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A Stage Set for Villains: Enter the magical world of The Playhouse in the new dark fantasy romance
Brought to you by Penguin.
CUE THE CHAOS. CUT THE LIGHTS. IT'S TIME TO TAKE TO THE STAGE.
Caraval meets One Dark Window in the spellbinding new enemies-to-lovers fantasy set in a mysterious theatre where godlike creatures run the show and mortals compete for immortality.
‘DARK FANTASY AT ITS MOST INTOXICATING’ #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout
The gods are dead. All that’s left are the Players . . .
The performers of the Playhouse are as worshipped as they are feared, their enchanting shows bending hearts, minds, and even reality itself. Vicious, godlike, lethal. Eighteen-year-old Riven Hesper knows the dangers better than anyone, after her own encounter with a Player resulted in a curse that is slowly killing her.
When the Playhouse announces the spectacle of a lifetime – a chance for one mortal to steal a Player’s immortality – Riven sees her last chance to live. Desperate for answers, she infiltrates the competition. There, she finds Jude, the Playhouse’s brilliant, merciless Lead Player, whose charm is as dangerous as his Craft, and strikes a deadly bargain to save her life.
But with time running out and the Playhouse’s secrets unraveling into a disturbing picture, Riven faces a grim she might not be the hero of her story after all. In fact, she may be the villain.
Because the Playhouse doesn’t just tell stories. It rewrites them.
And Riven’s might end in blood.
Vibes of A Stage Set for
Theatre setting
Who's the villain?
Enemies-to-lovers
Dark atmospheric fantasy
Mind blowing twists
Critics are raving about A Stage Set for
'As enthralling as it is unique, A Stage Set for Villains will have you spellbound!' New York Times bestselling author, Mai Corland
'Part novel, part script, A Stage Set For Villains is a fascinatingly unique world like nothing you’ve ever read before. . .that will have you riveted from the first casting call!' USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard
'Dark fantasy at its most intoxicating. Shannon Spann delivers a world where gods crave applause, mortals bleed for love, and every truth feels like a curse. I was completely enthralled' #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout
'Absolutely thrilling. Be ready to be hooked from the first page to the shocking end' New York Times bestselling author Elise Kova
'A dark and dizzying fantasy that will keep readers enthralled to the end' Kirkus Reviews
'Rife with political intrigue and power imbalances. Riven and Jude’s sharp banter and slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance dials up the novel’s showmanship' Publisher's Weekly
Shannon J. Spann 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
CUE THE CHAOS. CUT THE LIGHTS. IT'S TIME TO TAKE TO THE STAGE.
Caraval meets One Dark Window in the spellbinding new enemies-to-lovers fantasy set in a mysterious theatre where godlike creatures run the show and mortals compete for immortality.
‘DARK FANTASY AT ITS MOST INTOXICATING’ #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout
The gods are dead. All that’s left are the Players . . .
The performers of the Playhouse are as worshipped as they are feared, their enchanting shows bending hearts, minds, and even reality itself. Vicious, godlike, lethal. Eighteen-year-old Riven Hesper knows the dangers better than anyone, after her own encounter with a Player resulted in a curse that is slowly killing her.
When the Playhouse announces the spectacle of a lifetime – a chance for one mortal to steal a Player’s immortality – Riven sees her last chance to live. Desperate for answers, she infiltrates the competition. There, she finds Jude, the Playhouse’s brilliant, merciless Lead Player, whose charm is as dangerous as his Craft, and strikes a deadly bargain to save her life.
But with time running out and the Playhouse’s secrets unraveling into a disturbing picture, Riven faces a grim she might not be the hero of her story after all. In fact, she may be the villain.
Because the Playhouse doesn’t just tell stories. It rewrites them.
And Riven’s might end in blood.
Vibes of A Stage Set for
Theatre setting
Who's the villain?
Enemies-to-lovers
Dark atmospheric fantasy
Mind blowing twists
Critics are raving about A Stage Set for
'As enthralling as it is unique, A Stage Set for Villains will have you spellbound!' New York Times bestselling author, Mai Corland
'Part novel, part script, A Stage Set For Villains is a fascinatingly unique world like nothing you’ve ever read before. . .that will have you riveted from the first casting call!' USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard
'Dark fantasy at its most intoxicating. Shannon Spann delivers a world where gods crave applause, mortals bleed for love, and every truth feels like a curse. I was completely enthralled' #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout
'Absolutely thrilling. Be ready to be hooked from the first page to the shocking end' New York Times bestselling author Elise Kova
'A dark and dizzying fantasy that will keep readers enthralled to the end' Kirkus Reviews
'Rife with political intrigue and power imbalances. Riven and Jude’s sharp banter and slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance dials up the novel’s showmanship' Publisher's Weekly
Shannon J. Spann 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
Audible Audio
First published February 3, 2026
About the author
Shannon J. Spann
1 book622 followersShannon J. Spann is a New York-based writer and social media strategist. In her spare time, she loves knitting, wandering her local bookstore, and of course, theatre. A Stage Set for Villains is her first novel.
You can find her on Instagram @ShannonJSpann
You can find her on Instagram @ShannonJSpann
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,959 reviews
March 4, 2025
Hiii! I’m Shannon, the author of A STAGE SET FOR VILLAINS. I just wanted to hop on to say THANK YOU. There are a million incredible books out there, so if you took the time to read and review this one, I'm grateful. Happy reading!
March 12, 2026
4.25
This was SO CLEVER. The theatre kid in me is screaming! This was genuinely one of the most unique fantasy worlds I've read in a long time. I absolutely loved the dedication to integrate acting into every element in this story. From the magic system that is entire based in acting techniques, to story progression, character development - it all tied back into acting & theatre and I was obsessed with it.
Also loved how a major theme was seeing how much power stories & art can have, and showing a world where these things are restricted and controlled only by a select few in power.
This was incredible, if you're looking for a unique fantasy read - look no further!
This was SO CLEVER. The theatre kid in me is screaming! This was genuinely one of the most unique fantasy worlds I've read in a long time. I absolutely loved the dedication to integrate acting into every element in this story. From the magic system that is entire based in acting techniques, to story progression, character development - it all tied back into acting & theatre and I was obsessed with it.
Also loved how a major theme was seeing how much power stories & art can have, and showing a world where these things are restricted and controlled only by a select few in power.
This was incredible, if you're looking for a unique fantasy read - look no further!
March 4, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ please call me cardan bc i’m obsessed with jude
March 13, 2026
This was incredibly unique, dark and magical YA standalone that will have you constantly guessing. The writing was brilliant, the plot points were jaw dropping and although the romance was more of a subplot, at the same time it was so impactful and an incredible part of the story!! This has been executed SO WELL. I am so excited to see how this is adapted to screen!!!
May 25, 2026
3.5 stars.
Well, this was an absolutely fun ride. I'm just going to come right out and say it: this book is entirely about vibes and banter, it's held together by them. Don't get your hopes up for a deep, meaningful story, sure, the world-building is fascinating and the magic is quite brilliant. Too bad the author decided to spend 530 pages on atmosphere instead of actually developing the world or explaining anything at all. Because, honestly, nothing in this book is really explained, you just drift along on a tide of vibes.
Now, let me start with what I absolutely loved:
First off, the structure. The entire book is designed to look like a script, brilliant! It really felt like I was watching a play in a theater, complete with dramatic pauses and witty one-liners. The side characters? Hilariously entertaining, every single one. I loved them all and wish we had more of them.
