A very enjoyable debut with a range of characters. I really enjoyed the representation throughout this and to top it off, brothers at war? I think this one is on me with a lot of stopping and starting (baby brain is real!), so I think if I'd of read this in one go it would probably be a 4 star!

The literary equivalent of "go girl, give us nothing". The beginning of the book had me intrigued because the main character had gone through some truly horrifying events but then she just seemed to ... shrug it off? No mental toll from the trauma whatsoever? I don't like this trend of giving characters a horrible backstory just for the drama.
The worldbuilding was generic and I couldn't picture anything. There were also arguably three love interests and none of them had a personality. In one book, you simply don't have the time to flesh out that many secondary characters so I wish the author had stuck to one. In the end, I only finished it out of spite and for my reading goal.

This is the story of Vasalie, kept in a dungeon in the dark for 2 years by King Illian. A gathering of all the Kings and Queens is about to happen and Illian pulls Vasalie out of the dungeon because he wants her to do tasks for him, and they are not good tasks. They involve poisonong, spying, murder, stalking, kidnapping, and abuse. Vasalie is a dancer and Illian considered her his Jewel, but Vasalie is hiding her own secrets from the crown, and those secrets are about to unravel and cause serious problems for everyone. On top of that, she becomes entangled with the master of revellers and Illians brother Anton which is not only forbidden, but dangerous for both Anton and Vasalie.


Dont get me wrong i really liked this book. Lots of drama, political intrigue, spy crafting, with some romance chucked in. There are also some trigger warnings for abuse, rape, kidnapping, trauma, disability and chronic illness. I really liked it though and will def read book 2.. That being said, the FMC had a disability yet its barely mentioned. She seems to have all the energy in the world to do all the tasks assigned to her, which i found unrealistic, and it was only mentioned in passing by someone who had noticed her wincing. I live with chronic illness and even if my life was in danger there are days im physically unable to move and im asleep like the dead and you couldnt wake me up if you dropped a bomb on me. Days can pass when i cant even walk a step on the floor and so i do feel that Vasalies disability needs to be more prominent in book 2, i think representation is important. It doesnt have to be major, but something alone the lines of someone comes to see her and she explains that she is in too much pain to move and is left to rest for a few days for example. Thats realism and would enable those living with the same conditions feel seen and understood.

A startling good debut with political intrigue, drama, and great worldbuilding.

Evocative and full of intrigue.


Vasalie is a dancer who after a year of imprisonment, for a crime she didn’t commit, has a body which no longer obeys the same commands it once did. The cruel king who imprisoned her is also her saviour, as long as she can perform a mission for him. Vasalie is to dance at the royal gathering and act as King Ilian’s spy. At the banquet are kings and queens from other lands as well as Ilian’s two brothers, the cruel king and the playboy king. As Vasalie gets more deeply immersed in other courts, she realises nothing is quite how it seems and her own life may no longer be worth the price she’s being demanded to pay.

This is a sophisticated story with a complicated protagonist. The world is rich and full of detail and every character has something substantial to them. It makes for a really layered story.

There is a magical element
but not really fantastical it’s more about science and innovation. I think the magic may be more explored im book two which I’m definitely keen to read given the ending.

It has lots of classic elements, love, romance, evil kings, noble nobles, betrayers, courtly romance and duplicitous courtiers. All set around the background of dance and performance which was a really nice and evocative touch.

Very fun but it is slightly drawn out, the world building is significant but the pace does pick up as you get further in the story.

I think this a lovely story and beautiful world.

Thank you #bloomsbury and #netgalley for my arc

Not my usual go to genre but I absolutely devoured this book. I’ll definitely be checking more out from this author, even if it is a genre out of my comfort zone! Loved it!

Let me just say, I am a simple woman okay? I see a pretty cover and I have to check it out, and A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena certainly did not disappoint. I flew through this book, and I had so much fun doing it. This is a different take on royal prophecies and scandals.

The worldbuilding is beautifully done. It’s not a highly magical world, filled with fantastical creatures or complex systems of magic. I appreciated that—it made it easy to get into the story quickly. There’s a strong political element, but it’s easy to follow. Everything is introduced in stages, so I never found it confusing. I found the world fascinating and would love to step into it myself.

What truly makes A Dance of Lies shine is its thoughtful disability representation. Inspired by Arena’s own experiences with chronic pain, Vasalie’s condition isn’t sidelined or treated as a plot device—it shapes her every action and thought, and yet never defines her entirely. Her perseverance doesn’t come from superpowers or grand magic, but from grit, vulnerability, and emotional endurance.

The themes of grief, guilt, pain, love and loneliness were explored in a great way and I loved discovering Vas and the other characters backstories.

The only issue I had with A Dance Of Lies, is its pacing. The novel favors emotional and political buildup over high-stakes action, especially in the first half. But if you enjoy slow-burn intrigue with strong character development and immersive world-building, it’s a rewarding experience.

So yes, I would definitely recommend adding this debut to your list if you’re a fantasy lover—I’ll absolutely be reading the sequel when it is released!

I knew I was going to love this story from the first chapter - this was a breath of fresh air for fantasy romance. A different take on royal scandals and prophecies - a dancer forced to become someone she despises to save those she loves and honour the memory of the only parental figure who had loved her for her. The twists and turns this story took kept me reading and kept me enthralled, I had to know what was going to happen at the last word of each chapter and it’s refreshing for our lovers not to get their happy ever after - yet?! I hope to Morta that there is a book 2 on the very near horizon as I need to be back with these characters and watch the two get their happiness and comfort back.

A Dance of Lies is an impressive and emotional debut that blends political intrigue, slow-burn romance, and rich world building with a refreshingly unique heroine at its heart. Brittney Arena delivers a fantasy tale that quietly defies convention—and in doing so, stands out from the crowd.

At the center of the story is Vasalie, a former court dancer whose life and body have both been broken by betrayal, false imprisonment, and chronic pain. When her king forces her into espionage, she must infiltrate a court of rival kingdoms under the guise of a performer and uncover secrets that could change the fate of a continent. Vasalie isn’t a sword-wielding rebel or a chosen one destined to lead an army—she’s a disabled woman navigating trauma, pain, and politics with resilience, intelligence, and quiet strength. Her character is compelling, vulnerable, and deeply human.

What truly makes A Dance of Lies shine is its thoughtful disability representation. Inspired by Arena’s own experiences with chronic pain, Vasalie’s condition isn’t sidelined or treated as a plot device—it shapes her every action and thought, and yet never defines her entirely. Her perseverance doesn’t come from superpowers or grand magic, but from grit, vulnerability, and emotional endurance.

The courtly setting is lush with tension—alliances shift, masks are worn (sometimes literally), and every interaction carries layers of meaning. The prose is elegant, especially in how Arena writes Vasalie’s dancing. Despite the physical pain, her movements on the page are vivid, graceful, and often heart-wrenching. It’s rare to see dance written with such fluidity and emotional weight.

The romance unfolds slowly, full of longing and mistrust. There’s a tangled web of affections—possibly a love triangle (or square)—but it’s handled with care. The growing connection between Vasalie and King Anton, the charming and morally ambiguous younger brother of her king, is filled with banter, tension, and emotional nuance. He’s untrustworthy in all the best ways, and their dynamic kept me turning pages.

If there’s one caveat, it’s the pacing. The novel favors emotional and political buildup over high-stakes action, especially in the first half. But if you enjoy slow-burn intrigue with strong character development and immersive worldbuilding, it’s a rewarding experience.

A Dance of Lies is a powerful debut with heart, craft, and something to say. It's not just about espionage or forbidden romance—it’s about survival, recovery, and reclaiming agency in a world built to break you. I can’t wait to see where Brittney Arena takes us in book two.

A fantastic story, full of fantasy. Glad there was a pre warning at the beginning, I think that's a really good thing to do.
Loved the plot and characters.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read with a lot of potential, but it didn’t fully land for me.

I really liked the concept—a disgraced dancer forced into a world of spies, secrets, and shifting loyalties after two years in captivity. The setup was compelling and the second half of the book definitely picked up with some great twists and reveals that I didn’t see coming.

