Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
World Building: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Themes:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️

A Dance of Lies is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. It entices readers with complex court politics, flowery writing, and a resilient main character (disability rep). If you're looking for a book that will keep you guessing until the end, this is the book for you.

Let's start with what I think is the greatest strength of this book: the plot. This book may be labeled as a Romantasy, but I do think this label might detract from the fact that the main focus of the book is the plot. There is a romantic subplot, but this book is at its core a book with layers upon layers of political intrigue and machinations. After being falsely accused of murder and imprisoned for two years, Vasalie becomes a spy in order to gain her freedom. She's given tasks that she must blindly follow, and these tasks test her morals and integrity. As she becomes more embroiled in the scheming and betrayals of rival rulers, we begin to see that Vasalie, herself, might have a role to play as well. And she might become a person she never thought she'd imagine.

Vasalie's struggle in this book is not only mental and emotional, it is also physical. After two years of malnutrition and imprisonment, Vasalie's body is broken. I appreciate how the author wrote about and depicted her disability and chronic pain. There were moments in the book where the author unflinchingly and sensitively described Vasalie's pain and broken spirit. My only critique is that it didn't seem believable that Vasalie could suddenly perform difficult dances so soon after her release. I think I would have liked to have seen more struggles with the dances. In addition to Vasalie's physical struggle, Vasalie must also contend with the trauma of being emotionally manipulated and abused. Her spirit is also broken. There is nothing more that she can lose. She begins as a pawn in other people's games, and it was fascinating and empowering to see her gain some of her voice and power back.

My biggest complaint about Vasalie's journey is her romances. There are two romantic interests, and it diminishes the love that she eventually does have at the end of the book. How can we believe that she truly loves the one she ends up with if she was crushing hard on someone else a few days ago? She has to heal from her past, figure out her future, and survive the present. She does not need two loves to complicate things. It's already complicated enough. Spoiler regarding one of the romances: <spoiler> I wonder if the author thought that having Copeland as a romantic interest would make his betrayal more dramatic and shocking. If that was the reason, I will say I had no feelings when Copeland turned Vasalie in. I was just glad to see him gone. I would have preferred those pages between Vasalie and Copeland to be erased and used for Anton.</spoiler>

I found the world-building to be lacking. This is a fantasy book, and for much of this book, the magic was set aside in lieu of the politics. I think those who want a strong magic system in this book will be disappointed. There isn't a concrete explanation of the magic system in this world. The book doesn't feel like a fantasy until the prophesy is introduced later on in the book, and even then, it feels like an afterthought. It's as if the author suddenly remembered that this is a fantasy book. What I would have liked to see is the magic woven into the first part of the book as well. I hope that in the next book we learn so much more about this world.

The book's main theme is centered around the quesiton of how much are you willing to sacrifice to attain what you desire? The author does a great job intertwining the theme into the plot and characters of the book. For Vasalie, she must contend with losing parts of her morality to get revenge. Some other characters are willing to sacrifice their loved ones for power. As a reader, I really felt the gravity of Vasalie's dilemma.

I think some readers will take issue with the writing style. The writings leans more purple. Because of this, the pacing is slow, especially when we're given paragaphs of description, info dumps, or action. Further, this type of writing lends itself well to long train of thoughts and rumination. While I do appreciate the writing style of this book, there were some moments that were difficult to picture because we're so intimately in the mind of the main character. I appreciate this style of writing, but I am so aware that it may not be for everyone so I just wanted to point this out.

Overall, I think this is a great debut, and I look forward to the next book.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an eARC to review. </i>

A SOLID 4.5 starts for me. I am still REELING from that ending!! 🤯 I don't know how I'll survive until the second books comes out!