Then there's Jude. Jude, Jude, Jude, he was such a charming, fun-loving love interest. Unlike the typical shadowy 'daddy' trope (which, at this point, just makes me roll my eyes) Jude was the hilarious jester, the character who makes you fall in love just by existing. He was the heart of the book for me. His chemistry and banter with Riven? Absolute fire. They were the epitome of the 'fall in love over and over again' trope, and I ate it up.
Now, onto the negatives, and hold onto your hats:
The FMC. Oh boy, she was dumber than a box of rocks. No, scratch that, a box of rocks would be smarter than her. Let me be crystal clear: She takes top honors in the stupidity contest across all categories of FMC. There’s a fine line between reckless and downright idiotic, and she sprinted right through it, never once looking back. Every action, decision, and half-baked plan (if you dare to call them that) made me want to bang my head against a wall. Yet, strangely, her stupidity somehow made her endearing in a weird, inexplicable way. I can't believe I'm about to admit this, but I think I like them stupid now.
The plot twist in the third act? Actually made a lot of sense. Suddenly, her stupidity became understood. The final twist completely changed my view of her. She’s actually pretty darn clever.
So, were all 530 pages worth it for that twist? Honestly, I can't say. Midway through, I had to peek at spoilers just to see if maybe, just maybe, she gets better. Otherwise, I was considering DNF because her stupidity was starting to become physically exhausting.
That's why I'm left scratching my head over the author's decision to keep her portrayed as the village idiot for most of the story. The other characters? Well-written and entertaining, but the FMC? Only after the twist did she finally start making sense.
In conclusion, I did have a fun time reading this, once again, it’s all vibes, so don't expect too much. If you hate stupid FMCs, I recommend looking up spoilers around the halfway point because trust me, Riven’s stupidity knows no bounds. Every time I thought she’d hit her limit, she proved me wrong. But, oddly enough, I still liked her, and by the end even loved her.
Well, this was an absolutely fun ride. I'm just going to come right out and say it: this book is entirely about vibes and banter, it's held together by them. Don't get your hopes up for a deep, meaningful story, sure, the world-building is fascinating and the magic is quite brilliant. Too bad the author decided to spend 530 pages on atmosphere instead of actually developing the world or explaining anything at all. Because, honestly, nothing in this book is really explained, you just drift along on a tide of vibes.
Now, let me start with what I absolutely loved:
First off, the structure. The entire book is designed to look like a script, brilliant! It really felt like I was watching a play in a theater, complete with dramatic pauses and witty one-liners. The side characters? Hilariously entertaining, every single one. I loved them all and wish we had more of them.
Then there's Jude. Jude, Jude, Jude, he was such a charming, fun-loving love interest. Unlike the typical shadowy 'daddy' trope (which, at this point, just makes me roll my eyes) Jude was the hilarious jester, the character who makes you fall in love just by existing. He was the heart of the book for me. His chemistry and banter with Riven? Absolute fire. They were the epitome of the 'fall in love over and over again' trope, and I ate it up.
Now, onto the negatives, and hold onto your hats:
The FMC. Oh boy, she was dumber than a box of rocks. No, scratch that, a box of rocks would be smarter than her. Let me be crystal clear: She takes top honors in the stupidity contest across all categories of FMC. There’s a fine line between reckless and downright idiotic, and she sprinted right through it, never once looking back. Every action, decision, and half-baked plan (if you dare to call them that) made me want to bang my head against a wall. Yet, strangely, her stupidity somehow made her endearing in a weird, inexplicable way. I can't believe I'm about to admit this, but I think I like them stupid now.
The plot twist in the third act? Actually made a lot of sense. Suddenly, her stupidity became understood. The final twist completely changed my view of her. She’s actually pretty darn clever.
So, were all 530 pages worth it for that twist? Honestly, I can't say. Midway through, I had to peek at spoilers just to see if maybe, just maybe, she gets better. Otherwise, I was considering DNF because her stupidity was starting to become physically exhausting.
That's why I'm left scratching my head over the author's decision to keep her portrayed as the village idiot for most of the story. The other characters? Well-written and entertaining, but the FMC? Only after the twist did she finally start making sense.
In conclusion, I did have a fun time reading this, once again, it’s all vibes, so don't expect too much. If you hate stupid FMCs, I recommend looking up spoilers around the halfway point because trust me, Riven’s stupidity knows no bounds. Every time I thought she’d hit her limit, she proved me wrong. But, oddly enough, I still liked her, and by the end even loved her.
January 11, 2026
6⭐️
I finished what I think is the best fantasy book I’ve ever read in my life. And now I don’t know what to do.
I finished what I think is the best fantasy book I’ve ever read in my life. And now I don’t know what to do.
May 29, 2026
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ♫♬♪
𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓞𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓪
▶︎·၊၊||၊|။|||| |
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞 𝓐𝓶 𝓘 𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓭 ♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
THIS BOOK= PERFECTION.
This just might be my favorite book I’ve read this year!
I LOVED all of the characters, the plot was so intriguing and fast paced, the world was fascinating, and those PLOT TWISTS!!!!!
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓪 𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓪, 𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓭𝓸𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓭 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓫𝓲𝓻𝓽𝓱♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
I’m don’t wanna say much else. I’m my opinion, you should go into this not knowing much so that you can have the full experience. But I’ll go ahead and put some content warnings below, and some of my general thoughts!
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓪𝓵𝓬𝓸𝓷𝔂 ♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
ℂ𝕆ℕ𝕋𝔼ℕ𝕋:
It’s been about a week since I read this book so I’m sure I’m not remembering all of the content. I apologize! But here is what I DO remember.
Spice: 2/5? Maybe? I don’t read spice so idk what to rate this. But in my opinion, it wasn’t bad at all. No spice, not even closed door or fade to black. A couple kisses and one passionate kiss, but I never felt uncomfortable. One scene could have possibly led to more, but nothing ended up happening.
Cussing: 3/5. There was some, but not excessive. Some f-bombs, and all of the other general curses.
Christian content: This is not a Christian book. I didn’t go into it expecting it to be. Now, in my reading, I don’t often feel convicted reading about magic or gods or violence. But that is ME PERSONALLY. Please read at your own conviction. I will not be ok with the same things in books you will, and vice versa.
All that said, this book contains mention of old gods, specifically Greek ones, magic, immortality, deception, being reborn, transforming to look like another person, possibly some spells cast in the past over characters, and hypnosis. That’s what I can think of, but there might be more. If you’re concerned about this, feel free to do some more research! I did not feel convinced reading this book, because it wasn’t saying that these things are GOOD. They were clearly portrayed as evil and manipulative, however, our fmc does become morally grey so that view is a little warped.
LGBTQ: None that I remember?
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞 𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓽’𝓼 𝓪 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓭𝔂, 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮 ♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
ℂℍ𝔸ℝ𝔸ℂ𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕊:
RIVEN: I LOVED HER!!! She reminded me on Jude from The Cruel Prince with how knife-happy and feisty she is.
JUDE: He grew on me! Wasn’t sure about him at the beginning, but I really grew to love him! He felt different from a lot of MMCs, I’m not sure how, but I enjoyed it.
Loved all of the other characters too! They were super well developed, diverse, and fascinating to read about!
