3.75 ⭐️

Thank you to Del Rey & Netgalley for the eARC!

Such a nice debut! I thought the story was really unique, and I really enjoyed how it was based around dance. I loved the representation that this book had, and I really liked Vasalie's character & getting to see her growth throughout the book.

I thought the pacing was a bit off but I still really enjoyed the book and characters, and definitely am looking forward to reading more of the author's future work!

This book is so important. Right from the get go with the beautiful author’s note detailing her experience with chronic illness and disability to the trigger warnings listed in print in the book I knew that THIS was going to shatter the glass ceiling (appropriate given the stained glass on the cover ;) )

Vasalie is a much needed FMC in a genre that is oversaturated with the loud, Mary Sue, perfect haired, tiny waisted, big breasted sword wielding FMCs. Vasalie is disabled from being imprisoned for 2 years and her strength derives from her resilience, her compassion and moral compass, and her intelligence and silver tongue. A Dance of Lies has a strong focus on Vasalie's personal journey for freedom and autonomy that comes together in a political, court intrigue, twisty, "who's the love interest?" type story and while it's categorized adult, it's perfectly appropriate for YA readers as well--in fact I highly encourage YA readers to also pick this one up!

INSANE ending!!!! Diabolical!!!!

When I read the summary for A Dance of Lies, I knew immediately that I needed to read it. It was nice to read about a main character who has to come to terms with her new disability/illness and doesn't let it consume her, but rather she learns to work around it without giving up her passion (dance). I will say that it was a slow start to the book. While I loved how descriptive the author was of the surroundings and characters, the main plot took awhile to get into. It took a little bit longer than I wished to connect to the characters and really get into the story (probably halfway through). However, when I did, I was loving the characters and the direction the story was going. The MMCs smart mouth made me laugh and lightened the book. The ending cliffhanger was fantastic and wonderfully set up for the next book! I'm hoping in the next there will be more individual character/relationship development and more excitement to really keep you enthralled in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley for an e-Arc of A Dance of Lies in exchange for my honest review.

A Dance of Lies book review

"Your jewels are not enough. Your power is not enough. You are rich in diamonds but poor in spirit. You are lacking." Another tight breath, and then, "He does not envy you. I do not want you. You are but dust in the wind, here and gone again."

Rating: 5⭐️

Wow, where to start! I must admit that at first I’ve been attracted by the absolutely stunning cover and by the fact that the fmc was a dancer, however I didn’t think i would love this story so much!

A Dance of Lies centers around the main character, Vasalie, a former dancer and Jewel of one of the three brother-kings of Miridran who has been falsely accused and imprisoned in poor conditions for over two years. Unfortunately, the time spent in jail and the mistreatment she faced left her body severely damaged and malnourished. Thus, when a second chance arises for her, she must endure the pain and dance once again in order to win her freedom.

First off, i loved how our main character dealt with her pain, her character growth was amazing as she went from being ashamed of her “weakened” body to proudly admitting how difficult it was for her to perform while bearing the pain.
Throughout the book, Vasalie has to thread through many difficult situations, that leave her feeling anxious and conflicted and I must say I deeply felt her dilemma as it was thoughtfully and realistically conveyed!

There is also quite a vast cast of secondary characters and I really appreciated the bond Vas formed with them and how they came to help her and understand her peculiar situation.
I must say that a particular character totally stole the show and that was Anton! I don’t want to spoil his role or anything but he was by far one of the most charismatic male characters i’ve read about in a while, his humor was chef’s kiss!

Furthermore, i particularly appreciated how the story wasn’t predictable! It left me guessing who would be the love interest, if a certain character would be a villain, how the story would end, if some characters knew what the reader already knows etc.
I wasn’t expecting that ending at all, even though i was hoping for *something* to happen and it is just SO promising for book 2!
I’m just incredibly sad that I’ll have to wait for a while🥲

I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of The winner’s curse (for the political intrigues), The Pleated Prisoner (former savior becomes captor) and Acotar (for the banter, misunderstood characters, resilient heroine)

Thank you SO much to Del Rey, the author Brittney Arena and netgalley for a free e-arc of this enchanting story, all opinions are my own!


** A Dance of Lies comes out on June 10th!

A friend recommended me to request this book and then to prioritise it on my tbr list and I'm so glad I listened!

The beginning did seem a little slow and wasn't pulling me in right away, but then I ended up reading the majority of the book in two sittings!

