What do you think?
Rate this book
A Stage Set for Villains
It's time to take to the stage . . . A stunningly drawn fantasy set in a mysterious theatre where godlike creatures run the show and mortals compete for immortality
Riven Hesper is running out of time. Cursed by a Player—a godlike performer —she must infiltrate the Playhouse and find a way to break the curse before it kills her.
But inside survival comes at a price. Mortals must compete for a chance to kill a Player and steal their power. Riven wants nothing to do with this until Jude—charismatic and cruel —makes her an offer. Win the competition. Spare his life. And he’ll set her free.
As the final act approaches, Riven faces a devastating truth. She might not become the hero of this story. But the villain.
Riven Hesper is running out of time. Cursed by a Player—a godlike performer —she must infiltrate the Playhouse and find a way to break the curse before it kills her.
But inside survival comes at a price. Mortals must compete for a chance to kill a Player and steal their power. Riven wants nothing to do with this until Jude—charismatic and cruel —makes her an offer. Win the competition. Spare his life. And he’ll set her free.
As the final act approaches, Riven faces a devastating truth. She might not become the hero of this story. But the villain.
528 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2026
1675 people are currently reading
63633 people want to read
About the author
Shannon J. Spann
1 book540 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,298 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 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!!!
March 4, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ please call me cardan bc i’m obsessed with jude
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.
February 7, 2025
I had the chance to read an early version of this and it is GLORIOUS!
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 🥹)
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?
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.
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
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🌟 .
Bookstagram
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
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!
February 18, 2026
A stage set for boredom.
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.
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.
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 26, 2026
6 FREAKING STARS - RTC
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.
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.
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 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.
![Profile Image for Aaiza عائزہ [Hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1744394623i%2F147813378._UX200_CR0%2C49%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
February 16, 2026
2.75 ⭐
In my defense, 2.75 doesn't mean it was bad just it was very close to okayish I just personally didnt really like it.
Trust me, the concept was actually very good but it just felt a little...predictable? Unsatisfactory? And the writing was a little annoying (I've been told a million times it was a debut so it shouldn't be judged for that but annoying is annoying idc).
Plus, I didn't feel anything for any of the characters either. Riven was exceptionally unlikeable but dw not in an extreme way. Jude was...tbh not that bad but I didn't particularly like him either. He had such great potential for an amazing plot twist but failed smh.
Again, don't trust my rating it's probably very good.
buddy read with yusra (remind me never to do it again with her because the commitment to buddy-reads is exceptional especially when being the one to have forced me to read it and having read only what, 50 pages?, when I'm already done and there was a limit for FOUR DAYS (which SHE kept btw even tho I asked for longer) it's been 7 now. I have every right to complain.)
In my defense, 2.75 doesn't mean it was bad just it was very close to okayish I just personally didnt really like it.
Trust me, the concept was actually very good but it just felt a little...predictable? Unsatisfactory? And the writing was a little annoying (I've been told a million times it was a debut so it shouldn't be judged for that but annoying is annoying idc).
Plus, I didn't feel anything for any of the characters either. Riven was exceptionally unlikeable but dw not in an extreme way. Jude was...tbh not that bad but I didn't particularly like him either. He had such great potential for an amazing plot twist but failed smh.
Again, don't trust my rating it's probably very good.
buddy read with yusra (remind me never to do it again with her because the commitment to buddy-reads is exceptional especially when being the one to have forced me to read it and having read only what, 50 pages?, when I'm already done and there was a limit for FOUR DAYS (which SHE kept btw even tho I asked for longer) it's been 7 now. I have every right to complain.)
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!!! 😬😬😬.
March 31, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
Wow wow wow, I had high expectations for A Stage Set for Villains and after finishing the book, consider those expectations met. A Stage Set for Villains is a strong debut that will leave a lasting impression for its grandeur, immersion, creativity, twists and turns, and its memorable characters. While it might not be the best book I’ve ever read, it is definitely the most unique, especially with its stylistic choices. No spoilers here, but props to Spann for being able to execute a very difficult concept. I’ve seen a lot of books try to pull this concept off that don’t quite deliver, and I think for the most part, this book was able to deliver on a lot of it and stuck the landing by the time the curtains came to a close. It was just so cleverly written, especially with the way things came together. I also think this book would be even better on a second read through!
A big highlight was how creative this book is. A lot of the dialogue is in script form which makes the overall theater vibes so incredibly immersive and fun to decipher what was going on. It really delivered on the splendour and lavishness of theatre and I’m sure literature majors would have the time of their lives analysing this one. The magic system was also incredibly fascinating, if a little disorientating initially. It has the kind of magic that felt like a fever dream, but absolutely fit the whimsical, eccentric vibes it was going for. It really messed with my head but in a good way. There was just something really hypnotic and compelling about it that made me want to keep reading to make sense of how the magic worked. I think the Reality Suspension messed with me the most LMFAO. I was scared the confusion was going to affect my reading experience, but I think I had a better grasp of it towards the end. Though this book absolutely deserves to be adapted! It would look so good!
