A Stage Set for Villains: A High Stakes Slow-Burn Fantasy Romance -- Shannon J. Spann, Hardcover

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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.

Author: Shannon J. Spann
Publisher: Entangled: Mayhem Books
Published: 02/03/2026
Pages: 448
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.24lbs
Size: 8.34h x 5.76w x 1.65d
ISBN: 9781649379511
Age Range: 16-UP

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 01/19/2026
School Library Journal 01/16/2026 pg. 1
Kirkus Reviews 01/01/0001

About the Author
Shannon 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