I have no idea what to do with myself. I'm heartbroken it's over.
This book immediately grabbed my attention from PAGE 1!! We were two souls in the same room, and once we made eye contact, the heat in our gaze snapped us together.

The writing was so descriptive but in the best kind of way. It's almost like it's a part of the plot, because the way Brittney writes is so lyrical and magical you can't help but be transported to the kingdom of Miridranian. The way she describes Vasalie's pain, but also passion when she dances kept me entranced. There is not a moment I wasn't enraptured and on the edge of my seat.

I loved how this felt completely different to usual standard romantic fantasies. It deviated greatly from the typical 'formula'. The female main character isn't a fighter, rather her condition restricts her from doing things by herself. Vasalie is strong willed, but her body is weak and fragile. Not only that, but her past was extremely traumatic. The way she develops from a quivering slave, to opposing her oppressor even when it costs her was inspiring.

The other characters are also deeply complex. There are characters that are TERRIFYING. There are characters that are INFURIATING. And there are characters that bury themselves so deep into your heart that you can't help but hold your breath when danger knocks on their door.

Of course, I can't review this book without talking about the romance. I'm so in love with the male main character. Their banter was EVERYTHING. It was unique and literally had me giggling at 1 AM.

"I am broken," I say.
"You are art," he says in response.

And their tension had me flipping page after page for CRUMBS and then that plot twist was so PAINFUL, I wanted to jump off a cliff (no pun intended). He makes her feel strong, but also 'saving' her when she needs it without diminishing her strength.
Thank you to Bloomsbury for this early copy.
Is it too early to ask for book 2?

Dancer, prisoner and now spy ! Suffice to say Vasily has been on a journey and now following her Kings betrayal she finds herself a pawn in a political game that just might change the fates of everyone around her . Three brothers, three Kings and yet as royalty meets to cement peace and alliances treachery and betrayal puts Vasily in more danger than she has ever felt before !
I enjoyed this book and very much lapped up the twists as the author leads us through a story of political intrigue that diverts the reader from guessing just who the romantic lead could be . My only critique is that the ending just seemed to change pace and every time I thought oh this is the last chapter with perhaps an epilogue nope here’s another chapter or four ! I was starting to think it wasn’t a series but there’s definitely a cliffhanger ending with a smidge of hope for the next book . I enjoyed the ideas here although perhaps would have liked more magic as that’s really only applies at the end. I would definitely like to read the next book and hope that the author continues to flesh out her world although if it’s villains you enjoy than this series will certainly satisfy that desire !
This voluntary take is of an advanced copy and my thoughts are honest and I believe fair

This was absolutely stunning. A sheer joy to read. It captured the heart of dealing with chronic pain and illnesses like it, as well as the soul of trauma and loving someone through the emotional turmoil that it brings. I haven’t loved a book this much since ACOTAR and it’ll be a long time before I get over it. Dreaming of the next one and praying it won’t be too long!

I really haven’t felt this way about a book in a long time but OMG I LOVED this! It had me hooked right from the start with Vasalie imprisoned for a crime she did not commit. I like that the romance wasn’t totally front and centre and the love interest was revealed later in the book. Plot wise, it kept me entertained throughout and all the twists and turns in the second half meant a really interesting story. Not 100% on the disability element as with all the dancing Vasalie did I was expecting more of an affect on her, but it’s nice to see representation in a book. Looking forward to continuing the series!

This book promised so much and it delivered on its promises. It drew me in from the beginning with a FMC that had suffered and even in her darkest days she hadn't fully broken, not feisty but older and more determined than other books in this genre, she rebuilds herself finding her inner strength with a desire for freedom and revenge for those that have shaped her life to this point. Clawing inch by inch through her broken life, determined not to be a plaything to those who seek to control her.

The world building, the colours, dances, places and people, it all paints a vivid picture that I could almost step into it. And I want to. The characters develop with plot twists and turns, and the book has you questioning just who they each are, and can or should they be trusted. The clever twists and turns kept me turning the pages needing to know more whilst not wanting it to end. This book is a 5 star read that I couldn't put down.

I need more…

A Dance Of Lies 🩰🍊

1. Absolutely NO WAY this is Brittney’s debut novel. I am shocked.
2. The map is absolutely STUNNING I’m already intrigued and want to visit all these places.

We’re introduced to the FMC Vasalie right at the beginning in unfortunate circumstances. She is held captive as a prisoner for King Illian, for a murder she didn’t commit. Brittney’s writing made me feel extremely emotional going into huge detail about everything, it’s as if you’re living in the shoes of Vasalie. It’s absolutely breathtaking.