Vasalie has been unrightfully imprisoned and chained up for the last two years by the slimiest of dudes only for him to force her to relearn to dance and earn her freedom by spying at an art festival. Enter - the "hot for teacher" dance instructor AND the brooding brother of said slimeball?! YES PLEASE. The characters were relatable, I was laughing, I was crying. The TENSION, the banter 🤌🏻

The writing style was lyrical without being over the top, honestly might be my favorite in recent memory. I felt like I was transported to The Gathering and was actually watching the dances live, seriously stunning! Between the writing, the plot twists and that ENDING.. I definitely will be thinking about this book for awhile.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy beautiful writing, political intrigue, high stakes and dancing 💃 (Do check the trigger warnings before reading)

Thank you to Brittney, Del Ray, and NetGalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had a good time while reading this book! I thought the atmosphere was incredible and I loved the disabled/ chronically ill representation that we had in the main character. This was the first fantasy romance that I have enjoyed in a while!

This is a new romantasy that is sure to take Tiktok by storm. I can't say no to a good enemies to lovers story. I will say that there should be some trigger warnings for this, as I was surprised by the SA. The disability rep is also a bit questionable and could have been worked on more. There isn't enough disability/ chronically ill representation in fantasy so it's important to be accurate, especially as I am also chronically ill. Thank you to the Brittney, Del Ray, and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a fresh take in the world of romantasy!
I did find some of the world building to move a little bit slowly, but I didn't find that it lost my interest.
The FMC had really excellent character development and it was refreshing to have the FMC have some disability representation.
So often I feel like the the FMCs are over the top in how "tough" they are.
Just know that this is a SLOW BURN (and truly is a slow burn).
I would recommend picking this up if you are looking for something more unique in romantasy.


Also, the cover of this book is STUNNING.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for the ARC!

3.5-4 stars, rounded up!

I did very much enjoy this one, though it felt a bit slow at times for my liking. The political intrigue of it all was refreshing to read! I found our main character likeable, and I liked her journey throughout. I loved watching her gain confidence, and figure out how to survive. Vasalie has to figure out how to become a performer in a body that has been broken after two years of imprisonment, and finding ways to rediscover what dancing is and can be. I think for me, the middle of the book did get a bit bogged down for me - though not enough to have my experience ruined. I was so invested in the beginning of this book, and got re-invested by the end again that it still was a very enjoyable read for me. The stakes were high, and we were constantly being pulled every which way. I found myself questioning who I could truly trust, and even in moments where the book felt "slower" for me, I was still eagerly turning that page wanting to know what would happen next.

The writing was also so stunning. The perfect blend of evocative but informative, for me. I truly felt transported in this world. The atmosphere definitely hit the mark!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This debut fantasy romance pulled me in fast and didn’t let go. Brittney Arena crafts a lush, intrigue-laced world full of secrets, betrayal, and uneasy alliances. Vasalie Moran is a protagonist who grows on you—not instantly likable, but layered and compelling. Her constant back-and-forth wore on me at times, but there’s a strength in her that slowly demands respect.

Anton? An absolute standout. Complex, grounded, and unforgettable. As for Ilan… I’ll keep it spoiler-free, but let’s just say: nope.

The writing is vivid, the stakes are high, and the tension is relentless. Fans of slow-burn tension, morally gray choices, and political court intrigue will devour this. A strong debut with serious series potential

A Dance of Lies will draw you in with a captivating story filled with courtly intrigue and subterfuge.

I was instantly captivated with Vasalie’s storyline and loved her strength to preserve despite her debilitating chronic illness. Vasalie pushes her body to its limits and beyond in order to earn her freedom and clear her name. That means being accepted as a dancer in the elite Royal Gathering and turning spy for her captor…King Illian. Illian is a puppeteer and literally pulls Vasalie’s strings to achieve his goals. He gave off some despicable vibes from the beginning and his motives kept me guessing throughout the story. Vasalie struggles with betraying those with whom she is growing close to and starts to realise that Illian may not be who she thought he was.

I absolutely loved King Anton. From the moment he had his debut on the page, he had my attention and I was craving more interactions between him and Vasalie. I loved their banter but also how Anton interacted with those from his Court. With how the book ended, I am keen to see how this storyline progresses.

The writing style was easy to digest and the world-building was incredible. I felt that the author did a wonderful job of detailing the opulence of The Gathering and with so many Nations represented, there were easy distinguishing markers for each nationality. With a book that is so heavily focused on dance and the escape it provides to Vasalie, I loved how it was written. The dances were beautifully described and easy to visualise.

Thank you to Del Rey for gifting me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who is somewhat picky about the fantasy romance, I very thoroughly enjoyed this.
We start this story following Vasalie, the former kings dancer, while she spies for her king to be pardoned for supposed murder. The atmosphere from the beginning really kept me hooked throughout. I especially loved the political intrigue and subtle mystery along the way.
I really enjoyed Vasalie as a character. I felt sympathy for her trauma and motivation through the story. I also really loved her character development. We definitely got to see her change from beginning to end as she learn to fight and advocate for herself. I did also enjoy the disability representation in here! Although we hear about the disability, I do feel at time we could’ve been shown her disability more in her actions then told she has one. Otherwise, I’m glad to see more stories include these aspects.
I also enjoyed the love interest for Vasalie! I was smiling at a lot of their interactions and they had me rooting for them since the beginning.
Honestly this didn’t end exactly how I thought it would and some parts of the ending felt a little convenient. But overall, this is a very strong debut novel and I’m very interested to see where the sequel (I’m assuming we’ll get one considering that ending!) will go.
Thank you to Netgalley and DelRey for an ARC in exchange for a review!

this book just bored me. I got a quarter of the way in and just couldn't do it anymore. I had it on kindle and audio and neither format was working for me. It was all very repetitive and didn't draw me in and I really wanted to like it. I think if it was more fast paced and got into the big plot quicker it may have been more engaging but this didn't work for me.

Usually I’m not terribly interested in books that are written about dancers, singers, or painters in fantasy as it feels like a mundane skill in a spectacular fantasy world. Fighting mythical creatures with swords or casting enchantments with magic tend to be much more interesting and useful weaponry. Vasalie, our protagonist, however, surprised me. She used her dancing as an enchantment of its own utilizing this ability for subterfuge and to beguile, often times at the behest of the villain.

Vasalie had a disability which I found interesting. She could have easily let herself be a victim but she didn’t let her constant pain defeat her. Instead she harnessed it to overcome. Whereas another might have let it crush them, in moments of greatest affliction, it’s as if she gathered that pain into herself and used it as a resolve to fight with even more ferocity.

Vasalie did frustrate me so much at first because she really did just kind of lie down and let Illian, the villain, walk all over her. A good portion of the book was spent feeling uncomfortable for her and I found myself biting my nails almost the entire time. She did whatever she was bid until she finally grew a backbone. I was fist pumping in triumph. I quickly tire of a damsel in distress who does nothing to help herself.

I very much enjoyed how this book took us beyond just dancing and into the world of political machinations and backdoor dealings of courtiers as well as villains.

What I liked as well was that you couldn’t really anticipate the ending. The last twenty percent of the book had me in a chokehold. SO much happened and I was at the edge of my seat. Quickly I saw this was not a standalone book so fair warning there!Vaguely I’ll say that the ending has a good mixture of hope and heartbreak. It definitely makes waiting for part two difficult.

Anton the male protagonist was a fun addition as his humor and kindness were so refreshing. He was selfless as well as courageous.

Even though romance played a part in this book, it wasn’t at all overbearing. Honestly there is more to be done on that front as I see the relationship continuing to develop with some hurdles to overcome. Book two should provide a lot on that front.

The villain Illian was quite odious and the way the author wrote him inspired dread and disgust every time he was on the page. The way he inflicted pain and the plots he involved Vasalie in were truly dastardly.

I very much recommend this book and
am so glad I got the chance to read it. Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for providing the ARC!

⭐ Rating: 4/5

A Dance of Lies pulls you into a glittering world of dancers, deception, and dangerous political schemes. With a strong-willed heroine determined to survive, the story blends grace and grit in a truly compelling way.

The main character’s determination and resilience shine throughout the book. While the supporting cast is large and colorful, I found that most weren’t as deeply developed as I would have liked. The romance side of things leans toward complicated, multiple people are interested in her, and she’s not always sure what (or who) she wants, which added drama but occasionally felt unfocused.

