I picked this book up and could not put it down. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started reading it. I have never felt so seen by an author. I have never identified so much with an FMC before. I have a chronic illness that for the most part, keeps me at home. In the book, Vasalie reflects and realizes how much she took her able body for granted. I felt so seen by that. It’s something I’ve felt in my bones. Brittney Arena’s prose was so descriptive and wonderful. I was able to picture each scene beautifully in my head.

This book is an easy five stars for me. The chemistry between Vasalie and all the characters was remarkable. What I also loved about this story was that the characters weren’t young and in their early 20s or late teens. They were my age. They were people who had lived their lives. I found the story so much more poignant because of that. It was clear that each decision Vasalie made was based on her experiences both good and bad.

I truly felt like I was on the edge of my seat while reading. I was constantly ready to see what happened next. Every twist and turn felt unpredictable. This is my first read of 2025 and it has set the bar so incredibly high. Brittney Arena did a magnificent job on her debut novel. I cannot wait to see what she does next. I’ll be waiting excitedly!

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the eARC!

5/5 ⭐️

A Dance of Lies presents a fresh take on an immersive fantasy story-line, while simultaneously incorporating some of the best-loved tropes in the genre. 

It’s been a long time since i’ve read a book in one sitting, nothing could take my attention from it! From the character driven plot, to the immersive world building I was completely hooked. 

The twists, the turns! I was so immersed in this story. Vasalie, our main character, holds a special place in my heart. She isn’t your typical run-face-first-into-battle heroine, but she takes a different approach and at her core represents that strength is beyond wielding a blade. I also loved how she didn’t hide from her trauma or try to ignore it and instead embraced it and the person she became because of it… Like a phoenix rising from the ashes. I could gush over her character development for days. 

The disability representation, chronic pain representation, and mental health awareness are some of the best I’ve read. What a wonderful debut book! Brittney Arena is on my must-read list for every book she writes in the future. 

The ending had me in complete emotional turmoil. I spent half an hour face first in my pillow contemplating my life choices, counting down the days until the next book comes out. (We don’t even have a date yet. Thoughts and prayers y’all! LOL)  

A Dance of Lies is a masterpiece every romantasy reader needs to experience, and I’m eagerly awaiting the publication date so I can gush over these characters and the exhilarating story with fellow readers! 

Thank you to the publisher; Random House Publishing Group and Del Rey, the author; Brittney Arena, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my unbiased opinion and is given with free will.

This was different! Reading the title makes you think it's going to be like the nut cracker. However, it's a typical fantasy romance book. It was ok!

I received an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Debut author Brittney Arena creates a beautiful world with quite the political games. The villain is well made and you detest him. The hero so good. The FMC is confusion. You feel for her, but because of her past she makes some stupid mistakes. She betrays and lies. But she does do good as well. She redeems herself but at what cost. I don’t typically enjoy books where I don’t love the main character but I like the fact that she is a real person. She has flaws and she isn’t perfect. We all tell ourselves we would do the right thing but would we? I will definitely grab the sequel when it releases.

The Good
World building: Arena has created a well thought out realm with easily understandable concepts.
The characters: the characters are wrote well and make you feel for them.
Pace: The pace is done very well.
Ending: Action packed!

The Bad
The almost love triangle. It seemed unnecessary. The romance between the one character seemed forced and not well defined.
The Main Character: I didn’t love her. She seemed to always do the wrong thing but the author wanted to create a flawed haunted character and she did indeed do this.
Spice: Noooone. Okay they had some passionate moments but nothing beyond a kiss or two. I need more!
The Ending: Clifffffy 😒.

Summary:
Vasalie has been in prison for a crime she didn’t commit for 2 years. Her king, the person she trusted was the one who put her there. Now after those years he is releasing her to dance and be his spy at an upcoming event that occurs at his brother’s home. If she refuses he places her squarely back in the cell to rot, so she accepts. Once there she finds she must dance, spy, and do everything her king asked even if it’s against everything she is. As she works towards her freedom, the king’s brother takes interest in her. Can Vasalie keep to the path and gain her freedom or will she fall for the handsome brother?

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. I ultimately decided to DNF this at 25% - it’s just not for me. I found the writing to be overly drawn out, with not enough plot to support it and the characters were also not compelling to me. There was a lot of repetitive and flowery language used to describe not much of anything, which was frustrating to me as a reader. I’m giving it 2 stars because it might be someone else’s cup of tea and style of writing.

