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CUE THE CHAOS. CUT THE LIGHTS. IT'S TIME TO TAKE TO THE STAGE.

Caraval meets One Dark Window in the spellbinding new enemies-to-lovers fantasy set in a mysterious theatre where godlike creatures run the show and mortals compete for immortality.

‘DARK FANTASY AT ITS MOST INTOXICATING’ #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

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.

Vibes of A Stage Set for Villains:
Theatre setting
Who's the villain?
Enemies-to-lovers
Dark atmospheric fantasy
Mind blowing twists

Critics are raving about A Stage Set for Villains:

'As enthralling as it is unique, A Stage Set for Villains will have you spellbound!' New York Times bestselling author, Mai Corland

'Part novel, part script, A Stage Set For Villains is a fascinatingly unique world like nothing you’ve ever read before. . .that will have you riveted from the first casting call!' USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard

'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 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

'Absolutely thrilling. Be ready to be hooked from the first page to the shocking end' New York Times bestselling author Elise Kova

'A dark and dizzying fantasy that will keep readers enthralled to the end' Kirkus Reviews

'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' Publisher's Weekly

© Shannon J. Spann 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026