Den of Liars: Caraval meets Kingdom of the Wicked in a sinfully indulgent heist romantasy

By Author / Illustrator

Jessica S. Olson

Genre

Fantasy

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Hot Key Books

ISBN

9781471417382

Format

Hardback

Published

01-07-2025

Synopsis

A young thief attempts a daring casino heist during a high-stakes magical tournament and finds herself torn between two warring brothers. At the Liar's Den, secrets are power . . .

Lola St. James is the world's best kept secret. When her father's loss in the magical 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.

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 the job, but the Thief's mysterious and powerful 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' history, and the lies she tells herself.

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Reviews

Clair

What a page turner! Den of Liars is a thrilling young adult romantasy, centred around a magical tournament and filled with emotional plot twists. Family dynamics are complicated and there's an enemy to lover subplot.

We follow Lola St James, a sharp-witted young thief and daughter of a notorious crime leader, who becomes entangled in the dangerous world of the Liar’s Dice Tournament - a magical competition where secrets are currency. Torn between two mysterious brothers, Enzo known as The Thief, and Nic, known as The Liar. Lola must navigate shifting alliances, glamourous magic, and tangled family loyalties.

I really enjoyed the plot and all of the twists and turns that took. Den of Liars is a magical read, full of adventure. I was kept on my toes and could never be quite sure what was true and who was trustworthy. Jessica Olson's writing is captivating and I really felt that I was pulled into her world of magic and glamour.

I love the dynamic between Enzo and Lola. His endless string of nicknames for her - Lollipop, Locust, Lobster (to name a few), I found funny and endearing. Meanwhile, the chemistry between Nic and Lola is intense and so well written.

Infuriatingly, Den of Liars ends on a cliff hanger. It does mean however that it is set for a sequel! Perfect for fans of The Inheritance Games and Six of Crows.

Content of note: Depictions of child abuse, trauma, kidnapping, violence, loss of caretakers and mild language.

400 pages / Reviewed by Clair Bossons, school librarian