I first want to thank the publisher for sharing this ARC with me. That said, this was a DNF for me. The writing was not well done or creative at all. There was no real style in the writing, and the only creative "flair" was the contestant similes. The plot also did not suck me in at all,

I’m sorry to say this, but this book was a disappointment for me. I’d been so excited to read it, and am very grateful for the free ARC I received from the publisher, but it was a boring read for me.

I hated not knowing who was the MMC until around the middle of the book. We had like 3 candidates, but the chemistry of the FMC sucked with all of them so at some point I didn’t even care who the MMC was.

In the beginning, I was very intrigued by Illian, and was hoping he’d turn out to have a very grand reason for treating the FMC that way, and that by the middle of story we’d finally find out he was doing all of it to save her life or something noble like that.

However the twists were more predictable and kind of… unreasonable. Many things just didn’t add up.

I didn’t highlight any lines either throughout the whole book, which in my case means the writing was simple and vague as well.

Another issue I had with the book, was the FMC. She was such a huge pick me. God, I was annoyed. Like everyone was falling at her feet from first sight. She was JUST a dancer, without a real character, and yet somehow she was “oh-so-remarkable”.

Sadly, I will not be reading the sequel. I genuinely don’t care about any of the characters and what will happen to them.

I wanted to like this but I just could get past how stupid the FMC is.
She is been through hell, knows the guy who put her through that is actively doing awful things, actively using other people, actively trying to take over…. But she still trusts he will keep a promise to her?!
I get that she is weak from everything she went through but you can’t be weak and stupid, pick your poison.
It’s also very very long, it was hard to get through. I spent the whole time trying not to quit reading and I’m not fulfilled having finished.

4.5 stars

This was an incredible book full of court politics, intrigue, and plot twists. Arena created a vast world, with each kingdom described in detail, and adeptly weaved nuanced high-level politics with the more intimate story of Vasalie's life.

One major standout of the book was the imagery, especially when Vasalie reached the glass palace. I felt like I was there, seeing it through her eyes. I also loved the disability representation and the way it made sense in a fantasy world without being shoehorned in.

I appreciated that Arena focused on friendships nearly as much as romantic relationships, though I wish the female characters had had a bit more agency. With the way the book ended, though, it looks like powerful women will be integral to the sequel, and though I think the pacing may have worked better if some of the twists at the end were saved for the next book, I still can't wait to read the conclusion to the duology!

Thank you to @randomhouse @delreybooks and @netgalley for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

I’m so happy to have been approved for an arc for this book, so thank you to net galley and del ray. What first pulled me to the book was its beautiful cover so I clicked on it to read the synopsis and that was so intriguing to me I requested an arc to read this story that caught my attention, after all who wouldn’t be interested in a dancer turned spy/assassin for the king she used to dance for and in his court. However I read up to 40% and I find myself unable to read more. Unfortunately I didn’t not like the book and I feel like the execution of the story did not live up to the expectations of the synopsis. The book had a very strong start with our fmc getting out of her prison but after that the book slowed down and I felt like it dragged on and on. The writing was repetitive and dull that I dare say this book is an example of overwriting. I found all the characters unlikely and unrelatable. To end on a positive note, I adored that vasalie the fmc was a rep for chronic pain/disability and that her pains didn’t magically disappear but she has to live with them and fight through them.

The emotional damage was REAL with this one!!

A Dance of Lies is an intoxicating blend of mystery, betrayal and the complexities of love and trust. I was warned this was a slow burn and boyyyy was it!! Come the last chapter I was left gripping and begging for more.

Arena's writing is so vividly descriptive, I felt as though I grew up in East Miridran and I was home. The enchanting world she’s built is beautiful… but it was built on lies. I felt like I was watching a movie. The author helps you to visualize an extravagant palace, a sea glass chandelier - down to a stamped letter on a desk. I was in awe of this world she created.

Throughout this novel, you follow Vasalie Moran, a dancer who was wrongfully imprisoned for murder. While in prison, she developed illnesses that left her both physically and mentally drained. She’s released from prison on a contingency clause from King Illian... She is to get into the Gathering and dance as an entertainer all the while be his perfect spy. Vasalie craves her freedom above all else, but at what cost? What will King Illian have her do? Can she truly trust those who offer her help or will she be betrayed again?

No spoilers here, my friends! This is a must read and I'm easily adding this to my re-read pile.

Thank you NetGalley and Brittney Arena for the ARC 🤌🏻🖤 I’ve come to love Vasalie and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for her!

A Dance of Lies is a dancing/spy debut novel that fell a bit flat for me. However, there are some highlights to note within this novel. There is a strong disability/chronic pain rep, political intrigue, great imagery within the novel. But, even with these highlights, I felt disconnected with the characters and the prose was redundant. Poor Vasalie is a pretty good descriptor for this entire novel and repetitions of that could/should have been cut. I think it could have done well and maybe this novel will connect with certain readers but for myself it was a slog.

This was great! I loved the writing so much - it was lyrical and very emotional. The repetitive in the prose really added extra effect for me (I know with some people it didn’t), but I loved it. I could feel Vasalie’s hurt. The plot with all the political intrigue and espionage was really well done - I enjoyed learning everything. Overall, the world was seductive and the chronic pain rep was authentic. Two reasons why I’m knocking a star - it felt clunky in the middle (although the ending paid off!) and there was a love square which prevented any of the love interests from being fully fleshed out in my opinion.
All in all, I’d recommend this for fans of classic romantasies.

This book was absolutely incredible. The world was so lush, the main character made me want to root for her the whole time and the romance was great, I really loved this book all the way through every page.

✨A stunning and immersive debut fantasy that I couldn’t put down!✨

This story follows Vasalie, a favorite dancer of King Illian, who after being framed for murder, is locked away by the King who had once been her protecter. After 2 years in prison and isolation, she is released with a task — infiltrate the Gathering (a revelry among nations and their Crowns) as a dancer and spy for King Illian, the man who broke her spirit and her body. After prison, Vasalie is weakened with chronic illness and pain that forever changes her day to day life — and of course her dancing. And beyond her physical limitations, she must also confront her hidden and traumatic past from childhood that unexpectedly arise.

I love that the author uses her own personal experience with chronic illness and pain to write the beautiful and realistic character that is Vasalie! Throughout Vasalie’s story, there is grief, anger, sadness, and acceptance of her illness — and not in a linear order! She is constantly battling with her own body throughout the story and learns how to accommodate this new pain through creativity in her dance. Her childhood trauma is so painfully visceral as well that I can’t help but have the most empathy and admiration for her resilience and courage (even amidst the deception she is forced to spread).

The court politics, deception, and “tasks” Vasalie is forced to complete was keeping me on the edge of my seat! I had so many “no way!” moments that kept this story feeling fast paced and exciting! The world was also immersive and I loved the descriptive prose that painted the scenery, architecture, and people of this world so vividly. In other fantasy books I’ve read, it takes me awhile to understand all the lands, countries, and characters but I felt that I was able to easily jump in to this story and everything made sense very quickly (and thank goodness for maps!).

I love how multi-faceted this story is. It goes deeper than the usual “romantasy” and I was so invested in not only the FMC but all the loveable characters! I felt that the romance was second to the plot of the story, which was exactly how it needed to be! I had a moment where I didn’t know who our love interest would be, which was very fun (and hard not to spoil for myself!). I very much appreciated the natural progression of this “slow burn” and it was built on trust and mutual understanding instead of lust. Because of her past, Vasalie isn’t falling in love with every handsome man she sees, but man was I falling HARD for our MMC 😂 I was giggling and kicking my feet in the air with their banter and confessions hidden behind humor. The ending left me so excited to see what’s in store next!!!

I have already pre-ordered A Dance of Lies for when it comes out June 10th and I can’t recommend it enough!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Del Rey for the eArc for this binge read! 🫶

Enemies to lovers meets court intrigue with a dash of hidden identities - A Dance of Lies is the kind of book that keeps you turning the pages long into the night. Brittney Arena’s lush writing and twisty plot make this fantasy romance an absolute delight.

The story centres on Calista, a skilled dancer-turned-spy who infiltrates the royal court to uncover dangerous secrets, and Prince Kael, the brooding heir to the throne, who’s more cunning than anyone gives him credit for. Their first meeting? Full of tension, lies, and barely concealed attraction. The dance metaphor extends beyond the ballroom as the two engage in a game of wits, each trying to outmanoeuvre the other while slowly realising they might have more in common than they thought.

Calista is a compelling protagonist - intelligent, resourceful, and with a vulnerability she hides behind her fierce exterior. Kael’s character development is equally strong. He’s not just your standard brooding prince; his sharp mind and hidden sense of justice add layers to his personality. Their chemistry is undeniable, filled with sharp banter, stolen moments, and that irresistible I hate you, but I also want to kiss you tension.

The court politics and intrigue are top-notch. Secrets, betrayal, and unexpected alliances keep the stakes high, and the twists will have you gasping. There’s also a fair share of action, including some heart-pounding chase scenes and a finale that left me stunned.

The only reason I didn’t give it a full five stars is that the pacing in the middle slows a bit as the political setup takes centre stage. However, the payoff is absolutely worth it, with an explosive climax and a romantic arc that hits all the right notes.

If you love slow-burn enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, and a richly detailed world of intrigue, A Dance of Lies will sweep you off your feet. Highly recommend - this one’s a keeper!

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc!!

There are a lot of things I feel about this book, the first of which is that the writing is BEAUTIFUL. I would definitely love for more fantasies to be written like this rather than the subpar writing that predominates the romantasy genre.

I really enjoyed reading about the heroine and her struggles with her health/chronic pain (not bc I'm sadistic, but bc I think it was done well). I do think her talents lent more to choreography instead of dancing, though.

The first half of the book was a treat. At some point I was tempted to give it 5 stars. But I will say the latter half dragged a little, and I did wish the MMC was a little more competent. It felt more like the main characters were dancing to the beat of the villain's drum until the very end. (The ending, though? Very, very interesting!!!)

I can't say I was extremely invested in the romance but I adored the prose and the gorgeous worldbuilding, and how Illian's schemes unfolded. Those were exceedingly well done!

All in all, definitely one of the better romantasies out there and I'm grateful for the opportunity to read it early.

In her debut novel, Brittney crafted an intriguing story about a dancer who can no longer perform as she once did. She gave a voice to what it’s like to live with a body that works differently than it has before. She portrayed the grief, the anger, and the betrayal one can feel towards a body that is no longer what it once was. She also showed that we can still live even with a body that doesn’t function how we want to. That having to do something differently doesn’t mean you’re broken.

This was very much a character driven story which I think worked out well, but still enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing about who our main character can trust.

As someone who has followed Brittney on Goodreads and Twitter for YEARS now, the excitement I felt when I heard she got a book deal AND THEN when I received this eARC was immense. Being that I am on maternity leave, having a book to read that is good enough to hold my interest during those late-night feedings is rare. With A Dance of Lies, I found myself staying up for "just one more chapter" long after my daughter went back to sleep.

Vasalie was a great FMC. I loved her tenacity and the creativity she used in her dance choreography to make up for the fact that her body couldn't keep up like it used to be able to. I also loved seeing how she navigated through Illian's treacherous BS and the intrigue that plagued all of the gathered kingdoms.

I honestly think that's why this was such a page-turner for me (other than all of the scenes with Anton but more on him later). Vasalie, for all intents and purposes, starts off as this seemingly normal character. Obviously, she had experience performing for a King but she wasn't ever a person who dealt with political intrigue behind the scenes. Then she's suddenly tasked with being accepted to perform at the Gathering and not only that, but to be a spy. She is INSTANTLY thrown into this web of chaos and navigates it all as best as she can for having no experience...I was just super impressed with how strong she was throughout the entire ordeal, especially as things became more and more messy.

As stated above, I also fell in love with Anton and basically everyone Vasalie meets from his court. I won't give anything away but...let's just say I was rooting for him all along. I am absolutely dyingggggg for the second book in this series.

Finally, the writing itself was top-notch. The world-building, the plot, the characters as stated above...each and every element was woven together perfectly to create what, to me, was a 5+ star book. I can't wait to see what Brittney comes up with next!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Del Rey for approving me for an eARC of this book. All feedback is honest, and my own.

