Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey and Britney Arena for the gifted eARC of A Dance of Lies!

This book has the energy of Fourth Wing and the atmosphere of Divine Rivals—a bold claim, I know. But honestly? It’s true. You’ll fall head over heels for Arena’s characters while being completely swept away by her lush, vibrant world-building. And once the story grabs hold of you, it doesn’t let go.

The pacing is addictive. I felt like I was racing to the finish line, desperate to know what would happen next but dreading the final page. There are aspects of this story I’m dying to scream about—but I absolutely refuse to spoil anything—so I’ll wait, quietly unhinged, until this book is released and then make it my whole personality. And no, I’m not even a little sorry.

When we meet Vasalie, she’s just trying to survive after two brutal years in the dungeons. She’s scared, desperate, and willing to do anything if it means never going back. Her decisions won’t always sit well with you. They don’t always sit well with her either, and that’s exactly what makes her such a dynamic and compelling character. It isn’t until she realizes that Illian’s twisted plans for her are never going to end, and that more is at stake than just her own survival, that she truly begins to transform.

I adored the way Arena built friendships between Vasalie and the side characters through real, authentic interactions. These moments made the story feel fuller and more grounded, adding heart and levity to the high-stakes political intrigue and emotional turmoil. Watching her let her guard down, begin to trust others, and slowly come to see that not everyone is like Illian was such a rewarding arc. And when she finally finds her voice, her purpose, and pushes back against a man who seems to hold all the power? So. Satisfying.

You’re going to love this book. I’d put money on it becoming an instant bestseller, but I honestly don’t think anyone that has read this book would bet against me. It’s that good.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

My review was posted to Goodreads on 4/6/25.
My Instagram review will be posted on 4/14/25.
My Amazon review will be posted on 6/10/25.

As a chronically ill woman myself dealing with similar issues as Vasilie, I found her character to be incredibly relatable. She is strong, brave, and determined to reclaim a body that no longer functions as it used to. She must push herself to the extreme over and over in order to survive. In the midst of a punishment for a crime she could not have committed, Vasilie is sent to a royal dance competition by a cruel king - anything but success will spell her doom. Once his treasured Jewel of the court, Vasilie is now a weapon of his machinations.

The court intrigue is brilliant, the taste of romance incredible (I think I found my first book boyfriend), and the characters are beyond lovable. The dance scenes are impeccably depicted with the same level of care and tension that one would expect in any fight scene. I did find it a little grating just how physically resilient Vasilie is - while its clear she is going to extreme lengths to modify routines in a way that makes them accessible to her, she doesn’t regularly seem to face the consequences (in terms of fatigue or lightheadedness) of pushing herself in this way. Still, I think it would be a much different book if she spent the equivalent of several chapters intermittently resting, barely able to move. Otherwise, I thought this was excellent disability rep!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

A Dance of Lies

For a debut novel Arena really did an excellent job. The descriptive writing was well done and really brought the world to life. This book is full of court politics and scheming kings with plot twists a plenty.

I really liked Vasalie; how strong and resilient she was. As a dancer myself I enjoyed the images Arena created of Vasalie dancing and her use of the flour was so creative. The chronic illness rep was really well done and will be really empowering for readers who have had their own chronic illness journeys.

However this book just didn’t quite pull me in the way I wanted it to. There was a lot of repetitive information and I found myself confused at many points due to so much superfluous description.

As a child, Vasalie escapes her father and becomes a dancer. One fateful evening when another dancer is injured, she finds herself dancing in front of a King. He saves her by bringing her to his court where she performs for him as his Jewel. However, when a dignitary’s murder is pinned on her, she is thrown into a jail cell for two years before she is brought out again to serve as a spy for her king at the Gathering.

I overall enjoyed this book. It was a quick and easy read and I enjoyed how the story unfolded piece by piece. I think the characters developed fairly well throughout the book. The story is unique and enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC!

I love this book! I can’t believe it’s a debut novel because it was so so good! Well-drawn characters, fantastic world-building, eloquent prose. I’ll certainly read the author’s next novel!

A debut fantasy book! I sobbed, giggled and blushed throughout! I love the world created in this book and NEED more! The ending broke me!

This book was an absolute blast to read! It has everything you could ever want from a romantasy book including swoon-worthy scenes, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing. I LOVED this book and am excited to read more from Brittney Arena in the future!