Vasalie was a refreshing main character in some ways—more vulnerable and uncertain than a lot of fantasy heroines—which I appreciated. But the way her “disability” was handled felt inconsistent and underdeveloped. It’s a great idea in theory, but it didn’t translate effectively on the page.

The writing style also felt overly descriptive at times, especially in the first half, which made it hard to stay fully immersed. That said, I did enjoy the court politics and the slow-burn tension that built toward the end.

I’m curious enough to see where the story goes next, especially after that cliffhanger—but I’m hoping for more depth and refinement in the sequel.

I loved the premise of this and I was really excited to start reading but sadly this just didn't work for me. Overall it felt too slow and nothing was really hooking me in and pushing me to want to keep reading. So sadly I don't think this is the book for me.

This book includes:
- chronic illness rep
- dancers and a dance competition
- scheming royals

I really wanted to love this book. I was so excited to encounter a FMC with a chronic illness and a love for dance, but the story did not resonate with me for some reason. I think it is possible that there were just too many characters for me to feel like I connected with any of their stories of motivations. The book is well written and has heart, just didn't click for me exactly. I would still recommend it to my friends and fellow readers. i will probably give this book another chance in the future.

I received this ebook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Brittney Arena, and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863 and it will be posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/ and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I went slightly back and forth about this novel - there are a lot of cliches, but they are done well, and ultimately I think there's more to like than not. H0wever, I was really psyched when I read the note at the beginning that there would be disability rep and I was disappointed with that element. While there's good stuff about the mental element of having a disability, I felt that the physical side of it was conveniently absent most of the time. Vasalie was able to push through pain and fatigue in a way that is just not possible (or healthy!) for most people who have a chronic condition, and so might compound that expectation and misrepresents those of us living with invisible illnesses. I was invested enough in the ending that I will read the next one, but I hope Arena ups her game on the disability rep.

I really tried with this one. I wanted to love it. I gave it time. I even sat myself down and said, “Come on, just one more chapter.” But alas, I DNFed at 25%.

The pacing is painfully slow. The story keeps circling the same emotional drama without making any progress — like trudging through molasses made of angst. The main character is stuck in a repetitive loop of inner turmoil, and the descriptions feel more like filler than world-building.

Also… what in the daddy issues am I reading?? I kept waiting for some kind of payoff or explanation, but instead, I just found myself rereading the FMC’s name as “Vaseline” every time it popped up — which, unfortunately, was often.

I wish I could say more. I wish I could say something kind. But honestly? I just couldn’t force myself to go any further. I’m sorry. This one wasn’t for me.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Thanks to the publisher for the free copy.

A Dance of Lies has one of the cleverest plot I've ever read. I can't believe to the multitude of events that happened and, most of all, still made sense in all that caos ~ and, really, it wasn't a simple task.
Expect to face a roller coaster of emotions and happenings that will leave you screaming and shaking your head in disbelief, grief and rage.
I didn't expect to love it SO much. Not only I appreciated the characters (good and bad ones), but also the idea that you don't always need someone to protect you, because sometimes you need someone who trusts you and arms you, giving you the chance to fight for yourself.

Oh stars, A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena completely swept me off my feet - and I mean that quite literally. I went in expecting a soft glide through a dancer-centric fantasy (and I’ll admit, I was a tiny bit wary...no fae? no dragons??), but instead I got a full-blown, heart-thumping, pirouetting sprint of a story that stole my breath and didn’t give it back. And let’s just say… I didn’t walk away from this book. I danced.

From the very first page, Arena's storytelling pulses with rhythm and emotion. There’s a lyrical quality to her prose that mirrors the grace of her main character, Vasalie Moran - a dancer with so much more than just stage presence. Vasalie is now firmly cemented in my list of all-time favourite characters: fierce, flawed, full of heart, and so achingly real. And the chronic illness rep? Done with tenderness and raw honesty - it hit deep, and I adored every inch of it.

The world-building here was an unexpected delight. Each kingdom under the Crowns felt lush and distinct, like stepping into a new wing of a grand theatre. And The Gathering? Ohhh I could practically hear the music and feel the floor vibrate beneath my feet during each performance. I didn’t just read this story - I lived it. The political scheming, the found family vibes, the layered consequences to real choices...it gave the whole narrative a grounded complexity that made it impossible to put down.

