NetGalley and the publisher were kind enough to send me a free arc.

I enjoyed this one more than I expected. While I’m not a fan of romantasy, I do liked how this story was presented. Throughout the whole book I was thinking that it’s a standalone, but it’s not. It’s actually the first book in a trilogy or series, I’m not sure yet.

I enjoyed a lot the way that, even if it’s a romantasy, I wasn’t only romance. The worldbuilding was cute, together with the prophecy and the myths. I wanted more about the gods and the mythology, it sounded so intriguing, but we just heard about for maybe 50 pages in the whole book. I’m sure more things will be explored later in the series, but it would’ve been nice to read more about it.
While I had moments when I was bored and felt like the story is dragging, the plot is fast paced. It’s intriguing, with a mysterious atmosphere and vibes. It is a little predictable, but I was surprised by the twists and turns.
While there were some good things about “A dance of lies”, it did felt like, while the author put a lot of work into describing how the clothes were, the buildings, the dances, and so other aspects of the world, the ending was a little rushed.

The romance was nice, I wasn’t so pleased with the love triangle, but I was happy to see that she gave up on that fast.
The main character started to become boring, repeating for the whole book how her life was so hard and how she was the king’s jewel. I know, you had it rough. She had some moments when she was annoying, saying that she can’t trust anyone, but everyone trust her immediately. She is supposed to be a spy, but everyone loves her just like that. No one is suspicious about her. She is too easy to manipulate and, while she tries to get revenge for what happened to her, she gives up in a second. I mean, if you don’t fight for yourself, who will??

Overall, it was a nice debut. I don’t know if I will read the next book, but I am curious about the male character more than anything in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for this arc, it is truly appreciated.

For me this story started off just okay and unfortunately, did not get much more interesting.. I liked the representation of the FMC having a disability but at times, I felt like this was put on the back burner. In the beginning it was a constant thing that was being noted but then It kind of dwindled away. I also felt like at times this book read a little too YA for me. I think that might be a bit of a unique experience but at times it felt too young, I think it could have been the constant talk of how miserable Vasalie's life felt and how she would constantly reminisce about it. I also thought that the descriptions of the dancing was a little hard to follow. I could not imagine any part of the dance besides the flour part and after each dance I was left feeling no emotional impact about these performances. While the writing was beautiful and the world building was very detailed, this book did not resonate with me but it might for someone who has a background in dance? Because of this I unfortunately had to DNF at the 30% mark.

I loved the synopsis and was so hype for it, but it kinda felt a bit flat. First of the constant repetitive sentences about the FMC is not the dancer she once was and was the king’s jewel. Yes I got it thank you after 20 times I think it’s enough but no let’s give more. Second I didn’t understand how people could trust her so easily I mean it’s court and politics how you trust a person that fast.
And the back and force between the amount of potential love interest was a bit frustrating. At the end I couldn’t care less who end up with her. That part wasn’t interesting at all, at least the plot was a bit better. Didn’t see the ending coming so that’s a plus but I’m not that invested to continue the rest of the books.

DNF at 50%.

I really really REALLY wanted to love this book. I thought it was going to be a new favorite. I mean, a romantasy with a disabled spy-turned-dancer? That has me written all over it!
Unfortunately, this book fell so short for me. As in I've been trying to read it since February and it's now May. And I've finally admitted to myself that I just can't do it.

For my dislikes:
First, I dislike marketing a book as a romantasy when there's literally not a single fantasy element in the entire first half of the book. All mentions of anything mildly fantasy related thus far have been "myths."
Second, I felt zero connection to any character. I loved the disability representation, but that was the only thing I cared about at all. There was a ton of telling what was happening, not showing the FMC or her personality. She just glides in, somehow charms everyone without a semblance of personality, and keeps on going.
Last, I couldn't keep any of the men straight. Granted, it might have been how long I tried to read this over. But it felt like, because I didn't care about any of them, they just all ran together.

I wanted to love this book so much it hurts. It definitely has an audience, as evidenced by all the great early reviews. But it just did not give me the execution I wanted for the wonderful premise.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc of A Dance of Lies. I was so excited for this. I have seen so much hype around this book and the description made me think this would be a favorite for me, but unfortunately it fell short. I didn’t feel connected to or invested in any of the characters. The plot was predictable and overall felt like every other Romantasy that is being published right now. I was really looking for an emotional connection (especially since the main character has disability rep) but I didn’t care about any character.