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞 𝓦𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓘 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝓾𝓯𝓯𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓽𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓮𝔃𝔃𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓮 ♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
𝕎ℝ𝕀𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾:
SO. GOOD. It was definitely a bit different, because many parts were written like lines in a play, but I actually loved it and it fit the story perfectly! It too some getting used to, but it was 100% the right stylistic choice for this book.
Besides that, the authors descriptions are INCREDIBLE! Everything feels so vivid, and I could always picture everything perfectly!
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞𝓗𝓲𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼, 𝓬𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓻 ♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
𝕍𝕀𝔹𝔼𝕊:
THEY WERE IMMACULATE! I made a yt video asking for recs with a specific vibe, and this book fit that vibe I wanted PERFECTLY! Here’s the video if you wanna see: https://youtube.com/shorts/zMKoy-1OMF...
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞𝓖𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓾𝓽, 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
.✦ ݁˖𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔸𝕃𝕃 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾.✦ ݁˖
5⭐️
𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓞𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓪
▶︎·၊၊||၊|။|||| |
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞 𝓐𝓶 𝓘 𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓭 ♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
THIS BOOK= PERFECTION.
This just might be my favorite book I’ve read this year!
I LOVED all of the characters, the plot was so intriguing and fast paced, the world was fascinating, and those PLOT TWISTS!!!!!
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓪 𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓪, 𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓭𝓸𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓭 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓫𝓲𝓻𝓽𝓱♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
I’m don’t wanna say much else. I’m my opinion, you should go into this not knowing much so that you can have the full experience. But I’ll go ahead and put some content warnings below, and some of my general thoughts!
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓪𝓵𝓬𝓸𝓷𝔂 ♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
ℂ𝕆ℕ𝕋𝔼ℕ𝕋:
It’s been about a week since I read this book so I’m sure I’m not remembering all of the content. I apologize! But here is what I DO remember.
Spice: 2/5? Maybe? I don’t read spice so idk what to rate this. But in my opinion, it wasn’t bad at all. No spice, not even closed door or fade to black. A couple kisses and one passionate kiss, but I never felt uncomfortable. One scene could have possibly led to more, but nothing ended up happening.
Cussing: 3/5. There was some, but not excessive. Some f-bombs, and all of the other general curses.
Christian content: This is not a Christian book. I didn’t go into it expecting it to be. Now, in my reading, I don’t often feel convicted reading about magic or gods or violence. But that is ME PERSONALLY. Please read at your own conviction. I will not be ok with the same things in books you will, and vice versa.
All that said, this book contains mention of old gods, specifically Greek ones, magic, immortality, deception, being reborn, transforming to look like another person, possibly some spells cast in the past over characters, and hypnosis. That’s what I can think of, but there might be more. If you’re concerned about this, feel free to do some more research! I did not feel convinced reading this book, because it wasn’t saying that these things are GOOD. They were clearly portrayed as evil and manipulative, however, our fmc does become morally grey so that view is a little warped.
LGBTQ: None that I remember?
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞 𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓽’𝓼 𝓪 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓭𝔂, 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮 ♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
ℂℍ𝔸ℝ𝔸ℂ𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕊:
RIVEN: I LOVED HER!!! She reminded me on Jude from The Cruel Prince with how knife-happy and feisty she is.
JUDE: He grew on me! Wasn’t sure about him at the beginning, but I really grew to love him! He felt different from a lot of MMCs, I’m not sure how, but I enjoyed it.
Loved all of the other characters too! They were super well developed, diverse, and fascinating to read about!
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞 𝓦𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓘 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝓾𝓯𝓯𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓽𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓮𝔃𝔃𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓮 ♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
𝕎ℝ𝕀𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾:
SO. GOOD. It was definitely a bit different, because many parts were written like lines in a play, but I actually loved it and it fit the story perfectly! It too some getting used to, but it was 100% the right stylistic choice for this book.
Besides that, the authors descriptions are INCREDIBLE! Everything feels so vivid, and I could always picture everything perfectly!
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞𝓗𝓲𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼, 𝓬𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓻 ♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
𝕍𝕀𝔹𝔼𝕊:
THEY WERE IMMACULATE! I made a yt video asking for recs with a specific vibe, and this book fit that vibe I wanted PERFECTLY! Here’s the video if you wanna see: https://youtube.com/shorts/zMKoy-1OMF...
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
♬𝄞𝓖𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓾𝓽, 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮♬𝄞
⚜.⋆🩸 ⋆. ⚜
.✦ ݁˖𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔸𝕃𝕃 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾.✦ ݁˖
5⭐️
February 7, 2025
I had the chance to read an early version of this and it is GLORIOUS!
April 4, 2026
"Fate guides the feet of the willing and drags the heels of the defiant."
This was such a strong debut, and a standalone at that.
It’s unique, different, and forces you to think.
I loved how the reveals were paced so that we learn alongside the characters.
I did feel a slight plateau in the middle, but it was short. Once I hit the 70% mark, I had to keep reading until I finished.
Really excited about what else the author will/might publish in the future.
"Until next time, Until then, So long until We’re back again."
--------
it is a standalone
--------
anyone know if this is a standalone?
This was such a strong debut, and a standalone at that.
It’s unique, different, and forces you to think.
I loved how the reveals were paced so that we learn alongside the characters.
I did feel a slight plateau in the middle, but it was short. Once I hit the 70% mark, I had to keep reading until I finished.
Really excited about what else the author will/might publish in the future.
"Until next time, Until then, So long until We’re back again."
--------
it is a standalone
--------
anyone know if this is a standalone?
up-next-୨ৎ
February 24, 2026 ⋆˚꩜｡ pre-read:
CARAVAL meets ONE DARK WINDOW?! both of which are five star reads for me?!
i’m. sat.
(one of the fable bookclubs may be picking this in march hehehe, pls let it win the poll 🥹)
CARAVAL meets ONE DARK WINDOW?! both of which are five star reads for me?!
i’m. sat.
(one of the fable bookclubs may be picking this in march hehehe, pls let it win the poll 🥹)
February 18, 2026
A stage set for boredom.
March 10, 2026
oh my... oh my my... oh myyyyyyyyyyy
i will never look at theatre the same way again
and also my heart hurts
this was excelente
i will never look at theatre the same way again
and also my heart hurts
this was excelente
March 27, 2026
”Love provokes the hero as violently as it does the villain, and it's merely who tells the story that determines which is which.”
the concept of this book is actually very unique, so i have to give it credit for that. i can’t say i was a big fan of the format though. the idea of these “actors” that have to follow this script, only for it to transfer into their real life was so intriguing to me. i just didn’t care about the characters whatsoever and i keep having this exact problem with a lot of newer releases lately. Riven and Jude were fine, but their romance didn’t make sense. i was surprised by one of the reveals, i just wish i could’ve gotten more invested throughout the book.
the concept of this book is actually very unique, so i have to give it credit for that. i can’t say i was a big fan of the format though. the idea of these “actors” that have to follow this script, only for it to transfer into their real life was so intriguing to me. i just didn’t care about the characters whatsoever and i keep having this exact problem with a lot of newer releases lately. Riven and Jude were fine, but their romance didn’t make sense. i was surprised by one of the reveals, i just wish i could’ve gotten more invested throughout the book.
February 10, 2026
A standing ovation!!! It’s hard to write something super unique these days, but this absolutely is! And the twists? Damn! Well played Shannon J. Spann. The fact that this is a debut is mindblowing. I will read anything that you write from this point forward.This book is definitely a love letter to all theater kids and anyone who can appreciate acting on stage and enjoy a live performance.
