As a debut author, Brittney Arena can, and should, be proud of her first book. A Dance of Lies isn’t perfect but it’s certainly an entertaining read, with a lot of potential, very well written, even if at a certain point I doubted about how much I was enjoying it. But, no worries, the end cleared all my fears and let me curious for what is coming.

First of all, because I think it’s mostly there that resides the beauty of this book, let me talk about the writing. This book is so beautifully crafted and deserves to be appreciated for it. It’s gorgeously descriptive, physically and emotionally, and I was surrendered by it instantly. It was my favorite thing about it, no doubt and, yes, the dance scenes are so good that is unreal. My second favorite thing was the plot. I can’t resist a complex, twisty power hungrily plot, with a political genius game and this book served it. I wasn’t expecting it and I loved it. The final was brutal and I can’t wait to see how things will develop.

But, as I said before, there was a point where I doubt this book. And that was because I’m not the biggest fan of most characters, or the way they’re presented at least, nor the romance parts. I really like Vasalie as a main character, but I don’t like how everyone wants/trust/love her immediately. Because of it, the connection with and between the characters was a miss for me.

But, I think the second book will be better in that point and I really want to know what will happen next. Overall was a good debut and first book of a series, and I believe the author has a lot of potential and I can’t wait to see where she is taking her story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for giving me an eARC in exchange of an honest review 💜

I DEVOURED THIS BOOK!! It gripped me from the get go and I could not put it down, 100% deserves way more hype!

It’s so well written with vivid imagery and a storyline that sunk under my skin. I loved the description of Vasalie’s performances, her resilience and strength. Her character was brilliantly complex and I just loved her interactions with Anton the most!

There was a solid mix of political intrigue, romance and characters that simmered with tension. I loved the plot twists, heartbreaks and pure scheming along the way.

This book completely caught me by complete surprise, it had me in a chokehold, swallowed me whole and spat me back out! I’m obsessed, can’t wait to read more from Brittney!

Ordered my physical copy the second I finished!

WOW! Stunning, magical! This book had my jaw on the floor by the end, and I loved every minute of the journey!

This is truly such a beautifully written story, and it paints such a unique picture. I was so immersed in the dancing and the gorgeous palace scenery with all of its glass and vivid colors. And the characters, themselves, had such real struggles and a dynamic that had me intrigued by every interaction.

The focus of our story is a palace dancer - the King’s Jewel - who is wrongly convicted of a crime and spends two years forgotten in the palace dungeons. Suddenly, by seeming happenstance, she’s pulled back out and enters into a bargain with the conniving king who sent her there. The reward for her cooperation? Her freedom.

She’s sent to a gathering of the crowns from across the realm with a dancing troupe tasked with the entertainment. Her only job is to earn her place among them and to stealthily complete whatever tasks the king sends her way.

This book has so much political intrigue (mysteries, secrets, lies, promises), found family, beautiful settings, a roguish sort of romance, and so much more! I was on the edge of my seat so many times, and I cannot WAIT for the next book in this series!

Do yourself a favor and grab this book!! It’s earned its hype, in my opinion, and I can already tell this is going to be an auto-buy author for me!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy of the digital arc in exchange for my review! I've also written my review on goodreads and on my book social media.

A Dance of Lies…wow this my new obsession, I really enjoyed this fantasy romance! This book had me absolutely hooked from the beginning with my jaw dropping at the end.
I loved how beautifully the story was written. The writing was immersive with detailed scenes that truly captivates the reader. The plot twists in this, I did not see coming and had me gasping chapter after chapter!

I found myself super invested in the slow burn romance. I did enjoy that the book has you questioning Vasalie's love interest and it is not made clear immediately, which was a different to other romances I have read.

I did find that the disability representation wasn’t mentioned after the second half of the book. I’m not sure if it was the intention of the growing strength of the character.

This is a fantastic read, from the way the book ended…I am hoping there’s a book 2! I cannot wait to read the next one!

