Thank you to netGalley and Del Rey for the advanced eARC.

I gave this book a 4.75 rating on storygraph, but it will sit as a 4 star here.

I'm going to start off by saying that I wasn't sure if I was going to like A Dance of Lies as much as I did as I am not the fondest of the romantasy trope. Thankfully, this story focused more on the plot and the dilemma of the character rather than the romance, which at some points I'm going to be honest, I wasn't even sure who to root for, there were a lot of people who were making eyes at the main character. The world building was interesting, and showing a wide range of cultures in a converged gathering situation was a smart move to make the world feel more full and real, while adding some interesting political intrigue.

I thought the writing was pretty well done across the board, there were stakes, people had consequences doled out to them, and Vasalie had to make hard, and sometimes awful decisions. I think the attention to writing about the character's disability was a better rendition than most other attempts by bigger authors, and it comes from a pretty genuine place. Though at the end there was some small discrepancy, but that might have been in more part due to the story needing to wrap up, and the special element being revealed.
The main gripe was the instant forgiveness and understanding of the side characters when Vasalie did something wrong, there could've been more resentment or consequence there, and the pacing was dragging a little bit, but I know it was more to set up some exposition that played out later, which was fine to see the scaffolding, but there was a lot of coincidence involved as well.

Overall, I think this is a great debut from the author, and I would love to read the next one.

i loved this book SO much. the setting was such a blast. i loved how the romance wasnt just with the first guy she meets, i was so invested in the political conspircies. can't wait for the next one.

You know what? I genuinely enjoyed this one. There are a few quirks to the writing that seemed sort of silly like the separate sentence/separate paragraph sentence frags for emphasis and an excess of italics but there is an interesting story here. The MC suffers from critical "everyone loves her at first sight" disease but it's not really her fault so much as the author's and I'll allow it because that's what the genre is, that's what the book is.

It does reach the point of hilarity here and there as she betrays people over and over and they forgive her over and over without ever needing an explanation, because they love her so so much. It would have been nice to see it cost her something. But again, the story is lovely, evocative. The world is quite beautiful. The plot is tight and the twist at the end genuinely had me floored. It pressed believability but I was turning those pages, man.

We get a couple solid love interests, some super evil dudes, plots within plots. Oddly, the weakest portions of the book are the dancing scenes. I think we could have done with a little more showing and a little less of telling the audience over and over what the dance should be making them feel. I was turning pages in those parts for a different reason.

A good showing, all in all. Definitely set up for a sequel and I'll probably be reading.

3.75 ⭐

This book was an enjoyable read with a lot of promise! The characters were well-crafted, and I found myself especially drawn to the secondary ones. Copelan and Laurent, in particular, were so fascinating and complex that I sometimes cared more about them than the main character, Vasalie.

While the plot kept me engaged, I did feel that the book could have been shorter. There were moments that seemed a bit drawn out, but overall, it was still a solid read.

My main reason for not giving a higher rating is that I felt the story, especially with Vasalie and Anton, could have gone deeper. The ending definitely made up for it, leaving me excited to see where the series goes next!

Really enjoyed this, the world building part of the book was really easy and quick to get to grips with. The FMC Vasalie was really likable, seen as weak and feeble however she proves that she’s getting stronger throughout the book and starts to stand up for herself and the people she starts to care about.

The development of the book was brilliant the twists throughout truly shocked me, the ending was incredible I’m hooked, desperate to know more!!

I quickly highlighted this to our subscriptions team as a go to fantasy read for the summer.
What a suspenseful, well built world and lead character. A 5 star standout amongst the barrage of fantasy books being released currently.

I was drawn to A Dance of Lies’ beautiful cover, but stayed for the even more beautiful writing! I think I broke a personal reading record with this book, as I completed it in two days!!
Brittney Arena is a brilliant story teller who has so beautifully transported me into the world of The Crown’s Syndicate and Miridran in particular. Brittney crafted a world that is so beautiful and rich in history that I wanted to board a ship and set sail for the isles myself!! I found her writing to be descriptive and attention grabbing, causing you to just stop and completely immerse yourself into the world, dance, the fights, the politics, everything!!!!! I also found it to be somewhat of a lament for Vasalie, who has been through so much, goes through so much, but miraculously is still standing.

