This was a bit confusing to me. Very Interesting premise about a heist, a thief, a liar and a girl that was “kidnapped” (or rescued?) and now has to share a heart with the guy that took her. He needs to use people to survive. In order to get free from this, she has to help him trying to look for a moonshard that supposedly can free them from all of this. The only issue is that the object is inside his brother’s casino, one he has been blocked from accessing.

Lola, the girl, decides to enter the casino and join the Liar’s Dice Tournament, an annual event where people have to gamble one of their deepest secrets in order to win an unbreakable lie. While the tournament is happening, she is set on a mission to find the moonshard that will free her from sharing a heart and the thief from being dependent on other people to survive.

The Liar, the brother who runs the game, is a man full of secrets and illusions and someone she sees as an enemy. As they know each other more, she starts realizing that he is more than she bargained for. Her attraction for him grows while she is forced to confront the secrets of her past and find the truth about what really happened in between the brothers.

I was not sure I was really getting things until around 65% of the story. I do have to say the MC’s made me giggle! The banter and attraction between them were good but I expected more. I do understand this is YA so there’s a certain limitarion to it.

In general I think there were too many things to grasp and understand at the same time with not a lot of clear explanations. Moonshards, soullight, starlight, voratium… my brain was working overtime and I found myself struggling to pick this back up. It did get better and a little easier halfway in.

It’s a very creative story, but I felt like it almost did too much and felt more confusing than it should.

I am such a sucker for a good heist book. While the actual heist was still really interesting for me the magic system stole the show. The scarcity of magic in this world while simultaneously being a huge commodity was a cool way to bring in the crime elements as well as the game that the heist centers around. I liked how the magic could be contained in the dice or other objects making it more available to other characters but while The Thief and The Liar had more unique capabilities they still relied on these tools. It made Lola's understanding and use of magic a really cool element of the story. The setting was stunning and really brought the game to life. I loved how it had a bit of a vintage Vegas vibe and showmanship. This was particularly well done with The Liar and seeing the different sides of his public vs private persona. I also enjoyed how the main three characters are all intertwined through the magic but also all keeping their own secrets. I am so looking forward to the next book and seeing more of this captivating world.

Readers who love Caraval will love this book, and its world of competition, luxury, and being betrayed by your senses.

While I loved the premise of the book, the story started off quite slow. In particular, there was a lot of “telling, not showing” heavy moments in the first few chapters that I think could have been handled with a bit more nuance. And yet, despite these information dumps on the actions being taken, the world building and setting the scene was pretty surface level to me. It took several chapters for me to even understand the age of the characters, making it difficult to envision in the start. Additionally, the magic system didn’t feel fully baked (though perhaps that will become clearer in the next book?), nor did the religion system.

The three main characters were intriguing. I felt invested in trying to understand the relationship dynamics between them and in trying to parse out their secrets.

Overall, I would say this book was okay, but ultimately I found myself wanting a bit more in terms of world building and plot development.

Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel and Friends for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Den of Liars is about Lola who was saved by Enzo, the Thief, four years ago. As a bargain, she consented to sharing her heart with him which links the two of them together until she dies. Now, Enzo needs Lola to enter the Liar's Tournament run by his brother, Nic. Before she can enter the Tournament, she must offer her biggest secret. We follow along with Lola's journey in the Liar's Tournament, her self-discovery, and trust. This is a first person dual-POV YA fantasy high-stakes heist romance with a complex love triangle that isn't a true love triangle.

I was hooked almost right away in this book. Olson does a good job of introducing this new world and magic system while still leaving us readers with some questions that hopefully will be answered in the second book. There was vivid imagery of the magic system and the mystical casino setting. The casino is where the majority of the story takes place. I do wish that more of the story took place outside of the casino, I understand why it had to be that way and was pleased with how everything was tied together.

As for the magic system, this is the first time I've read a book with dice magic like this where the dice had to be rolled in order to take effect. It was unique and refreshing.

