An excellent, intriguing, and twist fantasy debut.
There's plenty of potential, excellent world building and character development.
I found it a bit slow at the beginning but I was hooked after some chapters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Solid 5 star read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Dance of Lies snapped me out of a months-long reading slump—and I was hooked from the first chapter!

Brittney Arena’s debut novel is a sweeping, emotionally charged fantasy that hits all the right notes. The world-building, character development, and emotional depth all strike a near-perfect balance between scene-setting and reader freedom. The author's descriptions are vivid enough to anchor the reader in the moment but never so drawn out that you’re stuck wading through pages of scenery. It felt cinematic but still left room for the reader's imagination to play.

Vasalie is an incredible main character who is layered, fierce, and vulnerable in all the right ways. She is strong, complex, and unforgettable—I cannot wait to see the journey she takes in this book series.

And that ending? I have no words 🤯 I need book two immediately and probably 3–5 business days to emotionally recover. This was a stunning debut, and I’m already desperate for the next installment of this series. Brittney Arena is officially on my auto-buy list!

4.75! ⭐️
Vasalie’s journey is one of the most compelling I’ve read in a long time. She’s a protagonist who lives with chronic pain and physical limitations, which the book handles with striking authenticity. Her pain doesn’t magically go away—she adapts, she struggles, she perseveres. Watching her rise from the ashes of her trauma, rediscover her strength, and begin to define herself beyond her suffering is both heartbreaking and empowering. I loved that she wasn’t defined by her disability, but that it was still a central part of her experience—present in every moment of her life, yet never overshadowing her identity.
The world building is vibrant and rich—especially the City of Glass, which felt almost tangible in its beauty. The political stakes were high and the espionage plotline felt genuinely tense and unpredictable. I’ve read a lot of fantasy with court intrigue, but this one really leaned into the spycraft element, which made it all the more interesting.
And then there’s the romance. Or rather, romances—yes, there are several potential love interests, and while that could’ve felt overwhelming, it was handled well. Copelan, the Master of Revels, had a mysterious allure and a layered relationship with Vasalie that kept me guessing. But it was Anton, the King of the East and Ilian’s younger brother, who completely stole the show for me. Charming, wounded, and impossible not to love, his evolution throughout the story was one of my favorite parts. I adored his interactions with Vasalie, and even when she didn’t trust him (rightfully so at first), their chemistry was undeniable.

I also appreciated that this book doesn’t offer easy answers or quick fixes. It’s a story about surviving—about learning to live in a world that constantly shifts beneath your feet. There’s power in Vasalie’s vulnerability, and her story made me feel seen in ways I didn’t expect.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the advande copy. All opinions are entirely my own

I picked this up for the gorgeous cover and was pleasantly surprised with the story. For a debut, this was so well done. The writing had this delicate balance of whimsical and flowery without feeling too over the top. And the setting descriptions especially stood out to me, the stain glass imagery, the dancing… it all felt like I was there.

I liked Vasalie as a main character, she is not the typical fantasy heroine, she is sharp, creative, observant, and quietly fierce. I love how the story leaned into court politics, secret alliances, and manipulation. Watching her navigate it all made me really care about what came next.

The king's cheeky banter totally worked for me. I’m a sucker for characters that act like rakish troublemakers but end up being surprisingly gentle. Their dynamic added the right amount of charm to balance the heavy moments of tension in the book.

It did take a few chapters for me to be fully absorbed by the story, but once the spying, court scheming, and blackmail threads started unraveling, that’s when the plot started to pull me in. If I had one critique, it’s that I wanted a bit more depth to certain plot resolutions. I feel like there were some things that were brushed over, like what happened with King Estienne for example.

That being said, the ending really got me. I suspected a few things, but I didn’t expect the emotional way things would wrap up. Even with her careful planning, Vasalie couldn’t escape her father’s web. It didn’t matter how many steps she was ahead, the way the ending tied things together felt inevitable and kind of haunting. I’m counting down the days for a sequel because I need to know what happens next.

Side note: I had to mentally block out the meaning of the nickname “minnow”. I think it was meant to be endearing but “little fish” doesn’t seem all that romantic to me 😂

Read if you like:
👑 Court politics
👑 espionage
👑 dancing and balls
👑 Disability rep
👑 Blackmail and betrayal
👑 Plot twists

Vasalie, King Illian’s once Jewel of a dancer, has been imprisoned for two years for a crime she didn’t commit. Illian, one of three brothers ruling a divided land, is looking to increase his strength and power within the Crowns. As he makes his move he chooses Vasalie to be his spy while leveraging her past against her. She must now regain her strength, come to terms with the life she had and process how she is going to move forward serving someone she despises. Can she find trust and forge friendships (or more) within her lies?

This was a good debut romantasy. Vasalie is a character that wants to do the right thing but is put in impossible situations where those decisions are out of her control. Her struggle feels very real but at times slows the pacing of the story. I did enjoy the premise of the novel and the introduction to the larger world of politics and lore that it covers. 3 stars.

Based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!

This is a really fun royal court drama with some fantasy aspects. Vasalie was framed for murder and imprisoned for two years, until King Illian sends her as a dancer to a royal gathering to spy for him and earn her freedom.
Two years stuck in a prison cell has drastically changed Vasalie’s capability for movement, and I really enjoyed seeing her learn to accept her body’s new disabilities and find ways to embrace them through her dances. The exploration of chronic pain was really touching.
The court politics were so intriguing and I was so captivated by the dynamics between the three Miridranian kings. I loved V… and his dynamic with Vasalie, especially how open he was with her and how well he understood her despite her best efforts.
Overall I really enjoyed this and will definitely be reading the sequel!

Sign me up for anything and everything that Brittney Arena writes! This is her debut book and it was amazing!!

This is one of those stories that hooks you each and every chapter so you cannot put it down. I loved the world building, the plot, the characters, the twists and turns, the tension. I loved it all!

This book has disability representation with Vasalie our FMC. She was a dancer in King Illian’s court after escaping her abusive father, until the king framed her for murder…only then to offer her a deal of freedom in exchange for spying on his brother King Anton by any means necessary.

Even through Vasalie’s chronic pain, she is strong and resilient and does not give up. She is determined and creative and I love her character development.

This is for you if you enjoy
✨ Slow burn
✨ High tension
✨ Political intrigue
✨ Disability representation
✨ Strong and determined FMC
✨ Fast paced story with twists and turns
✨ Dance scenes
✨ Amazing side characters
✨ A TIGER
✨ No spicy time in this book but some amazing tension filled scenes…if you know, you know. 😍

I absolutely cannot wait for the next book! Give this author and this book a chance, it’s so good!!

Thank you so much to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Never in my short life I appreciate a debut book but THIS , before finishing it , I'm looking forward for the next book , I loved the world building sm and the rhythm of the story kept going up with great plot so do I recommend it? YES GOD GO AND GET YOUR COPY , waiting for her next book ofc

Okay this got better as the book went on, I was not expecting that ending!

We follow our fmc Vasalie, on her journey as a dancer who is falsely imprisoned and given a chance at freedom if she spies for her king at the court gathering.
However, all is not as it seems and truths and lies unravel as Vasalie learns what is happening and peoples true intentions.

There are twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down at the end as I just had to know how it was going to end. There is a lot of court politics, betrayals, romance - plenty to keep the reader engaged throughout.


Thanks to NetGalley for proving me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book lived up to all my expectations!!! I loved the world building of this book the pacing we perfect and I loved the tense political vibes of the book, this is a story you can really sink your teeth into. I loved the enemies to lovers vibes and the found family aspect I will definitely be picking up book 2

oh where to begin with this masterpiece.
for the first half of the book, i’m going to admit, i wasn’t the biggest fan. i thought it was well written and had somewhat of a unique premise that i hadn’t seen before. but the all of a sudden it just hooked me and i was obsessed ever since. i really liked how the stakes escalated throughout the book and i thought the plot was quite well passed. i think it needed to be a bit slow in the beginning, to really lay the ground work for the plot and the story. the first half, everything is very mysterious and you’re following vasalie who also has no idea what is going on, she just wants to be freed from the clutches of her evil king Illian (BOOOO). but then, everything start coming out, all the secrets get revealed and it’s just amazing.
i liked a lot of the characters, especially our main ones, vasalie and anton. i really liked their dynamic and the slow build of their relationship. and the tension??? amazing 10/10.
also i have to talk about that ending because WHAT!!!! what do you mean i can’t just pick up the next one and read it immediately. i will be waiting on the edge of my seat until i have it in my hands.
overall i’m extremely impressed that this is a debut and i will definitely be reading whatever else Mrs. Arena has to offer.

endless thanks and gratitude to Del Rey and Netgalley for this e-ARC
seriously thank you, this was absolutely amazing

Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author Brittney Arena for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