I feel like this book honestly did keep surprising me because I thought the romance was leaning a certain way, while I favoured another character, and so I was prepared to be disappointed. But it ended up so good, there was so much chemistry with this certain character and I loved their personality. I won't say any more so as not to spoil it but I was really happy with the development.

There were a few little twists that I didn't see coming, much like Vas I knew I could see the puzzle pieces but not how they fit together.

Right from the beginning of the book, I also hated Illian and didn't think it was possible to hate him more. How wrong was I.... And then her father was worse in my opinion.

I love the author's letter at the beginning, it felt so personal and I could see the love she put into Vasalie, showing she might not be strong physically but that she has incredible strength of mind. She is so quick thinking and creative. I do like a badass FMC who can fight etc, but Vasalie was so much more relatable and I just loved her.

The ending!! Again, can't say too much because of spoilers, but I feel like there's a twist with a certain character that is often played out with the protagonist of the story and so that was interesting to read. I can't wait to read the next book!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

A beautifully woven story of a girl who just wants to be free. This story had so much heartbreak. It's a story of commradarie, betrayal and love. I found Brittney did an excellent job of weaving world building, character development and constant 'on the edge of your chair' feeling. I didn't want to miss a word out of fear I'd miss something. This is a 5 star read for me, I haven't felt this drawn into a story in a long time and I cannot wait for book 2.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

A charecter driven fantasy with political intrigue and a disabled fmc with lush and vivid writing this book is a must read!

This book follows our fmc Vasalie, a framed murderer, as she is forced by her captor to danve and spy for him. The book is definitely more charecter driven, it shows Vasalies desperation and rage and how far she would go to attain her freedom and the moral delilema that come with it. Her struggle to find her footing in her new disabled life felt real and emotional. I wasn't too invested in the romance but nevertheless a great story!

3.5 ⭐️

I appreciated the disability representation in regards to the FMC, but it was a bit too character-driven and not enough plot-driven for my personal taste. It started off quite Throne Of Glass-esque but did eventually find its footing. It ramped up in intensity for the last 20-30% and the payoff was worth the slow build.

Overall, a solid debut from Brittney Arena and I could see this leading to a series run.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the premise of this book and the cover and can happily say that I was positively suprised when the book was even better than I expected.

The book starts with our FMC being framed for murder and having to infiltrate and spy for the king who framed her in order to regain her freedom. In addition to this, the FMC has to face her now permanently injured body and hidden past, that brings new layers and more depth to this immersive read.

As our FMC navigates court politics and betrayal, she has to also deal with her chronic pain and confront her trauma and doing so, rediscover her relisience and strength along the way.

While the book was somewhat slow build and maybe little overly detailed in the beginning, the FMC’s emotional growth makes it worth it and the emotional storytelling makes this a immersive and compelling story.

The romance in this book was slowburn and low-spice and was strong on the emotional side. There was also a lot of suspense, drama, betrayal and maybe even some love triangle.

All and all, this book was a wonderful read and I highly recommend it if you like character driven plots with lots of twists and turns, political scheaming and some good old espionage.

This is a beautiful story and an absolute joy to read. The story follows Vasalie who after being imprisoned for two years cannot dance as she used to, except to save her life she must... With a little espionage on the side.

It is full of lush descriptions of her dances that are as political as the Web of lies she is entangled in. Her chronic pain and trauma are explored so well and with such sensitivity it knocked the breath out of me. This book was everything I didn't know I needed and I am going to become absolutely insufferable when I get a physical copy because everyone has to read this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC, I loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey for an e-Arc of Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena.

Unfortunately, I had a hard time with this one. The plot took a while to gain momentum, only picking up around the 40-50% mark, by which point it felt a bit too late. Some of twists were predictable, and the length of the book caused the story to drag at times, with inconsistent pacing and a lot of unnecessary repetition.

The last 15-20% of the book definitely makes up a lot for the beginning and it’s super fast paced and enjoyable which is why I’m giving this 3.5 stars. I only wished that the entire book would’ve been like the last part.

At first I really liked our FMC, Vasalie, but as the story progressed, her repetitive inner monologue started to pull me out of the story, and her character became underwhelming but then it picked up once more by the end. While I understand she went through something very traumatic that left lifelong effects, I wish we would’ve seen a bit more growth from her on this one. Her character is also the type where every male character is immediately taken with her and she somehow has chemistry with them all.

On a positive note, I appreciated that Vasalie’s illness wasn’t magically cured, and she had to come to terms living with it. As someone with a disability, I value seeing more realistic representations like this in books.

