Wow...you guys, this one is a stunner!

Honestly, I am having trouble finding the words to express what this book made me feel, but I will try to explain as best as I can.

As a debut novel, I am completely blown away. This story was beautifully written with flowery prose, dynamic & interesting characters, and strong & unique world building that has its own individualized religious system.

The narrative follows Vasalie, a dancer-turned-spy, who was betrayed by the king she admired and loved when he framed her for a murder she did not commit. Two years after her imprisonment, King Illian releases Vasalie from her dungeon cell and gives her a proposition to use her dance skills to spy for him at the annual royal Gathering to earn her freedom.

However, this task proves increasingly difficult as she finds that she no longer has the strength she once had and is forced to make choices that would hurt those around her, making her realize that there is a more sinister plan afoot. With nowhere left to turn, Vasalie seeks the help of Illian's more charismatic younger brother, King Anton. As tensions tighten and the brother rivalry grows volatile, Vasalie begins to wonder just how she is going to make it out of this alive.

Brittney Arena did a masterful job at creating a fully immersive world that never once felt unrealistic or unbelievable. I was instantaneously gripped by the plot, which kept twisting and turning, and just when I thought I saw the final twist coming, reality got yanked out from under me. This story does a wonderful job at subverting the reader’s expectations while also delivering on them (and so much more) tenfold.

Additionally, the characterization of each character (including side characters) was so well done and thought out, I instantly fell in love with most of the characters and loved to hate the rest. While there was technically no spice, the romantic tension between the FMC and three other MMCs was so sharp it could cut through glass (pun intended). It was positively intoxicating.

I also need to take a moment to talk about the distinctive religious system found within this ambitiously massive world. It reminded me heavily of the monotheistic faiths we all are familiar with, but it was completely idiosyncratic to the people of the story, I couldn't help but start to find myself buying into the story's faith as if it were real.

I will say that there was a small moment towards the end when it almost felt like the author was holding the reader’s hand when the big reveal was being divulged by the two main antagonists, bringing the narrative to a halt, but that feeling quickly shifted when the plot itself turned on its head.

I loved this book so much that I deliberately read it slowly because I wanted to make it last longer. My only actual grievance is that it ended on a cliffhanger. I just want to know what is going to happen! I will DEFINITELY be reading the sequel (and any other book in the series) moving forward! An easy 5⭐️ for me.

This novel is perfect for readers who love THRONE OF GLASS, stories about survival, love triangles, touch-her-and-die dynamics, forced proximity, court intrigue & political assassination, espionage, dancing & performing, sibling rivalry, dynamic religious systems, and prophecy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brittney Area, and Del Rey Books for sending me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

I'm not going to lie. I had high expectations for A DANCE OF LIES. The concept is intriguing, the commissioned art is stunning, and I absolutely love following Brittney on her Instagram account. Maybe these expectations are what lead it to fall short for me personally.

At the very least, it is an entertaining read. I was interested enough to finish and look forward to the plot twists, and the prose reminded me of other romantasies - pretty, yet simplistic and easy to follow. However, everything else did not meet the bar. Vasalie - our main character - can do no wrong. She is always innocent, always a victim - maybe not at the ending, but definitely for the first three-fourths of the book. While the dynamics between her and others were interesting, she felt like a caricature instead of a fleshed out person. Other characters were shallow, simplistic, boring. Anton was honestly the only character I liked and looked forward to Vasalie interacting with, and even he is a lot like other male fantasy leads I've read.

The world building was also seriously underdeveloped. Nothing clicked together for me. It felt like the author sort of pasted different elements together and never smoothed out the glue or rounded the edges. It was very disjointed, and while it seemed like the main countries were based on real-world places like Scotland and Africa, their cultures were very similar and lacked distinct differences.

Vasalie's disability was also confusing to me. I want to give a disclaimer first - I know next-to-nothing about autoimmune disorders and chronic pain, especially compared to the author's experience, so take what I say next with a grain of salt. But it was strange how one minute Vasalie would be doubling over, and the next she could perform an extremely complicated dance with no trouble. And if she is indeed experiencing pain throughout most of the book, I wish the author would have described this more thoroughly. I felt like I never got an in-depth look at what Vasalie was going through and how much it impacted her daily life or not.

Finally, this is an adult fantasy, but it felt so YA to me. The characters, the writing, the descriptions, the plot. The only word to describe it is "juvenile." It lacked depth and complicated dynamics that adult fantasy books hold, and what I was expecting to read.

All-in-all - if you want a light palate cleanser and a fun, glittery fantasy, this is for you. But if you are seeking a deep, intricately written, fleshed-out novel, you are looking in the wrong place.

2.5 stars.

I was granted access to this ARC on netgalley and I am so grateful for that.
I loved this book, I had no idea what to expect, but the story grabbed me immediately. The world building is done so well, I could fully imagine the places the characters went and the map helped me place all of the different lands in relation to each other.

The characters in this book are so well written, I became attached to so many of them throughout the story, even side characters felt fully formed.
Vasalie is a great lead character, she has so much strength and hope but she struggles, is flawed and doesn’t always make good decisions. She has been physically harmed and carries a lot of damage and trauma and mistrust and it’s wonderful to see her character grow and develop throughout the book. The chronic pain representation is great to see and I loved seeing how Vasalie adapted and that even with desperation and perseverance she had limitations.
There are so many wonderful characters, but Prince Anton is one of my favourite as his character arc spans the whole book and he has so much depth and complexity to him.
There were many moments where I gasped, laughed and cried and one where I called out “no, no, no, no!”
This book took me on a beautiful journey and it was a joy to be immersed in these characters stories. This is a romantasy, but it is about so much more.
I cannot wait for book two

First, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, the author, and everyone involved this book for gifting me this advanced read.
I was aching for a good one and wow, did this one deliver.
I loved the writing which is something I tend to dislike in the genre but here it was neither juvenile nor (thankfully) overly descriptive and complicated. I felt the characters really close to my heart as well - I loved the heroes and detested the villains, which is a mission accomplished.
The FMC felt like an human being with her fears, feelings, strength, and resilience and what she went through both weighted and motivated her instead of being brushed away like often happens. And the actual MMC was pitch perfect in a way I can see could help someone like her heal and fight for herself but I also appreciated that he never put her over his kingdom's well-being or acted rashly. He had the gentle side I appreciate (I am so tired of the controlling ones) even though I am a fan of the enemies to lovers trope.
It had moments that made me truly sad and emotional and the twists kept me hooked and surprised although I called some of them. Everything that was mentioned had a payback and I am eagerly waiting for the ending to be explained with more detail.
The only thing I probably dislike is that apparently there is going to be a sequel and I would have to wait a lot for it lol but at least it would give me a good reason to do a reread later on.
Congratulations on the author for the great debut and I am eagerly expecting amazing things from her in the future.

Thank you Brittney Arena, Del Rey and Netgalley for this ARC! 🫶🏻

Vasalie Moran, Illian’s jewel, who is falsely accused of murder and thrown into a cell for two years. Faced with a choice spy on the rival courts and do his bidding, or die. She’s forced to push her body to its limit dancing while also trying to recover from her injury’s. During her time in the court, she meets the other kings, and one of them catches her eye.

I was so hyped for this ARC, and it absolutely did not disappoint! The writing is stunning, often feeling poetic, and it created such a good story. The perfect balance of romance, betrayal, and plot twists! I didn’t fully see the ending coming but i loved it. This will probably one of my favorite reads of this year!

Vasalie’s character development was one of my favorite aspects. She goes through so much, yet emerges stronger and more resilient. Anton and Coppelan also stole my heart. I started loving both of them so much as the story unfolded.

The world-building was also incredible, immersive, and richly detailed. Overall, it was such a fun and good read! I’d really recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy with a twist of romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds for this ARC of A Dance of Lies by Brittany Arena.

A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena was an absolute treat! I LOVE a high politics fantasy and A Dance of Lies has it in heaps!

The story follows Vasalie as she re inters society after imprisonment. Her body and mind are still suffering from her captivity and she has to navigate not being able to use her body as she was once able to.

Vasalie is coerced into completing tasks for her King in order to maintain her freedom. In the process of navigating her way through we get to meet wonderfully interesting characters that are brought to life through Arena's vivid descriptions.

There are so many unexpected twists and turns. Scorching hot chemistry with the love interests. It's written so well that even the chemistry between Vasalie and her captor is undeniable.

As the book progresses, Vasalie uncovers more and more truth about her past and the deceptions those around her are involved in.

A Dance of Lies is a beautifully crafted story that is perfect for fans of psychological and political fantasy.

Dance of Lies, for me, was a bit of a disappointment. The cover first drew my attention, and then the plot description. There was a lot of potential for this book, but it unfortunately fell flat.

It just felt very repetitive and overly descriptive. When the FMC wasn’t going on about how horrible her life has been, every other sentence it felt like she was mentioning how she used to be the king’s jewel.

There was nothing overly interesting or particularly memorable about any of the characters in the book, and although the last few chapters did pick up, it really shouldn’t take that long to get into a book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds for this ARC of A Dance of Lies by Brittany Arena.

