I tried, but the rotating POVs and jumping timelines just didn't suit me. There are readers out there who will love this, but sadly I'm not them. I will recommend this to readers of fantasy adventure and it will find its home.

The Order of Masks by Alina Bellchambers is the start of a new fantasy series, and the characters must choose between duty and desire.
 
In this book we follow two different women who come from different worlds. Mira grew up on the go and as a trickster and she is barely making ends meet when she gets the opportunity to compete in a competition that would change her life. She takes this chance and m makes the best of it and that’s what I loved about her. She is a chameleon and bon vivant and I was always intrigued to read her chapters.
 
The other heroine is Princess Scarlett who is sick of the royal court and its politics. She is strong and intelligent and greatly underestimated and that was quite sad to see but Scarlett keeps her chin up and that’s what I liked about her. She becomes a supporter of Mira and sees the opportunity to change things for the better.
 
I loved how we followed two strong and determined women and they had to face a lot of obstacles and danger and the plot was very suspenseful and I couldn’t put this book down. The combination of court intrigue, secrets, and forbidden romance with a dash of magic made a wonderful combination and this was such an enjoyable read. I can’t wait for the sequel and to dive more into the magic system.
 
If you’re looking for a fantasy novel with high stakes and strong female characters, check out this one. 4 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, particularly the trial aspect, which set up an intriguing premise. The world-building was clear and easy to follow, and the characters had strong initial foundations. However, as the story unfolded, I found myself disconnecting from both Mira and Scarlett. Neither of their romantic arcs captured my interest, and by the end, I wasn’t invested in either of them.

With Scarlett, I could understand her need to be guarded because of her family, but instead of growing or finding a way to move beyond her circumstances, she seemed to dive deeper into a dark, almost villainous path that felt a bit overdone. Mira had more potential for redemption, but her character didn’t receive enough development to fully shift my opinion of her.

I did appreciate the two different perspectives and how the plot wove their stories together. The character dynamics were interesting, and the way their journeys connected was well done. That said, the beginning felt a bit overwhelming due to the sheer amount of characters and information introduced at once. Once the story settled into a more manageable pace, it was easier to follow.

Unfortunately, the writing style didn’t quite resonate with me, though I think others might enjoy it more. The book's unusual formatting was also a bit distracting at times, pulling me out of the story. Despite these issues, I see a lot of potential in the series, and I’m still interested in reading book 2 to see how things develop.

Thank you SO much for my e-ARC!

Unfortunately, I was not hooked at all by the writing. However, that is just a personal thing and I believe others would love this book.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Wow what a page turner! I absolutely devoured this!what a great read! Loved the writing and the multidimensional characters!this was my first book but can't wait to read more! Definitely recommend!

The Order of Masks by Alina Bellchambers dives into a world of intense courtly drama and dangerous secrets. Mira, a circus performer, and Scarlett, a princess, are pulled together by deadly Trials that reveal dark truths and plot twists around every corner. The dual perspectives bring depth to both women as they navigate power struggles and family betrayals, with a refreshing focus on their growth and resilience rather than just the Trials.

This book captivated me with its layered characters and clever political games. If you’re a fan of fantasy with complex plots, morally ambiguous players, and a dash of romance, this one is for you!

Smooth multi-character fantasy, though the story revolves around two females in particular. A tale of table turning political intrigue. Nice character mix, good use of magic to pull the story along. I found the beginning a little unbelievable and somewhat rushed. But the main part of the story was entertaining reading. Who will remain to rule? Choose your friends wisely and don’t believe everything you are told. Because some people can’t be trusted to look out for anyone’s interests except their own. Then again others maybe can. And between these two, well there are a story lies. There is definitely more of the story to come in a future book. I look forward to that. Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC

A fantastic start to a new series. If you've missed a fantasy with deadly trials this is your sign. For anyone who loved the competitions in Powerless, try The Order of Masks. I really enjoyed the book and the characters. There were so many morally grey people in the book and that's always interesting. Highly recommend!

In the cut-throat Ravalian Court, alliances shift like sand, and seduction often precedes murder. The Order of Masks immerses readers in a world where survival is uncertain, and only the most cunning will prevail.

Circus performer Mira has lived a life on the run, determined to secure her future by competing in the deadly Trials to win a place in one of the three magical royal Orders. Meanwhile, Princess Scarlett grapples with her half-brothers’ sinister ambitions as she seeks to seize power. Mira presents an intriguing opportunity for Scarlett—a dangerous outsider poised to disrupt the very foundations of the Court.

As Mira and Scarlett navigate a glittering realm of magic, court intrigue, and forbidden romances, they must confront whether they are allies or rivals in a treacherous bid for the throne. With high stakes that threaten everything—including their lovers—Mira and Scarlett’s journey is filled with tension and unpredictability.

I was captivated by the well-developed characters and intricate world-building, where magic intertwines with politics. The author expertly balances plot and character development, ensuring that the romance enhances rather than overshadows the fantasy elements. With its medium pacing and high-stakes scenarios, this book is a thrilling read that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

An interesting range of characters, I liked the two perspectives of the women and the plot connecting them together was well done. Personally I found the beginning a little confusing as there was a lot of people and information, but it settled into its pace.

