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The Devious #1
Den of Liars
A young thief attempting a daring casino heist during a high-stakes tournament is torn between two warring brothers in Den of Liars, a thrilling YA fantasy romance by acclaimed author Jessica S. Olson.
Lola St. James is the world’s best kept secret. When her father’s loss in the Liar’s Dice Tournament–a high-stakes competition where players are forced to gamble with their deepest secrets–made her a target, she was rescued by the Thief, the notorious leader of the Tentacles. But the Thief’s kindness came with a Lola’s heart. In the years that followed, she and the Thief formed a bond like no other, able to feel each other’s emotions because of their shared heart.
Now, living under the pseudonym Astra, she is determined to prove herself and become a full-fledged Tentacle. But when a critical heist goes sideways, the only way forward is for Lola to compete in the Liar’s Dice Tournament herself. Lola is confident in her ability to pull off any heist, but the Thief's mysterious brother, the Liar, runs the game and he turns out to be more than she bargained for. As her attraction for him grows and illusions run wild, she will be forced to confront the secrets of her past, the truth of the brothers’ shared history, and the lies she tells herself.
Lola St. James is the world’s best kept secret. When her father’s loss in the Liar’s Dice Tournament–a high-stakes competition where players are forced to gamble with their deepest secrets–made her a target, she was rescued by the Thief, the notorious leader of the Tentacles. But the Thief’s kindness came with a Lola’s heart. In the years that followed, she and the Thief formed a bond like no other, able to feel each other’s emotions because of their shared heart.
Now, living under the pseudonym Astra, she is determined to prove herself and become a full-fledged Tentacle. But when a critical heist goes sideways, the only way forward is for Lola to compete in the Liar’s Dice Tournament herself. Lola is confident in her ability to pull off any heist, but the Thief's mysterious brother, the Liar, runs the game and he turns out to be more than she bargained for. As her attraction for him grows and illusions run wild, she will be forced to confront the secrets of her past, the truth of the brothers’ shared history, and the lies she tells herself.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2025
62 people are currently reading
34566 people want to read
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July 2, 2025
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✧
3.5 rounded up
➵ ARC review
⊹ ࣪ ˖ Release: July 1, 2025
⟢ If Caraval and Six of Crows had a baby, this would be it.
── 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 ── .✦
The whole idea of this book was intriguing, the magic, the brothers, even the games. I went into this book with super high expectations, and honestly? It delivered. Because this book is written well, it’s easy to get lost in the story along the way. I even ended up rereading it before the book was even released, it was that good. It did, however, have its issues, which I’ll elaborate on later. Overall, though, this book was magical.
── 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 ── .✦
The main character, Lola, is super easy to relate to. Unlike a lot of fantasy FMCs, she doesn’t have these unreachable standards, and reminds me more of an ordinary, everyday person. She is very cocky, though, which I absolutely loved, but she still has her times where she makes mistakes, and is able to learn from them. However, sometimes I found it a bit frustrating to be in her head. She’s a bit of a drama queen, which, don’t get me wrong, isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but too much is too much. It feels a bit overboard at times.
The Liar… This man is fine. He’s got the whole broody exterior and soft lovable interior, which I am 100% here for. His relationship with Lola is also super sweet, plus he’s also a good dancer! Where can I get a man like him?? Nic honestly reminds be of Legend from Caraval, because he has the same untouchable vibe around him. His whole scheme confused me a bit though, because I felt like I could never tell which version of him was real, appearance wise. This may not be a big thing for some people, but he’s described several different ways throughout the book because of his magic, and I’m more of a visual person, which bugged me a bit. Overall, he’s definitely a top their fictional man, though.
── 𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 & 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 ── .✦
This is hands down one of my favorite plots ever. And let me explain, because this is actually what surprised me the most about this book. I was expecting a classic YA romantasy, maybe some cute romance too, and I got this masterpiece of a plot instead. I can’t say I’m mad. I know that there are a lot of books about thieves that end up in a grand game out there, but this one feels more unique because she actively choses to join a competition that could quite literally ruin her life. Plus, the point of the competition is to lie, which is also a bonus. The world building was also exceptional, of course, and it was honestly very immersive. There are parts with the magic a bit open to interpretation that really just made the book feel like mine, in a way.
── 𝑭𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 ── .✦
♣ YA
♤ Fantasy
♣ Dual POV
♤ First Person
♣ Unique Magic
♤ Casinos
♣ Thieves
♤ Brotherly Rivalry
♣ Enemies to Lovers
:¨ ·.· ¨:⠀
``· . ୨ৎ
>> Huge thanks to 𝑭𝒆𝒊𝒘𝒆𝒍 for a 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 (my first physical advanced copy!) as well as an 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪 from 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 <3
3.5 rounded up
➵ ARC review
⊹ ࣪ ˖ Release: July 1, 2025
જ⁀➴ “𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅’𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.”
⟢ If Caraval and Six of Crows had a baby, this would be it.
── 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 ── .✦
The whole idea of this book was intriguing, the magic, the brothers, even the games. I went into this book with super high expectations, and honestly? It delivered. Because this book is written well, it’s easy to get lost in the story along the way. I even ended up rereading it before the book was even released, it was that good. It did, however, have its issues, which I’ll elaborate on later. Overall, though, this book was magical.
── 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 ── .✦
The main character, Lola, is super easy to relate to. Unlike a lot of fantasy FMCs, she doesn’t have these unreachable standards, and reminds me more of an ordinary, everyday person. She is very cocky, though, which I absolutely loved, but she still has her times where she makes mistakes, and is able to learn from them. However, sometimes I found it a bit frustrating to be in her head. She’s a bit of a drama queen, which, don’t get me wrong, isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but too much is too much. It feels a bit overboard at times.
The Liar… This man is fine. He’s got the whole broody exterior and soft lovable interior, which I am 100% here for. His relationship with Lola is also super sweet, plus he’s also a good dancer! Where can I get a man like him?? Nic honestly reminds be of Legend from Caraval, because he has the same untouchable vibe around him. His whole scheme confused me a bit though, because I felt like I could never tell which version of him was real, appearance wise. This may not be a big thing for some people, but he’s described several different ways throughout the book because of his magic, and I’m more of a visual person, which bugged me a bit. Overall, he’s definitely a top their fictional man, though.
── 𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 & 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 ── .✦
This is hands down one of my favorite plots ever. And let me explain, because this is actually what surprised me the most about this book. I was expecting a classic YA romantasy, maybe some cute romance too, and I got this masterpiece of a plot instead. I can’t say I’m mad. I know that there are a lot of books about thieves that end up in a grand game out there, but this one feels more unique because she actively choses to join a competition that could quite literally ruin her life. Plus, the point of the competition is to lie, which is also a bonus. The world building was also exceptional, of course, and it was honestly very immersive. There are parts with the magic a bit open to interpretation that really just made the book feel like mine, in a way.
🎶- 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑱𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝑳𝒆𝑴𝒂𝒄 -
02:43 ━━━━●───── 04:35
⇆ -----◁ ❚❚ ▷ ----- ↻
ᴠᴏʟᴜᴍᴇ : ▮▮▮▮▮▮
── 𝑭𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 ── .✦
♣ YA
♤ Fantasy
♣ Dual POV
♤ First Person
♣ Unique Magic
♤ Casinos
♣ Thieves
♤ Brotherly Rivalry
♣ Enemies to Lovers
:¨ ·.· ¨:⠀
``· . ୨ৎ
>> Huge thanks to 𝑭𝒆𝒊𝒘𝒆𝒍 for a 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 (my first physical advanced copy!) as well as an 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪 from 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 <3
March 13, 2025
Argh!!! Two things I need to scream right now: I absolutely loved this book, and I’m furious that I only realized it’s part of a duology (or maybe a trilogy—who knows?) when I hit that cliffhanger!
This book delivers heart-pounding action, intricate twists within twists like Russian dolls, sharp execution, fast-paced storytelling, and a fiery enemies-to-lovers romance that lights up every chapter! Nothing is as it seems in this Inheritance Games-meets-Ocean’s Eleven with a magical twist, complete with thrilling mind games, dark secrets, and a tantalizing web of betrayal and trust between brothers. I couldn’t get enough, and I practically screamed for Jessica S. Olsen to release the next book soon—I need more of this magical casino world, the high-stakes Liar’s Dice Tournament, and the Devious Brothers’ mind games!
The story follows Lola St. James, daughter of a dangerous crime mogul who loses her identity in a high-stakes game of Liar's Dice - a tournament where players gamble their deepest secrets. When the rival Salazar family puts a target on her head, she's saved by Enzo, the notorious leader of the Tentacles, but at the cost of sharing her heart with him.
Reinventing herself as Astra, she transforms into an accomplished thief, dying her blonde hair brown and perfecting her skills in climbing and stealth. Meanwhile, she harbors resentment toward her father, who never searched for her after she faked her death. Enzo seeks revenge against his brother, known as "Liar," who cursed him to steal people's starlights (souls) and bound him to Lola's heart.
When Lola convinces Enzo to attempt a heist during the legendary Liar's Dice Tournament to steal a watch containing clues about a hidden moonshard, she's caught by Liar himself. He challenges her to compete in the tournament until midnight - a game she accepts while concealing her true motives from Enzo. As she navigates three increasingly dangerous challenges, she must contend with a sabotaging blonde competitor and Liar's hawkish surveillance.
