easily my favorite 5 star read of the year, the characters are immediately intriguing and the story pulls you in. A must read and worthy of the 'most anticipated' title!

It makes you feel every emotion you could, the details woven so perfectly into the story that pulls you right in and makes you ignore all your chores just so you can read 'one more chapter' until the end.

This honestly starts off a bit slow, but it does pick up and become very intriguing! There are quite a bit of morally gray things happening, but the main character has a lot of doubts herself, which is what makes her likeable. There was a lot of description, as well, which was really immersive. I greatly enjoyed it!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC!

A tale of betrayal, revenge, and political intrigue? Sign me up! A Dance of Lies opens with a broken-spirited Vasalie, imprisoned for a murder she didn’t commit. From the first page, it’s clear she’s a pawn in a much larger game, and the story wastes no time in dropping us into that tangled web.

Brittney Arena’s world of crowns and glass castles had me immediately. Her prose shines brightest in the lush, visual descriptions: the use stained glass was a standout for me, both aesthetically and in how it tied into the depicting a surreal and almost impossible world. The politics unfolded gradually, drawing out the tension in a way that felt layered and compelling.

Vasalie herself is heartstrong and determined, and I appreciated her quiet resilience. That said, some of her internal monologues began to feel repetitive, especially in moments where the narrative needed more tautness; it softened the tension instead of tightening it.

As for the romance… I’m a bit torn. Anton was a complex foil to Vasalie, and his arc felt satisfying in its ambiguity. Copelan, on the other hand, left me confused, I struggled to understand his purpose in the broader story. Maybe more to be explored in book 2?

The prophetic threads that emerged later in the book were mesmerising, but I did wish they’d been woven in more gradually instead of arriving in a rush. Still, I’ll be picking up the second book to see how this story unfolds...!

This was unexpected. Vasalie is continuously and increasingly forced to make violent acts against those around her by the king. She must get out. But the path to that is as uncertain as it is dangerous.

A captivating story, which, despite having moments where the narrative slows down, especially in the first chapters, has a certain something that makes it captivating and won't let you put it down. For this being the author's debut, it seems she has a lot of potential.

"Dance of Lies" by Brittney Arena is an intriguing debut novel that starts off a bit slow. The first 25% of the book feels like it takes its time to build momentum, and I found myself struggling to get fully immersed. However, once the story picks up, it really takes off, and the second half became quite gripping. The plot twists and character development in the latter part of the book were a pleasant surprise, making for a much more enjoyable reading experience.

While you can tell it's Arena's debut novel, with some areas feeling a little unpolished, there’s clear potential in her storytelling. By the end, I was really invested in the characters and their journey. It’s a solid start for a new author, and I’m excited to see what comes next from her. If you're patient with the slower beginning, you’ll be rewarded with an engaging and exciting conclusion.

One thing is for sure: I appreciate the disability representation in A Dance of Lies. But the story structure was kind of predictable. I do believe this romantasy will find its young audience when it releases.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me this ARC!

Soft DNF the story is just not gripping me at the moment, i find my self becoming bored with the where its going its very slow paced, i feel interested in some aspects and might come back in the near future.

Thank you netgalley

Let’s just say… I CANT WAIT FIR BOOK 2!!! This is such a beautiful fantasy book!! Ugghhh I’m speechless!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey and Britney Arena for the gifted eARC of A Dance of Lies!

This book has the energy of Fourth Wing and the atmosphere of Divine Rivals—a bold claim, I know. But honestly? It’s true. You’ll fall head over heels for Arena’s characters while being completely swept away by her lush, vibrant world-building. And once the story grabs hold of you, it doesn’t let go.

The pacing is addictive. I felt like I was racing to the finish line, desperate to know what would happen next but dreading the final page. There are aspects of this story I’m dying to scream about—but I absolutely refuse to spoil anything—so I’ll wait, quietly unhinged, until this book is released and then make it my whole personality. And no, I’m not even a little sorry.

When we meet Vasalie, she’s just trying to survive after two brutal years in the dungeons. She’s scared, desperate, and willing to do anything if it means never going back. Her decisions won’t always sit well with you. They don’t always sit well with her either, and that’s exactly what makes her such a dynamic and compelling character. It isn’t until she realizes that Illian’s twisted plans for her are never going to end, and that more is at stake than just her own survival, that she truly begins to transform.

I adored the way Arena built friendships between Vasalie and the side characters through real, authentic interactions. These moments made the story feel fuller and more grounded, adding heart and levity to the high-stakes political intrigue and emotional turmoil. Watching her let her guard down, begin to trust others, and slowly come to see that not everyone is like Illian was such a rewarding arc. And when she finally finds her voice, her purpose, and pushes back against a man who seems to hold all the power? So. Satisfying.