Welcome to the Playhouse! A traveling, magical stage for the immortal Players who are the closest thing to Gods. Theatron is divided into the North and the South. The South idolizes the Players, obsessed with them, while the North fears their powers. The North is only protected from them by a treaty that is about to expire. They have created marks to ward off their powers, but the price they must pay to bear these marks is losing the ability to lie. But that's ok, they see lying as a form of acting anyway. Riven, who was cursed by a Player when she was young, wants to find the Player responsible for her curse, and for killing her father. She gets sucked into a competition where the winner can gain the Player's immortality and power. What transpires is an exciting story of secrets, chaos, touch of romance and big surprises! This book was good all along, but the ending roughly (I am guessing) 20% really takes it up to a whole other level! I am absolutely most impressed. This book is all-consuming, jaw-dropping, unlike anything else I've read. Bravissima!
Welcome to the Playhouse! A traveling, magical stage for the immortal Players who are the closest thing to Gods. Theatron is divided into the North and the South. The South idolizes the Players, obsessed with them, while the North fears their powers. The North is only protected from them by a treaty that is about to expire. They have created marks to ward off their powers, but the price they must pay to bear these marks is losing the ability to lie. But that's ok, they see lying as a form of acting anyway. Riven, who was cursed by a Player when she was young, wants to find the Player responsible for her curse, and for killing her father. She gets sucked into a competition where the winner can gain the Player's immortality and power. What transpires is an exciting story of secrets, chaos, touch of romance and big surprises! This book was good all along, but the ending roughly (I am guessing) 20% really takes it up to a whole other level! I am absolutely most impressed. This book is all-consuming, jaw-dropping, unlike anything else I've read. Bravissima!
April 15, 2026
I thought the first half of the book was amazing, but the second half lost me bit. The story was unique and kept my interest but it was not a blockbuster for me.
February 17, 2026
An inventive, unique, enjoyable fantasy romance that gives me Caraval vibes.
Riven infiltrates a dangerous, magical traveling theatre known as the Playhouse to break a deadly curse laid on her by a Player when she was a child. To survive and gain immortality, Riven must compete in a deadly game, striking a bargain with the cruel Lead Player, Jude.
I loved how this was structured. The story is structured in acts and the dialogue is scripted like a play which takes out dialogue tags. There are tie-ins to the stage and fun world-building linked to acting and plays.
I found the audiobook conveyed this unique frame well and the narrator had a great repertoire of voices.
The Playhouse is a dark and magical atmosphere able to redefine reality. I wish the magic/world-building was more defined and explored as I never fully understood the rules which meant the stakes didn’t feel as clear.
The writing was addictive and of good quality. Never too cheesy that seems to have become the norm for romantasy or YA.
I do think sometimes the pacing was prioritised over more depth or exploration, trying to keep that high-thrills edge.
The latter quarter shifts dramatically which I both liked and had a few misgivings about.
Overall, one of the most unique debuts I’ve read, and very enjoyable and surprising for a YA romantasy I took a chance on, if slightly too long.
3.5 stars🌟 .
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Tiktok
Riven infiltrates a dangerous, magical traveling theatre known as the Playhouse to break a deadly curse laid on her by a Player when she was a child. To survive and gain immortality, Riven must compete in a deadly game, striking a bargain with the cruel Lead Player, Jude.
I loved how this was structured. The story is structured in acts and the dialogue is scripted like a play which takes out dialogue tags. There are tie-ins to the stage and fun world-building linked to acting and plays.
I found the audiobook conveyed this unique frame well and the narrator had a great repertoire of voices.
The Playhouse is a dark and magical atmosphere able to redefine reality. I wish the magic/world-building was more defined and explored as I never fully understood the rules which meant the stakes didn’t feel as clear.
The writing was addictive and of good quality. Never too cheesy that seems to have become the norm for romantasy or YA.
I do think sometimes the pacing was prioritised over more depth or exploration, trying to keep that high-thrills edge.
The latter quarter shifts dramatically which I both liked and had a few misgivings about.
Overall, one of the most unique debuts I’ve read, and very enjoyable and surprising for a YA romantasy I took a chance on, if slightly too long.
3.5 stars🌟 .
Bookstagram
Tiktok
April 16, 2026
Come on now, the show’s about to start. They’ve drawn the curtains already, and you know what? All the world’s a stage. And all the men and women merely players…
Then why, pray tell, are they so godsdamned boooring when they could LITERALLY be anybody under the sun.
You’re telling me out of the myriad of faces, the forces that be chose to put on them ones that are so blatantly banal, whose only character trait is being petulant-angry-young-child or the hot-cheeky-male-lead™️, or the jokey-brawny-buff-guy, or sexy-mama-who-is-she or the silent-poetic-doc-dude-where’d-he-go?, or the kleptomanic-pixie-daydream. Riiight. They’re characters, of course they can be caricatures. Same thing.
So then why, pray tell, if their world’s a stage, instead of yes-and’ing improv, why do we have to deal with almost 500 pages of YEeeeaH-no-can-do-buddy-boy-PEAS-for-dinner-YUCKY-yucky-YUCK? In fact, we could’ve made the acts way tighter if someone stopped digging her heels every single scene. Gosh. Walking onto the stage off her own volition and throwing tantrums as if all the world’s HER stage, and her problems = everyone else’s problems. Because, of course, the consequences to our own actions, a brat’s kryptonite. Never heard of em.
And the fact that NOBODY smacks the shit out her? Terrible script, 0 on 10.
There’s a lot of whining and a lot of I’m-so-weak-I’m-so-cursed-but-lol-see-me-attempt-to-piss-off-a-bunch-of-monsters-in-their-own-playground-AND-watch-me-live-to-tell-the-tale-plot-armour-ROCKS. So this one dimensional baby girl with the only defining traits of anger grr, holier than thou, and self righteous + spoilt sport double whammy, holding onto dear life by a thread is to destroy these immortals? Riiiight. Really, the “plot twist” writes itself, she’s so obvious you can spot her from the sun.
Minor characters include,
1) fat chunks of info dumps who especially like to butt in during tense active scenes, breaking the illusion, and the fourth wall with it. Take a bow, you stole the show.
2) A loser of a villain, so many shows, and he didn’t see this coming? Take a bow, OF SHAME.
3) Flat world building, um… who was she again? A blink and miss role, not her best.
4) there was a story, of course, always a character itself. It was OK. Very YA - So much potential swallowed whole by unlikeable characters.
There’s this world, and there are these “evil” things that are performers who live trapped in a playhouse and this country that hates their guts and they also kinda hate this girl who stumbles into the aforementioned playhouse and shenanigans happen. But more than anything, girlie pop keeps moaning “I’m NOT going to do X” and then does X and blames others for her predicament. Rinse, repeat. And then stuff happens. And then a cheesy plot twist and then a cheesy ending. Fine, okay, take a bow but move it along. Stat.
And that is all the world and its stage, and finally the curtains fall, thank god.
Then why, pray tell, are they so godsdamned boooring when they could LITERALLY be anybody under the sun.
You’re telling me out of the myriad of faces, the forces that be chose to put on them ones that are so blatantly banal, whose only character trait is being petulant-angry-young-child or the hot-cheeky-male-lead™️, or the jokey-brawny-buff-guy, or sexy-mama-who-is-she or the silent-poetic-doc-dude-where’d-he-go?, or the kleptomanic-pixie-daydream. Riiight. They’re characters, of course they can be caricatures. Same thing.
