From the beginning of this book I was just a little... confused. We started off super strong and a bit graphic and then ended up somewhere closer to YA than I thought but then the guy who had caused her so much abuse was the love interest after all? I don't know, maybe this book just wasn't for me or I wasn't in the right frame of mind to read it but I found all the characters a little confusing, the world building a bit unsteady and the turn around for Illian a little too unbelievable - even for fantasy. Would I read more from this author? Yes. Will I rush back for a re read? No.

Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing this book after Part 1.

What I read reminded me of Throne of Glass in its setup: a young woman pulled out of prison and given a task by a king she hates while trying to recover from her time in prison and having 2 suspected love interests, one who is helping her recover her physical strength and one who is potentially an emotional haven later on. Obviously there are differences between the two, but the initial premise feels really familiar because of these similarities.

Beyond having issues with the initial setup of A Dance of Lies, the deeper world building with gods/fates/myth/rumor was very unclear and at this point in the story didn't feel super relevant to the plot. I also felt that the interactions between characters were very surface level despite us being told otherwise (a case of telling, not showing). There is also kind of a jarring death of an animal flashback scene that feels like it should come with a trigger warning, but mostly makes sense in the context of the scene (FMC was recalling a time her abusive father punished her when she was a child). I don't remember if there were TW at the beginning of the book.

Overall, the part that I read felt kind of generic because of its similarities to things I'd read in the past and the lack of connection that I felt to the characters didn't inspire me to read any further. I don't think I would have had a bad time if I had continued, just a very middle of the road kind of time that I wouldn't have remembered much of in a couple months.

A DANCE OF LIES by Brittney Arena was a beautiful romance fantasy novel that follows the story of a dancer with a disability who is coerced after being falsely convicted of a crime she didn’t commit. To spy for her King Ilian'’s brother's court for unbeknownst reason, that slowly takes a turn as significant revelations are revealed.

Brittney’s writing and storytelling was absolutely captivating, I was completely drawn to the story from the beginning.
The way that she intertwined important topics such as disability and the impact it can have on a person's everyday life into this fantasy story was done really well as well as thought provoking for readers.

Even the dance scenes were very detailed and phenomenally expressed into words, i could picture each moment as i read from the pages

The characters were so complex and real, I felt connected to them, especially the female character Vasalie. Vasalie was such a fascinating character, I admired how her story unfolded. From the various moments we got from her suffering from chronic pain and health issues in the story. In addition, She experienced so much pain, cruelty, and trauma from her father as well as from the King. Witnessing her growth and development in the story was beautiful as her developed inner strength to hold her own.

I enjoyed the dynamic between Vasalie and Anton; the king of the East and Ilian's younger brother. The romance that developed between the two was paced really well, it never felt rushed or forced. Anton is so charming, he had me swooning. Their interactions and connection felt organic and real. I loved their banters together. You could feel the chemistry between them.

Overall, this was an incredible debut novel. I’m so proud and excited for Brittney’s journey as an author. You can tell how much care and thoughtfulness she put into this story. Her characters were everything and I’m still shocked in the best way by all of the twists and turns within the court politics that unfolded. And that ending, wow!! I can’t wait for the second book.

¡Feliz debut! Te deseo mucho éxito.




Vasalie Moran fue acusada injustamente de asesinar al asesor del rey Illian, pasando dos largos años en prisión. Cuando el rey, quien una vez fue su amigo, le ofrece la oportunidad de convertirse en su espía a cambio de su libertad, acepta sin dudar, decidida a no regresar a su celda. Su misión: infiltrarse en el reino de Antón y seguir las órdenes de Illian durante el peligroso encuentro real. Sin embargo, a medida que las órdenes del rey se vuelven cada vez más sangrientas y traicioneras, Vasalie descubre que Illian puede ser tan monstruoso como aquellos que la han perseguido. Vasalie se verá atrapada entre dos mundos y deberá decidir a quién le es leal, quién merece su confianza y cuánto de su alma está dispuesta a perdernos para sobrevivir.




Necesito saber más sobre lo de Eremis y Monranya.



Lo de las imágenes me parece interesante, ojalá en el próximo libro se vea más sobre su creación.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dance of Lies completely blew me away! Brittany Arena does an incredible job portraying trauma and disabilities in a way that feels real and deeply emotional. Vasalie’s journey—from broken and betrayed to finding her strength again—was incredibly powerful. I loved how her struggles weren’t magically erased but instead showed resilience and growth.

I truly loved this book and can't wait for the next installment in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I was NOT prepared for how much I’d love this. This book is such a solid mix of political scheming, romance, and complex, messy characters — all wrapped up in dense court intrigue and a healthy dose of trauma. If you love character-driven stories that simmer with tension and secrets, this one’s for you.

