A Stage Set for Villains

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 fantasy.

©2026 Shannon Spann (P)2026 Recorded Books

Intriguing listen! Totally unique!

Standing ovation! I had no idea what to expect going into this book since everything about it has been kept so hush hush. In a time when spoilers are everywhere, the mystery surrounding this one made it even more irresistible.

It hooked me before I even turned the first page and never let go. The intrigue never faded, and the uniqueness of this story completely blew me away. Truly unlike anything I’ve read before.

And that’s all I’m going to say. The not knowing is half the fun.

A sign of change on the horizon?

Lately, much of the market has been oversaturated with the same story told a hundred different ways; but this was a refreshing change. I wasn't sure what to expect but it wasn't what this story provided and all I can say is that I hope this book will be the success that publishers need to take a chance on unique stories moving forward. Don't get me wrong, I love aspects of that oversold story we have seen so much of; but this was more enjoyable simply due to the fact that it is so different and I wasn't able to predict every little twist and turn it took. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Fantastically Unique

Loved this so much! Left it all on the page with only the ichor of the show lingering after the curtain closes

Best thing I’ve read in a long time

Oh my! That was… wow!! I couldn’t put it down once I started reading. The characters are so easily charming you can’t help but fall in love with them. I wish there was more!

Worth sticking out the first half

Heavy on the arguing/ discourse in the first half but worth the wait following the first half.