I absolutely LOVED this book and I can’t stop thinking about it!!

The world building was phenomenal and Vasaile’s character development was top tier- a story with politics, schemes and twists that I ate up. Whilst there wasn’t much spice, the slow burn and tension were incredible!!

This is a true slow burner of a story. There is good disability/chronic pain rep and the potential for romance on a couple of fronts leaves Vasalie with some options - neither of which seem very safe bets!

The storytelling is beautiful and the depictions and descriptions of the performances are stunning. As someone who suffers from chronic pain, I can feel for Vasalie and the doing more than the body is ready for and then suffering when you have the time and energy to deal with it! There is plenty of royal politics and Machiavellian plots to usurp crowns to keep you interested.

The gods have potentially been interfering in the structure and government of the land and I was a bit aghast when we finally met one of the Gods and Morta was just spoken to like A.N. Other! I did feel it was rushed a bit at the end and I could have done with a bit...more. Also not complete struck on Vasalie's nickname, I know it comes from her main foe, but it really grated on me for some reason!

I'd be happy to read book 2 and see where the story (and potential romances) go.

<b>DNF at 50% — Not for Me</b>

I really tried to give <i>Dance of Lies</i> a fair shot. After a slow start, I hoped it would pick up—but unfortunately, <i>it didn’t</i>. The writing leans heavily into overly dramatic and lengthy descriptions that often felt unnecessary and weighed down the pacing. Details were shared that added little to the plot, and the balance between action and description felt off throughout.

The descriptions lack balance—either overly detailed or frustratingly vague. One scene involving a shared glass made zero sense (keeping it spoiler-free, but how exactly was the other half of the glass consumed by the second party). It feels like the author was aiming for the Jude Duarte vibe, but it just didn’t land.

I couldn’t grasp why such a key moment in the FMC’s backstory was told in hindsight—it weakened the stakes. Also, with so many potential love interests, it was hard to tell who the actual one was (though I’ll guess, since it’s tagged enemies-to-lovers).

To end on a lighter note: this book *did* help me fall asleep faster than melatonin. I’m sure it’ll find its readers, especially among those who enjoy flowery prose and slower, atmospheric fantasy—but I just can't continue reading it.

A Dance of Lies focuses on Vasalie, who after being imprisoned for two years is now struggling with chronic pain. Despite this, she manages to get an esteemed place as a performer at the Crowns Syndicate where the rulers of the land meet. She spies and tests her morals with the aim of getting her freedom.
3.5 stars. The writing is very beautiful and while this sometimes slows down the plot, if you enjoy descriptive prose this is for you. The world is very immersive and pretty. You will especially love this if you like theatre or dance shows because there are lots of performances described.
The romance plotline started quite late on and there was a bit of a love triangle, which I didn’t find myself connecting with massively. Towards the end I started to feel more invested in the main love interest, but we do not get a happy ending. The plot twist at the end was a big redeeming factor and it has made me want to read on.

As a reader, I was utterly captivated by Brittney Arena's "A Dance of Lies," a thrilling plunge into a world teeming with political intrigue and dangerous secrets.

The story centres on Vasalie Moran, once a dancer in King Illian's court, whose life is irrevocably altered when she is framed for murder. After enduring two years in the dungeons, Vasalie is unexpectedly called before the King, who offers her a perilous deal: infiltrate the month-long royal Gathering as his spy in exchange for her freedom.

This book was amazing! The intricate plot twists and high stakes kept me utterly engrossed from beginning to end, with the climax leaving me chomping at the bit for the next instalment. offers a powerful and refreshing element by allowing those with chronic illnesses to be seen and heard within a fantasy setting, providing a unique and valuable space for representation. It's a compelling and thought-provoking debut that has definitely left me eager for more from Brittney Arena.

Thanks to net galley for the ARC.

As one of my most anticipated reads, 'A Dance of Lies' promised an intriguing blend of fantasy and political intrigue. However, despite its promising premise, I found myself struggling to truly invest in the story or fully immerse myself in its world.

What intrigued me about this book is the inclusion of disability representation. It's a vital and often overlooked aspect in fantasy, and the intent here is commendable. However, I have to admit, it felt a little too unrealistic at times, even for a fantasy novel.

Overall, 'A Dance of Lies' has a solid foundation and some genuinely interesting concepts. Yet, the inability to fully connect with the narrative ultimately kept it from reaching its full potential for me.