We follow Vasalie Moran, a dancer at King Illian’s court who spent two years rotting in a dungeon for a crime she didn’t commit. Suddenly, she’s released — and ordered to dance and spy for the king during the Royal Gathering, where all the rulers of the Syndicate kingdoms meet. At the Gathering, she crosses paths with some new, mysterious figures, including Illian’s brother, King Anton, and the enigmatic Master of Revels, Copelan.

What really stood out to me is how much this book focuses on the "after" of trauma. Vasalie lives with chronic pain and disability because of what she went through in the dungeons — but even more so, she carries deep emotional scars. The book doesn’t shy away from showing how hard it is for her to trust again, to move forward, to survive in a world that keeps trying to break her. Watching Vasalie navigate that was heartbreaking and empowering at the same time.

The other characters, especially Illian and Anton, are also super well-written. They have their own clear motivations and secrets, and while it takes a while for everything to come to light, by the end it all makes sense. I thought the character work in this book was excellent — vivid, layered, and so satisfying to follow.

Now, let’s talk about the romance. Is it a love triangle? Maybe even a square? Kinda. But it’s less about "who will she choose?" and more about the absolutely feral yearning and tension happening on every page. There’s lust, desire, obsession, grief, trust issues, betrayal — it’s messy, sometimes toxic. I loved the full spectrum of complicated emotions. And by the end, when Vasalie finally makes her choice, it just feels right.

One thing to keep in mind — this isn’t a fast-paced, action-heavy fantasy. It’s very character-driven, very court-intrigue, very much about secrets and manipulation. But the payoff is so worth it. The tension builds and builds, and the last 20%? Absolutely unhinged. Plot twists, betrayals, heartbreak — I was screaming.

I’ll be honest, I almost skipped this book because I’d seen some mixed reviews. I’m so glad I didn’t. It checked every single box for me: damaged but strong heroine, morally gray men, slow-burn angst, political games, and a romance full of tension and obsession. If you’re into deeply character-driven romantasy with a side of palace intrigue and emotional devastation — read this.

I’ve already preordered a hard copy and I cannot wait for the sequel!

I love illness representation but I hate characters that are so absorbed by their misfortunes that it taints the narrative.

Very unique and emotional. I enjoyed the dancing and always root for disability representation especially in books and fantasy where it's almost completely non existent.

A must read of 2025!!! I have a feeling this book will remain one of my Top Favorites of the year!

After being imprisoned for two years for a crime she did not commit, a dancer that was once known as the King's "Jewel", is told by this same King to become his spy to earn her freedom. But it's not as easy as it sounds, since she's no longer in dancing shape after being locked in a tight cell. However, even with the challenge, she earns a spot to entertain at the Gathering. An event that takes place for a few weeks every year hosting all dignitaries. While planning new dance routines, making new friends, and doing tasks for her King. She quickly starts to doubt who to trust/love and wonders how she can stop doing the King's bidding with her life.

Love, mystery and fantasy, This book leaves you wanting more. I need book 2!

Vasalie Moran was once a dancer in King Illian’s court, until he framed her for murder. Barely surviving her two years in the dungeons, she’s suddenly called to face her king. He offers her a deal: become his spy at the six-week royal Gathering and he’ll grant her freedom.

This was such a great romantasy and I really enjoyed reading it! I love anything that is even remotely enemies to lovers so this was right up my alley. I am excited to read more from the author in the future!

I love Anton. Had some interesting world building and mythology that I'd like to learn more about. Liked the representation of a dancer with chronic illness, and how she learns to dance again. A little too much court politics for me, or maybe just too many courts and characters to keep track of. The pacing felt a little weird at times and didn't love the first person POV. But it definitely has elements people will love and will be very popular.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Four star review for A Dance of Lies.
While I am not typically one who likes a very prosaic writing style, A Dance of Lies was a very intriguing and captivating read. I enjoyed how the author portrayed chronic illness, along with crafting a very unique story line.

Publication Date: June 10th, 2025
Author: Brittney Arena

Where do I even begin??
I am thankful to be given a chance to read this book as an arc, and I am immediately pre-ordering the physical copy! This book held me in a grasp that I haven't felt in a while. The imagery that the author used painted a perfect portrait beneath my eyelids as the world she created unfolded. The pages are filled with rich details and a world full of lore. It amazes me that the author created this unique universe. I found myself unable to put my kindle down and wanting to stay up all night.
This story is unlike anything I have read and I cannot praise it enough. I'm left gasping at the ending, one to promise an outstanding sequel to this book. Brittney Arena, you are an exquisite writer.