The character development in this was good overall. Lola is fierce, clever, and morally gray as she is also a thief. I enjoyed reading about her complex relationships with each of the two brothers. Each of the brothers have their own complex story line. For this being the first book in a series, I think the development of all three characters was well done and hope to learn more in the next one!

I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a fantasy book mixed with a casino heist plot as well a (sort of) love triangle!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Den of Liars by Jessica S. Olson is a first person dual-POV YA fantasy romance with a complex love triangle that isn’t really a love triangle. Four years ago, Enzo saved Lola’s life and in the process she gave him a piece of her heart, linking the two together. Now Enzo needs Lola to enter the Liar’s Tournament run by his brother, Nic and offer up one of her own secrets in the process. But nobody is expecting sparks to fly between Lola and Nic.

The book opens in a way that feels like a love triangle where the main character has to choose between two brothers is going to happen and technically yes, but not in the way we’re used to. As of this book there is nothing romantic going on between Enzo and Lola, which is very interesting considering they share a heart. They view each other as siblings and have a very close bond, but there’s nothing in really indicating romantic feelings are going to develop in the next book either. This was probably the part of the book I liked the most because it flips a popular trope on its head and never says romantic love is more important than platonic love. Lola’s relationship with Enzo is just as important and just as messy as her relationship with her romantic interest Nic. It doesn’t pull the rug out from under you because nothing about how Lola describes Enzo feels romantic. She clearly loves him, but not all love between men and women leads to romance.

The magic system is not fully explained. We know that some people have magic but not everyone does. Nic is bound to tell lies and the casino he runs is packed with illusions. He can take people’s secrets and keep them in empty dice as well as small pieces of magic that let other people impact the thoughts and actions of others. There’s curses and Enzo is said to be immortal as well. I’m curious to see how the magic system is developed in the next book and how it’s all linked together.

The world feels like an alternative 1930s. Between the casino, Nic’s fedora, and the tech level, it is familiar enough while also very much not being our world. Almost everything happens in the casino or if it didn’t happened in someone’s memories and we explore the scene with the magic system. There is some lore regarding faith that uses the term ‘priests’ but might be closer to Protestantism.

Content warning for mentions of child abuse

I would recommend this to fans of YA romantasy that don’t play tropes completely straight and readers of 1930’s-inspired fantasy

A game of lies. Who wouldn’t want to read a book about that? I enjoyed the elements of the game, and I loved both Nic/The Liar and the casino. At first, I really disliked Lola. Her naivety, her meekness, it was too much. But the more she saw the life outside of Enzo, the more I grew to like her.

This was a fun read. I’m definitely looking forward to future books in this series.

Thank you to MacMillan and NetGalley for the ARC!

3.25 Stars

Den of Liars was an entertaining read, full of fantastical elements and illusion. The characters felt a little flat and I do wish we had more dimension to understand them better. The setting was fun and unique but the world building could have been better fleshed out.

I would absolutely recommend for anyone to read this, especially for a quick and fun time, despite these personal critiques. This was a fun read!

ARC Review: Den of Liars by Jessica S. Olson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley and to Feiwel and Friends for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! I went in pretty blind in terms of what the storyline was going to be, other than knowing it is a YA romantasy. I loved the world-building and the vivid imagery of the magic system that Olson created. This was my first time reading a book with dice magic, and I loved the idea that rolling each die had a different effect. The slow burn and pining of Lola and Nic’s romantic tension was top tier! I want more of them! I do wish we’d gotten more answers to the questions being asked at the end of the novel, but I guess we’ll have to wait for book two!

Den of Liars will release July 1st 2025!

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC of Den of Liars by Jessica S. Olson!

I had such a good time with this book. The premise felt unique, and I was immediately hooked by the whole mystery of how the curse worked and what the magic really was. It gave just enough detail to keep me curious without overexplaining. Jessica S. Olson did an awesome job building a magic system that felt unique but still had clear rules and limits, it never felt too convenient or overpowered, which I really appreciated.

The whole gambling/casino vibe tied to the Liars’ magic so perfectly as well. It added this constant tension because every scene felt like someone could be bluffing, and the stakes always felt high. I loved how the magic wasn’t just for show, it was all about manipulation and strategy, which fit the story and curse theme so well.

