This was one of my most highly anticipated reads and it was even better than I expected. Easily one of the best books I have read all year. It’s dark, atmospheric and I don’t think my jaw was off the floor the entire time I was reading. Each twist had my heart pounding. I never knew who to trust. I finished it and had to sit for a few minutes in silence because of how much I loved it.

The characters? Perfect. Their growth, their banter, their motivations. The romance was perfect.
The world building and magic system was so unique and well done. This is the perfect example of show not tell.

I cannot recommend this book enough! Thank you so much to Entangled for the ARC.

💯 Worth👏🏻 The👏🏻 Hype👏🏻
My jaw hit the floor so many times I’m surprised it’s not broken! 😲
Y'ALL!!! This was her DEBUT!!
Brilliant! ❤️🖤💛
Wild, Crazy, Mind-altering.

I did not know what I was in for with this. You think you’re prepared, but then your world gets turned upside down. 🤯
This was such an emotional rollercoaster. Anger, heartbreak, and hope flowed in waves.
There were several moments I had to pause and collect myself. Lots of “I-Can’t-Even” moments. 😵
✴️Also, my biggest piece of advice while reading: Trust The Process. Seriously. You’ll find yourself questioning things and feel like info is missing or not appropriately elaborated on. I promise, it all comes together. And beautifully so. 🤌💋
I absolutely LOVED this wild ride. All the mini climaxes, and the whiplash from Jude, and the frustration from stubborn, defiant, Riven.
“A Stage Set for Villains” is a unique, dark, atmospheric YA fantasy that will knock your socks off and have you chomping at the bit for a reread.


🙏Hella Big Thanks to Entangled Publishing and Shannon Spann for the gift of an early read. 🤗
I CANNOT wait for release day so I can scream about this with my book besties! 🤘

🗓️Releases February 3, 2026
You’re definitely gunna wanna preorder this NOW! You don’t want to miss out on the gorgeous Deluxe Edition. 🤩

Wow. Just… wow. This book was fantastic. Easily a 6-star read for me.

I know, I know—I’ve had a lot of 6-star reads over the last few months, but sometimes a book comes along that completely blows you away. The kind that leaves you reeling, stunned, and unwilling to accept anything less than a 6/5-star rating. This book is absolutely one of those.

I went into it completely blind, as I usually do, though I was already hyped by the author’s posts and the overall vibe of the book itself. Even so, nothing could have prepared me for how much this story would consume me. Every twist and turn had my jaw on the floor, and I was tearing through the pages, desperate to see what would happen next.

And the ending—oh my gosh. I won’t spoil a single thing, because you need to experience it firsthand, but it was so incredibly satisfying and wrapped up perfectly.

The pacing, the twists, the characters, the world-building, the plot—everything worked. I genuinely loved everything about this book, and it’s one I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

ARC review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🚫🌶️

Thanks so much to Mayhem, Entangled Teen and NetGalley for the review copy.

^ YA fantasy
^ magical Playhouse which controls all the music and storytelling in the world
^ fast paced
^ sections are scripted and you’ll scream when you get it
^ immersive world building with complex lore

It’s January 6th, and I think this will be my top book for the month and a likely contender for the 2026 book of my year. Sometimes you just know when you’ve witnessed something incredible.

I don’t think I have the words to tell you how amazing and unique this story is. It’s layered and nuanced and everything you thought you knew about the world of the Playhouse is wrong. Your understanding of storytelling - and the importance of stories - will change with every page.

RIVEN HESPER - outcast, cursed and desperate for warmth and a home, enters into a contract to audition for a spot on the cast - to become a Player - in order to save her own life.

Once the competition begins, her understanding of her past, her identity and her world will be completely upended as she discovers exactly what the playhouse is and who the villains are.

There’s some romance, but it’s a background part of the story and doesn’t overwhelm the plot, which is devoted to telling the story of the Playhouse and the Players locked within.

Your expectations for storytelling will change with this book.