Vasalie is a survivor, warrior, badass FMC, she is probably my favourite FMC that I’ve ever read. She’s been in prison for two long gruesome years untill she is summoned by Illian. He’s blackmailing Vasalie and emotionally abusing her to go undercover as a spy at The Crowns Gathering.

Before she was imprisoned she was a beautiful dancer, the kings most esteemed, the kings jewel. However after serving her time in prison because of Illian she has suffered nerve and muscle damage. She can’t flex or dance how she used to.

“My defender, my protector”

“the liar who’d promised me refuge and opulence in the comfort of his court, only to abandon me to the rats”

“My body will never be the same. I will never reclaim what I lost. I am weak, frail. I could shatter as easily as glass”

So emotional, grieving the loss of your past self and trying to adjust to the here and now. From someone who has PTSD this quote resonates with me so much, the emotion I feel and how connected I am with Vasalie, isn’t one I’ve had with a character for so long.

“He broke me, and I am too fragmented to piece myself together again”

How is Brittney capturing the emotional turmoil of PTSD so well. I’ve cried like 3 times already and only 12% in. It’s honestly incredible. Anton helps her by asking her 4 things you can see, hear, smell - I can relate to this so much, my partner uses this technique with me when I have flashbacks.

How words, touch, feel, sense can give you flashbacks. It’s so beautifully written and poetic.

She’s managed to get into the auditions on the isle of Meridian. Six weeks there forty five nights of performances. You’re on edge constantly thinking is she going to get caught? What will happen to her? And hoping and praying she won’t go back to the awful cell.

The plot just builds and builds with layers and unexpected twists throughout. We’re introduced to so many characters who we come to love and hate, we have Copelan The Master Of Revels, Laurent the Head of Staff and King Anton he’s so illusive yet charming, absolutely love the development of characters throughout the whole reading experience.

Wow I have no words other than this is absolutely incredible. Hands down the best read of the year so far and I’m so excited to see what will happen in book two.

🩰 POLITICAL INTRIGUE
🍊 FMC SURVIVOR
🩰 PTSD
🍊 ROMANTASY
🩰 ADVENTURE
🍊 MENTAL/PHYSICAL ABUSE
🩰 SLOW BURN
🍊 DISABILITY

Thank you so much Bloomsbury Publishing & Brittney Arena for the ARC via NetGalley.

Thank you @tandemcollectiveglobal and @bloomsbury_export for my gifted eARC.

The story opens with Vasalie Moran, imprisoned and seemingly without hope, until her king offers her freedom in exchange for becoming a dancer-turned-spy at the upcoming royal Gathering. What follows is a beautifully written tale filled with lyrical prose, political intrigue, and gripping power dynamics.

I was especially drawn to the complex web of court politics, which kept me engaged. The final chapters were absolutely riveting, building tension masterfully and delivering an unforgettable ending.

My only minor critique is that the book leans heavily on character development, and I found myself wishing for a bit more world-building to deepen the setting. Still, this is an impressive debut and a compelling read for fans of romantasy.

Read this if you enjoy:
🩰 love triangles
🩰 disability rep
🩰 political intrigue and royal power play

An amazing debut fantasy romance filled with hope after heartbreak, secrets, and betrayal, as a dancer-turned-spy must decide how far she will go to secure her freedom.
A super well written debut with twisty turny court politics, surreal dance scenes, plenty of potential love interests and one
HECK of an ending.

First of all thank you to netgalley and the publishers for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Well to be honest i only rated 4 stars as my reading of this was unfortunatly very interupted and stop startish. I feel if i hadnt been so interupted i may have rated higher. However having said that i really loved the FMC and i loved the disability rep.
Our fmc Vasalie is left disabled after a long imprisonment for a crime she didnt commit, when shes released she becomes a spy for a frankly very dislikable king.
She has to try and train her body so she can dance like she used to but struggles at times due to her disability.
And the ending of this book... well safe to say i definatly want to read the next book, whenever that may be since book 1 isnt even out yet lol

Absolutely phenomenal from start to finish! There were so many mysterious plot points gradually unravelling throughout that I just had to keep reading. While Vasalie isn't necessarily all good, I found her POV and character development throughout relatable and fascinating. The politics and scheming set for a tense storyline that kept me engaged from start to finish, and with that devastating and dramatic ending I can't wait for the next book!

Thank you for this book! Please find my review below:

A Dance of Lies is a debut fantasy novel that follows Vasalie, a dancer imprisoned for the past two years. When the king summons her with an offer—spy for the crown in exchange for her freedom—she’s thrown into a dangerous game of deceit and survival.