The story takes an unexpected turn as Lola's growing attraction to Liar forces her to question everything she believes. Could he be a broken hero rather than a villain, sacrificing himself to protect something vulnerable?
While the cliffhanger ending may frustrate readers eager for resolution, it perfectly sets up the anticipated sequel. The strength of the narrative lies in its ability to constantly subvert expectations while maintaining a breakneck pace that never sacrifices character development or emotional depth.
Five stars, and here’s hoping book two arrives soon or that I get lucky with another early reading opportunity!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Feiwel & Friends for this unputdownable fantasy ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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This book delivers heart-pounding action, intricate twists within twists like Russian dolls, sharp execution, fast-paced storytelling, and a fiery enemies-to-lovers romance that lights up every chapter! Nothing is as it seems in this Inheritance Games-meets-Ocean’s Eleven with a magical twist, complete with thrilling mind games, dark secrets, and a tantalizing web of betrayal and trust between brothers. I couldn’t get enough, and I practically screamed for Jessica S. Olsen to release the next book soon—I need more of this magical casino world, the high-stakes Liar’s Dice Tournament, and the Devious Brothers’ mind games!
The story follows Lola St. James, daughter of a dangerous crime mogul who loses her identity in a high-stakes game of Liar's Dice - a tournament where players gamble their deepest secrets. When the rival Salazar family puts a target on her head, she's saved by Enzo, the notorious leader of the Tentacles, but at the cost of sharing her heart with him.
Reinventing herself as Astra, she transforms into an accomplished thief, dying her blonde hair brown and perfecting her skills in climbing and stealth. Meanwhile, she harbors resentment toward her father, who never searched for her after she faked her death. Enzo seeks revenge against his brother, known as "Liar," who cursed him to steal people's starlights (souls) and bound him to Lola's heart.
When Lola convinces Enzo to attempt a heist during the legendary Liar's Dice Tournament to steal a watch containing clues about a hidden moonshard, she's caught by Liar himself. He challenges her to compete in the tournament until midnight - a game she accepts while concealing her true motives from Enzo. As she navigates three increasingly dangerous challenges, she must contend with a sabotaging blonde competitor and Liar's hawkish surveillance.
The story takes an unexpected turn as Lola's growing attraction to Liar forces her to question everything she believes. Could he be a broken hero rather than a villain, sacrificing himself to protect something vulnerable?
While the cliffhanger ending may frustrate readers eager for resolution, it perfectly sets up the anticipated sequel. The strength of the narrative lies in its ability to constantly subvert expectations while maintaining a breakneck pace that never sacrifices character development or emotional depth.
Five stars, and here’s hoping book two arrives soon or that I get lucky with another early reading opportunity!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Feiwel & Friends for this unputdownable fantasy ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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October 14, 2025
➸ 2.75/5 (Rounded Up) stars.
I didn’t hate this book. In fact, there were parts I genuinely had fun with. but overall I just wasn’t that moved by it.
the description really made it sound like it was going to be something fresh and exciting, and I was on board. but along the way. it’s hard to even pinpoint where my interest started to fade. but the further I got, the less invested I felt.
I couldn’t really connect with the main character, Lola. She felt flat and kind of boring for most of the book. and while I know this is a young adult story, a lot of the plot points and events came off as juvenile and kind of cringe. there are plenty of YA books that pull off complexity and nuance but this didn’t. the almost three stars I’m giving are almost entirely because of Nic, who I really enjoyed. he was the one character that made the story feel alive. can’t say the same about Enzo or Lola 🙄 I didn’t want to be disappointed, but here we are… sighs
***ARC provides by the publisher Macmillan Children's Publishing and an ALC by Macmillan Audio.***
I didn’t hate this book. In fact, there were parts I genuinely had fun with. but overall I just wasn’t that moved by it.
the description really made it sound like it was going to be something fresh and exciting, and I was on board. but along the way. it’s hard to even pinpoint where my interest started to fade. but the further I got, the less invested I felt.
I couldn’t really connect with the main character, Lola. She felt flat and kind of boring for most of the book. and while I know this is a young adult story, a lot of the plot points and events came off as juvenile and kind of cringe. there are plenty of YA books that pull off complexity and nuance but this didn’t. the almost three stars I’m giving are almost entirely because of Nic, who I really enjoyed. he was the one character that made the story feel alive. can’t say the same about Enzo or Lola 🙄 I didn’t want to be disappointed, but here we are… sighs
***ARC provides by the publisher Macmillan Children's Publishing and an ALC by Macmillan Audio.***
June 7, 2025
ᯓ✿ 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 ☀️⊹ ࣪ ˖
˚₊ · 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬!!
🖤 𝖲𝗉𝖾𝖼𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖺𝗋𝗂 𝖻𝖾𝗋𝗋𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖻𝗎𝖽𝖽𝗒𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗐 𝗆𝖾!!
⤷ 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 (RTC)
🍂⸝⸝ .☘︎ ݁˖ 𝐃𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐬 🂡⭑.ᐟ
⋆｡˚🦊 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 14+(kisses, flirting, innuendo), 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 13+ (Robberies, fights, etc)
➜ 🂡 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
➜ 🂡 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬
➜ 🂡 𝐇𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭
➜ 🂡 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
now playing: 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 🕷️ ⋆˚࿔
🧡 𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙘𝙠⋆˙✮
⤹ 0:39 ——◦———— 4:18 ⤸
↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ
⋆｡°✩ ⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊✩₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆ ✩°｡⋆
.・゜゜・ ・゜゜・．
｡･ﾟﾟ･ ･ﾟﾟ･｡
── 🍁 "𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚'𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬" ݁ ⸝⸝ ! ⌢ ࣪
🎲๋࣭ ⭑ GUYS. GUYS. GUYS. When I tell you that this book became my obsession for the PAST WEEK I AM NOT EXAGGERTAING!!! From the world building, to the TENSION, to THE FREAKING DIALOUGE OH MY GOD?!?!? This book had me at the EDGE of my seat, BLUSHING AND GIGGLING at words written on paper. This book felt like a combination between Powerless, Caraval, and maybe even The Inheritance Games. WE SERIOUSLY GOT AN ALL IN ONE PACKAGE HERE FOLKS!!
── 🍁 "𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚" ݁ ⸝⸝ ! ⌢ ࣪
🎲๋࣭ ⭑ I will first ramble about the worldbuilding in this because I felt like it was EXTREMELY clever and unique from alot of books I read. The world that this book takes place in almost combined fantasy, dystopian, and vintage all in one in a whimsical fairytale like way. When I was reading this book I got the vibes of maybe a 90s- or 70s kind of like vintage fairytale film. LIKE I DONT KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THE VIBES BUT THAT IS JUST WHAT IS WAS GIVING!!! I feel like the morally gray characters all probably added to that concept because gosh, I think every one of them are charming in their own unique way.
── 🍁 "𝙊𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙄'𝙢 𝙞𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙞𝙣'𝙩 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙤, 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙤" ݁ ⸝⸝ ! ⌢ ࣪
🎲๋࣭ ⭑ The plot of this book was also EXTREMELY well thought out. We follow our main character girlie Magnolia and her troubles she has with her "savior" the Theif who saved her life at the cost that she shares her heart (like literally by the way not in a cutesy romantasy way) with him. And so she agrees but at what cost will that cost her? BECAUSE NOW APPARENTLY SHE HAS TO HELP HIM GET THIS MOONSHARD THINGY IN ORDER FOR HIM TO LIVE!!! Because if you didn't know by the way this Theif guy is cursed and has to basically steal speech and things from other people in order to live. *side eye* So when the both of them get an EXTREMELY good lead on where the moonshardy thingy might be... well lets just say not all the plans turned out as expected. (yes i am screaming because I ate this plot up.)
── 🍁 "𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚" ݁ ⸝⸝ ! ⌢ ࣪
🎲๋࣭ ⭑ NOW. While this book certainly was.. no actually VERY ENJOYABLE. I do have some notes on things that weren't as good. One of them being the flow of the book because of how rushed or how we had characters basically teleporting from one place to another OR EVEN teleporting from ONE CONVERSATION TO ANOTHER. There were parts where the book flowed nicely I will admit, but sometimes it felt a bit rushed and choppy and left me confused as to how we ended up here. I think that if the book was just a tad bit longer we could have progressed the plot a teeny more to where it didn't feel rushed. I think another thing was that I felt like the main character was just a taaaaad bit annoying at times. I feel like she was mainly self centered and maybe even just a bit bratty in general. OH AND I THINK ANOTHER REASON WHY THIS IS THREE STARS IS PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THAT ENDING. I LEGIT WANTED TO THROW MY PHONE ACROSS THE ROOM AT HOW MAD I WAS.
── 🍁 "𝙊𝙤𝙝, 𝙤𝙤𝙝, 𝙤𝙤𝙝" ݁ ⸝⸝ ! ⌢ ࣪
‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🍊 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
˗ˏˋ♠️ 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒂: She wasn't the worst, wasn't the best. There were times where I was like "YOU GO QUEEN WHAT A GIRLBOSS!!" and there was times where I was like "are you srsly fr rn." So yes, even though she triggered anger issues. She wasn't all that bad.
