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Synopsis
INSTANT #1 NYT BESTSELLER STARRED Publishers Weekly Review STARRED Kirkus Reviews STARRED School Library Journal Review The gods are dead. All that’s left are the Players... The performers of the Playhouse are as worshipped as they are feared, their enchanting shows bending hearts, minds, and even reality itself. Vicious, godlike, lethal. Eighteen-year-old Riven Hesper knows the dangers better than anyone, after her own encounter with a Player resulted in a curse that is slowly killing her. When the Playhouse announces the spectacle of a lifetime—a chance for one mortal to steal a Player’s immortality—Riven sees her last chance to live. Desperate for answers, she infiltrates the competition. There, she finds Jude, the Playhouse’s brilliant, merciless Lead Player, whose charm is as dangerous as his Craft, and strikes a deadly bargain to save her life. But with time running out and the Playhouse’s secrets unraveling into a disturbing picture, Riven faces a grim possibility: she might not be the hero of her story after all. In fact, she may be the villain. Because the Playhouse doesn’t just tell stories. It rewrites them. And Riven’s might end in blood. Caraval meets One Dark Window in this lush and dark romantasy. ***Don’t miss out on the stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION while supplies last. This breathtaking collectible is only available on a limited first print run in the US and Canada only, a must-have for any book lover.
Is A Stage Set for Villains: A High Stakes Slow-Burn Romantic Fantasy appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 14 and up.
Teens will encounter a dark fantasy world with manipulative godlike beings, deadly competitions, and a slowly dying cursed protagonist. The romance is slow-burn with tension and likely some kissing/physical intimacy, but synopsis suggests fade-to-black.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, moderate sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include death, violence, and manipulation (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will be drawn to the high-stakes competition, dark magical theater world, dangerous romance with a powerful Player, and the twist that the heroine might be the villain.