Let us talk about "A Dance of Lies" by Brittney Arena.

Set in a world, ruled by many kings and queens, we are pulled into a Gathering that is to be held with all the realms, setting our stage for political corruption, deadly trysts, and exhilarating spectacles of dance. Family rivalries are a foot in this debut novel from Brittany Arena, who showcases her love of dance through the eyes of our tragically, but resilient, female lead Vasalie.

Vasalie has spent the past two years imprisoned for a crime she did not commit by the one who was supposed to protect her. Her captor, King Illian, makes a deal with her. Gather information (and commit some devious deeds) while entertaining the dignitaries at the Gathering, and she will regain her freedom. Vasalie agrees only to be whirled into a world of secrets and deceit, lies and heartbreak, and deception to keep her on her toes!

For those that like:

✨ Love triangles
✨ Disability representation
✨ Slow burn / Tension
✨ Found family
✨ Political intrigue

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥
Series: Book 1 of ?

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC.

Dieses Buch hat mich absolut gefesselt! A Dance of Lies ist eine spannende Mischung aus Fantasy, Intrigen und einer emotional tiefgehenden Geschichte, die mich von der ersten Seite an nicht mehr losgelassen hat.

Im Mittelpunkt steht Vasalie Moran, eine ehemalige Hof-Tänzerin, die wegen eines Verbrechens, das sie nicht begangen hat, zwei Jahre lang im Kerker saß. Man spürt von Anfang an ihre Wut, ihre Verletzlichkeit, aber auch ihre Entschlossenheit. Als ihr plötzlich die Chance auf Freiheit geboten wird – unter der Bedingung, als Spionin für den König zu arbeiten – wird sie in ein gefährliches Spiel aus Lügen und Verrat verwickelt.

Was mich besonders beeindruckt hat, ist Vasalies Charakterentwicklung. Sie ist keine unfehlbare Heldin, sondern eine junge Frau, die mit körperlichen und seelischen Narben kämpft. Ihre Behinderung, die sie nach ihrer Zeit im Kerker zurückbehält, wird unglaublich einfühlsam beschrieben und fühlt sich niemals wie ein bloßes Handlungselement an – es gehört zu ihr, aber es definiert sie nicht. Man merkt, dass die Autorin hier persönliche Erfahrungen einfließen lässt, was die Geschichte umso authentischer macht.

Die Welt, die Brittney Arena erschaffen hat, ist ebenso faszinierend wie gnadenlos. Die politischen Machtspiele, die Intrigen zwischen den Königreichen und die drohende Gefahr lassen einen kaum durchatmen. Besonders gefallen hat mir, dass nichts schwarz-weiß ist – selbst die "Bösewichte" haben nachvollziehbare Motive.

Auch die Romantik kommt nicht zu kurz, aber sie steht nicht im Vordergrund. Es gibt eine angedeutete Dreiecksbeziehung, aber sie entwickelt sich langsam und fühlt sich nicht übertrieben an. Die Chemie zwischen den Charakteren ist greifbar, ohne dass die Liebesgeschichte die eigentliche Handlung überschattet.

Alles in allem ist A Dance of Lies für mich ein echtes Highlight im Bereich der romantischen Fantasy. Es bietet Spannung, Tiefe und eine Heldin, die man einfach bewundern muss. Ich kann es nur empfehlen, vor allem, wenn man Geschichten mag, die nicht nur unterhalten, sondern auch berühren.

A DANCE OF LIES is a stunning debut from Brittany Arena that leads the reader through an intricate dance of court intrigue and romance. The chronic illness representation was written beautifully and the plot twists will leave the reader guessing until the very end. Five stars. Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC.

How is this a debut?!! The beginning was a slow start but it has a good amount of politics, kept me interested in the story the whole way through!
This book also made me feel SEEN and I loved it

Betrayed by her royal patron and imprisoned for a murder she's innocent of, Vasalie must perform in a treacherous gathering of courts to win her freedom...but at what cost to her soul?

I went gaga for the glasswork in the world building, and appreciated the disability rep very much!