If you loved The Folk of the Air by Holly Black or Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber, you'll probably enjoy this too. It has that same feeling of glittering danger, sharp court dynamics, and characters who never say what they mean.
I don't usually go for romantasy, but this one pulled me in. The politics, the spying, the tension between characters, all of it was so well done. Vasalie as a main character is honestly great. She's been through hell, and you can feel that in every decision she makes.
There's no melodrama, just someone trying to stay ahead in a world that's already broken her once.
The romance is one of the best parts. It's unpredictable. You think you know who the love interest is, then things shift. It's slow, emotional, and full of power play. I changed ships more than once, which almost never happens.
There's also a quiet sci-fi thread running through the story that I didn't expect. It doesn't take over, but it adds this strange edge to the worldbuilding that worked really well.
It's smart, emotional, and full of tension. I was never bored. If you like morally complicated characters and stories that don't hand you easy answers, I think you'll love this.
Thank you@netgalley@penguinrandomhouse @delreyuk for the review copy
Thank you @reverieandink for writing the book

Ok this was AMAZING!! Can’t believe it’s a debut! This was not a cookie cutter romantasy but instead a breath of fresh air in what is quickly becoming a market saturated with stories that all feel similar. I loved the political intrigue and the scheming and the slow burn romance that actually had a great build up and wasn’t instant lust. The found family and the character development of the FMC were great too. The ending?! Cannot wait for the sequel really hoping it’s SO soon!

I was really impressed with this debut romantasy by Arena. The amount of imagery captured was impressive. I could easily picture the dances and movements that Vasalie performed. I was also impressed with Arena’s ability to surprise me. I’m usually pretty good at guessing the “big reveal” in books, but this one kept me guessing until the end. I will say, if you like to try and solve stories while reading, there is a lot to keep track of that’s happening in the book. There were a few times I had to reread sections to pick up what all was occurring during the scene. I also appreciated how Arena approached Vasalie’s character and the concessions she had to make to be able to dance after her imprisonment. Anton and the friends he surrounded himself were the real winners for me. I really enjoyed their characters and the depth to them, especially Anton. I do think they were all a little too trusting, though, especially with the secrets they were keeping and trying to expose. I’m excited to see where book 2 goes.

An excellent, intriguing, and twist fantasy debut.
There's plenty of potential, excellent world building and character development.
I found it a bit slow at the beginning but I was hooked after some chapters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Solid 5 star read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Dance of Lies snapped me out of a months-long reading slump—and I was hooked from the first chapter!

Brittney Arena’s debut novel is a sweeping, emotionally charged fantasy that hits all the right notes. The world-building, character development, and emotional depth all strike a near-perfect balance between scene-setting and reader freedom. The author's descriptions are vivid enough to anchor the reader in the moment but never so drawn out that you’re stuck wading through pages of scenery. It felt cinematic but still left room for the reader's imagination to play.

Vasalie is an incredible main character who is layered, fierce, and vulnerable in all the right ways. She is strong, complex, and unforgettable—I cannot wait to see the journey she takes in this book series.

And that ending? I have no words 🤯 I need book two immediately and probably 3–5 business days to emotionally recover. This was a stunning debut, and I’m already desperate for the next installment of this series. Brittney Arena is officially on my auto-buy list!

4.75! ⭐️
Vasalie’s journey is one of the most compelling I’ve read in a long time. She’s a protagonist who lives with chronic pain and physical limitations, which the book handles with striking authenticity. Her pain doesn’t magically go away—she adapts, she struggles, she perseveres. Watching her rise from the ashes of her trauma, rediscover her strength, and begin to define herself beyond her suffering is both heartbreaking and empowering. I loved that she wasn’t defined by her disability, but that it was still a central part of her experience—present in every moment of her life, yet never overshadowing her identity.
The world building is vibrant and rich—especially the City of Glass, which felt almost tangible in its beauty. The political stakes were high and the espionage plotline felt genuinely tense and unpredictable. I’ve read a lot of fantasy with court intrigue, but this one really leaned into the spycraft element, which made it all the more interesting.
And then there’s the romance. Or rather, romances—yes, there are several potential love interests, and while that could’ve felt overwhelming, it was handled well. Copelan, the Master of Revels, had a mysterious allure and a layered relationship with Vasalie that kept me guessing. But it was Anton, the King of the East and Ilian’s younger brother, who completely stole the show for me. Charming, wounded, and impossible not to love, his evolution throughout the story was one of my favorite parts. I adored his interactions with Vasalie, and even when she didn’t trust him (rightfully so at first), their chemistry was undeniable.

I also appreciated that this book doesn’t offer easy answers or quick fixes. It’s a story about surviving—about learning to live in a world that constantly shifts beneath your feet. There’s power in Vasalie’s vulnerability, and her story made me feel seen in ways I didn’t expect.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the advande copy. All opinions are entirely my own

I picked this up for the gorgeous cover and was pleasantly surprised with the story. For a debut, this was so well done. The writing had this delicate balance of whimsical and flowery without feeling too over the top. And the setting descriptions especially stood out to me, the stain glass imagery, the dancing… it all felt like I was there.

