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bookishone 's review for:
A Dance of Lies
by Brittney Arena
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. It’s the first romance that I honestly believed since it didn’t feel rushed or forced. The author did a great job of showing instead of telling in that regard, which I appreciate.
The relationship between the FMC and the MMC had time to develop naturally, both of them fully developed characters that complement each other. Also, it’s TRULY a slow burn, finally!.
The plot was gripping, even if the pacing at times felt too slow. I didn’t predict the ending, which is rare for me especially with a romantasy book, so it’s fair to say I was happily surprised.
It has all the traditional beats of a novel of this genre and yet it’s still new in the way they are presented and executed. I loved that the characters were complex, that they had a backstory that made sense and had ripples in the present, that the world building was well thought out and that the politics had me confused for most of it. And I especially loved that the characters were just human for once.
I would have loved to spend more time with the FMC at the beginning while she came to terms with her new reality and the implications it would have for her, because that part felt a bit rushed.
The disability representation was there though it could have been executed better: aside from constant pain and exhaustion, it doesn’t seem to affect the FMC’s ability to perform much, which didn’t feel realistic in a book where magic is barely present, if at all. I don’t mind a romantasy with little to no magic, but then the realism should be extended to all aspects of the story, which in this case, it wasn’t.
Is it the best book I’ve ever read? No. Do I have criticism about some elements of it? Sure, but it is one of the best I’ve read this year, and I do 100% recommend it.
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes: “I would never deign to wrap myself in their garments and attempt to tell a tale only they should give voice to”. The RESPECT! Loved it.
The relationship between the FMC and the MMC had time to develop naturally, both of them fully developed characters that complement each other. Also, it’s TRULY a slow burn, finally!.
The plot was gripping, even if the pacing at times felt too slow. I didn’t predict the ending, which is rare for me especially with a romantasy book, so it’s fair to say I was happily surprised.
It has all the traditional beats of a novel of this genre and yet it’s still new in the way they are presented and executed. I loved that the characters were complex, that they had a backstory that made sense and had ripples in the present, that the world building was well thought out and that the politics had me confused for most of it. And I especially loved that the characters were just human for once.
I would have loved to spend more time with the FMC at the beginning while she came to terms with her new reality and the implications it would have for her, because that part felt a bit rushed.
The disability representation was there though it could have been executed better: aside from constant pain and exhaustion, it doesn’t seem to affect the FMC’s ability to perform much, which didn’t feel realistic in a book where magic is barely present, if at all. I don’t mind a romantasy with little to no magic, but then the realism should be extended to all aspects of the story, which in this case, it wasn’t.
Is it the best book I’ve ever read? No. Do I have criticism about some elements of it? Sure, but it is one of the best I’ve read this year, and I do 100% recommend it.
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes: “I would never deign to wrap myself in their garments and attempt to tell a tale only they should give voice to”. The RESPECT! Loved it.