I can see why this is popular with so many, but I am burnt out on these Romantasy books with the same tropes copy and pasted.

ARC Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a wild ride! I was sucked into this book the second I opened it. This haunting tragic heavy story captured me, and I sat back transfixed as the performance took place.

This had me coming back for more. I was on the edge of my seat wondering how this was going to end. I loved all the depth each character had. It took time to see all the layers and those flips from foe to ally or ally to foe? Fantastic.

Yeah, 100% going to be getting this one and the sequel💜


Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC!

Wow wow wow! What a debut!

Vasalie - once the king's favorite, now a prisoner of two years - has been given a chance at freedom if she can successful spy and sabotage to further the same king's unknown plot while performing at the talented dancer she once was, before the two years of imprisonment took a significant toll on her body. She's determined to do anything from her freedom, but that's before she meets those who's lives she's ruining at the behest of the king, a man she once trusted above anyone else, and it makes her second guess if freedom is worth the price of her morals.

I want more books like this. The tension was so good and ever rising. The more I read the more it pulled me in. I was pleasantly surprised (and shocked) by how far Vasalie went and compromised her own morals. The steaks were high and I genuinely was not sure what was going to happen and who was going to survive (this so rarely happens! I was so pleased.). So much about Vasalie was unique yet also made sense (something that sometimes feels rare). I assumed she would have a love interest but had NO idea who it was going to be. My guesses went back and worth until close to the end and I LOVED that additional tension. (I wouldn't say there's a love triangle, in case you were worried.)

I've seen it promoted as romantasy, I think romantic fantasy is a more accurate description but there are definitely romantic elements throughout the entirety of the plot so maybe I'm wrong. Either way, I'm a big fan.

I highly recommend this one. I cannot wait to read more of the series and see what else Arena writes. A really strong book and only more impressive that it was a debut.

I was very much looking forward to this one. The plot itself was intriguing and unique - especially the fact that our main character is a dancer and spy, and that she has a chronic illness. Unfortunately, this didn't quite land for me. I really wasn't attached to any of the characters, finding them to have no real personality. The love interest felt very cut-and-paste witty/careless yet manipulative with a trick up his sleeve. Starting at about 60% of the way in I started to get invested and actually determine who was against who, but then lost interest again shortly after. The pacing didn't feel consistent and the ending wasn't my favorite either. I'm giving it 3 stars because I think it could be a popular release with a good fanbase, plus I liked the ~20% I enjoyed, but it wasn't for me overall.

Thanks to PRHAudio, DelRey, and NetGalley for the preview. All opinions are my own.

DNF at 35%. So it looks like all of my mutuals are loving this one and giving it 5 stars, so it's definitely got an audience of people that are going to love it. I am just not at all connecting with the characters or the story. It's first person POV, so I should absolutely be connected, but all Vasilie is doing is telling me what's happening. There's not much dialogue really, it's all her narration. And I just don't FEEL anything. Her being so easily accepted everywhere also seems super unrealistic.

People are definitely going to eat this up, but sadly it's not for me.

A Dance of Lies had all the right ingredients: disability representation, political intrigue, and a dancer-turned-spy premise with love story forged in fire I was immediately drawn to. And cover, cover is masterpiece. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to its potential and my expectations. I struggled to connect with the main character with linda flat emotional delivery. The worldbuilding and court tension felt too soft for what should have been a pressure-cooker setup. Even thought I liked such tropes as brothers on opposite sides, spy at royal court, moral grey characters and heroine who deal with trauma.
Thanks to NetGalley and Brittany Arena for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Dance of lies as a unique take on some classic fantasy tropes but it was done in a way that didn't feel samey and overdone. It had familiarity with the royal court and forbidden romance but I liked the mystery and espionage.

I liked the fast paced writing and the main female character was very relatable as it's refreshing to have a main character who is broken by what she has experienced.

The prose was beautifully written and descriptive and had quite a literary flare.

Vasalie used to be a Jewel, a royal pet and dancer in a fantastic court of King of the East. Thrown into a dungeon for a murder she didn't commit, now her freedom and life is on the line -- what deceptions and death will she be willing to deal to win her freedom? A meeting of the crowns of the land is, of course, seething with politics, and Vasalie must play a double agent in an unknown long game, all while throwing herself back into the art of the dance when her body is permanently damaged from years chained to a wall. Who can she trust, including herself? The occasionally overwrought prose still suits the dark mood of the story -- it's not truly a romance, but does have a strong romantic storyline that will leave you gasping at the end.

