To Dance with Death by Brittney Arena – Book Review
Book Details
To Dance with Death by Brittney Arena
Series: The Edge of Glass #2
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Kindle Edition
Published by: Del Ray on August 4, 2026
Goodreads rating: 4.21/5
My rating: 4/5
Blurb of To Dance with Death by Brittney Arena
Quoted from Goodreads:
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.
Slow-burn, found family, disability/chronic illness representation, second chance, memory loss, secrets & betrayal, political intrigue, underworld court, forced proximity, dual POV.
My Review
This was such a satisfying way to finish the duology. It felt like a bit of a shift from the first book, and while it didn’t grip me quite as much, it had a stronger emotional impact.
The pacing was much slower, with less action and political intrigue, but all the yearning, tension, and romance that took a back seat in the first book more than made up for it.
The missing memory trope isn’t my favourite, but it allowed Vasalie’s strength to really shine through. There was so much weight and pressure on her shoulders, yet she remained fierce and determined, refusing to give up.
This was a heartfelt conclusion that gave me all the feels and wrapped everything up beautifully.
“I am not a victim. I am a threat.”
More Book Reviews
Find your next read with these book recommendations: