This is a 5 star read. I don't give those out lightly.

This book has mystery, romance, and magic.
2 brothers, a curse, one is The thief and one The liar. A high stakes casino style game to win the ultimate prize, an unbreakable lie. Astra Tremaine is the star of the show.

I seriously loved everything about this book

Ok this was so fun!! Love a good mystery, deception moment! & love that it’s YA! I seem to like those mystery & thrillers better!! Would definitely recommend to my nieces.

This was my first book by Jessica S. Olson and honestly, I really enjoyed it! I didn’t know much going in, but it totally pulled me in from the start.

The story is fast-paced, full of tension, and packed with twists. I really love a morally grey character… or better yet characters….. no one is just good or bad, and that made everything so much more interesting. I also loved how unique the magic system was. It’s not your typical spells-and-wands setup ~ here, secrets are power, and magic is woven into high-stakes games where the risks feel very real. It created such a cool, tense atmosphere that felt fresh and original.

The chemistry between the characters is great, and the emotional undercurrents add so much depth. And yes… it ends on a massive cliffhanger, so I’ll definitely be picking up the next book.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the ARC — I’m really looking forward to seeing where this series goes next!

Den of Liars was such a topsy turvy ride of a book and I loved how much it was constantly surprising me. The entire premise was interesting enough because I'm a huge fan of heists and casinos, but the added magical elements and the myth-like qualities of the Liar and the Thief gave the entire story a Wonderland vibe that just worked so well! The story was perfectly paced and the author gave you just enough information to hook you and also keep you second guessing every character's intentions from beginning to the end. I absolutely can not wait for a sequel to this story!

This book kept me on my toes! I was very intrigued and didn’t have any idea the plot twist that were coming! I would definitely recommend this book to my friends!

In the beginning it felt like Caraval, I won't lie but as I kept reading it got different with the twists and turns. It was such a good read. Cannot wait for book 2 and hope the author has already started on it.

It's about a girl who loses her identity and a thief who is her best friend. The thief hates his brother, the liar and the Female Lead must gamble something as valuable as the liar's secret. This is the lost girl's journey of uncovering truths and lies. But every secret has a price and sometimes it must stay uncovered for the price might be more than it is worth.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

✨Careful, little thief,” I purr as rain begins to fall like stars from the sky. One wrong move, and it will be your last” ✨

📖

Heist gone wrong, a young thief who is forced to take part in the Liar’s dice tournament at the Liar’s den casino. They trade secrets instead of money, what secrets does she have up her sleeve and is she willing to give them away for a price?

My Thoughts:

There were SO many quotes I wanted to put on here but I wound't have had room because they were just TOO good. I loved this book. What an interesting concept! CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE WORLD BUILDING likeee hello?! I WAS HOOKED! The tension between LIAR AND LOLA stop ittt oh my goshhhh. I loved their bantering AND THE NICKNAME! I was swooning so much it was NOT ok. loved how Olsen brings all three characters' stories together. And the magic system with the dice was just the icing on top of this creative magical fantasy world. I’m telling you this will be a book for the rankings right now! I can’t wait to see what happens next !

What to expect:

-DUAL POV

- YA magical elements

- light language

- Fake religious cult

- Heavy make-out scene Ch 35 (lasts 2 pages can skip)

- forced proximity/ loathe to love

- villain you’ll hate to love

-f / f relation mentioned (side character)

- “Someone hurt you... tell me who”

As always thank you to Net galley and Jessica S. Olsen for the ARC review stay Blessed everyone 😊

This was one of my favorite books this year. I was so into the story and I did not want it to end. I loved the character development and loved to see the vulnerability all the characters have or maybe didn’t have (you’ll have to read to find out). I could see everything play out in my head and I can’t wait to find out more.
I also loved how real the characters are. I loved how Jessica made Lola a real person with a “lazy eye” and glasses. It is so real how glasses sometimes get in the way of things and having a backup pair (even though they are the wrong prescription) with you at all times.

4.25⭐️s

Thank you to NetGallery and Macmillan Children’s Publishing group for the opportunity of reading this arc.

