brittney arena – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Brittney Arena
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: August 4th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the epic conclusion to the fantasy romance duology that began with A Dance of Lies, Vasalie must journey to the realms of the dead to restore the memories of her beloved prince and stop a mounting war.

Once a spy for the ruthless King Illian, Vasalie sacrificed herself to kill him and prevent a prophesied war. But Illian’s brother, Anton—the king she allied with and began to love—struck a deal with Moranya, the goddess of the underworld, to bring Vasalie back. The his compassion, his memories of her, and all the events of the past six weeks.

Now stripped of the truth, Anton believes his friends betrayed him and accepts Moranya’s offer to rule the kingdom of the dead. But with the kingdom he leaves behind on the brink of civil war, and her cruel father threatening to invade, Vasalie realizes only Anton can reunite a fractured realm.

To save her world and the man she was coming to love, Vasalie must journey to the underworld and reclaim him. But the Anton she finds is the worst version of the arrogant, debauched king she once thought he was. To restore him, she’ll have to restore his memories first… even if it means sacrificing her own heart.

Thank you to Del Rey for the eARC.

BEAUTIFUL CONCLUSION.

I just really love the way Brittney Arena writes. It’s delicate and raw and always brining these added touches that create an environment I can’t look away from. I was most attached to the themes and small moments I highlighted about life and loving someone at their best AND worst and how that can lead to a hopeful and peaceful life.

Vasalie exhibited the same strength from book one and took even further leaps to guide Anton back to her. I loved that their was still a lot of dancing content and friendly banter between Vasalie and Sundar. The halfway mark was a turning point that brought more of the plot lines moving and I loved the convergence.

I’m still smitten with Vasalie and Anton. I liked the banter and the somewhat reversed situation from the previous book. I have many moments playing through my mind on a loop that I just could not get enough of. Bring me the swoon and the yearning.

I would have loved a few more Anton chapters and I do think there was a small issue with the pacing.

Minor things that do not override how much I loved the journey. Brittney Arena has solidified herself as one of my favorite fantasy romance authors and I can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: low
Romance: 1-2ish vague open door, emotional based
Violence: moderate

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Brittney Arena
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: June 10th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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

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.

Thank you to the author and Del Rey for the gifted ARC.

THIS WAS EVERYTHING.

I am someone who prefers to read my ARCs in order but this book was CALLING TO ME. And it DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Oh my goodness this will absolutely be one of my favorite fantasy romances of 2025.

Something I loved the most was that the focus was not on adding spice for the sake of it (in fact this book does not have any spice). The emotions were the focus and the slow burn journey as Vasalie is put into a perilous situation that could cost her everything, or might save the nation too.

I loved Vasalie. As someone who struggles with chronic pain there was an abundance of sentiments throughout (I highlighted the heck out of this book) that I resonated with and felt deep in my soul. I admired her strength and acknowledgement of her short comings, but also how far she has risen and her tenacity to honor her body and do her best.

The ROMANCE. I don’t want to say much on this front because I think it will truly be best experienced by reading the book without a lot of context. I loved everything about it and how the movement of the romantic aspects coincided beautifully with the political intrigue. All of the dance content had me wishing I could see these dances live because they were wonderfully written and crafted.

It’s a slow journey that is worth the build. So many moments stood out to me and I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. I anxiously await getting my hands on the sequel.

An incredible debut you must take a chance on.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy Romance
Language: mild
Romance: heated make-outs
Violence: high
Content Warnings: emotional abuse, physical abuse, alcoholism, PTSD, panic attacks, trauma, violence against children, graphic death, chronic illness, disability and sexism (these were taken from the front of my copy)