A Dance of Lies

A Dance of Lies #1

by Brittney Arena

Brittney Arena’s adult fantasy debut A DANCE OF LIES follows a disabled dancer who, after being framed for murder, is thrust into a lethal feud between royals when her king offers her freedom in exchange for espionage; but as his tasks grow increasingly deadly, she must use her wits and artistry to thwart his plans, even as her ploys land her in the center of a dangerous political web that risks her heart as much as her neck.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Adult, Fiction, Audiobook

448 pages, Hardcover

First published June 10, 2025

About the author

With a background in both brand and visual design, Brittney has always found solace in art. However, after a challenging health journey, she turned to writing, and what began as a coping mechanism evolved into a journey of exploration, allowing her to traverse new worlds from wherever she might be.

When she’s not penning tales, Brittney spends her time obsessing over k-dramas, playing with her camera, and waging war against ungodly amounts of pet hair. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and two pups, and is always ready for the next adventure, whether it be on page or in real life. A Dance of Lies is her debut novel.

She is represented by Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency.

Reviews

[Emmy Rosam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED this!! 4.5 ⭐️ Following our incredible FMC dancer whilst she navigates some crazy court politics and spying for the king that imprisoned her. Great disability & chronic illness representation. One of my top new fantasy romance releases of the year!

[Ricarda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note to self: do not request romantasy arcs in the future, you will dislike them. Strongly. In my defense, I thought I was really onto something with this adult fantasy book about a disabled dancer turned spy. But I was not, because it was indeed the most basic story you can imagine.

It started out well enough. It deserves some praise that the author made an effort to bring more disability representation into the romantasy genre, and disability was discussed extensively in the beginning of the book. Protagonist Vasalie is left disabled after two years of imprisonment for a crime she didn't commit. She is called in front of the king, who betrayed and locked her up in the first place, and is now ordered to serve as an entertainer / spy during a gathering of multiple monarchs. The first thing that really bugged me here was that the girl should be bursting with anger and pain, and the writing just transported absolutely nothing. No personality to be found, and how is that even possible in a first-person narrative? But every single character in the book saw something in Vasalie. Men in power positions wanted to use her for their own benefit while the people of the working class showed an unreasonable amount of trust towards her, even telling her secrets. Shouldn't a gathering of monarchs of different countries / regions create a tense environment? But it's actually the place where Vasalie might find love, and there is not only one but two love possible interests waiting for her. I didn't even know who I was supposed to be rooting for, and it was only made clear after the 70% mark or so. I, of course, didn't care anymore at that point.

What really threw me of was the disability representation itself, though. It just didn't sit right with me that Vasalie could always perform complicated dances when she was told to do so. As if ignoring her pain and just wanting something enough would make her disability go away. I can't speak from personal experience, but that just felt wrong to me. I will read some reviews that discuss this when the book releases.

I too have to report that the phrase "They ate it up" was used in this fantasy book, and that is of course unforgivable.

As all romantasy does nowadays this book will surely find a rather large audience upon release that will absolutely love it. Safe to say that I'm not part of it.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[liz ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

➸ 5 stars

“I am broken”
“You are art”

𓈀 𓄹𓂃 thank you to netgalley, random house publishing / del rey and of course, brittney arena, for the advanced readers copy!!

🪞 dancer turned spy
✨ dangerous courts
🔹 disability representation
🪞 glass technology
✨ banter & romantic tension
🔹 rival kings

guys… THIS BOOK WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!!! the dancing, the spying, the suspense… i was HOOKED and truly could not put this book down!!! i loved vasalie’s story so much and her development throughout this book was chefs kiss!!

never would i have thought i’d be so down bad for a mmc who’s nickname for the fmc is a fish and i have no idea why but HERE WE ARE!!!! i loved the slow burn romance subplot and I LOVE THESE CHARACTERS SO MUCH!!!! they literally had me grinning from ear to ear… the ending?! jaw on the FLOOR and im so excited for the sequel, i need it now!!!! that little trope at the end hurt in the BEST way possible and im so excited to see how this plays out!

[Bailee Latham · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
**Take this review with a grain of salt because I am slumping so bad

I enjoyed this! It was different, fun, and went in a direction that was refreshing. But, I just wasn’t wanting to pick it up. I blame that on the slump I’m in and the slow pacing at the beginning. Halfway through it really started to pick up though! A case of right book, wrong time. I will be continuing the series though.