You’re going to love this book. I’d put money on it becoming an instant bestseller, but I honestly don’t think anyone that has read this book would bet against me. It’s that good.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

My review was posted to Goodreads on 4/6/25.
My Instagram review will be posted on 4/14/25.
My Amazon review will be posted on 6/10/25.

As a chronically ill woman myself dealing with similar issues as Vasilie, I found her character to be incredibly relatable. She is strong, brave, and determined to reclaim a body that no longer functions as it used to. She must push herself to the extreme over and over in order to survive. In the midst of a punishment for a crime she could not have committed, Vasilie is sent to a royal dance competition by a cruel king - anything but success will spell her doom. Once his treasured Jewel of the court, Vasilie is now a weapon of his machinations.

The court intrigue is brilliant, the taste of romance incredible (I think I found my first book boyfriend), and the characters are beyond lovable. The dance scenes are impeccably depicted with the same level of care and tension that one would expect in any fight scene. I did find it a little grating just how physically resilient Vasilie is - while its clear she is going to extreme lengths to modify routines in a way that makes them accessible to her, she doesn’t regularly seem to face the consequences (in terms of fatigue or lightheadedness) of pushing herself in this way. Still, I think it would be a much different book if she spent the equivalent of several chapters intermittently resting, barely able to move. Otherwise, I thought this was excellent disability rep!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

A Dance of Lies

For a debut novel Arena really did an excellent job. The descriptive writing was well done and really brought the world to life. This book is full of court politics and scheming kings with plot twists a plenty.

I really liked Vasalie; how strong and resilient she was. As a dancer myself I enjoyed the images Arena created of Vasalie dancing and her use of the flour was so creative. The chronic illness rep was really well done and will be really empowering for readers who have had their own chronic illness journeys.

However this book just didn’t quite pull me in the way I wanted it to. There was a lot of repetitive information and I found myself confused at many points due to so much superfluous description.

As a child, Vasalie escapes her father and becomes a dancer. One fateful evening when another dancer is injured, she finds herself dancing in front of a King. He saves her by bringing her to his court where she performs for him as his Jewel. However, when a dignitary’s murder is pinned on her, she is thrown into a jail cell for two years before she is brought out again to serve as a spy for her king at the Gathering.

I overall enjoyed this book. It was a quick and easy read and I enjoyed how the story unfolded piece by piece. I think the characters developed fairly well throughout the book. The story is unique and enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC!

I love this book! I can’t believe it’s a debut novel because it was so so good! Well-drawn characters, fantastic world-building, eloquent prose. I’ll certainly read the author’s next novel!

A debut fantasy book! I sobbed, giggled and blushed throughout! I love the world created in this book and NEED more! The ending broke me!

5⭐

Thank you Britney Arena and Del Rey for the ARC!

ADOL has some of most beautiful prose I have ever read! I read this book in a single sitting as I could not put it down at all! The world and the kingdoms are beautifully crafted with rich history.

The writing style is very descriptive and lyrical which is an attention grabber for me. It is a very immersive read from the dancer fights, poltics and romance. Vasalie was a very relatable character and her journey of self-worth was the most amazing part of this book!

I cannot wait for epic finale to conclude this series! Can't wait for more!

This book was an absolute blast to read! It has everything you could ever want from a romantasy book including swoon-worthy scenes, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing. I LOVED this book and am excited to read more from Brittney Arena in the future!

I was prepared to rate this book five stars until I reached the ending. Perhaps due to ptsd caused by previous reading experiences, the conclusion felt like a betrayal. However, aside from this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I found it captivating; initially slow-paced, it quickly became unputdownable. I particularly appreciated the detailed descriptions, especially the explanation of the dancing, which allowed me to vividly imagine the setting and feel fully immersed in the story. The protagonist's thought processes were compelling, and I deeply connected with her struggles and past pain. Furthermore, the plot twists, tension, and witty banter between the characters were excellent. Anton, in particular, stole my heart; I found myself giggling at every exchange he had with her. The writing style is superb and easy to read. I eagerly anticipate the second book. P.s. this deserves 5 stars

Ok, so I mostly really liked this book. It's a strong fantasy with a good female lead and plenty of intrigue. I wasn't totally convinced by the romance, but otherwise it was pretty good!

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy for review

This book was a beautiful epic journey. The writing and colour used was so vivid, the slow burn and the plot were on point! A Dancer turned spy in order to win her freedom, I'm HOOKED