The book has its own distinct style, but what made it work for me is that it finds a balance between style and substance. A lot of these kinds of books don’t work for me because they’re more style than substance, but this one was able to strike a balance between both. I really liked the themes that were uncovered in this one, especially the way it explores fate versus free will and autonomy. There’s a surprising amount of depth this book has on its commentary on life. It also hides a lot of my favorite tropes in there and I absolutely believe this book would be even better on a second read through.
The twists and turns in this book were also crazy. While I could guess the big twists, the ones in between I did not see coming. There’s a lot of turns that twist the narrative on its head completely, and it was truly unpredictable. I really had no idea how the book was going to end. I say it again, but genuine hats off to Spann because there were a lot of things to tie together and Spann stuck the landing. The execution and ending was really satisfying. This felt a lot like Caraval but I liked this a lot better.
JUDE. The star of the show and the absolute life of the party. Oh my god. There’s never a dull moment when Jude’s around. I love the little sassy diva that he is. He’s just an extroverted, overly dramatic boy with the softest heart. I adore Jude so much. Especially when he’s vulnerable. I was going to weep as well LMFAO. He has no business being so funny either!! He has way too many iconic one-liners. If Jude wasn’t an actor, he could very well be a comedian or a poet because some of those quotes he was pulling out?? Putting all generic love confessions to shame.
That’s not to say the book isn’t without its flaws. I do think there were some things missing from this book that I wish we got more out of, like with the cast members. It would have been nice to explore the found family between them. Same for the worldbuilding that seemed a bit lacking, which made it hard for me to connect to the political intrigue and discourse between mortals and the Players. I wish we got to explore more of the themes as well, like belonging and identity.
I also did have some small issues with the FMC, Riven, as well. I got slightly annoyed with her at times. She’s intentionally flawed – though gets a lot of significant development by the end – and lacks a lot of impulse control, especially when she goes against what Jude tells her to do, which often feels more logical. But I do like that it pokes fun at that, and I liked the way things came together with the romance subplot. Their bickering and banter was so funny and made this book such a joy to read. But it was also so beautiful and would recommend picking this one up!
Wow wow wow, I had high expectations for A Stage Set for Villains and after finishing the book, consider those expectations met. A Stage Set for Villains is a strong debut that will leave a lasting impression for its grandeur, immersion, creativity, twists and turns, and its memorable characters. While it might not be the best book I’ve ever read, it is definitely the most unique, especially with its stylistic choices. No spoilers here, but props to Spann for being able to execute a very difficult concept. I’ve seen a lot of books try to pull this concept off that don’t quite deliver, and I think for the most part, this book was able to deliver on a lot of it and stuck the landing by the time the curtains came to a close. It was just so cleverly written, especially with the way things came together. I also think this book would be even better on a second read through!
A big highlight was how creative this book is. A lot of the dialogue is in script form which makes the overall theater vibes so incredibly immersive and fun to decipher what was going on. It really delivered on the splendour and lavishness of theatre and I’m sure literature majors would have the time of their lives analysing this one. The magic system was also incredibly fascinating, if a little disorientating initially. It has the kind of magic that felt like a fever dream, but absolutely fit the whimsical, eccentric vibes it was going for. It really messed with my head but in a good way. There was just something really hypnotic and compelling about it that made me want to keep reading to make sense of how the magic worked. I think the Reality Suspension messed with me the most LMFAO. I was scared the confusion was going to affect my reading experience, but I think I had a better grasp of it towards the end. Though this book absolutely deserves to be adapted! It would look so good!
The book has its own distinct style, but what made it work for me is that it finds a balance between style and substance. A lot of these kinds of books don’t work for me because they’re more style than substance, but this one was able to strike a balance between both. I really liked the themes that were uncovered in this one, especially the way it explores fate versus free will and autonomy. There’s a surprising amount of depth this book has on its commentary on life. It also hides a lot of my favorite tropes in there and I absolutely believe this book would be even better on a second read through.
The twists and turns in this book were also crazy. While I could guess the big twists, the ones in between I did not see coming. There’s a lot of turns that twist the narrative on its head completely, and it was truly unpredictable. I really had no idea how the book was going to end. I say it again, but genuine hats off to Spann because there were a lot of things to tie together and Spann stuck the landing. The execution and ending was really satisfying. This felt a lot like Caraval but I liked this a lot better.
