SUMMARY

It’s time to take to the stage . . . A stunningly drawn fantasy set in a mysterious theatre where godlike creatures run the show and mortals compete for immortality

Riven Hesper is running out of time. Cursed by a Player—a godlike performer —she must infiltrate the Playhouse and find a way to break the curse before it kills her.

But inside survival comes at a price. Mortals must compete for a chance to kill a Player and steal their power. Riven wants nothing to do with this until Jude—charismatic and cruel —makes her an offer. Win the competition. Spare his life. And he’ll set her free.

As the final act approaches, Riven faces a devastating truth. She might not become the hero of this story. But the villain.

Summary from Goodreads.

REVIEW

Another pull of my TBR jar drew out A Stage Set for Villains and I have to admit, this was one of the books I was most curious about. The premise immediately stood out to me because it’s not every day you come across a fantasy set around the world of theatre. That alone made me excited to finally pull it off my shelves and I was hoping it would be one of those hidden gems that completely surprised me.

Unfortunately, while I admired a lot of what this book was trying to do it never quite came together in a way that fully worked for me.

The strongest aspect of this novel was easily its originality. Using theatre as the foundation of a fantasy world felt incredibly refreshing. The idea of actors using specialised techniques to enthral audiences and influence emotions added a fascinating layer to both the magic system and the world itself. It created an atmosphere that felt theatrical in every sense of the word and I appreciated that Shannon J. Spann wasn’t afraid to take risks with such an unconventional concept. In a genre where it’s easy for stories to blur together, this one definitely stands apart.

I also really liked the structure of the novel. Dividing the story into Acts with an Interlude in the middle was such a clever touch and it perfectly suited the theatrical setting. It wasn’t just a stylistic choice, it genuinely felt like you were watching a performance unfold. Little details like that made the reading experience feel different from the average fantasy novel and I always appreciate authors who commit fully to their themes.

For a debut novel, there are some genuinely impressive ideas here.

I also found myself enjoying both Riven and Jude as main characters. They each brought something different to the story and I liked uncovering more about them as the book progressed. Their interactions kept me engaged and I found myself wanting to know more about their motivations and how their journeys would eventually intersect. While I wouldn’t say I became deeply emotionally attached to them, they were definitely one of the highlights of the novel for me.

Where the book struggled unfortunately was with its execution.

There were multiple points where I found myself feeling lost, unsure of exactly where the story was heading or why certain events were unfolding the way they were. Here I often found myself rereading sections or wondering if I’d missed something important. Rather than feeling intrigued by the mystery, I mostly felt confused.

The pacing also made it difficult for me to stay consistently invested. There were stretches where the story slowed considerably and I found myself waiting for something significant to happen. Some scenes lingered longer than they needed to, while other moments that felt important seemed to pass by quite quickly. Because of that, I never quite found a rhythm with the book.

There were also several moments where I caught myself wondering where exactly is this story going? While unpredictability can be a strength, I think there needs to be a balance between mystery and momentum. For me, the novel leaned a little too far into uncertainty which made it harder to fully immerse myself in the world.

That being said, I think Shannon J. Spann shows a lot of promise as a debut author. There are some incredibly creative ideas throughout this book and I genuinely admire how ambitious the concept is. Not every risk pays off, but I’d much rather read something that tries something completely different than something that feels overly familiar.

Overall, A Stage Set for Villains was an okay read that ultimately landed at three stars for me. I loved the originality of the theatrical setting, enjoyed spending time with Riven and Jude and appreciated the unique Act structure that gave the novel its own identity. Even though the pacing and confusing plot kept it from becoming a favourite, I’m interested to see what Shannon J. Spann writes next because I think there’s a lot of potential there.

-Rachelle

I’m on Instagram at @rachellesbookshelf