This book should have been my thing — secret identities, rebellion, dancing, and a touch of darkness? Yes please. But the execution just didn’t hit like I hoped.

The FMC felt immature for most of the story, and her logic didn’t always logic. She did get better later on, but it was tough staying emotionally invested when I couldn’t always get behind her choices. Also… I’m still a little confused about the love interest? We don’t even know who it’s supposed to be until like 70% in 😭 That’s not slow burn, that’s slow guess-who?

The second half did pick up, and I wanted to like it more than I did — but the emotional payoff wasn’t really there. Not a total loss, just not one that stuck with me.

⸻

For those who like:
🩰 secret identities
🔥 rebellion + sabotage
😶‍🌫️ morally gray (ish) worlds
📜 court intrigue
⏳ stories that take their sweet time to get going

This book was so amazing, I am unsure on how to proceed with my day after that cliff-hanger. I can't wait to see what happens next.

I’ll be honest, I requested this ARC solely based on Jason Chuang’s gorgeous cover. I cannot thank Bloomsbury enough for letting me read it. And what a breathtaking read this was!

Vasalie was the most complex, nuanced and relatable character I have read in a long time. Clearly, I am biased as she’s both a dancer and suffering from chronic illness, so anyone who knows me will understand how close to my heart she immediately became.

The world-building is superb, with complex political alliances and conflicts, contrasting cultures and a fascinating mythology. I was swept into a glittering palace, of sea glass walls and dark passageways, where the brine of the ocean mixes with the scents of exotic flowers. Brittney Arena cleverly solicits all the senses to weave a spellbinding web of art, intrigue and betrayal. So many twists and turns, I am still reeling!

The romance is both spine-tingling and slow-burning. I won’t say anything more as I don’t want to spoil anything, but the love story alone would be enough to give this book 5 stars.

I loved the description of the dance scenes, they were written with so much artistry and poetry. Crucially, I felt all of them were truly used as a way to progress the story. Dance was a central component, not an accessory to the plot.

Finally and most importantly, I was so moved to see chronic illness given such a sensitive and accurate portrayal. Vasalie’s physical challenges were very realistic, but it was perhaps the depiction of her mental struggles that were the most heartbreaking. I think many chronic illness sufferers will recognise some of their own thoughts in hers. I certainly did. Her journey was incredibly uplifting and inspiring. The creativity she displays in finding ways to keep performing despite her body’s failings, the self-acceptance and pride she manages to find made me cry several times, but in a very cathartic way.

I just finished A Dance of Lies and can’t wait to re-read it. I already know it’ll forever hold a special place in my heart.

Book Review 📚

“Hearts are fragile things, like glass. They break far too easily in the wrong hands. Offer them only to someone who can care for them, who might polish them until they glow”

I fell in love with this quote as soon as I read it, as easily as I did by the end of this book.

The beginning of the book starts off slow, with a lot of focus on internal monologue from our FMC Vasalie who was previously the favoured dancer of King Illian, who falsely imprisoners her for murder, leaving her to suffer physically, mentally and emotionally until one day, he calls for her again.

King Illian offers Vasalie a deal, become his spy at the six-week royal Gathering, and he’ll grant her freedom. Sounds easy, right? Except Vasalie’s body is not as it use to be and in addition to this, Vasalie will be forced to betray those she befriends and cares for most, including the person she finally offers her heart too. But, the best bit? The author leaves us dangling as to who the endgame love interest is for a while!

As soon as Vasalie arrives at the Gathering, we are exposed to court intrigue, royal politics, tension, danger, grief but also the blossoming of friendship, kindness and love which are long overdue for Vasalie.

Its also worth mentioning that, from someone who is fortunate to not suffer from a chronic illness, I felt the author demonstrated the impact it can have on a person’s life through including this as a pivotal part of Vasalie’s story, although I am sure there is much more that is hard to put into words.

A Dance of Lies is a low fantasy romance that I would recommend for those who love detailed characters, political intrigue, and a spoonful of romance. It is beautifully written and one I would read again.

Thank you to Brittney and Bloomsbury Publishing for the advanced copy of A Dance of Lies, I really enjoyed the story and can’t wait to read the next instalment!

This book! Wow. When i first started it, i rated it at 4 stars but as i kept on reading, the plot got stronger and stronger to the point where i was flicking through the pages without being able to stop. I loved the twists and the setting.

