Title: A Stage Set for Villains
Author: Shannon J. Spann
Page Length: 560
Pub. Date: Feb. 3, 2026
Publisher: Mayhem Books
Synopsis: Eighteen-year-old Riven Hesper is running out of time. Cursed by a Player—a godlike performer whose unnatural allure is as lethal as it is irresistible—she has one shot to infiltrate the Playhouse, the traveling theatre where Players reign supreme, and find a way to break the curse before it kills her.
But inside the Playhouse, survival comes at a steep price. Every season, mortals compete for a single, blood-soaked the chance to kill a Player and steal their power. Riven wants nothing to do with the game…until Jude—charismatic, cruel, and captivating—makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Win the competition. Spare his life in the finale. And he’ll set her free.
Navigating the Playhouse means mastering illusions, surviving betrayals, and keeping pace with performers who shift identities as easily as costumes. But the deeper Riven digs, the more she this isn’t just a game. The Players are hiding something. And the Playhouse doesn’t want her cursed—it wants her dead.
As the final act approaches, Riven faces a devastating truth. She might not be the hero of this story. She might be the villain.
A Stage Set for Villains is a dark and captivating new romantasy that pulled me in almost immediately with the twisty world of the Playhouse, and the way magic, illusion, and danger are all tangled together. The world-building and magic system is vivid and immersive, and I love how you never really know what’s real and what’s just part of the illusion. It definitely gave me Caraval meets One Dark Window vibes, with its eerie, theatrical tone and dark, mysterious, and unsettling atmosphere. It was great! The author’s writing style is so rich and immersive, and I’m not complaining! I liked it so much that I’m doing another Loving the Lines post to highlight some of my favorite quotes.
Riven is a strong and compelling protagonist desperate to find a cure to the curse that has burdened her and made her a pariah since childhood, which is why she ends up at the playhouse. It’s definitely an emotional and physical journey as she tries to navigate a world that constantly challenges her and makes her question everything she knows. And Jude. I adored him! I always love a morally gray MMC, and Jude is definitely my favorite character in the book. He is charismatic, clever, and he has a magnetic, charming way about him. He is so mysterious and suspicious, and I constantly questioned his actions and motivations.
The romance between Riven and Jude (no surprise here) was one of my favorite parts of the book. It definitely has some major enemies-to-lovers vibes, and it’s reflected a ton in their banter. There’s a constant push and pull between them that’s filled with tension, and you can tell there’s a strong connection between them. Their chemistry is off the charts, even when their feelings are confusing. I also liked the secondary characters, especially the other actors in the playhouse. There are some interesting found family vibes explored as the story unfolds.
Overall, this was a great dark romantasy with dynamic characters, an intriguing premise, a fascinating magical world, and a twisty plot that kept me guessing until the end. The author was inspired by Greek mythology, and there are little nods to it throughout the story and in the lore behind the playhouse and those who inhabit it. I also liked the themes about control, identity, and rewriting stories.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
“‘I’m not one of your mindless adoring worshipers’ I say, insistent.
‘Heart, I know,’ he answers with a laugh and reaches for my chin to angle his gaze back to mine. ‘But I’m starting to think I may be one of yours.’”
Players are dangerous when they’re angry, but they’re godsdamned lethal when they’re bored.
Fate guides the feet of the willing and drags the heels of the defiant.
All that stands between a hero and villainy is proper motivation.
Shannon J. Spann is a New York-based writer and social media strategist. In her spare time, she loves knitting, wandering her local bookstore, and of course, theatre. A Stage Set for Villains is her first novel.
You can find her on Instagram @ShannonJSpann
