A Dance of Lies absolutely lived up to the hype. I’ve been following Brittney for a while on social media and when I saw this book announcement, I had to read it! This swoony and adventure filled book is everything I wanted and more! Keep reading this book review of A Dance of Lies for my full thoughts.
Summary
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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Based on Brittney’s own experiences, A Dance of Lies is an utter triumph of a book. It’s a book about power, adversity, love, and sacrifice. I’ve been excited about A Dance of Lies for months now. With the cruelty of the rulership bearing down on us, for Vasalie she has to figure out what she is willing to sacrifice. We think we’ve lost everything we have to lose, but we can always be surprised. Haunted by the past, and constantly running, Vasalie is faced with all the people she has to betray now. One of my favorite elements was her relationship to dance and her own physical abilities especially after her imprisonment.
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She feels frustrated by her lack of abilities before her imprisonment and trapped within the past. I loved the beginning parts of A Dance of Lies where Vasalie is working through her recovery and processing the trauma to her body, her mind, and soul. If you’re a fan of the slow burn yearning, of the enemies to lovers, A Dance of Lies is for you. It’s a story about choices and wondering how much impact we have over not only our own life, but those around us. Full of yearning, we have to question the things we are told, the misconceptions we have of people, and our own ideas about our possibilities.
With an ending that still has my heart in my throat, A Dance of Lies was everything I wanted and more. Find A Dance of Lies on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.