Vasalie Moran, once a dancer in a King’s court is now but a shadow. She is framed for murder by her so-called protector and has barely survived her two years in the dungeons. Unexpectedly she is called before the King and given a task – become his spy at the six-week royal Gathering and he’ll grant her freedom. But as they say, “not all that glitters is gold” and “if it seems too good to be true, it usually is. Vasalie is led into a very dangerous game of deception, political intrigue and dalliances, where alliances are formed, bonds are made, secrets kept and hearts broken. She is forced to do all she can to not only complete the tasks given but also survive the gathering itself, where she must repeatedly perform for the court, given the fact that her years of imprisonment has left her disabled and riddled with pain.

Overall, ADOL is a wonderful start to what I believe will be an Epic duology. My only issue is that, with ADOL releasing June 10th, there is still a very far to go until Book two is released. But, I wait on bated breath for the conclusion of this lovely story.

Vibes? Immaculate. Who doesn’t love a story with lots of villains, spies, and complicated plots?

I had a BLAST with this one. Never once did I know where it was going to go and I was nervous the *entire* time.

The character arcs were so good, the world sounded so cool, and Vasalie had so much growth. Her relationship with [name redacted for no spoilers] had me kicking my feet so much.

BUT ABSOLUTE JAIL FOR THAT CLIFFHANGER.

Thank you endlessly to Del Rey for the arc!

Loved the disability representation but this just felt like a cookie cutter fantasy story. Wanted to dnf honestly.

This is maybe a 3.8 for me rounded up to 4.
I have some thoughts on this, and while eventually- not until the last few chapters was the plot revealed- in a snap so fast like a magician tearing a table cloth from under a table scape. It's kind of left me with some whiplash.

There's A LOT going on behind the scenes in this one. Powerful men using people for their own gain, a prophecy, and the meddling of gods.

We have Vasalie Moran, run away daughter, her stepmother protected her from being shipped off in marriage at 13, at the expense of her own life. At her father's own hand.
Vasalie became a talented dancer, garnering the eye of a powerful King, who although lusted after her, showered her with jewels and wealth, treated her very well- never once laid a finger on her.
But he had her framed for a murder she didn't commit- and had her shackled and imprisoned in solitary confinement for 2 years. Only to release her on the condition that she attend a Gathering of Crowns- of all the local countries Kings and Queens and infiltrate their courts and will be freed and charges cleared if she follows his direct instructions.

Vasalie doesn't have a lot of choice, and is sent- straight out of her prison cell to The Gathering as a dancer and performer. Her body is a wreck, and she lives in constant pain, but if she wants to escape her King that ruined everything for her- she must comply.

The ending did finally get me there. But the reveals were jerky and set way too far back into this story to have the proper effect. At almost 70% + in. I was thinking how many awful events, how many people do I have to watch let this poor girl down to save themselves? And while she was angry, she didn't really grow major teeth until the very end.

I don't know if I believe the romances in this, but I do believe Vasalie will fight to save the person who sacrificed part of himself to save her. The second book in the series is set up to be much better. Much to be revealed.

I was excited about this book when I read the description: a chronically ill, disabled dancer is hired as a spy in a cutthroat court.

While the first pages were gripping and gave me high hopes for the rest of the novel, the story began to drag very soon. Vassalie (the dancer MC) is sent to the court where she's supposed to spy on the brother of the king who unjustly imprisoned and tortured her. Thus starts a series of scenes that don't progress the plot or the character's arc enough. Vassalie manages to hide her disability and all the terrible pain she's in and seems able to perform complicated dance choreographies with little to no limitations. Vassalie takes pride in hiding her condition and in the fact that nobody notices it, which seems like an outdated way to approach disability. I'll be sure to read other reviews, especially those written by disabled readers, to see if they feel differently.

The writing was too purple and dramatic for my tastes. I expected to have a clear idea of who the love interest was earlier in the story. That said, if you're looking for stories featuring a disabled/chronically ill MC, and you're not as sensitive as I am about the above writing quirks and don't mind a slow read for the sake of romantasy, this might still do it for you.