I was prepared to rate this book five stars until I reached the ending. Perhaps due to ptsd caused by previous reading experiences, the conclusion felt like a betrayal. However, aside from this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I found it captivating; initially slow-paced, it quickly became unputdownable. I particularly appreciated the detailed descriptions, especially the explanation of the dancing, which allowed me to vividly imagine the setting and feel fully immersed in the story. The protagonist's thought processes were compelling, and I deeply connected with her struggles and past pain. Furthermore, the plot twists, tension, and witty banter between the characters were excellent. Anton, in particular, stole my heart; I found myself giggling at every exchange he had with her. The writing style is superb and easy to read. I eagerly anticipate the second book. P.s. this deserves 5 stars

Ok, so I mostly really liked this book. It's a strong fantasy with a good female lead and plenty of intrigue. I wasn't totally convinced by the romance, but otherwise it was pretty good!

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy for review

This book was a beautiful epic journey. The writing and colour used was so vivid, the slow burn and the plot were on point! A Dancer turned spy in order to win her freedom, I'm HOOKED

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

4.5 stars
A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena is a debut fantasy romance that captivated me from the first page. Filled with emotional depth, breathtaking tension, and a complex, morally gray heroine, this book left a lasting impact. Arena crafts a world where nothing is as it seems, and the stakes are always high, making for an exhilarating read that balances action with poignant emotional moments.

Vasalie Moran is an incredibly compelling protagonist. Once a graceful dancer in King Illian’s court, she’s wronged and betrayed in the most heart-wrenching way. After surviving two years in the dungeons, she’s presented with a dangerous choice—work as a spy for the king in exchange for her freedom. But as she’s thrust into a world of political intrigue, deceit, and bloodshed, Vasalie finds herself torn between survival and the cost of her soul. I loved how Arena portrayed her inner turmoil—Vasalie is no damsel in distress, and her struggle to maintain her autonomy and integrity while being forced into impossible situations was one of the book’s strongest elements.

The tension between the two brothers, King Illian and Anton, was DELICIOUS. . The romantic tension, while slower to develop, was intense, and I appreciated how it was woven seamlessly into the plot, never overshadowing the story but adding depth to Vasalie’s emotional journey.

The world-building WAS ALSO gorgeous, the authors depiction of the courtly intrigue, the political machinations, and the secretive underworld Vasalie navigates felt immersive and rich. The plot is a slow burn, but it builds with a satisfying intensity, leading to a thrilling and emotionally charged conclusion. There are moments of heartbreak, betrayal, and revelation that kept me hooked.

The only reason this book didn’t earn a perfect rating for me was that I found some of the pacing in the middle a bit slow. However, the character development and the intricate plotting more than made up for it. The final twists were enough to leave me eagerly anticipating the next book in the series EVEN THOUGH BOOK 1 ISN'T EVEN OUT YET.

Overall, A Dance of Lies is a fantastic debut that promises even greater things from Brittney Arena. If you love morally complex characters, high-stakes political intrigue, and a romance that’s as dangerous as it is captivating, this book is for you. I can't wait to see where Vasalie's journey takes her next.

This one reminded me of fantasy books like Poison Study and the first Throne of Glass, in the best way!

After being falsely accused of murder and spending two years in prison, Vasalie is freed by king Illian and given a task: she must spy for him at the upcoming royal gathering.
A former dancer, Vasalie must infiltrate the performers at the event and carry out the orders of the king, putting in danger those who're becoming her friends.
She will soon start uncovering the intrigues and secret plans of the Royals, while she tries to guard secrets of her own.

The plot is not groundbreaking but I thought it was well done, with a steady pacing and a good balance of revelations and twists throughout the story.

I appreciated the portrayal of disability and chronic pain. Vasalie can’t dance like she once did, since her two year imprisonment led to malnutrition and muscle atrophy. She’s forced to mask her pain and adapt her choreographies to be able to perform as a dancer.

She’s is a resilient and creative main character. She hasn’t processed the tragic events of her past and she’s often struck by sudden grief and anxiety because of that, but her character journey is the more interesting for it.
I admit I hated some of the decisions she made, but most of the time she acted that way because of lack of information that her allies could’ve provided.

I'm not a big fan of dancing, but I still thought the dance performances in the book were creative and well thought. The descriptions of the costumes and architecture were vivid and beautiful, I could tell the author worked hard to bring the aesthetics of her world to life.