This took some willpower to not dnf around 40%.

When I first came across this book, I was instantly captivated by the gorgeous cover and as well as the interesting synopsis of a framed dancer vying for her chance of freedom within a playground of untrustworthy royalty.
What made it difficult for me to stay absorbed in the plot was the slow start with very little buildup for more than half the book. It does focus more on the characters and their relationships rather than anything else-which is more than fine, yet some dialogue felt repetitive and unnecessary after so many times.
The last quarter is what saved this book for me as it definitely picked up with almost every aspect (relationships, plot, revelations, secrets uncovered) to the point I finished it in one sitting because so much was happening. I feel the main flaw overall is the balance of the pacing- it’s either too little or almost too much.
With that being said, the ending was completely unexpected AND GOOD. I was so glad I pushed through till the end. It took a very different turn and left me wanting more. And from how it concluded, it seems the main focus of the next book will heavily rely on the issues of what occurred near the end that got me finally hooked and if that’s the case, i’ll truly love the next chapter of the series even more.

There was truly so much to love about this debut. It had everything! I'm excited to see what comes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the arc! I did not like this! I put it down at approximately 20% for numerous reasons. They are as follows:

The constant repetition really did a number on my brain, and I think temporarily made it smooth. Poor miss Vaseline had a tragic life, I know, but can she please shut the fuck up about it for even a single page. There’s only so many ways you can write about the same goddamn thing, and the author really tried to find them all.

As such, this book is overwritten to shit. Every single thing is described in detail, things are over explained, and feelings and thoughts are repeated ad nauseam. Fuck me

I cannot connect to any of these characters for the life of me. Vaseline is annoying, Copeland is annoying, Ilian is annoying, they’re all fucking annoying.


As such, I refuse! Nope! If I wanted to ready something that would bore me to death I’d pick up a book on ww2. That’s all I got, folks.

An incredibly interesting read!

Vasalie is a dancer betrayed by her king. Left to rot in a prison cell after being condemned for a murder she didn't commit, Vasalie finds herself dancing again - but now with chronic pain and that same king threatening her. As she is entangled in the web that her King creates, Vasalie finds moments of beauty and people to team up with. However, the plot is bigger than she thinks, and more rests on her shoulders and actions than she could ever expect.

I found Vasalie to be a very strong character, Her stubbornness and creativity work together to get her through the worst of things. I loved her use of the millen flour to aid in her performances, as well as her desire to fight back against the evil king. There were possibly a few too many moments where she bows and becomes complicit, and the pacing fell a bit towards the middle. I also struggled with the romance. There were a few romantic lead contenders and while she has chemistry with them, the ultimate choice felt a bit too rushed and not fleshed out enough.

I will definitely be keeping an eye out for book two, and recommending this to anyone that loves some good court drama/political intrigue.

4 ⭐️

What to expect-
💎 Court Politics
💎 Betrayal, Deception and Secrets
💎 Plot Twists
💎 Secret Spy
💎 Reluctant Allies
💎 Trauma and Anxiety Rep
💎 Themes of Grieving and Loss
💎 Intriguing Lore
💎 Love Triangle
💎 Slow Burn

This book was the best start to 2025!!! I could not book this book down for several days and was staying up insanely late to find out what would happen next!

This book takes place in a world where on the surface everything is not what it seems. Plotting and secrecy run deep and the greed of a few individuals has the ability to tear down the existing peace. The world building was beautifully done and painted such a vivid picture. Thats actually how I would sum up this book in one word is VIVID! It was beautiful and colorful full of relatable characters. Especially our FMC, Vasalie who has found herself being used by the one person she felt safe. She struggles with guilt, loss, grief and so much trauma by what has been done to her. This book has such an intriguing character arc for her from beginning to end where she starts as the victim and ends with taking back her life and her choices. The author also wrote some insanely swoon worthy men, I definitely picked my favorite (hint: he’s a swoon worthy, playboy prince with charm in spades!) While there is little to no spice, I felt so giddy!

Another thing about this book that drew me in so deeply were the plot twists and reveals. They truly were masterful and do deceptive. I could not predict which way the story would go. The author did a good job of leaves bits and pieces, revealing them slowly, without giving everything away all at once. I was ACHING to figure it all out!

This was a beautiful first book to the start of a new fantasy romance series and after that ending I most definitely will be counting to see where Vasalie’s story will go!

