Author: Arena, Brittney

Fantasy romance

Published on 5 June 2025 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC in the United Kingdom.

Hardback | 448 pages
242 x 165 x 39 | 674g

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 processPraise 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.