At first I thought of this as split copy of Throne of Glass, you know, her being thrown in prison in this case for a crime our girl hadn't even committed, then broken from the years passed behind bars she was thrown in. But I was corrected, yes the start may have felt overly slow, yes I really didn't like the first 15/20/25 % of this book. But once it picked up it morphed into something much more enjoyable, not unforgettable, but enjoyable. The writing was at times too flowery (especially when particular objects were trying to be introduced) but it still flowed well towards the end of the book. Another thing I liked is the actual representation of chronic pain and how Vasalie fought against it, against her body, against all remarks thrown at her (especially from sir-middle-child-I-absolutely-hate-you-prince Illian)

What I absolutely adored inside this book? The banter, oh that was just amazing, the small snarky remarks between Vasalie and Anton? I loved them, every single one. I loved how serious and real Anton could be yet at the same time goofy and extremely caring for the people he basically considered family.

this book is a 4 stars because of their banter and thanks to the ending, I can't wait to see what author Brittney Arena is going to show us in book 2.

4⭐️ no actual scenes of 🌶️ but a few mentions, not between the main characters. kisses here and there? Oh yes

4 stars: A Dance of Lies is an enjoyable but highly derivative story with a solid plot, characters, and romance. Enlisted by the king to become a spy, Vasalie goes undercover as a dancer where she meets Copeland, her dance partner, and Anton, the king’s younger brother.

What I liked:
- The spying by posing as a performer was a genius set up that allowed for some really dynamic scenes. I liked watching Vasalie take on the dual role, and it created tension that kept me engaged, especially in the second half of the story.
- The politics were woven really nicely throughout the book, and I felt there was actual substance to the plot, which made me want to know what was going to happen later in the book (and got me excited for the sequel).
- Anton is an intriguing and interesting character, and by far the most interesting character in the book. Part of what kept me interested in reading was that I wanted to know more about him.
- While the book is very tropey, I thought the tropes were executed well. They felt organic to the story and earned rather than something shoved in to market the book of social media.
- Overall, the second half of the book is much stronger than the first. Something with Vasalie clicked for me in the second half that made her a lot more compelling, and the plot picks up a lot.

What I didn’t love:
- The love triangle should have been removed altogether. She had no chemistry with Copeland, and he was honestly a supremely unlikeable character from the start. The scenes with him made me want to dnf because it was instalove and all telling rather than showing. It was also extremely obvious who she’d end up with the minute Anton showed up, so the love triangle came across as pretty pointless, and actually drug down the reading experience.
- There was a LOT of info dumping and monologuing in this book, which slowed the pace down quite a bit. It didn’t destroy the book, but I would have liked to see those scenes reworked a little to make the exposition less clunky.
- I have to acknowledge that this book is very derivative. It is literally a condensed version of the first three ACOTAR books, with very similar plot beats and characters. While it was a fun time, it doesn’t really offer anything new— hopefully the sequel will be a bit more original.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a solid romantic fantasy that is entertaining and has a decent plot, characters, and romance. While not the most original work, I found it to be entertaining and executed well. Definitely an above-average read!

Truthfully? I really really wanted to love this. The premise sounded intriguing, the romance sounded like everything I like to read, but I put it down and didn't seem to want to pick it back up again. I had a hard time with the pacing and the writing style.

*ARC Review*
I wanted to read this book because I was intrigued: a disabled dancer turned spy? As someone who is chronically ill/disabled, I longed to see a heroine I could relate to... And this debut novel by Brittney Arena did not disappoint, in fact, it far exceeded my expections! The author being chronically ill herself, she clearly understands how chronic illness warriors become masters of "masking". It isn't because Vasalue Moran can dance and look "okay" that she isnt suffering or struggling! Not all disability are visible!
It's often I find the world building in romantasy hard to follow, but in this book it was so well-done: it unfolded at a perfect pace and it was like watching a good series on tv. Also, this story gave me strong "fairytale"vibes: the world and the characters are well-developed, with some elements close to magic, obstacles and life lessons. Also, I like that you don't know right away who are the good people vs villains, who will help our heroine, and who is her true love: I think all those elements are once again a true depiction of how everything isn't alway black and white-especially for people who suffer from trauma, chronic illness, etc.
Last but not least if I haven't convinced you to read this book: 448 pages! That makes this accessible to romantasy newbies, tired chronic illness warriors or just anyone who's looking for a great sunmer read where you will totally be immersed in a fantastic world of espionage, tension, longing and politics!
*Thanks to NetGalley for the possibility of reviewing this excellent book.

