A Dance of Lies Audiobook By Brittney Arena cover art

A Dance of Lies

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A Dance of Lies

By: Brittney Arena
Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang, Brittney Arena
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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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 Brittney Arena (P)2025 Random House Audio Action & Adventure Epic Fantasy Royalty Survival Heartfelt Fiction

Critic reviews

“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
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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!

Grabbed my attention from the beginning!

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This book was so good I couldn’t stop listening. I had to know what was going to happen next! The author did such a good job writing every character in this book, including the side characters. I could easily envision all of them. I loved how so many different threads all tied together at the end of the book. The narrarator did a great job. Spend the credit. It’s worth it!!

I couldn’t stop listening!

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I quite enjoyed this read. Although I don’t suffer from chronic illness myself I think we can all relate on some level to the exhaustion Vasalie feels when thinking back to recovering from an illness or even a surgery. I related her perseverance to being newly postpartum, knowing despite the pain and fatigue you just have to rally and continue on.

The authors descriptions flow through the main character in a way that actually lends itself to the character’s personality. You come to realize Vasalie is very analytical and kind of defines things and talks through things to herself a lot, always reasoning and assessing. I listened via audiobook and there were admittedly a few times it tripped me up because I wouldn’t realize I was hearing internal monologue at first but it never took long to figure it out.

One particular character was very refreshing to read, his personality was exceedingly charming and bucked any opportunity to be dark and brooding which I loved.

I also appreciated that the stakes felt well thought out. I find too often shows and books where characters are faced with hard choices or ultimatums writing often gets lazy or leans on a lack of simple communication. I didn’t find that here at all. I didn’t find myself questioning Vasalie’s logic or shouting “just do/say this” etc. which made it much easier to just enjoy the story and be along for the ride.

Nail biting slow burn

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This was actually my third attempt at reading this book… and I think it’s officially time to call it. 🥺

The story just didn’t pull me in. I got about halfway through, but the pacing was so slow and lacked the kind of tension or stakes that make me want to keep turning the page. I kept waiting for something—anything—to hook me, but it never really came.

The writing wanted to be lyrical and beautiful, but for me, it didn’t quite land. Instead, it felt like it was trying too hard without actually drawing me into the story.

Also… why did I read so much about flour in just half a book? 😳 Like, genuinely. So much flour.

I don’t usually rate books I DNF, but if I had finished, this probably wouldn’t have been more than a two-star read for me. Just not for me, and that’s okay!

DNF Review @ 50%

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