4 ⭐️ happy release day!!!

𝘈 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘪𝘦𝘴 follows our main character, Vasalie, a (approximately) 25 year old dancer who has faced some significant trauma in her life, but still perseveres. When we first meet Vasalie, she is at the end of a two year prison sentence for a crime she never committed. She is removed from her cell by the same man who put her there in the first place, Illian, the King of the East Miridran. From here, she is offered another impossible choice- spy for him at the upcoming gathering of Crowns as a dancer once again, and earn her freedom. But is it really a choice at all? When your only options are to comply and push your already broken and malnourished body to its limits and dance, or die in the darkness that has been your only home for two years. Inevitably, Vasalie agrees, and this is where this story really begins to shine.

𝘈 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘪𝘦𝘴 is a book filled with political scheming, court intrigue, self-discovery and healing. I absolutely LOVED Vasalie as our main character, and her resilience was truly inspiring. While I didn't always agree with all of her choices, every decision she makes you have to take into context the trauma she has endured. In the end, I understood exactly why she responds the way that she does in every situation. The writing was well done and easy to follow, and Arena's imagery was so thorough that I had no trouble imagining the intricate dance performances that are essential to this book.

This book has two potential love interests, although it is not a why-choose nor a traditional love triangle. The romance felt organic, and it was executed very well.

Overall, if you are looking for a book with high-stakes, political scheming, healing, love, and rage, then this is the book for you. Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this eArc in exchange for my honest review!

I really wanted to like this. The concept is so intriguing but the prose was painful. Overwritten, over-reliant on figurative language, trying too hard to be vibey.—and at the same time read really juvenile, even though this is an adult fantasy.

I am in the minority here, but this did not work for me at all. From the beginning it was giving Throne of Glass vibes - too many similarities. The beginning was also super rushed, it didn't give me time to actually understand any of the background or care about our MC, Vasalie. And in regards to Vasalie, I found her both boring and self-centeret. Lastly, the writing just tried way too hard.

Dance of Lies by Brittany Arena

Vasalie was a dancer, the jewel in the kings court. Now she is stuck in his dungeons, framed for a murder she didn't commit. Until one day, she is brought out before the king once again. He wants her to enter the royal gathering as a dancer, to spy for him. In exchange he promises her freedom. Vasalies body is broken from her imprisonment, but there is a different strength in her. The gathering turns out to be a maze of politics and intrigue. How will Vasalie navigate through these unexpected turns? Who can she trust? Who will she become?

I was blown away by this! It is a unique story, beautifully written. The world building is elegant, simple and complex, at the same time. We get some glimpses of the history and mythology of the world, but I expect more in coming books.

The characters are layered and interesting. I loved some and hated some, so safe to say they made me feel. Vasalies character arc builds slowly but steady through the book. As does the plot. I love the first POV and that we figure things out at the same pace as the main character. The pace is medium-slow, which I feel suits the story and the theme perfectly.

The dances and performances are beautifully portrayed, creating something poetic. But this book also has a solid, well thought out plot with lots of twists and turns, which you get to follow through Vasalies eyes. I loved her unreliable narration, a lot of clues are dropped through the book and then comes together at the end in several gasp-moments. Not all is as it seems, or as Vasalie sees it…

I was on the edge of my feet for the last 15 percent, and gasped and muttered so much that my kid had a laughing fit on my expanse. Apparently I am an entertaining reader!

So happy I got this ARC! Cant wait to read the sequel!

A Dance of Lies is about Vasalie, a dancer once upon a time for the king, as she was called ‘The King’s Jewel’ until she was accused of murder and now she is held in prison, so what would happen when the king himself gives her the chance to be out?
I finished this book in under 24 hours, it was amusing and quick fantasy read, however I think it was low on fantasy, I would recommend if you want some lighthearted fantasy with exuberant plot, and the world-building was so easy to understand and not complicated as used to in most fantasy-focused books.
I first thought that this was going to be a standalone, but now that I finished it and figured out how it ended, I am curious about what will happen to Anton.
Another thing I liked, is the chapters, it’s been a while since I’ve read a book with short chapters and the yearning was there.
I don’t like comparing books or being wronged about comparing them, but maybe if you loved The Inadequate Heir & The Endless War duolgy (part of the Bridge Kingdom series), you’ll like this one?
Definitely reading book two, I am surprised about this book being the author’s debut, I think you should give it a try!
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher for the ARC in exchange of a honest review.