I liked Vasalie as a main character, she is not the typical fantasy heroine, she is sharp, creative, observant, and quietly fierce. I love how the story leaned into court politics, secret alliances, and manipulation. Watching her navigate it all made me really care about what came next.

The king's cheeky banter totally worked for me. I’m a sucker for characters that act like rakish troublemakers but end up being surprisingly gentle. Their dynamic added the right amount of charm to balance the heavy moments of tension in the book.

It did take a few chapters for me to be fully absorbed by the story, but once the spying, court scheming, and blackmail threads started unraveling, that’s when the plot started to pull me in. If I had one critique, it’s that I wanted a bit more depth to certain plot resolutions. I feel like there were some things that were brushed over, like what happened with King Estienne for example.

That being said, the ending really got me. I suspected a few things, but I didn’t expect the emotional way things would wrap up. Even with her careful planning, Vasalie couldn’t escape her father’s web. It didn’t matter how many steps she was ahead, the way the ending tied things together felt inevitable and kind of haunting. I’m counting down the days for a sequel because I need to know what happens next.

Side note: I had to mentally block out the meaning of the nickname “minnow”. I think it was meant to be endearing but “little fish” doesn’t seem all that romantic to me 😂

Read if you like:
👑 Court politics
👑 espionage
👑 dancing and balls
👑 Disability rep
👑 Blackmail and betrayal
👑 Plot twists

Vasalie, King Illian’s once Jewel of a dancer, has been imprisoned for two years for a crime she didn’t commit. Illian, one of three brothers ruling a divided land, is looking to increase his strength and power within the Crowns. As he makes his move he chooses Vasalie to be his spy while leveraging her past against her. She must now regain her strength, come to terms with the life she had and process how she is going to move forward serving someone she despises. Can she find trust and forge friendships (or more) within her lies?

This was a good debut romantasy. Vasalie is a character that wants to do the right thing but is put in impossible situations where those decisions are out of her control. Her struggle feels very real but at times slows the pacing of the story. I did enjoy the premise of the novel and the introduction to the larger world of politics and lore that it covers. 3 stars.

Based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!

This is a really fun royal court drama with some fantasy aspects. Vasalie was framed for murder and imprisoned for two years, until King Illian sends her as a dancer to a royal gathering to spy for him and earn her freedom.
Two years stuck in a prison cell has drastically changed Vasalie’s capability for movement, and I really enjoyed seeing her learn to accept her body’s new disabilities and find ways to embrace them through her dances. The exploration of chronic pain was really touching.
The court politics were so intriguing and I was so captivated by the dynamics between the three Miridranian kings. I loved V… and his dynamic with Vasalie, especially how open he was with her and how well he understood her despite her best efforts.
Overall I really enjoyed this and will definitely be reading the sequel!

Sign me up for anything and everything that Brittney Arena writes! This is her debut book and it was amazing!!

This is one of those stories that hooks you each and every chapter so you cannot put it down. I loved the world building, the plot, the characters, the twists and turns, the tension. I loved it all!

This book has disability representation with Vasalie our FMC. She was a dancer in King Illian’s court after escaping her abusive father, until the king framed her for murder…only then to offer her a deal of freedom in exchange for spying on his brother King Anton by any means necessary.

Even through Vasalie’s chronic pain, she is strong and resilient and does not give up. She is determined and creative and I love her character development.

This is for you if you enjoy
✨ Slow burn
✨ High tension
✨ Political intrigue
✨ Disability representation
✨ Strong and determined FMC
✨ Fast paced story with twists and turns
✨ Dance scenes
✨ Amazing side characters
✨ A TIGER
✨ No spicy time in this book but some amazing tension filled scenes…if you know, you know. 😍

I absolutely cannot wait for the next book! Give this author and this book a chance, it’s so good!!

Thank you so much to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Never in my short life I appreciate a debut book but THIS , before finishing it , I'm looking forward for the next book , I loved the world building sm and the rhythm of the story kept going up with great plot so do I recommend it? YES GOD GO AND GET YOUR COPY , waiting for her next book ofc

Okay this got better as the book went on, I was not expecting that ending!

We follow our fmc Vasalie, on her journey as a dancer who is falsely imprisoned and given a chance at freedom if she spies for her king at the court gathering.
However, all is not as it seems and truths and lies unravel as Vasalie learns what is happening and peoples true intentions.

There are twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down at the end as I just had to know how it was going to end. There is a lot of court politics, betrayals, romance - plenty to keep the reader engaged throughout.


