M. A. Carrick

Trust is the thread that binds us . . . and the rope that hangs us.

In Nadezra, peace is as tenuous as a single thread. The ruthless House Indestor has been destroyed, but darkness still weaves through the city’s filthy back alleys and jewel-bright gardens, seen by those who know where to look.

Derossi Vargo has always known. He has sacrificed more than anyone imagines to carve himself a position of power among the nobility, hiding a will of steel behind a velvet smile. He’ll be damned if he lets anyone threaten what he’s built.

Grey Serrado knows all too well. Bent under the yoke of too many burdens, he fights to protect the city’s most vulnerable. Sooner or later, that fight will demand more than he can give.

And Ren, daughter of no clan, knows best of all. Caught in a knot of lies, torn between her heritage and her aristocratic masquerade, she relies on her gift for reading pattern to survive. And it shows her the web of corruption that traps her city.

But all three have yet to discover just how far that web stretches. And in the end, it will take more than knives to cut themselves free…

The Liar’s Knot

Nice follow-up, enjoyed the character relationship growth.

Jenny Engel

god i love this series so much

i was worried it wouldn't live up to the first one, and while i think i might've enjoyed the first sliiightly more, this one made me really fall in love with the characters. so so many reveals in this one and character development agh i love the main trio so much they are everything. so glad a certain character didn't die like i thought they might for a second, that would've been devastating and i'm not sure i could handle that after leato.

not sure if i'll continue to book 3 right away but i don't think i'll take AS long to continue the series this time

I feel like I'm going to need to re-read this series and make a visual chart for how everyone/all the events connect to one another. I'm thankful that the author's provide through glossary pages though at the beginning + end of the book. 

I liked how fast-paced this one was compared to the first book, but I'm assuming that's due to all of the elaborate (necessary) world building in that was provided in that one & didn't need to be repeated here - not that there was any lacking details. 

I don't know how the authors manage to keep all of the separate POVs, events, knots..... just all of it straight and then still manage to not leave any plot holes, just twists. 

I'm now patiently waiting for the 3rd book in the mail because I definitely needed to order it in at 2 AM last night instead of sleeping. 

samantha lias

I feel like I'm going to need to re-read this series and make a visual chart for how everyone/all the events connect to one another. I'm thankful that the author's provide through glossary pages though at the beginning + end of the book. 

I liked how fast-paced this one was compared to the first book, but I'm assuming that's due to all of the elaborate (necessary) world building in that was provided in that one & didn't need to be repeated here - not that there was any lacking details. 

I don't know how the authors manage to keep all of the separate POVs, events, knots..... just all of it straight and then still manage to not leave any plot holes, just twists. 

I'm now patiently waiting for the 3rd book in the mail because I definitely needed to order it in at 2 AM last night instead of sleeping. 

Megan Lowe

4.5 stars.

I really liked this book! SO much more than the first one too. I’m fact, it makes my issues with the first book so much bigger as this one is so better paced. Maybe it’s because I’m familiar with the world now and don’t have to think about things, but it does still get bogged down, especially with the numinartra and cards and things.
But still, much more likeable.
I loved the bigger presence of the Rook in this book. It was one of the things missing from the first book.
I loved Ren and Tess and Sedge.
I loved getting to know Vargo better, and Alcius was perfect.
I hope things continue in this vein and I can’t wait for the third book!

Paige mandia 

(4.25)
despite a slow start, i might have actually enjoyed this a tad more than book 1. the world building is incredible and so intricate. i genuinely think all of my issues with this book stem from the fact that i am simply too stupid to comprehend it. i do think the beginning could’ve been cut down a bit; there definitely were important moments, but it lagged for a bit. when it picked up, though, i really did enjoy this. i love the growth of the three main characters and really enjoyed watching where they went once all of the secrets of book one were finally revealed to each other. the secondary cast of characters remains strong and i can’t wait to see more of them!! the magic and mythology of this world is so cool and i do think the plot of this book moves the trilogy as a whole forward more than that of book one. i love the concept and im excited to see how it resolves! i am absolutely going to forget every detail of this series before book 3 though which is unfortunate 💀 but excited nonetheless. vargo and master peabody, you will always be famous <3

nico alexander

** I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this through my job (after begging my Hachette rep when I finished book 1 a few months back), but now that I've finished it I'm devastated because I have even longer to wait before I can get my hands on book 3. **

TRUST IS THE THREAD THAT BINDS. AND THE ROPE THAT HANGS.

In Nadezra, peace is as tenuous as a single thread. The ruthless House Indestor has been destroyed, but darkness still weaves through the city's filthy back alleys and jewel-bright gardens, seen by those who know where to look.

Derossi Vargo has always known. He has sacrificed more than anyone imagines to carve himself a position of power and influence among the nobility, hiding a will of steel behind a velvet smile. He'll be damned if he lets anyone threaten what he's built.

Grey Serrado knows all too well. Bent under the yoke of too many burdens, he fights to protect the city's most vulnerable. Sooner or later, that fight will demand more than he can give.

And Ren, daughter of no clan, knows best of all. Caught in a knot of lies, torn between her heritage and her aristocratic masquerade, she relies on her gift for reading pattern to survive. And it shows her the web of darkness that traps her city.

But all three have yet to discover just how far that web stretches. And in the end, it will take more than knives to cut themselves free.

The Liar's Knot

Aleena Korell

IS THIS THE VARGO BOOK MY HEART NEEDS [UPDATE: IT WAS]
________________________________________

As my most anticipated book of the year, The Liar's Knot certainly delivered.