Wow I can’t believe that this book is the authors romantasy debut. It was amazing.
The world building is absolutely fantastic the writing is just beautiful and the depth that the writer has gone into is phenomenal.
Vasalie is an amazing character and after being in prison for a crime she didn’t commit she is given the opportunity to get out although this is a dangerous game.
I love how there’s disability representation within this book especially for chronic illness and it’s delt with in an accurate way.
I need book 2 like now

once the shining, favored king illian's jewel, dancer vasalie moran has barely survived the last two years in his dungeons after being framed for murder. when he calls upon her once more, he has an offer she can't refuse: spy for him at the six-week royal gathering, and he will grant her freedom. but as his orders grow bloodier and more dangerous, vasalie discovers her king may be aligned with a far more sinister monster - and one much closer to home. with her world threatened, she turns to an unlikely source for help - illian's brother, and greatest adversary, the infamous king of the east. as tensions and rivalries escalate, vasalie is caught in the middle, and must decide how far she's willing to go to survive - risking both her heart and soul.

a dance of lies is a sweeping, breathtaking romantasy debut from author brittany arena. character driven with strong political intrigue and an undercurrent of searing romantic tension, this book will have readers hooked from the first few chapters. I loved the clever dialogue, shimmering world, and complex, layered characters with hidden motives and strategic plans. a story of survival, strength and healing despite the odds, vasalie's story resonated with me, and it was all too easy to get lost within the pages. the gorgeous prose conjured images as vivid as stained glass, and by the end, I had cried more than once.

perfect for fans of sarah j. maas, stephanie garber, and sarah a. parker, a dance of lies is one of the can't-miss romantasy books of the year. it's set to release on june 10, so add it to your tbr immediately.

thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This debut novel was absolutely incredible and I LOVED it so much. The writing was fantastic and I felt like this story was so unique.

Vasalie is a dancer who spends 2 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit. When King Illian releases her and offers her a deal to spy for him at the Gathering of the crowns in exchange for her freedom, she is forced into a dangerous game. Vasalie’s past and present collide as she attempts to unravel plans and decide who she can trust.

I loved the setting and all of the political intrigue. There were multiple love interests which made it difficult to determine for a long time who was end game. But once I figured out where the romance was going, I WAS HERE FOR IT! 🔥🫠😮‍💨

That ending?! 💔 I need book 2 asap!

Content: kissing

ok. i need book two now. N O W. you cannot leave me on that. i desperately need it, even if it isn’t written yet, i need it. just give me a time machine.

this book was brilliant and had some great disability rep. as someone who has a chronic illness (although not the same as vasalie!), i found the portrayals in this book pretty accurate. i loved seeing chronic illness representation in a romantasy novel. also the authors note did make me tear up a little.

i binged this book and read it in one sitting. i’ve always loved dance and its ability to share things that we struggle to say with words. the writing flowed beautifully - almost lyrically in some parts. however, there were some points that were repetitive, cliche and a bit, maybe, overwritten. because of that, it had the tendency to impact the pacing, but this was such a minor issue that i didn’t really mind that. after all, this is a debut novel!!

this book was addictive. the characters were written brilliantly to the point where you couldn’t really tell who was “good” or “bad”. you were questioning the behaviours of everyone in the book. i would say that this book is more character-driven than plot-driven, if this is something any of you look for!

i don’t want to say too much about it as it isn’t published yet. but it was such a great book and I NEED THE NEXT BOOK RIGHT NOW PLEASE!!

A Captivating and Heart-Wrenching Journey
I had the absolute privilege of receiving this book as an ARC — thank you, NetGalley. From the very first page, I was captivated.
The story follows Vasalie, a disabled dancer framed for murder, who has spent the past two years chained and imprisoned. Now, she’s blackmailed by her king and thrust into a web of political manipulation. As the tasks grow more dangerous, Vasalie must rely on her wit and creativity to survive.

What struck me most was the emotional depth woven into every page. Vasalie’s terror and resilience were palpable, and her journey brought me to tears more than once. The writing had a rare quality that pulled me in completely — I found myself desperate to devour the story, yet struggling to leave its world behind. My heartstrings were pulled in, out, up, down, forward, back, and sideways as went along with the emotinal weight Vasile was carrying. i could personally really connect with her.

The details of each dance were beautifully executed, I could vividly envision every movement, with light streaming through the colorful stained glass, casting a mesmerizing glow on the stage, and the strained yet elegant movements of the dances adding to the breathtaking spectacle.

This book is a stunning exploration of survival, artistry, and strength. It’s been a long time since I’ve encountered writing that resonated so deeply. I cannot wait for others to experience the beauty and heartbreak of Vasalie’s story.

