✨ Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for this eARC! It was a magnificent read, *chef's kiss* truly ✨

For a debut fantasy romance, this was a fantastic read. The way it was written, some may dub it as ''purple prose'' which is my favourite style of writing. All the scenes and details were so vivid, I was fully immersed and captivated by this world from the get-go!

Dancer turned spy, we follow our FMC Vasalie, who has spent the past 2 years imprisoned and accused of committing a murder, by the King she believed cared about her. In order to be exonerated, the King offers her a deal, become a spy for him, complete his tasks and she will earn her freedom. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? Or does it?

One of the things I loved most about this story, is our FMC Vasalie. It is always so refreshing when we have a soft female character who isn't a trained/skilled warrior. Throw in to the mix her own struggles with crippling pain and dancing again after being imprisoned; in return we witness amazing character development, and see her overcome all manner of obstacles through sheer will, determination and creativity. A very well written portrayal and representation of what life is like living with a chronic condition.

Plenty of politics are involved, high stakes and intrigue. You don't know who to trust and the plot twists were plot twisting, I was constantly on the edge of my seat not knowing what will happen next. Especially the ending... I can't even remember how long it took me to process what just happened, but I really did have to sit in a dark corner and stared at a wall (for a long while).

We meet plenty of interesting secondary characters that add to the overall plot. Another bonus point I would add is the balance between romance and plot was done really well, one didn't overpower the other and they progressed in a good pace throughout the book. Some of the interactions between our FMC and MMC had me swooooooning *sigh* the slow burn, the tension and the yearning. Miss Britney Arena definitely understood the assignment.

Waiting for book 2 is going to be pure torture and book 1 isn't even out yet... I can't wait to continue this series.

I devoured this book. Seriously. I started reading and could not put it down - every spare moment I had, I was back in this world, completely hooked. A Dance of Lies is everything I want in a fantasy romance: betrayal, political tension, morally grey love interests, and a fierce heroine who's been through hell and refuses to break.

Vasalie is such a compelling main character. She’s been beaten down, imprisoned, used and yet she comes back sharper, stronger, and with fire in her veins. Her voice is raw and vulnerable, but also cunning and brave. The spy angle kept the tension so high, and every twist had me gasping. I loved that she was constantly weighing survival against morality. She's not perfect, but she feels real.

The worldbuilding? Chef’s kiss. It’s dark, lush, and full of secrets. And don’t even get me started on the royal brothers - Illian and the King of the East? That dynamic had me on edge the entire time. I never quite knew who to trust (and honestly, I still don’t, and I love that).

And oh my gods, I lived for the romance between Vasalie and the King of the East. The slow burn, the intensity, the push and pull. It gave me everything. Their chemistry leapt off the page, and I was completely obsessed.

If I had to critique anything, it’s that now I have to wait for the next book. Like… how dare Brittney leave me hanging like this?! The ending had me blinking at the page like, “You’re just gonna END it there???”

In short, if you love dark court intrigue, broken heroines who learn to reclaim their power, and a good enemies-to-lovers situation, you need to read A Dance of Lies. Soooo good. 5 stars. Give me book two yesterday.

compelling debut that combines elements of fantasy, romance, and political intrigue. With a strong, multifaceted protagonist and a richly constructed world

Loved this romantasy.
The world itself was skilfully drawn, atmospheric and compelling, yet never so elaborate that it distracted from the plot. It served the story beautifully, providing a backdrop that felt lived-in but not overexplained.

Vasalie’s journey added a striking layer of realism to the narrative. Rather than taking the high road, she makes a questionable decision that many protagonists might shy away from, and the novel doesn’t flinch away from exploring the fallout. She isn’t the brooding, morally ambiguous type I usually gravitate towards, but her decisions felt grounded and human, which made her arc resonate in a different but equally powerful way.

While the writing style was generally strong, though I did notice some recurring internal thoughts that could have been trimmed.

Altogether, this was a high emotional stakes story, a well-paced romance, and political drama that was engaging. I’ll absolutely be diving into the sequel when it’s out.

I enjoyed writing, it was beautifully descriptive and the premise and world building were interesting. The fmc had such an emotional journey which I loved and I did find the storytelling through dance and beautiful way to describe her journey.
However, while the story was well structured, I didn’t feel gripped by the story as the pacing was quite slow so I found it hard to get into at some points.

I decided to DNF at 50%. The pacing was so slow! I was hooked at the beginning but when I hit the 30% mark and nothing was happening it started getting really hard to continue reading. I persisted for another 20% but at that point I was forcing myself to read it! It’s not a bad book but sadly I don’t think it was for me.
Too slow. a little repetitive at times and I couldn’t connect nor care for any of the characters! I don’t think it deserves a 2 star rating tho. So ill wound up and give it a 3 ✨

Absolutely loved this book. The political machinations and betrayal is non stop! The slow burn, the banter and relationship between Vaseliia and **** is spot on. The ending is brutal though and now I need the next book. Very much recommend.