And then there’s Lola, I loved her. She’s smart, calculating, and kind of a mess in the best way. Watching her evolve through all the twists and betrayals was so satisfying. She’s one of those characters that you root for even when she’s making risky decisions because you get why she’s doing it. I honestly can’t wait to see how her character continues to grow in book two.

This line was my favorite-
“Dear, if anyone ever tells you to distrust everyone but them, they aren’t interested in truth. Only control.”
It sums up so much of the vibe of the book in just one sentence.

If you’re into YA fantasy with morally gray characters, high-stakes magic, and a FMC who definitely has more than one trick up her sleeve, Den of Liars needs to be on your TBR. I’m already counting down to book two!

This was a fun read! It was a little slow at first, and I thought this book was about to be like Caraval, but I was happily proven wrong! There was a lot of action within this casino heist themed book.

I thought Lola was a great example on how easily young people can be manipulated. She is incredibly strong from what she went through, however, she did feel very naive.

Lola and the Liar had great banter! I liked how we learned about his magic along with her, however, I thought it was kinda odd that we got to learn his real name before she did through the chapter POV. It would have been nice to give us his POV with the chapters calling him ‘The Liar’ and then switching to his real name after Lola learned it - if that makes sense.

It might be a personal preference, but a fedora? No thank you. I thought the Liar was an interesting character to learn about! He seemed to hold a decent amount of depth, but between him, Lola, and Enzo, it felt like they were all immature teenagers (maybe they are & I missed that?).

The story telling and world building was okay! I was getting confused during certain parts, I felt like some scenes had maybe a little too much detail & that caused the confusion?

Overall, it was a decent book!

2.5⭐️ Rounded up!

I received an ARC from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Den of Liars hooked me from the very first chapter! I was a little skeptical at first, but it definitely blew my expectations out of the water!! The stakes were high and the action stayed rolling in this casino heist-themed story. Great world-building, fun magical elements, and delightful twists made it so much more in depth than what appears on the surface. I absolutely cannot wait for the next one!

Lola & The Liar had such fantastic banter and tension that kept me eager for more. I loved the multi POV, although I did wish for more from The Liar’s side. Hopefully this will happen in the future, maybe with a little spice thrown in…? 😏

I am loving the era of games and trials! This book delivered! I was so invested in what was going to happen next. The female main character completely reinvented herself to deceive what are her true intentions are in the game. I won’t lie, I’m not a fan of cliffhangers but this had me in a trance, I will gladly wait.

I really didn't like this, almost at all. It has a few interesting things that keeps me from a 1-star but the bland, naive protagonist, and many many plot contrivances were extremely grating.

In a world of religious zealots and magic from the stars, Magnolia St. James relies on Enzo, a thief so notorious they call him The Thief, for her protection and training. After a run in with Enzo's brother, The Liar, Lola has a chance to steal the source of his magic if she participates in a supposedly dangerous game in The Liar's Den.

This did not have a good start, and didn't do anything to win be over later. It starts out with so much needless exposition without SHOWING any of the characters' personalities, or even how the world works. The only thing I really get a feel for is the casino. I'm not sure if we're in a sci-fi city, a medieval one, a dystopian? We're told how close Enzo and Lola are, but I don't really feel it. It only gets worse with how many times Lola insists that she's a great thief and ready for a dangerous heist, but she makes stupid mistake after stupid mistake. She's so easily manipulated it's embarrassing. The amount of highlights I have that just say "WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS??" is astounding. But of course, things work out for her anyway, whether it's getting completely lucky or just using magic to finish the task quick and easy.

The Liar, Nic, could be an interesting character, but he gets bogged down by flowery writing or just weird design choices. He's constantly described as wearing a purple fedora (why gross) and having a "gemstone" eye with slicked back hair. We're supposed to be attracted to him, but I was close to cringing every time his appearance is mentioned. His backstory is also pretty weak. I won't spoil anything but I didn't really buy into why he betrayed Enzo or why it couldn't be cleared up with a simple conversation.

