Indie romantasy author Samantha Hartwood makes her debut with Masquerade of Mirrors, a dark academia fantasy romance set inside a deadly school of illusion magic. Out now, this slow-burn romantasy features morally grey characters, dangerous magical trials, deception, and a romance built on lies. In this exclusive author feature, Mom Needs a Chapter introduces Hartwood, explores her writing journey, and shares early reading impressions of a debut that is already opening strong. If you love fantasy romance with illusion magic, forced proximity, high emotional stakes, and simmering tension, Masquerade of Mirrors deserves a spot on your TBR.

I used to say I’d never read an e-book. I was a ride-or-die physical book girl—bookshelf aesthetics, page flips, and that irresistible old-book smell. But everything changed in 2013, when I became a mom and found myself up at 3 a.m. with a sleeping baby and nothing to do. Enter: my first Kindle. What started as a convenience quickly became a lifeline—and now, I’m sharing my honest, unsponsored thoughts on e-readers, Kindle Unlimited, and whether I’m finally ready to give Audible a try. (Spoiler: I just might be.)