[Madison Kait · Rating 5 out of 5]

and just like that, i’ve found a new hyper fixation

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

✩ 2.45 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Court Political Intrigue
➼ FMC w/Chronic Pain
➼ Rival Kings
➼ Dancer Turned Spy
➼ Love Triangle
➼ Romantic Tension
➼ Toxic Family
➼ FMC Discovering Her Own Strength
➼ Secrets & Betrayal
➼ First Person POV

I really wanted to love this, but it just didn’t quite work for me. I wouldn’t go so far as to say this wasn’t fantasy, but the majority of the book was completely unmagical. The romance was also very unclear for most of the book. There are a couple of love interests and rival kings in the mix, but I was never too sure who if any of them she would form a romantic connection with. There was definitely a point where it became more apparent, but I never really felt that invested in their love story and it was an excruciatingly slow burn.

There were a lot of moving pieces that did come together in an interesting way in the end, but I had trouble getting myself to the finish line. Her life and experiences were very heavy and sad, and I really felt for her, but the focus on her disability was poorly executed in my opinion. Her shortcomings are talked about A LOT, but aside from chronic pain, it didn’t seem to impact her ability to dance at all. This felt unrealistic to me based on her experiences and if the author truly wanted to represent disability, I think she should have fully committed. The inclusion of the FMC throwing flour all over the place while dancing was a very odd choice and I don’t think that would have successfully distracted anyone if she was truly unable to dance.

If you can stick it out to the end, you might enjoy this, but I honestly think a lot of people will DNF. 🤷🏼‍♀️

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: Sorry, I’ve been kind of MIA on here! I’ve been working on installing some new bookshelves and trying to get my house clean and haven’t had as much time to interact. Hoping to have a little more free time once my shelves are all up and filled. So excited!

This one sounds interesting and the Fairyloot edition is stunning, so hopefully it will be good! 🤞🏻

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

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[Kaila.Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine Arobynn Hamel and Dorian Hilliard in a love triangle with a female dancer who’s been wrongly accused of murder and forced to spy, all while dealing with the aftereffects of two years in captivity…… A DANCE OF LIES

The world is as so immersive, packed with court politics, slow-burn tension, oh my word I loved this book!!!

I thought I had the plot figured out early on, but then the second half completely flipped the script. The twists were genuinely unexpected, the stakes kept rising, and I couldn’t put it down.

The ENDING?!!??!?) I’m so excited this is a duology because I cannot wait to see where it goes.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

too flour-ey (if you get this i love you)

[kitkat (semi-hiatus ♡︎) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ rounded down

3.5 rounded down

i have… a love hate relationship with this book. i’m still processing, but overall it was okay. i feel slightly disappointed though, because i thought this book would have disability rep in fantasy, but unfortunately, it did not work that well.

the main character, vasalie, had originally been the main dancer for the king, but after he framed her for a murder that she didn’t commit, she was kept in the dungeon for 2 years. she grew weaker, and weaker until the king presents her with an opportunity: spy at the royal gathering, and earn her freedom. here’s the catch:
1. vasalie is in no condition to dance (her “disability”)
2. she begins to see the kind isn’t who she had thought
this book is filled with betrayal and lies as well as a slight bit of romance.

features
- betrayal
- enemies to lovers
- prophecies
- cliffhanger
- mentions of rape and abuse
- dancing…
- YA

okay so… FIRST we have vasalie, who is supposedly “disabled” BUT she can still dance and do everything of course. i get the idea, and i completely respect the author for trying this concept, but im afraid that it didn’t work.

she’s stuck in a cell right… for 2 years… and she’s considered disabled, except she can still dance. and by the end of the book (maybe 3-4 weeks later), there is little to no mention of her disability. i did appreciate the authors note however, because i do have pots and disautonomia (heart/nervous system disorder), which are both overlooked most of the time, but a lot of people have those conditions, often without knowing.

overall however, i did like vasalie’s character in general. she didn’t have that confidence that a lot of fmcs do in romantasy books, which did make it more unique. she didn’t have her pity party moments, but i did like her.

the writing… i truly hate to say this, but it was overwritten. the beginning was worse, but it got slightly better by the end. it felt was all fluff and no substance. i’d also heard that this was like throne of glass, which is true for the first half of the book, but it takes a turn in the second half.