Everyone's experience with chronic illness differs, but I was surprised that Vasalie always seems able to power through her pain for the sake of the plot. It would have been nice to see spoon theory cause real obstacles after the first act, even once—what would have happened had Vasalie failed a task after reaching her body's limits? That being said, it is a fantasy, and the idea of will triumphing over the body is a compelling one. I can't fault the author her interest in providing Vasalie with a story worthy of any magical adventure, filled with political intrigue and chthonic god figures. Arya in Braavos vibes at times, and I really enjoyed the internal mythology!

However, I found the romantic subplot lacking. The love...quadrangle? Left me unconvinced of who to root for until it was too late, and apathy had already set in. The male romantic lead, when ultimately sussed, felt too familiar—in the mold of Rhysand, Peeta, and heroes of the YA/NA sphere.

This was a perfect fantasy debut! The plot, characters, worldbuilding, romance… it was all great. I felt so seen with the chronic illness representation, it made this book have a special place in my heart. She truly comes into her own and she’s so strong and persevering. I absolutely can’t wait for the sequel!

this took me a while to get into, i felt the beginning was really slow but the plot definitely picked up a lot. this was such a good debut, i enjoyed it

Spoiler-free review: A Dance of Lies
4.25/5 stars

Brittney Arena's debut novel was a beautifully woven tale of mystery, love, but above all, perseverance. The story follows Vasalie, a once acclaimed dancer who suffers debilitating health and mobility issues after being wrongly imprisoned by a man she had trusted. She is released by that very man, King Illian, but tasked with joining the entertainment troupe at the Crowns' gathering and serving as his spy. What she doesn't expect are the relationships she will form and the truths that will be revealed, all of which have the potential to change more than just HER world... The disability representation within 'A Dance of Lies’ was done extremely well and I think Vasalie's struggles will widely resonate with readers. She is resilient, clever, and brave, but not afraid to show her limitations or vulnerability and use her pain as a motivator.

Though not the primary plot point, I feel as though this novel was a love letter to art and creativity. The concepts that Arena crafted into words were so unique and transported me directly into each performance. As someone who has danced my entire life, this story and the vividness with which Arena described each routine had my entire heart! Additionally, the prose was really lyrical and beautiful (my favorite kind) and I highlighted a lot of powerful lines throughout the piece.

In addition to creative world-building and lore, Arena does an exceptional job building the tension and crafting entertaining banter. She cleverly keeps you guessing on each character's relationship to Vasalie as well as their involvement in the greater games of deception. It is not spicy, but rather extremely sensual, and I ate that sh*t UP. The tension between Vasalie and others was so fun to read and overall, the characters were really well developed- boy oh boy do I love me some Anton *swoon* (but WHAT is the nickname… little minnow ??? Naur.)

In all honestly, the beginning was quite a slow start, and I was not truly captivated until around halfway through. However, the last 30% of the book was exceptional and I couldn't put it down! In the beginning I do think the author was perhaps slightly too superfluous with the prose which is why I had a hard time getting engrossed in the story (too much description for every minute detail) but again, I personally love purple prose so it was not a huge issue for me.

The ending set us up perfectly for an exciting next book of which I am very excited to read. I highly encourage everyone to read A Dance of Lies when it is released in June! Thank you SO very much to Brittney Arena, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the eARC - The opinions in this review are left here honestly & voluntarily.

If I could, this book would get 1000 stars!! I thought As soon as I thought I knew where the book would go, it took a sharp turn in a completely different direction, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The characters had so much depth to them, and the setting and plot were so meticulously crafted, I felt like I was experiencing it all with them! I began to worry near the end of the book, because there was so much that needed to happen, and less and less pages it could, and was faced with an incredible cliffhanger! My jaw dropped at what happened, and I am eagerly waiting to see what happens next! I absolutely am obsessed!

This book made me feel seen. It made me cry. It left me aching for the next chapter. Holy crow, what sort of sorcery did Brittney Arena wield when she wrote this book?

Vasalie was framed for murder by the King who once considered her “Jewel.” She was King Ilian’s dancer. He lavished her with all she could want, but accused her of murder and threw her into the dungeons for 2 years. Vasalie was eventually freed from her prison by Ilian, but with a few caveats. Vasalie was tasked to do the impossible: become a dancer again even though her body is broken and spy on the Crowns. King Ilian is hiding something and Vasalie is determined to gain her freedom- and vengeance.

Arena’s writing is lyrical but not overly flowery. The book’s pacing is consistent, but readers should be aware that there will be many bouts of hopelessness. I ate up all the plot twists and turns that are present up until the very end. The way Arena tackles limitations - both physical and mental - on her characters is incredibly relatable. The way dance is described made me feel like I was watching So You Think You Can Dance in my head. The descriptions of the performances were full of imagery but easy to follow. The banter was hilarious, especially Anton with all his haughty, narcissistic tendencies. Her writing plucked at my heartstrings. I found myself crying more than once.

This is a fantastic read for those who want suspense, royal intrigue, high stakes, and beautiful writing.

Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for the gifted advanced digital copy.

I was so blown away by Brittney's storytelling. The way she expressed Vasalie's struggles, how she incorporated the chronic conditions so many of her readers live with, was so well done. As a dancer who had been locked up for years, of course her body would suffer from the immobility. When she's forced to dance for her king's political ambitions, she needs to get creative to get accepted into the international gathering as entertainment. An illegal dancer-spy blackmailed by the man she once thought was her savior, Vasalie now sneaks through palace walls, playing with fate herself. Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. Literally.
While the romance wasn't a huge part in the beginning, it was literally amazing by the end. I was gasping with every page and I would love to reread the book. It had a bit of a slow start but after I finished the first few chapters, I was instantly hooked. Love love love.

Ok. Debut Novel? Are you kidding me. This was so well done. A little slow on the start but I was hooked the whole way through. It's a story with politics, schemes and intrigue. Constant plot twists and curveballs. The way the writing draws you into this world and just makes you want more. It exceeded my expectations.

Vasalie has led a troubled life, on the run from her father, she finds a living dancing. Having caught the eye of one of the kings, she becomes his jewel. His obsession. Until one day it's all taken away. Now imprisoned over the last two years, she is freed only to be given a bargain. Act as a spy for the king at the upcoming gathering of kingdoms and complete any tasks he asks. In return, he will exonerate and free her. How far will Vasalie go to earn her freedom? Throw in a complicated trio of king brothers, a stern dance partner, and an assortment of secondary characters that all play a key part in the storyline and the whole tale slowly unravels to show the underlying plot. Plus some slow burn romance, not much spice but tension.

A dance of lies
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

How is this a debut!!!!?? This was such a well crafted and beautiful story filled with romance and political intrigue, and I simply couldn't put it down!

Vasalie is a dancer turned spy with a strong desire for clearing her name due to a crime she didn't commit and because of that, she found herself in the middle of power driven conspiracies that threatened to destroy her and her compassion.

The first thing I adored was the setting, the fantasy aspects were little in comparison with other fantasy books but the worlbuilding felt magical all the same. The description were really vivid, colorful and inmersive and the author has a really beautiful way of writing a story while making the reader feel part of it.

The characters were complicated, to say the least. All of them, including the FMC walk the fine line of being morally grey but mostly lovable too. Also, there's no way of telling from the start who the real villain is. I found myself distrusting everything and everyone since all of the cast seemed to have their own hidden agendas.

As for plot, I was totally engaged for most of it, tho several aspects and interactions and moments, felt lacking of a bit more of depth for me and I would've wish for more time and explanations for them to be developed.

Now, THE ENDING!!!!! What kind of criminal cliffhanger was that??? And how do I survive till the next book!!!??
Overall, I think this was a really solid first book filled with action and beautiful moments, ideal for fans of The plated prisoner series, The cruel prince and maybe even ACOTAR.

I can't wait to find out what else the author has in storage for us.

Perfect for fans of Raven Kennedy’s Plated Prisoner series.

This book has an interesting hook of a plot. The writing, however, can be repetitive, and the fantasy world isn’t as detailed as I’d prefer, but I think this story will find a legion of fantasy romance readers eager to devour it.

(4) A DANCE OF LIES is a gorgeous debut novel, exactly what I think of when I say I want a romantasy, following a disabled main character as she navigates survival in a political setting.

The strength of A DANCE OF LIES falls on its characters. I loved the inner monologue of our main character, and while there was a love triangle (corner), both choices were equally charming. As it is set in a tense political court, I loved the exploration of the duality of many of the politicians and characters. Although I appreciated how the author carefully dwells on the disability of our main character, particularly in the beginning of the book, I felt that as the plot progressed, her disability became pretty much invisible. I would have loved to see more of how her disability impacted her ability to dance, as the absurdly quick timeline seemed to suggest that she was able to quickly ‘get over it’ as to speak.

If you know me, you’ll know how much I love atmosphere, and the atmosphere in A DANCE OF LIES was gorgeous, full of colour and light. However, despite the high fantasy setting which was perfectly described, I felt the actual ‘fantasy’ element was lacking, with nothing other than a made up world and a deity that barely affected how the world was run or the culture.

The plot, though great for a debut, relied heavily on classic cliches which meant I guessed the ‘twist’ very early on. The ending came about abruptly, and felt rather shallow compared to the rest of the book. I understand that it’s a duology, which means that tension/plot can be difficult to balance.

I very much enjoyed this fast paced read, finding it immersive and entertaining, despite a relatively simple plot. I will be looking forward to the second instalment.

Destiny, fate, dance, intrigues, betrayal, love, pain (both physical and emotional) - I will joke a bit and say that "A Dance of Lies" is Mata Hari with chronic pains all over her body ends up in Game of Thrones, but this book is so much more. I loved everything, though I suffered more than once. If you love stories about finding strength to trust someone after being betrayed many times and taking control of one's own tragic story with many twists, a prophecy, and the kind of love that motivates the change, add this one to you TBR list! The storytelling, the world building, the characters and toying with readers emotions, Brittney Arena knows how to do it.

Absolutely in love. Can't wait for more. And when I say I can't wait, I really mean it. I won't stop thinking about this book until I have my answers.

✨ A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena✨

Prepared to be swept into a world of danger, desire, and dazzling intrigue! A Dance of Lies follows Vasalie Moran, a former star dancer turned spy after being wrongfully imprisoned. Her journey through betrayal, secrets, and slow-burning romance had me absolutely hooked!

The world-building is lush, the tension sizzles, and Arena’s writing is beautifully lyrical. Vasalie is a fierce, unforgettable heroine, and the twists kept me on my toes until the very last page.

If you love fantasy with high stakes, political intrigue, and romance that makes your heart race—this is a must-read! I’m already counting down to the sequel!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

What a delight this book was! I came into it with no expectations, seeing as this was the first time I heard about it, obviously, but this book turned out to be a pleasant surprise and more!

Vasalie was an incredible character to read about, my girl does not trust anybody! Her determination and pure strength of will is something else. Why live if not out of spite of somebody, right?

It took some time for me to really get into it, but by the halfway point, things really started to get going and I could not wait to finish the book. There were a couple of plot points that I predicted but oh my, it did not take away the absolute RAGE I felt during the plot twist.

The romance in this book was the perfect amount of tension and touch. It was a slow-burn, but a burn nonetheless. I really appreciated that the characters took time to really get to know and trust each other. Brittney did an amazing job of showing their tender connection.

The writing style kept me immersed in this world until the very last page. The description of the scenery and every dance was so vivid it was extremely easy to picture every detail. Even though it was the first time I was introduced to this world and its politics, it took little time to connect all the pieces to understand what was going on. And there is a map, so that helps!
(Btw, how long did it take them to clean all the flour she left that stained everything after each dance?)

Needless to say, I cannot wait for the sequel! It was a spectacular debut, and I'm sure that that is not the last time I will hear of this author, and in the meanwhile, I will miss Vasalie and Anton, but hopefully I will see them again soon. <3

Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing this ARC! It was a pleasure!

This was a great debut and kept me hooked the entire time. I loved the way the author used her own experiences with disability to write Vasalie. The world building was a little clunky at first but then it came together. The romance is very slow burn which I like.

Unfortunately I didn't love this one as much as I thought I would, the premise was fantastic and the elements I did enjoy were the slow burn romance and disability rep, however the pacing felt a little rushed and all over the pace, the prose felt awkward and trying too hard to be poetic and flowery, I still enjoyed it but would of liked better pacing and the dialogue/flashback parts to be smoother!