A Dance of Lies

By: Brittney Arena

Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang, Brittney Arena

A 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

“Beautifully written, with immersive worldbuilding, a gripping plot, and heart-pounding danger around every turn.”—Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Throne of Secrets

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.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF contianing an illustrated map of The Crown's Syndicate.

Critic reviews

“Beautifully written, with immersive worldbuilding, a gripping plot, and heart-pounding danger around every turn.”—Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Throne of Secrets

“A breathtaking debut! A Dance of Lies is beautifully written and filled with intrigue, with an incredible protagonist who is both vulnerable and resilient. It’s romantic, heartrending, and riveting—prepare to be swept away by this captivating fantasy.”—Sue Lynn Tan, USA Today bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess

“A stunningly elegant story of grit, passion, and determination that will sweep you up with its magic, keep you on your toes with twists, and leave you breathless for more . . . A glittering fantasy debut you don’t want to miss!”—Kalyn Josephson, New York Times bestselling author of This Dark Descent

“Arena’s A Dance of Lies is a mesmerizing debut of intricate plotlines, sizzling romance, and treacherous alliances, deftly choreographed with rich, evocative language into a tale as hauntingly exquisite as one of Vasalie’s dances. A breathtaking new favorite!”—Lyra Selene, #1 Sunday Times Bestselling author of A Feather So Black

“As beautiful and sharp as the edge of shattered glass, this twisting tale of intrigue, romance, and resilience grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go.”—K. M. Enright, author of Mistress of Lies

A work of art

Leaves me breathless! I feel moved. Absolutely love. More than words can describe how beautiful this piece is.

Grabbed my attention from the beginning!

Solid 5 star read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Dance of Lies snapped me out of a months-long reading slump—and I was hooked from the first chapter!

Brittney Arena’s debut novel is a sweeping, emotionally charged fantasy that hits all the right notes. The world-building, character development, and emotional depth all strike a near-perfect balance between scene-setting and reader freedom. The author's descriptions are vivid enough to anchor the reader in the moment but never so drawn out that you’re stuck wading through pages of scenery. It felt cinematic but still left room for the reader's imagination to play.

Vasalie is an incredible main character who is layered, fierce, and vulnerable in all the right ways. She is strong, complex, and unforgettable—I cannot wait to see the journey she takes in this book series.

I listened on Audible and Lauren Fortgang was a fantastic choice for the audiobook—her performance captured the emotional weight and pacing of the story perfectly while bringing Vasalie’s character to life.

And that ending? I have no words 🤯 I need book two immediately and probably 3–5 business days to emotionally recover. This was a stunning debut, and I’m already desperate for the next installment of this series. Brittney Arena is officially on my auto-buy list!

Beautifully written story!

Everything about this book was amazing!! The narration was great, the story so beautiful and the political intrigue was awesome!

Fantastic standout debut!

Finally! I’ve been in such a reading slump and felt like I was being cursed by bad romantasies. Even ones I really was looking forward to this year. Tried this one out as the author is so sweet online with her readers and wow I am so incredibly happy that I tried it. Great romance, so much yearning, great disability representation, and it’s such a cinematic and gorgeous masterpiece. I loved feeling wrapped up in this. Not high in spice but the romance swept me away and it made every tender exchange that much more lovely. Also really adored having a highly intelligent and charming MMC and a pragmatic and strong willed FMC. I NEED BOOK TWO RIGHT NOW! This had me in a chokehold!

Perfectly average

The story is just a whole lot of nothing special. It doesn’t fall into the standard tropes and pitfalls that subpar romantasy stories always seem to, but it just does not grip my attention at all. I made it to about chapter 20 before I gave up and asked to get my credit back.