anton
i’ve literally been team anton since the beginning, but nooooo, she had to go through her whole copeland phase. like, girl. not necessary. cut the shit. anton… honestly reminds me of rhys in a way. he’s misunderstood, which is mainly his doing, but he does have a different side to him.

the ONLY thing that i didn’t like about him was that one of his pet names for he was “little minnow” or “minnow”.

anybody else getting little tuna 2.0 vibes??
- currently reading ⏳ -



-
i don’t know how she’s so blind. she is chasing a man who doesn’t want her while an even better one is right in front of her 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ #teamanton
-
no. no. he did not just call her “little minnow” it’s literally little tuna 2.0 😭😭😭

- preread -
alright… i’m a bit hesitant to start this one, but we’ll see how it goes 🤞💖

>> thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc ~ all thoughts are mine <33

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ .]

dnf @ 55%

i was hyped for this arc, but unfortunately it just didn't deliver.

the story and characters weren't really grabbing me, and the fmc spends quite an amount of time in misery over her life. some of the motivations of characters are unclear to me, esp the king who's antagonizing her.

love that this had chronic illness rep, but i preferred to move on to other reads.

an honest arc review ♡

[Farda Hus · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"I know darkness intimately."

I really enjoyed this one. The mystery and atmosphere pulled me in right from the start, and I found myself curious and intrigued even when I wasn’t entirely sure where the story was heading. That’s a good thing for me. I like when a book takes its time and lets things unfold slowly.

Even near the end, I already had a feeling about what would happen, but there was still a moment in the final part that made me gasp. However, that same final part also had a scene that I really didn’t like —when the fate of Morta was treated like... just a friend to Anton. I was like, what?? After everything, all the power, the mystery, and the build-up, I was expecting Morta to become the embodiment of the goddess, something grand, divine, unforgettable. But instead, Anton just treated her casually, like an old friend. That completely took away the impact for me. I wanted something more powerful, more symbolic, not something that felt so... ordinary. That part seriously icked me out.

And how everything just folded out at the end in maybe eight chapters? I needed the kind of detailing we got at the beginning, how the author described everything, how she performed, the dress, the glass, everything. But at the climax, I didn’t get that. It felt like it finished really fast and rushed.

Oh, and NO!! I haven’t forgotten about that cheesy nickname: “little minnow.” Really? I live in Indonesia, and here a minnow isn’t just fishing bait, we eat minnows, fried with sambal and rice (we call it sambal wader, picture included). So I found it really not cute 😭😭



And now, the parts I loved:
I didn’t know who the MMC was until halfway through the book, and I liked that.
The beautiful prose, detailing everything so beautifully. I loved the lore and how the author told us everything through Vasalie’s performances.
I loved all the political and royal intrigue. Even though I could guess the ending, I really enjoyed the process.

Overall, despite some parts that didn’t work for me, this book was a beautiful and unique experience, and I’m glad I read it.

Note : Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, and Inklore for this ARC.

[Alya ( 20 comments restriction ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE: NOW AVAILABLE
✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️

A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena
Publication date: June 5th 2025

Hear me out... THIS IS THE BEST fantasy romance read ( coming from someone who isn't big on that genre) I DEVOURED this... I don't even know where to start with this it was that good... plot follows a disabled dancer Vasaile who escaped from an abusive father, she becomes King Illian’s "prized jewel"... After King Illian imprisons her for a murder he knows she didn't do, ends up releasing her but this "freedom" comes with a brutal price....

The world building in this book is just stunning -- the world building in fantasy books aren't my cup of tea but with this read I ATE it up -- it literally felt like watching a movie in my head and I LOVE when books have that effect on me! Vasaile's character development was just phenomenal 👌🏻also as someone who has a physical disability/ limitations I loved that I could resonate with some bits

Check the trigger warnings 🫶🏻

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc! Grateful to have been given the opportunity to read this work of art!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok f**k it I can’t wait until June to review this I WANT TO SCREAM MY LOVE FOR IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS! OKAY!!!

here we have one of my favourite FMC character arcs in recent memory… I am speechless, quite frankly overwhelmed by how much I love Ms. Vasalie <33333 she starts off TRAUMATIZED and grossly subjected to one of the ickiest men I could dream up. like I despised that motherf***er with every fibre of my being. BUT THEN MY GIRL CATCHES THE EYE OF HIS ROGUEISH BROTHER?? AND SEXY DANCE PARTNER??? WHILE THE OBSESSIVE DISGUSTING ORIGINAL BROTHER HAS TO WATCH????? YAH 💳💥 SIGN ME TF UP💳💥💳💥 💳💥 IT’S TENSEEEE IN HERE BITCHES!!

the espionage, tension, banter and yearning in this was absolutely unreal. the setting was phenomenal and vivid honestly sort of in the way the Summer Court from ACOTAR was… I was genuinely fking obsessed and I am devastated at that ending. how am I supposed to wait for book 2 when book 1 isn’t even out yet😭 UGH.