One of the strongest elements of this book is its focus on resilience. Vasalie is a determined and capable protagonist who doesn’t allow her circumstances to define her. Her strength and perseverance are at the heart of the story, and I found myself rooting for her throughout.

The romance was lightly woven into the plot, which I appreciated—it never overshadowed the main narrative. However, I think the romantic thread could have been more compelling with additional development of the love interest, helping readers feel more emotionally invested.

The villains were particularly well-written. They were deeply unpleasant characters, but their development made the stakes feel real and intense. The world-building was also a strength. Without lengthy descriptions or exposition, Arena creates a fantasy world that feels grounded and understandable. The setting is cleverly woven into the narrative, which made the story easy to sink into.

There were a few plot points that felt underdeveloped, and while I enjoyed reading this book, I wasn’t reaching for it every spare moment. It was an enjoyable experience, but it didn’t completely capture my thoughts outside of reading time.

Overall, *A Dance of Lies* is a solid debut with engaging characters, a fast-paced plot, and strong themes of resilience and survival.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This book has completely blown my mind!

To begin with, the story is absolutelly well-crafted. Every single step taken by Vasalie is paced to a very specific place, but you don't notice it until the very end itself. That talent nettling the plot is absolutely amazing!

The characters are gorgeous, and not only phisically speaking. All of them are very well-constructed, and it's impossible not to imagine them in real life. I mean, they're deep, even the side characters that have minor roles in the story. All of them have their own background, something to thank for in a fantasy book because unfortunately it's not very common, and you can point them in the scenes and dialogues without needing to be mentioned. Very good job!

How Arena created such an deep worldbuilding with few details is something I have really loved. She doesn't need to give too much information to set you in her world. You discover the relationships between kingdoms throughout the book, how economy works, how their religion has been built, how they manage political affairs... It's perfectly well introduced.

And now, the best part: the tea. I was jumping on the coach every time Vasalie felt something towards a character. I was simply waiting for a confession, or a kiss, or something that could give me a clue about who the romantic interest would be. But Arena has written it in such a way that you cannot expect until de 60-70% of the book how the love story is going to be. Amazing job!

The only thing that makes me suffer is that the second part is not published yet! I need it right now!

Fates. What an emotive story. I could physically see everything described on the page, from the beauty of the setting, to the striking dances Vasalie and Copelan created. I really enjoyed the low spice, the themes of lust and obsession were rife, and this made a pleasant change. The espionage was well written, and I enjoyed the idea of the prophecy heading in a different direction to where I originally thought. This book kept me guessing throughout.

The representation of chronic illness and disability was amazing. To see lived experience of an illness in print, with such care and civility was refreshing.

I lost the pacing towards the ending of the book, which threw me off slightly. However, I cannot wait for the next t book.

Behind the glass walls of a glittering kingdom, secrets twist like vines through the court. A talented dancer arrives at the palace, drawn by the promise of opportunity but quickly caught in a game where every step could cost her everything. Torn between truth and survival, she discovers that the court's beauty is only a mask hiding rot, and the most graceful dance might be one of deception. Everything about this felt beautifully restrained. There's danger under the surface of every scene, but it never overplays itself. I loved how quiet power moved through the story.

I enjoyed the fairytale vibes in this book. It has magic, royalty and a lot of darkness.
Vasalie has been imprisoned for two years for a crime she didn’t commit. Now, to get her life back, she has to help the king that locked her away. As a dancer she is to spy on his brothers and do the tasks he gives her. But who to trust? As secrets unravel and death is lurking in the shadows Vasalie fights to be free.

I like the combination of romance, mystery and politics. I found it a bit boring to read in detail how some of the dances were performed. And to be honest, I wasn’t surprised by some of the plot twists, they were a bit predictable. Guessing all those Agatha Christie novels I read are to blame for that...However! There were a lot that I didn’t see coming and the intrigue kept me curious. It was exciting and a gold star for making Vasalie her own heroine.

