Ehhhh, this one was alright. The plot progressed well, which kept me turning the pages. Content-wise though, a little iffy.

⚠️ a minor character appears to identify as they/them
⚠️ there are several usages of the a-, b-, p-, s-, and d-word
⚠️ "as luxurious as sin" 🤨
⚠️ a minor-ish female character has a "wife"
⚠️ very descriptive kisses and (view spoiler)
⚠️ there's a made-up religious group that appears similar to a cult?

👍 FMC = ballerina thief who wears glasses
👍 very creative concept - a little too much casino vibes for me, though

Not sure if I would want to read the sequel when it comes out.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillion Children's Publishing Group, for giving me an ARC of Den of Liars in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book was a vibe. I had no idea what to anticipate coming in, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. I would rate it a solid four stars. The pacing lagged in a few places—there were definitely some dull moments—but the story kept me interested.

The Liar's Dice Tournament has a fantastic and unique premise. I enjoyed the concept of gambling with secrets and wonderful memories. It brought a truly unique spin to the typical fantasy heist scenario. The stakes were high, and I was constantly anticipating what would be revealed next.

My favorite part, though? The romantic interest. Absolutely. . The tension, the chemistry, the vibes—I was living for it. There’s something about morally gray characters and complicated emotions that just hits right for me.

And don't get me started on the cliffhanger. It left me looking at the final page, flicking back as if—that's it?! I really need the next book ASAP because I have so many questions.

Den of Liars was absolutely amazing!! i was completely enthralled the entire time. the descriptions were amazing, the story line, the characters!! i could not put it down, i would read it 10 more times!

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me an earc in return for an honest review. This was a fun YA fantasy with a unique romance subplot reminiscent of Caraval/Once Upon A Broken Heart! The world felt whimsical and magical with lush descriptions. Most of the story takes place in a grand magical casino which was such a unique and atmospheric setting. I loved the descriptions of the illusions and the use of the dice based magic system ( so unique and cool!). While I was reading I felt fully immersed in a lush fantasy world, experiencing the wonder and intrigue alongside the main character.
There were some points where I found the action a little hard to follow, but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.
Overall this book has a unique concept, immaculate vibes, and a fast paced and exciting plot. I would definitely recommend for fantasy lovers and fans of Caraval!

I had a lot of fun with this book! The use of magic and secrets interwoven into cards and poker chips was so unique. At first, I imagined this world in Victorian England for some reason, but realized a but later on that it was contemporary. I wish I knew this a bit earlier, as I had to restructure the world in my mind once we started getting introduced to modern technology. I typically don't care for a contemporary setting, but I didn't mind it in this one.

I do wish we had more heists going on in this story. When I think of heist, I think of multiple steps that require the character to get to the big jackpot. For this, I wanted to see more mini heists that led us to the big secret at the end. I feel like this would have made the story more interesting, as it did tend to drag a bit in the middle.

Other than that, I am curious to see how this progresses in the second installment!

Thank you, NetGalley, the publisher, and Jessica S. Olsen for the ARC!

I wasn’t a huge fan of this book. I loved forgery of roses so I had high hopes for this one too, but I didn’t get attached to any of the characters and the storyline wasn’t as interesting and exciting as I had anticipated.

This was, without a doubt, a top 5 favorite read of 2025! This book was so hard to put down. Den of Liars has everything I love—high-stakes heists, forbidden romance, morally grey characters, and tension that had me yelling at the page.

Lola (aka Astra) is such a strong, layered main character. Her connection with the Thief is so unique and emotional. But then the Liar shows up (his brother), and wow… the chemistry?? The tension?? It’s everything. Add in forced proximity, hidden secrets, and a magic system that feels fresh but easy to follow, and I was completely hooked.

There were so many twists, and I loved how complex and unpredictable the characters were. It’s a fantasy romance with just the right mix of action, emotion, and betrayal—and the whole “shared heart” thing? Genius.

If you’re into heists, magic, secret identities, and morally messy love triangles, you’re gonna love this one.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to be an ARC reader in exchange for an honest review!

In a city where secrets are power and trust can cost you everything. Lola St. James, A.K.A. Astera, has spent years hiding in the shadows after her father's devastating loss in the Liar's Dice Tournament made her a target. She was saved by Enzo, the enigmatic leader of the Tentacles, a man known only as the Thief. Bound by a rare magic that lets them feel each other's emotions, Astra has longed to prove she's more than a girl he rescued and that she's his equal. But when a heist goes south, and the only way forward is to enter the Liar's Dice Tournament herself, Astra finds her world upended. Because the game is run by none other than the Liar, Enzo's estranged and dangerous brother, who is also hiding truths that could shatter everything. Now, caught in a maze of illusions, rivalries, and half-truths, Astra must decide who to trust. Her connection with Enzo runs deep, but the Liar sees through her in ways no one else ever has. With its slightly bumbling but endearing heroine, tension-fueled romance, and layers of mystery, Den of Liars is a thrill ride through high-stakes heists, tangled hearts, and the lies we tell ourselves to survive.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, for the opportunity to review the ebook.

Entertaining read. It will appeal to anyone who loves heists, magic, and romance.

Den of Liars has a pretty unique magic system that I enjoyed learning about. the setting was a casino filled with the Liars illusions.

out July 1

thanks netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

2.5 stars. This didn't feel like a fully finished and edited book as I was reading it. It read a lot like amateur fanfiction (which I do enjoy in it's usual context!) but there wasn't enough on paper world building and what there was felt pretty perfunctory. The main character was a little too obtuse and the plot clues were heavy handed. It very much felt like a guided imagination of a fun/cool scenario, all big ideas and little substance for the reader to track and build on. It was a little hard to stay in the story and invested. They also didn't even let the MMC be properly morally gray, it's immediately made clear that his motives are pure and when he has to do "bad" things to achieve his aims it pains him. Not so interesting. Idk, definitely has potential, but didn't quite do it for me. Very appreciative of the ARC and the chance to check it out though!

This book is a wild ride you will experience all emotions when reading this book. Secrets and lies are the currency of this magical world. This was a very unique and vibrant book that will such you in and leave you asking for more. I can not wait to see what Nic and Lola get up to after that massive cliffhanger.

Let me start by saying this: I have been thoroughly, deliciously bamboozled.
No one—and I mean no one—prepared me for the way this book would hijack my emotions, leave me mesmerized, and then shove me off a cliff. Yes, it ends on that kind of cliffhanger. And the cruelest twist of fate? The book doesn’t even officially release until July. I was lucky (or was I cursed?) to receive an early copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and now I’m left here, frazzled, cursing the stars and counting down the days until book two. I am betrayed. I am blessed. I am in bookish purgatory.
And I regret nothing.
Den of Liars is that book—the kind that grips you by the collar from the very first sentence and drags you willingly into its world of secrets, magic, and silver-tongued deception. You don’t read this book—you surrender to it. It’s a siren’s song spun from ink and shadow and the sparkling call of starlight, and heaven help me, I followed it right into the deep.
The plot? Flawless. The writing? Lyrical and razor-sharp. Jessica S. Olsen doesn’t just tell a story—she weaves it, like a spell. Every page thrums with tension, every twist lands like a dagger to the gut, and the characters… oh, the characters. They're perfectly flawed, magnetic, and maddening in the best way.
Then there’s the heroine—a quirky, fierce force of nature who gives the villain a run for his money at every turn. She’s sharp, unpredictable, and utterly captivating. Where he’s brooding and dangerous, she’s bold, defiant, and refuses to let him have all the control. Watching them clash? It’s electric.
And don’t even get me started on the love triangle-that-may-not-be-a-love-triangle-but-could-possibly-be-a-love-triangle-and-might-just-be-one—and do I even want it to be a love triangle? Because VILLAIN? I’m on the fence. Teetering. Spiraling. Because... THE VILLAIN. And why am I rooting for the villain? Oh wait—because he's the villain. And the looks—my gods, the looks. The ones that scream a thousand words without him uttering a single one. The angst! The chemistry! The banter so sharp it could slice glass! This book is a symphony of longing, betrayal, and unraveling truths, set against a backdrop of mystery, magic, and lies—so many glorious, glorious lies.
STARS, WHY IS BOOK TWO SO FAR AWAY?!
If there was ever a story I was meant to read, it was this one.
Read it. Suffer with me. Roll the dice and enter the Den of Liars. You’ll love every second of it.

