What have I been reading lately: A Dance of Lies and To Dance with Death by Brittney Arena – A duology. Read on for my thoughts on both books! – Just to add a thank you to Netgalley for my ARC copy of To Dance with Death.
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A Dance of Lies Review
If you love fantasy romance with sharp edges, high-stakes court intrigue, and a heroine who refuses to be anyone’s victim, A Dance with Lies is the kind of debut that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go.
Vasalie Moran is instantly compelling: once a dancer in King Illian’s court, now a survivor of two brutal years in the dungeons after being framed for murder. When she’s hauled back into the light, it isn’t for mercy. It’s for a bargain. Spy for the king during a six-week royal Gathering, do exactly what he says, and earn her freedom.
What makes this story shine is how relentlessly it tests Vasalie’s sense of self. Illian’s demands aren’t just dangerous. They’re morally corrosive, forcing her to harm and betray people who don’t deserve it. The tension isn’t only will she survive? But what will survival cost her? That emotional pressure builds beautifully, page after page, until you’re as trapped in the web as she is.
Book twists
And then the book twists the knife in the best way. As Vasalie begins to suspect that Illian may be connected to an even greater threat, one disturbingly close to her own history, she makes a desperate, fascinating choice: she turns to Illian’s brother, the infamous King of the East. The rivalry between the brothers is electric, and Vasalie caught between them creates a delicious push-and-pull of danger, strategy, and attraction.
Arena balances romance and plot with real control. The chemistry simmers under layers of secrecy and power, and the court politics feel genuinely perilous rather than decorative. Most of all, I loved that Vasalie isn’t written as a pawn. She’s a shadow, yes, but she’s also a person fighting to keep her heart intact while the world tries to turn her into a weapon.
By the time the truth of Vasalie’s past starts to surface, the stakes are personal, brutal, and impossible to ignore. A Dance with Lies is hopeful without being soft, romantic without losing its bite, and packed with betrayal that actually hurts.
A gripping, emotionally charged fantasy romance debut with a fierce heroine, treacherous court intrigue, and the kind of morally messy choices that make you read “just one more chapter” until it’s suddenly 2 a.m.
A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena is out now on Amazon
To Dance with Death Review
We then move on to the conclusion of the duology. To Dance with Death by Brittney Arena. This book completely stole my heart. It’s the kind of fantasy romance sequel that doesn’t just “finish the story”. It deepens everything: the stakes, the emotion, and especially the love at the centre of it all.
What I loved most is how boldly this book leans into the idea that love can stretch beyond the limits of a normal life. Literally crossing into the realm of death. The underworld/afterlife element gives the story a haunting, epic atmosphere, making every choice feel heavier, more meaningful, and more heartbreaking.
And then there’s Anton. I think the memory loss trope can be emotional when it’s done well, and this one hurt in the best way – watching Vasalie fight for someone who doesn’t remember her, and who’s been stripped of the compassion and truth that shaped their bond. It is painful, tense, and impossible to look away from. Add in the forced proximity and the fact that she’s facing the “worst version” of him, and the romance becomes this slow, aching push-and-pull that had me rooting for them constantly.
Representation of chronic pain
I also really appreciated the representation of chronic pain for Vasalie. It’s not brushed aside or romanticised. It’s part of her reality, and it adds so much depth to her resilience. Seeing a heroine carry that and still keep going with so much determination and heart made me love her even more.
Overall, this book is emotional, dramatic, and intensely romantic. Full of sacrifice, longing, and that delicious kind of angst that makes the payoff feel earned. If you enjoy fantasy romance with afterlife vibes, memory loss, forced proximity, and a love story that refuses to stay buried, I honestly think you’ll adore it as much as I did.
To Dance With Death by Brittney Arena is available to pre-order on Amazon. Out 13th August 2026.
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