Plot-wise, the book offers plenty of fresh twists and gasp-worthy moments. It reads steadily, never dragging, and the betrayals and reveals kept me invested. The themes of trust, both its presence and absence, are handled with depth, and the emotional stakes often hit surprisingly hard.

The world itself is immersive and unique, weaving together artistry and espionage in a way that feels both magical and grounded. Brittney Arena’s writing style is clear and vivid, and while the ending doesn’t tie everything up neatly, it left me wanting more, in a good way.

This one is perfect for readers who love political fantasy with a spy-like edge, a complex romantic web, and a strong heroine navigating a world built to break her.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Dance of Lies is dark yet whimsical tale with a unique, intense storyline and lots of romantic tension that will most definitely keep you on the edge of your seat.🩰⚔️🪞✨

Arena’s vivid descriptions of the palace and Vasalie’s performances were so enchanting and made it easy to imagine being swept up in the opulence of it all despite the dark secrets that lingered beneath the surface.

the FMC in this story is everything to me. Vasalie has been in a constant state of survival and I could rage for hours over how unfair life has been for her. her character development in this book was phenomenal and despite the hand she was dealt, she somehow remained deeply creative, tenacious, and incredibly brave.

Vasalie navigating her chronic illness also made me feel seen as someone who deals with chronic pain. to see her grief and strength as she processes her limitations of what she loved most was incredibly powerful and heartbreaking to read about. I loved seeing her take back her power despite her physical weaknesses as she adjusted to her new way of life to create something fragmented yet beautiful.

I ate up her interactions with a particular character and couldn’t get over the words that came out of that fictional man’s mouth🫠 there was also something DEEPLY satisfying about not only her handsome dance partner constantly vying for her attention but also her “protector’s” roguish brother while he is subjected to watch. 🤌🏻✨

then there’s THAT ending?!?
I need the next book in my hands asap😭

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

if you’re looking for a unique romantic fantasy that will easily sweep you up into a dark enchanting world, definitely check this one out!

also, be sure to check the TW before reading!

thank you @netgalley and @delreybooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A slow start, but a rush of an ending!

This book was not at all what I was expecting. The ending of this book was probably the best part, but was it enough to redeem the rest of it? I'm unsure. Let's break it down.

First for the pros, and to start there, we must start with the ending. The last 20% of this book had my attention, and I couldn't put the book. It was like all of the sudden the pacing finally got dialed up. And the reveals just kept coming to the point where it was almost overwhelming (key word being almost). I do think the big reveals and the sacrifices at the end made a huge difference on my opinion of this book. They are what honestly took it from a "meh" book to something a little more enjoyable. I also wasn't prepared for this to be set up as a series. I really did think it was a standalone.

Now for the cons... I feel the biggest con of this book is the pacing. The first 80% felt like watching paint dry. It had little moments here and there where it felt like it could've been more intense or intriguing, but it fell flat a lot. I just couldn't get myself hooked into this story until literally the end. And also, for this book being a romantasy...where was the romance??? Like don't get me wrong, the romance by the end was great, but the building of it, not so much. I was just expecting so much more from them, and it was underwhelming for most of it. Another small thing that bothered me was the magical elements of the story. I felt like it wasn't really explained, so it made the ending a little complex to comprehend.

Overall, this book had an ending that had my whole attention, but the rest was hard to get through. It's definitely not an easy one to assess because of the jarring split of a meh first part and an epic ending. Not sure if I would recommend. For the ending alone, I would...but, I'm conflicted about the rest.

I would like to thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 4/5

Thank you to Random House Publishing - Del Rey and NetGalley for the free eARC. Former court dancer Vasalie has spent the past two years imprisoned by King Illian after he framed her for murder. He offers her freedom in exchange for agreeing to be his spy at the royal Gathering. Imprisonment has caused her muscles to atrophy, her body be in constant pain and overall impacts her ability to dance. It took me awhile to get fully immersed in this one. Multiple times Vasalie’s character and her character’s choices (and naivety) completely frustrated me. She is placed into a deal in which no matter what choices she makes someone is going to suffer. I enjoyed the King of the East’s character and his interactions with Vasalie. There was a side character, Copeland, who seemed kind of unnecessary. The ending felt very rushed compared to how much time was spent describing costumes and dances. Overall, 3.5 stars rounded up. I am interested in seeing where the next book takes the story.