JUDE. The star of the show and the absolute life of the party. Oh my god. There’s never a dull moment when Jude’s around. I love the little sassy diva that he is. He’s just an extroverted, overly dramatic boy with the softest heart. I adore Jude so much. Especially when he’s vulnerable. I was going to weep as well LMFAO. He has no business being so funny either!! He has way too many iconic one-liners. If Jude wasn’t an actor, he could very well be a comedian or a poet because some of those quotes he was pulling out?? Putting all generic love confessions to shame.
That’s not to say the book isn’t without its flaws. I do think there were some things missing from this book that I wish we got more out of, like with the cast members. It would have been nice to explore the found family between them. Same for the worldbuilding that seemed a bit lacking, which made it hard for me to connect to the political intrigue and discourse between mortals and the Players. I wish we got to explore more of the themes as well, like belonging and identity.
I also did have some small issues with the FMC, Riven, as well. I got slightly annoyed with her at times. She’s intentionally flawed – though gets a lot of significant development by the end – and lacks a lot of impulse control, especially when she goes against what Jude tells her to do, which often feels more logical. But I do like that it pokes fun at that, and I liked the way things came together with the romance subplot. Their bickering and banter was so funny and made this book such a joy to read. But it was also so beautiful and would recommend picking this one up!
April 17, 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.
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.
April 26, 2026
This is a book that most definitely exists, for sure.
February 17, 2026
The concept of this book is amazing and utterly unique, although it gives similar vibes as Caraval.
I liked the setup in the beginning, but as the book progressed, I felt like I lost some interest. And that may be contributed to several factors:
• The world building is rather slim and could’ve used some expanding
• There’s a big plot twist that changes the narrative quite a bit. While interesting, I liked the original concept more.
• I understand what the author was trying to achieve with the stylistic choice of writing some of the book like a script. But it wasn’t consistent and the constant changes felt jarring.
• Sometimes I felt like the writing was a bit confusing and I didn’t understand how we got to a certain point.
It’s a promising debut but I think you could’ve done more with this concept.
I liked the setup in the beginning, but as the book progressed, I felt like I lost some interest. And that may be contributed to several factors:
• The world building is rather slim and could’ve used some expanding
• There’s a big plot twist that changes the narrative quite a bit. While interesting, I liked the original concept more.
• I understand what the author was trying to achieve with the stylistic choice of writing some of the book like a script. But it wasn’t consistent and the constant changes felt jarring.
• Sometimes I felt like the writing was a bit confusing and I didn’t understand how we got to a certain point.
It’s a promising debut but I think you could’ve done more with this concept.
March 19, 2026
update: giving it three stars because while there was so much that was cool about this book, every time i think about it, i’m frustrated by it.
i literally have no idea what to rate this book so here’s my unfettered thoughts while i debate on a star rating…
the concept of this story was INSANE & so genius. the atmosphere is incredible and the vibes were top tier. i love musical theater so it was really fun for that aspect.
it started slow for me but then at the 150-200 page mark i started to get super invested. the twists were TWISTING. i read a review on this book that said it was predictable and i wanted to be like uhh did we read the same book? so many reveals and twists that will have your head spinning.
but here’s the kicker for me.. this book made me feel like i was missing something? the twists didn’t feel completely fleshed out & i spent the majority of this book very confused :/. i wanted to love it so much but by the end i just wanted to be done because i didn’t understand what was happening. it almost felt that the twists took priority over the actual flow and meaning of the story if that makes sense?
i think this is just a me thing because i know this book is very well loved !! i may have to do a reread so i can appreciate it more or something. but for now i’m happy to be done (sorry)
🔥NO SPICE🔥
🤐LANGUAGE🤐 occasional use of the F word. (i think it’s used around 10-12 times)
i literally have no idea what to rate this book so here’s my unfettered thoughts while i debate on a star rating…
the concept of this story was INSANE & so genius. the atmosphere is incredible and the vibes were top tier. i love musical theater so it was really fun for that aspect.
it started slow for me but then at the 150-200 page mark i started to get super invested. the twists were TWISTING. i read a review on this book that said it was predictable and i wanted to be like uhh did we read the same book? so many reveals and twists that will have your head spinning.
but here’s the kicker for me.. this book made me feel like i was missing something? the twists didn’t feel completely fleshed out & i spent the majority of this book very confused :/. i wanted to love it so much but by the end i just wanted to be done because i didn’t understand what was happening. it almost felt that the twists took priority over the actual flow and meaning of the story if that makes sense?
i think this is just a me thing because i know this book is very well loved !! i may have to do a reread so i can appreciate it more or something. but for now i’m happy to be done (sorry)
🔥NO SPICE🔥
🤐LANGUAGE🤐 occasional use of the F word. (i think it’s used around 10-12 times)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,298 reviews