This book. THIS BOOK. I want to start off by saying I have been sobbing for the past 30 minutes while finishing and afterwards, like I am BROKEN. That ending ruined me. I honestly was like "I stg if *this specific thing* happens, I am dying" but no. IT WAS SO MUCH WORSE. That being said, obviously my crippling sadness and sobbing equates to it being a 5 star read. Honestly infinity stars.

First off, I was hooked within the first 10% of the book. I was just drawn right in instantly with who Vasalie is and everything she had been through. And THE TWISTS? Don't even get me started on the scheming in this book because MY GOD I was always trying to figure out the next move or what was happening. Another thing I loved was not knowing who the actual love interest would be. Like I was going BACK AND FORTH MAN (I won't say whose team I am on, but based on the fact that the ending absolutely shattered my heart, if yk yk). And the romance? UGH the yearning, the tension, the wanting and flirting. It was all AMAZING. Also, it 1000% gave me Celaena vibes from the TOG book, but instead of her being a secret assassin, she’s a dancer. Vasalie is one of my now favorite FMCs and I literally would die for her. She also literally screams Elide vibes, like they would DEFINITELY be besties.

Now as for the disability part of this book, while yes there were panic attacks (which honestly were accurate as someone who has severe anxiety and uses those specific coping mechanisms sometimes) it was okay for an anxiety rep in my opinion. Like yes she has anxiety, and the nightmares just hit home, but it didn't truly show the darkest parts of anxiety, at least, not to me with how severe mine is. She is 100% a woman though who has gone through hell and back and has monsters who follow her in the dark, so don't discredit her on her trauma and the nightmares that haunt her. Also, while I can't speak on the physical disability of her dancing, I think people need to remember, dancing was a passion of hers. It was literally life or death if she didn't dance. So yes she was in immense pain. She never stops thinking about the pain. But she has to become accustomed to it if she wants to live. She couldn't dance the same way she did before, which is exactly why she said she had to use props to make up for it. So her disability never went away. She learned how to cope with the pain and live alongside it.


Thank you to NetGalley and Brittney Arena for this ARC and I am so looking forward to the sequel after that ending!

This book took me by surprise, and I loved it from the very start.
The author successfully creates a rich and immersive world filled with heartbreak, secrets, betrayal, detailed world-building.
It had great characters and immersive setting.
The writing was captivating and I was sucked in quickly.

3.5 stars

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The writing and descriptions were beautifully done, creating an intricate atmosphere. The political tension was intriguing to read.

The main character, Vasalie, has endured a great deal. She was wrongfully imprisoned for two years for a crime she didn’t commit, and I tried my best to understand her position and hesitation. However, I couldn’t help but feel that she played into King Ilian’s schemes, a mere pawn in his manipulations throughout the book. I wanted her to look ahead and take some action. Some of the reveals were so obvious that I couldn’t understand why she failed to put it together. Considering her upbringing under the ruthless General, I expected a little bit more from her. On a side note, I found it puzzling why the staff trusted her so much.

Among the characters, Anton stood out as my favorite. He was charming, funny, and possessed a touch of mystery. His interactions with his friends revealed his true nature, making him the most intriguing character to read.

The central theme of the book revolves around learning to trust oneself and others again, healing, and persevering despite disabilities. I plan to continue the series, as Vasalie has the potential to grow and develop into a powerful player.

3.75/5 stars rounded up

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

I really did enjoy this book. The beginning was a bit slow for me but it then picked up and boy what an ending! I've seen a lot of reviews that question the FMC's ability to dance with her so called disability. I personally think the author did a great job of showing us how she continues to dance with a body that can no longer do what it once used to. The description of the dances and the props, setups, etc that she uses really blew me away. We also have a young girl that lost her family/support system early on and then is taken advantage of by her king. One who then wants her to spy on his brother kings while he plots to overthrow their thrones. This first book was more magical realism for me as there really isn't a true magic system or fantastical elements until the very end. We have political intrigue, a bit of a love triangle, family drama and banter. Her banter with one of the characters was a lot of fun! I'm looking forward to seeing how the author continues this as the ending was just heart breaking and wide open for so much more!

Oh my gods this book! As an ex-dancer and POTS girly myself this was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and I screamed when I got approved for the ARC, but reading it? It blew me away!

The prose is beautiful and the world building so vivid. The chronic illness representation and descriptions in this felt so accurate and I related to it a lot. The secrets and lies and constant twists and tension had me hooked, and I’m a sucker for political intrigue, espionage, and fantasy with a royal court setting combo. I had no self control on the second half of the story and just binged it because the plot kept twisting and building.

