I really enjoyed this! Perfect for fans of Caraval. There were a few moments where it was frustrating that the FMC was naive to things that were clear to the reader, but the atmosphere and drama and fun of the story made up for that. Great aesthetic in general.

A huge thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I was absolutely ENTHRALLED! I finished this book in record time, because it was so exciting and engaging. Not only were the characters really likeable and the plot was smart and quick, the descriptions of the world and their beliefs felt so real and tangible. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book to come out, because I will be jumping at it! I highly highly recommend this book!

🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐ (4.5 stars)

"Den of Liars" by Jessica Olson is a thrilling, fast-paced adventure that swept me away from page one. If you're a fan of Caraval or The Inheritance Games, this one should definitely be on your radar. With its glittering illusions, layers of secrets, and high-stakes twists, it has the same kind of addictive pull—and just enough darkness to keep things interesting.

What really stood out to me was the character development. We follow The Thief and The Liar, both of whom are morally gray, wounded, and deeply compelling. As the story unfolds, Olson peels back their layers, revealing the trauma, choices, and survival tactics that brought them to where they are. You can’t help but empathize with them—even as you question their every move.

The plot moves fast, full of tension and games-within-games, and just when you think you’ve figured things out…nope. This is clearly just the beginning of a series, and I’m already dying to get my hands on the sequel.

Highly recommend for readers who love character-driven fantasy with a touch of danger and deception. I think this is considered a YA novel, and as such it doesn't have anything spicier than kissing.

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so exciting from the start. It grabs you and doesn’t let go. There are so many secrets this is going to be hard to review spoiler free! Lola is a great FMC she wants to be free so badly she’s willing to risk everything to find the secret that could do it. She shares a heart with the Thief and agrees to wager the secret in a competition run by his brother the Liar.

Along the way we meet some interesting characters and get to watch how they all help Lola to grow and develop. For the first time Lola is forced to think about how her actions might affect other people and you see just how big her heart is and how much she regrets hurting people.

Enzo the thief is fun with his face piercings and leather jacket he was always the adventurer and Nic his brother has spent his whole life trying to protect him. Nic the liar is dark and mysterious, he’s a show man and puts on a great performance for the patrons in his casino. Lola is caught in the middle of these two brothers. They all have their secrets and we haven’t even scratched the surface in book 1! I can’t wait for books 2.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book dual narrated by Emily Ellet and Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick. Listen I love audiobooks and narrators can make or break them, Dylan was amazing as Nic he was so believable and it felt like a perfect fit. I thought Emily did great with the side characters voices but I felt like Lola’s voice just didn’t fit what I pictured. I still loved this book and highly recommend it whether you read it or listen to it.

Narration: 5/5
Book: 5/5
Speed: 1.75x

Can we have Book Two now?!?! Seriously, I devoured this book. YA has been hit or miss for me lately, more so miss, but this one more than filled my need for a new fantastic world filled with a fascinating premise, mystery, and a satisfying dual POV. Lola entered a bargain long ago to share her heart with The Thief, in return for saving her life. Leading to a relationship with The Thief that is part brotherly, part best friend, part something more...maybe? Fast forward years later, eager to prove herself, and establish herself in her own right to become one of The Thief's Tentacles (his most trusted associates), Lola enters the world of the infamous Liar. If the premise of a shared heart wasn't enough to draw you in, the rest of the story is set against the backdrop of The Liar's high stakes magical gambling tournament where you enter with your deepest secret, in hopes to win the tournament's grand prize- an unbreakable lie.

Now onto the narration, it was fantastic. Emily Ellet and Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick narrated their chapters beautifully and did a great job portraying these characters. Their voices brought these characters to life and I found myself getting lost in their words. I just discovered Dylan narrates another book I have on my TBR and it has gotten pushed up the list as one of my next listens based on his work on this book.

Thank you Jessica Olson, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the the opportunity to review the Advanced Listening Copy!

high-stakes tournament? check
casino setting? check
I didn't mind the love triangle at all and found all 3 main characters to be fairly intriguing! I am genuinely looking forward to book 2. I think the Liar and Lola were my fav characters. The action really picks up and just hangs on after around the 50% mark of the book. The narration was spot-on IMO and helped keep you immersed in the story.

The twists, the turns…. This book had it all, family drama, lies, attempts at redemption. The author wove their tale as well as the magic weaved the lies and liars together. This book is perfect for when you want to step into a magical world where power is a double sided coin and it will inhibit you as much as it frees you.
The narrators did a wonderful job making this world come to life. The voice acting is top notch.

This was such a wild ride and it completely took me by surprise! I love our FMC, Lola. She’s so strong even after being through so much. The feuding brothers kept everything exciting, and I loved that although Lola is caught between them, it isn’t a love triangle. The magical casino setting was so different from anything I’ve read before and it was a lot of fun. All the twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat and I can’t wait for book 2!!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Feiwel & Friends, Netgalley, and Jessica S. Olson for allowing me to listen to an advanced edition of the audio for Den of Liars. These opinions are my own!

