A Dance of Lies
the #1 Sunday Times bestselling romantic fantasy
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3.5 • 4 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
2025's most-anticipated new debut romantic fantasy is the epic, unmissable story of hope after heartbreak, secrets, betrayal, dancing - and the touch of a goddess of death.
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 month-long 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 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 King of the East.
As the rivalry between brothers escalates with Vasalie caught in the middle, the 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
Praise for A Dance of Lies
'A breathtaking debut! Dance of Lies is beautifully written and filled with intrigue, with an incredible protagonist who is both vulnerable and resilient. Romantic, heartrending, and riveting - prepare to be swept away by this captivating fantasy' - Sue Lynn Tan, Sunday Times bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.
A Dance of Lies, Sunday Times bestseller, July 2025
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A young dancer becomes entangled in a dangerous web of betrayal and violence in Arena's ambitious debut. Vasalie Moran was King Illian's "Jewel," his most prized dancer, until she was falsely accused of murder and locked away. Two years later, he calls on her to perform at the Crowns' Gathering, a royal summit where his two brothers will also be in attendance, and act as his spy in exchange for her freedom. Vasalie agrees, traveling to the Isle of Anell to perform while secretly navigating dangerous assignments from Illian. When he orders her to earn the trust of his charming younger brother, King Anton, and infiltrate his private circle, she finds herself in the center of a fatal power play between kings that could end her life before she gets a chance to see her freedom again. Arena successfully crafts a complicated political thriller with many moving parts though the spycraft grows frustrating as both Vasalie and the reader are kept in the dark about the purpose of her assignments for far too long. The action is also frequently interrupted by Vasalie's melodramatic musings and overshadowed by her developing romantic connection with Anton. Still, the premise and worldbuilding feel fresh, and there's enough substance that romantic fantasy readers will be invested.