Vasalie is strong no matter the pain and exhaustion she suffers. She's determined and fights for her freedom. I'm glad she finds a way through her struggles and that she meets people who treat her right. Anton portrays himself as a partygoer who loves to indulge in leisurely activities but he is so much more on the inside. He has a good heart and protects his people. I loved the grandeur of the palaces as it definitely gave royalty vibes.

The pacing was good and the characters were written well. I hated certain characters so much 😂. The ending was great. Each chapter just kept revealing more and at the end of chapter 38, my jaw dropped. I was literally the "😲" emoji. I probably would've looked funny if anyone had walked in on me at that particular scene.

In conclusion: am i saying you should read it? Heck yes, i am! You're welcome in advance. The book is out today in all stores so go grab your copy and then you can come to me and scream about it.

Thank you so much Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an e-arc for an honest review.

- Courtly intrigue?
- Urban legends?
- A framed murder?
- Royal brothers scheming against each other?
- A dancer coming to terms with limitations on her body and a hidden identity caught in the middle of everything?
An absolutely perfect combination that I just ate up. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for allowing me to have an eARC of this book.

The story kept spinning and twisting and turning and just when I thought I had the plot figured out it took yet another turn. I struggled to put this book down as I just had to know where the plot line was heading and I was not disappointed. I loved that our FMC went on a journey of acceptance of her body - being able to adapt to the new reality that she can’t push her body as she used to but still make exquisite performances that catch everyone’s attention, both wanted and unwanted.

Throughout reading this book I could clearly picture every scene that was happening and think it would be absolutely GORGEOUS adapted to screen. All the sea glass refracting light, the coloured millen powder in the performances, the opulent palace rooms, the scene descriptions were so well written they painted the perfect picture in your mind and I can’t wait to see what character art is created from this series. I will definitely be adding a physical copy to my collection and waiting patiently for news on the next instalment.

“A Dance of Lies” captivated me from the very beginning with its original concept and compelling main character. We follow Vasalie, once the jewel of the kingdom—a breathtakingly talented dancer beloved by all, especially King Illian. But her fall from grace is swift and brutal: accused of a murder she didn’t commit, Vasalie is imprisoned for two long years. Even more heartbreaking? The king knows she's innocent.

What I loved most about this story was how raw and real Vasalie’s journey felt. Her relationship with her body—first as something powerful and controlled through dance, and later as something broken, weakened by captivity and pain—was portrayed with such sensitivity. She’s not just fighting to prove her innocence or gain freedom; she’s also learning how to move through the world again, how to adapt to a body that no longer responds like it used to. That struggle hit hard, and I appreciated how it highlighted the strength required to survive and redefine yourself.

There’s also an intriguing layer to the book that reveals itself through glimpses into Vasalie’s past. These moments add depth and tension, making her story even more compelling. And while the political intrigue at court and her spy mission kept the plot moving, it was always Vasalie’s inner journey that stole the spotlight for me.

4.5 stars
Vasalie was a dancer in King Illian's court, his most favoured jewel. Until one day he frames her for murder and throws her into a dark cell for two years. When he eventually brings her out, her body is irreparably weakened and damaged, the pain severe.

The King tells her that he will grant Vasalie her freedom if she goes to the royal Gathering as his spy. She needs to build up her strength to get accepted as a performer so that she can infiltrate the event. The King's orders start to grow more and more deadly, and Vasalie needs to figure out how far she will go for a taste of freedom. And she isn't sure if she can even trust the King with his offers of freedom.

Vasalie is a great main character, and the author did a great job of letting us in on her journey and difficulties in with dealing with chronic illness and pain. The strength and resilience is inspirational.

I really enjoyed the world that the author created in this story, and all of the beautiful descriptions. I was thoroughly taken in by all of the twists and turns of the story and the political intrigue and backstabbing. The ending of the book truly felt like a rollercoaster.

All I know is that I need more immediately, and the sequel better already be in the works.

1,5⭐
Dnf'd at 60% . Honestly i haven't read a more selfish heroine in a book ! Through out the book we here everything about Emilia but our FMC even though she has her in her heart she doesn't make her a role model, but she takes a different path and feels that the right choice is to betray every character she behaved properly. I didn't feel mesmerized by her dance performances and i couldn't picture them ! I think the book has many plot holes as for example that her father doesn't recognise her , or the fact that sometimes she forgot to play fragile.
With this book i came to the conclusion that not everyone is destined to play every role.

Wow. I don’t know what to say… that ending, Brittney Arena you’re killing me.

I have so many thoughts and so much to say but so I don’t go down a spiral I am going to keep this short and sweet.