˗ˏˋ♠️ 𝑵𝒊𝒄: OH MAN. OH MAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN. New book boyfriend alert for my morally gray men lovers. This guy right here will be the end of me. Because his dialouge? GOD HAVE MERCY. I WAS SCREAMING. He is so charming and I wanted to just hug him for the entire facade he had to put on. This man is if Legend, Kai, and maybe even Grayson had a child.
˗ˏˋ♠️ 𝑬𝒏𝒛𝒐: Was I a fangirl for him in the beginning? Yes. Did I end up despising and hating this mf at the end of the book? Also yes. I hope he dies at sea.
── 🍁 "𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙙-𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡" ݁ ⸝⸝ ! ⌢ ࣪
⋆.˚🌙 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥
Would I recommend this book to everyone who comes across this review? YES. Would I also tell them to beware of the pacing and annoying things I pointed out? ALSO YES. Am I looking forward to seeing where the second book of this series goes? INDEED YES. Let's hope and pray it is even better than the first.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
🧡 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: UHMMMM GUYSSS?!? I GOT THE ARC FOR THISSS??!? GOING TO BE BUDDY READING THIS WITH MY BEAUTIFUL Ari Berry 🥹 WHY IS THE COVER SO INSANELY STUNNING?! I CANT lie I requested the arc as soon as I saw a status update about a knife to the throat trope 🤭🤭🤭 THIS GIRL IS EXCITED TO READ THISSSS!! Also why is the guys name Julian Santos?? I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF JULIAN FROM CARAVAL 💀🌝
˚₊ · 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬!!
🖤 𝖲𝗉𝖾𝖼𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖺𝗋𝗂 𝖻𝖾𝗋𝗋𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖻𝗎𝖽𝖽𝗒𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗐 𝗆𝖾!!
⤷ 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 (RTC)
🍂⸝⸝ .☘︎ ݁˖ 𝐃𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐬 🂡⭑.ᐟ
⋆｡˚🦊 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 14+(kisses, flirting, innuendo), 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 13+ (Robberies, fights, etc)
➜ 🂡 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
➜ 🂡 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬
➜ 🂡 𝐇𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭
➜ 🂡 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
now playing: 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 🕷️ ⋆˚࿔
🧡 𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙘𝙠⋆˙✮
⤹ 0:39 ——◦———— 4:18 ⤸
↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ
⋆｡°✩ ⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊✩₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆ ✩°｡⋆
.・゜゜・ ・゜゜・．
｡･ﾟﾟ･ ･ﾟﾟ･｡
── 🍁 "𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚'𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬" ݁ ⸝⸝ ! ⌢ ࣪
🎲๋࣭ ⭑ GUYS. GUYS. GUYS. When I tell you that this book became my obsession for the PAST WEEK I AM NOT EXAGGERTAING!!! From the world building, to the TENSION, to THE FREAKING DIALOUGE OH MY GOD?!?!? This book had me at the EDGE of my seat, BLUSHING AND GIGGLING at words written on paper. This book felt like a combination between Powerless, Caraval, and maybe even The Inheritance Games. WE SERIOUSLY GOT AN ALL IN ONE PACKAGE HERE FOLKS!!
── 🍁 "𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚" ݁ ⸝⸝ ! ⌢ ࣪
🎲๋࣭ ⭑ I will first ramble about the worldbuilding in this because I felt like it was EXTREMELY clever and unique from alot of books I read. The world that this book takes place in almost combined fantasy, dystopian, and vintage all in one in a whimsical fairytale like way. When I was reading this book I got the vibes of maybe a 90s- or 70s kind of like vintage fairytale film. LIKE I DONT KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THE VIBES BUT THAT IS JUST WHAT IS WAS GIVING!!! I feel like the morally gray characters all probably added to that concept because gosh, I think every one of them are charming in their own unique way.
── 🍁 "𝙊𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙄'𝙢 𝙞𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙞𝙣'𝙩 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙤, 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙤" ݁ ⸝⸝ ! ⌢ ࣪
🎲๋࣭ ⭑ The plot of this book was also EXTREMELY well thought out. We follow our main character girlie Magnolia and her troubles she has with her "savior" the Theif who saved her life at the cost that she shares her heart (like literally by the way not in a cutesy romantasy way) with him. And so she agrees but at what cost will that cost her? BECAUSE NOW APPARENTLY SHE HAS TO HELP HIM GET THIS MOONSHARD THINGY IN ORDER FOR HIM TO LIVE!!! Because if you didn't know by the way this Theif guy is cursed and has to basically steal speech and things from other people in order to live. *side eye* So when the both of them get an EXTREMELY good lead on where the moonshardy thingy might be... well lets just say not all the plans turned out as expected. (yes i am screaming because I ate this plot up.)
── 🍁 "𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚" ݁ ⸝⸝ ! ⌢ ࣪
🎲๋࣭ ⭑ NOW. While this book certainly was.. no actually VERY ENJOYABLE. I do have some notes on things that weren't as good. One of them being the flow of the book because of how rushed or how we had characters basically teleporting from one place to another OR EVEN teleporting from ONE CONVERSATION TO ANOTHER. There were parts where the book flowed nicely I will admit, but sometimes it felt a bit rushed and choppy and left me confused as to how we ended up here. I think that if the book was just a tad bit longer we could have progressed the plot a teeny more to where it didn't feel rushed. I think another thing was that I felt like the main character was just a taaaaad bit annoying at times. I feel like she was mainly self centered and maybe even just a bit bratty in general. OH AND I THINK ANOTHER REASON WHY THIS IS THREE STARS IS PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THAT ENDING. I LEGIT WANTED TO THROW MY PHONE ACROSS THE ROOM AT HOW MAD I WAS.
── 🍁 "𝙊𝙤𝙝, 𝙤𝙤𝙝, 𝙤𝙤𝙝" ݁ ⸝⸝ ! ⌢ ࣪
‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🍊 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
˗ˏˋ♠️ 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒂: She wasn't the worst, wasn't the best. There were times where I was like "YOU GO QUEEN WHAT A GIRLBOSS!!" and there was times where I was like "are you srsly fr rn." So yes, even though she triggered anger issues. She wasn't all that bad.
˗ˏˋ♠️ 𝑵𝒊𝒄: OH MAN. OH MAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN. New book boyfriend alert for my morally gray men lovers. This guy right here will be the end of me. Because his dialouge? GOD HAVE MERCY. I WAS SCREAMING. He is so charming and I wanted to just hug him for the entire facade he had to put on. This man is if Legend, Kai, and maybe even Grayson had a child.
˗ˏˋ♠️ 𝑬𝒏𝒛𝒐: Was I a fangirl for him in the beginning? Yes. Did I end up despising and hating this mf at the end of the book? Also yes. I hope he dies at sea.
── 🍁 "𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙙-𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡" ݁ ⸝⸝ ! ⌢ ࣪
⋆.˚🌙 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥
Would I recommend this book to everyone who comes across this review? YES. Would I also tell them to beware of the pacing and annoying things I pointed out? ALSO YES. Am I looking forward to seeing where the second book of this series goes? INDEED YES. Let's hope and pray it is even better than the first.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
🧡 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: UHMMMM GUYSSS?!? I GOT THE ARC FOR THISSS??!? GOING TO BE BUDDY READING THIS WITH MY BEAUTIFUL Ari Berry 🥹 WHY IS THE COVER SO INSANELY STUNNING?! I CANT lie I requested the arc as soon as I saw a status update about a knife to the throat trope 🤭🤭🤭 THIS GIRL IS EXCITED TO READ THISSSS!! Also why is the guys name Julian Santos?? I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF JULIAN FROM CARAVAL 💀🌝
January 3, 2025
This was the perfect book to start the year off strong. I loved it so much. A perfect blend of romance and magic.
![Profile Image for ari [gin’s vrsn 🩵] [semi ia].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1757265812i%2F180071670._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 3, 2025
2.5⭐
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this review in exchange for an honest review
spoiler free
15+
romance: 4/10 (making out, dirty thoughts, innuendo)
cursing: 3/10 (minimal moderate curse words)
violence: 6/10 (blood, kidnapping, fights, faking death, etc)
other: characters consume alcohol to the point of inebriation. fantasy drugs are used
tw: grief, familial estrangement
tropes: enemies to lovers
first person, present tense
dual pov
– OVERVIEW –
this was underwhelming.
i had high hopes for this book, but it fell short
all the characters were just kinda rlly annoying
– PLOT –
casino heist 👉😃👈
– CHARACTERS –
lola
⤷ die
nic
⤷ 🧎♀️
enzo
⤷ die
everyone else
⤷die
– CONCLUSION –
would i recommend?
eh, no
will i continue this series?
also no
post read
hmmmm i have mixed feelings
pre-read
ehehehehehe
got the arc 😋
thank you netgalley for an e-arc in return for an honest review
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this review in exchange for an honest review
spoiler free
15+
romance: 4/10 (making out, dirty thoughts, innuendo)
cursing: 3/10 (minimal moderate curse words)
violence: 6/10 (blood, kidnapping, fights, faking death, etc)
other: characters consume alcohol to the point of inebriation. fantasy drugs are used
tw: grief, familial estrangement
tropes: enemies to lovers
first person, present tense
dual pov
– OVERVIEW –
this was underwhelming.
i had high hopes for this book, but it fell short
all the characters were just kinda rlly annoying
– PLOT –
casino heist 👉😃👈
– CHARACTERS –
lola
⤷ die
nic
⤷ 🧎♀️
enzo
⤷ die
everyone else
⤷die
– CONCLUSION –
would i recommend?
eh, no
will i continue this series?
also no
post read
hmmmm i have mixed feelings
pre-read
ehehehehehe
got the arc 😋
thank you netgalley for an e-arc in return for an honest review
dnf
July 14, 2025I could tell pretty quickly that this one wasn’t for me. I rarely DNF, but I have too many books on deck that I want to read right now to push myself through this one.