The dancing scenes were exquisite, they always made me miss dancing so much, the art of it, being a form of expression, how you can communicate with someone else with it because words aren’t needed, to even the costume creating processes. I often feel sad about leaving dancing, and when I think about retaking it I worry my body won’t cooperate but Vasalie’s own dancing journey, her strength and determination, and not letting her condition define her definitely felt really inspiring and left me thinking. I loved her and her sharp wit and her character development was amazing.

The ship hopping in this had me dizzy and so confused but I loved it. This is very slow burn, and it’s a very sensual book rather than sexual, but there’s heat and yearning to spare, and lust and obsession are really heavy themes here.

I devoured this fantasy debut, it is incredible! Those last chapters, had me losing my vision from moving too quickly in reaction, and the ending? How could you do this to me? @reverieandink I literally cannot wait for book 2!

Hopefully I’ll be able to find this book here, because I need it on my shelves, it just has such a deep meaning to me and staying colors to my heart, and I loved it so a trophy is needed ✨ and I want to make another post with quotes in it.

Thank you for this amazing ARC Del Rey Books and Net Galley, and Brittney Arena for writing such an incredible story with chronic illness representation.

*A Dance of Lies* opens with a haunting, visceral image: Vasalie, once a star performer, now a hollow shell of herself— broken, and imprisoned unjustly for a murder she didn’t commit. What begins as a tragic reawakening quickly morphs into a high-stakes court fantasy full of twisted loyalties, buried truths, and devastating betrayals.
**Vasalie/Vastianna Stova** is the emotional core of the novel—her trauma is palpable, her agency is hard-won, and her journey from pawn to player is messy, bold, and gripping. Her real identity slowly unravels, revealing layers of pain tied to her abusive father (General Stova), who once tried to wed her off for power. The irony of her becoming a spy for Illian—the same man she was almost married to as a child—is chilling. Arena nails Vasalie’s conflicting emotions: guarded longing, defiance, and fear of being controlled again.

**King Illian** is one of the most disturbing antagonists I’ve read in recent fantasy. Calculated, obsessive, and manipulative, his control over Vasalie is terrifying because it’s psychological as much as political. That reveal—that he knew who she was all along, that his “respect” for her body wasn’t kindness but a dark arrangement with her father—shatters both Vasalie and the reader. His death is both satisfying and disturbing—especially when you realize how deeply his influence has spread.

**Anton**, Illian’s brother and king of East Miridran, starts off as the “better one,” but the romantic angle felt uneven. He’s charming and principled, and he does protect Vasalie—but the steamy scenes felt rushed and slightly forced compared to the more emotionally complex dynamics with **Copelan**, the performer-turned-friend who understands her from the inside out. The romantic triangle works on paper, but in execution, Anton feels a little too golden boy for someone as scarred as Vasalie.

**Copelan** had the makings of a strong endgame match—his protectiveness, jealousy, and eventual betrayal added texture. But his cowardice in the face of Illian’s power—especially when Vasalie needed him most—made the breakdown of their bond believable and painful. His arc may continue to develop in book 2, but here, he serves as both a mirror and a caution to Vasalie: the dangers of trust.

**Side Characters** like Esmee, Gustav, Laurent, and the courtiers round out the cast with genuine stakes. Esmee’s reappearance and tragic past with Copelan deepens the trauma theme, while Gustav and Laurent serve as symbols of resistance and integrity in a world that trades people like currency.
Arena’s Miridran is divided into three territories—West (Illian), Central (Estienne), and East (Anton). This split gives a “Game of Thrones”-lite feel to the politics. The yearly crown gathering is the perfect pressure cooker, where dance performances hide espionage and masks slip.

One of the best worldbuilding elements is the **myth of Mercy/Morta**—a goddess of fate who judges the dead and grants second lives. The retelling of the first man to defy her (Eremis), and Anton’s eventual confrontation with Morta to revive Vasalie, gives this fantasy real mythic weight. It’s rare to see high fantasy use its mythos to drive character arcs this effectively.
The final 20% is **brutal, layered, and thrilling**. Anton’s fake betrayal, Vasalie’s forced assassination of the Brisendalian king, and the devastating reveal that Illian and Stova always knew who she was—it’s a relentless cascade of pain and twists.

And then: Illian kills Anton… only for Anton to return, aided by Morta. Vasalie’s self-sacrifice, jumping off the balcony with Illian, feels both tragic and triumphant. The moment she’s revived—with Anton’s goodness traded to save her soul—is beautifully earned and sets the stakes for what’s next.
Themes & Depth
* **Power & control**: From Illian’s psychological manipulation to Vasalie’s father’s political ambition, this book is deeply concerned with who gets to choose, and how that choice is stolen.
* **Found family vs. bloodline**: Vasalie chooses her allies over her heritage—fighting against both the man who raised her and the one who sought to control her.
* **Recovery from trauma**: Her journey isn’t neat. Arena portrays the slow, aching crawl toward reclaiming power—whether through performance, resistance, or rage.
Final Thoughts *A Dance of Lies* is one of those debut fantasies that feels like it's been waiting years to be written—it’s dense, raw, and unafraid of tackling dark power structures with elegance and pain. While I had my reservations about the love triangle and certain pacing beats, the emotional core and rich lore kept me invested to the very end.

If you love flawed heroines, political scheming, deep world mythologies, and watching someone crawl back from nothing to burn it all down—this is the series for you.

Would I read the sequel? Yes. Without question.
(3.25 ⭐will round it off to 4 just cause the book was a delight.)

speechless. utterly speechless.

arc rating & review:

🌟🌟🌟🌟

holy mother of GOD.
this was absolutely mind boggling in the most intricate but amazing way possible. i was absolutely fooled and bamboozled by this book.

first of all, the anxiety i had reading this was genuine. i was so nervous for our fmc the entire time. I was even holding my breath at times because i was so NERVOUS. this was beautiful. it was poetic. it was written in a way that you feel like you know it all until you realize you don’t. it draws you in like Vas draws the audience in, and totally blindsides you in the most beautiful and destructive way possible. I was speechless for the last 20% of this book.

oh and our mmc?! HELLO PLEASE I NEED HIM. the banter was unreal. his nickname for her 😭😭 i was an absolute fool for him. a lot of people say he’s like Dorian from ToG, i can see it but this man was still so hot in his own way. truly i was annoyed by the little love triangle but once we started to lean one way, i was clapping. THE BROTHEL SCENE!!! i need more romantasy books with a brothel scene because that was so nerve wracking and hot at the same time. I am utterly unwell.

the ending totally broke my soul. we have all these little details that finally come together and my soul feels like it’s been punched and stabbed all at once. i need book two now. like NOW PLEASE. you cannot tell me it ends that way 😭 i cannot go on without knowing what’s about to happen.

as always, thank you to netgalley & britney for the arc!!! 🤍

ARC Review
Overall rating: 5⭐️

I’m in pain. The ending left me empty and begging the universe for the second book as quickly as possible. You can really tell that the author cares so much about this story and the characters she’s brought to life. If you want yearning, emotional tension, soul mates, betrayal, found family, you will absolutely devour this.

First the characters. They were all so fleshed out and I really cared about all of them and their motivations. We were slowly given insight to their pastures and why they act the way they do, making you as the reader feel more connected to them overall. The way they were fleshed out was also integrated into their actions which really made you understand why they all did what they did. The FMC Vasalie was so strong in her own right especially with everything that she went through and I absolutely loved her character growth throughout the entirety of the book and am so excited to see how she tackles the diabolical cliffhanger we were left on. The MMC Anton was also so down bad and the yearning was next level. He was spewing poetry and was so ready to lay his life down for her. We love a pathetically obsessed and in love man.

Next the setting. The world was so well fleshed out and there was not one point where I felt like we were getting info dumped. Every part of the world was explained as we were working through the plot and as it became relevant. This made everything really easy to understand and get into and also made it feel so immersive. The politics of the world was really well fleshed out as well and made me nervous for the stakes we had to deal with.

If you want a delicious slow burn this book is also for you. We don’t even get a link of romance until like 70% through. After the 50% mark we start to get the lingering glances which just builds the yearning and anticipation until we get to the actual romance. There aren’t enough good things I can say about this book. No notes, pure perfection.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an early copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you so much to Brittney Arena, Random House, Del Rey and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I’ve been well and truly off the fantasy wagon so in all honesty I was putting off reading this one for ages because I just wasn’t in the mood….but I LOVED it!!

