Published: August 15, 2023
Publisher: Orbit Books
Series: Rook & Rose #3
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 688 (Paperback)
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
“Lush, engrossing and full of mystery and dark magic” (BookPage), Labyrinth’s Heart is the thrilling conclusion to M. A. Carrick’s Rook & Rose trilogy, in which a con artist, a vigilante, and a crime lord become reluctant allies in the quest to save their city from a dangerous ancient magic.
May you see the face and not the mask.
Ren came to Nadežra with a plan. She would pose as the long-lost daughter of the noble house Traementis. She would secure a fortune for herself and her sister. And she would vanish without a backward glance. She ought to have known that in the city of dreams, nothing is ever so simple.
Now, she is Ren, con-artist and thief. But she is also Renata, the celebrated Traementis heir. She is Arenza, the mysterious pattern-reader and political rebel. And she is the Black Rose, a vigilante who fights alongside the legendary Rook.
Even with the help of Grey Serrado and Derossi Vargo, it is too many masks for one person to wear. And as the dark magic the three of them helped unleash builds to storm that could tear the very fabric of the city apart, it’s only a matter of time before one of the masks slips—and everything comes crashing down around them.
I’ve been waiting on this stunning finale to the Rook & Rose trilogy for what feels like forever! Labyrinth’s Heart picks up shortly after the events of the second book, The Liar’s Knot, and begins with Ren, Grey, and Vargo trying to figure out how to destroy the necklaces that once gave power to Kaius Rex. This is the biggest plot arc of the book, though by far not the only one and not even necessarily my favorite plot arc.
This trilogy was wonderfully complex and full of thrilling subterfuge and just the right amount of noble politics. I’m actually having a bit of difficulty figuring out what precisely to say about it that isn’t full of spoilers and actually gives you some insight into what was so awesome about it. Mostly because I want to gush specifically about spoilery things!
Let’s break this down into the things I liked. First of all, this has a found family aspect that is just truly wonderful. Ren has Tess and Sedge, who were her adopted siblings but now she has a much larger network, including Grey, Vargo, and the Traementis family and they’re all so supportive! My next favorite thing? There’s a fantastic series of trials organized by Ren and Faella to bring the city together and also so that Grey might win Renata’s favor and ask for her hand in marriage. The trials were very fun and the best part was that Grey and Vargo end up in a humorous, reluctant friendship. Possibly one of the most satisfying parts was that Letilia, ever a threat to Ren’s identity and security, is dealt with once and for all.
I can’t say there’s anything in particular that I didn’t like about Labyrinth’s Heart. It was, all around, a satisfying conclusion to a trilogy that I’ve greatly enjoyed over the last few years. It has one of my favorite magic systems – a blend of the Vraszenian tarot-like magic, and a more scientifically inclined magic based on symbols and star alignments practiced by the Liganti nobility. This book is not without its emotional ups and downs, but it’s largely a hopeful book and I can safely report it has a happy ending that neatly wraps up all the plot threads.
I’d highly recommend the Rook & Rose series for folks looking for lovable rogues, noble intrigue, a bit of romance, and fantastic fashion choices. I mean really, does Vargo always have to be the best dressed person in the room? Also, I will forever love Mr. Peabody.
Powder & Page 