So then why, pray tell, if their world’s a stage, instead of yes-and’ing improv, why do we have to deal with almost 500 pages of YEeeeaH-no-can-do-buddy-boy-PEAS-for-dinner-YUCKY-yucky-YUCK? In fact, we could’ve made the acts way tighter if someone stopped digging her heels every single scene. Gosh. Walking onto the stage off her own volition and throwing tantrums as if all the world’s HER stage, and her problems = everyone else’s problems. Because, of course, the consequences to our own actions, a brat’s kryptonite. Never heard of em.
And the fact that NOBODY smacks the shit out her? Terrible script, 0 on 10.
There’s a lot of whining and a lot of I’m-so-weak-I’m-so-cursed-but-lol-see-me-attempt-to-piss-off-a-bunch-of-monsters-in-their-own-playground-AND-watch-me-live-to-tell-the-tale-plot-armour-ROCKS. So this one dimensional baby girl with the only defining traits of anger grr, holier than thou, and self righteous + spoilt sport double whammy, holding onto dear life by a thread is to destroy these immortals? Riiiight. Really, the “plot twist” writes itself, she’s so obvious you can spot her from the sun.
Minor characters include,
1) fat chunks of info dumps who especially like to butt in during tense active scenes, breaking the illusion, and the fourth wall with it. Take a bow, you stole the show.
2) A loser of a villain, so many shows, and he didn’t see this coming? Take a bow, OF SHAME.
3) Flat world building, um… who was she again? A blink and miss role, not her best.
4) there was a story, of course, always a character itself. It was OK. Very YA - So much potential swallowed whole by unlikeable characters.
There’s this world, and there are these “evil” things that are performers who live trapped in a playhouse and this country that hates their guts and they also kinda hate this girl who stumbles into the aforementioned playhouse and shenanigans happen. But more than anything, girlie pop keeps moaning “I’m NOT going to do X” and then does X and blames others for her predicament. Rinse, repeat. And then stuff happens. And then a cheesy plot twist and then a cheesy ending. Fine, okay, take a bow but move it along. Stat.
And that is all the world and its stage, and finally the curtains fall, thank god.
January 9, 2026
hang on, it’s january 8 and i just read one of my top books of the year LOL??? this was fan-freaking-tastic and all my theater nerd reader friends will be doing themselves a disservice if you don’t pick this up. i found myself fully crying at the ending over how emotionally seen i felt as a reader, as a theater lover, and as a fantasy lover. wow, what a debut.
Read
May 20, 2026₊‧꒰preview ᝰ.ᐟ꒱ ‧₊ 🎭
₊‧꒰5.16.26꒱ ‧₊
⤷ OH SHES READING!! hello with another pre read HAHA 🙈 i have to say.. i am MOST excited about this one!! 1) bc i got to meet the author and she totally vandalized my copy (in a good way hehe) and 2) I JUST THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A FIVE STARS.. havent had one in like 10 months so um! 🤭✨ very very high hopes. already 150+ pgs in and adoring it!! i will force everyone to read it if this becomes a new fave so beware.. 🪽🪽
April 30, 2026
That was. Bleak lol. Truly. Truly just so awful.
A Stage Set for Villains was an absolute mess in every way from start to finish. I took so many notes so I could write a comprehensive review but truly I don’t even think I have the energy to be a bitch in detail anymore. Or at least not today.
Basically, the characters suck. Riven is dumb and annoying. The enemies to lovers to fated whatever that she attempted to pull off flopped terribly. It was embarrassing to read. There were so many moments that were obviously trying to be a quote on TikTok with some annoying song in the background. The world she attempted to build was written terribly. Flat and lifeless. The religion was dumb. Just Greek mythology shoved into a fantasy world—tell me you weren’t ready to be published and your draft wasn’t ready without telling me you weren’t ready to be published and your draft wasn’t ready. And at the end she tries to pull off this ~crazy plot twist~ that makes everything even more stupid and annoying. It’s one thing to write a good book before you try and pull that off. It’s another to write something so fucking messy and bad and then throw something out there like you’re doing something.
You’re not girl. I am not gagged, I fear. The only gagged I am is gagged that this. THIS. Is what we decided the finished product should be.
A waste of time and money. Insulting that they expect this. THIS. To be the quality of book we spend our hard earned money on nowadays.
BAD. It was CACA. STINKY. The worst part is I knew it would be. God it’s my fault for fucking having eyes I guess.
A Stage Set for Villains was an absolute mess in every way from start to finish. I took so many notes so I could write a comprehensive review but truly I don’t even think I have the energy to be a bitch in detail anymore. Or at least not today.
Basically, the characters suck. Riven is dumb and annoying. The enemies to lovers to fated whatever that she attempted to pull off flopped terribly. It was embarrassing to read. There were so many moments that were obviously trying to be a quote on TikTok with some annoying song in the background. The world she attempted to build was written terribly. Flat and lifeless. The religion was dumb. Just Greek mythology shoved into a fantasy world—tell me you weren’t ready to be published and your draft wasn’t ready without telling me you weren’t ready to be published and your draft wasn’t ready. And at the end she tries to pull off this ~crazy plot twist~ that makes everything even more stupid and annoying. It’s one thing to write a good book before you try and pull that off. It’s another to write something so fucking messy and bad and then throw something out there like you’re doing something.
You’re not girl. I am not gagged, I fear. The only gagged I am is gagged that this. THIS. Is what we decided the finished product should be.
A waste of time and money. Insulting that they expect this. THIS. To be the quality of book we spend our hard earned money on nowadays.
BAD. It was CACA. STINKY. The worst part is I knew it would be. God it’s my fault for fucking having eyes I guess.
February 26, 2026
6 FREAKING STARS - RTC
May 24, 2026
╰┈➤ DNF .ᐟ ˎ
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Overview
Second DNF of 2026… and somehow, once again, it's a dark fantasy. At this point, I'm starting to think it's personal. I went into this not fully knowing what to expect, but whatever I thought I was getting, it definitely wasn't this. I'm not even mad, which almost makes it worse. Just... disappointed? Honestly, I'm more confused than anything. It had potential. It really did. But somewhere along the way, it completely lost me.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Characters
﹕ ꒰ა Riven.ᐟ ֹ ₊
I'll keep this simple: frustrating, inconsistent, and at times just… painfully hard to read. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. She's young, clearly struggling, socially stunted, and dealing with anger and trauma. That's all understandable and relatable. But there's only so much you can excuse before it stops feeling intentional and starts feeling exhausting. What really took me out of it, though, was the logic (or lack of it). She's described as weak, gaunt, visibly ill—practically on death's door—and yet somehow she's expected to fight to the death? And not just fight, but hold her own with a blade? It never felt believable. Instead of rooting for her, I kept questioning everything.
﹕ ꒰ა Jude.ᐟ ֹ ₊
What was the point? I kept waiting for something, depth, personality, anything, but he just never delivered. He felt more like an idea of a character than an actual one. A placeholder where something interestingshould could have been.