I loved this story! I am hoping there will be a sequel and that it dives deeper into the Theif and the Liar's past more. I hope Lola gets the justice she deserves for everything she's been through and that she can be loved and trust others.

Thank you to Net Galley and the author for this arc. The first few chapters did not immediately pull me in so I was afraid I wouldn't enjoy this read but I ended up loving it. While at times the characters and chapters were a bit boring, other quickly had faster paced and sucked me back in. I loved Astra and both brothers (obviously Liar more.... being the "bad guy" and all). I appreciated that there wasn't a rush in the relationship development between Astra and Liar. It flowed very well and cohesively. The game was thrilling and made me feel very emotionally investing to how deceiving you would have to be to win. I had no idea that this book was the 1st to a series until I kept getting closer and closer to the end and then the cliffhangers hit. I look forward to reading more of this story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for this arc!

I wasn’t familiar with this author and now I’m so excited to see more of her work! Loved this book! It gave serious Caraval vibes but was totally unique! I loved it!

4.5 stars

This was fun! It gave darker Caraval with Six of Crows and a bit of Inheritance Games vibes.

The story fast paced and hard to put down. I loved that everyone was a little morally grey. I thought the tension and chemistry between Lola and the Liar was done really well. (Yay for forced proximity!) I also liked seeing Lola grow as a character throughout the story as she uncovered more about what she thought she knew. The magic system with the dice was unique. Can't wait to see what happens next after that ending!

Thank you so much Netgalley for the arc!
During the first chapter or two I wasn’t sure if this was the book for me but then Lola entered the Liar’s Den dice tournament and I was HOOKED. I was reading this book in every second of free time I had. Cursed brothers, a magical casino full of illusions, gambling of secrets, magical dice, tension, romance, betrayal! This book has it all. I was fully ensnared in the descriptions of what Lola was seeing and experiencing in her time at the casino. Ebony floors, secret pool caves full of orchids and bioluminescence, mirrored floors that reflect starlight. So magical and whimsical!
I’m so glad we got the Liar’s pov throughout this book because Lola comes into his casino with a dozen pre-assumed villainous ideas about him and getting to understand his thoughts, ideas and wants was a huge part of this story. Maybe the villain is not who you think it is, no? Lola was also an amazing character. She was so incredibly strong for everything she went through, all the emotional ups and downs of her past and how it started interweaving into her present self. She truly allowed herself to feel and want things for herself and put herself first. Her introspection and facing the hard things head on was admirable. I loved her a lot!
I highly recommend everything Jessica Olson writes!

This was unexpectedly fun. It's Caraval meets Six of Crows meets Inheritance Games, with the twists and turns of Once Upon a Broken Heart. Read this in two days, and that's saying a lot because I'm usually distracted when I read and this had me engrossed.
Loved the premise of this. The mystery and the allure of the two brothers (The Thief and The Liar) was topnotch, and my only complaint would be that I didn't know this wasn't a standalone! This book has yet to be released and I'm already PINING for the sequel.

A DEFINITE addition to our collection when it comes out. And it will also be in my go-to recommendations list!

A surprisingly delightful new romantasy with an enjoyable magic system, setting, and trio of characters.

Okay...I need to scream after that ending! No spoilers, but I love how everything built up to such a satisfying cliff-hanger.

Lola enters the Liar's Dice Tournament with her own motives and spends the competition (which is unique and showcases some really cool magic dice!) trying to out-lie the Liar himself while getting pulled into his allure. On the surface, this is a fun romantasy with a spin on the love triangle and tournament plot, but the heart of the characters and the way Lola has to slowly unravel the lies she's believed in her own life really drove me through the pages. I couldn't put it down!

Highly recommend this and can't wait to see what happens in book two!

The Thief and the enigmatic Liar. This book is full of adventure and tension (the good kind). While giving off vibes of Caraval, this is a story all its own. I personally find that the burn is a bit hotter in this book. Great world building without being overkill. Go read this book!