This book was ok. It’s one of those tough ones to review because there was nothing about it that I loved, and there was also nothing about it that I hated. I think the politics and the twists were interesting and fun. I think Copelans character overall felt unnecessary to the story. I thought that it was not really believable that after 2 years of being unable to move, our MC can still dance, and by the end of the story, her “disability “ is barely mentioned.

I would read the next book because I did like the political intrigue, but I would not make it a top priority or highly anticipated read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book did take me a bit of time to get into, but once I was into it I really enjoyed it! I think the character development was great, but personally would have liked to have seen a slight bit more romance.

Once, Vasalie Moran was Prince Illian's Jewel—the prized dancer in his court. But two years shackled in prison, framed for a crime she didn't commit, have left her weak and ill. But Illian offers Vasalie another chance: be his right hand at the Gathering, six weeks of artistry and feasting attended by all the royals of the region, and she will go free.

Vasalie may no longer be enamored of Illian, but she craves her freedom and is willing to play her part as a dancer/spy. But the more she learns about the people she's hurting, the more she shies away from her duties. Torn between feelings for her new dance partner and Illian's brother Anton, she begins digging deeper into Illian's schemes. And what she discovers could tear apart the whole kingdom. As her own past comes back to haunt her, she navigates new loyalties and new prophecies, hoping to save multiple nations before she herself breaks.

As a novel, A Dance of Lies does suffer a bit from some late-stage exposition dumps. Most of the story is threaded through beautifully, with the different threads coming together in the final chapters. But there is a bit of villainous monologuing that trips up otherwise excellent pacing. As a metaphor for disability, this novel shines. In her foreword, Brittany Arena is open about her struggle with POTS and how it is reflected in Vasalie's post-incarceration condition. It's a powerful statement not just on how chronic conditions can bring a person down, but on how those conditions can be overcome with creativity and perseverance. Life may not be the same as before, but it can still be made beautiful.

A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena

Let me just start with this: if you're used to your fantasy bloody, brutal, and breakneck, this one is going to sneak up on you. A Dance of Lies does something rare and honestly refreshing...it slows the pace without losing the tension. This is a fantasy that seduces, spies, and spins with elegance before ever drawing a sword.

Our main girl, Vasalie? Oh, she’s not playing damsel. She’s shadow and steel wrapped in silk and sequins. Once a court dancer, now a reluctant spy, she’s navigating court politics, dangerous kings (plural), and the wreckage of her own betrayal. It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s delicious.

And I have to give a shout-out to the vibes. We're talking:
Shadowy court intrigue
A morally gray heroine finding her edge
An enemies-ish-to-allies vibe that may or may not become your new obsession
Big “I’ve been betrayed, but I will not break” energy

The romance? It simmers. It’s not the point of the book, but it adds just the right heat to the slow-burn stakes. The worldbuilding is rich without being overwhelming, the writing is lyrical without being overdone, and that twist is lovely.

🖤 Themes you'll find:
Dancer-to-spy pipeline
Court politics & royal scheming
Found power, not just found family
Betrayal and revenge
Forbidden-ish romance
One throne, two kings, one dancer caught in the middle

📚 Would I recommend it?
Yes, especially if you're craving a fantasy with emotional stakes over battlefield chaos. It's hopeful, haunting, and beautifully written. A standout debut that says: even in a world of monsters, you don’t have to become one to survive, but sometimes, it helps.

Thank you DelRey and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review.

I really hate to say this, but I was quite disappointed with this book. The premise sounded really interesting and was right up my alley. However, I couldn't get past the writing style. It's so flowery and overinflated. It's written in first-person, so we're reading the main character's thoughts, which is something I usually love. First-person is my favorite viewpoint. All I kept thinking while I was reading though was, "Who actually thinks like this? This isn't how an inner monologue sounds." I understand that heightened language adds a dramatic effect, but it just didn't fit here and made everything very unbelievable. I unfortunately didn't finish this book at around 50 pages in.