﹕ ꒰ა Jude & Riven.ᐟ ֹ ₊
There is no romance here. Or at least, nothing convincing enough to call one. It reads like a forced subplot that adds absolutely nothing to the story. If this was meant to be enemies-to-lovers, it completely missed the mark. Being strangers who've heard rumors about each other does not equal enemies, and without that foundation, the entire dynamic just falls flat.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Writing
The writing itself is… mixed. At times, it's repetitive, and the dialogue especially started to wear on me. It's written in a very script-like format, which at first felt unique, something different, something interesting. But the longer it went on, the less it felt like a stylistic choice and the more like a shortcut. Especially in scenes with multiple characters, it comes across like transitions are skipped entirely in favor of that format, which makes everything feel disjointed. There are some interesting elements thrown in, like references to real historical events (the dancing plague of 1518), which could have added depth, but they never felt fully developed.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Plot
This is what makes the DNF sting a little. Because at the start, I was locked in. A sick girl searching for a cure, layered with a darker, theatrical setting and hints of something more, and everything is not what it seems. That had so much potential. But it just… never comes together. The logic feels shaky, the stakes are unclear, and many of the characters' decisions don't hold up under even a little scrutiny. The biggest one being: why would Jude choose someone who is visibly on the brink of death for something that could require fighting to survive? It doesn't feel strategic. It doesn't feel intentional. It just feels like things are happening because the plot needs them to not because they make sense. And while the theater element might work for some readers, it personally didn't do much for me. I was hoping it would pull me in, maybe even change my mind about that setting, but instead, it just added another layer I couldn't fully connect with. The world-building is somehow non-existent too.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, this just wasn't for me. And maybe YA fantasy isn't for me either. There are interesting ideas here, ones that could have made for something really unique, but the execution didn't land. Between the inconsistent characters, the weak romantic subplot, and the plot's struggle to hold itself together, I couldn't justify pushing through. Not a hate read. Just a disappointing one.
｡ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈• ｡ﾟ
𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖✮⋆˙┊┊ Preread
"Caraval meets one dark window." I hated Caraval, but absolutely LOVED One Dark Window, so hopefully this leans more towards the latter. 🤞 I haven't read a YA fantasy book in a while, but I'm in the mood for something dark, but not something that will break me. 😅
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Overview
Second DNF of 2026… and somehow, once again, it's a dark fantasy. At this point, I'm starting to think it's personal. I went into this not fully knowing what to expect, but whatever I thought I was getting, it definitely wasn't this. I'm not even mad, which almost makes it worse. Just... disappointed? Honestly, I'm more confused than anything. It had potential. It really did. But somewhere along the way, it completely lost me.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Characters
﹕ ꒰ა Riven.ᐟ ֹ ₊
I'll keep this simple: frustrating, inconsistent, and at times just… painfully hard to read. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. She's young, clearly struggling, socially stunted, and dealing with anger and trauma. That's all understandable and relatable. But there's only so much you can excuse before it stops feeling intentional and starts feeling exhausting. What really took me out of it, though, was the logic (or lack of it). She's described as weak, gaunt, visibly ill—practically on death's door—and yet somehow she's expected to fight to the death? And not just fight, but hold her own with a blade? It never felt believable. Instead of rooting for her, I kept questioning everything.
﹕ ꒰ა Jude.ᐟ ֹ ₊
What was the point? I kept waiting for something, depth, personality, anything, but he just never delivered. He felt more like an idea of a character than an actual one. A placeholder where something interesting
﹕ ꒰ა Jude & Riven.ᐟ ֹ ₊
There is no romance here. Or at least, nothing convincing enough to call one. It reads like a forced subplot that adds absolutely nothing to the story. If this was meant to be enemies-to-lovers, it completely missed the mark. Being strangers who've heard rumors about each other does not equal enemies, and without that foundation, the entire dynamic just falls flat.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Writing
The writing itself is… mixed. At times, it's repetitive, and the dialogue especially started to wear on me. It's written in a very script-like format, which at first felt unique, something different, something interesting. But the longer it went on, the less it felt like a stylistic choice and the more like a shortcut. Especially in scenes with multiple characters, it comes across like transitions are skipped entirely in favor of that format, which makes everything feel disjointed. There are some interesting elements thrown in, like references to real historical events (the dancing plague of 1518), which could have added depth, but they never felt fully developed.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Plot
This is what makes the DNF sting a little. Because at the start, I was locked in. A sick girl searching for a cure, layered with a darker, theatrical setting and hints of something more, and everything is not what it seems. That had so much potential. But it just… never comes together. The logic feels shaky, the stakes are unclear, and many of the characters' decisions don't hold up under even a little scrutiny. The biggest one being: why would Jude choose someone who is visibly on the brink of death for something that could require fighting to survive? It doesn't feel strategic. It doesn't feel intentional. It just feels like things are happening because the plot needs them to not because they make sense. And while the theater element might work for some readers, it personally didn't do much for me. I was hoping it would pull me in, maybe even change my mind about that setting, but instead, it just added another layer I couldn't fully connect with. The world-building is somehow non-existent too.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, this just wasn't for me. And maybe YA fantasy isn't for me either. There are interesting ideas here, ones that could have made for something really unique, but the execution didn't land. Between the inconsistent characters, the weak romantic subplot, and the plot's struggle to hold itself together, I couldn't justify pushing through. Not a hate read. Just a disappointing one.
｡ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈• ｡ﾟ
𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖✮⋆˙┊┊ Preread
"Caraval meets one dark window." I hated Caraval, but absolutely LOVED One Dark Window, so hopefully this leans more towards the latter. 🤞 I haven't read a YA fantasy book in a while, but I'm in the mood for something dark, but not something that will break me. 😅
February 8, 2026
This book was a good debut.
Although, I am still left feeling confused at the ending and how things transpired.
I’m not sure how the dynamic between the costume and the players truly work. Are they separate beings? Are they the same? It seemed like Riven was both herself and the player at times, and that didn’t make sense to me as they clearly had different motivations. The player wanted to follow Sil but Riven, the character, didn’t and wanted to go back to her original home. Wouldn’t the player want the same thing?
Also I’m not sure if I’m fully convinced by the romance between Jude and Riven. Do their players love each other as well? Or is it only the characters? That didn’t make sense to me. I also don’t even get why they like each other so much in the first place. I wasn’t really feeling the chemistry or bond between them.
Finally, the ending was also confusing. The players somehow brought Craft, stories, and songs back to the world and survived returning back home?? I wish this and the entire magic system was explained more. The plot also seemed slow and confusing in the middle as I wasn’t even sure what direction the book was going in.
Overall, the premise behind this book was good, but the execution fell a little flat.
3.25 stars.
Although, I am still left feeling confused at the ending and how things transpired.
I’m not sure how the dynamic between the costume and the players truly work. Are they separate beings? Are they the same? It seemed like Riven was both herself and the player at times, and that didn’t make sense to me as they clearly had different motivations. The player wanted to follow Sil but Riven, the character, didn’t and wanted to go back to her original home. Wouldn’t the player want the same thing?
Also I’m not sure if I’m fully convinced by the romance between Jude and Riven. Do their players love each other as well? Or is it only the characters? That didn’t make sense to me. I also don’t even get why they like each other so much in the first place. I wasn’t really feeling the chemistry or bond between them.
Finally, the ending was also confusing. The players somehow brought Craft, stories, and songs back to the world and survived returning back home?? I wish this and the entire magic system was explained more. The plot also seemed slow and confusing in the middle as I wasn’t even sure what direction the book was going in.
Overall, the premise behind this book was good, but the execution fell a little flat.
3.25 stars.
May 11, 2026
SHANNON. YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS. I’M LOST FOR WORDS.