I was hooked. I fell down the rabbit hole into this magical world of games of lies and deception, magic dice, broody brothers, secrets and betrayals and thievery.

This was YA so no spice but there is definitely tension and some juicy moments. I listened to the audio for this which was really good!!

I wasn’t expecting the ending at all!!

I need the rest of the story!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#liar #thief #disguise #games #secretsandlies

I am not usually one for this type of genre. But I had so much fun in this world. I can't wait to read more by this author. The duel narration was so much fun and I loved these characters. I recommend if you are a fan of Caraval & Phantasma and are looking for a fun fantasy novel that is easy to get into.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Macmillan's Children's Publishing group, Fiewel and Friends, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this title to listen to and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I loved the idea of this book. A casino of sorts where people gamble secrets. It was very intriguing. And I have listened to books narrated by this female author (under a different name) and have enjoyed her. So having a copy of this one to listen to (and read along with the Kindle version) was nice.
This book gave me Leigh Bardugo Six of Crows vibes. I think it was the crime boss in a fantasy world thing that made me feel that way. So the idea of the story was really great. It was written well with average pacing and lots of suspense woven throughout. But it didn't hit it's mark for me.
I'll start with the narration. Unfortunately, I didn't click well with the narrators. They had good cadence and inflection, I just wasn't pulled in by their voices for the characters they were portraying. It is dual narration with a FMC and MMC POV. I wish there had been more from the MMC's POV. I felt the book heavily relied on the FMC's POV.
Beyond the narration, I truly struggled to connect with the characters. Astria/Lola had a lot of baggage but I didn't feel like she really addressed any of it and grew from what she found throughout the book. She still seemed to be in the same place she started by the end. Nic/Liar was a better character for me. I could feel his struggle in wanting to be more than just the liar he was. But he didn't do much to change it. Both these characters had limited growth and development for me and came across as one dimensional rather than layered.
I also struggled to feel the chemistry and romance between the characters. It seemed quite forced. There was no growth there. No lead up. It just was suddenly they were attracted to each other and that was that.
I also found the world building lacking. I had a hard time understanding the magic system and how it worked. Or even how people had magic in the first place.
I did appreciate the inclusion of a disability in this book. I could feel the struggle from that character in having to deal with an eye that doesn't work quite right and glasses often getting in the way.
Overall, the book is fast paced but it just missed the mark for me with the lack of world building and development of the characters. I honestly couldn't wait for it to end.

4.5 stars so we're rounding up to 5 because I need book two immediately! I devoured the audiobook of Den of Liars in under two days -> magical tournament, emotional twists, complicated family dynamics, and enemies-to-lovers perfection. I barely took out my ear buds.

This book pulled me in from chapter one. Lola, now living as Astra, is trying to earn her place among the Tentacles after years of hiding from the fallout of her father’s loss in the Liar’s Dice Tournament. When a heist goes wrong, she’s forced to enter the same tournament (where secrets are currency) where she becomes caught between two warring brothers, one who is like family and the other who maybe isn't what he seems to be.

I really liked how the book balanced both romantic and plot-driven tension with steady character development. The relationship between the brothers was just as interesting to me as the romance, and the emotional weight behind their shared history paid off in a big way.

And that cliffhanger?!!! It sets up the second book so well, I will be first in line when it comes out.

I ended up rating this 4.5 stars because I never felt like I fully grasped the magic system. Which could be on me because listening to the audiobook made it easy to miss some of the details. I plan on grabbing a physical copy and rereading at which point I'll update this review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio / Feiwel & Friends for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Is this Caraval by Stephanie Garber mixed with Swan Lake? I really enjoyed this, especially after having a disappointing time with my last few reads. The narrator did a great job, and I felt like the pacing went well with the book.

4.5

This was fun and magical and I loved it.

EVERYBODY LIES - VIBE / PLOT
Jessica S. Olson took the magical tournament trope and garnished it with delicious secrets, a net of lies so intricate it almost blends into truth, fine and shiny details for padding and fierce, cunning characters.

The story fluctuates between the ecstatic, intoxicating excitement of victory that at times propels into euphoric joy, and the deeply devastating hurt of trust lost and betrayal uncovered. Choosing a casino as framework was genius in my opinion, as that alone perfectly sets the scene and is heavy with emotional implications.

“To live is to lie, little thief. We all do it.”

The word tapestry is used to describe lies and its almost what watching this story unfold feels like: untangling a tapestry of reality that is far too intricate to be black and white, more nuanced than just truth and lies.

Den of Liars dives deep into the human psyche, morals and implications and what lies beyond, but does so in an almost delirious way, hiding the very serious and at times brutal consequences behind a whirlwind of magic and gambles and glitter and promises of a glamorous life.