This book totally blew me away - I don't even know where to start! This was an absolutely fantastic debut and a fantasy romance with the perfect combination of plot, political machinations, romance, and characters. Dance of Lies follows Vasalie, who fled from her abusive father and earned a place at King Ilian's court as a dancer and quickly becomes his prized Jewel. He is obsessively protective of her and views her as a prize, wanting to keep her for himself and loving her in a twisted way, but treating her with cruelty. Despite this, she has always "loved" him and wanted nothing more than to be with him. The dynamic between Ilian and Vasilie reminded me so much of Midas and Auren in the Plated Prisoner series, which may give some context. After Ilian imprisons her for two years for a murder he knows she didn't commit, he releases her on the conditions that she spies for him at the Royal Gathering, posing as a dancer for the entertainment.
Once she gets to the court, his fist on her tightens and the orders he gives her become increasingly brutal. It becomes increasingly clear just how evil Ilian's intentions are and she soon finds herself at the center of political schemes so devastating and beyond what she had ever imagined. She quickly gets close with the Master of Ceremonies, Copelan, who also becomes her dance partner. The two of them have such a complex relationship and without giving away anything, I was completely blindsided by how it unfolded. She also forms a bond / alliance with Anton, the king of the East and Ilian's younger brother. I LOVED Anton. He is flirty and charming and Vasalie (rightfully so) does not trust him at all at first. But boy did I love how his role evolves in the story - I couldn't get enough of them. Vasalie's character development is incredible. She suffers from chronic pain and health issues but is so perseverant. She truly comes into her own and is so empowering! I literally cannot wait for the sequel. This was an incredible read.
Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for this ARC!

A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena was a good book. The book had a good setup, a great setting, and a great cast of characters. I really enjoy fantasy, and this was definitely a good fantasy read. I liked the idea of a fantasy book with multiple love interests, and thought the author did a great job with the romantasy aspects of the book. Vasalie's growth throughout was really great to see. This book would be great for any fan or fantasy or romantasy. I would definitely recommend.

i enjoyed this but not as much as i thought i would.

the premise was very interesting and i was so curious to see the direction it went in. i would definitely say this book is more fantasy than romantasy, mainly because i found the romance aspect of the story very confusing. i thought we had a love triangle and then we didnt (or maybe thats me getting confused and routing for the wrong person 😆).

the story itself was something i have never read before and i was very excited. i am not a massive fan of dance but i really enjoyed that aspect. i did however not understand something of the dance descriptions half the time 🤷🏻‍♀️ but enjoyed nonetheless.

the characters themselves were quite interesting, the fmc is so strong and the way the author wrote in about her chronic illness was so good. it was so great to see representation in a book, and a lot of the quotes i liked were around her struggles.

overall, i did really enjoy this book.

I don't even know how to properly begin this review. Do I start with, 'did I finish this book or did it finish me?' or 'is it mad that this book isn't out yet, but I want the sequel already'?

A Dance Of Lies tells the story of Vasalie, our disabled/chronically ill protagonist, who used to be a dancer in King Ilian's court before he imprisoned her for a murder she didn't commit. Two years later, he promises to set her free only if she agrees to be his spy in the upcoming Royal Gathering, where she will meet Ilian's brothers, who each rules a part of the kingdom and also have different hidden agendas. Vasalie would have to be careful on who to trust and how far she is willing to go to earn her freedom back. In this world, there seems to be endless secrets, unfinished businesses, owed debts, and shocking truths.

To say I enjoyed this book immensely would be an understatement. I fell in love with the world-building and how Brittney kept me wanting to explore more of the lore and the existing complicated relationships. She did not shy away from the emotional trauma, physical limitations, vulnerabilities and healing that the characters must go through in order to grow and become. It's still hard for me to grasp the fact that this is Brittney's debut novel. The writing is just so beautiful to miss out. And the whole story is brewing with tension, political intrigue, intimacy and unraveling. I couldn't get enough of the back and forths, the revelations and the well-deserved—no matter how heartbreaking, ending. I was constantly left 'feeling'.

Definitely a book worth waiting for. YOU NEED TO READ THIS.

3.5 stars

"I know darkness intimately."

I really enjoyed this one. The mystery and atmosphere pulled me in right from the start, and I found myself curious and intrigued even when I wasn’t entirely sure where the story was heading. That’s a good thing for me. I like when a book takes its time and lets things unfold slowly.