**Big thank you to Brittney Arena, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I truly am honored to have gotten to read this beautiful story.**

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

As someone who is a fellow invisible illness suffer, I loved the dedication at the beginning.

I loved seeing the characters and the world. You get to see Vasalie's character develop as she adjusts to what is now her new "normal" (Personally, was very relatable) as well as Anton's development from someone giving F boy vibes to a more complex character.

This is the first time I can remember not actually knowing which love interest I preferred until it became obvious one of them sucked lol. The end was BUSY. TUGGING ON ALL THE EMOTIONS. I can't wait to see where the next one goes after the ending.

Utterly enchanting - I couldn't put this book down. This is such a stunning debut, with compelling characters and a plot with more twists and turns than a labyrinth. Longer review to come but for now, know that this is one of the must-read books of 2025!

This felt very overwritten. It could be so much shorter if the main character didn’t repeat the same sentiment over and over again. If I have to read about how she was “the King’s Jewel” again, I’m going to scream.

I saw someone say this was like an adult Thorn/The Theft of Sunlight, but unfortunately I would say this was more giving Throne of Glass (derogatory). It was SO poorly written, the characters were annoying, and the relationship/plot element that was most compelling was the weird almost romantic-coded way the mc kept thinking about her stepmother. And then there was the way that it felt like every man - if they were attracted to women - was into her and we had to constantly hear about it.

I wanted to DNF this book at 11% and unfortunately now having finished it, I have to say I really should have.

This was an amazing book! The story was so interesting and it definitely made me feel for the main female character. I would highly recommend reading this book!

I cannot shout enough high praises about this book! From the very first page, I was hooked. The plot was intricate yet accessible, the world building fleshed out yet streamlined, and the romance? A toe curling slow burn that left me begging for more. Every character felt unique and had their own flaws and characteristics (Illian…WOW). The last 100 pages had me on the edge of my seat—it’s currently 3:30AM and while I should have been asleep, I simply couldn’t put the book down until I finished. And that ending!! I’m devastated and immediately need the next book!

I also wanted to note that this book has chronic illness representation. As a chronically ill individual myself, I was so happy to see that Vas’s struggles (and even her internal arc as she slowly begins to come to terms with her condition) felt very authentic and real. I loved that despite her condition, she is able to live a rich and fulfilling life (with accommodations and modifications). It’s also important to note that Vas’s condition was not cured—an aspect I really really appreciated. I hope this is just the beginning of diverse stories written by disabled authors taking up much-deserved space in publishing (and especially in fantasy!)

If you’re on the fence about reading A Dance of Lies, this is your sign to preorder a copy now!! Brittney is an automatic read author for me. 5 million stars!

This was a really lovely story. It’s ultimately a story about survival and clawing your way back out of a pit. I enjoyed it, although heavy feeling at times. This is definitely more of a character driven book which is totally fine by me!

Due to the trigger warnings, I will unfortunately not be able to read this book. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read the E-ARC!

A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Release Date: June 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read this eARC.

What a fantastic debut! This book was so good! A Dance of Lies is the perfect combination of romance, plot, political intrigue, and character development.

A Dance of Lies follows a dancer, Vasalie, as she is released from imprisonment and promised her freedom if she works for King Illian. Vasalie’s friends are put in danger as she tries to figure out who to trust as she is caught between opposing royals.

Vasalie, the FMC has a chronic illness that she deals with throughout the book. It is a unique story for the Romantasy genre. After reading many Romantasy books this year it was so fun to read about a unique FMC. Vasalie and all the other characters are complex and keep you guessing until the cliffhanger at the end of the book. I need answers!

I cannot wait for the next book in the series and to see what Brittney Arena writes next.

This debut fantasy romance is a powerful blend of heartache, betrayal, and the struggle for freedom. Vasalie Moran is a heroine who grabs you by the heart from the very first page. Her resilience and defiance make her an incredibly compelling character. I love the way the story weaves secrets and revelations creates a slow burn of suspense that keeps you on edge, desperate to uncover the truth behind Vasalie’s past. The romance is complicated, intense, and full of chemistry. If you’re a fan of morally complex characters, high-stakes romance, and fantasy worlds filled with intrigue and betrayal, this debut will leave you breathless and craving more. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an early copy of A Dance of Lies! Ultimately, this isn't the right book for me due to the writing style and pacing, but I do love disability and chronic pain representation along with a premise that includes a dancer, which isn't often found in fantasy!