A Dance of Lies had me hooked from the plot-line, not to mention the world in which its set is dreamy (except for the political nightmares). Arena’s writing had me in a trance and at times I couldn’t look away from the page. A Dance of Lies has an excellent balance between plot and romance, and I love the fact that you’re not sure which man to root for until later in the book. This particularly kept me intrigued and at times shaking my head wondering why she was trusting one of the other. As for the plot aside from the romance, there’s a huge rivalry between brothers, as well as nations, which will all come to a head at the summit they all meet at. The tension between them was thick, you can feel it in the pages. The secrets revealed are shocking and will leave you evermore certain that no one on the island can really be trusted.

Overall, this book was a great read, especially for a debut. I absolutely cannot wait for the second book to come out (please say there’s going to be one!!)

Thankyou to Bloomsbury Publishing for this gift 🥰

Holy gods. This was intense!
I am a person with a disability, and with disability representation in this novel, I rushed to get my hands on this ARC - and I was not disappointed!

This story was the perfect mix of political games, manipulation, and hopeless romantic attraction. The setting was unique with a fantasy element, but this wasn't over exposed which I appreciated.
Our FMC has a strong character, incredibly clever but very conflicted. With her background and the games that have already been played against her, she is still figuring out the world she lives in and her true emotions toward anything real.
Once the king's most prized dancer, she is brought before him to become a spy at a gathering of monarchs after 2 years imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit. Unique. Riveting. Passionate.

A clever novel with lots of twists and unexpected plot/character actions, you will not put this one down!
Perfect for fans of Empire of the Vampire, Frostblood, and Cruel is the Light.

Excited for the sequel!
4 ⭐️

Beautifully written. Unpredictable twists and turns. The FMCs growth throughout the book was inspiring. I can’t wait for the sequel!

I really loved this novel and am excited for book 2, especially after that ending! I think if you like political romantic fantasy novels this is the book for you!

I feel like the plot and world building were really well done. I love Vasalie and feel like she is an amazing, well rounded character. She’s very layered and not like the typical FMC. She has her struggles and her strengths. I also love that she deals with chronic pain, I loved seeing this rep.

Overall I loved this book and will be recommending it to everyone I know.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House and Brittney Arena for providing me with a review copy of this book. The following is my opinion, freely given.

The world building and the plot were great. A fresh take on the "competition" type storyline and a wonderfully fleshed out female lead. Imperfect and raw and real. Vasilie was wonderful.

The story is a gripping thrill ride through a rich tapestry of lavish ballrooms and hedonistic excess. Who can be trusted? No one. Who is the villian? The Hero? Time will tell...or will it?

I am definitely hooked and will be back to see where Vasalie's road takes her next.

I hope the author fleshes out some characters more fully in the next book as sometimes it felt that some characters like Laurent were slightly one dimensional, and given that Vas is so stunningly well realised, it made these lacking characters more obvious. There's also a feel that the book is slightly to long and could have ended slightly earlier on an earlier cliffhanger, there was just too much to take in during the last few chapters and as a result, I wasnt able to appreciate the end of the book.

This is definitely going on my Series TBR and I cant wait for the next book.

Grazie per questa copia digitale!
Avrei voluto che questo libro mi coinvolgesse di più, ma alla fine volevo solo che terminasse per passare oltre. Non so perché sia rimasta così distaccata dai personaggi, forse era il mood del momento o forse non era il libro per me. So però che altri sicuramente lo ameranno e che questo libro riuscirà a trovare il suo pubblico, solo che il pubblico giusto non ero io questa volta

this is just like throne of glass tbh with dancing instead of fighting. like carbon copy levels of sameness
one star dnf @ 43%

4.5🌟
I am crushed. If I were to select one word for this entire book it would be CLEVER. It is the court intrigue of court intrigues. It really had me hooked the whole time.

From learning Vas’ secrets and past to trying to figure out Illyan’s plot. And what a great plot it was. Vas is a dancer to the King Illyan until she is framed for murdered and tossed into the dungeons. I was very aware of the fact that this book started right off the bat. i felt like I was shoved into the story right away but I totally like that. There were no pauses, no necessary backstory (yet) and no flashbacks. Still it gave me all the info I needed to follow the story.

Vas’ character here is the star as it should be after being imprisoned she sees herself as broken. The king needs her again for his big plot and if she succeeds all the tasks she will get her freedom. She jumps into it and once she infiltrates the gathering as a star dancer, her self esteem is still down. However, she is strong enough to adapt her dancing and become even more of an entertainer. Classic.

As for the romance, superb. We have Ilyan as one (weird), then copelan? Which was cute and also gave me a bit of emotion there for a minute, and finally Anton who is amazing. I loved all the interactions, the secrets, the plots, the emotions and chemistry. Starts this read for the romance and stay for the plot because they are both great

Rating: 4/5
e-ARC review - A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena

Calling all the fans of Once Upon a Broken Heart! Oh boy oh boy, wasn't this book something?

