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Lola St. James has lived an anonymous life for four years, since her prominent father lost a high-stakes competition and made her a target. She was kidnapped by thugs and then rescued by the Thief, a young man who has magic that helps him go incorporeal, among other things. Since that time, she has worked closely with him in his thieving, an excellent partner because of the emotions they feel in their shared heart.
When her father didn’t pay her kidnappers and the Thief took her, Lola was considered dead. Since then she’s gone by a pseudonym and hidden away so people won’t discover otherwise. While she considers the Thief her best friend and a special partner, she still wants to become one of his gang the Tentacles.
When an important theft goes awry, she has to compete herself in the same competition her father lost. The Liar’s Dice Tournament is run by the Liar, the Thief’s estranged brother, and competing could expose Lola and the Thief’s plans, but they need information. And being in the Liar’s headquarters could give her time to find out his secrets and free her and the Thief from their need to share a heart.
Even though she’s warned about the Liar and his magic abilities, Lola finds herself attracted to him. She ostensibly gets close to him to discover important information. But as they get to know each other, Lola she realizes the Liar may be just as cursed as his brother, the Thief.
As the days go by in the tournament, the stakes become even higher, and Lola finds herself confused — about her own past, about the two young men, about the magic they wield. Is there any path through this maze of lies and magic that can lead her to the truth?
I was definitely intrigued by the premise of Den of Liars. I love fantasy, magic and heists, mixed with romance. This promised a Caraval-type plot and vibe, so I was all for it. At first, I was a bit nervous it wouldn’t live up to expectations. It felt like it was trying too hard for a little while. But then it (and I) got into the groove and I was all in. An entertaining page-turner. (I’d say it’s a 4.5 stars to Caraval’s five, but that’s pretty great!)
Definitely recommend.
Rated: Mild. Profanity includes around 25 instances of moderate profanity and 40 uses of mild language. Sexual content includes a couple scenes of intense kissing and a touch of hands roaming under shirts. Violence is most frequent, with hand-to-hand fights involving knives and poison and a number of injuries.
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*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
