- 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.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advance copy. I was really excited about this one based on the blurb, but unfortunately, it didn’t work for me.

My biggest issue was the writing—it felt overly flowery and overwritten, which made the reading experience feel more exhausting than immersive. So much time was spent on elaborate descriptions that the plot often got lost, and I found myself wishing for a more streamlined approach. What could’ve been covered in a single chapter sometimes stretched unnecessarily long.

That said, this is still an impressive debut. The writing style simply wasn’t to my taste. The cover is absolutely gorgeous, and I really appreciated the inclusion of disability and chronic illness representation—especially in a fantasy setting, where it’s still far too rare.

For a debut this was amazing! Such a well written and captivating fantasy romance, highly recommend to any fantasy lovers. The writing was beautiful too

Just wow! It was such a lush ,lyrical and atmospheric read! I really loved the settings , all the scheming and the twist and turns that left me shocked! I loved Vasalie with her physical weakness and inner strength from page one and since that I couldn’t stop reading about her story!
I loved also Copeland, which was a very interesting and complex character, and his relationship with Vasalie was so layered and complex that developed in unexpected ways!

I

I loved this book! It perfectly combines excellent world-building with a sizzling romance that I just couldn't get enough of. The plot was fast-paced and never felt boring. I can't wait for this to come out so I can talk to everyone about it! Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc

A Dance of Lies pulled me in from the first chapter and I couldn't stop reading. Vasalie is such a compelling main character—strong, flawed, and easy to root for as she’s thrown into a deadly game of lies and loyalty.
The court intrigue, the slow-burn tension, the emotional twists… it all had me hooked.

Brittney Arena nails the balance of heartbreak, romance, and high stakes. Just when you think you know what’s coming, another secret drops—and it leaves you shocked and mad and heartbroken.

If you love fierce heroines, morally gray choices, and fantasy with a lot of action, don’t miss this one.

Vasalie & Anton
Fantasy Romance
Royal Courts
Dancer
Chronic Pain/Disability Rep

I saw a lot of people talking about this one and I was intrigued by the storyline!

I really enjoyed this one!

The book starts where Vasalie has been in captivity for two years, and when she's finally released, she has to overcome her trauma along with dealing with physical pain and health issues.

I love Anton and his mysterious ways! The flirting and the banter is so good!

I love the dancing within this one, it's fantastic! And learning more about these characters is great.

I didn’t realise this one wasn't a standalone, so now I'm eagerly awaiting book 2!

A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena is a darkly seductive fantasy full of court intrigue, reluctant alliances, and the quiet, simmering rage of a woman who refuses to break.

Vasalie Moran, once a prized dancer in King Illian’s court, is now a scarred survivor framed for murder and left to rot. But when the very king who betrayed her offers her freedom in exchange for becoming his spy, Vasalie has no choice but to step back into the lion’s den—this time, cloaked in shadows and secrets.

Arena does a brilliant job balancing Vasalie’s trauma with her steely resilience. She’s not invincible, and that’s what makes her so compelling. The moments of pain, hesitation, and vulnerability felt raw and real. Vasalie is no perfect heroine—and that’s exactly why I rooted for her.

The writing absolutely shines in the dance sequences. Every movement is laced with emotion and meaning; the imagery is chef’s kiss. You can almost feel the hush of the room, the pull of the music, and the silent rebellion in every step she takes.

The political tension, the rivalry between Illian and his brother, and the layers of deception kept me flipping pages. I also would've loved a bit more depth in a few of the side characters, especially those Vasalie is forced to betray—their motivations and relationships with her sometimes felt underdeveloped, which lessened the emotional weight of her choices.

That said, the ending—while gripping—does feel a little rushed and clearly sets up a sequel. I wanted a touch more resolution, but I’m also hooked enough to eagerly await what’s next.

This is a story of survival, agency, and calculated rebellion. Perfect for fans of The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller, To Cage a God by Elizabeth May, or The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon—especially those who love morally grey heroines, tangled loyalties, and slow-burning tension you can cut with a dagger.

5⭐️ – Beautifully written, atmospheric, and full of heart.

A Dance of Lies completely swept me up. From the very first page, I was hooked by the intrigue, the rich world-building, and Vasalie herself—who is, quite honestly, one of the most compelling fantasy heroines I’ve read in a long time.

The use of dance in this book was so clever—it wasn’t just a background detail; it was central to who Vasalie was, both as a survivor and as a weapon. And I loved how her chronic pain was portrayed. It felt real and raw without defining her. Just… really well done.

There’s political scheming, hidden identities, and slow-burn tension galore (especially with a certain king 👀). The romance is subtle but simmering, and the banter? Chef’s kiss. I could feel the tension in every scene they shared.

Brittney Arena’s writing is stunning—lush, lyrical, and packed with emotion. I found myself highlighting so many lines. This didn’t just feel like a story; it felt like an experience.

I can’t wait to see where this series goes next. Massive thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC!

I found A Dance of Lies to be an enjoyable read. For me, although this started slowly, I did enjoy the increase in pace later on where the story picked up.
I respect Vasalie's determination in this story as I'm sure that's pretty much the main thing keeping her going through everything.
There are quite a few characters whose come uppance I am looking forward to in the next book.
Gustav and Laurent are fantastic supporting characters. I want nothing but good things for them in the next book.
I kept second guessing myself when it came to Anton. I couldn't work him out.
There's genuinely so much I have to say but am refraining as I don't want to spoil anything for anyone.

This book was beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time.😭

Five stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The world-building was done so well, and Brittney's writing is so beautifully done; I could picture each scene in my mind with such vivid detail.💜

The trauma in this book is deep and makes the FMC really relatable in so many ways, and I can see many readers getting her point of view. The villains in this story really make me want to scratch their eyes out, and so much thought was put into their story; it really paves the way for the love you feel for both the FMC and MMC.

This book has multiple twists and turns that I didn't see coming and kept me entertained until the very last page. I felt so many emotions reading this book, and it really shocked me how deeply I felt them, as it has been a while.

Overall, this is a fantastic fantasy romance, and I am so very excited to continue this story, as that ending left me on a cliffhanger, and I need to know what happens next.

While the prose is very lyrical and attempts to draw you in to a lush and beautiful story, it didn’t have that effect on me. I found the book to be overly wordy and lacking any emotional connection. The start was a slog to get through, and the characters lacked depth and personality for me.

I wish I had loved this book however it wasn’t for me. Thank you for the opportunity to review.