[Léa · Rating 4 out of 5]

a romantasy with a disabled/chronically ill protagonist is ALL I needed to know in order to pick this up!!!

I ADORE a fantasy with a royal/court setting + political intrigue and this had all of that with a good mix of tension, romance and discussions on chronic pain. following a dancer turned spy, I adored following Vasalie's character development and found myself SO invested in the potential romance and political climate of the book.

I loved how Brittney Arena wrote about a chronic illness/disabled experience and how to have a character refuse to be defined by it (I only wish it was discussed slightly more) I did unfortunately also see the crux of the ending coming from a mileee away... however I still enjoyed it! this was so fun!

I also thought this was a standalone but after the end.... I'll patiently be awaiting a sequel announcement thank youuu

(thank you netgalley & bloomsbury for the arc)

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

All I can think about the entire time was who was cleaning up all that flour the main character kept throwing around?

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[Bon · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️ 2

This is extremely overwritten and I usually love purple prose. Everything is too poetic out of nowhere or overly described and there were certain instances where I believe words were simply misused in an attempt to make flowery writing.

I eventually was soooo fatigued just trying to make my way through a scene because importance was being placed everywhere, all the time, on these details that were superfluous. The repetition was also irritating, as mentioned by many of the other reviews. We didn't need a constant reminder about Vasalie's situation or how she was the king's jewel once. I would've preferred some actual characterization.

The characters were boring. All of them. And that's just frustrating because when they're boring, I find it hard to care about anything they do. And when they weren't boring, they were cliché in the way you'd expect from any other romantasy novel.

Also, the dialog never felt natural to me. Their cadence is off. It's odd but perhaps purposeful? Maybe it was supposed to be otherworldly? Either way it came across clunky. Which really sucks because I wanted to like this book so badly! This needed another edit in which a lot was rewritten or simplified because the bones of the story are interesting. The cover is beautiful! I like the name Vasalie, that's pretty. I really enjoy the premise of a disabled dancer who is forced to become a spy. But...it all falls flat. I don't believe I'd read another in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[shaelinslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW WOW WOWWWWWW

This is how you do political intrigue! The court politics, and scheming in this was just phenomenal.

The FMC has chronic pain, forced to dance, and infiltrate a kingdom… or be killed. She’s soft but brave, and the MMC?! WHEW. He’s a hilarious, arrogant man that has a heart of gold. I ate this up. The stakes are high, and the games are afoot, that’s for sure. But wow was it good! This played my mind like a puppeteer. Holy.

This story is intricate, stressful, and beautiful. It can be a bit repetitive, but I think the twists and turns are worth it! 5 Stars.

[DianaRose · Rating 4 out of 5]

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

a dance of lies was one of my highly anticipated romantasy debuts for 2025, and it is a great addition to the romantasy genre! of course, it had all of my favorite tropes so it’s not that hard to please me in that case.

even though a dance of lies had many of my favorite tropes, many things were obvious to me after reading this genre so often for so many years, but i loved the way the author revealed them.

i also appreciated the disability representation through our fmc vasalie.

i’m excited to read the next book after the last 25% of the book ending up as a whirlwind of events!

i can’t wait to see my fairyloot edition — i’m sure it’s gorgina

[Amanda Blanche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok. Debut Novel? Are you kidding me. This was so well done. A little slow on the start but I was hooked the whole way through. It's a story with politics, schemes and intrigue. Constant plot twists and curveballs. The way the writing draws you into this world and just makes you want more. It exceeded my expectations.
Vasalie has led a troubled life, on the run from her father, she finds a living dancing. Having caught the eye of one of the kings, she becomes his jewel. His obsession. Until one day it's all taken away. Now imprisoned over the last two years, she is freed only to be given a bargain. Act as a spy for the king at the upcoming gathering of kingdoms and complete any tasks he asks. In return, he will exonerate and free her. How far will Vasalie go to earn her freedom? Throw in a complicated trio of king brothers, a stern dance partner, and an assortment of secondary characters that all play a key part in the storyline and the whole tale slowly unravels to show the underlying plot.
Plus some slow burn romance, not much spice but tension.