August 7, 2025
This book was honestly fantastic (minus the fedora-wearing love interest).
The love interest looking at Lola (GENUINELY PLEASE NO MORE FEDORAS IN BOOKS)
The very New Orleans-esque setting was not super well developed, but the casino felt magical and in line with the rest of the book. The plot of the two brothers was not initially very interesting (felt kind of bland), but I found myself more enthralled as I went through the book.
Maybe I am just easily fooled, but I did not see any of the twists coming in this book.
The romance is kind of unexpected and yet also does work very well--- I also really appreciated the side characters and the fun they brought to the book.
4 stars (minus one for fedora.... maybe I have a problem)
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The love interest looking at Lola (GENUINELY PLEASE NO MORE FEDORAS IN BOOKS)
The very New Orleans-esque setting was not super well developed, but the casino felt magical and in line with the rest of the book. The plot of the two brothers was not initially very interesting (felt kind of bland), but I found myself more enthralled as I went through the book.
Maybe I am just easily fooled, but I did not see any of the twists coming in this book.
The romance is kind of unexpected and yet also does work very well--- I also really appreciated the side characters and the fun they brought to the book.
4 stars (minus one for fedora.... maybe I have a problem)
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 23, 2025
➳ 3.5 ★
I was honestly a bit disappointed in this book. I thought there would be a bigger plot twist, a better world/game in the Liar’s Den, and more…
I really loved the concept from just the blurb, but I don’t think the author gave us enough detail into the world.
I will say, I enjoyed the relationship development between Lola and the Liar, but the way things played out with the Thief and the “secrecy” was very bleh. There wasn’t much excitement and I only finished reading to know if any plot twists happened by the end of it. I likely wouldn’t re-read this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC!
I was honestly a bit disappointed in this book. I thought there would be a bigger plot twist, a better world/game in the Liar’s Den, and more…
I really loved the concept from just the blurb, but I don’t think the author gave us enough detail into the world.
I will say, I enjoyed the relationship development between Lola and the Liar, but the way things played out with the Thief and the “secrecy” was very bleh. There wasn’t much excitement and I only finished reading to know if any plot twists happened by the end of it. I likely wouldn’t re-read this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC!
July 11, 2025
I really enjoyed how unique the plot and magic system was for this. It felt really unique and fresh to me, and I loved that. I struggled a lot to feel invested with the characters and the way the plot progressed. I LOVED how original the magic system was. The magic of bargaining with lies and secrets and gambling them was fascinating. But it felt like too much at once when the lore, religion and politics was thrown into the loop all within the first 10%.
I felt overwhelmed by how much information was thrown at me. Within the first few chapters, there’s a heavy amount of info dumping….characters explaining the effects of different vials, the magical properties of drinks at the bar, and the rules of the world in a way that felt more like a telling than showing and a lot of that information never actually came into play later on, which made it feel a bit unnecessary.
Lola’s personal arc with her past felt a bit brushed over and rushed for me, it didn’t have the emotional impact for me like I think it was intended to as the pacing jumped too fast back to the heist. I also felt like Lola’s connection to the two MMC were a bit flat and didn’t have enough depth or development. The chemistry and emotional depth weren’t there for me. At 50% in, the plot started to feel messy and all over the place. There were so many twists and side missions introduced that I found myself confused about how they were connected to the main plot.
Certain dialogue and banter felt a bit awkward and dare I say cringe? It’s not lines that one would say in real life conversations. It was a bit stiff and unnatural. I did love the writing and descriptive prose, which was the saving point of this book for me. It had some a lovely whimsical element to it. The way the atmosphere of the casino to the way the people and costumes were described! I just wished I could have loved the rest of the book the same way.
Thank you Feiwel & Friends for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I felt overwhelmed by how much information was thrown at me. Within the first few chapters, there’s a heavy amount of info dumping….characters explaining the effects of different vials, the magical properties of drinks at the bar, and the rules of the world in a way that felt more like a telling than showing and a lot of that information never actually came into play later on, which made it feel a bit unnecessary.
Lola’s personal arc with her past felt a bit brushed over and rushed for me, it didn’t have the emotional impact for me like I think it was intended to as the pacing jumped too fast back to the heist. I also felt like Lola’s connection to the two MMC were a bit flat and didn’t have enough depth or development. The chemistry and emotional depth weren’t there for me. At 50% in, the plot started to feel messy and all over the place. There were so many twists and side missions introduced that I found myself confused about how they were connected to the main plot.
Certain dialogue and banter felt a bit awkward and dare I say cringe? It’s not lines that one would say in real life conversations. It was a bit stiff and unnatural. I did love the writing and descriptive prose, which was the saving point of this book for me. It had some a lovely whimsical element to it. The way the atmosphere of the casino to the way the people and costumes were described! I just wished I could have loved the rest of the book the same way.
Thank you Feiwel & Friends for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
September 18, 2025
2.5 ★— While this is a formally well-written book, I struggled to feel emotionally invested in the story.
I enjoyed the atmosphere — the setting of the casino, the games, the challenges — but I never truly connected with the plot or its characters.
Part of the issue might be that I quickly guessed where things were going with certain characters, so the later “reveals” that were meant to change Lola’s perspective didn’t feel all that surprising or impactful to me.
In addition, there was also a lack of chemistry between her and one of the MMCs, the Liar, despite the story immediately trying to frame an attraction between them. Maybe it’s the fact that he wears a fedora that he actually tips multiple times (!) that killed my interest in their relationship quickly, or perhaps it’s just that I’ve seen his exact character type so many times before that he didn’t feel fresh or interesting to me, which made their relationship fall flat. Whatever the reason, it resulted in me not feeling much of a spark between them.
I think the strongest parts of the book were the scenes where Lola actively participated in the Dice Tournament. Those moments were genuinely tense and engaging, and I was fully on board during those challenges.
I also really appreciated the way the author handled Lola’s visual impairment. She has reduced depth perception due to a lazy eye and limited vision in one eye, and I thought this was woven into the story with care. It felt thoughtfully integrated into her experiences during the tournament, and added a unique layer to her as a character.
On the audio side, I switched between listening to the audiobook and reading, and found the female narrator’s voice to be very soothing and pleasant. The book alternates POV chapters, and the male narrator who voiced the Liar’s parts also did a great job with a delivery I truly enjoyed.
Still, the characters overall felt a bit one-dimensional. Even though they each had backstories that should have been compelling, especially in a world filled with crime syndicates, a magical casino, and high-stakes games, I just never felt truly drawn in by them or the surrounding storyline and thus my engagement with the story remained overall pretty low.
___________________________________________________
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC, and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC, both provided in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the atmosphere — the setting of the casino, the games, the challenges — but I never truly connected with the plot or its characters.
Part of the issue might be that I quickly guessed where things were going with certain characters, so the later “reveals” that were meant to change Lola’s perspective didn’t feel all that surprising or impactful to me.
In addition, there was also a lack of chemistry between her and one of the MMCs, the Liar, despite the story immediately trying to frame an attraction between them. Maybe it’s the fact that he wears a fedora that he actually tips multiple times (!) that killed my interest in their relationship quickly, or perhaps it’s just that I’ve seen his exact character type so many times before that he didn’t feel fresh or interesting to me, which made their relationship fall flat. Whatever the reason, it resulted in me not feeling much of a spark between them.
I think the strongest parts of the book were the scenes where Lola actively participated in the Dice Tournament. Those moments were genuinely tense and engaging, and I was fully on board during those challenges.
I also really appreciated the way the author handled Lola’s visual impairment. She has reduced depth perception due to a lazy eye and limited vision in one eye, and I thought this was woven into the story with care. It felt thoughtfully integrated into her experiences during the tournament, and added a unique layer to her as a character.
On the audio side, I switched between listening to the audiobook and reading, and found the female narrator’s voice to be very soothing and pleasant. The book alternates POV chapters, and the male narrator who voiced the Liar’s parts also did a great job with a delivery I truly enjoyed.
Still, the characters overall felt a bit one-dimensional. Even though they each had backstories that should have been compelling, especially in a world filled with crime syndicates, a magical casino, and high-stakes games, I just never felt truly drawn in by them or the surrounding storyline and thus my engagement with the story remained overall pretty low.
___________________________________________________
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC, and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC, both provided in exchange for an honest review.
Read
July 7, 2025this was absolutely STUNNING.
one of the best books of all time, most definately.
The world building?
GORGEOUS.
The characters?
KILL ME RIGHT NOW--FANTASTIC.
the magic?
BREATHTAKING.
The vibes??????
THERE.
the romance?
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
the BANTER?
HOLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
The FEMALE MAIN CHARACTER?