On the other hand, the palace intrigue and the evil schemes of the villains felt a little silly and see-through at times, like something out of Mean Girls. I kept thinking how naive and gullible the court was, to believe everything the bad guys said when showed forged or flimsy proof.

My least favorite part was the ending, since I personally don’t enjoy that trope too much, but I'm still intrigued to see how the story continues in future books.

Fun slow-burn fantasy that kept me thoroughly entertained! Pacing was slow-building in the first half then really picked up as the story progressed. Loved the invisible disability representation. There was a good balance of the strengths and struggles that come from having one. The plot was full of political scheming and morally questionable characters but I do wish we had a bit more background on them early on in the story.

As a reader, you are in the dark for the first bit as to why everything is happening. You slowly find out more as you read on. The author did a good job with filling the reader in as needed while still keeping some of the bigger plot details a mystery. I just wanted to keep reading to figure everything out!

At times the writing could be a bit poetic and descriptions would take over the story. But the current environment/atmosphere was always very well described and would leave me feeling immersed while reading. The conversations flowed well and I liked watching all of the friendships and relationships develop. The ending was wild and I’m very antsy for the next book!

ARC provided for an honest review.

There are no words, THERE ARE NO WORDS to describe how much I loved this book. Reading A Dance of Lies was a religious experience in every sense, this story awakened in me the same feelings as When the Moon Hatched and Throne of Glass at the time and that in itself says a lot about how much I connected with this book.

Each of the characters has a story of pain or planning to tell and discover them while reading it was quite an experience, although without a doubt my favorite has been that of Vasalie, our FMC, she had to go a hard road until the end of this book, going through a disability, a terrifying relationship with an abusive father, an obsession on the part of her king, betrayals followed by more betrayals, and blackmail in exchange for her eternal freedom, but despite all the darkness that surrounds her she finds the light both in herself and in a shameless king who is willing to discover all her secrets. Vasalie's resilience as the story went on was an element that made me love her more as a character and her undoubted strength and courage to face the obstacles in her path even though at first I thought it was impossible.
I have to admit I was a little scared in the first half because Who even is the ship? was killing me, I desperately needed it to be a certain King of the East, and the other MMCs had me shivering in fear for a moment.

The espionage, the secrets, the delicious tension and the banter had me screaming the whole time, Anton made the sensual moments between him and Vasalie unforgettable, I really found myself rereading all those scenes they had together morethan once, because I repeat, DELICIOUS TENSION AND BANTER!!!!

Anton was such a wonderful and fun character to read about, he made me blush all the time, and his story was definitely another one that touched my soul, he always had a smile on his face despite the nightmares and unpleasant moments he experienced at the hands of his own brother, he is simply one of my favorite things in this book!
On the other hand, the setting was so magical, the glass technology was something extremely original and made my imagination soar on more than one occasion, along with Brittney's wonderful writing that made every detail described easy to imagine. The ending was beyond criminal and I'm still in shock from itand I have no idea how I'm going to hold on until the next book when ADoL hasn't even been released yet.

I swear, I'm on the floor, this book has been a wonderful experience, the story and the characters have left their mark on me in the deepest and most meaningful way, infinite stars for this book, it has been beyond majestic!

What to expect from A Dance of Lies?

• Dangerous espionage
• Court intrigue
• Who even is the ship?
• Rival kings
• Low spice, BUT heat & tension for days
• Glass technology
• Terribly behaved royals
• Glittering courts & secret tunnels
• All the banter & romantic tension

Thank you Netgalley, Del Rey, Random House Publishing Group and Brittney Arena for this arc! This is possibly my favorite book of the year, I had the best time reading it.

This started off really strongly! As a dancer, I was very intrigued to see a romantasy story that centered a lot around dance. I was also pleased to see a disability rep in here too. However, as the story went on, there was a couple of things that ended up bringing the rating down.

I enjoyed our main characters overall. Vas was a determined girl on a mission, which I appreciated. It is important to have a character with motives, and she did. However, a big part of her personality and character was her disability, which I think is great! But, the disability rep was a little misguided since her pain never completely stopped her from doing anything. Vas would just push through it, even when it hurt her. While I think there could be an upside to that and a positive twist, it seemed that she could make her disability pretty much go away whenever she wanted, as she continued to do complete insanely complicated dances that involved being thrown and jumping and falling. That seems to disregard the whole point of having a disabled main character. For someone to be completely unable to walk to performance-ready in 5 weeks is just not accurate.