It’s always so much more satisfying when it’s a debut novel as well but Brittney smashed it honestly.
Dance of Lies follows Vasalie, a young dancer whose life is in the hands of Illian; one of the 3 brothers/kings of Miridran. After being held prisoner for years for a crime she didn’t commit, she is summoned by Illian and given the task of infiltrating the court of his younger brother Anton as a dancer at upcoming The Gathering. The reward for a job well done? Her freedom…but obviously it’s not that simple for neither Illian, Vasilie, Anton or anyone else in the kingdom for that matter, are what they seem.

This one really surprised me and in the best way, I found myself absolutely hooked from around 20% in. I really liked the disability arc even though it wasn’t what I thought it would be but thought it was done really well. I liked Vasilie and how strong she was when pretty much everyone in her life had caused her pain in some way!

The world building was colourful and I felt like the pages were coming to life as I was reading. The overall fantasy wasn’t too hard to follow either. The only thing that did confuse me through out and I felt like could have been made clearer and explained better was the whole Fate of Morta thing? I did not really understand what was going on at all with that whole history and it did take away from the story for me slightly, especially at the end when I didn’t have the foggiest what was going on!

That being said though I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens next and I’d definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for their next fantasy read!

I really really wanted to like this one, but alas it was meh. It had an interesting concept, the FMC was imprisoned for two years and left disabled, she then was forced to be like a spy for the king. The author tried to bring about more disability rep I think but it was not done that well. The FMC would do all of these very taxing dances, etc. so it was hard to believe she was disabled. IDK maybe I am just reading too much into it. Then as a character she fell pretty flat for me and I did not really even know where the story was going until later in the book. For people who are not big on this genre this may be a win for them but personally I have become very picky with romantasy.

*Taps mic* Hi yes, I have been emotionally attacked by a debut author and I’d like to file a complaint.

📚 A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena had me spiralling in all the best ways. Picture this: dark court politics, tangled loyalties, betrayal at every turn, and a DANCER who’s literally weaponised her trauma. Yes please. 🙌

✨ Let’s start with Vasalie — strong, sharp, stubborn and full of actuadepth. She’s been through it, babes. Like, framed-for-murder-rotting-in-the-dungeons levels of trauma. And yet she still manages to snark, scheme, and seduce her way through a court full of backstabbing nobles. Legend.
“I am little more than a husk. A corpse. A set of bones, waiting to be buried.”
Girl, same, but also? Rise.

🖤 Now the PLOT?? Was it a bit slow to start? Yeah, a bit. But once it picked up? I was second-guessing everyone and their uncle. Couldn’t figure out who to root for and who to strangle. I love when a book keeps me on my toes.

⚔️ Illian? Grade-A bastard.
“Even now, I see both versions of him: the man who gave me everything and the one who took it all away.”
That line?? Knife to the heart. And don’t get me started on Vasalie’s dad. Absolute villain behaviour. Lock him up.

👑 Anton and his court though?? Obsessed. He’s charming, flirtatious, emotionally damaged in just the right way.
“He kissed me like it was inevitable.”
— STOP I’M NOT OKAY. Their banter is elite:
“My tongue is dedicated solely to you, for as long as you want it.”
Please. Respectfully. No notes.

💃 Copelan? That tortured, broody, dance-master disaster of a man? That tension with Vasalie??
“You, Vasalie, are my shackles. I can't seem to set myself free.”

Why was I blushing? Get a grip.

🌪️ The themes of disability, resilience, and reclaiming your power were woven so naturally. The way dance is tied to magic and expression? Totally unique and so well done.
“But though you've suffered your own fire, child, you won't always smell of smoke... So rise from your ashes, my dear.”
— actually sobbing.

🩸 And the ending?? RUDE. You’re just gonna drop that and then walk away? No resolution, no comfort, just chaos??? The cliffhanger personally attacked me and I will be taking it to therapy.

💫 Overall: If you're into morally grey kings and queens, flirtatious royals, court intrigue, and poetic quotes that will emotionally damage you for days — pick this one up. I’ll be over here spiralling until book two.

🔮 Final thought:
“The monsters of this day and age wear flesh and bone.”
And apparently they also wear crowns. 😮‍💨👑

Thanks so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

First I want to remind everyone that being disabled doesn’t mean you can’t move around or dance.
I think it’s really important the readers realize that your image of what disabled is could possibly be coming from a biased and/or ignorant POV

I personally know people who are in pain daily, and dance.

This book has kept me on edge the entire time screaming at Vas to stop helping Illian, I’m sorry 3 prophets were coming to tell all the kings/queens something big and HE STOPPED THEM then “dealt with them”

Girl… rat on his @$$ and take protection from one of the other royals ffs you are giving ME anxiety and I’m not even there.