Spice: two scenes which are heated and fade to black, one takes place in a brothel. (No parts are mentioned)

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I saw so many amazing reviews of this one before reading and it did not disappoint! There was such an amazing cast of characters, moral complexity, mystical fates, and Anton (of course). The romance and the passion for dance made this book so compelling. I found this story really unique and I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel!

Fates. Where do I even start? A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena is by far, one of my top books of 2025.

The author’s note was where I knew this book was going to be one that held a special place in my heart, no matter the rating I would later give. And I did indeed go preorder a hardback then and there. Chronic Illness rep for the win.

Vasalie Moran is now one of three comfort characters I have, and very near and dear to my heart.

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did however, going in, I feared that I’d get a little bored in the fantasy world and a book focused on a dancer. Usually, I prefer my fantasy’s to have fae, magical world systems, mythical creatures, something of the sorts. So I was weary…but fates, was I so so so very wrong to be. And Morta’s teeth, am I glad to be.

This book—when I tell you it grabbed my hand from the first page and took me RUNNING, sprinting, leaping and twirling , I truly mean it. I did not want to put it down. I wanted to forsake all of life’s duties and simply devour this entire book in one go. Alas, life did life and it took me three days—but each time I picked it up, I was immediately back in this story.

Brittney Arena tells her story so well I could SEE everything depicted on page, the same way Vasalie tells a story with her dance, this book was a dance in itself. A song as well. It was music and dance and I wanted to wrap myself up in it.

I loved the world she created, the way each word was a stroke on a canvas, a step in a dance. It was honestly refreshing, and I loved the inventions and detail of each Crown’s kingdom. I felt like I was truly a part of the Gathering, watching and taking part in each performance instead of simply reading about it. There were characters I loved, and ones I hated. And loathed. And one in particular who has the best lines and I would fight the Fate of Morta myself for them. (Well besides Vas because I would also fight anyone for her.) The political conflict, the found family, and the dialogue kept me coming back for more. The fact that Vasalie was such a genuine character, and made some hard choices and we got to actually see the consequences of such choices was so refreshing. The twists and turns certainly kept me coming back for more as well.

If you want banter that truly banters, snark and lines that will have you snort. A romantic interest with a cute pet name, and perfect lines. A FMC who truly does grow and you will be rooting for, and has allll the feminine rage, please do yourself a favour and grab a copy of this book. It’s certainly going down as a favourite of mine and I’m sad it’s not even out yet because I need MORE already… I need the whole story. Brittney Arena is certainly going to be an instant-buy author of mine now.

I will be raving about this book for days and I am feral for the next one.

4 stars
First off thank you so much to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group and Del Rey for this e-arc I screamed when I got it!

This is my honest review of A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena. First off loved the premise of this book a dancer is accused of committing a crime and in order to be exonerated she has to infiltrate a very special six week event as a spy only to get caught in the cross hairs between two royals. Like that blurb alone and I was sold. Vasalie story is heartbreaking and seeing her used by so many just made my heart ache. Enter, King Anton and Im like yes now that is giving main love interest energy. Absolutely loved the chemistry between the FMC and MMC and cannot wait for the rest of the series. Like seriously when and where can I get the next book ASAP. All in all a masterful and well crafted romantasy Brittney Arena shows people what is to be strong and fight for not only yourself, but for the people you care for including an immortal king. Would definitely recommend this to anyone!

Absolutely adored this and that makes me so happy because I’ve struggled to find a romantasy I could enjoy for so long now. I read this in two sittings. The political tension was SO well written and twisty, I reallyyyy loved how the romance arc wasn’t entirely predictable from the start, and the worldbuilding was fantastic and immersive—just the right amount for the story. The writing was nice, although if I had to nitpick, I could’ve done with a little bit less repetition in Vasalie’s internalisation.

Speaking of Vasalie, I found it refreshingly honest to have a romantasy FMC who takes the realistic route when faced with a shitty situation and chooses the shitty, arguably cowardly route over the more heroic option, and to not have its ramifications glossed over to avoid alienating readers. This is not to say that Vasalie is a particularly selfish or morally grey character like those I usually tend to love, but her reactions and arc felt very genuine and realistic.

The dialogue and other characters were also really well-written and developed; there were some lines where I snorted out loud (Basile & Anton’s scene, I’m especially looking at you).

Overall, this was a really enjoyable fantasy read without a steep learning curve to get into the story that nonetheless delivers a twisty political plot and developed romance arc. I will absolutely be picking up the sequel.

A Dance of Lies is your next fantasy obsession! I cannot believe this is a debut novel - it was simply phenomenal! This story has it all - an incredible high-stakes plot, well-developed main and side characters, and all the tense, angsty, and swoon-worthy romantic moments.

