This book totally blew me away - I don't even know where to start! This was an absolutely fantastic debut and a fantasy romance with the perfect combination of plot, political machinations, romance, and characters.

Dance of Lies follows Vasalie, who fled from her abusive father and earned a place at King Ilian's court as a dancer and quickly becomes his prized Jewel. He is obsessively protective of her and views her as a prize, wanting to keep her for himself and loving her in a twisted way, but treating her with cruelty. Despite this, she has always "loved" him and wanted nothing more than to be with him. The dynamic between Ilian and Vasilie reminded me so much of Midas and Auren in the Plated Prisoner series, which may give some context. After Ilian imprisons her for two years for a murder he knows she didn't commit, he releases her on the conditions that she spies for him at the Royal Gathering, posing as a dancer for the entertainment.

Once she gets to the court, his fist on her tightens and the orders he gives her become increasingly brutal. It becomes increasingly clear just how evil Ilian's intentions are and she soon finds herself at the center of political schemes so devastating and beyond what she had ever imagined.

She quickly gets close with the Master of Ceremonies, Copelan, who also becomes her dance partner. The two of them have such a complex relationship and without giving away anything, I was completely blindsided by how it unfolded. She also forms a bond / alliance with Anton, the king of the East and Ilian's younger brother. I LOVED Anton. He is flirty and charming and Vasalie (rightfully so) does not trust him at all at first. But boy did I love how his role evolves in the story - I couldn't get enough of them.

Vasalie's character development is incredible. She suffers from chronic pain and health issues but is so perseverant. She truly comes into her own and is so empowering! I literally cannot wait for the sequel. This was an incredible read.

Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for this ARC! 📚

★★★★★ 5 Stars | 0.5 Spice ♥︎

This book is a beautifully written literary masterpiece. The way emotions, feelings, and even the surrounding environment are described is nothing short of phenomenal. On more than one occasion, I had to put the book down and wipe away tears because certain lines made me feel seen in ways I didn’t expect.
Before reading A Dance of Lies, I had never encountered a story featuring a disabled or incapacitated main character, and I hadn’t realized how much I was missing out.
The world-building is immersive and meticulously crafted, while the execution of the slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers trope is astonishingly well done. That said, this book is utterly unique; I never predicted what would happen next. This unpredictability kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.

Vasalie is a standout character. She isn’t guided by insta-lust or the need for a man’s approval—she is entirely her own person. Her journey toward accommodating and accepting her declining physical health is portrayed with such authenticity and strength. Rather than letting her condition define or defeat her, she learns to adapt while refusing to hide it, showing remarkable resilience and determination. Her demeanour radiates a quiet power that is deeply inspiring.

The ending absolutely broke me. At two in the morning, I found myself reading it aloud to my partner because I couldn’t not share it immediately. Suffice it to say, I won’t be okay until I can get my hands on the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for providing a free ARC in exchange for my honest review. You consistently disrupt my reading plans and keep adding to my ever-growing TBR!