We ease into the story as the city of Nadežra collectively recovers from where we left off after the corruption of the house Indestor in the Mask of Mirrors. The Cinquerat itself, the nobles, the Vigil, the Stadnum Anduske, the Knots of the lower bank-- everyone is picking up the pieces, figuring out how to move on, or even realizing that new problems may arise from solving old ones. 

Once this section is bypassed, the plot gains its momentum to roll along at a pace just as quick as The Mask of Mirrors (which apparently some people think is slow? But to me, both times through, felt incredibly fast-paced in the best of ways).

I was blown away by the worldbuilding in the first book. It's just as impressive in the second installation as it expounds upon history-- of Nadežra, of Vraszan, of the magic systems (numinatria and pattern), of the Rook, of Vargo-- and most importantly-- of Master Peabody.
Speaking of Vargo and Master Peabody, I'm going to need a spinoff. #bestfriendgoals

In this book, we are blessed with the most eclectic, rag-tag Scooby gang since Buffy. At one point or another, everyone is teaming up with everyone, not even knowing the identities or motives of half of the teammates. Could it be possible that they're all.... working towards the same goal?! Sometimes the reader is just as in the dark as the characters, but other times we know what they don't know and it's so fun to watch them figure it out. BUT we also get some heartbreakingly sweet moments of truth-- which is a brand new experience for most of the characters.

All of the characters are skillfully written, and thrown into brand new, bigger challenges. Ren delves into the world of a secret numinatria cult to see what she can learn about the curse that was on the Traementis family, while dodging her new frenemy Vargo, running missions as the Black Rose to help the wounded leader of the Stadnam Anduske, teaming up with the Rook (who she's developing a crush on) and Grey (who she's developing a crush on) all while maintaining her masquerade as Alta Renata. And Arenza. And the Black Rose. 
Grey juggles the Rook and his Vigil duties-- duties which begin to go against his morals-- and struggles keeping clear boundaries between himself and the Rook.
Tess and Sedge try to support Ren but find that they have to compete for her attention as she's spread so thin... and that they have struggles of their own.
And Vargo..... needs a hug. Vargo is just trying to put out everyone else's fires and just continually keeps having a bad day.

There's flirting, fighting, rescue missions, masks, almost dying, confessions, disguises, patterns, and Vargo saving lots of people's butts. And Alsius is my new favorite character. Well, that's a lie, Vargo still is my favorite, but Alsius is a close second.

All in all, just as good as the first. Better, even? Maybe! No middle book syndrome here. And no cliffhanger, either, which was nice of M.A. Carrick. BUT I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERED. So here I am, very IMpatiently waiting for the third installment before the second is even out.

Jeanne L Collier

Sivani

TRUST IS THE THREAD THAT BINDS. AND THE ROPE THAT HANGS.

In Nadežra, peace is as tenuous as a single thread. The ruthless House Indestor has been destroyed, but darkness still weaves through the city’s filthy alleys and jewel-bright gardens, seen by those who know where to look.

Derossi Vargo has always known. He has sacrificed more than anyone imagines to carve himself a position of power and influence among the nobility, hiding a will of steel behind a velvet smile. He'll be damned if he lets anyone threaten what he's built.
 
Grey Serrado knows all too well. Bent under the yoke of too many burdens, he fights to protect the city’s most vulnerable. Sooner or later, that fight will demand more than he can give.
 
And Ren, daughter of no clan, knows best of all. Caught in a knot of lies, torn between her heritage and her aristocratic masquerade, she relies on her gift for reading pattern to survive. And it shows her the web of darkness that traps her city.
 
But all three have yet to discover just how far that web stretches. And in the end, it will take more than wits and knives to cut themselves free.

Riley Rose

Sean Bannen

R. T. Jenkins

Trust is the thread that binds. And the rope that hangs.

In Nadežra, peace is as tenuous as a single thread. The ruthless House Indestor has been destroyed, but darkness still weaves through the city’s filthy alleys and jewel-bright gardens, seen by those who know where to look.

Derossi Vargo has always known. He has sacrificed more than anyone imagines to carve himself a position of power and influence among the nobility, hiding a will of steel behind a velvet smile. He'll be damned if he lets anyone threaten what he's built.

Grey Serrado knows all too well. Bent under the yoke of too many burdens, he fights to protect the city’s most vulnerable. Sooner or later, that fight will demand more than he can give.

And Ren, daughter of no clan, knows best of all. Caught in a knot of lies, torn between her heritage and her aristocratic masquerade, she relies on her gift for reading pattern to survive. And it shows her the web of darkness that traps her city.

But all three have yet to discover just how far that web stretches. And in the end, it will take more than wits and knives to cut themselves free.

Sheila

Trust is the thread that binds us . . . and the rope that hangs us.

In Nadezra, peace is as tenuous as a single thread. The ruthless House Indestor has been destroyed, but darkness still weaves through the city's filthy back alleys and jewel-bright gardens, seen by those who know where to look.

Derossi Vargo has always known. He has sacrificed more than anyone imagines to carve himself a position of power among the nobility, hiding a will of steel behind a velvet smile. He'll be damned if he lets anyone threaten what he's built.

Grey Serrado knows all too well. Bent under the yoke of too many burdens, he fights to protect the city's most vulnerable. Sooner or later, that fight will demand more than he can give.

And Ren, daughter of no clan, knows best of all. Caught in a knot of lies, torn between her heritage and her aristocratic masquerade, she relies on her gift for reading pattern to survive. And it shows her the web of corruption that traps her city.

But all three have yet to discover just how far that web stretches. And in the end, it will take more than knives to cut themselves free...

The Liar’s Knot

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