IN LOVE. MY NEW BESTIE. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
ACTUALLY LOVE HER!! SHE WAS WHAT EVERYONE WANTS IN A FMC. CURVY, INTERESTING, HELLA SMART, NOT PATHETIC, NOT BELOW 5'3. LITERALLY AMAZING. PERFECT.
The PLOT???
BROTHER--IT PLOTTED OKAY!?
ALSO!
THE FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS IN THIS BOOK???
PERFECT
NO NOTES
and our bicoded ICON of a love interest?????
HOTTEST. MAN. EVER.
LITERALLY PERFECT
And their relationship???
Evolved so naturally, and you can UNDERSTAND why they are so drawn to each other, because both are HOTTIES WITH BODDIES OKAY?!??!
ANYWAYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
THIS BOOK HAD ME SCREAMING
GIGGLING
CRYING
WRITING UNHINGED GOODREADS UPDATES
EVERYTHING. A. GIRL. COULD. WANT.
AND THAT ENDING????
QUEEN PLEASE.
TF???????
ALSO
RIGHT AFTER THAT CHARACTER ARC WHERE SHE REDISCOVERS SELF LOVE?????
LIKE????? I PASSED AWAY?????
ANDDDDD
OMG
HOW SHE REALIZED SHE WAS IN A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP????
AND IT WAS JUST A FRIENDSHIP!!!
LIKE IT IS NOT HIGHLIGHTED ENOUGH IN BOOKS HOW TOXIC FRIENDSHIPS CAN BE TOO!!!!
Netgalley, YOU ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS ABSOLUTE GEM.
obviously these thoughts are my own, because who else would want them.
one of the best books of all time, most definately.
The world building?
GORGEOUS.
The characters?
KILL ME RIGHT NOW--FANTASTIC.
the magic?
BREATHTAKING.
The vibes??????
THERE.
the romance?
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
the BANTER?
HOLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
The FEMALE MAIN CHARACTER?
IN LOVE. MY NEW BESTIE. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
ACTUALLY LOVE HER!! SHE WAS WHAT EVERYONE WANTS IN A FMC. CURVY, INTERESTING, HELLA SMART, NOT PATHETIC, NOT BELOW 5'3. LITERALLY AMAZING. PERFECT.
The PLOT???
BROTHER--IT PLOTTED OKAY!?
ALSO!
THE FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS IN THIS BOOK???
PERFECT
NO NOTES
and our bicoded ICON of a love interest?????
HOTTEST. MAN. EVER.
LITERALLY PERFECT
And their relationship???
Evolved so naturally, and you can UNDERSTAND why they are so drawn to each other, because both are HOTTIES WITH BODDIES OKAY?!??!
ANYWAYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
THIS BOOK HAD ME SCREAMING
GIGGLING
CRYING
WRITING UNHINGED GOODREADS UPDATES
EVERYTHING. A. GIRL. COULD. WANT.
AND THAT ENDING????
QUEEN PLEASE.
TF???????
ALSO
RIGHT AFTER THAT CHARACTER ARC WHERE SHE REDISCOVERS SELF LOVE?????
LIKE????? I PASSED AWAY?????
ANDDDDD
OMG
HOW SHE REALIZED SHE WAS IN A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP????
AND IT WAS JUST A FRIENDSHIP!!!
LIKE IT IS NOT HIGHLIGHTED ENOUGH IN BOOKS HOW TOXIC FRIENDSHIPS CAN BE TOO!!!!
Netgalley, YOU ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS ABSOLUTE GEM.
obviously these thoughts are my own, because who else would want them.
dnfs
July 15, 2025I got an arc of this and most of them so far have been absolute ass so I've got my eye on this one. 👀👀👀👀👀👀
---------------------------------------------
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review!
DNF @ 18%
I wasn't feeling this tbh.... It was pretty good and has a promising heist plot with "trails" included but this just seems like..... more of the same things I've read before.
Also why are the fantasy elements related to secrets, die, and lies? The was one of the most unique things I've read about a fantasy but uhhh it's pretty surfaces level....
But considering I only read a portion.... I assume they speak more to the magic later....
As for the main characters they were pretty ok... somewhat unforgettable but I liked how relatable the FMC was... she just seemed like an "average joe" that was dealt a shitty card in life and was doing her best to make her life as normal as possible.
The romance that I witnessed before dnfing seemed pretty promising but I honestly don't care to read about "morally grey" men right now.... They're so over done I'm just tired of reading them....
Overall.... this book was pretty boring but had a promising plot and characters so I'll probably come back to it some other time.
---------------------------------------------
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review!
DNF @ 18%
I wasn't feeling this tbh.... It was pretty good and has a promising heist plot with "trails" included but this just seems like..... more of the same things I've read before.
Also why are the fantasy elements related to secrets, die, and lies? The was one of the most unique things I've read about a fantasy but uhhh it's pretty surfaces level....
But considering I only read a portion.... I assume they speak more to the magic later....
As for the main characters they were pretty ok... somewhat unforgettable but I liked how relatable the FMC was... she just seemed like an "average joe" that was dealt a shitty card in life and was doing her best to make her life as normal as possible.
The romance that I witnessed before dnfing seemed pretty promising but I honestly don't care to read about "morally grey" men right now.... They're so over done I'm just tired of reading them....
Overall.... this book was pretty boring but had a promising plot and characters so I'll probably come back to it some other time.
August 20, 2025
If you’re a fan of Caraval and have been looking for Caraval 2.0, I present to you: Den of Liars.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱WHAT TO EXPECT⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎲 Immersive games
🎭 Lots & lots of secrets and lies
🎲 Heists
🎭 Feuding brothers
�� Magical dice
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱PLOT⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎭 Lola has been working with the Thief (Enzo) to pull off robberies and heists for years. They are partners in crime who share a heart. I don’t mean that metaphorically. They quite literally share a vital organ. When she’s entrusted with pulling a heist on the brother he hates, the Liar, she gets excited because she thinks once she proves herself, the Thief will finally let her into his inner circle. In order for her to succeed on this mission, she needs to enter the Liar’s Dice Tournament, an immersive game that involves illusions, magical dice that each have their own special power, stealing secrets and lying to fool everyone around you.
Things get even more interesting when she starts catching feelings for the man she’s trying to steal from.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱THE WRITING⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎲 The writing is gorgeous. The way the author describes settings, people, costumes, weather, etc. is so lush and cinematic. I had to keep stopping mid-paragraph just to reread lines because I was blown away by her beautiful similes and metaphors. Like, “Raindrops catch on her eyelashes like tiny diamonds.” Who thinks of that? But do you see what I mean? She takes simple, everyday things like eyelashes and makes them seem so whimsical. It reminds me of Stephanie Garber’s writing; they both have the ability to take something completely ordinary and make it seem so enchanting and whimsical.
The following sentences on dancing were some of my favorite lines in the entire book. I’m not a dancer, but this made me want to join a ballet course because she makes it seem like the most magical, wonderful experience.
So, so beautiful.
She romanticizes everything. Everything. Not in a cheesy, overly purple way, but in a way that makes you look at the world a little differently after you close the book. Eyelashes become diamond catches. Rain becomes poetry. Dancing becomes transcendence. Such beautiful, immersive writing.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱CHARACTERS⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎭 The Liar. I didn't think fedoras were my thing, but apparently they are. They really, really are. HE IS SO SEXY. He’s so charismatic and seductive with his little smirks and taunts. Arrogant immortals will do it for me every time I fear.
🎲 Lola/Magnolia/Astra. So many names lol. She’s so sneaky and snarky, I love her!!!! I can’t wait for her to get revenge on everyone who tried to manipulate her in this book 💅
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱WHAT I DISLIKED⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎭 Lola constantly calls the Liar’s morality into question and shames him for his lies, yet she lies more than him lmao I love her, but I didn’t like her holier than thou attitude about this. She’s conning him the whole time but acts like he’s the bad guy when he tells a lie. At least the Liar isn’t pretending to be a paragon of virtue; he’s literally nicknamed the Liar. Meanwhile, Lola makes excuses and justifies all the lies she tells, while condemning him for doing the same. I did not like the hypocrisy.
🎲 I loved the dialogue and banter in the first half, but it started to feel stilted and cringey as I continued to read. I couldn’t believe these were real people having a conversation and when I’m reading a book, I like to pretend everything is real bc it’s more fun that way and I couldn’t do that with this because the conversations felt stilted and forced instead of authentic. I don’t know if it was always like this and I just didn’t notice at first or if it genuinely got worse as the book went on.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱WHAT I LIKED⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎭 It was fast-paced and engaging from start to finish with no dull moments.
🎲 The heists. I’m convinced I was a criminal in a past life bc I love reading about thieves a little too much. I never wanted to put this book down because the heists were always so fast-paced with many near-death experiences or near-being-caught moments that I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. The breaking in, sneaking around and stealing added so much suspense, and I ate it up.
🎭 The way the setting was described. The descriptions are so vivid and cinematic that it made me feel less like I was reading and more like I was watching a movie play out in my head. It was beautiful.
🎲 The lighthearted banter between Enzo (the Thief) and Lola
🎭 The knife to throat scenes ATE.
🎲 Her being unable to dislike him was cute lol. She tried her damndest, but he’s too witty and hot to hate. Can’t blame her. I wouldn’t be able to resist his charm either.