Fun book. Didn’t cry at all. Not even 5 times. Read it.
Fun book. Didn’t cry at all. Not even 5 times. Read it.
March 28, 2026
This book came with me to Prague for the 2026 Figure Skating World Championships, so it’s very dear to me! And it was also one of the best books I’ve read as of late, the story was so captivating – it felt like a tale to me – that, even though I had the busiest week, I managed to keep my reading streak alive.
May 9, 2026
A fantasy with an innovative concept and unique plot
I read "A Stage Set for Villains" very quickly, especially for a book of this size. I believe that reading it as an audiobook must have contributed to the faster reading experience, but much of the credit goes to the unique universe and concept of the book. I loved that the author divided the book into acts, and within the acts we had scenes, and within the scenes we had scripted dialogue, just like a play. And it's commendable how she also managed to fit this structure into the story, showing that everything there had a purpose and had been thought out in minute detail.
The writing is also beautiful, well-constructed, and avoids reaching the point where the reader might need a dictionary at hand, proving that it's possible to have a more lyrical prose without resorting to a convoluted vocabulary. As someone who studied a lot of the English language and its history in college, I particularly love it when authors prove that we don't need grand words to have a brilliant book.
The book is innovative and surprising from beginning to end, and especially the last act leaves you full of questions that are gradually answered. It's plot twist after plot twist, and when you stop and analyze what came before, trying to understand if it makes sense for the plot, you discover that everything really fits together.
Magic is completely tied to everything, including the characters' inner lives (it seems confusing to say this without reading, but I think those who have read it will understand), and I realized this halfway through the book, but I was still surprised by how innovative the magic system was. In this specific case, too many explanations would have harmed the impact of the last part of the book, so I assure you: if you're confused, it's understandable, and you can continue reading because you'll soon find the answers. And believe me: you'll hardly understand the plot and everything the universe is really giving you, not before the end. Maybe you'll be confused at the end, but I think it was the perfect ending, even to leave you theorizing about it afterward.
The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that the romance didn't quite convince me, mainly because I wasn't very focused on it, but rather on understanding the universe and its consequences. Despite being a very long book, I strongly believe it could benefit from a few extra pages to develop the romance a bit more and delve deeper into some scenes and conclusions (those who have read it must be thinking exactly the parts I'm thinking).
Otherwise, it's an excellent book and I highly recommend it to everyone. I will definitely read more books by this author.
Review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYDnq2gpb4D/
Review: https://youtu.be/q-FuH9kz70I?si=yLkxm...
I read "A Stage Set for Villains" very quickly, especially for a book of this size. I believe that reading it as an audiobook must have contributed to the faster reading experience, but much of the credit goes to the unique universe and concept of the book. I loved that the author divided the book into acts, and within the acts we had scenes, and within the scenes we had scripted dialogue, just like a play. And it's commendable how she also managed to fit this structure into the story, showing that everything there had a purpose and had been thought out in minute detail.
The writing is also beautiful, well-constructed, and avoids reaching the point where the reader might need a dictionary at hand, proving that it's possible to have a more lyrical prose without resorting to a convoluted vocabulary. As someone who studied a lot of the English language and its history in college, I particularly love it when authors prove that we don't need grand words to have a brilliant book.
The book is innovative and surprising from beginning to end, and especially the last act leaves you full of questions that are gradually answered. It's plot twist after plot twist, and when you stop and analyze what came before, trying to understand if it makes sense for the plot, you discover that everything really fits together.
Magic is completely tied to everything, including the characters' inner lives (it seems confusing to say this without reading, but I think those who have read it will understand), and I realized this halfway through the book, but I was still surprised by how innovative the magic system was. In this specific case, too many explanations would have harmed the impact of the last part of the book, so I assure you: if you're confused, it's understandable, and you can continue reading because you'll soon find the answers. And believe me: you'll hardly understand the plot and everything the universe is really giving you, not before the end. Maybe you'll be confused at the end, but I think it was the perfect ending, even to leave you theorizing about it afterward.
The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that the romance didn't quite convince me, mainly because I wasn't very focused on it, but rather on understanding the universe and its consequences. Despite being a very long book, I strongly believe it could benefit from a few extra pages to develop the romance a bit more and delve deeper into some scenes and conclusions (those who have read it must be thinking exactly the parts I'm thinking).
Otherwise, it's an excellent book and I highly recommend it to everyone. I will definitely read more books by this author.
Review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYDnq2gpb4D/
Review: https://youtu.be/q-FuH9kz70I?si=yLkxm...
April 9, 2026
This was such a fun magic system & I really enjoyed the premise! I felt like I was a little confused with the ending unfortunately!
February 28, 2026
This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine
4.25 stars
If there was ever a debut that demanded a standing ovation, it’s Shannon J. Spann’s A Stage Set for Villains, and it earned it from me before I was even halfway through. I mean, I’ve honestly read an unreasonable amount of fantasy over the years, and it takes a lot to truly surprise me these days, but this book is truly one of a kind. It’s dark, dramatic, and viciously confident in what it’s doing, and I was locked in almost immediately.
So, I really can’t say much without going into spoiler territory, but the basic set-up of A Stage Set for Villains is that we’ve got a travelling Playhouse run by godlike performers called Players, where mortals compete for the chance to kill one of them and steal their immortality. Honestly, what a premise, right? While it initially sparked some nostalgic Caraval vibes for me, that familiarity vanished fast because this story is a much bloodier and darker beast.
What made all of this even better is the fact that we got to experience it all through the eyes of my spunky babe Riven Hesper. She’s an 18-year-old girl who is slowly dying after being cursed in a childhood encounter with a Player, and in the hopes of saving her own life, she makes the worst and boldest decisions possible: to infiltrate the competition at the Playhouse. Needless to say, girlie is a bit reckless, and I love her for it. Her sharp, stubborn, and deeply contrarian personality added so much humour to this otherwise dark and deadly adventure, and her refusal to ‘follow the script’, if you will, made this entire journey just wildly fun and compelling.
And then there’s Jude. Oh, my lovely eyeliner-wearing Lead Player with his flair for the dramatic is an absolute menace, and he’s easily one of my favorite MMCs I’ve encountered in a long time. He’s theatrical, charming, morally questionable to the extreme, and I just loved how every scene he appears in absolutely crackled with energy. The complicated, volatile ‘fated star crossed lovers’ dynamic between him and Riven was honestly my favourite part of A Stage Set for Villains, and I didn’t even mind that they overshadowed and outshone the side cast quite a bit. Their banter is so sharp, unhinged, and hilarious, but there’s also always this tension and dread that something catastrophic is inevitably coming their way, and I was soooo here for the drama of it all.
Now, it’s a good thing these characters had me so hooked, because the plot/structure of A Stage Set for Villains is intentionally disorienting and honestly almost a bit too clever for me. Though, while there were definitely a few moments where I felt more lost than was maybe ideal, it also somehow only made me feel closer to Riven as she stumbled through half-truths and carefully constructed lies herself. Plus, all the little crumbs of foreshadowing hinting at something bigger just waiting behind the curtain had me in an absolute chokehold, and even when I thought I had things figured out, the story gleefully opened another trapdoor hidden right beneath my feet. One particular twist hit so hard that I immediately wanted to go back and reread the entire book with fresh eyes, and that is how you know you’re watching a master storyteller at work.
