A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena

A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena | A Review

What's Up, Readers!!

Welcome to Quills and Pages! I am back with another amazing read today. A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena. Think on this.....If “Black Swan” waltzed into a Game of Thrones, dressed in espionage and draped in slow-burn betrayal, you’d get something like A Dance of Lies.

BLURB

My protector is gone, revealed to be a monster. But I remind myself that I am not a damsel. I’m no princess bound within a tower.
I am a shadow.
Vasalie Moran was once a dancer in King Illian’s court, until he framed her for murder. Barely surviving her two years in the dungeons, she’s suddenly called to face her king. He offers her a deal: become his spy at the six-week royal Gathering and he’ll grant her freedom.
As Illian’s orders grow bloody and dangerous, forcing her to harm and betray those around her, Vasalie discovers that the monster she serves may be aligned with a bigger monster—one far closer to home. With her world threatened, Vasalie enlists the help of Illian’s brother and greatest adversary, the infamous King of the East.
As the rivalry between brothers escalates, with Vasalie caught in the middle, the horrifying truth of her past comes to light. If she wants to survive, she must decide who to trust, who to fight for, and how much of her soul she’s willing to damn in the process.

GENRE
Beautiful Poetic Romantasy

THEME AND TONE
Whimsical

LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE
Easy to Read, beautiful

CHARACTERS
Morally Grey

TROPES

☙ Slow-Burn Betrayal

☙ Enemies to Lovers

☙ Multiple Love Interests

☙ Disability rep

☙ Political Intrigue

☙ Beautiful World Building

☙ Emotional Mindspin

☙ She is a dancer and a spy

MY REVIEW
First of all, thank you to Netgalley and the Author for the review copy. I was completely hooked from the very first sentence. I would have read the book in one sitting if it wasn't for my work and life....boring......lol.....to say this story was beautifully written is an understatement......it's been a long time since I really enjoyed a book with zero spice and all angst and emotional mindspin.

I was living in the shoes of Vasalie Moran in this book.....It was trauma-drenched royal drama with a side of forbidden tension......oohhhh!!!! The tension was so good and I was eating it up.....I loved all the characters, even the hateful ones....every character has depth, their own reason for doing depraved things they were doing....the FMC Vasalie Moran....(what a beautiful name tho)..........she is no wallflower. She’s gritty, resourceful, and haunted by more than just her past. Her choices aren’t clean—they’re messy, dark, and stitched together with sheer willpower and sarcasm. I totally stan a heroine who will spy, and lie.

On the whole, it was an amazing first book in the series. I cannot wait for the next book....I hope there is a next book and a series and not a standalone....I would totally read Vasalie's story more.

MY RATING
Overall: ★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Plot: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Romance: ★★★★★ | 5 Star

Characters:★★★★★ | 5 Stars

Pacing: ★★★★★| 5 stars

Mystery: ★★★★★| 5 star

Banter: ★★★★★| 5 star

Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 | Level 5 stars

Book Cover:★★★★★| 5 Stars

THE BEST PART
☙ The betrayal dynamics and Vasalie's emotions surrounding it
☙ The interest of two kings in Vasalie was the icing on the cake.

☙ he calls her little Minnow 😆

☙ the plot twists....ugh perfection👩‍🍳😙🤌

Best Words

Happy Reading!!

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