Even near the end, I already had a feeling about what would happen, but there was still a moment in the final part that made me gasp. However, that same final part also had a scene that I really didn’t like (view spoiler) That part seriously icked me out.

And how everything just folded out at the end in maybe eight chapters? I needed the kind of detailing we got at the beginning, how the author described everything, how she performed, the dress, the glass, everything. But at the climax, I didn’t get that. It felt like it finished really fast and rushed.

Oh, and NO!! I haven’t forgotten about that cheesy nickname: “little minnow.” Really? I live in Indonesia, and here a minnow isn’t just fishing bait, we eat minnows, fried with sambal and rice (we call it sambal wader, picture included). So I found it really not cute 😭😭

And now, the parts I loved:
I didn’t know who the MMC was until halfway through the book, and I liked that.
The beautiful prose, detailing everything so beautifully. I loved the lore and how the author told us everything through Vasalie’s performances.
I loved all the political and royal intrigue. Even though I could guess the ending, I really enjoyed the process.

Overall, despite some parts that didn’t work for me, this book was a beautiful and unique experience, and I’m glad I read it.

Note : Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, and Inklore for this ARC.

I always love reading fantasy books with a court setting and political focus, which this book definitely had! The character development of Vasalie was so good and I found her story and determination so interesting! Overall I really enjoyed this book! I also thought the representation of a character with chronic pain, was awesome and it was done really well! My only issue is that I wanted it to be slightly explained more, but overall I really enjoyed it! Awesome read!

A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena
-Duology, Book 1-

4.5/5⭐️
🚪*steamy make outs (spice)
2/3🦋 (swoon)

•My Thoughts•
I think my heart rate was elevated for 75% of this book. Note to all, spying would *not* be for me. This book was nonstop intrigue and I devoured it. I loved the set up of this story and the way it explored the lengths someone will go to gain freedom. This is a true slow burn story with a love triangle that keeps you guessing. I loved the artistry and beauty of dance woven through the pages. The descriptions were vivid and I loved the innovative culture in one of the courts. The chronic illness rep was really well done and I loved the characters! This was small action packed (like betrayals and poison vs battles) but oh so addictive. Unbelievable debut and can’t wait for book 2!

Thank you to Brittney Area and Del Rey Publishing for the early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 / 5 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! A quick synopsis in layperson terms: Vasalie was once the star dancer in King Illian’s court. She cared for him and she thought he cared for her until he accused her of a murder she did not commit and locked her away for two years. Those two years wreaked havoc on her body and on her mind but she is released on one condition: she will be a spy for the King at the annual King’s Gathering. At the King’s Gathering, she must navigate intense politics, figuring out who is ally and who is foe, and find her dancing abilities once again.

To be completely honest, I am an easy sell for anything romantasy, so this book was going to be up my alley pretty automatically. That being said, it was also one of my favorite sub-genres in romantasy: royal court politics. Boy, oh, boy do I LOVE the plotting and scheming. And you throw in multiple potential love interests and I am sold.

I thought the author did a really great job of establishing the world, the myths and lore, and all of the characters. There were a lot of them to keep track of but I didn’t feel confused. I certainly mispronounced names and countries but that is sort of par for the course for me (sorry that I kept calling their land “Meridian” in my brain!). I was surprised that this was a debut novel because I felt like the groundwork for this book and its sequel were laid out really well.

I found the pacing to be a bit slow in the beginning and it took me until about 40% in to really get invested but once I was, I FLEW through the rest of the book. I really enjoyed the twists at the end as well.

I thought the chronic illness representation was really well done. Because of her time in the dungeons, Vasalie doesn’t have the same control or function of her body but the same results are expected from her. Very few people notice just how hard it is for her and she is constantly having to figure out the limits of her body and mind.

I just wish that Vasalie has a wider range of emotions and a bit more agency. Vasalie spends most of the book pretty panicked and two steps behind which is fair given her circumstance but we only get glimpses of other emotions like joy, surprise, silliness, and even anger (though she says she is angry often, it often felt overshadowed by sadness or fear). She also doesn’t have a ton of agency which again is fair because she is often a pawn in everyone else’s chess game but even the moments when she thinks she has control end up being taken away from her. The only times she really has agency is when she dances. I do not need my heroine to be perpetually strong and perpetually the driver of her own story but I would have liked a little more nuance and a little more command of her own life. It does look like that may be more of the case in the next book in this series so I am really looking forward to reading it.

Thank you to Random House Publishing - Del Rey and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.