🎭 Her dream about him 🤤
I promise I would’ve cried if I was having such a fun time with the Liar only to be woken up and realize I was dreaming.
🎲 Them dancing together!!!! the tension was suffocating 😩
AHHHHHH I AM DRAMATIC WHEN IT COMES TO THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE EVERYTHING TO ME
🎭 The elevator makeout sess was 😮💨 the seductive way he shut the elevator to have his way with her was borderline erotic ✋
🎲 A “who did this to you?” moment 😩 I don’t care how many times I read this exact scene, I will eat it up each and every single time. This was no exception. I love when they get all protective and feral for their girlies hehe
🎭 The way he was SO worried about her when she passed out was SO cute. Like. He didn’t just carry her—he bridal carried her through the building like a husband would <333 he was checking her pulse to make sure she was still breathing and he brought out a first air kit to tend to her injuries. I promise he was a doctor or EMT in the past life bc the way he did this all so naturally was crazy. He even TUCKED HER INTO BED. He was tending to her like a fragile porcelain doll. We love worrying men and giving them wrinkles bahaha no but fr he was so gentle and sweet with her in these moments,, it was adorable. Not to mention, he proceeded to then secretly check on her SIX TIMES. SIX. TIMES. he was so worried, poor baby 🤧
🎲 Althoguh the plot twists were predictable, the plot twist reveals were jawdroppingly good. It’s like when you order your favorite meal at a restaurant. You know exactly what’s coming, but when it arrives, steaming and delicious, you’re still thrilled to eat it. That’s how these reveals felt. Predictable? Yes. Done well? Also yes.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱Recommendation⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎲 Caraval by Stephanie Garber. Both are ya romantasies that involve immersive games featuring illusions, fancy costumes, lies and secrets. I feel like fans of one will also be fans of the other. Happy reading!
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱WHAT TO EXPECT⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎲 Immersive games
🎭 Lots & lots of secrets and lies
🎲 Heists
🎭 Feuding brothers
�� Magical dice
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱PLOT⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎭 Lola has been working with the Thief (Enzo) to pull off robberies and heists for years. They are partners in crime who share a heart. I don’t mean that metaphorically. They quite literally share a vital organ. When she’s entrusted with pulling a heist on the brother he hates, the Liar, she gets excited because she thinks once she proves herself, the Thief will finally let her into his inner circle. In order for her to succeed on this mission, she needs to enter the Liar’s Dice Tournament, an immersive game that involves illusions, magical dice that each have their own special power, stealing secrets and lying to fool everyone around you.
"Standing among you are fifty anonymous players,” the Liar says when the cheers subside. “Over the next week, they will gamble with you, dance with you, dine with you. They will design delights to deceive and spin stories to seduce. Can you decipher truth from their lies? Can you unravel fact from their fiction?”
Things get even more interesting when she starts catching feelings for the man she’s trying to steal from.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱THE WRITING⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎲 The writing is gorgeous. The way the author describes settings, people, costumes, weather, etc. is so lush and cinematic. I had to keep stopping mid-paragraph just to reread lines because I was blown away by her beautiful similes and metaphors. Like, “Raindrops catch on her eyelashes like tiny diamonds.” Who thinks of that? But do you see what I mean? She takes simple, everyday things like eyelashes and makes them seem so whimsical. It reminds me of Stephanie Garber’s writing; they both have the ability to take something completely ordinary and make it seem so enchanting and whimsical.
The following sentences on dancing were some of my favorite lines in the entire book. I’m not a dancer, but this made me want to join a ballet course because she makes it seem like the most magical, wonderful experience.
When I danced, I became someone. I could close my eyes and see audiences I’d never glimpsed, dance on stages I’d never touched, hear them cheer in languages I’d never heard.
So, so beautiful.
She romanticizes everything. Everything. Not in a cheesy, overly purple way, but in a way that makes you look at the world a little differently after you close the book. Eyelashes become diamond catches. Rain becomes poetry. Dancing becomes transcendence. Such beautiful, immersive writing.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱CHARACTERS⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎭 The Liar. I didn't think fedoras were my thing, but apparently they are. They really, really are. HE IS SO SEXY. He’s so charismatic and seductive with his little smirks and taunts. Arrogant immortals will do it for me every time I fear.
🎲 Lola/Magnolia/Astra. So many names lol. She’s so sneaky and snarky, I love her!!!! I can’t wait for her to get revenge on everyone who tried to manipulate her in this book 💅
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱WHAT I DISLIKED⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎭 Lola constantly calls the Liar’s morality into question and shames him for his lies, yet she lies more than him lmao I love her, but I didn’t like her holier than thou attitude about this. She’s conning him the whole time but acts like he’s the bad guy when he tells a lie. At least the Liar isn’t pretending to be a paragon of virtue; he’s literally nicknamed the Liar. Meanwhile, Lola makes excuses and justifies all the lies she tells, while condemning him for doing the same. I did not like the hypocrisy.
🎲 I loved the dialogue and banter in the first half, but it started to feel stilted and cringey as I continued to read. I couldn’t believe these were real people having a conversation and when I’m reading a book, I like to pretend everything is real bc it’s more fun that way and I couldn’t do that with this because the conversations felt stilted and forced instead of authentic. I don’t know if it was always like this and I just didn’t notice at first or if it genuinely got worse as the book went on.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱WHAT I LIKED⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎭 It was fast-paced and engaging from start to finish with no dull moments.
🎲 The heists. I’m convinced I was a criminal in a past life bc I love reading about thieves a little too much. I never wanted to put this book down because the heists were always so fast-paced with many near-death experiences or near-being-caught moments that I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. The breaking in, sneaking around and stealing added so much suspense, and I ate it up.
🎭 The way the setting was described. The descriptions are so vivid and cinematic that it made me feel less like I was reading and more like I was watching a movie play out in my head. It was beautiful.
🎲 The lighthearted banter between Enzo (the Thief) and Lola
He holds out a voratium bracelet glowing faintly green. "Filled this with strength just for you, Lollipop."
I raise a brow. "Lollipop?"
"It's a nickname. A charming one."
"Charming according to who, exactly?"
He scowls. "I could have called you Locust. Or maybe Lobster. Would you have preferred that?"
"I suppose Lollipop is just fine, Enema."
"Enema?" he deadpans. "Really?"
I give him my most innocent smile. "It's a
nickname. A charming one."
"Just take the damn bracelet." He chucks it at my face.
🎭 The knife to throat scenes ATE.
When she whirls to slam me against a marble pillar and digs a dagger against my throat, I let her, just to see what she’ll do.
“I’m not afraid to hurt you,” she growls as thunder rumbles over the sea.
“What a delicious lie,” I breathe, and then I wrench the dagger back from her grasp and toss it aside, whipping her around and yanking both hands behind her back. In one swift movement, she’s on the verge of the roof, toes jutting out over a twenty-six-story drop.
“Careful, little thief,” I purr as rain begins to fall like stars from the sky. “One wrong move, and it might be your last.”
She tries to wrench away, but I tighten my grip.
🎲 Her being unable to dislike him was cute lol. She tried her damndest, but he’s too witty and hot to hate. Can’t blame her. I wouldn’t be able to resist his charm either.
I narrow my eyes. “I know exactly what you’re doing.”
“Enlighten me.”
“You’re trying to lull me into a sense of security so I’ll give you more secrets.” I snatch a pastry and jab it at him. “Don’t confuse me with one of the fawning young ladies ready to drop grapes into your mouth at your bidding.”
His eyes glint. “Oh, rest assured no one would make that particular mistake.”
I should not be having this much fun talking to him. He’s the villain. And I hate him.
But I smile in spite of myself.”
🎭 Her dream about him 🤤
He stretches out next to me barely an inch away, dark hair tousled, fedora and jacket missing, the top of his shirt unbuttoned to reveal more of the sparkling scar on his chest. His eyes are intent on my face, tracing every curve and dip with his pupils blown wide and wanting. He wets his lips, and I find myself staring at them, turning onto my side to face him, drinking in his scent.
He rests a hand on my hip, hot and heavy, and all I can think is that I need more. More weight, more heat, more him.
As though reading my thoughts, he dips closer, his mouth hovering over mine. “So many secrets, little thief,” he breathes, his lips teasing my skin like a dare. “Shall we make one more?”
He drags my mouth to his, and it is as delicious as dreaming. I press against him as his hand trails down to the hem of my skirt seeking skin, as his other arm curls under me, as he pulls me flush against him.
Then all at once, he’s gone. I’m twisted in my sheets, fingers grasping at my pillow, the bed suddenly cold.
I promise I would’ve cried if I was having such a fun time with the Liar only to be woken up and realize I was dreaming.
🎲 Them dancing together!!!! the tension was suffocating 😩
“I loathe you,” I say when he pulls me close.
“Do you, now?” His grin is cunning, that scarred eye sharp as knives.
“I don’t think you understand how deeply I loathe you,” I continue, arching as he dips me, closing my eyes, tipping my head to the floor. “Depths of the seas, height of the heavens, and to the ends of the galaxies.”
“Has anyone ever told you,” he says, lips brushing like moth wings against my exposed throat, “that you’re a tad dramatic?”
