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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny
Minor: Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Murder, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There are so many aspects of this book, this story, that were a huge YES for me. We open with the FMC in a prison cell? Yes please! Oh, she's forced to work as a spy? Double yes!! And there's betrayal left, right and centre?? I literally couldn't ask for me. From the very first page, this story was so unique and so captivating that I found it extremely hard to keep to @jonathanballpublishers x @readers_warehouse readalong's daily set chapters, I wanted to bury my nose in these pages and not stop reading until I gobbled up the entire book!
I really enjoyed the way these characters were written! We have a strong FMC, a villain who is devious and brilliant and honestly, just pure evil and a sort of "who actually is the MMC?" vibe in the beginning! Vasalie was such a complex character with a complex past and I loved how we only get to know who she truly is slowly. I absolutely loved King Anton, yes, there are things about him and his reputation that don't sit well at face value BUT he is so charming and so absolutely witty that you cannot help but love him.
I loved the plot, I loved the wow moments and the betrayal was just so good! The mystery surrounding King Illian's plans and how he was going to use Vasalie to accomplish them was brilliant as well as the mystery regarding King Anton himself. I absolutely loved the setting of this story, I loved how the author found ways to incorporate her love for art, such as Vasalie's dancing or Anton's appreciation for glasswork. The plot twist was so good and I actually had no idea that this book was not a standalone so that was also a huge surprise to end on!
I really enjoyed the way these characters were written! We have a strong FMC, a villain who is devious and brilliant and honestly, just pure evil and a sort of "who actually is the MMC?" vibe in the beginning! Vasalie was such a complex character with a complex past and I loved how we only get to know who she truly is slowly. I absolutely loved King Anton, yes, there are things about him and his reputation that don't sit well at face value BUT he is so charming and so absolutely witty that you cannot help but love him.
I loved the plot, I loved the wow moments and the betrayal was just so good! The mystery surrounding King Illian's plans and how he was going to use Vasalie to accomplish them was brilliant as well as the mystery regarding King Anton himself. I absolutely loved the setting of this story, I loved how the author found ways to incorporate her love for art, such as Vasalie's dancing or Anton's appreciation for glasswork. The plot twist was so good and I actually had no idea that this book was not a standalone so that was also a huge surprise to end on!
I have a love hate relationship with this book. As we’re all aware, the first part of a fantasy book is always well building which this author did a great job of. However it felt like there was nothing big happening in the beginning although there were simple things happening none of them would be enough to shock me the way that I would hope for a fantasy.
This book is labelled as romantasy and although it eventually became clear who the love interest would be it took a very long time to get there.
I almost DNF’d this book but decided to persevere. I feel like the story really got interesting around 70% of the way through. I’m glad I stuck with it and finished it. The last five chapters were insane with so much happening. I’m slightly annoyed by the ending, but it is a typical ending of a fantasy book that is starting a series.
This book is labelled as romantasy and although it eventually became clear who the love interest would be it took a very long time to get there.
I almost DNF’d this book but decided to persevere. I feel like the story really got interesting around 70% of the way through. I’m glad I stuck with it and finished it. The last five chapters were insane with so much happening. I’m slightly annoyed by the ending, but it is a typical ending of a fantasy book that is starting a series.
"But I remind myself that I am not a damsel. I’m no princess bound within a tower."
Thank you DelRey and PRH audio for my copies!
What a fantastic debut! I have been wanting to read it ever since the book was announced and was lucky enough to read an early copy. A Dance Of Lies was immersive, romantic and thrilling at the same time. Vasalie is a favored dancer in king Illian's court until she is wrongfully framed for a murder and locked up in the prison for two years, she loses her carefully built strength as a dancer along with enduring lot of mental trauma. The only way out of her predicament is to accept a precarious bargain where she'd become a spy in the enemy court for Illiyan and in return she'd be pardoned for her supposed crime.
Vasalie is the most resilient FMC I have read in recent times, she doesn't let neither her disability nor the brutal betrayals define her future. She is strong willed, passionate and navigates tough situation with her quite yer determined strength, I really loved how the author took utmost care in representing disability/ chronic pain. I really enjoyed the prose especially the choreography descriptions were mesmerizing and imaginative along with the seaside castles built of glass and the extravagant court settings.
I can't not speak about the MMC Anton and his chef's kiss of a banter, it is a super slow burn romance and I seriously ate it up. Their word volley had me giggling so many times and the lore is equally fascinating as well, the court intrigue was quite entertaining. I enjoyed the book completely and don't have any major qualms or flaws worth mentioning other than the ending that made me clench my jaw even though I saw it coming haha, but that only makes me even more excited for the second book.
I also tried switching to audio at times and I have to say the production was really good and if you find yourself wanting to try the audio, I definitely recommend it too. Overall a great debut!
Thank you DelRey and PRH audio for my copies!
What a fantastic debut! I have been wanting to read it ever since the book was announced and was lucky enough to read an early copy. A Dance Of Lies was immersive, romantic and thrilling at the same time. Vasalie is a favored dancer in king Illian's court until she is wrongfully framed for a murder and locked up in the prison for two years, she loses her carefully built strength as a dancer along with enduring lot of mental trauma. The only way out of her predicament is to accept a precarious bargain where she'd become a spy in the enemy court for Illiyan and in return she'd be pardoned for her supposed crime.
Vasalie is the most resilient FMC I have read in recent times, she doesn't let neither her disability nor the brutal betrayals define her future. She is strong willed, passionate and navigates tough situation with her quite yer determined strength, I really loved how the author took utmost care in representing disability/ chronic pain. I really enjoyed the prose especially the choreography descriptions were mesmerizing and imaginative along with the seaside castles built of glass and the extravagant court settings.
I can't not speak about the MMC Anton and his chef's kiss of a banter, it is a super slow burn romance and I seriously ate it up. Their word volley had me giggling so many times and the lore is equally fascinating as well, the court intrigue was quite entertaining. I enjoyed the book completely and don't have any major qualms or flaws worth mentioning other than the ending that made me clench my jaw even though I saw it coming haha, but that only makes me even more excited for the second book.
I also tried switching to audio at times and I have to say the production was really good and if you find yourself wanting to try the audio, I definitely recommend it too. Overall a great debut!
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I went into this book not knowing whole lot about it, so I didn't have any expectations. Absolutely love love love the cover design!
Taking 0.25 off the rating because it was SO obvious from the beginning, that Anton is just the biggest golden retriever ever and it took Vas way to long to understand ... it got a little annoying.
Other than that, really liked the story, even though it was a lot darker and brutal than I expected it to be.
Had to switch from the German translation to the English original, because the translation felt ... cringey.
Will be reading part 2 for sure!
Taking 0.25 off the rating because it was SO obvious from the beginning, that Anton is just the biggest golden retriever ever and it took Vas way to long to understand ... it got a little annoying.
Other than that, really liked the story, even though it was a lot darker and brutal than I expected it to be.
Had to switch from the German translation to the English original, because the translation felt ... cringey.
Will be reading part 2 for sure!
medium-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated