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.

Well. This one took me some time to get through, but not because it was a struggle, I just didn't have a lot of time.

I liked Vasalie. She's stronger than she knows and it was intriguing reading her figure that out. There's a pretty large cast of characters here, but the story absolutely revolves around Vasalie (even if she doesn't realize it.)

Plot wise, there are a lot a lot a lot of moving pieces and everything moves at a deliciously slow burn. I did enjoy the banter and yearning and second guessing everyone and everything. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat and legit gasping and the ending...oh man.

Overall, it took some time for the story to get moving, but damn, what a ride this has been. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

I stayed up so late the last two nights to finish my ARC of A Dance of Lies and first of all it’s marketed as a romantic fantasy and it is, but it’s *dark* but also so so so beautiful and visceral and heart wrenching and genuinely one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It will APPARENTLY be a duology so maybe it will have a HEA/HFN, but it might be worth knowing that it DEFINITELY DOES NOT HAVE ONE IN BOOK ONE HOLY CRAP! I closed the book at like 1:30 AM last night like “well…that was rude” and then couldn’t sleep due to the book induced existential crisis 😆 I think I’m going to need to buy a physical copy because holy smokes

The chronic illness rep was so important to me and so well done, very much mirroring my own experiences with dysautonomia/POTS and co.

It’s steamy but I don’t think there was ever an actual on page sex scene.

Also like. Dark. It’s. Dark and bloody. And it twists concepts of like lust and desire and possessiveness into that darkness so there are definitely trigger warnings to be aware of. But very, very good

Essentially it boils down to: this book ruined my life. And now I need everyone to read it and I need a framed poster of the cover to hang on my wall to stare at lovingly

A Dance of Lies was a really enjoyable read. I loved the descriptive writing - it's one of those books that makes you feel as if you are right there in the world with the characters.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Brittney Arena for providing me with an ARC of Dance of Lies in exchange for my honest review.

Dance of Lies is a romantasy that follows Vasalie Moran, a former court dancer once revered as the King’s Jewel. Her world shatters when she’s framed for murder and imprisoned in a dungeon for two years. But just as suddenly, she’s pulled back into the royal world—offered a chance at freedom in exchange for dancing at a royal gathering while secretly carrying out a mission for the cunning King Illian.

This was a solid 4-star read for me. The world-building is immersive, the political intrigue well-crafted, and the plot packed with twists and turns that kept me engaged. I especially appreciated how some characters evolved in unexpected ways—something that doesn’t always happen in the romantasy genre.

As a debut, Dance of Lies is impressive, and I’m eager to see where Brittney Arena takes the story next. I’m particularly excited to watch the world expand and the stakes rise in future installments.

Well this was a very different kind of read for me!

I finished this over a weekend and enjoyed the concept—it had all the right ingredients: court politics, hidden agendas, and that slow-burn romantic tension I live for. While there were a few pacing and worldbuilding hiccups, Brittney’s potential shines through. For a debut? Honestly, impressive!

A FEW KEY THINGS TO KNOW:
Fantasy romance
Fake courtship turned real feelings
Hidden identities & secrets
Forbidden romance
Spy FMC
Noble (but complicated) MMC
Slow burn with emotional payoff
Light-to-medium spice 🌶️

CONS:
Worldbuilding felt a little underdeveloped
The pacing dragged in the middle
Side characters could’ve used more depth
Some plot points felt a bit too convenient

This was a solid 3.75 star read for me—not quite a knockout, but definitely memorable! If you’re into romantasy with court tension, complicated loyalties, and a central romance that burns, this is absolutely worth picking up.

Brittney Arena is one to watch—her storytelling has serious potential, and I’m excited to see how she grows with her next books

Review: A Dance of lies – DNF at 45%

Unfortunately, I didn’t finish this book – not because it was bad, but because it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

From what I read, I could see a lot of potential. The premise was really promising, and the author clearly put effort into building the world and characters. I can absolutely see why others might love this – especially readers who enjoy fantasy with high stakes.

But personally, I struggled to connect with the story and found my interest drifting. Sometimes it’s just a matter of taste and timing.

I still think it deserves a chance if the book intrigues you.

3.75/5⭐️

Finally a character who has been realistically affected by their time trapped in a prison, and doesn’t ’bounce back’ into their previous impeccable form. There are lasting marks and consequences to not being able to freely move (for TWO YEARS), and I thought Brittney Arena showed that with Vasalie - our FMC of this story.

The way that the dance scenes are described is beautiful, and I felt like I could clearly see them in my mind. I found it powerful how healing was explored through the expression of dance, and learning to love a new version of your body after everything it has endured.
“So I make myself another promise: I will find a way to live with it. Because I am grateful that my heart still beats, grateful that this body, however pained, has not crumbled beneath the weight of all that has been done to it”.

There were some parts of the story that I felt could have been flushed out more, and described in more detail or smoother scene transitions the way that the dances were. However, the overall bones of the story and plot were very interesting and kept me wanting to know more. Definitely was NOT expecting the ending to unfold the way that it did. I love when I am caught off guard and don’t see an ending coming!

I thought that this was a great debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what unfolds in book 2! Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey Random House Worlds, Inklore for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts 💙✨

A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena was such an addictive read! From the first chapter, I was completely pulled into the story and didn’t want to put it down. The writing is fast-paced, with just the right mix of drama, intrigue, and emotion to keep me hooked.

The characters felt real and flawed, which made them easy to connect with. I loved following their journey, even when things got messy or unpredictable. Brittney Arena has a way of creating tension that keeps you guessing and makes you want to know what happens next.

The setting added so much atmosphere to the story, and I could picture everything so clearly. It’s one of those books where you feel like you’re right there in the middle of it all.

This is a must-read for anyone who loves a gripping, emotional story with twists that keep you on your toes. It left me thinking about the characters long after I finished. I can’t wait to see what Brittney Arena writes next!