Title: Den of LiarsAuthor: Jessica S. Olson
Series: Den of Liars #1
Pages: 384
Publication Date: July 1, 2025
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
Synopsis:
A young thief attempting a daring casino heist during a high-stakes tournament is torn between two warring brothers in Den of Liars, a thrilling YA fantasy romance by acclaimed author Jessica S. Olson.
Lola St. James is the world’s best kept secret. When her father’s loss in the Liar’s Dice Tournament–a high-stakes competition where players are forced to gamble with their deepest secrets–made her a target, she was rescued by the Thief, the notorious leader of the Tentacles. But the Thief’s kindness came with a Lola’s heart. In the years that followed, she and the Thief formed a bond like no other, able to feel each other’s emotions because of their shared heart.
Now, living under the pseudonym Astra, she is determined to prove herself and become a full-fledged Tentacle. But when a critical heist goes sideways, the only way forward is for Lola to compete in the Liar’s Dice Tournament herself. Lola is confident in her ability to pull off any heist, but the Thief’s mysterious brother, the Liar, runs the game and he turns out to be more than she bargained for. As her attraction for him grows and illusions run wild, she will be forced to confront the secrets of her past, the truth of the brothers’ shared history, and the lies she tells herself.
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Den of Liars swept me into a world of glittering danger where secrets are currency, and it left me mildly feral with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger ending. Set in a unique and magical world with a casino where secrets are worth everything, Den of Liars is like a YA fantasy mash-up of a heist movie and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance with a twist of emotional complications and just the right amount of morally grey angst.
Lola is a thief with something to prove, a stolen heart, and a part in a deadly tournament where secrets are currency and losing isn’t just risky, it’s deadly. Her internal conflict between loyalty and desire, her hunger to belong, her trauma, and her need for control drive her. She’s strong, but also soft in places, and that mix was great. And both brothers, the Liar and the Thief, are complicated, wounded, frustrating, and fascinating in their own ways. The way they are with each other had major Damon and Stefan (TVD) vibes.
The romantic tension in this book sparks from the moment Lola locks eyes with the Liar. Their dynamic is so gripping in that “I don’t trust you, but I definitely want to kiss you” kind of way, and the fact that his brother, the infamous Thief, happens to be magically bonded to her complicates things beautifully. It’s not a love triangle in the traditional sense, but there’s a lot of tangled feelings and complex backstory to keep things emotionally layered and filled with conflict and obstacles. And the banter is fantastic!
I also loved how the magic system is woven into the setting. It’s dice-based, tied to secrets, and feels fresh and clever without needing a giant info dump to make sense. The idea of gambling with truths instead of coins is fascinating and a little terrifying, and the tournament was super suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat. The world-building as a whole was immersive and atmospheric, as is the writing style.
Den of Liars is immersive, clever, and addictively romantic. If I’m being picky, I do think the first few chapters are a slower build, but once the tournament starts, the plot kicks into gear and doesn’t let up. I flew through the second half, hooked on every twist, double-cross, and charged glance between Lola and the Liar. If you like high-stakes magic, thieves with hearts of gold (or secrets), intense slow-burns, and a heroine who’s just trying to survive in a world where truth is the most dangerous weapon, roll the dice on this one.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
“I am more than a pawn to be used and cast aside as soon as I think for myself.”
“Some secrets are intricate tapestries impossible to disentangle. But when you do, the world unravels.”
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- who did this to you
- dual POV
- forbidden romance
Jessica S. Olson is the author of Sing Me Forgotten, A Forgery of Roses, and the Den of Liars duology. A former copyeditor from New Hampshire, she currently lives in Texas with her husband, four children, and carefully curated supply of snacks. Her books have received starred reviews, earned librarian/bookseller accolades, and been translated into several languages throughout the world. In her free time, she practices aerial hoop and eats peanut butter by the spoonful straight from the jar.
I loved this one – that second half was gripping! Great review and I can’t wait for the next book.