A Dance of Lies review

 

Book: A Dance of Lies

Author: Brittney Arena

Pages: 448

Date(s) Read: July 26^th, 2026 to August 21^st, 2026

Date Published: June 20^th, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 4/5

Format: Hardcover

Date Bought: 2025

Book Cost: $40.00

Review:

A Dance of Lies is a jewel of a book. The world is lush and vibrant with an unforgettable story and noteworthy characters being led by a fantastic female lead who has various struggles both mental and physical, to overcome. The revelations and twists will have your jaw dropping.

 

In this fantasy world, full of the perfect amount of world-building, I should add, we are introduced to Vasalie Moran. Once the Kings Jewel she has spent the last two years wasting away in jail for a crime she didn't commit. King Illian is willing to release her if she acts as a spy for him during the crown's gathering on the Isle of Anell. While there, she meets a motley assortment of interesting, unique, and lovable characters with different and varied motivations and personalities. Vasalie longs to interact and make friends with others, but her precarious position as Illians spy keeps her from involving herself with others until a particularly devious request forces Vasalie to make some tough decisions.

 

This novel takes a lot of care in its handling of tough themes. Vasalie herself is left with permanent disabilities and changes to her body from the years in prison with malnourishment and lack of movement. Vasalie is a multifaceted heroine who has become my all-time favorite female main character. She struggles not only with various ailments, but also with deep psychological pain, and the morality surrounding betraying those around her in a bid to save herself. Never has a heroine struggled so much with such quandaries; it was really refreshing.

 

This book of course wouldn't be a romantasy without romance, and you will get a unique love triangle with two very different men in terms of looks, personality, and places in their respective societies. It's like night and day. Usually, when I read romantasy the various love interests are all highly similar: brooding and sulking, stoic males. You won't find that here; men have real personalities. They also both have fully fleshed-out pasts.

 

I have one complaint; it's a small one. It ends on a cliffhanger, and since it was just released, there's no book two yet, but rest assured, knowing that as soon as it's available for preorder, it's going to be at the top of my TBR.

 

If you have even a passing interest in romantasy and are looking for a heroine with more depth than usual and male love interests with personality that doesn't entail growling, then you need to run to your local bookstore and grab A Dance of Lies.

Bone of My Bone review

 

Book: Bone of My Bone

Author: Johanna van Veen

Pages: 368

Date(s) Read: June 14^th, 2026 to August 20^th, 2026

Date Published: May 26^th, 2026

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Sapphic, Horror

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 4/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: May 26^th, 2026

Book Cost: $14.99

Review:

Bone Of My Bone is a moody and atmospheric Gothic tale of horror and love that will stay with you long after you've finished it.

 

In Bone of My Bone, a nun, Ursula, joins forces with Elsbeth, a worldly peasant girl, to reunite the head and body of a saint while being chased by a mad necromancer.

 

 

I loved this novel. It's dark and tragic but also brimming with a love and devotion like no other. It's as romantic as it is horrific.

 

if you like all things spooky, shadowy, and morbid, you will love this sapphic tale

Kingdom of the Wicked review

 

Book: Kingdom of the Wicked

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Pages: 385

Date(s) Read: June 3^rd, 2026 to August 19^th, 2026

Date Published: October 27^th, 2020

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Fae, Romantasy

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 3/5

Story: 4/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Soft Cover

Date Bought: December 8^th, 2025

Book Cost: $7.12

Review:

Kingdom Of the Wicked is a good, albeit slow novel that can really drag at times.

 

In Kingdom of the Wicked, a witch named Emilia seeks to uncover the truth behind the death of her twin sister Vittoria.

 

As someone of Sicilian descent, I enjoyed all of the cultural nods and intricacies. The setting was as much a character as any other.

 

I loved Emilias personality and her thirst for knowledge, her desire to do right by her sister. Wrath is a typical male lead in a romantasy, brooding and dark but sexy somehow. Antonio intrigued me the most.

 

Kingdom of the Wicked is a solid work of Gothic romantasy that will satisfy, but it can drag at times. knowing that, I'd still recommend this novel.

Tithe review (Illumicrate edition)

 

Book: Tithe

Author: Holly Black

Pages: 272

Date(s) Read: June 25^th, 2026 to August 17^th, 2026

Date Published: October 1^st, 2002

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Fae, Romantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Hard Cover (Illumicrate Edition)

Date Bought: June

Book Cost: $30.00

Review:

I read this book over 20 years ago in the early 2000s when I was a middle school student. I hated it, now though reading it again as a 35 year old I'm not sure what I hated so much about it. I think I was put off by Kayes and Ellen's relationship and Ellen in particular.