I have never read anything like A Dance of Lies. The plot, the characters, the world- they were all so unique; yet they felt so nostalgic and blended together so many elements of the fantasy genre so effortlessly. I truly see this book as going down as a staple within the genre and I truly, truly, truly mean it when I say everyone should read it.

I will briefly touch on the romance or else I will go on for hours. Throughout A Dance of Lies, there are multiple potential love interests, and for majority of the book you are left wondering who the real love interest is. Very rarely do I think an author can perfectly execute balancing the fmc with their potential partners, but Brittney Arena did just that. This, meant that when the true love interest got revealed it meant all the more and was that much more impactful. I will not say who as to avoid spoilers but I’m sure you can figure it out, but I will say he is everything I want in an mmc.

When I discovered this book on Netgalley it was the cover that made me curious. When I read the blurb I was convinced this was gonna be a book for me: political intrigue, personal growth and a little danger. I requested a digital and was happy that Bloomsbury Publishing granted me one.

When I read the first few lines of the story, I was prepared to fall in love. The heroine of the story ends up with permanent damage and chronic pain. I was ready to grow attached, to feel seen and to identify myself with her. However, the story never really grabbed me and I can't exactly pinpoint why. I think it's mainly because it feels like the book tries to be a little bit of everything and therefore lacks a clear direction. Which hits harder because the heroine seems to lack an agenda.

During the entire story, for understandable reasons, our heroine is constantly forced to do things. It feels like not one of her decisions is entirely her own. Up until the very last chapters she's not taken charge. I understand it's something she needs to grow into and watching her grow more independent would have been beautiful, but it feels like there is only one major decision in this book she eventually takes herself and even that one is eventually hijacked by someone else to change her chosen course.

I was also not entirely sold on all the politics and the intrige. There were a few nice twists towards the end of the book and the last chapter does make me kinda curious about the sequel, but for most of the book things felt quite predictable. The main reason I ended up finishing reading the book, is that there also wasn't anything that was actually bad. The writing was okay, the world building was okay, the plot was okay. But unfortunately the book never became more than just okay.

2 ✨

I tried to like this, I really tried but honestly this just wasn’t it 😕
First of all when you put a book in the fantasy genre I expect to see the element of fantasy one way or another, this book just had court politics with multiple kings and queens (they are so many, there is no way you’ll remember their names), oh and some Fates things going on!
There is a big Gathering that is happening among the nobles and our FMC goes there as a dancer but also as a double agent. She is traumatised physically & emotionally so we see her journey to recovery.
I’m ok with this predicament but I strongly feel that this isn’t the way to make the protagonist stronger. The whole book she was making the wrong choices (helping the bad guy betraying good people who helped her) and I felt she was pathetic and jealous over everyone. The jealousy thing gave me the MAJOR iyk in this book 😩 I don’t want my FMC constantly jealous over every other character woman or man, just do your thing! It’s ok as a feeling to happen once or twice but not constantly 🙅🏻‍♀️
The story with the MMC was super predictable and reminds you of a very famous series.
To the good part I really loved their first kiss and intimate encounter!

𝐀 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.

Unfortunately this was not for me. I really didn't care too much for the fmc or what her outcome would be. The actions/reactions didn't add up for me and at 50% in I still had no idea who the 'love interest' was or how she was going to find the time quite frankly. Some lovely descriptions at times but overall I wasn't having a good enough reading experience to carry on.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc opportunity, all thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

⭐ —DNF at 26%

Unfortunately, this book just didn’t work for me. I went in drawn by the gorgeous cover and the promise of a romantic fantasy, but ultimately, I should’ve trusted my instincts and skipped this one.

The author clearly aimed for lyrical, poetic prose, but it ended up feeling overwrought and overly purple. The writing was packed with metaphors that didn’t quite land, which made the narrative feel more confusing than beautiful.

It was so repetitive.
I understand adding weight and background to kickstart the story, but the story never started here. The pacing was awful and kept jumping back and forward with little sense.

As for the plot—what plot? The story felt paper-thin and aimless. I struggled to understand the purpose of the main character's supposed disability, as it had no meaningful impact on her actions or the storyline up to the point I read.

I was, frankly, bored. Not much happened in the first quarter, and there wasn't enough tension, intrigue, or emotional investment to keep me going. I think I’ve learned my lesson about requesting romantic fantasy ARCs based solely on a beautiful cover.

This one just wasn’t for me.