*4.5* Thank you NetGalley and Del Ray Books for my ARC in exchange for a review. This book was incredible! Vasalie was one of those main female characters that you immediately connect with in some way. I found myself cheering for her throughout the entire book. Her past has tried to completely break her, but she still finds ways to keep pushing through her physical and mental pain in order to grow stronger. The plot wasn’t predictable and kept me guessing, particularly on the motivation behind some of the characters. I did feel it dragged in parts, primarily due to the extensive descriptions of some rooms/surroundings. The author writes beautifully and you feel as if you are fully immersed within the surroundings she describes. However, there were times the details distracted me from the actual plot. I also found the plot between Vasalie and one of the male characters a bit confusing. Due to the focus in it, there seemed to be led less time and focus on her growing relationship with the MMC. Therefore, the book felt a bit rushed in that regards, especially towards the end. Overall, what a spectacular book that makes you feel so many emotions as you immerse yourself in the characters’ world. That ending makes me already ready for the second book to be released!

I enjoyed my time reading this--I read it over the course of three days, and my usual reading time for a 400+ page book is closer to eight days. It was engaging and I enjoyed the dancer-turned-spy aspect. The pacing felt well-done. It took me a while to figure out who the main love interest was going to be, and I loved that--I like being able to grow attached to characters first before the romance. I did find the first half of the book fairly repetitive and a tad overwritten. It's first person, and the main character's narrative repeating itself over and over again, saying the same thing just using a different metaphor. But I'm excited to see where this author goes in the future!

Also, when I first saw this book, I did a cursory search to see if it was going to be part of a series. I couldn't find anything, and assumed it was a standalone. It is not. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and I was disappointed by that.

This will be one of my most favorite books of the year, of that I have no doubt.

While a little slow for the first 50%, the story seemed to sink its claws into me and I devoured the second half.

Vasalie is a refreshing fmc in a fantasy story. Strong and determined, but also so very human. While her passion is a driving force in her ability to work through her disabilities, she doesn’t completely “overcome” them. She isn’t “cured” as the story continues, the strength and muscle she builds back helps her work through, or oftentimes around, her limits. Its what makes her all the more stronger

It should go without being said that Anton is such a charming and swoon worthy character. He very quickly became a welcome sight on the page. Copelan too, but unfortunately he was a little outshone by the king (I’m not complaining). Still I couldn’t find it in my heart to ever hate him.

The imagery was wonderful. Arena was able to truly convey the beauty of everything from the setting, to the costumes, to the dances.

The twists were delicious. Everything fell together so perfectly. I feel both fulfilled and am left craving more from that ending!

I cannot wait for more of this series, truly. I can’t wait for more of Vasalie, more of Anton, the fates, and more realistic and hopeful, disability rep.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

So I just finished this and honestly, it was... fine. Like, a middle-of-the-road 3/5. The pacing was kinda weird and uneven and dragged a bit in parts where nothing important was happening. And the writing? Kinda overwritten, if I’m being honest. Lots of unnecessary details and flowery descriptions that didn’t really add much and got a bit tiring.

That said, the story itself wasn't bad. It had enough interesting bits to keep me going and the way it ended makes me curious enough to look out for the sequel.

This book has a really intriguing premise with good supporting cast. I enjoyed Vasalies journey to recovery and he ingenuity when dealing with her disability and her tasks she is required to perform. The main male character was genuine and honest with Vasalie, he felt more than one dimensional which made for a refreshing read.

I do have to agree with other reviewers who have noted the book was overwritten. While it had a strong premise and was an enjoyable ride so to speak I believe there was a lot of reiteration in the book. For example noting the King had never touched her, noting how nice another characters arms felt, noting very frequently how her body was not able to perform due to her ailment - I believe some of this would have done better as "show, don't tell" to drive the point home.

I will also note the love triangle felt superfluous to the romance plot and didn't at any point feel like "who will she chose".

In saying this I'd absolutely read the sequel, Vasalie generally makes the intelligent decision throughout the book. I enjoyed the reveal with the main male character and the foreshadowing there was particularly good. Very excited to see the change in him in book 2.

A Dance of Lies follows a dancer ravaged by long term imprisonment and the burden of a crime she didn’t commit. This book had a lot of potential — and I can’t believe i’m saying this, because I don’t see it often — but it was very overwritten. Everything was very overwhelmingly written, with far too many details and over explaining that wasn’t really necessary. This was very character driven, but it didn’t seem like it was character driven in the right way. Things were just repeated over and over and became frustrating to read. The one thing I LOVED and really appreciated was reading disabled rep. As a disabled person, we don’t see characters rhat reflect what we go through often, especially in fantasy and it was very nice to read. There was lots of potential, a good premise, and a sort of interesting story, but it fell short.