[Abbie Toria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A Dance of Lies has to be one of my favourite books of the year. I gobbled it up in just over a day!
✨️ Fantasy romance
✨️ A dangerous bargain
✨️ Royal courts
✨️ A dancer
✨️ Spying
✨️ Chronic pain/ Disability rep
✨️ Debut author

From hilarious banter, to spice, to emotional devastation, A Dance of Lies will make you feel it all. I was completely swept up in the story of this heart-wrenching fantasy romance. I loved that there were multiple potential love interests and that you didn't know where it was going.

Vasalie was a brilliant main character. Her determination, passion, resilience, vulnerability, and strength shone through. The chronic pain and disability representation was brilliant. As a disabled person with chronic pain, I felt seen right from the heartfelt author's note at the start.

The wondrous descriptions of the world were so beautiful, and those of Vasalie dancing and how she felt as she danced were completely immersive. No one has brought dance to life through words for me as Arena has.

I absolutely love the colourful cover design. Please tell me someone is producing a beautiful special edition of A Dance of Lies?

I need Book 2 now! Thank goodness that Brittney Arena has confirmed that she's already written it!

[Clarissa Labue-Pham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dance of Lies is a jewel of a book. The world is lush and vibrant with an unforgettable story and noteworthy characters being led by a fantastic female lead who has various struggles both mental and physical, to overcome. The revelations and twists will have your jaw dropping.

In this fantasy world, full of the perfect amount of world-building, I should add, we are introduced to Vasalie Moran. Once the Kings Jewel she has spent the last two years wasting away in jail for a crime she didn't commit. King Illian is willing to release her if she acts as a spy for him during the crown's gathering on the Isle of Anell. While there, she meets a motley assortment of interesting, unique, and lovable characters with different and varied motivations and personalities. Vasalie longs to interact and make friends with others, but her precarious position as Illians spy keeps her from involving herself with others until a particularly devious request forces Vasalie to make some tough decisions.

This novel takes a lot of care in its handling of tough themes. Vasalie herself is left with permanent disabilities and changes to her body from the years in prison with malnourishment and lack of movement. Vasalie is a multifaceted heroine who has become my all-time favorite female main character. She struggles with not only various ailments, but deep psychological pain, and the morality surrounding betraying those around her in a bid to save herself. Never has a heroine struggled so much with such quandaries; it was really refreshing.

This book of course wouldn't be a romantasy without romance, and you will get a unique love triangle with two very different men in terms of looks, personality, and places in their respective societies. It's like night and day. Usually, when I read romantasy the various love interests are all highly similar, brooding and sulking, stoic males. You won't find that here; men have real personalities. They also both have fully fleshed-out pasts.

I have one complaint, it's a small one. It ends on a cliffhanger and since it was just released there's no book two yet, but rest assured knowing that as soon as it's available for preorder it's going to be at the top of my TBR.

If you have even a passing interest in romantasy and are looking for a heroine with more depth than usual and male love interests with personality that doesn't entail growling then you need to run to your local book store and grab A Dance of Lies.

[Nicole is Reading Fantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

THAT ENDING IS DIABOLICAL.

Review to come.

[mikayla ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I am broken.” “You are art.”

4 ⭐️ i’m impressed! a dance of lies is an incredible debut. brittney arena is evidently a beautiful writer. you can feel the love and passion that went into writing this book and it paid off. the world building is immersive and layered, the characters have depth and the plot kept me guessing until the very end.

if you’re looking for a read that will keep you on your toes, this will definitely deliver. it’s full of suspense, political intrigue, betrayal and espionage. it isn’t as heavy on the romance but i actually enjoyed this. i was constantly guessing who was even going to be the love interest. you really get a good sense of who the characters are before any developing feelings begin. this allowed relationships to develop organically and without any sense of urgency.

despite my enjoyment of this book, i did have a few issues that affected my overall enjoyment and prevented me from rating it higher. first issue being the flowery prose. overall, it really is a beautifully written book but the very start of the book was too flowery for my liking. it felt exhausting to read at times. this eased up as the book went on and by the end, it wasn’t an issue for me.