Clever work putting that prophecy in the book, I wrote it down then analyzed it every time I thought something relevant happened AND I WAS STILL SURPRISED

I ate this book like cheese at midnight. I did not stop until it was finished, I am rarely this satisfied with fantasy books (that could be because I focus on Romantasy) but this could be TOG good, this is Heir of Storms good.

The ending gutted me!!

I can’t believe I have to wait to read what happens next

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!
I wouldn’t have realized this was a debut author without being told! A really immersive and exciting book, with a plot that kept me coming back for more.

This was such a captivating and intriguing read!

I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but I found myself completely engrossed in the story from start to finish. You won’t know who to ship or who to trust: the twists kept me constantly guessing!

The female main character was incredibly strong, and I especially appreciated the thoughtful representation of chronic illness, which added depth and realism to her journey.

The court politics, the unfolding mysteries, the emotional angst and the web of conspiracies were absolutely addictive!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!

“Though you’ve suffered your own fire, child, you won’t always smell of smoke. And yes it may have burned you…But scars are powerful tings, because they show your resilience. So rise from your ashes, my dear. Do not crumble alongside them.”

A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena is a slow burn fantasy full of betrayal, court intrigue, intricate world building, and chronic illness representation.

So let’s start with things I enjoyed. This book did a really good job of balancing romance and plot. I never felt like there was too much of one thing or that the plot fell by the wayside to focus on the romance. The two were very much intertwined in a satisfying way that never left me wishing there was more of either thing. The concept of a dancer turned spy was unique like I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with that concept, so it felt very refreshing in this oversaturated romantasy genre. Speaking of the oversaturated romantasy genre, I also love that Vasalie was not the over confident badass girlboss warrior who curses like a sailor and loves to fuck type that is extremely common in the genre. I enjoyed the way she wasn’t always confident and doubted herself, but that never veered into the equally annoying insecure constantly needs validation girl either — it was a good happy medium between both. The disability rep was also great. I liked that it didn’t just disappear by the end of the story or that she was somehow magically healed. It’s made pretty clear this is a permanent, lifelong issue that she will have to learn to cope with.

However, I do feel like Vasalie’s disability just feels incompatible with her dancing (from what I understand of the author’s disability that served as inspiration), it just kinda feels like some things she shouldn’t be capable of especially not in the accelerated timeframe she’s working with in the beginning of the book.

Another thing with Vasalie, I feel like I was never really connected to her. I think part of this has to do with the fact that the book leans a little into the overwritten realm and so it ended up being very telling focused rather than showing her and her emotions which would have helped me connect with her. She kinda ends up feeling like a blank slate that you can just self insert with rather than her own character with a unique personality. Unfortunately besides the love interest, I think alot of characters suffer this fate where they feel a little one dimensional. The love interest was probably the most fleshed out character I fear, but the ghost of Rhysand from ACOTAR was haunting the narrative. He felt like an alternate universe variant of Rhys to the point I lowkey kept expecting dude to start picking lint off his clothes (lol).

While I enjoyed that I didn’t know who our romantic lead was gonna be until the end, the other romantic subplot felt so forced. There would have been more romantic tension if girlie had just been talking to a wall. Unfortunately, this little subplot felt like nothing but just a way to throw the reader off of “the scent” of the real love interest (I was very concerned for a little bit that Vasalie and this man were endgame which would have probably seen this book have a lower rating lol).

I think this book had a lot of potential and missed the mark, but I do think the book got better as we progressed. Because of that have some hope for the sequel and do plan to read it. There were alot of compelling moments where I felt very drawn in, but the book just struggled to sustain my excitment and attention until probably the last 75%. I think this is definitely a decent debut, and I’m interested to see what Brittney will write in the future because her writing definitely has potential.

I think this book is for the readers who want a mindless read but want something a little different from the common stuff in the romantasy genre. It’s also for the people who are annoyed by the fact that you know how in romantasy the love interest is obvious from the moment you meet them; because this book really did have me confused who I should be rooting for until like 65-70% (which was a blessing and a curse).

Tropes:

- court politics/intrigue
- rival kings
- slow burn
- enemies to lovers (vaguely it’s more just dislike to love lol)
- love triangle (it’s more like a square tho)

Last thought, but this is a minor spoiler who the romantic lead is, so if you want to go in blind ignore this…WHY TF WAS THAT MAN CALLING HER LITTLE MINNOW…straight to jail, sir.