Spann’s imagination is just so wildly unique, and I loved how she dared to make this young adult story way more ambitious and complex than most adult fantasies I have read. I was also enamoured with how the Craft magic was integrated in such a dangerously personal way instead of feeling like just a cool background prop meant only to impress, and I loved seeing how it shaped relationships, power dynamics, and identity. It also ties directly into the themes of fate, agency, and the violent power of storytelling that lie at the core of A Stage Set for Villains, which honestly reminded me a bit of Alix E. Harrow’s The Everlasting, except make it theatre instead of mythical legends.
The atmosphere is also just so seductive and deeply unsettling, and I loved how Spann struck the balance between the dread and the whimsy. I mean, the fact that I tore through A Stage Set for Villains at such a ridiculous pace, including reading over 250 pages in a single morning, should say enough about how deeply immersed and invested I was. Even in the final few chapters, I had no idea how Spann was going to wrap this up in a satisfying standalone, but then she somehow just absolutely nailed it and delivered a perfectly bittersweet and tragically hopeful finale that just made me feel ALL the feels. This is the type of heartache I live for, we love to see it.
I am genuinely in awe of what Spann pulled off in A Stage Set for Villains, and it’s easily one of the most impressive and satisfying fantasy standalones I have read. It’s bold, brutal, funny, unforgettable, and I absolutely love it for how it fully trusts its readers and just refuses to treat them gently (hello emotional turmoil)! This book really left its mark on me, and I will be watching very closely to see what Spann does next. Consider me a fan.
4.25 stars
If there was ever a debut that demanded a standing ovation, it’s Shannon J. Spann’s A Stage Set for Villains, and it earned it from me before I was even halfway through. I mean, I’ve honestly read an unreasonable amount of fantasy over the years, and it takes a lot to truly surprise me these days, but this book is truly one of a kind. It’s dark, dramatic, and viciously confident in what it’s doing, and I was locked in almost immediately.
So, I really can’t say much without going into spoiler territory, but the basic set-up of A Stage Set for Villains is that we’ve got a travelling Playhouse run by godlike performers called Players, where mortals compete for the chance to kill one of them and steal their immortality. Honestly, what a premise, right? While it initially sparked some nostalgic Caraval vibes for me, that familiarity vanished fast because this story is a much bloodier and darker beast.
What made all of this even better is the fact that we got to experience it all through the eyes of my spunky babe Riven Hesper. She’s an 18-year-old girl who is slowly dying after being cursed in a childhood encounter with a Player, and in the hopes of saving her own life, she makes the worst and boldest decisions possible: to infiltrate the competition at the Playhouse. Needless to say, girlie is a bit reckless, and I love her for it. Her sharp, stubborn, and deeply contrarian personality added so much humour to this otherwise dark and deadly adventure, and her refusal to ‘follow the script’, if you will, made this entire journey just wildly fun and compelling.
And then there’s Jude. Oh, my lovely eyeliner-wearing Lead Player with his flair for the dramatic is an absolute menace, and he’s easily one of my favorite MMCs I’ve encountered in a long time. He’s theatrical, charming, morally questionable to the extreme, and I just loved how every scene he appears in absolutely crackled with energy. The complicated, volatile ‘fated star crossed lovers’ dynamic between him and Riven was honestly my favourite part of A Stage Set for Villains, and I didn’t even mind that they overshadowed and outshone the side cast quite a bit. Their banter is so sharp, unhinged, and hilarious, but there’s also always this tension and dread that something catastrophic is inevitably coming their way, and I was soooo here for the drama of it all.
Now, it’s a good thing these characters had me so hooked, because the plot/structure of A Stage Set for Villains is intentionally disorienting and honestly almost a bit too clever for me. Though, while there were definitely a few moments where I felt more lost than was maybe ideal, it also somehow only made me feel closer to Riven as she stumbled through half-truths and carefully constructed lies herself. Plus, all the little crumbs of foreshadowing hinting at something bigger just waiting behind the curtain had me in an absolute chokehold, and even when I thought I had things figured out, the story gleefully opened another trapdoor hidden right beneath my feet. One particular twist hit so hard that I immediately wanted to go back and reread the entire book with fresh eyes, and that is how you know you’re watching a master storyteller at work.
Spann’s imagination is just so wildly unique, and I loved how she dared to make this young adult story way more ambitious and complex than most adult fantasies I have read. I was also enamoured with how the Craft magic was integrated in such a dangerously personal way instead of feeling like just a cool background prop meant only to impress, and I loved seeing how it shaped relationships, power dynamics, and identity. It also ties directly into the themes of fate, agency, and the violent power of storytelling that lie at the core of A Stage Set for Villains, which honestly reminded me a bit of Alix E. Harrow’s The Everlasting, except make it theatre instead of mythical legends.
The atmosphere is also just so seductive and deeply unsettling, and I loved how Spann struck the balance between the dread and the whimsy. I mean, the fact that I tore through A Stage Set for Villains at such a ridiculous pace, including reading over 250 pages in a single morning, should say enough about how deeply immersed and invested I was. Even in the final few chapters, I had no idea how Spann was going to wrap this up in a satisfying standalone, but then she somehow just absolutely nailed it and delivered a perfectly bittersweet and tragically hopeful finale that just made me feel ALL the feels. This is the type of heartache I live for, we love to see it.
I am genuinely in awe of what Spann pulled off in A Stage Set for Villains, and it’s easily one of the most impressive and satisfying fantasy standalones I have read. It’s bold, brutal, funny, unforgettable, and I absolutely love it for how it fully trusts its readers and just refuses to treat them gently (hello emotional turmoil)! This book really left its mark on me, and I will be watching very closely to see what Spann does next. Consider me a fan.
Did Not Finish
March 17, 2026DNF: 25%
Between the FMC making some really dumb decisions and constantly whining to the narrator of the audiobook makes things worse, I HAD TO LET THIS GO!!! 😬😬😬.
***Pre-Read:*** Most Anticipated Book # 4. 🥰🥰🥰.
Between the FMC making some really dumb decisions and constantly whining to the narrator of the audiobook makes things worse, I HAD TO LET THIS GO!!! 😬😬😬.
February 9, 2026
Finally a unique dark fantasy! This was described as Caraval meets One Dark Window, and it definitely has a gothic feel, but if you wanted a dark version of Caraval this is for you!
This book is binge-able, I was constantly guessing who I could trust, the plot twist was phenomenal! While this is marketed as a YA dark fantasy the writing was mature, and the plot line felt mature. As someone who isn’t a fan of YA fantasy/romantasy this book consumed me to the point I didn’t want to put it down. While there is only a subplot of romance it still had yearning, and a I’ll find you/know you in every lifetime trope. In other words the hype is real, and this should absolutely be on your TBR, especially if you’re tired of reading the same story in different fonts. Did I mention it’s also a standalone!
Thank you so much to Mayhem books for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book is binge-able, I was constantly guessing who I could trust, the plot twist was phenomenal! While this is marketed as a YA dark fantasy the writing was mature, and the plot line felt mature. As someone who isn’t a fan of YA fantasy/romantasy this book consumed me to the point I didn’t want to put it down. While there is only a subplot of romance it still had yearning, and a I’ll find you/know you in every lifetime trope. In other words the hype is real, and this should absolutely be on your TBR, especially if you’re tired of reading the same story in different fonts. Did I mention it’s also a standalone!
Thank you so much to Mayhem books for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
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