Beautifully written. Unpredictable twists and turns. The FMCs growth throughout the book was inspiring. I can’t wait for the sequel!

I really loved this novel and am excited for book 2, especially after that ending! I think if you like political romantic fantasy novels this is the book for you!

I feel like the plot and world building were really well done. I love Vasalie and feel like she is an amazing, well rounded character. She’s very layered and not like the typical FMC. She has her struggles and her strengths. I also love that she deals with chronic pain, I loved seeing this rep.

Overall I loved this book and will be recommending it to everyone I know.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House and Brittney Arena for providing me with a review copy of this book. The following is my opinion, freely given.

The world building and the plot were great. A fresh take on the "competition" type storyline and a wonderfully fleshed out female lead. Imperfect and raw and real. Vasilie was wonderful.

The story is a gripping thrill ride through a rich tapestry of lavish ballrooms and hedonistic excess. Who can be trusted? No one. Who is the villian? The Hero? Time will tell...or will it?

I am definitely hooked and will be back to see where Vasalie's road takes her next.

I hope the author fleshes out some characters more fully in the next book as sometimes it felt that some characters like Laurent were slightly one dimensional, and given that Vas is so stunningly well realised, it made these lacking characters more obvious. There's also a feel that the book is slightly to long and could have ended slightly earlier on an earlier cliffhanger, there was just too much to take in during the last few chapters and as a result, I wasnt able to appreciate the end of the book.

This is definitely going on my Series TBR and I cant wait for the next book.

Grazie per questa copia digitale!
Avrei voluto che questo libro mi coinvolgesse di più, ma alla fine volevo solo che terminasse per passare oltre. Non so perché sia rimasta così distaccata dai personaggi, forse era il mood del momento o forse non era il libro per me. So però che altri sicuramente lo ameranno e che questo libro riuscirà a trovare il suo pubblico, solo che il pubblico giusto non ero io questa volta

this is just like throne of glass tbh with dancing instead of fighting. like carbon copy levels of sameness
one star dnf @ 43%

4.5🌟
I am crushed. If I were to select one word for this entire book it would be CLEVER. It is the court intrigue of court intrigues. It really had me hooked the whole time.

From learning Vas’ secrets and past to trying to figure out Illyan’s plot. And what a great plot it was. Vas is a dancer to the King Illyan until she is framed for murdered and tossed into the dungeons. I was very aware of the fact that this book started right off the bat. i felt like I was shoved into the story right away but I totally like that. There were no pauses, no necessary backstory (yet) and no flashbacks. Still it gave me all the info I needed to follow the story.

Vas’ character here is the star as it should be after being imprisoned she sees herself as broken. The king needs her again for his big plot and if she succeeds all the tasks she will get her freedom. She jumps into it and once she infiltrates the gathering as a star dancer, her self esteem is still down. However, she is strong enough to adapt her dancing and become even more of an entertainer. Classic.

As for the romance, superb. We have Ilyan as one (weird), then copelan? Which was cute and also gave me a bit of emotion there for a minute, and finally Anton who is amazing. I loved all the interactions, the secrets, the plots, the emotions and chemistry. Starts this read for the romance and stay for the plot because they are both great

Rating: 4/5
e-ARC review - A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena

Calling all the fans of Once Upon a Broken Heart! Oh boy oh boy, wasn't this book something?

I was in a horrible reading slump, couldn’t carry on with the books I tried to start, but this book saved me the same way OCBH did. I didn’t know this was supposed as romantasy, as I wouldn’t’ve read if knew. But it was not that in the slightest. Yes, the FMC was seeking comfort in a way, but this book dives headfirst into political intrigues and sadistic games between the crowns. So much so that you only realize who the romantic pairing will really be from the middle to the end of the book.

The author's purple prose is good, it doesn't drag on too much, and she manages to paint the beautiful scenery of the crystal palace where the story takes place. It was a fast read for me.

Vasalie is not stupid and not frail in the slightest, even with her disabilities. I really liked her, especially her INSANE move at the end. I will not say anything about the romance so not to spoil it, but it was sweet, slow, and I can’t wait to read what comes next!

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for providing this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

THIS WAS EVERYTHING.

I am someone who prefers to read my ARCs in order but this book was CALLING TO ME. And it DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Oh my goodness this will absolutely be one of my favorite fantasy romances of 2025.

Something I loved the most was that the focus was not on adding spice for the sake of it (in fact this book does not have any spice). The emotions were the focus and the slow burn journey as Vasalie is put into a perilous situation that could cost her everything, or might save the nation too.