I was in a horrible reading slump, couldn’t carry on with the books I tried to start, but this book saved me the same way OCBH did. I didn’t know this was supposed as romantasy, as I wouldn’t’ve read if knew. But it was not that in the slightest. Yes, the FMC was seeking comfort in a way, but this book dives headfirst into political intrigues and sadistic games between the crowns. So much so that you only realize who the romantic pairing will really be from the middle to the end of the book.

The author's purple prose is good, it doesn't drag on too much, and she manages to paint the beautiful scenery of the crystal palace where the story takes place. It was a fast read for me.

Vasalie is not stupid and not frail in the slightest, even with her disabilities. I really liked her, especially her INSANE move at the end. I will not say anything about the romance so not to spoil it, but it was sweet, slow, and I can’t wait to read what comes next!

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for providing this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

THIS WAS EVERYTHING.

I am someone who prefers to read my ARCs in order but this book was CALLING TO ME. And it DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Oh my goodness this will absolutely be one of my favorite fantasy romances of 2025.

Something I loved the most was that the focus was not on adding spice for the sake of it (in fact this book does not have any spice). The emotions were the focus and the slow burn journey as Vasalie is put into a perilous situation that could cost her everything, or might save the nation too.

I loved Vasalie. As someone who struggles with chronic pain there was an abundance of sentiments throughout (I highlighted the heck out of this book) that I resonated with and felt deep in my soul. I admired her strength and acknowledgement of her short comings, but also how far she has risen and her tenacity to honor her body and do her best.

The ROMANCE. I don’t want to say much on this front because I think it will truly be best experienced by reading the book without a lot of context. I loved everything about it and how the movement of the romantic aspects coincided beautifully with the political intrigue. All of the dance content had me wishing I could see these dances live because they were wonderfully written and crafted.

It’s a slow journey that is worth the build. So many moments stood out to me and I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. I anxiously await getting my hands on the sequel.

An incredible debut you must take a chance on.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: mild
Romance: heated make-outs
Violence: high
Content Warnings: emotional abuse, physical abuse, alcoholism, PTSD, panic attacks, trauma, violence against children, graphic death, chronic illness, disability and sexism (these were taken from the front of my copy)

This was not bad but ended up just being okay. I always feel so bad leaving meh reviews for an arc but I was so excited for this one and it just fell a bit short.

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

I absolutely loved this book!

Vasalie Moran used to be a dancer for King Illian. After being framed for a murder she didn't commit, she is sent to prison by the king for two years. King Illian summons Vasalie and gives her a proposal; she must become a spy for the royal Gathering where she will dance for other royal courts. But King Illian threatens Vasalie with her freedom, forcing her to complete these tasks. King Illian's orders are simple at first, befriend a worker in the court or get the attention of his brother, the King of the East. But the King's orders become more ruthless and bloody, and Vasalie must decide between her freedom and doing the right thing.

One of the main things I found interesting in this book is the fact that Vasalie isn't depicting as physically strong all the time. She struggles to just stand throughout the novel which is something I don't see very often in fantasy novels. Usually, the main female lead is magically strong and healed after one training session but, she continues to struggle.

Vasalie's passion for dance jumps (or leaps) off the page. Yet, when the King of the East asks her why she loves to dance, she can't seem to answer the question. She loves to perform but after her injuries, doesn't love it as much as she used to. This is such a fascinating representation of a dancer because having your passion ripped away from you is extremely traumatic. But Vasalie still has to dance anyway, even though she is pain.

Although this book is marketed as a romantasy, it is not very romance heavy. It focuses more on the politics than romance.

I cannot wait for the sequel! Thank NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC!

A Dance of Lies is a lovely mix of court intrigue, romance, and the power of dance as both art and strategy. The story is immersive, and once it hits its stride, it’s hard to put down. The slow build of tension, both political and romantic, keeps things engaging.

Vasalie is a strong lead, but her lack of court knowledge puts her at a disadvantage, making her growth throughout the book really satisfying to experience. She’s thrown into a world where alliances shift often, and no one can be fully trusted. The male characters—some charming, some dangerous—keep you guessing about who has her best interests at heart and who’s just playing their own game.

The romance is compelling, though at times, it leans into the “everyone is obsessed with the main character” trope a little too heavily, in my opinion. There’s also a clear emphasis on attraction, and while some connections develop naturally, others feel underbaked at first. That said, the uncertainty around who she’ll end up with makes for a fun read.

While the book delivers on its drama and romance, the worldbuilding—particularly the gods—felt underdeveloped. There’s some backstory on the goddess, but the role of the divine in the larger scheme of things remains vague. Given how central power and politics are to the plot, I would have liked a stronger connection between the world’s mythology and its current conflicts. Perhaps that will come in book 2!

That ending was absolutely ruthless. It leaves things wide open for the next book, and I’ll definitely be picking it up.

Thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the ARC.