Some of my favorite quotes:
“I know the taste of your lies.”
“I am broken.”
“You are art.”

4.5

I'm not even a romantasy fan, but this was so much more than your standard romantasy. The lyrical writing, detailed worldbuilding, and twists drew me in, Vasalie was a fantastic character to follow, and the way Arena writes tension is better than a lot of authors manage full spice. I can't wait for the next book.

“Voices speak to me in the endless dark.”

Vasalie Moran was once King Illian’s most prized possession, his Jewel. She was his favoured dancer and he bestowed tokens upon her, wanted her, even, though he never touched her. And she cared for him. That is, until he framed her for murder and shackled her in his dungeon.

When she has grown so weak she can barely stand, he fetches her again to send her to The Gathering, the most elite performance where all of the nations rulers will be present. Her job is to secure a spot as a dancer (despite her healing body) and spy for him and do whatever tasks he requires of her.

What she can’t figure out is: why her? Why now? Why has he never touched her? And why is he making her do the things he is?

“But though you’ve suffered your own fire, child, you won’t always smell of smoke.”

I was captivated from that very first sentence, and I never stoped being captivated.

Vasalie is such an intriguing character, so contrary and real. She loves to dance, yet part of her hates it. And why? Not to mention she has a backstory that evolves so as to make you need to always know more. Her character development over the book is stunning, to say the least.

“A story worth telling warrants a little destruction.”

The setting is impeccable. Glittering and beautiful, yet haunted and jaded. I was fully immersed in the rich tapestry of settings and dance descriptions. I will never forget Vasalie’s first performance at the Gathering and the images it evoked.

“In order to work with a partner, you must have two things: trust and abandon.”

The politics and intrigue were a thing of beauty and horror. The subtle manipulations and overt machinations during a dance competition made this book absolutely un-put-downable. I didn’t see the twists coming and I wanted to know more, to know everything about the Crowns and the other important players.

“I know darkness intimately. I know the bounds of it, the feel of it.”

The story was an anathema to itself. At all times a contradiction, as you may be able to tell from my review of it. The perfect blend of light and dark, beauty and revulsion, perfection and catastrophe. Because this book was dark and bleak, but it was hopeful. It was laugh out loud funny. It was my heart being absolutely overtaken by the characters. A smile on his face no matter the situation. A few unlikely heroes.

I never expected to laugh so much while reading it, but I did.

“I am sorry that my thighs offend you, Basile.”

This was a stunning story of betrayal and hope, defeat and perseverance. A story that will hold your attention the entire time and that you won’t be able to put down.

“But before you throw in your stake, Miss Moran, think carefully. Get to know your opponents. You may find you like them better than you do your allies.”

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all thank you NetGalley and DelRey for the chance to review this book ahead of publication,

OK so this book was absolutely EVERYTHING I hoped it would be and WAY MORE.

Where to start? First of all: the plot. I thought the world building of the book was phenomenal and I really liked the concept of having a Gathering where representatives of all nations meet and there is high security requirements for all staff and performers.

Having a main character who is a dances who struggles and suffers from previous traumatic events is something that I liked (let me explain: as a contrast to your usual bada** FMC who's strong and pretty much invincible from the start).

Something I also enjoyed were the descriptions of the palace and the glasswork - I had such an amazing time putting together all the shapes, and colours and textures in my head while reading the story, without the descriptions being too much.

Of course, I was hooked from page one. The rhythm of the story is quite fast paced, it was very easy to connect with the characters and all they were going through and - bonus point: incredible side characters.

The book will leave you in a cliffhanger - I knew it was going to be the case because the last few pages definitely go in a dangerous direction and the book was almost over for the story to conclude in a conclusive way - excuse the redundant expression.

So I would happily give this book 6, 10, 1000000000 stars - it was perfect. Can't wait for book 2 (even though this one has not been published yet)

A dance of lies was a great book to get me back into Romantasy. It centers around a dancer who was imprisoned and unable to dance for years, now being forced to be an entertainer once more. Little did she know what she really signed up for by going to the gathering.

The book starts off a bit slow, but really picks up for the last 50%. I could not put this book down once they started preparing for their final performance. There is also minimal spice in this book, so it may be more favorable for some. It also gave off some ACOTAR vibes, and you’ll understand why I say this after you read it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for a chance to read this arc!