Find Romantasy Books
The Ascended (The Aesymarean Duet)
Parker Lennox
4.7
A Dance of Lies (The Edge of Glass)
by Brittney Arena
Published Jun 10, 2025
Categories
About this book
Vasalie Moran is a woman redefined by survival. Once a celebrated dancer in King Illian’s court, she spent two harrowing years rotting in a dungeon after being framed for a murder she didn’t commit. Now, the King offers a treacherous bargain: secure her freedom by acting as his personal spy during the high-stakes royal Gathering.
Vasalie accepts, trading her past for a chance at liberation, but the role demands she become a weapon of deceit. As the King’s orders grow increasingly lethal, Vasalie realizes she is a pawn in a game far darker than the court’s glittering facade. To navigate the web of conspiracies, she aligns herself with the King’s brother—the infamous King of the East and her master’s greatest rival.
This fragile alliance forces Vasalie into a dangerous dance between two powerful men, each harboring secrets that threaten to consume her. Amidst the rising political tension and lethal betrayals, Vasalie must confront the haunting truth of her own history. With her soul hanging in the balance, she is forced to decide if the price of her freedom is worth the cost of her humanity, or if she can burn the entire kingdom down to claim it.
Available Formats
Kindle: $12.99 Hardcover: $16.82
What readers are saying
Jennifer M OutlawA Lush, Dangerous Dance of Power and Survival
"This book is stunningly written. The imagery is vivid and cinematic, from the elegance of the dancing to the constant, breathless tension of the spying and political intrigue. I was completely immersed and genuinely didn’t want to put it down. Vasalie is a morally gray heroine with chronic pain, hardened by trauma but fueled by sheer will to survive, and watching her reclaim her power and begin fighting for herself was incredibly compelling. Fast-paced, emotionally charged, and layered with betrayal and ambition, this story kept me hooked from start to finish. And that ending? Brutal—in the best way. I need book two immediately. ["
January 22, 2026 Verified Purchase
AshleyClose to a 5⭐️
"This is a great story and worth your time. It is definitely better than some of the mass produced complain Romantasy that can dominate the genre these days. It didn’t go all the way to a 5 star for me though because the first half of the book was a little slow and while this book had a ton of unique and original ideas, and I didn’t guess all the twists, it didn’t give me that air of freshness when an author really takes things in unpredictable and subversive ways. Overall, though, I’d recommend it for Romantasy readers. It’s a slow burn and lower spice. ["
June 21, 2025 Verified Purchase
blanca aguilarA Dance of Lies
"** spoiler alert ** 3.5 Stars ⭐️ A Dance of Lies was my first book centered around a ballet dancer, and I was really excited to pick it up because growing up, I always dreamed of becoming a ballerina. Vasalie is the FMC, once the king’s prized dancer and nearly his lover, until she’s framed for a crime she didn’t commit and imprisoned for years. Because of her long imprisonment, she develops chronic pain and can no longer dance the way she once did. She’s eventually offered a chance at freedom but only if she agrees to act as a dancer-spy during a massive event where multiple monarchs gather and where she has to follows the orders of the king who once loved her. Along the way, Vasalie meets people who help her complete her mission, forming friendships she later betrays for her king. She also gains a dance partner she begins to care for, while simultaneously growing closer to the king she’s supposed to be spying on, leading to complicated emotions and romance. One of my favorite elements was the magical stained glass windows and one of the more interesting concepts in the story is the idea that Death cannot take you unless you’ve never loved someone. While there’s meant to be a love triangle, it felt more like Vasalie falling for anyone who showed her kindness or attention. Lol which was a little amusing. Overall, I enjoyed the story enough that I’m definitely interested in continuing the series and picking up the second book. Thank You netgalley, the publisher and Brittney for the Arc! 💖 ["
December 18, 2025
Rlpray16Read it for the banter!
"4.5⭐️ rounded up. The debut authors are kicking 2026 off to a fantastic start for me, including A Dance of Lies! This gets bonus points for being a duology instead of 3-5 books! This was a unique slow-burn with witty banter that made me love the MMC right away. The dance descriptions brought an ethereal element to the story. The writing was almost poetic. I’m in for book 2! ["
March 1, 2026 Verified Purchase