And now let’s talk about the banter. THE BANTER. Actual, delightful, snort-worthy lines that had me grinning like a fool. The romantic tension was slow burn perfection (Spice Meter: 🌶️ - fade to black, but emotionally loaded), and the love interest? Swoon. Pet names? Check. Lines that made me want to throw the book and scream? Double check. There’s one character who had such electric dialogue I’d fight the gods themselves for them (but also Vas, always Vas first).

I’m already feral for book two and genuinely devastated that I have to wait. Brittney Arena has officially landed on my auto-buy list, and A Dance of Lies is a solid 5 out of 5 stars. If you’re craving something emotional, sharp, and gorgeously unique, do yourself a favour and twirl straight into this one.

4.5/5 stars

Ever since seeing the gorgeous cover, A Dance of Lies has been a very highly anticipated read for me. I am absolutely delighted that this book itself is even more incredible than the cover!

A Dance of Lies is a debut romantic fantasy featuring a dancer turned spy. After Vasalie Moran is framed for a crime she did not commit, she is offered a deal to spy in exchange for her freedom. Vasalie was such a complex and resilient FMC and she is so beautifully written. The world feels so rich and I became so invested in Vasalie's story.

I felt like this first book was a little slow paced at times but I have a feeling that things will begin to speed up in the second installment.

I really wanted to love this one. The premise had so much potential, and I was genuinely excited going in. But no matter how much I tried, I just couldn’t get into it. The pacing felt super slow, and I kept waiting for something to hook me. I think it just wasn’t the right fit for me, which is a bit disappointing.

DNF.... I really wanted to love this book. The premise sounded very good to me, however, as much as I tried, and I really did, I struggled to get into it. I just felt it was super slow, and nothing interesting enough was happening to get me hooked. I do think this is a me thing, as I generally do have issues with slower-paced books as I get distracted very easily and zone in and out if i'm not fully invested in what i'm reading.

Dancer Vasalie was once King Illian’s favorite—his Jewel of the court. Until she suddenly is falsely accused of murder and thrown into prison. Two years in the palace dungeons, chained, with no hope of release. But then, unexpectedly, Vasalie is summoned before King Illian. He has a task for her. And if she completes it successfully, she’ll earn her freedom.
Vasalie must dance at the six-week Gathering, where the different realms come together to renegotiate their trade agreements. As Illian’s assignments become darker and more difficult to accomplish, Vasalie is forced to make a choice. How far is she willing to go for her freedom? At what point do you stop choosing yourself over others?

I really enjoyed Dance of Lies. This fantasy novel is Brittney Arena’s debut, and I’ve heard a second installment is on the way. That’s great news, because the story absolutely deserves a sequel!

The worldbuilding is beautifully done. It’s not a highly magical world, filled with fantastical creatures or complex systems of magic. I appreciated that—it made it easy to get into the story quickly. There’s a strong political element, but it’s easy to follow. Everything is introduced in stages, so I never found it confusing. I found the world fascinating and would love to step into it myself.
Vasalie is an interesting main character. Brittney Arena chose to incorporate her own experience with chronic illness into the book. Vasalie continues to suffer from the aftermath of her time in the dungeons—her physical strength is no longer what it used to be. I thought this was a powerful addition. It doesn’t dominate the story but is a natural and integral part of who she is. It’s great to see more representation like this—I hope it inspires other authors too!

The story unfolds gradually, pulling you deeper into the intrigue. That makes it an enjoyable and fast-paced read. The tension builds steadily. From the beginning, you’re curious about Illian’s true motivations, and the suspense only grows. It’s skillfully constructed—almost like a thriller. There are hints and foreshadowing throughout: clear enough to let you draw your own conclusions, yet subtle enough to still surprise you when revelations come.

So yes, I would definitely recommend adding this debut to your list if you’re a fantasy lover—I’ll absolutely be reading the sequel when it is released!

I had the pleasure of reading Dance of Lies thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Tandem Collective as a VIP guest of The Big Night In 2025.