“A little thief and a little liar.”

If you’re a fan of “Caraval” by Stephanie Garber snatch this up.

I honestly think this is the sort of book that the Booktok girlies will absolutely LOVE. It’s kind of got everything you want in a YA Romantasy—a badass female main character, a little bit of a love triangle but not in a way you’d expect, enemies to lovers, and like “I can fix him” villain. I mean, yes, please.

I really enjoyed the overall story, and while I was slightly annoyed that I was going to get a setup for the next one and not get my happily ever after near the end, I can tell this is going to be a fun and compelling series.

On a world building spectrum, I’d say it’s of the same caliber as “Devine Rivals”—where the world isn’t super deep and there are definitely some gaps that could’ve been explained better, but it didn’t make me not enjoy the story. I thought the world was nice and expansive, definitely fit for a series. I like a lot of the quirks with Gods and the secrets of the Deep and believing in the Stars. It was definitely something new and rich to keep me entertained.

Character wise. I appreciated that none of the characters were these cookie-cutter, stock images. Lola has an engaging backstory, interesting motivation, and a decent personality. At times, I felt she was a little teeter-totter-y in the way that she just couldn’t decide if she wanted to be a thief or someone who had morals. On the other hand, I liked how grey both the Liar and the Thief were; it made their dynamics very interesting to read about. And let me just say, the Liar… hello, oh my God. If he’s morally grey, then grey is my new favorite color. He’s quite possibly my favorite love interest I’ve read about in a while.

Romance wise. I very much felt like I only got a tiny taste of it in this book, but I’m not particularly mad about it. I liked the sort of enemies to lovers and hate to love thing going on. And some of the scenes... MHMM, I was melting and kicking my feet.

Closing thoughts: this is sort of what I wished “Caraval” would’ve given me, and I was exceptionally pleased with this book. I will absolutely be reading the second one.

Note: I’m actually bouncing with joy that I get to review this. Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGallery for letting me read this early!

Oh my goodness,that cliff hanger ending has me shouting "I WANT MORE!!" I thought the plot was so intriguing and it has such a fun and unique magic system. Are you devious enough to win the Liar's dice tournament or stealthy enough to join the Tentacle? The Liar's Den will have you wanting to do both! 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.

Discover heart-pounding action, twists and turns, and fast-paced storytelling in this enemies-to-lovers romance that gets better and better every chapter. I am dying for the second book and this one hasn’t even officially released!!

I absolutely loved Lola’s character and the MMCs.

Den of Liars by Jessica S. Olson keeps you on your toes!!

With Lola, the FMC, stuck with conflicting feelings and questioning her truths, she is thrown into a game of deceit. In this game, secrets become currency and you cannot trust your own judgment. She will be faced with choices that will make or break her. Past trauma, family ties and new found friendships will all be tested in order to keep her biggest secrets from coming out. Can she hold onto who she is while others expect her to fall in line?

The Liar, the MMC, past and present collide in a way that makes him reflect on his past choices. He is stuck between continuing on with how the world and his brother views him and being honest even when he can’t. He is the barter within his resort and when gambling with him, one should be sure to not give away secrets that they don’t want the world to know. Yet, he gives his secrets up to become vulnerable and to tell his truth to someone who may not have the best intentions.

With dark twists, thrill, and forbidden romance you’ll be addicted to this story right away. The character development, world building and fast paced thrill you’ll be craving the next book as soon as your finished reading.

This book was excellent. The story focuses on two main characters and their viewpoints alternate throughout the book. This offered a deeper understanding of the characters and their motives; however, not all secrets are revealed. This leaves the reader asking questions and wanting to know more. I am sad that I will have to wait until 2026 to read the second book of this duology.

Not only is the character development great, but the plot leaves me wanting to solve the same mystery, the female character does. Secrets are revealed, and it leaves you questioning everything you thought you knew.