i’m also not sure how to feel about the disability representation. the beginning of the book established vasalie’s symptoms and limitations however, i felt like her chronic illness wasn’t given the some attention towards the end of the book. this felt a little inconsistent to me. the best example i can think of right now is vasalie frequency fainting in the start, but i don’t recall her fainting once at the gathering. those suffering with chronic illnesses aren’t usually afforded the opportunity of picking when and how their symptoms flare. the crux of chronic illness is that it’s relatively uncontrollable and ongoing.

i can’t wait till the next book! i’m excited to see more from brittney arena.

many thanks to netgalley, random house publishing and brittney arena for providing me with this arc. all thoughts are my own honest opinions.

[elizabeth rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disabled dancer turned reluctant spy, political betrayal, and a brewing royal war—A Dance of Lies should have soared. What begins as a dazzling promise of defiance, danger, and disability rep ends up dancing in circles—feeling like a copy-paste of stronger stories, only less alive.

I went into A Dance of Lies full of hope. A romantasy with a disabled protagonist navigating court politics and espionage? That premise alone had me ready to fall in love. But despite the setup, what followed was a disappointingly formulaic story that never truly brought its characters—or its world—to life.

The opening echoes familiar territory (👀 Throne of Glass fans will notice the parallels instantly): Vasalie, once a royal dancer, has been wrongfully imprisoned and suddenly summoned back to serve the king who betrayed her. She’s sent to a royal summit as a spy—but instead of seething with rage, trauma, or even conflicted loyalty, Vasalie meets each moment with a baffling emotional flatness. In first-person narration, this absence of interiority is especially glaring. Her voice lacks the vulnerability, complexity, or edge you’d expect from someone with her history. Where’s the vulnerability? The fire? The edge?

💔 The biggest letdown? The missed potential in the disability rep. Vasalie lives with chronic pain and lasting injuries, but they’re inconsistently portrayed. She’s often able to perform physically demanding dances when the story needs her to—almost as if sheer willpower erases her limitations. While it’s great to see a disabled heroine in a romantasy, the rep feels more symbolic than authentic—acknowledged, but not meaningfully explored.

The worldbuilding? Also pretty surface-level. 🌍 A tense summit between multiple monarchs should feel like a pressure cooker, but instead, there’s little urgency or consequence. Characters trust Vasalie way too quickly, and there are not one but two insta-love setups with underdeveloped love interests. 🙄💔

I expected fire, fury, and grit. Instead, I got a muted heroine, flat emotion, and a plot that tiptoes through tired tropes.

Despite the rich concept, A Dance of Lies plays it safe—relying on clichés and shallow emotional beats. 📖💔 Fans of light romantasy who enjoy morally grey royals and courtly intrigue may still find something to enjoy—especially if you’re newer to the genre. But if you’re looking for character depth, fresh storytelling, or authentic disability rep, this one might leave you wanting.

[Phoebe ❀ ✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book totally blew me away - I don't even know where to start! This was an absolutely fantastic debut and a fantasy romance with the perfect combination of plot, political machinations, romance, and characters.

Dance of Lies follows Vasalie, who fled from her abusive father and earned a place at King Ilian's court as a dancer and quickly becomes his prized Jewel. He is obsessively protective of her and views her as a prize, wanting to keep her for himself and loving her in a twisted way, but treating her with cruelty. Despite this, she has always "loved" him and wanted nothing more than to be with him. The dynamic between Ilian and Vasilie reminded me so much of Midas and Auren in the Plated Prisoner series, which may give some context. After Ilian imprisons her for two years for a murder he knows she didn't commit, he releases her on the conditions that she spies for him at the Royal Gathering, posing as a dancer for the entertainment.

Once she gets to the court, his fist on her tightens and the orders he gives her become increasingly brutal. It becomes increasingly clear just how evil Ilian's intentions are and she soon finds herself at the center of political schemes so devastating and beyond what she had ever imagined.

She quickly gets close with the Master of Ceremonies, Copelan, who also becomes her dance partner. The two of them have such a complex relationship and without giving away anything, I was completely blindsided by how it unfolded. She also forms a bond / alliance with Anton, the king of the East and Ilian's younger brother. I LOVED Anton. He is flirty and charming and Vasalie (rightfully so) does not trust him at all at first. But boy did I love how his role evolves in the story - I couldn't get enough of them.