This book earned points for its stunning cover, but the story itself didn’t fully work for me. The disability representation was a refreshing addition to the romantasy genre, and I appreciated the political intrigue, but the execution fell flat. Vasalie’s emotions felt muted, the love triangle was unclear for too long, and the tension of the setting didn’t quite land. The slow pacing also made it hard to stay engaged. While the dance elements and vivid imagery were highlights, the way her disability was handled didn’t always sit right with me. Definitely not a bad read, just not for me.

A great romantasy. Different from anything I’ve read before, had me hooked very quickly. I really enjoyed the plot and the unique elements of the storyline.

3.5 Rounded down

A Dance of Lies is a fast paced romantasy about a dancer turned spy in a fight for her life. The main character, Vasalie, had originally been the main dancer for the king, but after he framed her for a murder that she didn’t commit, she was kept in the dungeon for 2 years. She grew weaker, and weaker until the king presented her with an opportunity: spy at the royal gathering, and earn her freedom. Here’s the catch: Vasalie is in no condition to dance (her “disability”) and she begins to see the kind isn’t who she had thought
I truly did enjoy this book, but somewhere along the lines I got a bit lost with her disability. This book is marketed as a romantasy book with a disabled main character, which I guess is true, but she is still able to dance and perform with it. It sounds a bit petty almost, but I thought it was going to be a more prominent than that. I did like Anton however. I was #TeamAnton from the beginning. Overall, this book is filled with betrayal and lies as well as a slight bit of romance.

Features
- betrayal
- enemies to lovers
- prophecies
- cliffhanger
- mentions of rape and abuse
- dancing…
- YA

Full disclosure - I absolutely judged the book by its cover when I selected this ARC to request!! So, so stunning. For about 50% of this, that choice delivered! Things I loved - the political world building, the portrayal of the fmc’s disabilities + her imaginative ways to persevere, Arena’s detailed prose and description. The slow start + the romance aspect unfortunately took away from it all for me, and I was genuinely surprised by the ending as I had thought it was a standalone. A fun read and a new author to add to the list!!

Thank you so, so much to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore & NetGalley for their investment into readers in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to get an early copy of this from NatGalley because Brittney Arena’s A Dance of Lies has been on my radar for a while. I was especially interested in reading a fantasy with strong chronic illness representation written by a chronically ill author. I really ended up loving the representation and the way that chronic illness was woven into the plot, the wound, and the backstory. I liked that it actually affected the plot and didn’t go away as some sort of quirk. It felt respectful and nuanced. As for the story itself, it was very interesting - the dance/spy aspect of it felt unique from a lot of fantasies that I’ve been reading lately. The topic of the love interest was also intriguing because it took me a while to figure out who the love interest was supposed to be, as there were two candidates and I was torn between who to ship, and a good amount of teasing and heartbreak a long the way. The book had a lot of plot turns and twists that I wasn’t expecting, which was great, and it’s filled with lush writing and memorable characters.

3.5*

A novel of a broken dancer who must pirouette her way through a world of scheming, spying, and betrayal.
The story itself is quite captivating and often hard to put down. However, it tends to be overly descriptive and occasionally points out the obvious, which might not appeal to everyone.

Labeling it as a fantasy romance seems a bit far-fetched, given that the only somewhat fantasy element appears in the final chapters.

Despite this, I would still recommend the book for its compelling characters and the abundance of twists, turns, and tension that keep you curious throughout.

Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review

Wow. Wow. I was not expecting this, in all honesty. This book overwhelmed me in a good way. I was not expecting it to be this gorgeous.

Vasalie was a dancer. King Illian’s prized Jewel and friend. Vasalie loved him. Then she’s accused of murder, a body found in her room. She was with Illian at the time of the murder and yet he does not defend her. Two years she rots in a cell, unable to move, which damages her body. Then he frees her and offers her a deal— perform and spy for him at the Gathering, an event to which all the kingdom’s leaders come to, to earn her freedom. She meets King Illian’s brother, the flirtatious and charismatic King Anton of the East and the Master of Revels, Copelan and finds herself entangled in a political scheme that threatens to reveal her past.

Anton had me giggling, kicking my feet and twirling my hair. He was so funny and so charming, yet so dedicated to helping Vasalie. Copelan was….. there, I guess. Not much to say on him. He bored me. Anton, on the other hand, is the love of my life. Even if he’s not real, that doesn’t matter. The representation of Vasalie’s disability and her pain had me crying. Illian really did take everything from her!!! The cliffhanger at the end has me screaming, crying, throwing up. I need the next book in my hands as soon as humanly possible.

For fans of the Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith, the Cruel Prince by Holly Black, and fans of romance in a magical world mixed with high-stakes politics.

“I cannot protect you…… But I can arm you.”


“I am broken.” “You are art.”

“‘Your laugh,’ he breaths, ‘I could drink an ocean’s worth.’”