Read if you love:
- Multiple love interests
- Political intrigue
- Fate and prophesy
- Feminine rage
- Chronic illness rep
- Found family

This story had me reading late into the night, furiously turning the pages. I could not peel myself away, and now that I’ve finished, I am aching to get my hands on the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey Books, and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot speak highly enough of the hottest new upcoming release from Bloomsbury Publishing & Del Rey Publishing - A Dance of Lies. While slow to start, it is nevertheless important to set the scene for the rest of this lush, high stakes romantasy with secrets, betrayal and forbidden desires, reminiscent of the plated prisoner series - yet it stands completely on its own. While the romance captured my heart (and you will have to keep reading to the end to see which hero is the love interest), it was the fascinating characters, the beautiful world building and the intriguing plot that really captured my heart. A standout new release for 2025 - I already cannot wait for the sequel!!!

I just really didn't like this book. I felt it copied from other stories I have read over the years. I was honestly just bored from the start. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, and Inklore.

I enjoyed the world building in this story and the descriptive writing, unfortunately the story did not grip me much and I found myself putting it down to read something else. Potentially just not the kind of story for me with the dance focus and descriptions as it is not something of major interest to me but the book itself was well written and structured

This is a beautiful and fun fantasy tale. The romance in the story was well written and the world building felt realistic and magical.

Y'all. Full stop. This is one of the best books I've read in 2025! Finished this ARC by @reverieandink last night, and it's PHENOMENAL! The MMC is going straight to the top of book boyfriend lists! Book one of a duology coming out in June! And the author is from my home state of NC! So excited to see her at a few events coming up! Oh, and art was posted on the author's IG and is from the talented @spookgeist! Full review below, but y'all do not want to miss this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for honest review.

Oh. My. Gosh. This book is phenomenal! One of the best books I've read in 2025. Romantasy girls are going to gobble this up and be begging for book 2!

Our story starts with the FMC being released from a 2 year imprisonment where she'd been framed for murder. As the former lead of the King's dance company, Vasalie is unsure as to why she was imprisoned in the first place and why she's now been released. King Illian wants her to become a dancer for the Crowns' Gathering and be his spy. Vasalie quickly finds out that everything is not as it seems and those she thought she could trust are not really who they say they are.

Our MMC makes me swoon with every word that comes out of his mouth. Don't want to give too much away here since it's initially unclear who the love interest will be. Once it's revealed, phew, that man is rocketing to the top of all of our book boyfriend lists!

The twists were twisty, the villains made me so upset with their behavior (based solely on how well they were written), the descriptive language used was pure art. I could envision everything! I absolutely adored all the dance scenes and how well I could picture them. I love the FMC and the representation for chronic illness and still being able to find her inner strength. I will 100% be waiting on pins and needles for book 2. That ending had me screaming for more!

Overall, read this book. It's amazing and I loved every second!

Incredible! I got this ARC through NetGalley and thank god I didn’t listen to the negative reviews.

This book is a hidden bakery. (And this coming from a French person is important)

The strongest point is the plot — it’s so well crafted and surprised me multiple times. The worldbuilding is pretty rich too, even though I had a few questions because some things felt a bit fuzzy. That didn’t ruin the reading experience for me though.

It’s a fantasy that mixes political intrigue like in HOTD with a setting close to that and some Greco-Roman mythology vibes. If you liked The Bridge Kingdom, RUN for this one.

The romance is not the main plot and I actually really liked that, especially since you don’t know who the male lead is until quite late.

I didn’t give it a 5 because the main character is a bit too naive for me. She’s not the sharpest and I couldn’t quite figure out why because she’s actually painted as a pretty resourceful woman.

Still, I’m super hyped for the sequel, and I’m glad there’s a bit of magic sprinkled in even though science plays a big role.

i'd like to preface this book by saying it reminded me why i hate men 🫶🏻 almost all the men in this book were shitty people.

i loved the disability rep that the author included in a dance of lies. i feel like we don't get many books that include any form of disability (especially in a fantasy context) so this was refreshing. i also love how vasalie was traumatised, as an added layer to her complexities. i really like that despite her disability, she does the best she can, and never stops trying. i absolutely loved vasalie's character development. she came so far from a scared, timid and beaten down person to a strong and determined woman.

anton is easily my favourite. i loved him from the first moment he was introduced. i really loved his witty banter and flirty charm. i hated copelan and illian with a passion -- they're the reason for my statement at the beginning of this review. they're horrible people and i want nothing more than endless suffering for them.

as this is a romantasy, i feel like it has to be mentioned: i loved the banter and tension. these two things are very important when reading anything heavy in romance (for me). it's my life, blood and air.

and the plot twist at the end was quite surprising. i didn't see it coming.

I stayed awake until 2am on a work day to finish reading this because the hits and suspense would just not stop and I had to freaking know how it ended!

This was without a doubt a 5 star read for me. There were times where I did think to myself ‘does it have to be this long?’. It’s not until the end when you realise yes, yes it does have to be this long. There is so much going on, so many characters, interconnecting storylines and world building. It’s setting us up for an epic book 2 and I really don’t want to have to wait.