There are a lot of great themes in the book: integrity, friendship, sacrifice, and courage. It has you revisiting your values and morals, and questioning, is it always black and white? Could there be situations where our decisions call for us to be morally grey to protect those that we love or care about? How do our decisions in a Kinney influence or impact others?

Overall, this was a fantastic read and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. If you enjoy a little mystery and romance (not spicy) then you may enjoy this book.

This IS a good book. I can objectivly say that. The magic system is so unique to anything I've read before and the heist/undercover theif plot was very promising.

Somehow, I had a hard time getting into it. I think I only started having fun at about 70% in. At points, I just felt like the games and trials aspect wasn't high-stakes at all, the deceving wasn't very memorable because we know all (or most) of the facts due to different POVs; the reader themselves isn't really getting deceived, and I just did not feel the need to root for Enzo as he's barely there, pops up at inconvenient times and generally just seems to be making her job harder for her. I think if Enzo was a more loved character to the reader it would've helped me be more invested in her mission from the start and it would've hurt so much more at the end.

The Liar is a great character, I loved the tension between him and Lola and especially loved finding out more about his personality (unlike Enzo's). I might have even prefered it he didn't get any POVs to make the reader question just what he believes and thinks the whole time.

The ending was what makes me forget all my uncertainties with this book. I would've loved book 2 to be about the partnership with the other brother, but this is just even better.

Jessica S. Olson's "Den of Liars" is a captivating blend of heist thriller, romantic intrigue, and fantastical world-building. It plunges readers into a world where secrets are currency, and deception is an art form, all wrapped up in a compelling narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Lola St. James, or Astra as she's known in the shadowy world of the Tentacles, is a protagonist with a compelling mix of vulnerability and determination. Her unique connection to the Thief, stemming from their shared heart, adds a fascinating layer to her character and the story's dynamics. Olson skillfully portrays the complex relationship between Lola and the Thief, highlighting the delicate balance between loyalty and sacrifice.

The Liar's Dice Tournament itself is a stroke of genius, a high-stakes game where players wager their deepest secrets, creating a sense of constant tension and intrigue. The game serves as a perfect backdrop for the story's themes of deception and hidden truths, and Olson masterfully uses it to reveal the characters' inner workings.

The introduction of the Liar, the Thief's enigmatic brother, elevates the story to another level. His presence sparks a compelling romantic tension with Lola, adding a delicious layer of complexity to her already complicated situation. The dynamic between Lola, the Thief, and the Liar is a masterclass in slow-burn romance, full of stolen glances, hidden agendas, and undeniable chemistry.

Olson's world-building is rich and immersive, creating a vivid and atmospheric setting for the story to unfold. The illusions and fantastical elements are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, adding a touch of magic to the otherwise gritty world of thieves and secrets.

"Den of Liars" is a thrilling and addictive read, filled with unexpected twists and turns. It's a story that explores the power of secrets, the complexities of relationships, and the importance of confronting the truths we hide from ourselves. With its compelling characters, intricate plot, and captivating world, this book is sure to leave readers wanting more.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

After reading Olsons last book ‘Sing Me Forgotten’, I know that ‘Den of Liars’ was a book that needed to be in my hands immediately.

This book was a thrilling mix of heists, high-stakes gambling, and forbidden romance….possibly even a love triangle, set in a world where secrets are the ultimate currency.

In this story we have our main charcater Lola who enter a tournament- the Liar’s Dice Tournament which adds a unique dark twist, filled with both mystery and intrigue.

At time, the pacing did stumble at times, but with the rich worldbuilding, clever twists, and a heroine determined to outplay them all, make up for this incredible must-read book!

Fans of Caraval, Six of Crows, and a Temptest of Tea will surely need to dip their toes in this one!

I was very intrigued by the description of this book, but for me the characters and story fell a little flat. I still really enjoyed this read despite the disappointment after having finished it.

Wow this book was amazing. The world and characters were so unique. The magic system was so unique. The twist and turns had me shocked!