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!

I LOVED this book. I didn't want to put it down. I can't wait to buy myself a physical copy of this book and i'm so excited for the next book in the duology.

I'd highly recommend reading this book.

if you like magic, courtly politics, trials, betrayal and everything in between you will LOVE this one!

absjdjdjd i don’t know what to say without spoilers, but this book was definitely fantasy-y & vibey!

also i *will* be needing a family tree bcos this royalty thingy is messyyy (& i’m also surviving on not enough sleep to the extent that i thought someone was marrying their half(?)-brother ANYWAYS)

but this book was so much fun to read! it had short chapters, which is one of my fave things to find in a book and two strong female leads, both which i love in their unique way!

thank you netgalley for the arc!

3.75 / 5

A very politically intriguing story, I love the perspectives and how they were woven together. It’s a fun, easy fantasy read that kept me guessing the entire time and for that part it was easy to read in one sitting and I couldn’t really put it down.

The trials were a very short part of this book, lasting maybe 15 chapters in the middle and there isn’t a lot of romance in the beginning 250 pages of this book, in the traditional sense. We are following two girls and we have like the smallest of crumbs from one of them surely these get extended in book two. It becomes a love hexagon. I feel like you could remove 100 pages and this book would be incredible, I think some chapters are filler and unnecessary in my opinion and the pace is weird for me. I kind of wanted Mira and Scarlett to work together but nonetheless that was never happening. Everyone is morally gray. And some actions infuriated me a lot. Like chapter 61….

That last line is certainly something!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
4 stars book from me. Loved the plot and the storytelling in The Order of Masks and relatable, likable characters,. Loved every single second reading it.

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.

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I wasn't expecting to to enjoy it as much as I did.
But it had me hooked, and I ended up flying through this.
A very fun read!

2.25*

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review contains mild spoilers in terms of what kind of main romantic entanglements to expect and content warnings at the end of the review.

This book has done the bare minimum to keep me engaged. I just cared enough about the two main POV characters to not DNF this, even though it took some time to get warm with them and the story as a whole.
First person POV is a hit or miss for me, and I have a dislike for it when there is more than one character we follow in it. Here we have two first person POVs, Mira and Scarlett, and one glimpse of another character's towards the end. Their voices are distinct enough but I think this book would have worked just as well in third person limited because we don't get deep enough into the characters' heads to really use the first person POV's potential. Partly, this is my reading preference, but the emotional depth and character work could have been better as well.
I struggled with imagining and fully grasping the setting and world-building. There is some interesting magic but the world didn't feel fleshed out enough so that names of a lot of places felt meaningless, and the world kinda empty in a way. Some of that will probably be rectified in a sequel, but I don't think what we got here was quite enough of an introduction.
The writing is easy to follow, leading through the story in a non-flowery way. There were some plot conveniences and hole-y, not so smooth feeling transitions in the plot that took me out of the story here and there.
I liked the complicated nature of the mother-daughter relationships. The romances not quite as much. While I do appreciate that our female leads didn't lose themselves in thinking about their love interests all the time, and they do have other things to deal with, they forgot a bit too much about them for me to really root for them. The men they have feelings for weren't present enough for me. There's friends to lovers, and a secret relationship with some side situations of enemies-to-allies with lusty benefits, and an arranged marriage between enemies, in case anyone wants to know what kind of romantic relationships to expect. I prefer romance [developed from scratch, but do enjoy it too when there's already some kind of relationship there. It just might be harder to make me care, and here I didn't as much as I would have liked. To me, none of the romantic entanglements felt very romantic because of the aforementioned reasons. Romance feels like more of a subplot here, which is something I usually love best, and I liked it here too because there were other things I could enjoy instead.
There is not much in terms of spice. I'd say this is a 3 on romance.io, so open door but non-explicit language.
The book's focus is on court intrigue, the fight for power and the throne, backstabbing and revenge, and that is where it shines. It doesn't invent the wheel. It can be pretty predictable but I found it to be pretty entertaining. Don't expect there to be a big trial situation. The whole thing is just a minor thing and quite underwhelming, in my opinion.
On Netgalley this book is tagged as adult, it feels more like older YA or NA to me, though.
This clearly feels like the start of a series, and there is a cliffhanger-type of ending. I'm not sure I'm invested enough to pick up a potential sequel, but we'll see.

Content Warnings: Blood, Violence, Death, Death of Parent, Death of Sibling, Murder, Grief, Mild Sexual Content, Magical Experiments with Animals, Animal Death, Implied Past Sexual Assault, Suicide Attempt, Self Harm Leading to Death

This was a great start to a new fantasy series set among a set of trials that the FMC must win to make in to one of the 3 Orders. Lots of high-stakes competition which makes for an exciting read. Loved this and can't wait for more of this series!

Anyone who likes Trials of the Sun Queen by Nisha Tuli will love the first book in this new series by Alina Bellchambers. Mira enters the Trials to win a place in one of the 3 Orders of the kingdom of Ravalia. Her mother's terrible fate and the dark secrets revealed to Mira change her life and her ambitions forever. What I liked most about this book was that there are so many morally gray main characters, even Mira and you are kept guessing right to the very end. I can't wait for Book 2!