AHHHHHH I AM DRAMATIC WHEN IT COMES TO THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE EVERYTHING TO ME
🎭 The elevator makeout sess was 😮💨 the seductive way he shut the elevator to have his way with her was borderline erotic ✋
Slowly, he reaches behind him and pushes the button to close the door. Then he twists the emergency key that locks the elevator in place.
🎲 A “who did this to you?” moment 😩 I don’t care how many times I read this exact scene, I will eat it up each and every single time. This was no exception. I love when they get all protective and feral for their girlies hehe
“Are you–” the Liar begins, but his eyes catch on my throat, and his body goes rigid. He lifts a hand, fingers brushing the bruised skin. “Someone hurt you.” The words are clipped and hard through clenched teeth. “Tell me who.”
🎭 The way he was SO worried about her when she passed out was SO cute. Like. He didn’t just carry her—he bridal carried her through the building like a husband would <333 he was checking her pulse to make sure she was still breathing and he brought out a first air kit to tend to her injuries. I promise he was a doctor or EMT in the past life bc the way he did this all so naturally was crazy. He even TUCKED HER INTO BED. He was tending to her like a fragile porcelain doll. We love worrying men and giving them wrinkles bahaha no but fr he was so gentle and sweet with her in these moments,, it was adorable. Not to mention, he proceeded to then secretly check on her SIX TIMES. SIX. TIMES. he was so worried, poor baby 🤧
🎲 Althoguh the plot twists were predictable, the plot twist reveals were jawdroppingly good. It’s like when you order your favorite meal at a restaurant. You know exactly what’s coming, but when it arrives, steaming and delicious, you’re still thrilled to eat it. That’s how these reveals felt. Predictable? Yes. Done well? Also yes.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱Recommendation⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
🎲 Caraval by Stephanie Garber. Both are ya romantasies that involve immersive games featuring illusions, fancy costumes, lies and secrets. I feel like fans of one will also be fans of the other. Happy reading!
July 6, 2025
I was really excited for this release, but unfortunately it missed the mark for me personally. This book suffered from a large amount of telling instead of showing, and this made it extremely difficult for me to connect to the characters and world the author was trying to create. I’m honestly super bummed about this, because it was such a cool concept for a story, but I did really appreciate the disability rep and thought it was very well done. I unfortunately think I won’t be carrying on with the series, but you never know.
Read
March 27, 2025rtc closer to release date :))
July 24, 2025
I loved this book so much, but it had one major flaw that I just couldn't get over so that's why this isn't a full five stars. The ending made it seem as if there was going to be a second or even a third book so I searched for an hour online to see if there was a second and/or third book.
And you know what I found? It's just the one with a somewhat cliffhanger and he didn't get the girl. I was so mad about that.
And you know what I found? It's just the one with a somewhat cliffhanger and he didn't get the girl. I was so mad about that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf-finish-later-୨ৎ
August 4, 2025Dnf at 10%, I don't feel motivated rn to read it....maybe I'll start it again later ....
💜𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭
Let's hope this book is good!!!!! Romantasy 😍🫶🏻 count me in!!!
💜𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭
Let's hope this book is good!!!!! Romantasy 😍🫶🏻 count me in!!!
September 29, 2025
4.75 ⭐
The only reason this isn’t a full 5 stars is because there wasn’t any spice 😂 otherwise it was absolute perfection!
This book had everything I love in a YA fantasy:
✨ Love triangle
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Dual POV
✨ Brotherly rivalry
✨ Magical curses
✨ Deep, layered characters
I saw someone say “if Caraval and Six of Crows had a baby, this would be it” and honestly… I couldn’t agree more. Both of those were 5-star reads for me, so I’m not surprised this one is right up there with them!
The plot? Just… WOW. I was hooked from the start and never lost interest. It was so good it turned my short run into a 10km run because I couldn’t bring myself to stop listening! Heists, secrets, lies, and an incredibly fun magic system made this such a memorable read. I cannot wait to read the next book!
The only reason this isn’t a full 5 stars is because there wasn’t any spice 😂 otherwise it was absolute perfection!
This book had everything I love in a YA fantasy:
✨ Love triangle
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Dual POV
✨ Brotherly rivalry
✨ Magical curses
✨ Deep, layered characters
I saw someone say “if Caraval and Six of Crows had a baby, this would be it” and honestly… I couldn’t agree more. Both of those were 5-star reads for me, so I’m not surprised this one is right up there with them!
The plot? Just… WOW. I was hooked from the start and never lost interest. It was so good it turned my short run into a 10km run because I couldn’t bring myself to stop listening! Heists, secrets, lies, and an incredibly fun magic system made this such a memorable read. I cannot wait to read the next book!
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June 14, 2025
Den of Liars pulls you in immediately with Lola’s story—a hidden daughter of a powerful crime boss, kept secret from the world. At just 15, she’s taken, or rescued, depending on your perspective, by the elusive Thief. She strikes a deal that binds her so tightly to him, it’s as if they become one.
The worldbuilding hints at deeper things: a unique magic system, spiritual powers, and a city where loyalty is always for sale. But the fantasy elements remain relatively light. The writing leans heavily on telling rather than showing, which at times made it harder to fully connect to the characters or the emotional stakes.
Lola is an intriguing lead, though her sheltered upbringing often clashes with the ease at which she navigates dangerous, high-stakes scenarios. She’s portrayed as clever and strategic, but her youth and inexperience occasionally make her insights and instincts feel unearned. I found myself wishing for more grounded emotional depth, moments that showed her inner turmoil rather than simply stating it.
That said, there’s no denying the appeal of certain scenes—especially the casino sequence, which I think Phantasma fans will appreciate (though be warned, this is not a spicy romance). The romantic thread is more relational than steamy, and that slower, more emotional build worked well for me.
The book ends on a cliffhanger that practically demands the next installment, and while I had mixed feelings about the execution, I’m still curious to see how it all plays out.
A special thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The worldbuilding hints at deeper things: a unique magic system, spiritual powers, and a city where loyalty is always for sale. But the fantasy elements remain relatively light. The writing leans heavily on telling rather than showing, which at times made it harder to fully connect to the characters or the emotional stakes.
Lola is an intriguing lead, though her sheltered upbringing often clashes with the ease at which she navigates dangerous, high-stakes scenarios. She’s portrayed as clever and strategic, but her youth and inexperience occasionally make her insights and instincts feel unearned. I found myself wishing for more grounded emotional depth, moments that showed her inner turmoil rather than simply stating it.
That said, there’s no denying the appeal of certain scenes—especially the casino sequence, which I think Phantasma fans will appreciate (though be warned, this is not a spicy romance). The romantic thread is more relational than steamy, and that slower, more emotional build worked well for me.
The book ends on a cliffhanger that practically demands the next installment, and while I had mixed feelings about the execution, I’m still curious to see how it all plays out.
A special thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2025
Den of Liars tells the story of a girl caught between two warring villains during a dangerous magical tournament at an enchanted casino. The premise was so intriguing and it totally delivered on that intrigue! So much creativity in the storyline it was like nothing I read before. I loved the enemies to lovers romance the dynamic was just chefs kiss and I was always questioning who to trust! Lola St James, our FMC, was cunning and witty and I really loved her! That cliffhanger? Whew it really has me ready for the next book! If you like books with vibes like Caraval and Phantasma I think this would be up your alley!
June 14, 2025
Perfect for fans of Phantasma and Caraval, Den of Liars is an action packed, high stakes read filled with intrigue and illusion.
Whilst this was entertaining, I wanted a little bit more. The characters were somewhat one dimensional and the relationships (specifically the romance) felt a little forced and lacking depth. I enjoyed the fantastical, casino setting but again it felt a little surface level (I still have no idea what kind of time period it was meant to be set in?)
Overall, this was a fun read but not one that particularly stood out to me however I have a feeling it’s one a lot of reading will get a lot of enjoyment out of.
Whilst this was entertaining, I wanted a little bit more. The characters were somewhat one dimensional and the relationships (specifically the romance) felt a little forced and lacking depth. I enjoyed the fantastical, casino setting but again it felt a little surface level (I still have no idea what kind of time period it was meant to be set in?)
Overall, this was a fun read but not one that particularly stood out to me however I have a feeling it’s one a lot of reading will get a lot of enjoyment out of.
August 2, 2025
3 ⭐️
This book contains the following:
* Heists
* Magical competition
* Secrets and schemes
* Urban fantasy
* Forbidden romance
* Betrayal and deceit
This book sounded amazing. Such a fun and unique theme of rival brothers who contain different magic’s from the stars forever at odds and trying to undermine the other. A magical tournament of lies and deceit, and a forbidden romance that was never meant to happen. However, about 3/4 of the way through the story, it lost me. I wanted just alittle more from the romance, the lore, and for the plot twists to pack a bigger punch. With that said, this book was fun. Especially the audiobook.
This book contains the following:
* Heists
* Magical competition
* Secrets and schemes
* Urban fantasy
* Forbidden romance
* Betrayal and deceit
This book sounded amazing. Such a fun and unique theme of rival brothers who contain different magic’s from the stars forever at odds and trying to undermine the other. A magical tournament of lies and deceit, and a forbidden romance that was never meant to happen. However, about 3/4 of the way through the story, it lost me. I wanted just alittle more from the romance, the lore, and for the plot twists to pack a bigger punch. With that said, this book was fun. Especially the audiobook.