The world-building was also very confusing. For something with no magic, for the most part, I thought this would be simpler to understand, but no. There were so many characters, families, countries, and connections that I did not keep any of them straight. And then when we added in the fates and the prophecy, I was lost. I understood the story enough to get by, but all of those intricacies that I adore in fantasy were not picked up on here.

I did like the romance for the most part here, and there were a couple of moments that gave me little butterflies. But, it was a little confusing to know which man we were supposed to root for and who she was going after because every guy in this narrative wanted her. I'm not a big fan of love triangles, but when there is one, I would appreciate a clear winner. The everyone loves me trope is not one I enjoy. Not only is it frustrating when everyone falls at Vas's feet, but it is also frustrating when she continues to break the rules and get away with things she should not have over and over again.

Also, the aspect of her father did not make sense to me. Yes, she ran away when she was 13 and she was a few years older, but there is no way and in no world that her father would not have recognized her. She just put on makeup and different clothes and thought that would be enough? Also, I feel as though as a general's daughter she would have had a much different upbringing and people would have known who she was more. The anonymity she claimed to have didn't make a ton of sense either.

The worst offender for me was probably the last 50 pages of the book. I was really close to giving this a 4-star and was pretty set on it being that, but the way this ended was NOT for for me. It completely cheapened the rest of the book and seemed like a cop-out. The way magic was inserted at the last possible moment was too convenient when nothing was mentioned in the book.

I will say this was pretty fast-paced overall and I did fly through it. I was intrigued the entire time and constantly wanted to know what was happening. The writing was very consumable. But, I was not aware that this was a series. I just wanted a standalone, but there is clearly a second and potentially more to this.

For a debut, there was a lot of good in this, and a great place to start. I think the writing was good and the story was told well. I just think that some of the choices plot-wise were not the best direction-wise nor made a ton of sense.

I love fantasy and this was the perfect book for that! With great characters and excellent world building, it was such a well done book and I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
I don't really know how to review this book; I think it will do well, though it lacks the propulsive nature of many popular romantasy books. I loved the dancing aspect, and I thought the disability representation was really well done, much better than Fourth Wing. The pain was a constant presence for Vasalie, not just a dislocated knee that hurt every few chapters. The modifications made to dances made sense, and felt familiar. The main issues I have with Dance of Lies lie in the trope-y parts; I felt the most interesting parts of the book were the parts that had the least attention. If I had a nickel for every time the purportedly hedonistic racially ambiguous ruler turned out to be the love interest and the Best Guy Ever, I would have a lot of nickels. The romance detracted from the espionage and Vasalie's character development, which I think could have been very strong if this had been edited differently.
Overall, if you want a slow burn, slow build romantasy with familiar tropes and wonderfully described dance scenes, Dance of Lies is for you, but don't expect anything more than that.

This book has a very interesting set-up, which I think would appeal to fans of Throne of Glass (as others have said) but once I got into the meat of the story, I sadly found it to be a bit of a slog.

I think it's amazing to highlight a main character struggling with chronic pain and illness, especially in a setting we pretty much never see them in. There was some genuinely interesting intrigue as well--when I managed to find momentum I did enjoy the schemes and twists.

I found myself really not wanting to pick this book back up, though, whenever I had put it down. The characters were pretty one-note with a simple plot and romance. There was just nothing particularly ground-breaking about this... even the chronic pain doesn't seem to factor into the story that much other than being reflected upon at times.

In most instances, I probably wouldn't recommend this but if you're more of a Romantasy fan than I am, I think you have more of a hope of enjoying.

It took me quite a while to get into this book. I felt the first 50% was very heavy on the politics and history of the kingdoms and referred back to past event often. Also, during this time I felt that the romance took a back seat and I didn't really get a chance to connect properly with our MMC before suddenly she was falling for him. I understand this may have been done intentionally to make the reader believe that we had a chance to fall for Copelan instead.

However, from 60% onwards I was kept on my toes and felt exhilarated with the events taking place. I feel if I had more of a connection to the MMC throughout the book I may have felt more devastated with the ending. Overall interesting concept and very light fantasy elements and I did enjoy the second half.