“Claiming you haven’t hurt anyone, just because you haven’t allowed yourself to see that hurt, is humankind’s favorite self deception."

WORLD BUILDING & WRITING
Amidst gentle world building and a very unique magic system, I was swept up in the aesthetic of the story as much as in its mysteries. Flashbacks are used to add padding and for perspective and while they help work through some of the secrets and lies, they also add complicating layers to some characters and their relationships.

The second POV that the author uses helps with that but just enough to build a connection, not so much that it takes away from the mystery. I also really enjoyed the writing in general - the descriptive style amplified the world building - and the narration.

CHARACTERS
Lola St. James is an amazing FMC.
Though there are stretches where I wanted to shake her, she is a prime example of how a female lead can be imperfect and calculated, driven by trauma and shaped by people that never let her grow into healthy behavior and still have agency and direction.

She comes with a level of intelligence that makes it easy to understand that any… questionable decisions are to be blamed on circumstance. Which is why, in my opinion, her character development is very believable in both pace and motivation.

“If you spend your life hiding from the monsters you think live in the dark, you’ll miss the stars every single time.”

The Thief and the Liar are an interesting pair of male characters. True to their names, for long stretches of the book it is almost impossible to tell their intentions or predict their moves. They are as unpredictable as the game they’re all, knowingly or not, playing.

I have my thoughts about both men but will keep it brief as to not spoiler. I will say that, even when red flags and patterns can be spotted early on, things are not as simple as they appear and the connections that unravel are intriguing to say the least. And one of them in particular had my heart way too early in the book for it to be safe.

PERFECT FOR FANS OF CARAVAL
Den of Liars is colorful, flashy story that balances the line between play and being played. It harbors a lot of depth between its lines and layers and had me fully immerse into the tapestry of lies and secrets. I’m in love with the characters and the world Jessica S. Olson created, curious about what still lies hidden and hungry for book two.

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Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Jessica S. Olson for an ALC of this book.

3.5/5 and I was so close to going higher, but some moments fell too flat, so this is a very solid 3.5/5 for me.

This is definitely for fans of Six of Crows, Caraval, and Ace of Shades. If you like YA crime and secrets, this is for you!

This follows the daughter of a crime boss who makes a deal with a thief.

I really liked this magic system, it felt unique and like there's more beneath the surface. (Especially because this is the first book in a series, I can tell this magic system is going to build itself out more and I need it to be as cool as I imagine it could be.

This is very action-packed, there's a lot going on, but it can sometimes feel flat when there is a lull in the action. The balance of those scenes isn't quite there for me.

I really enjoyed this and I think so many people will too! I don't want to say anything more because I fear I will spoil something given how this book is. Just know, that it is fun little crime-fueled and crime-filled adventure full of secrets and discoveries and spookies.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Magic, lies, a heist, a conwoman, a love triangle...this all sounded fantastic to me but for some reason this new YA romantasy just didn't quite hit the mark. I still found the plot entertaining and might keep reading when the next book comes out. Would recommend to fans of authors like Stephanie Garber. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a fun game of lies and magic. The world created within the story is vibrant with a rich lore that enhances the narrative.

After reading the blurb about the story, I was expecting more of an Ocean's 11 kind of heist, but it ended up being closer to Phantasma. I thought the magic system in this world was really unique with its ability to allow non magical people to use magic.

I will definitely be returning for book 2. I need answers to all my questions.

This book felt like a slow burn game of chess where everyone’s lying and no one plays fair, and I was so here for it. FMC is smart, manipulative, and morally gray in a way that makes you root for her even when she’s being a little unhinged. Secret societies, masks, political drama? Say less.

It starts off slow, but once the plot picks up, it clicks and suddenly I couldn’t stop listening.

Speaking of, the audiobook narrators were amazing. Legit carried the tension, the vibes, and the drama. If you’re an audiobook girly, this is 100% worth it.

Only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is I wanted a bit more emotional chaos at the end (just wreck me a little, you know?). But overall, it was sharp, clever, and super entertaining. Definitely recommend.

I would want to start by thanking NetGalley for the ALC of Den of Liars. For the most part, I had entered the novel blind. I was hesitant at first, but by chapter 5, I was engrossed in the audiobook because of its clear and well-developed environment. The personalities were remarkable in their growth. And it was fantastic for my first YA romance. Obsessed, obsessed, obsessed. The inclusion of people with disabilities in the book was fantastic.

I really enjoyed the setting and premise of Den of Liars and found the pacing to be perfect. However, I struggled to connect to the characters, especially the love interest. I also thought the twists are fairly predictable. Overall I would recommend Den of Liars to a young adult newer to the fantasy genre.

I did enjoy the narration, especially the MMC's narrator.

I received an ARC and ALC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends and Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.