Vasalie's character development is incredible. She suffers from chronic pain and health issues but is so perseverant. She truly comes into her own and is so empowering! I literally cannot wait for the sequel. This was an incredible read.

Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for this ARC! 📚

[Saga ☾ (I’m back (for now)) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ★

A dance of lies by Brittney Arena left me with a little bit of mixed feelings. On the one hand, I read this faster than I anticipated and was always intrigued to know where the story was going, but at the same time I never felt like I knew our main character Vasalie enough and at the end of the book I didn't really feel like the emotional depth to the story was there. I did find it very interesting that you didn't really know who the main love interest was until almost the middle of the book. A very fascinating spin on the romantasy genre as a whole, simply because I feel like a lot of romantasy books has begun to feel the same. The ending was quite crazy and I did enjoy the romance so I might read the second book as well when it comes out, with the hope of more emotional depth.

[vanshikha sakala · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐

Thank you Brittney Arena, Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC!

Holy shit! I dove into this book blind but it blew me away in the best way possible, making me escape a reading slump while having me immersed the entire time.

The world-building and lore was every well developed and very intricate. The political tension and standing in the book was very well shown and described.

The writing style was purple prose which immediately hooked me to the plot. The very first page had me hooked and I only put the book down to get some sleep. The writing style is very lyrical and whimsical, which made the world and enchanting experience to read about.

Vasalie, the FMC, is a strong willed character. She was a dancer to King Illian but was thrown into captivity by him for two years and she was finally released—only to face the aftermath of her traumatic experience. Chronic pain, health issues, and physical limitations now affect nearly everything she does. But the trauma goes deeper than that, Vasalie also has to confront deep childhood wounds she hasn’t fully processed. I love that Vasalie wasn't healed by magic of any sort and withstood the emotional and physical pain that was put on her.

Anton, the King, is a cocky, flirty, charming character with a wounded and secretive past. His character was a maze to explore and it was fun and emotional to read about him.

As much as I love romance, this book is so much more than that. It’s a journey of healing, self-discovery, freedom, and learning to trust others again. Vasalie’s vulnerability makes her incredibly strong—not just because of what she’s been through, but because of how she adapts and learns to live in a world that feels like it’s constantly shifting beneath her feet. There are no easy answers, no quick fixes.

The ending of this book had my jaw on the floor and I cannot wait for the sequel!

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book I think I'd like better upon reread, and I'm not so sure the audiobook was the correct choice either. There's nothing particularly wrong with it, but I found it hard to focus on, so I'll read it by myself next time for sure.

The plot moved at a snail pace, and nothing happened until the last third, which may have affected my rating. I wasn't really in the mood for a slower paced book, to be honest.

I (wrongly) assumed this was a standalone as well, but since that didn't turn out to be the case, the pacing makes more sense and I'm more willing to forgive it (hence the reread comment).

What I did enjoy was Vasalie as a character (for the most part, when she wasn't making silly choices), the worldbuilding, the disability rep, and, as a dancer myself, the dances she performed (even if those could get a bit repetitive).

Though I would've liked to have seen the aftermath of her performances, it would've made for more impactful rep. Usually there'd be a time skip, and we can assume she was resting in between, but I wanted to see it.

Also, this series (duology?) would've been so much better if it was whychoose, I'm just saying. It seemed like it was heading in that direction for a good while there.

The love interests and side characters could've used more development, but it wasn't that bad for a debut book. I will be reading the next one when it's out.

3.5

[BookishByTammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ This was good, not what i was expecting but engaging either way.
It didn’t read like a typical fantasy for a while more like a historical fantasy fiction with kings and court politics.
Our FMC has been falsely imprisoned for the last 2 years and to earn her freedom she has been tasked by one of the kings to spy and entrap other kings.
It was high stakes and just when you thought she was in the clear another order would come through.
It infuriated me how much I wanted to kill king Illian, which is always a good sign that a story can make me feel something.

Magical aspects didn’t come into the story until the very end but it has made me excited to see what will happen in book 2.
Even though I loathe the trope at the end iykyk I probably will still read book 2 since its a duology

The romance was good, with Anton that is.
I did feel like the love triangle was unnecessary because absolutely no one was rooting for the other guy who felt entitled to her. He irritated me

Side characters like Gustav and Laurent were good and enjoyable, hope to see more of them in the next book.

[Sarah (berriesandbooks)]

a disabled dancer you say?
*breakdances with my wheelchair*