““𝙞 𝙖𝙢 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣,” 𝙞 𝙨𝙖𝙮. 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙞 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧. ‘ 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙩,’ 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚””

vasalie moran was once a dancer in king illian’s court - until she was accused of a crime she didn’t commit. after barely surviving two brutal years in the dungeons, she’s brought before the king with an offer: spy for him during a month-long royal gathering, and earn her freedom. but as the king’s demands grow darker and more dangerous, vasalie realizes the real threat might not be the one wearing the crown. caught between two warring brothers - one her enemy, the other a reluctant ally - vasalie must decide who to trust, what she’s willing to sacrifice, and how far she’s willing to go to survive

this was such a beautiful and whimsical read. i was pulled into the story from the very beginning. the world building was rich without being overwhelming, and the characters were layered and interesting. i especially loved the political tension and the high stakes of vasalie’s mission

the concept itself was really strong and the pacing worked well overall. my only reason for giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is the romance 1 it felt a bit rushed for me. i’m a big fan of a good slow burn, and while there was tension and that delicious “enemies-to-almost-lovers” energy, it didn’t quite hit the emotional depth i was hoping for. i wanted more yearning, more build-up between them before everything kicked off

and the ending? again, i think it was a little rushed - we got a lot of information thrown at us in those last few chapters (and so many amazing plot twists!) but it didn’t take away from the story. it actually sets things up really well for book two, which i’ll definitely be reading

““‘𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨. ‘𝙞 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝’””

So beautifully written. Great storyline. Was hooked from the very start. My heart got so invested so fast. I was angry, teary, hopeful and all the range of emotions you could possibly imagine on behalf of the main protagonist. It felt like a spiritual reckoning, reading this book, it was unreal how amazing it was and all I can say you will have to read this or you'll be missing out on an epic piece of writing! I suggest you go in blind, without too much knowledge if what to expect abd just enjoy.
This review is early thanks to netgalley, despite that, this is an unbiased review.

#BBNI2025

This is a interesting romantasy debut, and I loved the author's note at the beginning, and how she explains the reader her choices.
I'm not a fan of the first person - present time writing style, but other arc reader talked a lot about a Dance of Lies, so I want to read it and see for myself what the hype is about.
I think that if you are a sim fan you will love this - but I am not so I don't know if I am going to like this
The cover guys is stunning, I think they really captured che concept of the book with this one

Okay, wow. I went into A Dance of Lies expecting a solid fantasy read, but I didn’t anticipate how much it would grip me. Brittney Arena’s debut is a lush, tension-filled romantasy with court intrigue, betrayal, and a heroine who refuses to stay broken—no matter how much the world tries to break her.

The story follows Vasalie, a former dancer who was once the jewel of King Illian’s court—until he framed her for murder and threw her into a dungeon for two years. When he suddenly offers her freedom in exchange for becoming his spy, she has no choice but to accept. But here’s the catch: her body is wrecked. Years of starvation and abuse have left her with chronic pain, muscle atrophy, and a heart condition. And yet, she has to dance again—flawlessly—in just a few weeks to prove herself.

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about the timeline at first. How could someone recover from that much physical trauma in such a short time? But the book makes it work by framing it as an impossible task—one that Vasalie tackles with sheer stubbornness. And honestly? I loved that. Her struggle felt raw and real. She isn’t magically healed; she pushes through the pain, and that made her victories hit even harder.

The writing is gorgeous. Arena has this way of describing movement and emotion that makes every dance scene feel hypnotic. The political intrigue is twisty, with alliances shifting constantly. Just when I thought I had someone figured out—boom, betrayal. The tension between Vasalie and King Illian is especially gripping. He’s manipulative, cruel, and yet there’s this twisted history between them that kept me glued to the page.

And then there’s the romance. Ohhh, the romance. The slow burn is chef’s kiss—full of banter, tension, and moments that made me kick my feet. But what I appreciated most is that Vasalie’s journey isn’t just about love. It’s about reclaiming her power, learning who to trust, and deciding how far she’s willing to go for freedom.

The ending? Absolutely brutal in the best way. It’s dark, unexpected, and sets up the sequel perfectly. I need book two yesterday.

If you love fantasy with court politics, complex characters, and a heroine who fights tooth and nail for her survival, A Dance of Lies is a must-read. It’s got heart, pain, and just the right amount of swoon. Brittney Arena is an author to watch—and I’ll be first in line for whatever she writes next.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

*Huge thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the eARC! This review is my honest opinion.*

I adored this book so much that I finished it in two days!!!

The books is so full of intrigue, court politics, a delectable spectrum of interesting and varied characters, the dynamics between Vasalie and the new charaishe meeta at the Gathering is such a joy to discover and read.

In the first half of the book I was kept wondering who the ship is. And then in the second half when I realised who it is my delight was extreme lol. Feet-kicking swoon ensues. Absolutely loved the banter and the found family aspects.

There are a lot of twists towards the end which I didn't expect and I can't wait for the next book. The K-drama lover in me lapped up the romantic tension and the swoony scenes.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy the following tropes and traits: