{"product_id":"a-stage-set-for-villains-a-high-stakes-slow-burn-romantic-fantasy","title":"A Stage Set for Villains: A High Stakes Slow-Burn Romantic Fantasy","description":"\n\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Debut author Spann skillfully leverages scriptlike dialogue and punctuated drama structures to flesh out the Playhouse's vivid world, which is rife with political intrigue and power imbalances. Riven and Jude's sharp banter and slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance dials up the novel's showmanship.\"―STARRED \u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e review \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Spann's debut novel is a dark and dizzying fantasy that will keep readers enthralled to the end.\"―STARRED \n\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Readers who enjoy fantasy, mystery, theatre, and a little bit of romance will love this twisty story.\" ―STARRED \n\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e review \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Dark fantasy at its most intoxicating. Shannon Spann delivers a world where gods crave applause, mortals bleed for love, and every truth feels like a curse. I was completely enthralled.\"--#1 \n\u003ci\u003eNYT\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Absolutely thrilling. Be ready to be hooked from the first page to the shocking end.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003eNYT\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author Elise Kova \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\" \n\u003ci\u003eA Stage Set for Villains\u003c\/i\u003e is a love story drenched in beauty, blood, and betrayal--a performance so mesmerizing you forget where the fiction ends. I couldn't put it down.\"--J. Elle, \n\u003ci\u003eNYT\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of the House of Marionne series \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"As enthralling as it is unique, \n\u003ci\u003eA Stage Set for Villains\u003c\/i\u003e will have you spellbound!\"--#1 \n\u003ci\u003eNYT\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author Mai Corland \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Part novel, part script, \n\u003ci\u003eA Stage Set For Villains\u003c\/i\u003e is a fascinatingly unique world like nothing you've ever read before, where mirrors are to be feared, life-eating curses abound, and vicious humans-turned-gods called Players perform on a voracious playhouse stage, that will have you riveted from the first casting call!\" -- \n\u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author Amalie Howard \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"As intoxicating as it is clever, A STAGE SET FOR VILLAINS is one of the most enthralling works of fantasy I have ever read. Spann brilliantly explores how art shapes history, and how true love can rewrite both.\"--Sydney J. Shields, #1 International \u0026amp; \n\u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \n\u003ci\u003eThe Honey Witch\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShannon J. Spann is an NYC-based author from Virginia, where she grew up as one of six sisters and spent most days crafting stories in the woods (and subsequently performing them for anyone who would listen). A lifelong fan of ghost stories, old movies, and all things theatrical, she can most often be found wandering Central Park, exploring her local bookstore, or hunting down a sunbeam to read in. You can find her on Instagram @ShannonJSpann\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eINSTANT #1 \u003ci\u003eNYT\u003c\/i\u003e BESTSELLER\u003cbr\u003eSTARRED \u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e Review\u003cbr\u003eSTARRED \u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSTARRED \u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eOPTIONED FOR FILM by Amazon MGM Studios\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe gods are dead. All that's left are the Players... \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe 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. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen 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. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut 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. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBecause the Playhouse doesn't just tell stories. It rewrites them. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAnd Riven's might end in blood. \n\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eCaraval\u003c\/i\u003e meets \u003ci\u003eOne Dark Window\u003c\/i\u003e in this lush and dark romantasy. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e***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. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/span\u003e 01\/19\/2026 (EAN 9781649379511, Hardcover) - *Starred Review\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/span\u003e 01\/16\/2026 pg. 1 (EAN 9781649379511, Hardcover) - *Starred Review\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 12\/30\/0001 (EAN 9781649379511, Hardcover) - *Starred Review\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContributor Bio:\u003c\/strong\u003eSpann, Shannon J\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShannon J. Spann is an NYC-based author from Virginia, where she grew up as one of six sisters and spent most days crafting stories in the woods (and subsequently performing them for anyone who would listen). A lifelong fan of ghost stories, old movies, and all things theatrical, she can most often be found wandering Central Park, exploring her local bookstore, or hunting down a sunbeam to read in. You can find her on Instagram @ShannonJSpann\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n","brand":"Entangled: Mayhem Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51496186380566,"sku":"9781649379511","price":27.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9781649379511.jpg?v=1783057029","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/a-stage-set-for-villains-a-high-stakes-slow-burn-romantic-fantasy","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}