As for the other characters, I wasn’t invested in Illian at all. His motivations didn’t work for me, and I couldn’t stand him.

Anton, however, was a breath of fresh air. He was funny, kind, and protective without crossing into toxic territory. I think he was just what Vasalie needed.

I’m unsure if I will continue with book 2, but definitely recommend giving this one a try.

This was twisty and turn-y, with espionage and political scheming. I loved the mystery of why she's been framed for murder and why she's being forced to become the king's spy and not knowing who to really trust. The author really had me feeling all of the feels for our FMC, as she grappled with coming to terms with the new normal for her body, the emotional trauma from her past, and actions she's forced into against those who have been kind to her in the king's name. There is a love triangle of sorts that had me guessing who she was going to be with up until near the end. And THE ENDING. I got answers and now have more questions. I need book 2! Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5

“We all have our comforts, Minnow. I wonder if you might be mine.”

“I am broken,” I say. An admission, or explanation. The only words I can string together.
“You are art,” he says in response.

I am OBSESSED with this book! Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2025 so far and although it’s definitely too early to tell, this might end up as one of my favorite reads of the year!!

This story kept me on my toes from start to finish. There was romance (although low spice), suspense, drama, heartbreak, betrayal, love triangles, and sooo much more! The FMC was amazing, her character arc is one of my all time favorites. Even with her disabilities and set backs, she was able to accomplish so much and really regained her confidence throughout the book as well as growing and learning herself as a person.

Anton, let’s just say I’m now obsessed with him and he has been added to my list of top tier book bf’s.

This plot was very interesting, before starting I wasn’t sure about it, mainly because I had never read a romantasy book involving dancers being the main characters, and I also tend to stay in the fae/faerie realm of romantasy (or at least dragons being involved lol) but even without that, it was soooo refreshing and different, and I loved every second of it!

I cannot wait for a sequel, as I will be buying and devouring it ASAP and I will be buying a physical copy of this for my book trophy when it’s released.

*4.5 stars*

A Dance of Lies is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside; the gorgeous cover is what first caught my eye, but the story inside is even better. This romantasy debut felt fresh and new, a triumph in a genre that is more trope-driven each day. It follows Vasalie, a court dancer being blackmailed by her King into spying for him, and chronicles her struggle for freedom. I really enjoyed this book, and I can’t wait for it to find its readers!

This is a character-driven story, and Vasalie is a main character worth rooting for. I loved the representation of chronic illness; I don’t think I’ve ever read about a chronically ill character before, which shows just how lacking that representation is in our stories. Vasalie’s struggle to come to terms with her new life felt very real and emotional, and was a highlight of the book for me. The other characters and relationships are also well-written; in particular, Vasalie’s toxic relationship with the predatory, obsessive King Illian felt very real and creepy.

I would recommend A Dance of Lies to fans of character-driven fantasy, court intrigue, and vulnerable main characters who find their strength through the story, as well as to readers who may be struggling with a chronic illness themselves and would like to read a story that represents them in a gentle yet inspiring way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the arc! All thoughts & opinions in the review are my own.

I didn't just read this book—I OBSESSED over it. From the first page, A Dance of Lies sank into me and never let go. Propulsive and steamy, with stellar world-building and an unforgettable main character in Vasalie, the narrative was a perfect blend of both character and plot-driven. I understood every decision Vasalie made, both the good and the awful, and her chemistry with both love interests as well as the complex political intrigue kept the pages turning. Arena is definitely an author to watch.
What a gorgeous debut!

Thank you Brittney Arena, Netgalley, and Del Rey for the ARC!

I loved this! Vasalie was a dancer for the King and now she is nothing but an empty shell locked in his dungeon. When he resurrects her to dance for him once again she must face her new permanently injured body and her hidden past. The point of view is so unique. Brittney Arena writes from a personal history of having an unseen chronic illness and gives Vasalie all the courage and bravery that she is due. Vasalie has to relearn who she can trust, King Illian who betrayed her once, his younger brother King Anton who is more than he seems or the Master Reveler, Copelan. Do the Fates have anything to do with this new turn of events or is Vasalie truly on her own.
The author has beautifully provided a content warning right at the start of her book as well as an intro to herself and how writing Vasalie gave her her own courage back. Highly recommend this.

A Dance of Lies tells the story of Vasalie Moran, a former court dancer turned reluctant spy after two years of wrongful imprisonment. As she navigates court politics and betrayal, Vasalie confronts her trauma and chronic pain, rediscovering her strength and resilience along the way.

While the slow build and at times overly detailed writing make the first half a little slow, Vasalie’s emotional growth makes for a compelling story, and the payoff is worth it. The banter in this book is TOP notch. The ending ties everything together and sets the stage for the sequel (which I need ASAP - yes I know book 1 isn’t even officially out yet 😩).

I really appreciate the authors representation of chronic disease in this story. It’s always inspiring to see a character adapt and overcome obstacles that you may personally be facing in life!

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

4.5 stars!
This book was amazing!
Not a single dull moment, always something happening with excellent pacing. The prose was so evocative it pulled at my heart strings and had me tearing up multiple times. I felt so much rage and sadness on the FMC’s behalf. The plot is so intricately woven with twists and turns that I did not see coming at all. I did struggle at times to keep up with the political intricacies but I think that’s more of an issue with me rather than the book itself. I do wish the relationship between the FMC and one of the side characters had been given more time on page to make the development more believable. I also found some of the information revealed at the very end slightly confusing. But despite these very minor issues, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will definitely be buying the paperback when it comes out, I cannot wait to read the second book!
Such a brilliant debut, the author should be very proud of what she has created.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ebook ARC copy to review.

3.5 stars to Brittney Arena's A Dance of Lies. When Vasalie Moran is falsely accused of the murder of a nobleman, she is sentenced to live out the rest of her days in prison. For two years she is held in isolation, until the day she is summoned before the king. He needs a spy at the Crown's Gathering, one willing to do his work for him. In exchange for her loyalty, he promises her a new life. With rising tensions and nations on the brink of war, Vasalie must decide whether freedom is worth the pain of destroying those she has come to love.

what I liked:
- disability awareness and visibility. The main character, Vasalie Moran, is disabled due to long-term imprisonment where she was left with little space to move and inadequate nourishment, resulting in muscular impairments and chronic pain. This story shows Vasalie adapting to her disability. She learns that she is not "broken" or "useless" for her disability, but strong and brave enough to live with it and continue the art she loves despite it. I loved how the author tied this in with her own experience with chronic illness and disability.
- the worldbuilding and characters!! Arena added a great amount of depth to her world. Histories, religions, peoples, and cultures all come together to create a lush and lively scene that practically jumps from the page.
- the romance between the two main characters is sweet. I appreciate how they just slowly fall for each other instead of the insta-love thing that has become so popular.

what I didn't like:
- I didn't like the villain. Like, I really hated this guy's guts. Kudos to Arena for this one. Illian is going on my "to burn in an active volcano" list.
- there was a small looove triaangglee. Thank goodness it didn't last too long, because in what world do these two even compare??

Overall, a solid debut novel. Entertaining and fast-paced, a great story of love, courage, and the powerful magic of dance.

What a book. The writing!!!! Such a treat. The politics!! The characters!!! The plot!!! ...And also so much trauma (please read the content warnings before reading this book).

First of all: Vasalie. What a CHARACTER. To be recovering her sense of self while being forced to act on another's behalf was a ROUGH way to start, especially as she come to terms with her disability. Watching her develop and grow throughout the story was such a treat, especially how proud she became of everything she accomplished by the end I was so angry at the beginning, both at her and for her: how could she even begin to rationalize what was being asked of her? How could anyone choose what she was choosing? Arena did such a good job of making Vasalie a real person that every thought she had about freedom and power was so satisfying. I could go on about Vasalie, honestly, because she was so well-rounded. The relationships she had with other characters were so compelling, all because she was such a HUMAN character. No notes.

The politics!! I was really in the mood for some solid political intrigue, and this delivered. I couldn't guess who had the upper hand at any point, and when certain discoveries were made I simultaneously had NO IDEA and wasn't surprised at all. To me, this means Arena did a really good job of sprinkling in enough foreshadowing without being obvious. Chef's kiss.

NOT TO MENTION!!!! Ace representation!!! Granted said character doesn't play the largest role, I still appreciated the mention. And to be honest, the side characters were flushed out well enough that by the end, I felt like I'd spent much more time with them than I actually had. I would have liked more Marian since Vasalie has never had a friend her age before, and since Marian INVENTED the stuff Vasalie uses to perform, but so long as she makes a return in book 2 I'll recover.

The only beef I have is with Copelan, but it's not even that much beef since Arena still managed to make their relationship so much more complex than your typical second male lead (not even sure if he counts as this tbh).