I loved Vasalie. As someone who struggles with chronic pain there was an abundance of sentiments throughout (I highlighted the heck out of this book) that I resonated with and felt deep in my soul. I admired her strength and acknowledgement of her short comings, but also how far she has risen and her tenacity to honor her body and do her best.

The ROMANCE. I don’t want to say much on this front because I think it will truly be best experienced by reading the book without a lot of context. I loved everything about it and how the movement of the romantic aspects coincided beautifully with the political intrigue. All of the dance content had me wishing I could see these dances live because they were wonderfully written and crafted.

It’s a slow journey that is worth the build. So many moments stood out to me and I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. I anxiously await getting my hands on the sequel.

An incredible debut you must take a chance on.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: mild
Romance: heated make-outs
Violence: high
Content Warnings: emotional abuse, physical abuse, alcoholism, PTSD, panic attacks, trauma, violence against children, graphic death, chronic illness, disability and sexism (these were taken from the front of my copy)

This was not bad but ended up just being okay. I always feel so bad leaving meh reviews for an arc but I was so excited for this one and it just fell a bit short.

"We all have our comforts, Minnow. I wonder if you might be mine."

I absolutely loved this book!

Vasalie Moran used to be a dancer for King Illian. After being framed for a murder she didn't commit, she is sent to prison by the king for two years. King Illian summons Vasalie and gives her a proposal; she must become a spy for the royal Gathering where she will dance for other royal courts. But King Illian threatens Vasalie with her freedom, forcing her to complete these tasks. King Illian's orders are simple at first, befriend a worker in the court or get the attention of his brother, the King of the East. But the King's orders become more ruthless and bloody, and Vasalie must decide between her freedom and doing the right thing.

One of the main things I found interesting in this book is the fact that Vasalie isn't depicting as physically strong all the time. She struggles to just stand throughout the novel which is something I don't see very often in fantasy novels. Usually, the main female lead is magically strong and healed after one training session but, she continues to struggle.

Vasalie's passion for dance jumps (or leaps) off the page. Yet, when the King of the East asks her why she loves to dance, she can't seem to answer the question. She loves to perform but after her injuries, doesn't love it as much as she used to. This is such a fascinating representation of a dancer because having your passion ripped away from you is extremely traumatic. But Vasalie still has to dance anyway, even though she is pain.

Although this book is marketed as a romantasy, it is not very romance heavy. It focuses more on the politics than romance.

I cannot wait for the sequel! Thank NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC!

A Dance of Lies is a lovely mix of court intrigue, romance, and the power of dance as both art and strategy. The story is immersive, and once it hits its stride, it’s hard to put down. The slow build of tension, both political and romantic, keeps things engaging.

Vasalie is a strong lead, but her lack of court knowledge puts her at a disadvantage, making her growth throughout the book really satisfying to experience. She’s thrown into a world where alliances shift often, and no one can be fully trusted. The male characters—some charming, some dangerous—keep you guessing about who has her best interests at heart and who’s just playing their own game.

The romance is compelling, though at times, it leans into the “everyone is obsessed with the main character” trope a little too heavily, in my opinion. There’s also a clear emphasis on attraction, and while some connections develop naturally, others feel underbaked at first. That said, the uncertainty around who she’ll end up with makes for a fun read.

While the book delivers on its drama and romance, the worldbuilding—particularly the gods—felt underdeveloped. There’s some backstory on the goddess, but the role of the divine in the larger scheme of things remains vague. Given how central power and politics are to the plot, I would have liked a stronger connection between the world’s mythology and its current conflicts. Perhaps that will come in book 2!

That ending was absolutely ruthless. It leaves things wide open for the next book, and I’ll definitely be picking it up.

Thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the ARC.

I adored this book!!! The romantasy genre is not my favorite lately, but A Dance of Lies singlehandedly cured that for me. Arena did an incredible job with her world building, gave us an awesome FMC, and gave us a solid plot. Every time I put the book down, I wanted to immediately pick it back up. I'm so shocked this is a debut novel and can't wait to see where Arena takes this story!

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for sending me an e-arc of this book firstly.

I mean who doesn't love a slow burn romance? ill forever eat them up.

I've not really read a book before like this with the reputation it had in it.. not nearly as much as I would like to which made me enjoy this more also I feel.

The banter, world building, the characters I did enjoy and thought it was well written.

I truly did love the premise of the book, and I do believe a lot of intriguing things are happening in it - the disability rep, the politics. However, I did not vibe with it for reasons (as of now) unknown to me.

Keeps you on your toes from start to finish—moving, inspirational, and completely unexpected.