The writing also feels full of itself. I could pull out so many lines that were just begging to be quoted on someone's tiktok edit, but felt so fake and generic considering the juvenile circumstances. Things like "He is beautiful, but dangerous things often are" had me just rolling my eyes.

So I wouldn't recommend this, but there are some things keeping me from giving it one star:
- Nic / The Liar is an intriguing character and I wanted to know more despite him being kind of a whiner
- Lola has a disability in her lazy eye and it does actually affect her and the story, not just something cosmetic, and she doesn't even think it makes her "ugly" or w/e bullshit could have been said about it
- The magic system is fun with it being from falling stars, and the use of metal to harness magic was cool
- The casino is a fun setting despite the rest of the world feeling empty

Overall, made me frustrated and I don't recommend.

I am conflicted with this one... I realy enjoyed it but I also just didn't feel connected with it at all. It was interesting and fun, and the banter between characters, especially the Liar and Lola, was great.
While I was enjoying the story, I also though never felt a strong pull to keep reading or to pick it back up - no urge to find out what was going to happen. When it comes to a fantasy romance like this, I need to really care about the characters, feel attached to them - I want that giddy, kicking my feet feeling, and I never got it in this unfortunately.
I may pick up the next book still though, because I am intrigued by the ending and what is going to happen to the Liar and Lola and their relationship.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I’ve enjoyed previous books by Jessica S. Olson in the past, so I jumped at the chance to try more from her with Den of Liars. It also worked out that I’m reading this for the “Ketterdam” leg of the Amazing Readathon (while I have yet to read any of the Grishaverse, I couldn’t resist the irony of reading a fantasy heist book during a leg centered around the location of a more famous fantasy heist book). And I had a lot of fun with this one.
The world building is so interesting. While I did wish there was a greater sense of place beyond the casino and games, I was nonetheless charmed by all of it, especially the way the card and dice games worked.
While the characters aren’t necessarily the deepest in the world, I did still like them, especially with their moral ambiguity and the focus on them trying to outwit one another. Lola is a compelling protagonist with her own darkness, due to the loss of her father to the Liar’s Dice Tournament, and I love how this drives her.
Enzo, the Thief, and Nic, the Liar, were also both intriguing, both for their mysterious, rather dysfunctional brother relationship, and Lola being used by both of them against the other. This sabotage element was the most interesting element of the book, so I admit I wasn’t sure how to feel about the romance. However, it’s more of a side plot that perfectly complements the main action, and I ended up enjoying the subtle buildup alongside the main conflict.
And with such high-stakes and tension, there’s a lot going on, so I remained invested, constantly turning pages to see what would happen next.
I had a lot of fun with this one, and I’d recommend it to readers searching for a thrilling YA fantasy heist book.

✨️ARC✨️
Den of Liars Is an absolute page-turner that hooks you from the very first sentence. I loved every minute I spent with this book, with its exhilarating plot and emotional richness! The relationship between the brothers, Enzo and Nic, alongside the captivating FMC Lola, creates a thrilling dynamic filled with love, witty exchanges, protective tendencies, lying, thieving, and misguided decisions. The myriad traumas they have each experienced add layers to their individual and combined journeys, and I am hopeful for their eventual redemption and happiness. I am eager to see how the characters evolve and to learn more about the intricacies of their unique magic system. Thank You NetGalley for the arc!!

Den of Liars offers a richly imaginative world where secrets have weight, emotions are shared through magical bonds, and trust is the most dangerous game of all. Jessica S. Olson crafts an intriguing premise with the Liar’s Dice Tournament—a high-stakes competition where players gamble with their most personal truths—which brings a clever twist to the fantasy heist genre.

Lola (aka Astra) is a compelling protagonist, torn between loyalty, love, and the pursuit of identity. Her emotional connection to the enigmatic Thief is unique and touching, and her interactions with the mysterious Liar add plenty of tension and romantic intrigue. The love triangle at the heart of the story is layered with betrayal, longing, and blurred truths that kept me curious about how it would unfold.

