A captivating story, which, despite having moments where the narrative slows down, especially in the first chapters, has a certain something that makes it captivating and won't let you put it down. For this being the author's debut, it seems she has a lot of potential.

"Dance of Lies" by Brittney Arena is an intriguing debut novel that starts off a bit slow. The first 25% of the book feels like it takes its time to build momentum, and I found myself struggling to get fully immersed. However, once the story picks up, it really takes off, and the second half became quite gripping. The plot twists and character development in the latter part of the book were a pleasant surprise, making for a much more enjoyable reading experience.

While you can tell it's Arena's debut novel, with some areas feeling a little unpolished, there’s clear potential in her storytelling. By the end, I was really invested in the characters and their journey. It’s a solid start for a new author, and I’m excited to see what comes next from her. If you're patient with the slower beginning, you’ll be rewarded with an engaging and exciting conclusion.

One thing is for sure: I appreciate the disability representation in A Dance of Lies. But the story structure was kind of predictable. I do believe this romantasy will find its young audience when it releases.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me this ARC!

Soft DNF the story is just not gripping me at the moment, i find my self becoming bored with the where its going its very slow paced, i feel interested in some aspects and might come back in the near future.

Thank you netgalley

Let’s just say… I CANT WAIT FIR BOOK 2!!! This is such a beautiful fantasy book!! Ugghhh I’m speechless!

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!

5⭐

Thank you Britney Arena and Del Rey for the ARC!

ADOL has some of most beautiful prose I have ever read! I read this book in a single sitting as I could not put it down at all! The world and the kingdoms are beautifully crafted with rich history.

The writing style is very descriptive and lyrical which is an attention grabber for me. It is a very immersive read from the dancer fights, poltics and romance. Vasalie was a very relatable character and her journey of self-worth was the most amazing part of this book!

I cannot wait for epic finale to conclude this series! Can't wait for more!

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.