This book was a wild ride in the best way. It’s a refreshing take on romantasy, I love the mix of intrigue, politics, espionage, myths, and romance in a way that never feels predictable. The story is gripping, intense, and full of twists that constantly make you question who to trust (and even who to root for in the romance).

Once the king’s prized dancer, Vasalie was known as the King’s Jewel, until she was framed for murder and locked away. Now, after two years in prison, she’s offered a chance at freedom in exchange for a dangerous task: spying.

The main character, Vasalie, is an absolute standout. Her journey through trauma and chronic pain/illness is deeply moving and handled with so much care. She’s not just the typical “badass FMC”; she’s layered, determined, and incredibly relatable. Seeing her find strength, despite everything she’s endured, felt real—like the author truly understood and respected that experience.

The side characters are just as vivid. The ones I loved, I really loved. The ones I hated, I really hated. Some were even genuinely frightening, which made the stakes feel even higher.

I can’t gush about this book enough. It’s beautiful, intense, and thrilling. I need more people to read it. If you love a story that’s equal parts heart-wrenching and exhilarating, this is the one.

This was pretty good!
I really enjoyed the banter and world building. The romance plot was logical. The big baddies were properly bad. The scenes and locations were lush and fleshed out.
To be slightly critical: it dragged in a few spots. And the mfc was tiptoeing the line of being a "pick me girl" imho. Everyone fawned over her without her really earning it. I give her a pass because she was kind of aware of it.
But it had great ending and I'm ready for the next installment!

🅐🅡🅒 🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦

★ 🩰+｡🩰★

★𝐓í𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐨: A Dance of Lies.
★𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫: Brittney Arena.
★𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐢ó𝐧: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
★𝐅𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚 𝐝𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐢ó𝐧: 10 de junio de 2025.
★ 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬: ⚔️🩰❤️‍🔥🥀🕯️👑🗝️


Opinión

¡Wao, qué paseo!

Una historia muy entretenida, con el ritmo siempre cambiante y feroz de una montaña rusa.

Admito que me costó engancharme un poco a mediados del libro, pero estoy feliz de haber insistido porque terminó por ser bastante bueno.

★Amo que la autora introduzca cosas que son cotidianas en la vida real dentro de su trama, y les de un trasfondo místico y etéreo.

★Siempre resulta increíble leer sobre una protagonista que, a pesar de sus límites físicos (en este caso, Vasalie padece de una enfermedad crónica que le produce dolor constante y debilidad corporal), se las arregla para aprender a aceptar y domar sus propias inseguridades y fortalecerse. Volverse una guerrera desde el interior.

★AMÉ las descripciones de las escenas de danza. Tan vívidas, creativas y sólidas que se sentían como ir al teatro y ver un performance en vivo. Fue espectacular y muy bien detallado.

★La autora usó el elemento "among us" hasta decir basta. Siempre puedes hacer teorías de quién es el traidor real, quién pensaba que estaba engañando a quién, murió o no murió?? En fin, que de ahí viene lo de montaña rusa 🤣

Recomendado si amaste sagas como The Plated Prisoner, que es de mis favoritas ✨

¡De antemano muchas gracias a la autora y a Netgalley por el e-arc!

P.d: Esa portada va al top 5 de mejores portadas de este año. Uf, qué preciosidad.

This book started off slow, but once it picked up, I was hooked. The world was detailed, and the writing pulled me in. I had trouble connecting with some characters. The slow-burn romance was worth the wait, and even though some parts felt a bit slow, I didn’t mind. A great and exciting read!

I have no words for how good this book was. This is a 6 star read for me. It was a bit slow at the start but I quickly got hooked and just got better from there I ATE this up. Not only was the story really unique but the characters were so well made and the descriptions and language were top tier and I could easily understand what was going on and could picture everything really well. There was nothing confusing about the plot which like I mentioned before was really interesting and different than most fantasy books out there. There were nice short chapters so makes for a really easy read and doesn't feel too long winded. And it made me FEEL things I was giggling and kicking my feet and I was shocked by the ending I actually feel unwell now. I needed the second book five minutes ago and safe to say I will be buying the book and rereading it because its THAT GOOD.

Brittney Arena is my new auto buy author and if/when there's a second book I will a million percent be applying for that ARC too. I am so impressed by this and it was just a lovely read.

I could not put this book down. It kept me up past my bedtime every night for a week (which says a lot because I really like sleeping). I couldn't stop turning the pages. In addition to being "romantasy" it's also a terrific mystery.

I already preordered my copy and can't wait to share this with my friends! The ending has me screaming for book 2 now...