The book shines brightest in its concept and atmosphere. The world of the Tentacles and the tournament itself are filled with danger, glamor, and deception, and the stakes feel personal and high.

That said, while the setup is strong, the pacing falters in places, and some emotional beats feel underdeveloped. I occasionally found myself wanting deeper insight into the characters’ motives, especially as the story twisted and turned toward its conclusion. Still, the novel’s ambition and aesthetic will appeal to fans of morally gray characters, romantic tension, and magical high-stakes games.

Overall, Den of Liars is a creative, stylish read that didn’t quite hit every mark for me—but I appreciated its originality and immersive worldbuilding. Readers who enjoy fantasy with romantic drama and clever twists will likely find a lot to enjoy here.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a completely different fantasy than I’ve read lately & I loved that! The magic is new compared to other fantasies I’ve read. The atmosphere is described perfectly. The love triangle is immersive. I NEED to know where Lola goes from here!!

Can’t wait for book 2…

Den of Liars pulls you in immediately with Lola’s story—a hidden daughter of a powerful crime boss, kept secret from the world. At just 15, she’s taken, or rescued, depending on your perspective, by the elusive Thief. She strikes a deal that binds her so tightly to him, it’s as if they become one.

The worldbuilding hints at deeper things: a unique magic system, spiritual powers, and a city where loyalty is always for sale. But the fantasy elements remain relatively light. The writing leans heavily on telling rather than showing, which at times made it harder to fully connect to the characters or the emotional stakes.

Lola is an intriguing lead, though her sheltered upbringing often clashes with the ease at which she navigates dangerous, high-stakes scenarios. She’s portrayed as clever and strategic, but her youth and inexperience occasionally make her insights and instincts feel unearned. I found myself wishing for more grounded emotional depth, moments that showed her inner turmoil rather than simply stating it.

That said, there’s no denying the appeal of certain scenes—especially the casino sequence, which I think Phantasma fans will appreciate (though be warned, this is not a spicy romance). The romantic thread is more relational than steamy, and that slower, more emotional build worked well for me.

The book ends on a cliffhanger that practically demands the next installment, and while I had mixed feelings about the execution, I’m still curious to see how it all plays out.

A special thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Massive thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC!

I thought a fantasy heist couldn’t surprise me—but Den of Liars did just that. We follow Lola St. James (aka Astra), a skilled thief with a heart literally tethered to the charismatic “Thief.” When she enters the high‑stakes Liar’s Dice Tournament at a magical casino—where secrets are gambled, not coins—she’s thrust into a world of deception and danger.

What worked:

Magical premise: A tournament where contestants bet their deepest truths? So fresh and as addictive as that first roll of the dice.
Complex heroine: I adored Lola’s blend of cunning, trauma, and heart—particularly her glasses-wearing, heart-linked-to-an-MMC uniqueness brought powerful representation and charm.
Atmospheric world‑building: The casino setting feels cinematic—glittering yet ominous—and the magic system is clever and integrated beautifully.
Romantic tension & emotional stakes: Torn between two stunningly wounded brothers—with the Thief sharing her heart and the Liar tempting her in dangerous ways—the romantic tension crackles. It’s more nuanced than a classic love triangle.

What held me back:

Slow first act: It takes a while to find its footing though once the tournament kicks in, the pace grabs you.
Minor pacing dips: A few sections could’ve been tighter; some internal ruminations felt repetitive before the action heated up.

Who this is for:
If you’re into YA fantasy with umami-tier world-building, moral ambiguity, dark academia/heist vibes, and slow-burn, emotionally complex romance, this is your next read. Picture The Inheritance Games meets One Dark Window, with a harder edge. It’s ideal for readers (14–18+) who love magical stakes, morally grey characters, and cinematic tension.

In short: Den of Liars is a lush, cunning fantasy that dazzles with its premise, world, and heart. A few pacing wobbles keep it from a full 5 stars, but it left me eager for Book 2—with my dice at the ready.