 

Kayes mother is super selfish, she struggles to make a living trying to live her dream as a singer but when you're a parent that's not fair. You should put your kid first and never once does Ellen do what's in the best interest of her daughter. Because of Kayes upbringing she is a high school drop out who steals, drinks, and smokes. She's kind of a bad kid.

 

She's rather impulsive and tenacious though which makes her interesting. As a 35 year old I found myself really rooting for her. When Kaye saves a mysterious handsome man her world is turned up side down. She finds out the truth about her circumstances and some of the magical abilities she has as well as her child hood friends. Kaye also makes friends with her bff's weird, standoffish brother.

 

I admit the story is unusual and trying to describe it without giving away big plot elements is something I found to be quite difficult. It's a good book though and really should be experienced, not just as one of Holly Blacks original works but as an early 2000s YA/Urban Fantasy. Over 20 years later it's still quite distinct.

 

I also read the Illumicrate edition which had insightful and interesting annotations from the author, beautiful endpage art, and a lovely hardcover illustration.

An Arcane Study of Stars review

 

Book: An Arcane Study of Stars

Author: Sydney J. Shields

Pages: 501

Date(s) Read: June 25^th, 2026 to August 7^th, 2026

Date Published: April 28^th, 2026

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Dark Academia, Romantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: July 6^th, 2026

Book Cost: 14.59

Review:

An Arcane Study of Stars is a well-written dark academia that actually revolves around the school instead of using it as a background drop.

 

In An Arcane Study of Stars, Claudia enters an otherworldly school to escape an arranged marriage to an 80-year-old. There she bargains with a God, solves a murder mystery, falls in love, and makes friends.

 

I really enjoyed the found family aspect; the characters are lovable, and I enjoyed their interactions. I was as invested in the side characters as I was in the main characters. The sexual tension between Cassius and Claudia is delicious; if you love some BDSM, you're really gonna root for this relationship. 

 

The only problems I had with this book is that there's no real halfway point between rivals to lovers. They go from avowed enemies to lovers in one fell swoop. It feels very sudden. I also got very little world-building from this world and the world Claudia comes from.

 

That being said, I loved this novel and the ending is a chefs kiss.

These Immortal Truths review

 

Book: These Immortal Truths

Author: Rachelle Raeta

Pages: 272

Date(s) Read: July 12^th, 2026 to August 5^th, 2026

Date Published: June 30^th, 2026

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Romantasy, Fantasy

Characters: 5/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Ending:  5/5

Cover: 3/5

Format: Hard Cover

Date Bought: July 11^th, 2026

Book Cost: $20.98

Review:

These Immortal Truths is a stunning novel. its everything Addie La Rue wishes it was.

 

In These Immortal Truths, Anna helps a stranger and is gifted fruit in return. She takes a bite, not knowing it will make her Immortal. Across the country and seas, she experiences life through turbulent times, employing her healing ways while growing closer to the man that bestowed a special piece of fruit upon her.

 

This book is everything. I loved the characters and felt myself desperate to eat up as much information as I could about them. Anna in particular is so giving and nurturing that it's hard not to like her. I loved Khiran and his mysteries, found Eira enchanting, and Silas to be unique.

 

This novel tackles heavy and important historical events. To get to feel like I'm experiencing them firsthand is like nothing I've ever felt.

 

If you like history with your romantasy, this is not to be missed. Addie Larue is good, but this? This is better.

The Lure of Wolves and Whispers review

 

Book: The Lure of Wolves and Whispers

Author: Amanda Connelly

Pages: 464

Date(s) Read: July 19^th, 2026 to August 3^rd, 2026

Date Published: July 7^th, 2026

Rating: 3/5

Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy

Characters: 3/5

Writing style: 5/5

Story: 3/5

Ending:  3/5

Cover: 5/5

Format: Hard Cover (fairyloot)

Date Bought: July 04^th, 2026

Book Cost: $40.00

While The Lure of Wolves and Whispers is compulsively readable, it's not particularly memorable.

 

In the Lure of Wolves and Whispers Maeve makes a deal in which, for the magic to save her sister, she must assassinate the king and fight in a deadly tournament.

 

I didn't find any of the characters particularly interesting or likable. These are some of the most forgettable characters. The romance is very trope-heavy and lacks passion and yearning. She likes the rebel leader she's working for, but we're not sure why.

 

Like I said, it's not a bad novel and is a fun read, but not a single thing in this book is stand out or exceptional in any way.