This was overall a pretty good book, I liked that every character is complicated and y’know I really can’t put fault on any one of them because they’re all kinda villains of themselves. I also found this to be very intriguing and unique. It’s fast-paced and high stakes so if you’re looking for something along those lines, go for this book! But if you prefer romance in fantasies to be a subplot you probably won’t like that aspect of this book. Though actually I’m looking forward to maybe reading the next installment in the series!

Some of my reasoning for deducting stars is that I don’t feel like I got enough from the story to understand what world building and magic system we were given. I also would have loved to just have seen the tension and angst between Lola and Nic instead of their loathing make outs. I love a very long tortured slow burn so for me that’s what I would have preferred, however, I’m not mad at what we got.

Overall it’s pretty good, would highly recommend it!

Thank you again to NetGallery and the publishers!

Gah! Why is this book over?!?!? I’m not ready for it to end! I need to know what happens next right now!

This was a great book. I really enjoyed Lola and Nic and everything they became to each other. I love how Lola came into her own and started living for herself instead of doing what was expected of her. I love how she figured out Nic’s secrets when it was impossible for him to tell her himself.

While there were parts of the book that were frustrating to me, I think it’s more personal opinion than anything. Very enjoyable book and I really hope there’s a continuation of this story so I can see what happens next.

“Everyone lies.” According to doctor House and this book delves into that theory.
White lies
Big lies
Getting caught
Getting away with it
Hurting people
Saving people
Helping them
Helping yourself
What is the cost for the liar and what is the cost for the person being lied to?
Can you ever trust a liar? Since everybody lies, what value is there in saying you trust anyone? Is trust even possible.

This book was heartbreaking in a few different ways, and I really didn’t expect it. The vibes are six of crows, the casino scene in Percy Jackson, Ocean’s Eleven (except everybody’s against each other) and probably Shameless

There are tons of twists and turns and you’re left wanting more!

I literally read this is one sitting. The beginning was a little bit confusing for me but I pushed through and I am so glad I did.
Magnolia St. James was kidnapped and then offered a deal to survive. She took the deal and now her heart is being shared with someone else. She has to take part in a tournament of sorts where you gamble your secrets to win. This YA book has some romance and fantasy aspects that I really enjoyed. I liked having multiple POVs. I do have some unanswered questions that I am hoping will be answered in the next book!!

I loved the descriptions in this book! The details and imagery made everything feel vibrant and real and added to the magic. The characters were addicting and everyone felt like they had chemistry. I was nervous at first about the potential of a love triangle but was happy to find that there was NO LOVE TRIANGLE. I trusted everyone and no one throughout this entire book. It was maddening in the best way. My one critique is I wish we had seen more of Lola using her wits and creativity to guide how she used the magic (or found a way without magic) rather than just throwing the dice and making things happen. Can't wait for book two!

I posted a review for this book that was intended for another Netgalley ARC. I will return and update this review once I have completed the book. Apologies for the inconvenience!

I devoured this book! It is so unlike anything I have read and I can't wait for others to pick this up! This story follows 2 cursed brothers, The Liar and The Thief, and one girl that gets caught in the mix. The FMC finds herself in a magical casino and entering the Liars Den tournament where magical dice are used to lie and deceive others.

I was obsessed with the snarky banter between all of the characters. It reminds me a little of a "YA Phantasma" (less deadly and less smutty though), Caraval setting, and Salvatore brother vibes. The magic system was a little confusing in the beginning, however you aren't meant to understand everything in the beginning. The mystery unravels as you read and it kept me flipping pages.

You'll love this if you love:
🫦Snarky Banter
❤️‍🔥Loathe to Love (enemies to lovers)
🪄Magic/Illusionist
🐍Betrayal/Deceipt
🤫Secrets
🎲Games/Trails
👓Disability representation

This book holds a special place in my heart as the FMC has the same condition that my toddler was diagnosed with recently; strabismic amblyopia. Thank you Jessica and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The seamless integration of romance and magical elements created a truly captivating reading experience. I found the story to be exceptionally well-crafted and highly recommend it.

When Lola meets Enzo, she’s at her lowest—desperate enough to risk everything for a taste of freedom. She becomes a thief, assisting Enzo in his quest to break the curse that’s bound him. Their journey leads them to the one place Enzo can’t follow: the Liars Den, a high-stakes casino run by his estranged brother, Nic—the very one who cursed him. But this isn’t an ordinary casino; here, secrets are the currency.

Lola must face the Den alone, guarding her identity while navigating a web of lies and temptation. Drawn to Nic despite herself, she’s forced to ask: how far is she willing to go to protect her secrets?

Having never read anything by this author before, I was genuinely surprised by how quickly I was pulled into this story. It’s a fast-paced blend of magic, mystery, and romance that kept me turning pages. At first, I wasn’t sure I could connect with the characters, but as the story unfolded, I became invested in their journey. The ending left me wanting more—but in the best way—and sets up the second installment of this duology perfectly.

This book is a great pick for readers who enjoy magical adventures, forced proximity romance, and a twist of intrigue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

🌟 HOLY HEIST, I’M OBSESSED. 🌟

Den of Liars by Jessica S. Olson is a masterclass in tension, deception, and magical intrigue—and I am not okay (in the best way possible). This book absolutely devoured me. I was sucked in the moment Lola stepped into the Liar’s Dice Tournament, and I swear, I didn’t come up for air until the final page threw me headfirst off a cliff. And now I’m just… spiraling. Flailing. Screaming. Counting down the seconds to the sequel.

Let’s talk about Lola, aka Astra: this girl is sharp and surprisingly unpredictable. She’s been through it, and watching her navigate this maze of secrets, magical dice, and cursed brothers?? Chef’s kiss. She’s bonded to the Thief, emotionally and magically, but then the Liar—his brooding, secret-stuffed, maddeningly magnetic brother—enters the scene and suddenly, we’re all in trouble.

Is it a love triangle? Is it enemies-to-lovers? Is it “I-shouldn’t-want-you-but-I-do” slow-burn angst?? Yes. Yes to everything. The chemistry between Lola and the Liar is 🔥 electric 🔥—full of banter so sharp it could slit your soul and tension so thick you could drown in it. And then there’s the Thief, who has her heart (literally). Every moment is charged, every word drips with subtext and secrets, and the way these characters unravel each other? Exquisite.

And don’t get me started on the setting: a magical casino where they gamble secrets instead of money?? YES PLEASE. The dice magic system is one of the most original I’ve ever read—high-stakes gambling where you’re wagering your own truth?? The concept is as thrilling as it is terrifying. Plus, mirrored starlit floors, secret orchid caves, bioluminescent pools?? I could LIVE in this world.

Olson doesn’t just write a story—she ensnares you in a glittering web of illusions, betrayal, and slow-drip revelations. The pacing is breakneck, but never sacrifices emotional depth. The morally grey cast adds delicious complexity (because let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a morally ambiguous thief or a liar with a tragic past?).

I will say, I need more on the Zenithic gods and religious system, but I’m hopeful the next book will dive into that deeper. Because YES, I need the next book. Immediately. Yesterday, actually.

If you crave tension-laced romance, twisty plots, magical heists, and characters who lie as easily as they breathe—Den of Liars is your next obsession.

Final verdict?
🎲 This book didn’t just play the game—it rigged the table, rolled the dice, and stole my heart while I was distracted by the magic. 🎲
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I liked the plot of this book. Being as it's, a YA book the spice is not really there. But even without all the spice I was interested in the book, not all books have to have a lot of spice.

TLDR: it didn’t really spike my interest until like 50-60% but I didn’t want to DNF another arc.

Lola shares a heart with one brother and must find the secrets of the other brother to free her heart. To do so she has to lie and betray.

Conceptually I quite liked the book. I could tell from the beginning this is supposed to be the first book in a series. A bunch of unanswered questions right from the start. The liars dice tournament didn’t feel very creative or interesting to me, which is sad because that’s most of the book. Lola kind of just randomly comes into knowledge with loose speculation sometimes and honestly some things just genuinely don’t make any sense to me. The romance was fine and pretty clean, but so toxic because of Lola tbh. She’s like “you have to tell me the truth!” To the man that’s cursed to only lie ever, meanwhile she herself is lying to him. Idk it feels like there was a theme that was supposed to be there that wasn’t entirely flushed out so really I just feel confused about it. I have no idea what this book was wanting to tell me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review