoy the fast-paced little story that's meant to feel like an evening gone wrong.

[Lauren]

I was offered the opportunity to read this title early in exchange for a review. Life took some unexpected turns this fall and I’ve just gotten to this book over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Fast paced to hold the reader’s interest, this story had plenty of characters and enough depth to know there will be more to each in other stories. Appropriate for a tween or teen. More to the category of Young Adult than many books I think are “New Adult” being passed off as Young Adult. #youngadultfantasy #automatons #masqueradeball

[Lj · Rating 5 out of 5]

A glamourous steampunk ball full of plots, intregue and mystery. It is a fun, quick read that shows a glimpse of Camilla and Rupert's lives after the events of One Must Die but stands alone well enough that it could be enjoyed by readers unfamiliar with this book (although you'll probably appreciate it more if you're familiar with the original book).

I receieved an ARC and voluntarily leave an honest review.

[Tracie D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Good clean read. Fast
paced, wanting more. Wasn't sure how things were going to work out, a few surprises I was like ohhhh man! * and a few eeks and of
course, an Awwwwww . Camilla, strong and willing to do what she can for love, IF she accepts the invitation. Will she go , will she lie ? And for Rupert , will he come clean about his secret , will he swallow his fears?
Hmmmm read the book and see !

[Ashlyn Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book quite a bit, with interesting characters and a unique plot. The blend of steampunk and a historical setting was unique to me but it worked well in favor of the story! It was a little too quick paced for me, but I still did enjoy the story and the murder mystery.
Thank you for the arc!

[Adia Somi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of Masquerades and Fame is a fantastic fast paced story that is coated in mystery. I loved how throughout the book you meet all these various intriguing characters from the Games of Greed and Ruin series. You can tell that each one has a story of their own and none of them seem to be quite what they seem to be.
Rupert and Camilla could be both exasperating (as characters often are) and fun. Camilla has a good heart even though some of her old habits and motives are hard to completely shake. Rupert is admirable in the way he tries to protect Camilla, even if he doesn’t always go about it the best way (not that Camilla makes the job easy). Their love is sweet. The scrapes they find themselves in are not so sweet. I appreciated how the dual POV allowed all these different hints and tidbits while neither alone ever gives you all the answers.
I overall enjoyed Of Masquerades and Fame and if you’re looking for a bit of excitement and mystery you might want to give it a try too.

[Ami Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This short steampunk adventure story with clean romance had dastardly villains, honorable heroes, hints of magic, and a whole lot of problems to overcome! I loved the character growth that I have seen over the course of these first three books, and am looking forward to more! I received an ARC copy and this is my review.

[Tiffany Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC!

[Aline Guedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This YA story has a perfect mix of elegance, intrigue, and mystery—like stepping into a grand ballroom with secrets waiting behind every mask. Each page kept me hooked and eager to uncover what would happen next.

It’s a clean, engaging read that will appeal to anyone who enjoys mystery with a touch of sophistication and faith.

I received an early copy, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Abasiama Udom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grateful I got an ARC.

Camilla and Rupert have to outwit their enemies and i am here rooting for them as they go. Trust issues, the past and even secrets keep the book going. I enjoyed Candice's Reckless and this one did not disappoint.

[Kimthebookishbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so fun to see where the characters have gone since the tragic incident at the end of book 1. Where Camilla was my least favorite character in One Must Die, I love seeing that she's had growth, and having this story prove it. It was really well done and I can't wait to see how the other characters are faring!

[Mckayla Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first work I've read from the author, and it was such a great book. I was hooked from the start. Can't wait to read more!

[Kat Crowder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great! Almost nonstop action. It’s a dual POV between the FMC, Camilla, and the MMC, Rupert. It’s fun to see their relationship and how they go through this steam punk murder mystery.

This book is part 3 of a series, Games of Greed and Ruin. I somehow missed reading the second book but was able to follow along with no problem. I feel it could be read as a stand alone but you would get more depth of the characters by reading the other books.