April 16, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)
4.5 stars
This was fun! It gave darker Caraval with Six of Crows and a bit of Inheritance Games vibes.
The story fast paced and hard to put down. I loved that everyone was a little morally grey. I thought the tension and chemistry between Lola and the Liar was done really well. (Yay for forced proximity!) I also liked seeing Lola grow as a character throughout the story as she uncovered more about what she thought she knew. The magic system with the dice was unique. Can't wait to see what happens next after that ending!
4.5 stars
This was fun! It gave darker Caraval with Six of Crows and a bit of Inheritance Games vibes.
The story fast paced and hard to put down. I loved that everyone was a little morally grey. I thought the tension and chemistry between Lola and the Liar was done really well. (Yay for forced proximity!) I also liked seeing Lola grow as a character throughout the story as she uncovered more about what she thought she knew. The magic system with the dice was unique. Can't wait to see what happens next after that ending!
December 18, 2025
I can't stop rereading this. Send. Help. Now.
Why did no one tell me this is a series?? I can't wait nine months for what happens next...
"I slip into the deep, a dancer and a thief.
And utterly devious."
Why did no one tell me this is a series?? I can't wait nine months for what happens next...
July 28, 2025
**updated*** this is now a 5 star book for me. I went back and read the physical copy and totally get the magic system!!!!
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.
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.
July 4, 2025
DEN OF LIARS, is the second book I've read by author Jessica S. Olson, and is book one in The Devious duology.
Magnolia (Lola) St. James was a well kept secret, until her father lost a tournament in which your most precious secrets are used as currency. When rivals found out, she was abducted and "rescued" by The Thief, the brother of the man who runs the Liar's Den Casino. In exchange for his protection, she has to share her heart--something he can't use on his own after being "cursed" by a magical energy source he and his brother once tried to steal.
Lola and Enzo grow close--think brother/sister or best friends, instead of romantically--due to the sharing of her heart. They work heists together and can "feel" the emotions of the other. When a heist goes wrong, Lola decides to enter the Liar's tournament herself. Enzo is "less than happy" about this, as it is run by the brother he now hates with a passion.
However, Lola begins to see that the things she has long believed--about her Father, her rescue, feelings--may not be as she thought. Enter the Liar, whom she has an attraction to, despite the warnings of his brother to NOT trust him.
What I loved the most about this novel was Lola's self-discovery. She starts out as a character that honestly perplexed me by how easily she just accepted what others told her. However, it does make sense when you learn about the sheltered existence she's always had. When she gets a taste of "freedom" and can interact with other people, she finds herself thinking on her own. Can she trust this person? Who is telling the truth? Is there more to her story than she has been told? As these questions begin to plague her, you see that she is, in fact, quite intelligent, and is FINALLY questioning things for herself. The romantic tension between Lola and the Liar (Nic) was well done. I appreciated the fact that this was NOT a love triangle, as her "relationship" with his brother was more like that of an overprotective sibling, who did not allow her to be with other people "for her own safety", of course.
"Dear, if anyone ever tells you to distrust everyone but them, they aren't interested in truth. Only control."
Overall, this novel has a unique magic system (that I can't wait to learn more about in the second half!), great characters with deep emotions and plausible motives, and just the right touch of romance. Despite it being the first in a Duology, I felt the end was fantastic! It left you with some knowledge, and still hinted at the loose ends to come in book two.
Recommended.
Magnolia (Lola) St. James was a well kept secret, until her father lost a tournament in which your most precious secrets are used as currency. When rivals found out, she was abducted and "rescued" by The Thief, the brother of the man who runs the Liar's Den Casino. In exchange for his protection, she has to share her heart--something he can't use on his own after being "cursed" by a magical energy source he and his brother once tried to steal.
Lola and Enzo grow close--think brother/sister or best friends, instead of romantically--due to the sharing of her heart. They work heists together and can "feel" the emotions of the other. When a heist goes wrong, Lola decides to enter the Liar's tournament herself. Enzo is "less than happy" about this, as it is run by the brother he now hates with a passion.
However, Lola begins to see that the things she has long believed--about her Father, her rescue, feelings--may not be as she thought. Enter the Liar, whom she has an attraction to, despite the warnings of his brother to NOT trust him.
What I loved the most about this novel was Lola's self-discovery. She starts out as a character that honestly perplexed me by how easily she just accepted what others told her. However, it does make sense when you learn about the sheltered existence she's always had. When she gets a taste of "freedom" and can interact with other people, she finds herself thinking on her own. Can she trust this person? Who is telling the truth? Is there more to her story than she has been told? As these questions begin to plague her, you see that she is, in fact, quite intelligent, and is FINALLY questioning things for herself. The romantic tension between Lola and the Liar (Nic) was well done. I appreciated the fact that this was NOT a love triangle, as her "relationship" with his brother was more like that of an overprotective sibling, who did not allow her to be with other people "for her own safety", of course.
"Dear, if anyone ever tells you to distrust everyone but them, they aren't interested in truth. Only control."
Overall, this novel has a unique magic system (that I can't wait to learn more about in the second half!), great characters with deep emotions and plausible motives, and just the right touch of romance. Despite it being the first in a Duology, I felt the end was fantastic! It left you with some knowledge, and still hinted at the loose ends to come in book two.
Recommended.
July 1, 2025
More like 2.5 but let me think on it.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.
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.
June 24, 2025
4.5 Stars
Den of Liars by Jessica S. Olson Review
A gorgeously high stakes YA Fantasy, with a pacy (heist-based) premise that sees protagonist, Lola St. James, enter into a cut-throat magical (Liar’s Dice) tournament, where the price for entry is her deepest and most valuable secrets. I was utterly hooked!
The world-building and lore surrounding the Liar and the Thief, (their interconnected past and the origins of their magic) was really fascinating. And unravelling each layer of their rivalry became a bit of an obsession for me.
And the prose! Jessica S. Olson’s writing is both lyrical and vividly evocative. Which brought an intriguing amount tension that, (along with the dice-based magic system) only added to the casino backdrop, vague criminal underworld vibes, and the moral complexity of some pretty interesting characters. Who I couldn’t get enough of!
I adored Lola, our FMC, who gave me all kinds of Inej and Nina Zenik meets Lilah Bard vibes. Fiercely stubborn and determined to find strength in the parts of herself most would deem a weakness, she really takes us on a rollercoaster of a journey.
Reclaiming her identity and control over own future, whilst proving that her visual disability (lazy eye) isn’t all that defines her. It’s a compelling (and impactful) arc that us readers don’t always get the opportunity to experience.
Though, her complicated and messy bond with Enzo (the Thief) and Nic (the Liar) was what really stole the show for me. Both were charismatic, mysterious and morally grey characters, and I found it soo difficult trying to work out who to trust. My only disappointment was that we didn’t delve into the Zenithic gods very much, however, I do have my fingers crossed for the sequel.
I can’t go into detail as I don’t want to spoil anything. So I’ll just say, if you loved Six of Crows or Caraval then you’ll want to consider checking this out.
Also, a thanks to Insta Book Tours and Hot Key Books for the proof.
Den of Liars by Jessica S. Olson Review
A gorgeously high stakes YA Fantasy, with a pacy (heist-based) premise that sees protagonist, Lola St. James, enter into a cut-throat magical (Liar’s Dice) tournament, where the price for entry is her deepest and most valuable secrets. I was utterly hooked!
The world-building and lore surrounding the Liar and the Thief, (their interconnected past and the origins of their magic) was really fascinating. And unravelling each layer of their rivalry became a bit of an obsession for me.
And the prose! Jessica S. Olson’s writing is both lyrical and vividly evocative. Which brought an intriguing amount tension that, (along with the dice-based magic system) only added to the casino backdrop, vague criminal underworld vibes, and the moral complexity of some pretty interesting characters. Who I couldn’t get enough of!
I adored Lola, our FMC, who gave me all kinds of Inej and Nina Zenik meets Lilah Bard vibes. Fiercely stubborn and determined to find strength in the parts of herself most would deem a weakness, she really takes us on a rollercoaster of a journey.
Reclaiming her identity and control over own future, whilst proving that her visual disability (lazy eye) isn’t all that defines her. It’s a compelling (and impactful) arc that us readers don’t always get the opportunity to experience.
Though, her complicated and messy bond with Enzo (the Thief) and Nic (the Liar) was what really stole the show for me. Both were charismatic, mysterious and morally grey characters, and I found it soo difficult trying to work out who to trust. My only disappointment was that we didn’t delve into the Zenithic gods very much, however, I do have my fingers crossed for the sequel.
I can’t go into detail as I don’t want to spoil anything. So I’ll just say, if you loved Six of Crows or Caraval then you’ll want to consider checking this out.
Also, a thanks to Insta Book Tours and Hot Key Books for the proof.
July 22, 2025
Ehhhh, this one was alright. The plot progressed well, which kept me turning the pages. Content-wise though, a little iffy.
⚠️ a minor character appears to identify as they/them
⚠️ there are several usages of the a-, b-, p-, s-, and d-word
⚠️ "as luxurious as sin"
⚠️ a minor character appears to identify as they/them
⚠️ there are several usages of the a-, b-, p-, s-, and d-word
⚠️ "as luxurious as sin"
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