A captivating romantic fantasy filled with excellent world-building, complex characters, and a high stakes plot. Oh, and the food descriptions...yum. I will be patiently awaiting part two.

Den of Liars is a thrilling whirlwind that hooked me from the very first page. Lola St. James is a force of nature, a skilled thief trying to prove herself while grappling with a past she can’t outrun. Lola’s journey through betrayal, self-discovery, and desire had me on the edge of my seat, constantly torn between rooting for her and wondering what the next twist would be. This is a high-stakes Ya fantasy romance that blends danger and passion into something unforgettable. I will be definitely for the next book.

Absolutely incredible, the world building and magic systems are unique and draw you in. The characters are relatable and have a lot of depth to them. There were many twists, the further along and more conflicted the situation became the harder it was to know what was real (similar to what the FMC experienced). I still don’t fully know which characters to love and which to loathe but in the best way.

I’m incredibly grateful to have received this ARC!

Den of Liars is a thrilling YA fantasy romance that had me hooked from the start. Jessica S. Olson crafts a world full of secrets, high stakes, and emotional intensity. The writing is sharp, blending mystery, romance, and adventure seamlessly. Lola’s struggle to balance loyalty, love, and the dark world she inhabits makes for an emotional rollercoaster, and I couldn’t get enough. The emotional connection between her and the Thief is palpable, but the complexities introduced by the Liar add layers of tension and drama. It’s a story about secrets, choices, and the blurry lines between right and wrong, with just enough romance and intrigue to to leave you desperate for more, and after that cliffhanger, I’m left absolutely dying to find out what happens next!

Argh!!! Two things I need to scream right now: I absolutely loved this book, and I’m furious that I only realized it’s part of a duology (or maybe a trilogy—who knows?) when I hit that cliffhanger!

This book delivers heart-pounding action, intricate twists within twists like Russian dolls, sharp execution, fast-paced storytelling, and a fiery enemies-to-lovers romance that lights up every chapter! Nothing is as it seems in this Inheritance Games-meets-Ocean’s Eleven with a magical twist, complete with thrilling mind games, dark secrets, and a tantalizing web of betrayal and trust between brothers. I couldn’t get enough, and I practically screamed for Jessica S. Olsen to release the next book soon—I need more of this magical casino world, the high-stakes Liar’s Dice Tournament, and the Devious Brothers’ mind games!

The story follows Lola St. James, daughter of a dangerous crime mogul who loses her identity in a high-stakes game of Liar's Dice - a tournament where players gamble their deepest secrets. When the rival Salazar family puts a target on her head, she's saved by Enzo, the notorious leader of the Tentacles, but at the cost of sharing her heart with him.

Reinventing herself as Astra, she transforms into an accomplished thief, dying her blonde hair brown and perfecting her skills in climbing and stealth. Meanwhile, she harbors resentment toward her father, who never searched for her after she faked her death. Enzo seeks revenge against his brother, known as "Liar," who cursed him to steal people's starlights (souls) and bound him to Lola's heart.
When Lola convinces Enzo to attempt a heist during the legendary Liar's Dice Tournament to steal a watch containing clues about a hidden moonshard, she's caught by Liar himself. He challenges her to compete in the tournament until midnight - a game she accepts while concealing her true motives from Enzo. As she navigates three increasingly dangerous challenges, she must contend with a sabotaging blonde competitor and Liar's hawkish surveillance.

The story takes an unexpected turn as Lola's growing attraction to Liar forces her to question everything she believes. Could he be a broken hero rather than a villain, sacrificing himself to protect something vulnerable?

While the cliffhanger ending may frustrate readers eager for resolution, it perfectly sets up the anticipated sequel. The strength of the narrative lies in its ability to constantly subvert expectations while maintaining a breakneck pace that never sacrifices character development or emotional depth.

Five stars, and here’s hoping book two arrives soon or that I get lucky with another early reading opportunity!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Feiwel & Friends for this unputdownable fantasy ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.