A stunning debut that weaves together heartbreak, betrayal, and the deadly elegance of court intrigue. A Dance of Lies follows Vasalie, once King Illian’s prized jewel—a beloved palace dancer betrayed and framed for murder by the very man meant to protect her. Now, she’s dragged back to the royal court as both performer and reluctant pawn in a dangerous political game. Every step she takes is a risk, with power plays and emotional betrayals lurking at every turn. She trusted the wrong King, will she make the same mistake again?

The story captured my attention from the very first page, and I found it difficult to put down. This isn’t a typical romantasy. There are multiple potential love interests introduced, but it’s not clear who the FMC will end up with until nearly three-quarters into the book. It’s a deeply slow burn, laced with quiet, simmering tension that builds.

That ending, though 😵‍💫 I’m still recovering. Needless to say, I’ll be counting down the days until the sequel; never mind that it hasn’t even been announced yet. Brittney Arena, please have mercy. 👀💔📚

Tropes:

🩰☠︎🥂 Espionage

⚔️ Court intrigue

👑 A king obsessed
♿ Chronic illness rep

💕 Enemies-to-allies
🔥 Slow burn

💔 Betrayal and revenge

A huge thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for providing an advanced copy of the book for review consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.

A Dance of Lies is about a girl who used to be a dancer, and is recruited/forced into being a spy at a political gathering, while having physical limitations that preclude her from being at her best. She struggles through the quagmire of political intrigue while battling her own physical and emotional demons.

This book had a very interesting premise in that the author specifically states at the beginning that she wanted to create an fmc who lived with chronic pain and physical limitations, as opposed to other romantasy fmcs who were strong/magical/kick-ass. I applaud this ambition and thought it was executed well throughout the book. The downside I saw was that Vas's physical issues contributed to low self-esteem which caused her to make some poor choices, and those, while contributing to the plot, were frustrating to read and slowed down the pacing.

In terms of world building and character development, I felt that the story got a pass on the world building, since the majority of the book took place on a neutral island. However, there were characters I wish we saw more of, and I hope to see more of them in the second book. This first book really focused on Vas's personal struggles, but there is so much potential in the side characters that would really liven everything up.

The story slogged a bit in the middle, and then rushed into a not-quite-denouement at the very end to set up for the second book. I will be reading the second book, mostly hoping to see more from the side cast.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

This book was a bit of a rollercoaster, but not in a good way. There were times when it was exciting, and I had a hard time putting it down. Then it would be so dull and boring, or the character would do something so frustrating, I had to put it down and not pick it back up for a while. Because of these ups and downs, I had a really hard time rating it.

Vasalie is a dancer turned prisoner turned spy. She's spent the past two years locked up for a crime she didn't commit, which has left her physically disabled. Still, she's given the opportunity to clear her name if she turns spy for the King who knowingly imprisoned her. He has leverage, and he's not afraid to use it. At the Gathering, Vasalie has to use her skills to get close to those around her so King Illian can accomplish his goals.

I found Vasalie so frustrating. I couldn't connect with her, and sometimes her doubts about some characters but not others really made me want to scream. I think the problem was that I could see where the plot was going, and it was obvious to me when someone was genuine or was acting, and it wasn't obvious to Vasalie. There is a slight moment of a love triangle, which I tend to not like. I also really didn't like the trope used at the end of the book. I wanted the disability representation to be slightly better. Mostly, Vasalie just had to "push through it," and that just isn't how disability tends to work.

Like I said, this was a complicated one for me. I liked some aspects. I enjoyed parts, and then I would get bored. I think many romantasy lovers will enjoy this one. I'm not sure how people will like the ending.

A Dance Of Lies by Brittany Arena : Such a great fantasy read. Amazing world building inside and outside, such feeling and heart with the FMC. I will be rereading this again and again. I feel like I can relate to this FMC. The heat seeking in this top tier. You yearn for more & its out of reach. I can't wait to read more by this author. Thanks to netgally & the publisher of this novel.

Lush and mesmerizing, A Dance of Lies is everything I hoped it would be. I love when characters are put into dangerous situations and are forced to make terrible decisions. I love a good spy plot line, especially when the person you are spying for is evil and you are forced to work against people you like and respect. The middle of the story I was a little confused, mainly because I couldn’t figure out who the love interest was supposed to be. The story seemed to be going in too many directions but by the end it’s all straightened out. The political intrigue was fascinating and the ending was INTENSE. There is an excellently well crafted villain, and the main character Vasalie is similarly well rounded and so easy to root for. I am not chronically ill or disabled, but I thought the author drawing on her own experience made Vasalie’s journey and experience very realistic. This was a beautifully written, classic romantic fantasy and I need book two now!