Thanks to NetGalley for proving me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book lived up to all my expectations!!! I loved the world building of this book the pacing we perfect and I loved the tense political vibes of the book, this is a story you can really sink your teeth into. I loved the enemies to lovers vibes and the found family aspect I will definitely be picking up book 2

oh where to begin with this masterpiece.
for the first half of the book, i’m going to admit, i wasn’t the biggest fan. i thought it was well written and had somewhat of a unique premise that i hadn’t seen before. but the all of a sudden it just hooked me and i was obsessed ever since. i really liked how the stakes escalated throughout the book and i thought the plot was quite well passed. i think it needed to be a bit slow in the beginning, to really lay the ground work for the plot and the story. the first half, everything is very mysterious and you’re following vasalie who also has no idea what is going on, she just wants to be freed from the clutches of her evil king Illian (BOOOO). but then, everything start coming out, all the secrets get revealed and it’s just amazing.
i liked a lot of the characters, especially our main ones, vasalie and anton. i really liked their dynamic and the slow build of their relationship. and the tension??? amazing 10/10.
also i have to talk about that ending because WHAT!!!! what do you mean i can’t just pick up the next one and read it immediately. i will be waiting on the edge of my seat until i have it in my hands.
overall i’m extremely impressed that this is a debut and i will definitely be reading whatever else Mrs. Arena has to offer.

endless thanks and gratitude to Del Rey and Netgalley for this e-ARC
seriously thank you, this was absolutely amazing

Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author Brittney Arena for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

At first I thought of this as split copy of Throne of Glass, you know, her being thrown in prison in this case for a crime our girl hadn't even committed, then broken from the years passed behind bars she was thrown in. But I was corrected, yes the start may have felt overly slow, yes I really didn't like the first 15/20/25 % of this book. But once it picked up it morphed into something much more enjoyable, not unforgettable, but enjoyable. The writing was at times too flowery (especially when particular objects were trying to be introduced) but it still flowed well towards the end of the book. Another thing I liked is the actual representation of chronic pain and how Vasalie fought against it, against her body, against all remarks thrown at her (especially from sir-middle-child-I-absolutely-hate-you-prince Illian)

What I absolutely adored inside this book? The banter, oh that was just amazing, the small snarky remarks between Vasalie and Anton? I loved them, every single one. I loved how serious and real Anton could be yet at the same time goofy and extremely caring for the people he basically considered family.

this book is a 4 stars because of their banter and thanks to the ending, I can't wait to see what author Brittney Arena is going to show us in book 2.

4⭐️ no actual scenes of 🌶️ but a few mentions, not between the main characters. kisses here and there? Oh yes

4 stars: A Dance of Lies is an enjoyable but highly derivative story with a solid plot, characters, and romance. Enlisted by the king to become a spy, Vasalie goes undercover as a dancer where she meets Copeland, her dance partner, and Anton, the king’s younger brother.

What I liked:
- The spying by posing as a performer was a genius set up that allowed for some really dynamic scenes. I liked watching Vasalie take on the dual role, and it created tension that kept me engaged, especially in the second half of the story.
- The politics were woven really nicely throughout the book, and I felt there was actual substance to the plot, which made me want to know what was going to happen later in the book (and got me excited for the sequel).
- Anton is an intriguing and interesting character, and by far the most interesting character in the book. Part of what kept me interested in reading was that I wanted to know more about him.
- While the book is very tropey, I thought the tropes were executed well. They felt organic to the story and earned rather than something shoved in to market the book of social media.
- Overall, the second half of the book is much stronger than the first. Something with Vasalie clicked for me in the second half that made her a lot more compelling, and the plot picks up a lot.

What I didn’t love:
- The love triangle should have been removed altogether. She had no chemistry with Copeland, and he was honestly a supremely unlikeable character from the start. The scenes with him made me want to dnf because it was instalove and all telling rather than showing. It was also extremely obvious who she’d end up with the minute Anton showed up, so the love triangle came across as pretty pointless, and actually drug down the reading experience.
- There was a LOT of info dumping and monologuing in this book, which slowed the pace down quite a bit. It didn’t destroy the book, but I would have liked to see those scenes reworked a little to make the exposition less clunky.
- I have to acknowledge that this book is very derivative. It is literally a condensed version of the first three ACOTAR books, with very similar plot beats and characters. While it was a fun time, it doesn’t really offer anything new— hopefully the sequel will be a bit more original.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a solid romantic fantasy that is entertaining and has a decent plot, characters, and romance. While not the most original work, I found it to be entertaining and executed well. Definitely an above-average read!